BallFour4 Posted May 4, 2014 #26 Share Posted May 4, 2014 (edited) I never take for granted the things we enjoy as family on vacation. Here are some of the ones that come to mind. seeing the ship as we top the causeway in Galveston stepping aboard from the gangway that first "ding" the sound the door makes after the suitcases are unpacked and we head out singing the Welcome Aboard Show songs redone for Carnival the treadmill at sea. It's better than any drink walking into dinner, no bill, no waiting for a table taking someone on their first cruise watching the Pilot boat watching the Monkey's Fist thrown at port as the lines are tended getting up early, decks are wet, only a few coffee drinkers up going to bed early one night on every cruise. Sometimes by 9pm seeing Canada from aboard the Glory last summer pier runners in Cozumel. It's the reason we have a lido cabin balcony, port side (same cabin on Triumph x 5) bad karaoke, the salt air didn't give you talent darlin' Put the binder down. watching Blue Cards line up at the dining room doors Bob Marley songs. The bad news is now it comes from my iPod blue water for miles those that hawk tanzanite (sp) and how rare it has become. Same message for two decades. putting on the mask and snorkel. Honduras, Cozumel, 7 Mile Beach. Amazing going back to Frys with the Panasonic waterproof camera that wasn't. He told me I voided the warranty by getting it wet. Yea, that was an interesting conversation. remembering the first trip, Carnival Mardi Gras, June 1976. High school graduation. My liver recovered in February 1978. . Edited May 4, 2014 by BallFour4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mysticks1 Posted May 4, 2014 #27 Share Posted May 4, 2014 These are a few of my favorite things. That step from the gangway onto the ship at embarkation and the first "boop" when they scan your card. I love it when standing on deck at sail away and feeling the ship start to move for the first time. I love room service coffee on that first sea day morning. Nothing but water to be seen and so relaxing. I like being up early and walking around the ship when most people are still in bed. It's almost like I have the whole ship to myself. Sitting out on the balcony before going to bed, reading my Kindle and listening to the water. A great way to wind down at the end of the day. I get to experience all of this starting next Sunday. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruisingSteelerGirl Posted May 4, 2014 Author #28 Share Posted May 4, 2014 Not having to pull out my wallet constantly! Restaurant meals for a whole week Not having teenagers under my feet constantly -- they actually go do things without me! Spending quality time with my family Sailaway Not having to get in the car to go somewhere Water/beach/sand Serenity deck & my kindle Fruit at almost every meal First DoD when we board! This thread is NOT helping the next 200+ days go by... sigh! :rolleyes: So sorry about thread... 48 days here. The sailaway is probably the best. Leaving from Miami on breeze. Just beautiful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruisingSteelerGirl Posted May 4, 2014 Author #29 Share Posted May 4, 2014 I never take for granted the things we enjoy as family on vacation. Here are some of the ones that come to mind. seeing the ship as we top the causeway in Galveston stepping aboard from the gangway that first "ding" the sound the door makes after the suitcases are unpacked and we head out singing the Welcome Aboard Show songs redone for Carnival the treadmill at sea. It's better than any drink walking into dinner, no bill, no waiting for a table taking someone on their first cruise watching the Pilot boat watching the Monkey's Fist thrown at port as the lines are tended getting up early, decks are wet, only a few coffee drinkers up going to bed early one night on every cruise. Sometimes by 9pm seeing Canada from aboard the Glory last summer pier runners in Cozumel. It's the reason we have a lido cabin balcony, port side (same cabin on Triumph x 5) bad karaoke, the salt air didn't give you talent darlin' Put the binder down. watching Blue Cards line up at the dining room doors Bob Marley songs. The bad news is now it comes from my iPod blue water for miles those that hawk tanzanite (sp) and how rare it has become. Same message for two decades. putting on the mask and snorkel. Honduras, Cozumel, 7 Mile Beach. Amazing going back to Frys with the Panasonic waterproof camera that wasn't. He told me I voided the warranty by getting it wet. Yea, that was an interesting conversation. remembering the first trip, Carnival Mardi Gras, June 1976. High school graduation. My liver recovered in February 1978. . Goosebumps reading some of these! I forgot to add... After the lifeboat drill....when they say you are free to have a fun vacation...or whatever they say. 2nd cruise we went on the millennium cruise on New Year's Eve 2000. No children back then....crazy fun!!!! Let's just say...what happens on cruise...stays on cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruisingSteelerGirl Posted May 4, 2014 Author #30 Share Posted May 4, 2014 look forward to... Sea days muts reading watching ocean life muts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMSACE6 Posted May 4, 2014 #31 Share Posted May 4, 2014 muts? muts...movies under the stars:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maldenmusic Posted May 4, 2014 #32 Share Posted May 4, 2014 Stuff I wouldn't do otherwise like taking the towel folding class, dance classes, etc. And not having to be concerned with being somewhere all the time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crusinpsychRN Posted May 4, 2014 #33 Share Posted May 4, 2014 Relaxing on the balcony with a good book. Trying different desserts. Having a clean stateroom twice a day! Meeting new people. Learning totally superfluous things at trivia. Watching people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjcruiser Posted May 4, 2014 #34 Share Posted May 4, 2014 Spending quality time with family and/or friends outside our normal environment. Catching up on life with family and friends Enjoying different ports of calls, and all they have to offer. Meeting new people onboard. Enjoying the whole cruise "atmosphere." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
singbluesilver1 Posted May 4, 2014 #35 Share Posted May 4, 2014 Making everyone jealous when I tell them I'm about to go on a cruise!!!! Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruz addict Posted May 4, 2014 #36 Share Posted May 4, 2014 Wow, this is hard because I luv everything,but here goes: 1. Sipping wine at night on my balcony while gazing at the stars and moon! 2. Singing the tune to "The Love Boat" as we walk the gangway onto the ship. 3. Sampling delicious desserts at lunch or dinner. 4. Watching a movie under the beautiful stars in the middle of the ocean. 5. Ordering the cheesecake from room service and eating it in the balcony . 6. Watching the pier runners try to make it back in board in time! Hilarious!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dljones Posted May 4, 2014 #37 Share Posted May 4, 2014 (edited) What I love most about cruising is FREEDOM! Love Sail away. Running up to the deck after muster drill with a cold beer in hand. I enjoy dinner in the MDR. Love the Red Frog Pub on Magic. Watching the ocean. Hearing the water coming from the wake of the ship. Carnival waterworks - loads of refreshing fun on a hot summer day. Balcony cabins. Entering ports. Shore excursions - always an adventure, every time. I love the "bong" the card reader makes. Boarding the ship. Waiting for months for my cruise - I hang out here and write things like this! Pier runners and knock on wood I will never be on of those! Just getting away from it all! 35 days to go! :D Edited May 4, 2014 by dljones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taters Posted May 4, 2014 #38 Share Posted May 4, 2014 I love so many things! Getting away from work, bills, laundry, dishes and errands! Spending much needed time with hubby and friends! Quiet time with my book and a frosty something. Swimming! Meals that I do not have to cook myself. I already mentioned getting away from washing dishes! Seeing new places. Getting away from Fairbanks when it's 40 below and dark and cold and going somewhere colorful and warm. Meeting new friends! Not having to worry about drinking and driving. Playing in the casino. Leisurely mornings where my biggest decision is "lido or dining room?". Room service whenever I want it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruisingSteelerGirl Posted May 4, 2014 Author #39 Share Posted May 4, 2014 What I love most about cruising is FREEDOM! Love Sail away. Running up to the deck after muster drill with a cold beer in hand. I enjoy dinner in the MDR. Love the Red Frog Pub on Magic. Watching the ocean. Hearing the water coming from the wake of the ship. Carnival waterworks - loads of refreshing fun on a hot summer day. Balcony cabins. Entering ports. Shore excursions - always an adventure, every time. I love the "bong" the card reader makes. Boarding the ship. Waiting for months for my cruise - I hang out here and write things like this! Pier runners and knock on wood I will never be on of those! Just getting away from it all! 35 days to go! :D I thought I was going to be a pier runner once...I was dying...my stomach was in knots...DH said don't worry....we have PLENTY of time....thank goodness we found a group and merged with them. I was able to get on lido with wine in hand to watch the true pier runners. I love the bong noise too when boarding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IPlayWithString Posted May 4, 2014 #40 Share Posted May 4, 2014 [quote name='SMSACE6']Simple for me; I love having all that food to choose from, not having to cook it, or clean up after cooking it. I especially enjoy the MDR at dinner, the food and the wait staff who treat me so well. [/QUOTE] Me too...that's the best part about it. I can have whatever I want, pretty much day or night, and not have to worry about cooking or cleaning up! I love that I'm spending half of what I would spend on a landbased vacation. I love that I can send my hubby and son to bed and then go dance the night away. I love my Guy's burgers! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisp414 Posted May 4, 2014 #41 Share Posted May 4, 2014 [quote name='SMSACE6']Simple for me; Most, I love not having to be anywhere, or to have to call anyone, or to have to answer a telephone or an email. I love having all that food to choose from, not having to cook it, or clean up after cooking it. I especially enjoy the MDR at dinner, the food and the wait staff who treat me so well. I love sleeping as long as I like to, either going to bed early and getting up early or going late and sleeping late. I love ordering room service breakfast, coffee, croissants and fruit, and lingering in my room till I feel like going out for the day. I love the ports of call. I have not yet been to one that I did not like. I enjoy the serenity deck, or those side decks on deck three of the conquest class ships. I love the atrium bar for a drink before dinner. About a dozen more things...but I wont go on. :)[/QUOTE] Most of your answers echo my sentiments! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skidawg79 Posted May 4, 2014 #42 Share Posted May 4, 2014 Awesome thread! Plain and simple for me..... NO CELL PHONE!! Able to get away from work calling me at all hours of the day and night for 1 week!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dljones Posted May 4, 2014 #43 Share Posted May 4, 2014 [quote name='deck2261']I thought I was going to be a pier runner once...I was dying...my stomach was in knots...DH said don't worry....we have PLENTY of time....thank goodness we found a group and merged with them. I was able to get on lido with wine in hand to watch the true pier runners. I love the bong noise too when boarding.[/QUOTE] I love the bong noise when coming back on board after a long and usually very hot excursions. That AC feels mighty good. Then it is to the cabin to get refreshed before heading out for evening activities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruisingSteelerGirl Posted May 5, 2014 Author #44 Share Posted May 5, 2014 Some ships had the glass stairs. My kids loved this and forced me to climbed them daily. Me in tears while they smiled and laughed. Love having a drink in the atrium. Before cheers...my favorite part was seeing my luggage arrive safely in my room with alcohol on board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TruckinMama Posted May 5, 2014 #45 Share Posted May 5, 2014 No cleaning! No cooking! Shopping! Food on a whim. Shows. Visiting new places. Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingCruiserNJ Posted May 5, 2014 #46 Share Posted May 5, 2014 Well, I love everything about the cruise experience. It actually begins with flying in the day before. It is just a different feeling when you know you are about to be on vacation. When you get to the port and you see the ship for the first time. It doesn't matter if you have been on that ship or that category of ships before - it is still special and magical. Or when I first get my s/s card and am through the atrium door and first onboard. Once onboard, I love lunch on lido the first day and seeing the cabin/meeting the steward. I love meeting our tablemates and waitstaff on the first night at dinner. I always love to sit in the hot tub before dinner every night when it usually isn't too busy and just sit and relax. Maybe even meet a few new friends. I love to go to the mini golf. I love to go to the comedy shows. I love thinking about how I am at sea in paradise while everyone else is back home on land most likely working. A bad day at sea is better than a great day at work....most of the time at least. I like seeing new ports or doing new exciting excursions at ports I have been to before. I love going to sleep whenever I want to, eating whatever I want to, waking up pretty much whenever I want to (except when the steward knocks on the door and wakes me up to do the morning cleaning LOL). I like writing reviews about my cruises to share with other cruise fans. I like pretty much everything about cruising except when the time comes to debark and go home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingCruiserNJ Posted May 5, 2014 #47 Share Posted May 5, 2014 (edited) [quote name='deck2261']I thought I was going to be a pier runner once...I was dying...my stomach was in knots...DH said don't worry....we have PLENTY of time....thank goodness we found a group and merged with them. I was able to get on lido with wine in hand to watch the true pier runners. I love the bong noise too when boarding.[/quote] Yes, watching pier runners is entertaining. I went on a cruise with my cousin one time (her first cruise) a few years ago on the Freedom and I believe we were in Ocho Rios and sat up on lido right before sailaway time. Ocho Rios has a very long pier as I am sure many of you know and so many people were hurrying back so they didn't get left in Jamaica. So, we stand up near the railing and along with a few other people, were heckling those who were running and acting the fool trying to get back onboard in time. This ship still had a band, so of course while this is all going on they play "with or without you" by U2. It was hilarious. They played an extended version of it, about 10 minutes long until everyone was back on and it was time to leave. Since I have never gotten back onboard less than about 30-45 minutes before scheduled departure time, I can laugh at pier runners. It sure is fun. So is powering away from the pier and waving goodbye to yet another beautiful island. On a side note, in St. John, Canada, they have some sort of military or police color guard that does a salute and really moving rendition of amazing grace on the bagpipes as you pull away. I thought that was awesome, has anyone else noticed this? Edited May 5, 2014 by FlyingCruiserNJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katmarha Posted May 5, 2014 #48 Share Posted May 5, 2014 I love this topic! I love everything everyone had posted. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruisingSteelerGirl Posted May 5, 2014 Author #49 Share Posted May 5, 2014 I hate the hairy back contest!!!!!! But why do I go and watch?????? Seriously???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mousey Posted May 5, 2014 #50 Share Posted May 5, 2014 (edited) [B][I]The number one thing I love about a cruise is...[/I][/B] Seeing my DH and DS relax and not have to worry about work or school. [B][I]Other things I like about cruising:[/I][/B] Having dinner with the DH every night and with the DS occasionally without any interruptions whatsoever and trying new things to eat. Discovering new ports and taking exciting, adventurous excursions in each one with the DH and DS. Sitting/walking on the deck in the evening with the DH. Hanging out with the DH during sea days just doing whatever we feel like, whenever we feel like it...tea time, wine tastings, finding a quite spot to sit, relax, and just watch the world go by without a care in the world. Midnight snacks from Room Service (especially the chocolate cake). Just the whole idea of being with the DH and DS away from our everyday lives and knowing that everyday is going to be fun and bring new adventures. Getting that one great (not professional) picture of the three of us to use for our annual Christmas card. Meeting new people and keeping in touch with them for years beyond the cruise. That special feeling in my stomach when I see our ship for the first time while heading into port. I just love, love, love, love, cruising...been doing it for 49 years!:D Edited May 5, 2014 by mousey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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