A never to be repeated cruise

[Deckhandoug]

While we enjoyed Alaska and did every possible excursion possible, I don't have it very high on our "must do again list"...Maybe because we spend so much time in the smokies we weren't really impressed that much with the scenery?

 

For us it's all about the ports the ship and it's amenities are secondary.

 

Don't get me wrong, we appreciate them very much, but we consider it more a floating hotel.

 

We cruise the Caribbean quite often, and feel we are really just getting to know the places, if all you do is visit the port area and beach then you are really missing out on some great things.

 

Europe is our focus too, we usually are really having fun exploring via cruise ship.

 

Planning IS half the fun!:)

[MissRabbit]

OK, enough about all the wonderful cruises we've taken. Is there a cruise you would not repeat. I don't mean because the ship stank, but because of the places visited. I will not return to Alaska, once is enough. I enjoyed the trip while it lasted but I see no reason to go back.

 

our honeymoon cruise to Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Ocho Rios, Jamaica.

 

While i would gladly go back to Grand Cayman, i don't want to visit either of the other two ports ever again.

 

I will avoid any cruise itineraries that have those on the list.

[MissRabbit]

I totally agree about the air pollution in Cairo. When we got to our hotel, it overlooked the pyramids and despite being forewarned by a friend, I threw open the balcony doors and walked outside. A coughing fit then ensued and I beat a hasty retreat back inside. LOL However, that being said, our next cruise after the transatlantic, will be a Nile River cruise.

 

I agree. Egypt was fascinating to explore the pyramids/temples etc, but i hated the place. Cars driving every which way like rats in a maze and the pollution was aweful. I remember getting an "orange" at the market. I put it in parenthesis because what i got was something round and black. Had to use napkins and water to buff off the black coating of pollution in order to see the orange rind before i would dare peel it off and eat the orange.

[Bookish Angel]

I detest heat, so after my birthday cruise aboard Oasis of the Seas in mid September, no more heat and humidity-filled cruises for me. I'll definitely go back to Antarctica and other cold places, though.

[judie43]

I like the western Caribbean except got Grand Cayman. Going there again in October and will not get off the ship. The other stops we will get off for a bit. We have done so many Caribbean cruises the ports do all start to look alike.

The one cruise I would never take again is New England & Canada.

[cruiserbryce]

not necassarily a whole itinerary but I dont really need to go back to Acapulco...it was way too big. There was too much trafiic and it takes a long time to get to your excursions...so it limits what you can do and see if you take any excusion.

[QLUVS2CRUZ]

Costa Maya and Nassau...seen them, don't need to go back...

[DeepWaterMariner]

We live on the "left" coast. And, that makes it easy to get on a cruise going to Mexico/Hawaii/Pacific Northwest/Panama Canal/Alaska and repositioning cruises without having to get on an airplane. My DH now refuses to fly [unless it's for a family emergency!]

We've done Europe and have traveled, extensively via motorhome all over the U.S.

To go to Mexico onboard a glorious, floating hotel is okay by me.

After about 15 cruises to Mexico, we don't get off the ship. We just enjoy the vaction time/good food/meeting new friends and finding the time to read/relax and enjoy each other.

I know we're on the sea [i can smell the salt water], I know we're being treated well [i don't have to cook or make a bed] and, the best of all, when everybody else gets off the ship, we have it all to ourselves.

 

I understand completely. My DW doesn't want to fly anymore. We live close to Galveston so we have done the western Caribbean to death since no flight is necessary. We barely set foot ashore but enjoy being on a cruise.

[Fergus]

We've done lots of different itineraries and enjoyed them all.........you can MAKE a good time out of any itinerary if you're with the right people. My only bad cruise was me and my daughter with her friend & her friend's mom. O.M.G. it was AWFUL. They were horrific, rude, had no idea how to behave and be civilized. I just realized the other day that I've blotted that out of my mind so much I can't even remember which ship we were on! And it's only been 2 years. :eek:

[ookpik]

pretty much any and all caribbean cruise. Actually the cruise lines try to keep it a secret but all caribbean cruises only visit one island. At the end of the day the ship sails off shore so the casino can open. During this time the local residents change all of the signage in the towns to reflect a different island and in the morning the ship sails back into the same port and the passengers think they are on a different island. With every island having the same indian run jewelry shops and the same bars, the same tours etc. Who would really know!

 

:d:d

[Walt fan]

I doubt that we would want to repeat our Alaska cruise, although there was nothing wrong at all, and we finished it off with a short but agreeable land tour to the Princess lodges at Denali and McKinley, plus a day in Anchorage, all with lovely weather.

However prior to the cruise we had done a 6 day Rockies tour to Calgary, Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper and after the magnificence of the Rockies scenary Alaska was in truth quite a bit of a let down.

Even a sunny day in College Fiord watching the glaciers calving failed to match the splendour of the Canadian Rockies.

 

Terrierjohn: Would you mind sharing how you did your 6 day Rockies tour? Was it through an official touring company? This is something we would want to do prior also; any info is appreciated.

[GlendaleCruiser]

Would love to do the Western Caribbean again. Loved GCayman, didn't really go to Cozumel because we got on a ferry to Tulum and it took all day. Wouldn't get off the ship in Jamaica. Didn't even think Dunn's River Falls was that big a deal, but armed guards and bars on the windows--no thanks.

 

Done Mexican Riviera twice and wouldn't get off at PVallarta or Mazatlan again. Would just go to the beach in Cabo. Forget Ensenada and the shopping gauntlet.

 

Would like to go again to Alaska, and may Eastern Mediterranean with Greece, but not Egypt.

 

Looking forward to my second Western Mediterranean next May.

[cruznjan]

There's no cruise I wouldn't repeat.

[printingchick]

I wouldn't do the standard Cozumel/Grand Cayman/Jamaica western itinerary again. I will be returning to Cozumel (again) on my next cruise, but it also goes to Belize and Roatan, which makes the itinerary far more interesting to me. I like the touristy islands, but I really prefer the less developed ports of call.

 

I could cruise in the southern Caribbean over and over again because there are still ports of call I've not been to yet.

 

As for least favorite ports of call, mine would be Nausau and Aruba. I actually had a great time in Ochos Rios, after having avoided cruises visiting there for many years, due to negative comments from fellow cruisers. We had a blast climbing the falls and I loved Margarittaville.

 

Where would I go again and again (mostly because I can't afford to take a LAND vacation to these places so I have to visit them in one day increments from a ship)? Dominica and St. John.

[Travelcat2]

There seems to be an interesting theme here. The Caribbean, Alaska and Mexico seem to be on the "hit" list. We go to Mexico every year, but, would never cruise there -- you only see the tourist parts of the country. We love the Western Caribbean (Belize, Hondurus) -- definitely not Cozumel. Never wouuld consider Jamaica. The rest of the Caribbean is just boring -- touristy, etc. However, it is cheap and relatively easy to get to. So, we have yet another one booked in able to try out a new cruise line. Like one poster said. . . . the ship could leave one island, sail overnight and go back to the other side of the island and no one would know the difference. They all look the same.

[wizard-of-roz]

There seems to be an interesting theme here. The Caribbean, Alaska and Mexico seem to be on the "hit" list. We go to Mexico every year, but, would never cruise there -- you only see the tourist parts of the country. We love the Western Caribbean (Belize, Hondurus) -- definitely not Cozumel. Never wouuld consider Jamaica. The rest of the Caribbean is just boring -- touristy, etc. However, it is cheap and relatively easy to get to. So, we have yet another one booked in able to try out a new cruise line. Like one poster said. . . . the ship could leave one island, sail overnight and go back to the other side of the island and no one would know the difference. They all look the same.

 

I agree that was funny about nightfall comes you change the signage and you're in a different port. :p

My DH always tells me [since we live in L.A.], that if we just go to certain portions of Los Angeles, for instance; Olvera Street, you would swear that you were in Mexico City, Aruba or portions of the Caribbean, etc.

All we need to do is take a 45 minute car ride or a 2 hour train ride [for something different] and, we're in a different country.

Okay, it's not as much fun as a cruise.

I'll stick to driving to San Pedro, seeing that glorious ship in the distance; boarding her; drinking something foo-foo; eating like a queen and not making a bed or a meal for at least one week. Now, that's what I call fun! :)

[jocap]

A divided household here....OH needs to go snorkelling every winter, so we'll probably return for a 2nd cruise to the Caribbean some day, but it's not my scene. We're repeating our winter Red Sea stay/cruise, because of the swimming, and I've lots of places yet to visit round there, but I go mainly because of the little, old ship with an amazing atmosphere.

Jo.

[not2old]

We're not big on going back to the Western Caribbean route except Labadee, maybe. Loved Alaska out of Seattle, would like to go again, this time on a Radience class ship. Absolutely hate the all day flight, though, to the "left coast." Enjoy going anywhere out of Baltimore, 2 hour drive from home! Love,love,love the Southern Caribbean, all the ports are very different and would go back in a heartbeat! Even without the ports, just being on a ship and being spoiled is vacay enough!!

[NW SOUTHERNBELLE]

I haven't been on this cruise but I think Princess Cruise lines has Canadian Rockies cruises. It does sound interesting.

[pinkie1]

There's no cruise I wouldn't repeat.

 

I'm with you on that!

 

But, if I HAD to pick one it would be Ensenada. I live near the LA port so I've done the Ensenada itinerary a ton. And besides every time I go they push alcohol so much, I'm not a drinker and they can't make me into one! The last time we went we took our 7 yo son. A guy from one of the bars was trying to entice us to come in and drink, and bringing our son in was ok! WHAT???!!! I gave him a dirty look and walked away.

[jotabecu]

I do not believe there is a cruise or place in the world I have been that I would not repeat.

 

I think everywhere is great.

[robthens]

Have been to Alaska 3 times and would go again.

 

Could care less about a Mexico itinery; however, our grown kids invite us from time to time to go with them on the short hops out of Galveston. Sure, we go........would rather be sailing with my family than sitting at home.

 

I agree totally with the Jamaica comments.

[cruisin'momma09]

I have seen many comments regarding Jamaica... What is it about Jamaica that makes you not want to return?

[Kamloops50]

We found the local taxi cab drivers , merchants and other vendoes very pushy and rude. In Ochos Rios they wanted to charge us $50 USD for a taxi ride of 3 blocks (10 min walk) . They never took "NO" for an answer.:eek:

[mikewrit]

I want to go every other place before going back to any. The one I would not put on the second-time-around list would be Western Caribbean. I share the lack of enthusiasm of others on this thread for Roatan and Belize. The high point for me on the WesCarib cruise was an excursion to Tulum when we anchored off Cozumel. The trip was a crowded three-bus mass attack. The afternoon we were there the governor of Quintana Roo held a photo op amid the ruins to celebrate the naming of the site as one of the top 10 such places in the world. Or maybe only Mexico. Anyhow, I would like to go back to that very impressive historic place with more time and less company.