barnstormer

In July we, and neighbors are cruising on Vista out of Rome.  This thread is very disappointing because we have been on bigger ships with large floor shows and those bore us.  We also have bragged about the HIGH quality dining, and now are saddened to read Jacques has been replaced by, what reads like a Logans Road House. Even my 18yr old grandson appreciates the difference in average food and fine dining.

A+ service and value. We had outstanding ship to airport this morning. Great communication, flawless timing and a friendly and polite chauffeur - Jeff! We highly recommend Jiffy Jeff for transportation in this area.

We've sampled a few and are over 55 so I will give you our two cents.

My only child is grown so it is just my DW and I that usually cruise. We did several Christmas cruises in the Caribbean and really hated the rug rats from NYC and LI running underfoot so then we started cruising when school was in session, so that may be a factor.

When we started we went on Celebrity and thought it was beautiful with great everything, then moved to Princess and Norwegian and they were better yet, so for us that was more fun than jumping in at the top.

We moved up and I really enjoyed Crystal, for a few days, until we stopped in Acapulco and "the Mexico City guests" came on board. That ruined what seemed to be our best cruise. They were rude, loud, often sent a couple ahead with two-ways to call the rest of their bunch when the show or other lines started moving, they didn't follow the dress codes for dinner, bullied people around the pool area and really spoiled what started as a great adventure. To me the worst part is that it wasn't until the end that the ship finally toughened up and brought down some seasoned officers to set straight the rules and that they were to be followed. We will NEVER cruise Crystal again! Too bad because they had no kids underfoot.

We cruised Tahiti when Regent still ran the Paul Gauguin. Nice crew, great service and food, weak entertainment, but still a nice sailing. Other than the cost this was a nice adventure. Not being serious drinkers the all inclusive just isn't a deal to us. Really nice with no kids.

We have now sailed twice on Oceania and so far it is the best in our judgement. Food is great, staff is outstanding, guests aren't a stuffed shirt tuxedo crowd, smaller or larger ships are nice, entertainment is less than we saw on the mass market lines, we are booked for cruise #3 with them in September and expect another great sailing. Again we cruise when school is in session so it is mainly an adult crowd.

Honestly to us it is hard to beat cruising so enjoy whatever you pick.

Wow, when I was having so much fun this retirement age came way to fast! I hated my first career - teaching so I left it after six months and never looked back. I spent 31 years with a great employer and earned a modest pension and then another 11 years with three other wonderful teams and over those four decades the two of us built up enough home equity and IRA's to have retired seven years ago, but why when we both love our careers and our current life. We cruise at least once a year, we can afford to go out a lot, and we can spend a sizable amount on our hobbies so why put the binders on all this. But sadly the human body doesn’t stay as young as our minds and sooner or later it will fail us so I am counting down to March 1, 2011. I haven’t told my current company to start looking, but I must in a couple months. For another year or two I will be a kept man as I wrap up my latest passionate hobby and then the two of us will become fulltime gypsies traveling the roads in our RV. Last night four friends came over to look at my “stuff”, they all retired a couple years ago and look and act OLD, they were amazed that I was older than all of them by 4-5 years. I think that’s because I have enjoyed it all to the max and by working I have kept busy and not let the clock wind down. To each their own, but I am now counting – reluctantly.