A little far out cruise question

[edinburgher]

14 hours ago, MacMadame said:

I wouldn't visit Germany 17 times but I would visit Europe 17 times as long as it was a different country each time.

We are inded very fortunate as Europe offers a vast number of countries all of which have their own languages, customs, heritage, religions, arc hitecture, customs, art scenes etc not to mention varying food and drink. We can reach most of these countries with flight times of between 3 and 5/6 hours, and I appreciate that flight times of such short duration in a country as huge as the US would hardly cover any of the vast distances.

 

You are fortunate to have so many different States to visit and it would take almost a lifetime to visit a different one each year without ever leaving the USA..We are very fortunate to have the European equivalent, a different country each year over a lifetime.

 

We do envy you your National Parks as we have a few, but i don't think many are in the same league as the US ones..

[edinburgher]

On 8/9/2024 at 11:01 PM, saturn3 said:

Our 25th wedding Anniversary is coming in 2026. We would like to do something special, land style tour/ or cruise.

saturn3.  Sincere apologies as your very genuine question has got lost somewhere amongst the other topics which caused it to digress.

 

I hope you got some useful info along the way or perhaps ssome  might get posted from now on.

[saturn3]

18 minutes ago, edinburgher said:

saturn3.  Sincere apologies as your very genuine question has got lost somewhere amongst the other topics which caused it to digress.

 

I hope you got some useful info along the way or perhaps ssome  might get posted from now on.

Thank you and yes we did go off on somewhat of a tangent. But always appreciative on any advice.

[SelectSys]

1 hour ago, saturn3 said:

Thank you and yes we did go off on somewhat of a tangent. But always appreciative on any advice.

Personally, I prefer the Med over Scandinavia / Baltic for cruising as I prefer warmer, sunnier weather.  I especially like the cruises in the eastern Med which include Greece and Turkey.  Of course you really haven't shared too much about your own travel preferences both in terms of climate and types of activities you would like to do. 

 

In terms of land versus sea, I would vote for a cruise for my 25th anniversary.  I would think you would like to relax at least part of the time and the atmosphere on board a cruise ship is very conducive for that.   Land vacations, unless you simply plan on staying in a single spot, simply involve more time spent on logistical activities such as transportation, checking in an out of hotels, etc.

 

Finally regarding cruise lines, I like the idea of picking a higher class cruise over a "normal" mass market line as this is your one and only 25th anniversary.   Maybe this could even be one of the "ship within a ship" concepts like on MSC or NCL.  If you stick with a line like RCCL, at least allocate some extra money for the specialty dining or other optional items to upgrade the experience.

 

[clo]

2 hours ago, edinburgher said:

You went to the wrong area.  Neighbouring Andalucia would, I think, have suited you much better as it is more authentically  "Spanish".

 

Next time try Seville, Jerez, Cordoba, Granada and others in Andalucia, and experience the difference.

Oh, we went there. FAR preferred it. And, hey, others, they're right.

[saturn3]

3 hours ago, SelectSys said:

Personally, I prefer the Med over Scandinavia / Baltic for cruising as I prefer warmer, sunnier weather.  I especially like the cruises in the eastern Med which include Greece and Turkey.  Of course you really haven't shared too much about your own travel preferences both in terms of climate and types of activities you would like to do. 

 

In terms of land versus sea, I would vote for a cruise for my 25th anniversary.  I would think you would like to relax at least part of the time and the atmosphere on board a cruise ship is very conducive for that.   Land vacations, unless you simply plan on staying in a single spot, simply involve more time spent on logistical activities such as transportation, checking in an out of hotels, etc.

 

Finally regarding cruise lines, I like the idea of picking a higher class cruise over a "normal" mass market line as this is your one and only 25th anniversary.   Maybe this could even be one of the "ship within a ship" concepts like on MSC or NCL.  If you stick with a line like RCCL, at least allocate some extra money for the specialty dining or other optional items to upgrade the experience.

 

SelectSys We have seen good itineraries on NCL which we have sailed before and enjoyed very much. MSC however we have not sailed and don’t know much about them. Cool to warm climates we enjoy being in our 60’s the heat does not do us well anymore. Activities we enjoy is sightseeing museums, culture, fine dining and experiencing the countryside.I agree going from hotel to hotel can be time consuming and stressful. With either land or cruise a tour for first time visitors is helpful. Just with land type of vacation you can spend a couple of days in the same location instead of hours on a cruise. However we have been on many cruises and enjoyed them all.

[edinburgher]

1 hour ago, saturn3 said:

I especially like the cruises in the eastern Med which include Greece and Turkey.

Also have a look at itineraries which include Croatian ports, the more of them the better.

[clo]

2 hours ago, saturn3 said:

SelectSys We have seen good itineraries on NCL which we have sailed before and enjoyed very much. MSC however we have not sailed and don’t know much about them. Cool to warm climates we enjoy being in our 60’s the heat does not do us well anymore. Activities we enjoy is sightseeing museums, culture, fine dining and experiencing the countryside.I agree going from hotel to hotel can be time consuming and stressful. With either land or cruise a tour for first time visitors is helpful. Just with land type of vacation you can spend a couple of days in the same location instead of hours on a cruise. However we have been on many cruises and enjoyed them all.

I recently read that a tour company is now doing some where you base in one city and go out on "excursions" each day rather than long days driving. Sounds good to me.

[SelectSys]

2 hours ago, saturn3 said:

MSC however we have not sailed and don’t know much about them.

Nor have I although some posters here speak very highly of MSC's "yacht club" offering.  I personally am interested in trying this "ship within a ship" product from MSC.

 

2 hours ago, saturn3 said:

Cool to warm climates we enjoy being in our 60’s the heat does not do us well anymore.

I guess it depends on what month you are planning to travel could influence where you ultimately decide to go.  

 

2 hours ago, saturn3 said:

Activities we enjoy is sightseeing museums, culture, fine dining and experiencing the countryside

hmm - this actually makes me think that you might enjoy a river cruise across Europe.  These cruises are a bit different than ocean cruises and may give you a nice mix which combines elements of both land tours and cruises.  Many of these cruises also offer land extensions too. 

 

Good luck!

 

BTW - We took our first river cruise last spring and really enjoyed it.  One note, river cruises tend to be more expensive than ocean cruises.

[saturn3]

17 hours ago, SelectSys said:

Nor have I although some posters here speak very highly of MSC's "yacht club" offering.  I personally am interested in trying this "ship within a ship" product from MSC.

 

I guess it depends on what month you are planning to travel could influence where you ultimately decide to go.  

 

hmm - this actually makes me think that you might enjoy a river cruise across Europe.  These cruises are a bit different than ocean cruises and may give you a nice mix which combines elements of both land tours and cruises.  Many of these cruises also offer land extensions too. 

 

Good luck!

 

BTW - We took our first river cruise last spring and really enjoyed it.  One note, river cruises tend to be more expensive than ocean cruises.

I have seen river cruises however if we targeted Greece as our destination, I don’t believe they travel there.

saturn 

[lynncarol]

Saturn....I think there are several factors involved in selecting a travel option and only you can know which are the most important to you. 1.  How risk-adverse you are: do you worry that about encountering dangerous or uncomfortable situations on your own? If something went amiss, would it ruin your experience? My husband and I love to travel independently, but as we age, we find it harder to 'go with the flow' should problems arise: Cancelled flights, train strikes, loss of luggage, getting ill in third world countries, etc. (All of which have happened to us). If so, independent travel is not for you. 2.  How much do crowds bother you?  I know from recent experience that the very popular tourist spots in Europe (and also the most visited by cruises) are mobbed by tourists now.  I am sorry but that includes Greece too, not to mention their wildfires now. I hate crowds, but many folks deal with that better than I and you might be one of those so cruises to the area (including River cruises) could be the answer for you.

3. How much input do you like in your travel agenda? Taking a guided tour, things are pretty set in stone, unless you are willing to shell out the big bucks for private guides. If money is no object, this is a great way to travel. My husband and I took two of our adult grandkids on safaris to South Africa and Botswana, using a local travel agent to plan everything just for the 4 of us during 2021 when Covid had dramatically reduced prices in these areas. (Of course, this helps if you aren't risk adverse). The trip was probably the most expensive one we ever took and we certainly couldn't afford it now at current prices. But all four of us still recall every second of that trip with awe. 

Once you have given these issues serious consideration, the answer to your question should be apparent to you. 

[Hlitner]

21 hours ago, clo said:

I recently read that a tour company is now doing some where you base in one city and go out on "excursions" each day rather than long days driving. Sounds good to me.

That is a formula we have used, for over forty years, on our independent trips.  Rather than waste a lot of time and effort relocating, we tend to choose a good central location from where we take lots of day trips.  As a simple example, last year we spent 6 nights in Kyoto (pre-cruise).  We spent 4 of those days exploring the Kyoto area (amazing), took the train to Nara for a day, and on a different day we went all the way down to Hiroshima.  With a JR Rail Pass, these day trips did not add much to our budget and not changing hotels saved us many hours and lots of hassles.

 

In Europe, we will often arrange to rent an apartment for 1-3 weeks to use as a base.  This really works well, in Europe, because distances are reasonable.  I still remember when we stayed in Strasburg, France (for a few days) to explore the Alsace-Lorraine region.  One day, we decided to drive to Baden Baden, Germany, for lunch.  On the autobahn that drive took us less than an hour and it was like being an entirely different world (and lots of fun).

 

Once upon a time, when we were young adults, we took a bus tour in Greece.  That was the first (and hopefully last) bus tour we will take!  It was awful.  Long days on the bus, rushed visits to too many places, group meals, etc.  With a car, when we see something interesting we stop.  Want to eat...just stop!  Find a place we like...we stay!  GPS and cell phones have really made independent travel so much easier.  Just imagine spending a few weeks traveling around a country and never having to wait for somebody to return to the bus, go to the bathroom, or be found (because they get lost).

 

Hank

[clo]

3 hours ago, Hlitner said:

That is a formula we have used, for over forty years, on our independent trips.  Rather than waste a lot of time and effort relocating, we tend to choose a good central location from where we take lots of day trips.  As a simple example, last year we spent 6 nights in Kyoto (pre-cruise).  We spent 4 of those days exploring the Kyoto area (amazing), took the train to Nara for a day, and on a different day we went all the way down to Hiroshima.  With a JR Rail Pass, these day trips did not add much to our budget and not changing hotels saved us many hours and lots of hassles.

 

In Europe, we will often arrange to rent an apartment for 1-3 weeks to use as a base.  This really works well, in Europe, because distances are reasonable.  I still remember when we stayed in Strasburg, France (for a few days) to explore the Alsace-Lorraine region.  One day, we decided to drive to Baden Baden, Germany, for lunch.  On the autobahn that drive took us less than an hour and it was like being an entirely different world (and lots of fun).

 

Once upon a time, when we were young adults, we took a bus tour in Greece.  That was the first (and hopefully last) bus tour we will take!  It was awful.  Long days on the bus, rushed visits to too many places, group meals, etc.  With a car, when we see something interesting we stop.  Want to eat...just stop!  Find a place we like...we stay!  GPS and cell phones have really made independent travel so much easier.  Just imagine spending a few weeks traveling around a country and never having to wait for somebody to return to the bus, go to the bathroom, or be found (because they get lost).

 

Hank

Great post! We've done a few phenomenal escorted tours (Turkey, Israel and SE Asia spring to mind) and some where I wanted to scream. We're done with those. I'm thinking what you describe has having a base and going out on our own is what we may want to do. Yeah, back in our 'youth' AND no cell phones or internet, it was fine to arrive somewhere and find a place to stay. Not so much now. And a real plus to cruising.

 

[SelectSys]

4 hours ago, Hlitner said:

we took a bus tour in Greece.  That was the first (and hopefully last) bus tour we will take!  It was awful.

I have never done a bus tour and have always been suspicious of them since I first saw lines of suitcases in the lobby of hotels for early morning departures. The closest I will ever get to a bus tour is a river cruise which has many parallels in terms of many quick daily daily tours and bus rides. 

 

4 hours ago, Hlitner said:

GPS and cell phones have really made independent travel so much easier. 

Especially in places like Japan which you mentioned above.  Independent travel there was much more difficult prior to cell phones.  Heck, even finding places in cities could be difficult there with there addressing scheme.  I remember my first trip on business to Japan.  Even the local Japanese guys that I was with sometimes had trouble finding places they didn't really know.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_addressing_system

[saturn3]

38 minutes ago, SelectSys said:

I have never done a bus tour and have always been suspicious of them since I first saw lines of suitcases in the lobby of hotels for early morning departures. The closest I will ever get to a bus tour is a river cruise which has many parallels in terms of many quick daily daily tours and bus rides. 

 

Especially in places like Japan which you mentioned above.  Independent travel there was much more difficult prior to cell phones.  Heck, even finding places in cities could be difficult there with there addressing scheme.  I remember my first trip on business to Japan.  Even the local Japanese guys that I was with sometimes had trouble finding places they didn't really know.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_addressing_system

 

38 minutes ago, SelectSys said:

I have never done a bus tour and have always been suspicious of them since I first saw lines of suitcases in the lobby of hotels for early morning departures. The closest I will ever get to a bus tour is a river cruise which has many parallels in terms of many quick daily daily tours and bus rides. 

 

Especially in places like Japan which you mentioned above.  Independent travel there was much more difficult prior to cell phones.  Heck, even finding places in cities could be difficult there with there addressing scheme.  I remember my first trip on business to Japan.  Even the local Japanese guys that I was with sometimes had trouble finding places they didn't really know.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_addressing_system

I agree relocating from place to place can be a little hectic stressful. NCL has a nice cruise which includes parts of Italy and Greece even though you are only there  for a few hours. I don’t think river cruise is an option with Greece. Cruises are nice but I want to spend more time in the countryside than on a ship. That being said seeing Greece and Italy does sound nice. 

[SelectSys]

6 minutes ago, saturn3 said:

NCL has a nice cruise which includes parts of Italy and Greece even though you are only there  for a few hours.

Sounds great.  We once did a RCCL cruise from Rome that included a couple of stops in Italy along with Greece and Turkey.  We really enjoyed that cruise for the variety.  It was in late June and the weather wasn't too hot although it did get warm at times.

[Hlitner]

1 hour ago, SelectSys said:

I have never done a bus tour and have always been suspicious of them since I first saw lines of suitcases in the lobby of hotels for early morning departures. The closest I will ever get to a bus tour is a river cruise which has many parallels in terms of many quick daily daily tours and bus rides. 

 

 

Once upon a time we decided to try a river boat cruise in Europe (we had previously done it in China and Egypt).  So we booked a 14 day Viking cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest (and than spent some time on land).  This is a very popular itinerary which includes both the Rhine and Danube.  One day we stopped in Bratislava, which was our first visit to this area.  Off we went on the included excursion which took us to a wonderful art museum.  As we were rushed through this museum, our local guide looked at her watch and said we had to head back to our boat (we had barely scratched the surface of the art collection).  We had about 3 hours to explore Bratislava (and its region) before our boat was off to the next stop.

 

DW and I were truly unhappy with that boat cruise.  The boat was excellent (Viking is a terrific company) and the food, crew, and shipmates were all wonderful.  But seeing places in a couple of hours and entire countries in half a day was just not our style.  One day, as we were chugging along the Rhine at about 8 knots, I watched the cars zipping by on the adjacent autobahn.  Those cars were moving at over 100MPH.  I told DW, I would much prefer driving one of those cars and being able to spend real time in the  places of our choosing.  At the time, we were in our early 60s and I suggested to OP that perhaps when we got to our 80s or 90s we might be ready to slow down enough to do another European river cruise.  Still in our 70s, and still loving our independent European driving trips. :).  That boat trip also got us to Vienna (for our first visit to that wonderful city) where we actually had 6 whole hours!  WOW.

 

Hank

[SelectSys]

13 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

So we booked a 14 day Viking cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest (and than spent some time on land).

We did this cruise last May but continued on from Budapest to Bucharest.  The cruise was on Avalon and took 23 days.  We really liked the ship and made some good friends onboard.  We got to know the crew quite well from our captain on down and really enjoyed the onboard experience. 

 

What we found a bit boring and repetitious were the tours. Like you, we are mostly DIY travelers and at times felt a bit constrained by the ship's tight schedule and the level of programmed activities.  I would go again, but probably not for 3 weeks.

 

24 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

and still loving our independent European driving trips. :).

We also like driving trips as it really provides a level of freedom not possible on an organized trip.  We also don't mind taking local trains and busses to get around as well.