Changes

[Older Party]

I've been reading these boards for almost 2 years now, ever since I went on the Freedom and saw how much the cruise industry had changed since I cruised back in the 70's. It is interesting to me how many who post here want to return over and over again to the same cruise experience. When new ships come out and public locations get changed, or the food is different, it is largely met with negative comments.

 

When I go on vacation, I want it to be different every time. I will never go back on the Freedom, I will never go back on the Oasis and I have no interest in the Allure. That's not to say I didn't enjoy them, because I did. In fact I LOVED both ships. I guess I'm kind of a 'been there, done that' type person. I just want to see 'what else' is out there.

 

I am two weeks away from a cruise with Princess and the thing I am most looking forward to is having a different experience than I've had with RCCL.

 

So my question is, what makes so many people want to re-experience an experience?

[cb at sea]

Even if you do a "back to back" on the same ship, to the same places, it will still be a different cruise experience.....it's the passenger mix that seems to make a cruise feel totally different.....of course, if you don't "mingle" and pretty much stick to yourself, I can see where the experience may feel the same.

 

We have certain places that we love so much, we return frequently...not just on cruises, but land vacations, as well. If you find something that really suits you, why not do it again!

 

I guess it's like getting married....you find the "one" and you stick with it!!!!!

[willysgrandma]

I've been reading these boards for almost 2 years now, ever since I went on the Freedom and saw how much the cruise industry had changed since I cruised back in the 70's. It is interesting to me how many who post here want to return over and over again to the same cruise experience. When new ships come out and public locations get changed, or the food is different, it is largely met with negative comments.

 

When I go on vacation, I want it to be different every time. I will never go back on the Freedom, I will never go back on the Oasis and I have no interest in the Allure. That's not to say I didn't enjoy them, because I did. In fact I LOVED both ships. I guess I'm kind of a 'been there, done that' type person. I just want to see 'what else' is out there.

 

I am two weeks away from a cruise with Princess and the thing I am most looking forward to is having a different experience than I've had with RCCL.

 

So my question is, what makes so many people want to re-experience an experience?

 

Some people are creatures of habit - if they like something, they like it and will continue to repeat the experience.

 

I am kind of along the lines with you - as a TA, we have to experience all different brands and ships to make qualified recommendations to clients - which I enjoy doing. I like trying different lines - and Princess is among my favorites, with RCCL and Celebrity(I happen to think Princess' loyalty program is the best of all the lines).

 

That said, I'd never say I'd never go on ships I've been on again. Maybe not some of the ones I wasn't in love with, but I would not say I'll never go on the Freedom again - if they changed itineraries to ports I've never been to, I'd go back on almost any ship.

 

I like to travel by itinerary vs. marrying myself to a particular cruise line or ship. But that is just me - having different opinions is what keeps these ships sailing!

[madforcruising]

If I had a good experience, why not repeat it? Although usually it´s not possible to repeat it. I´ve cruised many ships twice or more and non of it has been the same again. I´ve even done same ship, same itinerary same dates, almost same cabin a year apart and it wasn´t the same experience.

 

Change is nothing bad, but staying with something isn´t either.

[Theresa522]

I've been reading these boards for almost 2 years now, ever since I went on the Freedom and saw how much the cruise industry had changed since I cruised back in the 70's. It is interesting to me how many who post here want to return over and over again to the same cruise experience. When new ships come out and public locations get changed, or the food is different, it is largely met with negative comments.

 

When I go on vacation, I want it to be different every time. I will never go back on the Freedom, I will never go back on the Oasis and I have no interest in the Allure. That's not to say I didn't enjoy them, because I did. In fact I LOVED both ships. I guess I'm kind of a 'been there, done that' type person. I just want to see 'what else' is out there.

 

I am two weeks away from a cruise with Princess and the thing I am most looking forward to is having a different experience than I've had with RCCL.

 

So my question is, what makes so many people want to re-experience an experience?

 

My dh feels the same exact way you do BUT I do not. :D ;) It doesn't bother me at all to do the same ship over again. I always have a great time no matter what.

 

We will be on the Explorer for the third time time May and I cannot wait. JMPO :)

[amybeth4]

Interesting thread. I think, like a few said above, it's more than just the ship that makes your cruise different. It's the activities you choose, the ports you visit, and the people around you. You're SO connected with so many other people that they can partially make or break your experience.

 

My first RCCL ship was the Grandeur. My second was the exact same ship, the Enchantment. At the time I didn't want to go on the Enchantment for that very reason, but it was the best choice at the time. Then I went on the Majesty, completely different. Then the Liberty, also completely different. If everything fell into place for my next cruise, it would certainly be a Radiance or Oasis class ship for the very reasons you stated. However, I'd certainly still consider a Freedom class ship again, because it was so much fun and I didn't get to do the flowrider. :)

 

But I'm definitely more willing to redo the same ship rather than revisit a city on a land-based trip. Very interesting!

 

PS I had a great time with Princess...I hope you do too! (And note with Princess, two cruises, two completely different ships!) :)

 

Edit: What amazes me the most is people who just happen to pick X or Y as their first cruise line and then flat out refuse to ever try another cruise line. THAT, to me, is odd.

[phinn]

I have been on 10 cruises and never the same ship. I felt like I wanted to experience new things. This October, I will be returning to the Radiance, and I must admit, I can't wait! I had a wonderful time on that ship, and learned that I did not get to explore the entire ship when I was on it before. Different itinerary, but I agree with poster who said she would rather repeat ship than port.

[Debde]

I will not repeat an itinerary. My goal is not to repeat the same ship either. I also throw a land based vacation in between cruising. I try and make sure that the land based vacation is someplace I have never been to cruising also. Want to see and experience as much different things that I can.

 

I think most who repeat over and over again are not travelling with the family. My boys and husband would throw me overboard if we kept doing the same thing.:eek:

 

I laugh to myself when some say 'I feel like I'm home'. Crap-that would be my biggest nightmare if my vacation resembled home!!:p

[Older Party]

Thanks for your thoughts. I hope more people post as I enjoyed reading these. CB@Sea ... must be why I'm divorced! ;)

[olemissreb]

For cruising, I would do the same ship, but not the same itinerary. We like to cruise and get a taste for a country to decide whether we want to go back and explore the country and its cultures more.

 

Although that is subject to change. We are taking our kids on their first cruise in April and they may decide in the future that they want to cruise an itinerary that DH and I have already done. In that case, I would repeat.

 

Land based vacations are totally different. For 5 or 6 years in a row, we rented the same villa in Hilton Head and had a wonderful time each time. It seems like we would learn and do something new each trip.

 

OK so I'm no help whatsoever!:)

[twoatsea]

DH & I even like more diversity than you, OlderParty! We don't understand how people can just keep cruising & cruising - so boring to us! And the port stops are such a waste of time, in our opinions. Thousands of people pour into port cities, or spend hours in buses/cars to go inland for a few hours. Sometimes we meet people, sometimes posters on CC, talk about the countries they have visited & we discover they have simply stopped in port cities while on a cruise - to us that is not visiting a country. To us, cruising is not real traveling - just staying at a resort, but on water instead of land. Maybe you are doing so, but I recommend for complete traveling diversity, devote most of your time to land traveling instead of just switching ships.

 

Currently, our cruising is only to use the ships as ferries to get us back & forth to Europe - maybe Asia next year. Then we do a land tour, which is what we consider as real traveling.

 

Happy travels.

[amybeth4]

DH & I even like more diversity than you, OlderParty! We don't understand how people can just keep cruising & cruising - so boring to us! And the port stops are such a waste of time, in our opinions. Thousands of people pour into port cities, or spend hours in buses/cars to go inland for a few hours. Sometimes we meet people, sometimes posters on CC, talk about the countries they have visited & we discover they have simply stopped in port cities while on a cruise - to us that is not visiting a country. To us, cruising is not real traveling - just staying at a resort, but on water instead of land. Maybe you are doing so, but I recommend for complete traveling diversity, devote most of your time to land traveling instead of just switching ships.

 

Currently, our cruising is only to use the ships as ferries to get us back & forth to Europe - maybe Asia next year. Then we do a land tour, which is what we consider as real traveling.

 

Happy travels.

 

I agree with you somewhat, which is probably why I stick with Caribbean cruises, which I do for the cruise experience moreso than visiting the islands. I don't know that I could do a European cruise and spend a half a day in Paris and come back saying I've been to Paris. I spent five full days there and could go back tomorrow.

 

Then again, cruising DOES somewhat compare to my first European trip. I was 21 and it was one of those, "If it's Tuesday it must be Belgium" trips. I think it was a two week escorted tour and we went to upwards of 10 countries. But what that trip (and I assume European cruising) DID do was give me a taste of so many cities so I knew/know where I'd like to go back to actually see. Although even a full day in Rome after a bus ride is still more time in Rome than you'd get on a cruise.

[SamFritz]

I've found that, even though I've never been on the same ship twice, I enjoy the familiarity of the brand. There is now a sense that any Royal Caribbean ship is my "home away from home." I sometimes feel that instead of having a vacation cottage, I have a fleet of ships.

[Older Party]

DH & I even like more diversity than you, OlderParty! We don't understand how people can just keep cruising & cruising - so boring to us! And the port stops are such a waste of time, in our opinions. Thousands of people pour into port cities, or spend hours in buses/cars to go inland for a few hours. Sometimes we meet people, sometimes posters on CC, talk about the countries they have visited & we discover they have simply stopped in port cities while on a cruise - to us that is not visiting a country. To us, cruising is not real traveling - just staying at a resort, but on water instead of land. Maybe you are doing so, but I recommend for complete traveling diversity, devote most of your time to land traveling instead of just switching ships.

 

Currently, our cruising is only to use the ships as ferries to get us back & forth to Europe - maybe Asia next year. Then we do a land tour, which is what we consider as real traveling.

 

Happy travels.

I never thought of using a cruise ship to get to Europe, yet that is how it was done back in the day of course. What you describe here would be the best of both worlds to me ... being at sea, and then being in a foreign land for an extended stay.

 

One of my fondest trips was after a job I had in Paris, I decided to jump on the Eurostar and go to London. No tours, just a suitcase and a willingness to go. I have traveled extensively and I have to say, the trips that bring me the fondest memories are the most spontaneous ones.

 

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I love the diversity.

[lovemylab]

If I enjoy doing something, I want to do it again. This is true for travel, concerts, restaurants, etc. I do look forward to visiting new places but I also look forward to revisiting others too.

 

While you may consider trying a different ship or line to be a different experience, many would not agree with that thinking. I know several people that can't believe I want to go on "another cruise" when I have already been on three. Some people see all cruises (regardless of itinerary or ship) as the same experience, others see the same ship/itinerary as the same expereince while some think it is impossible to have the same experience.

 

Would I go on the same ship and itinerary again? Absolutely. Would I do it within 1-2 years apart? Likely not.