Vacation and Cruises

[Bob S]

So you have decided to have a vacation and take a cruise. You have seen all the advertisements on TV that push this or that cruise line and all the things they offer. There are Gaming Casinos, Stage Shows, Swimming Pools, shops, etc. If you want all these amnities why not just go to a hotel in Las Vegas or Atlantic City?
The alternative to one of those floating hotels is a cruise aboard a cargo ship. Many of these sailing lines take on passangers as well as cargo. Here is an actual working ship and the ports of call are not tourist stops. The fares for passage may be higher than one of those floating hotels but you have the advantage of opening a door to all sorts of adventure. These ships have one purpose and that is to take on and off load cargo so speed is of the essance. granted, you do not have all the luxeries of those cruise lines but accomodations are far from shabby. You will get to know the other passangers quite well because there are usually only a few; you will discover other things that are not possible to discover on cruise lines and the one thing you can almost count on is that the ports you visit will not be the tourist types.
More and better information can be gotten from a travel agent or from ofices of the shipping line itself. If anyone in the forum has traveled this way before, your comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated.

[Jaga]

I never took a cruise but I know some people who did. How did you like it? Is it worth the money? I think, there is a certain comfort in not having to drive and not changing hotels every day.

Could anybody write about his/her experience on the cruise?

[forza]

"one thing you can almost count on is that the ports you visit will not be the tourist types."
I am afraid the opposite is true.

[jmaduzia]

admin said:

I never took a cruise but I know some people who did. How did you like it? Is it worth the money? I think, there is a certain comfort in not having to drive and not changing hotels every day.

Could anybody write about his/her experience on the cruise?

Jaga,
A cruise to the Carribean was one of the best vacations that my wife and I ever had. Yes it is well worth the money! We sailed from Galveston Texas on a Greek cruise ship, the Stella Solaris, and visited Cozumel, Grand Cayman Island and Jamaica. The service onboard the Solaris was great and the food and entertainment was excellent. It was a real vacation, very relaxing, enjoyed our week at sea and the places we visited. If any of you get a chance to go, take it, you want regret it. Bon Voyage!

Johnny M.

[Bob S]

;D

forza said:

"one thing you can almost count on is that the ports you visit will not be the tourist types."
I am afraid the opposite is true.

Forza. I was refering to cargo ships and not cruise ships. There is a big difference. ;D

[forza]

My bad Bob.

[Bob S]

forza said:

My bad Bob.

;D Hello Forza. I was in the Navy and all of my cruises were aboard a "Greyhound" or "Bird Farm". When I was on shore duty I had to do some equipment repair on some merchantmen when they pulled into a Navy port. Yes they did have a few paying passangers and the accomodations and food were not shabby. Even the crews quarters were great compared to a Navy ship. A cargo ship can be a lot more fun and adventerous than a cruise ship. ;D

[forza]

I agree with you Bob. Cargo ships would be definitely more adventurous.
I have not been on cruise myself but my ex was. I was watching her getting ready for it ( several days of sun tan saloon, finding the latest techniques of leg hair removals, what to wear dilemmas etc. etc. She had fun but I am not that much into ballroom atmosphere and Cargo Ship would suit me better I believe. But that is just me of course.
Anyway!
Some of those Caraibean cruise stores on the islands open only for several hours when the ship arrives and they sell stuff shipped from Florida and manufactured in China pretending to be local. The food is also imported from US and sold as local and the locals themselves often are not permitted to enter the cruise zone. It all gives me an attitude toward cruising.