| | Who here loves cruisesPage 2 of 3 (1, 2, 3) | Amdcoles, As a person who loves to cruise I can tell you that a cruise is very safe. Ships may be flagged out of other countries but that does not mean they are not safe.
All cruise ships must meet standards set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).
Ships operating from U.S. ports are also subject to U.S. federal and state regulations. The U.S. Coast Guard inspects all ships sailing out of U.S. ports four times a year.
The International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL) sets guidelines and mandatory standards for cruise companies seeking or maintaining membership in the association. These standards meet or exceed international and U.S. laws and regulations that apply to cruise ships.
As for your Navy "cruises" That is not even close enough for comparison. There is a huge difference between a ship that is equipped for the Military and a ship that is built for passenger pleasure cruising.
Cruising is also the safest form of travel.
Try it, you might like it!
OceanGoingGal | |
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| Who here loves cruises
Posted: 2/23/2010 1:03:20 PM | love them,
small as 3 days up to 8 days my longest cruise
cruising to mexico is a blast  | |
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| Who here loves cruises
Posted: 2/24/2010 2:15:12 PM | Yes, Snookums.
I know of a baby boomers cruise leaving March 10 from Ft. Lauderdale (better hurry!) and two over 40 groups, one sails in June from Galveston, TX; the other November from Ft. Lauderdale. Or if you want to create your own group then let me know. Contact me here if you need more details.
-Tracy | |
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| Who here loves cruises
Posted: 2/24/2010 6:17:16 PM | Hi Tracy- Thanks- Yeah I would like to see if I could get a group out of the North east Canada USA I can't contacct you on your profile page so drop a line Thanks again | |
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| Who here loves cruises
Posted: 2/27/2010 1:41:32 AM | I work as a cruise consultant part time. The agency I am working for is planning to do several singles cruises in the near future. Some will be for the cruisers over 50. We have see many posts on this and other singles sites.
Oceangoinggal | |
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| Who here loves cruises
Posted: 3/5/2010 6:34:14 AM | | i love to cruise and the one says about the people working below not allowed on deck beeing away from there familes.hey dumb ass they got a job dont they. | |
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| Who here loves cruises
Posted: 3/6/2010 2:38:56 PM | OK, you got my attention. I love to cruise. Been on 15 since '97. Most of them with a group that goes every fall, usually to the Caribbean on Carnival - the Fun Ship (OK, I did my plug for my favorite cruise line). I find a group is the fun way to go. One of the best vacation values, but not the cheapest - there is a difference.
As for the comment about the ships not being safe, I disagree. I'm referring to the major cruise lines. They lose business fast when things go awry, so they can't afford to cut corners. Granted, there are some trade offs (read as 'risks') with being on a ship in the middle of the ocean. Word of mouth is a key to their growing business, they want happy customers - for the return business and the new. I know some people have where the cruise line did not live up to their expectations, this is going to be true in any industry.
Here are some things to think about:
1. Cruising is not for everyone, just as any vacation doesn't fit all.
2. Each cruise line has its 'personality'. Each itinerary has its own flavor.
3. I have learned to pare down what I take - it's easier to lug the lighter load. | |
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DP372
| | Joined: 3/6/2010
Msg: 33 | |
| Who here loves cruises
Posted: 3/20/2010 5:47:37 PM | | There seem to be a lot of problems with norovirus infections on cruise ships. The last thing I want is to be confined to a cabin with bowel problems and vomiting. | |
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| Who here loves cruises
Posted: 3/22/2010 9:39:01 PM | | Hi there. I have been on 27 cruises and, if you want one where the focus is on older folks, then Holland America is the one for you.. Be aware.... the food is delicious but the entertainments are not what they are on other cruises. I was very disappointed. | |
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| Who here loves cruises
Posted: 3/22/2010 9:46:24 PM | Hello.
I have been on 27 cruises and with various cruise companies. Depending on the length of the cruise, there are usually 2 formal"ish" evenings on a 7 day cruise and 4 on a 14 day cruise. With the newer mega ships and Open everything, you can make it as fancy or relaxed as you like.
Those who say that everything is available on the ship must love shopping and spending a lot of cash. Take all your personal care items with you or you are going to spend more. Some folks try to take booze onboard in their luggage. if you are caught - no booze for youz. There are lovely boutiques on the ships but they are not cheap. far better to take what you need from home.
If you like to change clothes a lot, be prepared to pack a lot then. If you do not plan on attending the dress up evenings, then you don't need all the fancy stuff. Think of it as going to your cabin on the lake...take everything you will need especially toiletteries. If you see something in the shops, then, they often have deals and specials and so you can take advantage of things as you choose. | |
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| Who here loves cruises
Posted: 3/22/2010 9:47:59 PM | | yes, there are numerous different activities available on board from dance lessons to cards to cooking demonstrations, wine tasting, pretty much anything you would like to do...especially on the ultra mega ships you can climb rockwalls, surf, ice skate...etc | |
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| Who here loves cruises
Posted: 3/22/2010 9:52:36 PM | I agree with Sage to a point. My ex husband is philippino and I met him on a cruise. they work their arses off and receive next to nothing in pay. The folks who are learning to work in the food and beverage section start their way by serving in the officers mess for NO SALARY. all they get is room and board. They have to work in the restaurant to get tips so no wonder the cruise lines have started including gratuities right onto the price of the cruise you take. Many folks are so damn cheap as well and leave nothing for the people who have served them the entire time.
They are not allowed above decks when they are not working and have no days off as Sage says. They deserve every gratuity they get and more.
As regards her comment of sexual battery, that can happen and my ex would tell me that if they wanted someone to disappear, it would be easy. That being said, I have been on 27 cruises and never ever had one minute's worry and I always travel on my own. I love it...I meet lots of folks and have a wonderful time.
You always as a woman have to be aware of your surroundings and don't be stupid. | |
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| Who here loves cruises
Posted: 3/23/2010 10:01:23 AM | Statistically you're more likely to be assaulted on shore (any shore including your own home town) than on a ship. It's like in a plane- you hear about every bad incident specifically because it's so rare.
As for flagging in the US- this is not usually doen for many reasons, but #1 is financial. The US charges more and requires some 90% of the crew to be US citizens. Simply put you can't expect a US deckhand to accept the same wages as a Phillipino. Which brings another point- yes they do work hard and are not allowed in passenger decks when not working, for pay that seems rather low. But I knew one chap who finished his first (9 month!) contract, went home and bought a house from his earnings. I made a little less than twice his wage but couldn't go home to Vancouver and do the same. I'd barely make a downpayment if I'd saved every penny. Bartenders make tips alone, but some of the better ones make $2000/ week on tips...
Oh and while I don't see myself going on a cruise any time soon (3 years working is enough for now) I strongly recommend taking a Baltic cruise. Caribbean cruises are so very over- rated. Give me a 400 yeear old bar in Copenhagen over a tourist port in Antigua any day. | |
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| Who here loves cruises
Posted: 3/23/2010 8:11:43 PM | i love cruises..I guess I must have been on more than 15 in my life. I've been doing this since 1997. In fact, if you guys are looking for a lively nightlife on cruise, you should go on a cruise here in Brazil. It's so much fun, in last cruise ( last Dec) I used to go to bed around 4 am. There was a party every night. And for me was perfect because I love dancing so much! | |
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| Who here loves cruises
Posted: 3/23/2010 11:42:35 PM | I was really disappointed that there were no dance lessons on my Caribbean cruise. There were mostly college kids on spring break.
Next time I will do more checking and find one that is not full of teenagers. | |
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| Who here loves cruises
Posted: 2/23/2012 3:34:21 AM | | wow 2 yrs since the last post on this thread, i think i will revive it i absolutely love cruising, i have my 5th one booked for december 2012 and it will be my first alone. if i love it ( and im sure i will ) i will take AT LEAST one every single year. i have 4 with carnival under my belt and my first solo/single will be on the norweigan EPIC , which is the only ship at sea with cabins made for 1. im really hoping not to have to go alone but either way im going | |
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| Who here loves cruises
Posted: 2/23/2012 9:09:16 AM | | Leaving Sunday on 7 day Carib cruise, first time on NCL so now I can compare it to others. Nice vacations but really like to stay on island and get to know the people, culture, etc. Either way, it vacay-time to play!! | |
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| Who here loves cruises
Posted: 2/29/2012 7:23:31 PM | I ao enjoy crusing. I normally go on RCL due the fact I have been on a few and past passanagers get some perks. My last balacony was aft, the very aft, while the balacony was large, you could not look down at the water. I missed that. so back to a side so I can look down.
We should look at a POF crusise.....
Beachguy | |
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| Who here loves cruises
Posted: 3/7/2012 1:15:14 PM | | I also love cruising, have done 6 in 6 years - 3 with NCL and 3 with Holland. First with family and now lady friends. I love a balcony and look for the bargain for where I want to go. Vacation to Go has single cruises that they will match you up, but finding ones for over 50 to a place I want to go is difficult. | |
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| Who here loves cruises
Posted: 4/27/2012 6:03:24 PM | | i think a pof cruise would be an awesome idea, i have a solo coming up in december on n.c.l but after that i have nothing planned. | |
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| Who here loves cruises
Posted: 4/27/2012 9:46:42 PM | Went to the Carribean and Alaska when I was a kid... will be going on a 2 weeker in a few months to Alaska again.
Gotta buy some stretchy pants ;) | |
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| Who here loves cruises
Posted: 6/20/2012 10:02:51 PM | I've always wanted to go on a cruise but have never made it.
vacationstogo.com seems to have kickass pricing on the cruises | |
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| Who here loves cruises
Posted: 6/21/2012 8:20:23 AM | | I've been on quite a number of cruises, most recently a one-week cruise on the Douro River in northern Portugal. It's nice to have the ship as a home base, where I can unpack and settle in for the trip while the ship goes to different places, rather than packing and unpacking repeatedly to travel. I prefer cruises which forcus on the ports, rather than on shipboard activities. | |
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| Who here loves cruises
Posted: 6/22/2012 10:35:51 PM | | I had a great time on my Bahamas cruise with Norwegian Cruise lines and my son loved his Carnival cruise there. You get a lot of bang for the buck and for a midwestern landlubber like me, a few days on the sea was a real treat. | |
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| Who here loves cruises
Posted: 6/29/2012 5:15:10 PM | BALLS to your statement flags may be in Panama Britian Bahamas etc....but if a Ship makes its home port in The US Canada the UK at any point in the year the safety inspections not to mention the USCG and the UK equivalent and Canadian Coast Guards are very very intense. How would I know Officer onboard Cruise ships served on 19 differen ships over 10 years for 4 major lines and their safety record is just like every where else. only difference the media tend to jump on these incidents and make them out to be an everyday occurence.
As for your US flagged ship here is a shocker I worked on 2 of the Ships that were part of a US flagged fleet. it got transferred to the international fleet and the transition back to standards of the international fleet meant that both ships were in for extended dry docks that were not scheduled. courtesy of the substandard maintenance and preventitive maintenance done over the 2,5 years the ships were US flagged based out of Honolulu. Dry docks were taken in Ports outside of the US to get the German and Scandinavian engineers in to fix all the problems that could not be fixed in the US.
Now many stories of a crew abandoning ship? 2 in 21 years have happened and because of the one in 1991 the standards and practices of today are in Place. As for reading the stories i would take most pax accounts with a grain of salt 90% of the pax are not even aware of where they can find their life jackets even with the literature explaining in several languages what will happen between 3-4 PM on embarkation day regardking passenger boat drills, 90% dont even pay attention during them and are too busy texting snapping photos talking on cell phones or drinking. I have in several instances confiscated cell phones and cameras from passengers who insisted on continual use of them during drills. So when you hear the crew were unhelpful and running away take it with a grain of salt you may find that the ones making these statements never really even knew what to do, where to go and did not understand ships procedures. | |
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