Cruises: are they really awesome or do they really suck?

So my ILs have been on our backs to do a cruise with them for a few years. Finally, we agreed and are all (us, ILs, BIL/SIL/their 3 DC) booked for next summer on the newest Norweigian boat--its maiden voyage isn't even until May!

I gotta be honest...I just don't think cruising is "me" and I'm worried it's going to suck. I looked at the website for this thing and it's all just so over the top. I just get this impression that folks are only spending thousands of dollars to be pure gluttons. Also, I'm claustrophobic. Do you need to take elevators left and right? Also, it's going to Bermuda. I'm not a "tropical vacation/laying around on the beach all day" girl (or am I??). Plus, I have three kids, so relaxation isn't on the agenda anyway. Now, back to the kids...we did get a balcony room but still the room is a shoebox, right? I need my personal space! Again with the kids...my older two will be 7 and 6; the youngest will be 2.75, so too young to go to the kids' club, yes? So then what, I'm corralling him all over the place all day long? (Hmmm...actually this sounds a lot like my days as a SAHM...maybe we should scratch that last part! )

I guess it will be nice since this most likely will be our last trip with the ILs since they are up there in age and will be a nice memory for us all, and the kids love their cousins...

But, help! What's in store for me? Do you love cruises, hate them, or are neutral? Be honest!

Message edited 9/12/2012 2:00:40 PM.

Re: Cruises: are they really awesome or do they reallly suck?

I've only been on one, and I was going into it in a similar way...vac with the fam, not my choice, gluttony disgusts me, and DH (not me) has an intense fear of open water and heights.

I came out having a great time. It's not something I would do often; maybe once every few years or so. But we had fun! It's a lot of bang for your buck. There is something for everyone to do. You don't have to lie on the beach at port stops because there are usually things to do in the town/port and excursions you can sign up for. There are silly contests, shows, game shows, comedy, dancing, scavenger hunts, mini golf, fitness classes, etc etc etc.

You'll have fun, you'll make memories with the family, and you may be converted to a cruiser...or at least a "hey, that was cool, maybe I'll do it again but maybe not" kind of person.

Oh and sleeping...the gentle rocking of the ship...it's like heaven.

Re: Cruises: are they really awesome or do they reallly suck?

I had never gone on a cruise before this year. They just never appealed to me. I'm not a big eater (though I do appreciate good food), i don't like crowds and I definitely don't like feeling cooped up. I always thought I would eventually take a Disney Cruise once I had kids because I had heard about the kids programs they have and thought it would be a great way to have alone time on a vacation while the kids are still nearby and taken care of.

In March i took a cruise for pretty much purely business purposes. I was really kind of leery about it and didn't expect to love it. Short story - i LOVED it. both DH and I loved every minute of our cruise. We're kicking around vacation plans next year including italy, Hawaii, Jamaica, etc and the only thing DH has come out and said unequivocally is that we are going on another Disney Cruise. He also wants to cruise RCCL next, and I want the Norwegian Breakaway, so we are going to have to duke it out.

On a cruise everything is at your fingertips. There are SOOOO many activities from tours of the ship, history, movies, shows, bingo, wine tasting, exercise classes, cooking classes, etc etc. There is SO much to do. We didn't laze about at all on our cruise. We were busy busy busy all day. On our cruise we purchased a pass to the rainforest area of the spa on the Dream. It has jacuzzos, steam rooms and scented showers, plus heated loungers. Whenever we had time betweem activities we'd go there and relax. I haven't been to bermuda but there is a LOT to do there, not just beach bumming and you can always take one of the Bermuda days to just stay on the ship and enjoy all of the amenities without crowds.

I'm not going to lie, we did eat a lot and I came home with a few extra lbs, but we also just kept so busy. It was nice to just have everything you could possibly want to do within a 5 minute walk.

How much you have to use elevators depends on where you are on the ship and the shi's layout. We were 2 floors down from the pool deck where a lot of the fast food was, and also where the spa was,so we could take the stairs. The main dining was several floors below so for that we did need the elevator. A lot of cruise ships have glass elevators, so it's not bad. What i think is worse is having to walk down LONG corridors, so I'd be careful about your stateroom choice and try to get a spot near the elevators.

It depends on the ship and the room, but we found our room to be not bad at all. It was more spacious and well laid out than we expected. having a verandah definitely helps. it's also good to be near the stairs/elevator so you can just talk a walk if you want space. You might want to get a room that is near the lobby and the main areas so you're a very short walk from more open spaces.

I can be claustrophobic too, and I didn't really have any problems on the cruise ship I was on (The Disney Dream is HUGE), but I mention the precautions above so you can protect yourself even more.

Cruises: are they really awesome or do they really suck?

I love cruises, but not NCL. We drive the extra 20 minutes to Bayonne to go on RC - it is worth it 100x over.

Re: Cruises: are they really awesome or do they really suck?

I agree with the others.

I've been on a few cruise and absolutely love it! I definitely say it's the most bang for your buck. There is always so much to do on the ship, that you can always be bust with something. It's also great knowing that you get to see a bunch of different places on one trip. True there is a lot that you can eat but I look at it as a time to try things I wouldn't necessarily try back at home. As for feeling confined...yes the cabins are small but majority of the time you are just sleeping in there. Although with a balcony, even though it may only be slightly bigger than an inside room, the "feeling" seems bigger because you can go outside on the balcony. Also the only other time I felt crowds was by the pool and this is only if you are going during a peak time. I would say go and have a great time! IMO cruising is such a great experience

Re: Cruises: are they really awesome or do they really suck?

IMO you love them or hate them. I love them but probably wouldn't if I had to bring the kids. My mother is constantly telling me about all the families on board blah blah blah but I'm looking for a vacation not a trip with the kids.

Re: Cruises: are they really awesome or do they really suck?

Well first I think it is important to pick a cruiseline and ship that fit your personal preferences. That is very important. I know people who went on one cruise and hated it and swore they wouldn't go again, only to have a change of heart because it was a family trip or friends were going etc and they tried another line and different ship and LOVED it. The crowds/style of things/amenities/activities/ages can vary greatly by line and by ship.

So if you pick one that fits you personally then you should probably have a great time. Don't think of it as a cruise but more of a floating huge resort full of activities. What I personally love about a cruise is that you can be as active or as relaxed/sedate as you personally choose. You can get up early, hit the gym, go go go with activities, or you can sleep in, lounge by the pool, read a book, nap etc. OR anything in between.

Bermuda is fabulous there are other things to do besides laying at the beach - although I found Bermuda was good with kids. We have gone to Bermuda 2 years in a row with our girls (1st trip they were 2 and 4, and this trip - the last week in august - when they are now 3 and 5). Last trip we took them on a rainy day to the zoo/aquarium, we did a beach 2 mornings, took a ferry ride, walked around Hamilton. This past trip our plans got a bit messed up - but we did one beach morning, a glass bottom boat ride, took the ferry into Hamilton, tried to take a horse and carriage ride - but they couldn't accommodate us for another 2 hours and the girls were restless so we skipped it. We also walked around kings warf (the NCL ship docks next to the Summit -Celebrity ship that we sailed on). There are caves to walk around too etc. You can definitely find things to do. Some people just get off for a short time and then relax on the ship the rest.

As far as gluttonous opportunities. It is what YOU make of it. I had an omelette and fruit for breakfast, the girls had fruit and waffles, and hard boil eggs. Lunches - I had a cesear salad, things like prosciutto and melon, grilled chicken, sushi, lots of salads, lots of fruit, dinners they had fish, steaks etc. Yes you will see people with 2 burgers, slices of pizza, pasta etc. But you don't HAVE to eat any of it. I look at it as a week long that I DON"T have to cook (we rarely eat out). Quality of food varies by cruiseline and sometimes even by ship. I think most cruises offer healthy food as well as the typical junk and buffet stuff. NCL is a bit different as they have many restaurants to choose from. Most lines only have 2 or 3 specialty restaurants. I would say most people don't eat their way through the cruise - but the nice part is that if you want to sleep in you don't miss food - you can eat when you are hungry too. So if your child is fussy and they fall asleep you could have someone stay with them and run up to the buffet or order room service (we had a balcony so it was nice to have breakfasts and lunches on our balcony where we could dine peacefully).

Traveling on cruises with kids is a mixed deal because it really depends on your kids. Sounds like you will have family with you which is a big plus as you have extra hands to help. We traveled the past 2 cruises with my parents. They helped us one night so that we could eat in the really nice specialty restaurant and have a romantic quiet dinner. They watched the girls for 45 mins one evening before dinner so DH and I could go to the elite lounge and have a drink before dinner.

There is a kids place. I think I read that NCL recently made some changes and they upped the kids program from 2 to age 3. So I think you are out of luck with your 2 year old. I think they allow your DC to go to some activities for that age with you - but that isn't much of a break for you. Our 1st cruise with the girls last summer DD#2 wasn't old enough. I just spent more time with her in the pool (she was fully potty trained - she was 27 months when we sailed) and we quietly explored the ship. It actually was fairly pleasant and she was happy prancing around exploring. You should check if the NCL has an area for non potty trained kids. Most cruiselines do not have areas for children who are not potty trained. Only a very few ships/lines offer a small place for those in swimmies.

I don't know NCL well but you should see if they do offer some sort of babysitting if you need a night of two. Your older children should enjoy it though as they will have the kids club to play in and I think I saw that the new NCL ship has some fun water slides and things. We were next to the star on this last trip and my girls were watching the kids in the back go down what looked like a bunch of water slides and I wasn't sure but it looked like a playground. From our aft balcony it looked like they were having fun.

Etd to add that it helps sometimes to take the elevators as there is a lot of stairs - BUT I only take them when I'm going from deck 1 or 2 to say 9 or 12. I just walk when going from 9 to 10 or 4 to 9 etc. It is all personal preference.

Also the pic in my avatar is one taken from the cruise we just got back from. They do a lot of professional pics and you can get a disk at the end and the photos of all the pictures - I think we got about 80 or so. But this was with Celebrity not NCL.

Message edited 9/12/2012 6:34:11 PM.

Re: Cruises: are they really awesome or do they really suck?

Re: Cruises: are they really awesome or do they really suck?

Re: Cruises: are they really awesome or do they really suck?

Dh and I also never had a burning desire to cruise. Everyone always says how much they love it so we booked one a few years ago right after we got married actually. It was cheap as hell thats basically why we went, and there was an excursion to Chichenitza in Mexico and we figued well we're never going to Mexico and staying there so why not see it as an excursion then get out of Dodge.

It was an old Carnival boat out of New Orleans (another plus we got to hang there). Room tiny. Food, eh. Yes you eat till you drop. Yes you take elevators a lot but there's also a maze of staircases.

We hit rough seas and the boat literally tilted about 45°. We were in the casino, i was standing dh was sitting. I had to literally hang onto a pole or i wouldve flown. Dh's chair slid across the floor with him in it. Glass crashing off the bar. Old woman had to be taken to the hosp with a broken hip.

Despite that the trip was a good one and we'd probably do another one with different destinations but we're not clamoring to go.

Cruises: are they really awesome or do they really suck?

I absolutely love cruising! It's my favorite vacation to take! I've never been on NCL so I can't comment. I'm a Carnival fan.

I love everything about cruising... the various ports, the open sea, the activities, the food, etc. I haven't been in 2 years and I'm DYING to go on another one!

Re: Cruises: are they really awesome or do they really suck?

I agree. I think the line makes a lot of difference. The whole style of the cruise can change. I've heard the best feedback about Disney and RCCL,and the worst about Carnival and NCL. I'm still really tempted by the breakaway though.

Re: Cruises: are they really awesome or do they really suck?

Message edited 9/13/2012 2:48:57 PM.

Re: Cruises: are they really awesome or do they really suck?

Thank you all so much! Your information was very helpful! Yes, it is the Breakaway, BTW.

I'd still be grateful for any other opinions--positive or negative...

Re: Cruises: are they really awesome or do they really suck?

ive only been on one cruise but it was with my entire family (about 20 of us). the best part for some was that they have a great camp for the kids.
i was on norweigen and did not actually like their "freestyle cruising" - it was that they didnt have set dinner times. i am not certain if they still cruise this way but it was more of a pain then anything. we had to make our dinner reservations day one and got stuck eating at some odd times bc we all wanted to eat together.

but in terms of thigns to do it was great bc they have at on of options

Re: Cruises: are they really awesome or do they really suck?

It really depends--cruises aren't for everyone, but I love them. and I was opposed at first--my DH converted me.

Many people like to cruise with kids, because it is easy to run around hte ship & then come back to your room whenever you need to and there are a variety of dining options, so you can get your kids a snack at anytime, and you can choose a casual dining option if they can't sit thought the formal meal in the dining room.

I didn't feel trapped at all--I went out on deck a lot when we were at sea, so I felt like I was going outside, even though I wasn't getting off the boat.

The Breakaway looks nice--there should be lots of things to do with the kids. Are there a lot of at sea days?

Are you in a regular room with a balcony or a suite? A regular room might be tight with 5 people.

Oh--also, about the elevators. My husband hates elevators. We avoid them on cruises when we can. Often you are goinf back & forth between a few middle decks, so you can just take the stairs. Its only when you need ot go from the top to bottom that may want the elevator. They get crowded at certain times too, but we would usually walk to somewhere less crowded.

Message edited 9/13/2012 5:12:10 PM.

Re: Cruises: are they really awesome or do they really suck?

You either hate them or love them.

I've been on 4, all RCCL because I've heard negative things about NCL and Carnival.
I enjoy RCCL.

Plenty of stairs if you don't like the elevators. I do a mix of both.
There is a lot of food available, but it is a personal choice of what to eat. My husband gains weight on cruises, I either lose weight or stay the same.
Breakfast is oatmeal and fruit, maybe an egg and toast instead.
Lunch is a sandwich or salad, maybe a burger.
Dining room portions are not huge by any means. I've had two apps, my main meal and two desserts if I've wanted.
All ships have a walking/running track and a fitness gym. I always pack my sneakers and walk a bit.
As for the rooms, you have a balcony, so that makes it appear larger. Suitcases are stowed under the bed so they are out of the way. Take extra hangers - I find there are never enough.
We are hardly in our stateroom, pretty much only to sleep, shower and dress for dinner.
There's a lot of stuff for the kids to do, although I don't have experience with that. The moms can help you with that.

Enjoy the cruise, Bermuda is gorgeous.
You can rent a taxi or mini-van for a couple of hours to get an island tour (negotiate the price, $10 per person per hour is good), or hop one to go to one of the fabulous beaches (Horseshoe Bay is to die for, great for kids, no waves). No need to do an "organized RCCL tour".
This way you are on your time and not theirs, especially when you have children.

Cruises: are they really awesome or do they really suck?

The Breakaway is NCL's Northeast US answer to the Oasis and Allure of the Seas sailing for RCCL out of FL. If you're tempted by them, you'll like the Breakaway.

We got home from the Disney Dream last night - our 4th sailing on her since her maiden voyage - for an adult-only trip (yes, adult-only and Disney in the same sentence!) and we'll sail the Oasis over Thanksgiving with extended family.

Like the others have said, it's finding an itinerary and ship/line you like. Carnival is my least favorite and then NCL but I haven't sailed NCL in a few years so it's time to give it another shot. Disney is my favorite, followed by Celebrity. We'll see if Celebrity loses her spot to RCCL after the Oasis though - we have a spectacular room with verandah over the Boardwalk AND facing the dive show/aft so that alone will be amazing.

DH has depth-perception issues so stairs are rough for him but we take them whenever it's just a couple of decks to go and we avoid buffets except for breakfast.

We love cruising!
- Kimberly Hill
Mouse Tales® Travel
LIFamilies Vendor
Creating Magical Vacations for LIFamilies since 2008

Re: Cruises: are they really awesome or do they really suck?

Cruises are what you make of them... To be honest, it already sounds like you have a negative opinion and are looking forward to having a bad time... Which in case you will...

I personally love cruises. I actually wanted to book the cruise you're talking about... 5/19 sailing though but I just cant spend the amt they are charging (infants now are not free which is redic). Bermuda will not be super warm in may so keep that in mind... If you're expecting tropical temps and super warm water, you won't find it at that time.

Yes the rooms are small... We all go into the situation prepared for that... But there is no way I would have been able to go to all the places I've been for the price I've paid for a cruise. And I've been on 6 now.

Yes food is unlimited and you will see quite a few people getting their money's worth. What's the big deal about being a glutton for a week!?!? I went this past yr when I was in my 2nd trimester and with what I ate, they lost money

You can relax on your cruise or you can be adventurous and book an excursrion every day. The choice is up to you. As for the 2.5 yr old, as far as I know, they can also go into the kids program so you can have some adult time.

So there will be 5 of you in one room? 2 adults, 3 kids? That right there would be one of your number one mistakes... Unless you get a big suite, you will be cramped in your balcony room... BIG TIME. The bathrooms are tiny and I can only imagine 5 people at once trying to get ready for dinner... I would try to get some type of connecting staterooms to have more room..

Message edited 9/15/2012 5:37:02 PM.

Re: Cruises: are they really awesome or do they really suck?

I looooove cruises. Every single time we have gone on one we had an absolute blast and didn't want it to end. You will have a great time!!!

ETA - We cruised on both RCCL and Princess........both cruise lines were fabulous but my favorite would have to be RCCL.

Message edited 9/17/2012 12:21:40 AM.

Re: Cruises: are they really awesome or do they really suck?

It looks like you already got a lot of responses but if you need more, do a search under this board for the words "cruise" and "like". You'll find similar, longer posts there with even more info.

I love cruising. A few thoughts:

Re: the glutton issue - It's what you make of it. You will definitely see people order two entrees and load up at the buffet but you do not have to do that at all. Frankly, the dining room portions are usually small (think fancy restaurant) so I have never walked away from the restaurant completely overstuffed.

The nice thing about the abundance of food is that there are also an abundance of choices, and many of them are healthy. Breakfast at the buffet can be an egg white omelette made to order and fruit. Dinner can be broiled salmon and veggies, etc. I have never gained weight on a cruise and I've been on 7 - 8 if you count an overnighter on an upscale European line.

Do your research carefully. It's ship specific as much as it is line specific. The newer the better. I have cruised Celebrity, CCL, and RCI. I have avoided NCL because I always hear mixed things. However, you're considering a newer ship which is good.

The major caveat I see with your situation is the 2.75 year old. Double check and make sure he can go into the kid's programs, pool (they often must be trained), etc. What you are saying about chasing him around deck because there are no activities is exactly why I am holding off on cruising with my 2.5 year old. I've never cruised as a parent and I doubt it will be relaxing at all chasing DS around deck and trying to explain to him why he can't go in the pool and do other activities he'll probably be too young for.

Re: Cruises: are they really awesome or do they really suck?

I've only been on 2 but they're not for me. I went once when I was a teenager with my family and once with DH (boyfriend at the time) and a group of 10 of our friends. DH and I both said we won't book another cruise. I don't like to be on someone else's schedule. I don't like that you don't have time to really explore the ports because you need to make sure you're back on the boat. I don't like when you're at sea for a day or more because I get bored on the ship--some people say, how can you be bored on the ship?! But I am, lol. I don't really enjoy shows, or BINGO, etc. I don't like being confined to the boat. I don't like the shoebox rooms (yes, I had a balcony room both times--still small). I don't like that it's hard to get a chair by the pool(s). I don't like that drink prices are so high. Yes, you can buy duty free at the port and make drinks in your room but that's not as fun as mingling in a bar and getting some frozen tropical drinks.

All this being said, some people love them. Just sharing my take on them

I'd rather spend my time and money at a nice resort, sightseeing and doing different activities around the island/country...exploring on my own time.

Re: Cruises: are they really awesome or do they really suck?

Re: Cruises: are they really awesome or do they really suck?

I love cruises, just booked one for this December. Its very relaxing to me, I just did Bermuda this July and there were a ton of kids on board. Sooo many families and it made me wish we had some family members on board. The kids club is great all lines have different ages/requirements so check with your cruise line.

Bermuda is very expensive, everything is double in price then in NY.
Gas is about $10 dollar a gallon. So taking Taxi's a short distance can run 50-60 bucks.
Usually you are there for 3 full days.
Wednesday, thursday and friday.
We went to Elbow beach 2 times, there werent to many young children there, it was more laid back. and the 3rd day we rented a private boat and drove it all around the Island and had lunch at the Yacht Club.

There is shopping in Hamilton but its super expensive there are NO deals.

Re: Cruises: are they really awesome or do they really suck?

I never wanted to go on a cruise, nor did DH. We decided to TRY one for our honeymoon. BIG mistake. It was just as awful as I thought it would be. The food was DISGUSTING, the people were not the kind I want to be trapped with for days, and to me, why do I need to be on a boat to have fun when I can have more fun on land? JMO. DH and I SWORE NEVER EVER EVER AGAIN. Biggest mistake ever. I was ready to jump ship.