Would you cruise if only ports were private islands?

[Ib2man]

Yes

[DaHerm]

I would NOT cruise if only going to private islands and cruise to nowhere.  The cruise ports are part of the allure of cruise, as well as being pampered, and all the second rate food I can stomach. The private islands are just extension to the cruiseline with none of the perks you have on the cruise.   For me there is something about visiting a port city and seeing how the locals do things. Usually we get a private taxi and tour the island for all the scenic spots and learn something about the people and food. I also check out the Resorts to see if I would want to do a destination vacation to that port city. FYI Aruba is my favorite destination vacation spot.

To address RCC duty free liquor being able to take it back to your cabin. Based on the length of your cruise after a certain day, you can purchase duty free liquor and take it back to your room. For example on a 7 day cruise, your 5^th day forward you can purchase liquor in the duty free and take back to your cabin.  

 

[Kathy5498]

Usually we cruise for destination but at this point wouldn't mind to stop at these private island that are really beautiful!

[ilikeanswers]

The one benefit for a private island cruise is if there is an outbreak of COVID19 the private islands would make great quarantine zones 😜. 

Edited May 18, 2020 by ilikeanswers

[clo]

2 minutes ago, Kathy5498 said:

Usually we cruise for destination but at this point wouldn't mind to stop at these private island that are really beautiful!

Are these private islands all in the Caribbean?

[clo]

Just now, ilikeanswers said:

The one benefit for a private island cruise is if there is an outbreak of COVID19 the private islands world make great quarantine zones 😜. 

LOL. Love it. With no medical care. Sounds like a winner.

[Cruzaholic41]

20 minutes ago, Kathy5498 said:

Usually we cruise for destination but at this point wouldn't mind to stop at these private island that are really beautiful!

Agreed. I think it sounds wonderful right about now. 

[ilikeanswers]

19 minutes ago, clo said:

LOL. Love it. With no medical care. Sounds like a winner.

 

It would be about the same medical care (unless cruise lines add medical facilities to the islands) as on a ship and it would beat floating around aimlessly looking for somewhere to dock😉. 

[clo]

2 minutes ago, ilikeanswers said:

 

It would be about the same medical care (unless cruise lines add medical facilities to the islands) as on a ship and it would beat floating around aimlessly looking for somewhere to dock😉. 

Well, there is that. I've read that there may be requirements for more and better medical care. But I can't imagine every ship having staff to handle multiple patients. Inserting ventilators?  Sheesh.

[freedom750]

YES  

[Captain Ricky]

I would consider it if the program on the ship were appealing.  I like HAL cruises with good lecturers, so if it was a cruise with sufficient sea days and a good lecture and enrichment program I would look into it.  Or if it were a theme cruise (like the old Prairie Home Companion cruises) I may consider it.  I'm a trekkie a Star Trek cruise for a week without ports, why not?  Adding a private island may be a positive add on.  A pleasant break from the shipboard life.  I don't think I would do it without the incentive of a good program.

 

Edited May 18, 2020 by Captain Ricky

[scarletsmummy]

No i wouldn't ,after spending one day on NCL's island it has put me off private islands for life .

[Charles4515]

Do you mostly cruise to warm areas, i.e., Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico?

 

You seem surprised but the reply’s don’t surprise me. Always has been a subset of passengers who cruise for the ship, not the destination. Who don’t get off at ports. Even a great itinerary like Bermuda where we did St. George’s and Hamilton last August on Oceania which is a destination oriented cruise line I would estimate a third to half the passengers did not get off the ship. To each their own I guess.

 

 

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[Charles4515]

Well, there is that. I've read that there may be requirements for more and better medical care. But I can't imagine every ship having staff to handle multiple patients. Inserting ventilators?  Sheesh.

Whether it is a private island or not that issue would be the same. The Caribbean ports won’t necessarily have medical facilities for multiple patients or ventilators. That is why Caribbean ports would not allow cruise ships to dock when the pandemic was declared even when cruise lines would claim no one onboard was sick. Whatever the itinerary, private islands or not private islands until there is a vaccine or the virus disappears cruising to anywhere is problematic.


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[SNJCruisers]

4 hours ago, clo said:

Do you mostly cruise to warm areas, i.e., Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico?

31 cruises to Bermuda, Bahamas, Eastern Western Southern Caribbean.  3 cruises to Canada, 1 cruise to Mexican Riviera.

[SNJCruisers]

1 hour ago, scarletsmummy said:

No i wouldn't ,after spending one day on NCL's island it has put me off private islands for life .

Harvest Caye?

[Mustering up again]

No, I would not. Although I love being on the ship, the private islands have never been a big draw for me, as I have easy access to a very good beach where I live. I enjoy seeing new places and meeting new people on and off the ship. For now, I would not feel comfortable doing  that, and the activities I enjoy on the ship pretty much all involve a group of people. (For ex: Trivia, the Piano Bar, The Casino, and the Pool and dining areas.)  I also think it would be more likely to get sick on board than on a privately run island, despite protocol that had been met both places for screening and cleaning. So,

no, at this time I wouldn't want to go on a cruise that just went to private islands. I'm sure there are many who would though, who don't have access to a beach at home.

[nanwel]

No. They still have  people live on the islands

 And, you do not know who your crew or fellow passengers will be.

In time maybe

..but it will be a long time yet..

 

[jeandtchr]

LOVE PRIVATE ISLANDS, NOT A PROBLEM FOR ME!

[SNJCruisers]

4 hours ago, Mustering up again said:

I'm sure there are many who would though, who don't have access to a beach at home.

I live about an hour away from the Jersey shore and would not think about comparing the beaches there versus Labadee or Grand Turk or HMC for a second.  Unless you live in FLA, I think you would be hard pressed to compare a beach in other areas of the continental US to any of the 3 cruise port beaches I mentioned above.

[sworn to fun]

Yes we will and we already have one booked in December. We live near port Canaveral and will sail with Royal Caribbean to Cocoa Cay. Think about it, no airplane ride and only 1 port Bahamas that is on the itinerary. Some countries may still deny docking so this cruise in December, 2 days at their private island and 1 day in the Bahamas should be a go. These cruises are going to be highly popular in the restart of cruising. Book 1 now while you can.😎

[POSSUM4JEN]

Absolutely, Sounds like the cruise I'd rather do. I am like George, just want one beach.

[pacruise804]

7 hours ago, Kathy5498 said:

Usually we cruise for destination but at this point wouldn't mind to stop at these private island that are really beautiful!

 

7 hours ago, clo said:

Are these private islands all in the Caribbean?

Several of the private islands are in the North Atlantic (Bahamas) and not Caribbean.  While I found it almost too beautiful (artificial), Half Moon Cay in Bahamas is considered by many to be one of the best beaches.  It is definitely a soft, white sand beach with incredibly clear water that is accessible to more mainstream cruisers than the more exotic beaches that might appeal to you - although I thought you've posted that you don't like beaches.

 

Not everyone has or chooses to use the resources (time or money) to travel to Europe/Asia/South America.  For many, an escape from stresses of day to day life - even if it is just relaxation and not culturally enriching - is enjoyable.  I have little interest in going to many touristy areas (Disney,  Vegas, even NYC immediately come to mind), but it doesn't surprise me that others do enjoy those places.

 

12 minutes ago, SNJCruisers said:

I live about an hour away from the Jersey shore and would not think about comparing the beaches there versus Labadee or Grand Turk or HMC for a second.  Unless you live in FLA, I think you would be hard pressed to compare a beach in other areas of the continental US to any of the 3 cruise port beaches I mentioned above.

 

I grew up near Presque Isle and while it was beautiful, definitely different than the Caribbean/Bahamas beaches.

[lv2cruisgrl]

No, not worth the $$ to do just their resort.  

[pacruise804]

I'm not sure if I answered the original question: we probably would if the price was right.  I would still get much of what I enjoy about cruising: being on the water and a chance to be under the water (snorkeling), meals that I don't have to think about, time away from the "real world."

 

We've also done camping trips where the point of the trip was to stay at the campground rather than it just being an inexpensive place to stay while touring an area (which is the norm now).

 

I recognize that cruising doesn't guarantee any of the ports regardless, so if a specific port was important it would be a land trip.