Things that I did not know about cruises

gayl said:
I get it. The one I'm going on has 3k passengers, probably 5k total. What are the bigger ships?
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I think the largest capacity ones are around 5,500 passengers - yuk.

The one we're taking to Europe in April carries around 1,800 - more than we'd like, but manageable.
 
According to this list, the biggest (Symphony of the Seas) could carry up to 6870 passengers if all doubles were occupied. Presumably there would be at least 2000 crew members as well.

Sounds like a nightmare to me!

https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1431
 
Meadbh said:
According to this list, the biggest (Symphony of the Seas) could carry up to 6870 passengers if all doubles were occupied. Presumably there would be at least 2000 crew members as well.

Sounds like a nightmare to me!

https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1431
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Yuk....228,000 GT......I think I'd rather have Jack Nicholson knock down the cabin door with an ax while yelling "Here's Johnny" than set foot on that one.
 
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Scuba said:
The ultimate small cruise IMO is a private yacht. We chartered one in the British Virgin Islands with two other couples in 2017 and were able to customize the itinerary, activities, and food. Loved it! We plan on doing something similar in Greece this year.
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I was surprised how affordable it is chartering a boat with skipper in Greece. The price quoted excluded food and drink, but you really just have breakfast and lunch on the boat, go to a restaurant for dinner. And you buy your own booze at the market, not individual drink cruise ship price.
 
Several years ago I spent a week touring Alaska's Inside Passage using the ferry system. Some time later I went back on a Pricess cruise ship.
Much preferred the smaller, less fancy ships.
 
Meadbh said:
According to this list, the biggest (Symphony of the Seas) could carry up to 6870 passengers if all doubles were occupied. Presumably there would be at least 2000 crew members as well.

Sounds like a nightmare to me!

https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1431
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We were on a Carnival 3,000 passenger ship, and it felt a lot bigger and less crowded than the Royal Caribbean ship that held 2,250 passengers.

The smaller 2,250 passenger ship had a rock wall, and 2 shuffle boards, besides the pool that all ships seem to have. Not much choice.

So as long as they scale up all the other parts of the ship the density would not be worse and you get more choices and better nightly shows.
 
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braumeister said:
We have taken only a few cruises since we retired.

First one was Alaska on a 1,400 pax ship and we both said "Never again." It was just too big and the activity was too oriented to shopping.

Second ship was also Alaska, but with 62 pax and we had a wonderful time.

Third and fourth were European river cruises with 190 pax on each. Pretty good, but we're not likely to repeat that experience either.

Fifth was the Galapagos on a 48 pax ship. Fantastic time.

Later this year we're going to Scotland on another 48 pax ship. Looking forward to it.
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Wow - 48 passengers!!!
 
mpeirce said:
I saw one article that group them in three broad groups: contemporary, premium, and luxury. Contemporary is the Carnival, Disney, Princess, etc. Premium included Viking, Oceana, etc. and Luxury was Crystal, Silversea, Regent Seven Seas.
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I disagree with that grouping. I would group them as low end, Carnival and Royal Caribbean, middle of the road, Princess, Celebrity, Disney. High end Oceana and Regent, and Luxury Silverseas, Viking and Seabourn.There are many other lines out there, but these are the ones catering to the US market.
 
The worse cruise I ever took was on Princess. They would have to pay me to take another one. The ship was leaking through the light sockets in the hallways and they put buckets underneath them, food in buffet was cold and nasty, solution to room flooding was to install big noisy industrial fans, about half the bathroom stalls out of operation by end of cruise, tender boats leaked from the ceiling when it rained and some staff was rude for no reason. All 4 of our RC cruises have been excellent. I sent them a email after the trip and never heard back. I did hear that Princess started to go downhill a few years ago when Carnival bought them.
 
audreyh1 said:
Cruise West, who we took for Alaska, is longer in business. I’ve been eyeing the Uncruise company. Yes, very pricey.
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I've taken 3 UnCruise trips (2 Alaska, one Panama and Costa Rica) and have one more booked (Baja Peninsula and Sea of Cortes next March). Likely to book Hawaii in late 2018. Less formal, far more focused on nature and activities such as kayaking, hiking, swimming, etc. Love them.
 
The newer design ships are no good because they allocate the smallest amount of space possible to public areas. Just look at the linear feet of outside public railings on older vs newer ships. The latest insult is where they ruin the boat deck by hanging the lifeboats just a few feet off the deck as opposed to overhead.
 
We just returned from a cruise that had 3500 passengers plus crew and it was too big. Our past cruises have been 2000 passengers and there was much more to do on these smaller ships then the big one. Plus we had to wait in line, etc. Still had a great time but now I am paying attention to the number of people when I book.
 
athena53 said:
I've taken 3 UnCruise trips (2 Alaska, one Panama and Costa Rica) and have one more booked (Baja Peninsula and Sea of Cortes next March). Likely to book Hawaii in late 2018. Less formal, far more focused on nature and activities such as kayaking, hiking, swimming, etc. Love them.
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I was hoping to do the Costa Rica and Panama one in the last couple of years, but things keep getting in the way. I have never traveled with them.

A Baja Peninsula and Sea of Cortez trip in March: it was the most incredible whale watching of our lives!! Just amazing!!! 12 species of Cetaceans, but also ocean birds, sharks, turtles, other fish. Even bioluminescence - nature's underwater light show!!! It wasn't an Uncruise trip.

We were on a long-range fishing vessel. Only 80 foot long. Very small group. The blue whales were as long as our boat! Kind of roughing it. But the captain watched the whales on sonar and would turn the boat just right to catch a whale breaching. Unbelievable!
 
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audreyh1 said:
I was hoping to do the Costa Rica and Panama one in the last couple of years, but things keep getting in the way. I have never traveled with them.

A Baja Peninsula and Sea of Cortez trip in March: it was the most incredible whale watching of our lives!! Just amazing!!! 12 species of Cetaceans, but also ocean birds, sharks, turtles, other fish. Even bioluminescence - nature's underwater light show!!! It wasn't an Uncruise trip.

We were on a long-range fishing vessel. Only 80 foot long. Very small group. The blue whales were as long as our boat! Kind of roughing it. But the captain watched the whales on sonar and would turn the boat just right to catch a whale breaching. Unbelievable!
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OK - I found some details. Took a while to remember - the trip we took was in 2002.

The very small "ship" was the Spirit of Adventure out of San Diego. They sail from H&M Landing. Most of the year it's a long range fishing vessel. But in the spring they to whale watching/natural history trips. They are still doing our trip. Natural History/Whale Watching Trips | news

The organization we went through was the Oceanic Society. They contributed two outstanding naturalists to our group. This was a major deal - there was lots to see and identify from aboard ship! We also stopped at lot of outdoor islands and they led hikes. Natural history presentations some evenings. One of the naturalists did shark research off the Farallon Islands and was famous for his National Geographic documentary on the Great White Shark. The Oceanic Society does naturalist led small group marine mammal expeditions all over the world: https://www.oceanicsociety.org/expeditions

It was truly an incredible adventure. The cabin was ridiculous - just room for a double bunk and enough floor space to stand in with luggage upright. I had to get over a bit of claustrophobia. But the galley and decks had tons of space. It was the most memorable nature/wildlife trip we have ever experienced. And we have done a great deal of nature travel!

Hmm - it looks like the Oceanic Society is not doing that particular trip with the Spirit of Adventure anymore. They are offering this option for whale watching in Baja California: https://www.oceanicsociety.org/expeditions/baja-san-ignacio-lagoon-and-sea-of-cortez--69
 
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audreyh1 said:
OK - I found some details. Took a while to remember - the trip we took was in 2002.

The very small "ship" was the Spirit of Adventure out of San Diego. They sail from H&M Landing. Most of the year it's a long range fishing vessel. But in the spring they to whale watching/natural history trips. They are still doing our trip. Natural History/Whale Watching Trips | news

The organization we went through was the Oceanic Society. They contributed two outstanding naturalists to our group. This was a major deal - there was lots to see and identify from aboard ship! We also stopped at lot of outdoor islands and they led hikes. Natural history presentations some evenings. One of the naturalists did shark research off the Farallon Islands and was famous for his National Geographic documentary on the Great White Shark. The Oceanic Society does naturalist led small group marine mammal expeditions all over the world: https://www.oceanicsociety.org/expeditions

It was truly an incredible adventure. The cabin was ridiculous - just room for a double bunk and enough floor space to stand in with luggage upright. I had to get over a bit of claustrophobia. But the galley and decks had tons of space. It was the most memory nature/wildlife trip we have ever experienced. And we have done a great deal of nature travel!

Hmm - it looks like the Oceanic Society is not doing that particular trip with the Spirit of Adventure anymore. They are offering this option for whale watching in Baja California: https://www.oceanicsociety.org/expeditions/baja-san-ignacio-lagoon-and-sea-of-cortez--69
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Wow, that Spirit of Adventure trip sounds amazing. I've been wanting to do a Sea of Cortez trip, but this sounds like a great alternative, and the departure port is certainly convenient. I'll have to see who they are working with now and consider it for next year.

We just booked a Southern Caribbean cruise on Princess for next month after they finally enticed me with some ridiculously low fares. It'll be by far the biggest ship we've ever been on, but as long as I can find a shady lounge chair with an ocean view I'll be happy.
 
I am not sure this is the kind of information the OP intended, but I had no idea that a cruise ship could be cut into two pieces in order to put in an expansion section.

Fascinating new pictures have emerged of an enormous cruise ship being cut in half so a 49ft extension can be inserted to increase passenger capacity by 12 per cent.
The Silver Spirit, launched at the end of 2009 by Silversea, was photographed at a dry dock in Palermo, Sicily, with her giant body split in two and her innards exposed.
Engineers are seen working throughout the night to move the cruise liner's new section into place, with 'precision' key to the mind-boggling elongation project.
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Stunning new photos show cruise ship Silver Spirit being cut in two | Daily Mail Online
 
Chuckanut said:
I am not sure this is the kind of information the OP intended, but I had no idea that a cruise ship could be cut into two pieces
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Ships are now built using prefabricated modules. The modules are constructed with all the piping, wiring, ventilation, etc and then are welded together.

The modules are typically assembled in a climate controlled enclosed facility. Workers are out of the elements resulting in higher quality of work and lower cost.

Not like in the old days where they laid a keel, assembled the hull, set the decks, and bulkheads then fitted out the ship interior.
 
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Coming soon, Lego pontoon ships, moored at both ends, that one can drive on from the stern and off at the bow.......previously known as 'bridges'.
 
Getting back to the original posting. Viking River cruises are very expensive, and so are their new ocean cruiseships. For the one week cruise on Viking, I could make 3 trips to Europe including flights.

We are into more trips instead of extra luxurious trips.
 
I agree BM and Nemo. Not only that but I don't think I would like the smaller ones. I love a big variety of nightlife. I also don't want to feel like I am in school with experts on the area droning on about it and I want to choose my own excursions. I know some people love them.
 
Bamaman said:
Getting back to the original posting. Viking River cruises are very expensive, and so are their new ocean cruiseships. For the one week cruise on Viking, I could make 3 trips to Europe including flights.

We are into more trips instead of extra luxurious trips.
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I agree that there are cheaper ways to do Europe, and we more typically do those types of trips ourselves, but I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed the Rhine cruise we did this past fall. We traveled with four other couples, where we were the only ones being retired. For this large of a group it was VERY beneficial on a number of fronts to use Viking:
1) Having a predetermined itinerary minimized pre-trip planning to mainly be just agreeing on the cruise itself. No one person had to do the work of researching/selecting sites, lodging and other logistics.
2) Having bus transportation for the daily off-boat tours was nice for a larger group. Otherwise we'd be in three cars to get anywhere and three people would have the stress/responsibility of driving in a foreign country.
3) The cruise line controlled the tour departure times - no group discussions regarding sleeping in vs getting an early start.
4) With a group this large a lot of time could be lost just packing up and checking in and out of hotels each day. It was very nice to have our floating hotel eliminate that.
5) Excellent dinners with varied selections on board eliminated the back and forth of a restaurant selection each night.

In short it was just easier in terms of not having to negotiate agreement on day to day travel decisions, and nobody felt like someone within their friend group was forcing their personal choices upon anyone else's vacation. Viking staff were very attentive, the food was excellent, and I'd definitely consider doing another cruise with them - "easy" costs, but sometimes it's worth it.
 
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