Can I Cruise

I'm looking for insight or examples of how cruisers extend their vacations by adding on a cruise either before of after a TA. Do you look at the same ship or other ones in specific areas- what works best ? Thanks !

Copy/pasted from a cruise group: Just got off the Magic in New York. It was a great cruise! We even managed to get an NYPD and US Coast Guard escort to the dock because a couple of jerks started a fight that turned into a 60 person brawl. Its all over the news. It is my inderstanding that the people involved had tried to start fight all week and that a couple of shows had to move venues because of it. Why weren’t these people secured in the ship’s brig. This is not the first brawl on a Carnival cruise. They are going to have to deal with this swiftly and severely.

Great idea. I'd be willing to forego watching people with polo shirts on, who think that they're wearing fancy duds. Nothing against Polo shirts, and, they don't ruin my meal or time eating.

There's another cruise line on CC where passengers have found that religious exemptions are better approved out of California if that helps. A couple has cruised 2x already this year with that exemption out of Long Beach, CA.

For the life of me, I don't understand the logic and I'm in healthcare. Someone tests themselves a few days before going on a cruise. Then, they go to a busy airport, fly for 3-5 hours, stay at a hotel and eat out at restaurants for (sometimes) up to 2 days before the actual cruise- all activities which exposes them to airborne particles, some of which could be the coronavirus. Then, they get on a cruise ship and are suprised that they're positive 3-4 days in. Thank goodness the symtoms are not as severe (for most) than when this whole thing started.

That is correct. If you look at the dashboard, there's a triangle for people who have comorbidities.

I tried poached eggs for the first time on a cruise because the line to make omelettes was so lond and it's become my favorite way to make eggs

Agreed. Every thread on clothing for dinnner has 3 things in common: -People who don't care one way (or the other) what people think about what they wear -People who like to dress casually thinking that people who like to really dress 'to the nines' are snobbish or elitists -People who dress 'to the nines' thinking that people who dress casually are snobbish or elitists.

Thank you so much for your post- it really hit a few major points. I love to travel, which I've always coined as my "mood alterer". Making travel (cruising) a priority is something that I've always, in the back of my mind, thought that I'd be doing more of, when I had more time/ retirement. This thread has been interesting and I've been inspired at the amount of information that people have brought forward- from living close to cruise ports vs close to airports leading to travel, locations that one wants to travel to and finally, the importance of one's surroundings, be it new or familiar, as one reacts and adjusts to the new way & constraints of travel.

Men need to smarten up and put glitter on their sandals for night time wear and maybe add an ankle bracelet. Make it classy !

Thank you for this. I've read that booking early gives one advantages, when considering world cruises. It's a skill I"ll have to learn, as I tend to book at least 75% of cruises within 1-2 months before the date and some even closer to departure date. I'll start looking at the world cruises for 2024, intriguing at best, and, once plans are in place, there's time to research what else if available.

After reading the posts, I'm beginning to think the same and have wondered if I SHOULD have asked.......how do you plan your cruises for a 6-month period. I've read some blogs where a primary cruise is planned and then dove-tail to ones before and after the main one. Pre-covid, I would cruise Alaska 6-7 times a season, as being on the west coast + the ability to get a last-minute deal was easy. I also flew to Long Beach a few times a year to get on a Baja Mexico cruise , fly to Long Beach for (many) 4-night cruises to Ensenada and at least once to FL to cruise BTB because the airfare was higher than the cruise itself. With flights rates going up, I would like to simplify and lessen my cruise prep. Personally, I have no qualms in moving- family has grown and live all over the US. I'm on my own and have found communities in most places I've lived in- from east coast to midwest to west coast. After travelling to Europe via transatlantic cruises, I wish I was younger and applied to be an expat, as a few suggested having a base in Europe for a season of cruising and that also sounds attractive.

This is such a great idea. One poster had mentioned that after SO many Caribbean cruises, from FL, they were done, Renting in FL, though sounding expensive now) may be an option. I've been fortunate to have lived and worked on the east coast (NYC), Midwest and the west coast (LA, SF, Seattle) and also in FL for 6 months during the winter months (many years ago) so I've had a sample of what it's like to live in certain areas.

You may be right- less people are dressing up and just relaxing, which is why they're cruising in the first place. Personally, I wear scrubs every day- for 12 hours a day and then go home to relax, in sweats or gym clothes. We make it a point to really "dress-up" at least once or twice on a cruise, because we want to and enjoy planning what we're going to wear on those nights. . It doesn't matter what others do, as long as they don't give us the stink-eye because we make different choices when we cruise. Now that I've read through this thread, it's apparent that many do. #sad

Excellent point- and as many others suggested, being close to one geographic area (to cruise) also limits you as to where you end up cruising. Thank you.

Thank you for your thoughtful post. I agree with being close to a good hospital, airport and Costco, lol.

Thank you ! I've flown to Barcelona and stayed for a month prior to doing a transatlantic back to the States. I was planning to do the same thing with flying to Portugal and then Covid hit. I'm also hoping to read how people leave their homes and spend time cruising- specifically on how they plan the cruise itinerary. I'm fairly organized & spent up to 12 weeks away from my residence while working, so I feel confident in that regard. Thank you for your insight !

I like the fact that one doesn't have to fly for every cruise. I'm on the west coast and have done the west coast cruises and Alaska, still having to fly.

I went solo on a transatlantic in 2018 and was happy to have found a Roll Call and then, once on the ship, there was a dedicated group for solos, which had planned events. Some cruise lines have better programs than others. I was on a NCL ship and they have solo cabins and even if you're not in one, you can participate in all of their events, which included sign-ups for dinner , shows. and other activities if you didn't want to go alone. I tend to be a loner and I found myself having to set up a schedule because the sea days can run in to each other,- I love to relax and, at the same time, have something to look forward to.

I'm starting on a 2-year plan (of research) to move closer to a cruise port, so I can spend at least half the year cruising. Florida appeals to me because of the number of ports, though the weather is a worry, unless I'm sitting in a pool, lol.. Has anyone moved for that reason or have any thoughts on what might or what might not work ? Thank you, Aunt Lydia