I am ruined ...

[JanineM]

We have been on three cruises in the last 12 months. I guess I have become accustomed to this type of vacation.

 

Last weekend we spent a bundle of money to go to Vegas for three nights. The flight was free, but we could have paid for a weeklong cruise for just the price of the hotel room.

 

From the moment we arrived at the hotel we were annoyed. The service at reception was horrible (unwelcoming and poor organization), room service trays sat in the hallways for DAYS, 45 minute waits for restaurants (and then exhorbitant prices to boot), a really uncomfortable bed, and the room was really, really noisy.

 

After about two days it hit me ... I have been totally spoiled by cruising! I expected friendly staff, a room that was cleaned before 2 pm, options for meals, responsive wait staff, etc., etc.

 

Good grief, does this mean that I can never again take a land based vacation?

 

Anyone else find that cruising has completed changed their expectations for other vacations?

[seahags]

YUP!!!:D :D

[Hatsoff389]

We have been on three cruises in the last 12 months. I guess I have become accustomed to this type of vacation.

 

Last weekend we spent a bundle of money to go to Vegas for three nights. The flight was free, but we could have paid for a weeklong cruise for just the price of the hotel room.

 

From the moment we arrived at the hotel we were annoyed. The service at reception was horrible (unwelcoming and poor organization), room service trays sat in the hallways for DAYS, 45 minute waits for restaurants (and then exhorbitant prices to boot), a really uncomfortable bed, and the room was really, really noisy.

 

After about two days it hit me ... I have been totally spoiled by cruising! I expected friendly staff, a room that was cleaned before 2 pm, options for meals, responsive wait staff, etc., etc.

 

Good grief, does this mean that I can never again take a land based vacation?

 

Anyone else find that cruising has completed changed their expectations for other vacations?

 

My wife and I tryed our first all inclusive resort back in November. We had a blast. I must admit that it is great to stay in just one location for 7 days or longer. I think I still enjoy cruising more. I would not hesitate to do another land based all inclusive resort in the future though either. They both have there perks, but cruising in my mind still has the edge. :D

[wakelover]

Sorry????:confused: ....what's a land based vacation???? ;) ;)

[Sandytoes]

does this mean that I can never again take a land based vacation?

By your tread, you answered your own question....

Welcome to the club....:D

[phoenix1181]

For many reasons, we do land based vacations more often than we cruise. No matter where we go, the service NEVER compares to what we get from the cruise staff. You need to remember where you are and, unfortunately, lower your expectations.

[Lowcountrygal]

Sorry????:confused: ....what's a land based vacation???? ;) ;)

 

Fantastic response! *LOL* And I love your signature "balcony snob in training!"

 

We haven't tried the all-inclusive land vacation yet, but for now, cruising works so well because you don't have to worry about the kids being occupied and having fun, don't have to figure out on a daily basis: what will we do? where will we eat? do we have enough cash? etc. Hubby says he relaxes on cruise vacation because he doesn't always have to be the "pathfinder".

 

Rose

[BILL-WI]

...Anyone else find that cruising has completed changed their expectations for other vacations?

 

I have exactly the same problem with vacations/holidays (land based and cruises) and the way I feel about "WORK". Vacation have totally changed my feeling about work. In fact...I am thinking seriously that I need to change my feelings, so....

 

I am giving up work!:eek:

 

I WISH!:cool:

[Merlin139]

We are doing a week all-inclusive in Turkey in June. All we are going to do is lay by the pool or by the sea about 50 yards from the Hotel.

 

Would love to do another cruise but a week is not long enough to get to USA for a cruise and the only one we could do in the dates was the Voyager out of Barcelona.

 

We have got the Turkey trip for 70% of the cost of one of us cruising.

 

You do get accustomed to the service on ships and that one of the reasons why so many keep going back.

[Janice M]

We used to love Las Vegas, then we went on a cruise on the Navigator. Have not been to Vegas since then. Although I would not mind going again. We also love Arizona and have been there many times.

 

Jan

[Janice M]

We used to go to Las Vegas pretty often, then we went on the Navigator. Since then we have been doing 2 cruises a year. Las Vagas is an awesome place to visit and I would not mind going again. I just like cruising so much better.

 

Jan

[wato1963]

i love cruising,but living in the UK i still love going to spain,greece,portugal infact loads of countries in europe for a weekend or a week.Low cost airlines thank god for them.

 

going to spain in 7 weeks

going to portugal in september :)

[ccletzgo]

We have been on three cruises in the last 12 months. I guess I have become accustomed to this type of vacation.

 

Last weekend we spent a bundle of money to go to Vegas for three nights. The flight was free, but we could have paid for a weeklong cruise for just the price of the hotel room.

 

From the moment we arrived at the hotel we were annoyed. The service at reception was horrible (unwelcoming and poor organization), room service trays sat in the hallways for DAYS, 45 minute waits for restaurants (and then exhorbitant prices to boot), a really uncomfortable bed, and the room was really, really noisy.

 

After about two days it hit me ... I have been totally spoiled by cruising! I expected friendly staff, a room that was cleaned before 2 pm, options for meals, responsive wait staff, etc., etc.

 

Good grief, does this mean that I can never again take a land based vacation?

 

Anyone else find that cruising has completed changed their expectations for other vacations?

 

The noisy room is something I notice on land based. We really take it for granted how quiet the cabins are while cruising. Our Carnival cruises have all had noisy cabin issues too. On the Pride the slamming balcony doors and the scraping balcony furniture nearly drove me crazy! We were in a suite too! :mad:

We are doing an all inclusive in Ixtapa, MX next weekend. I am already worried about the noisy room:confused:

[roadnut]

I'm cheap...a vegas vacation would never cost as much as a cruise! But then maybe this is why I don't complain about drink prices on the cruise ship...my wife and I went to Coyote Ugly in New York New York Casino in Vegas last year, and beers were $6 or $7 each. But the wife was getting free (diluted) shots while dancing on the bar, so I didn't mind too much.

 

Actually, 3 nights of Vegas were free because I did a timeshare tour, which was advertised locally here on the radio, which is how that whole trip got started (it wound up being a 4 state, 2 country [stopped in Mexico for a few hours] 13 day vacation). BTW - I am the 2nd least interested person on the timeshare tour. My wife is the first. Here's one hint I got from the salesperson...when I said no, I didn't even look at my wife. Most couples, even if there's a hint of a chance of buying a timeshare, at least look at each other before saying no!

[emilygrace]

We do the occasional land trip and since I'm the one that does all the "work", researching hotels, car rental prices, airfare, etc., I'm the one that really feels the difference. For a cruise, once you pick your itinerary and ship and dates, you're all set!

 

The other thing about land vacations is eating out and discovering the menus have PRICES on them!!!! How rude is that?!?!? Give me the dining room, hand me a menu (sans prices) and let me relax!

[SherriZ366]

Notice how spoiled we were on incentive trips that DH won from his company. In Disney, we actually had to pay for room service and they did not have turndown service (LOL). Most meals were included though. He also has won a cruise on Sovereign and an incentive at an all inclusive at the Mayan Riviera that was super (even though DH missed the casino). We are going on a 3 day trip to Vegas that even with frequent flyer points looks to be expensive. With Diamond discounts, senior citizen rates and shipboard account credits for booking onboard and owning stock, there are times that it seems cheaper to cruise.

[Lowcountrygal]

Hi Sherri:

 

May I ask your expertise please?

 

Please see a post I placed on this thread and perhaps you have some answers for me.

 

Here's the link:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=536866

 

Thanks!

Rose

[LadyGodiva]

We have been on three cruises in the last 12 months. I guess I have become accustomed to this type of vacation.

 

Last weekend we spent a bundle of money to go to Vegas for three nights. The flight was free, but we could have paid for a weeklong cruise for just the price of the hotel room.

 

From the moment we arrived at the hotel we were annoyed. The service at reception was horrible (unwelcoming and poor organization), room service trays sat in the hallways for DAYS, 45 minute waits for restaurants (and then exhorbitant prices to boot), a really uncomfortable bed, and the room was really, really noisy.

 

After about two days it hit me ... I have been totally spoiled by cruising! I expected friendly staff, a room that was cleaned before 2 pm, options for meals, responsive wait staff, etc., etc.

 

Good grief, does this mean that I can never again take a land based vacation?

 

Anyone else find that cruising has completed changed their expectations for other vacations?

 

 

 

I apologize in advance for being nosy, but how do you afford three cruises in the same year? I wish I could!

[skandls]

Las Vegas is no longer a bargain destination. We used to go 4-6 times a year. That was when weekday hotels on the strip were $50-90. Dinner in a nice restaurant was less than here in the Los Angeles ares. Headliner show tickets did go over the $100 mark. OK ten years ago.

 

I have found many of the 'sister' restaurants have higher prices than in their home city.

 

So when the cruise price is right - even with airfare we are better off sailing then LasVegasing.

[swscruiser]

We have been on three cruises in the last 12 months. I guess I have become accustomed to this type of vacation.

 

Last weekend we spent a bundle of money to go to Vegas for three nights. The flight was free, but we could have paid for a weeklong cruise for just the price of the hotel room.

 

From the moment we arrived at the hotel we were annoyed. The service at reception was horrible (unwelcoming and poor organization), room service trays sat in the hallways for DAYS, 45 minute waits for restaurants (and then exhorbitant prices to boot), a really uncomfortable bed, and the room was really, really noisy.

 

After about two days it hit me ... I have been totally spoiled by cruising! I expected friendly staff, a room that was cleaned before 2 pm, options for meals, responsive wait staff, etc., etc.

 

Good grief, does this mean that I can never again take a land based vacation?

 

Anyone else find that cruising has completed changed their expectations for other vacations?

 

 

I know exactly what you mean. I won an all-inclusive 4 day 3 night trip to a 5-star resort in Laguana Negal everything was included airfare excursions wine and spirits, it was an incentive from work. After a day and a half I turned to my wife and said this is boring I can't imagine going to a land based vacation for more than a weekend. It's just not the same. The service the ambiance even at a 5star resort is just not a cruise. Hooked and love it.

 

Keith

[JanineM]

I apologize in advance for being nosy, but how do you afford three cruises in the same year? I wish I could!

 

We live about 10 miles south of Port Canaveral, so that means that we don't pay for airfare. A friend usually drops us at the port. For our last cruise we just drove to Port Everglades (2.5 hours) and paid for parking. We've decided to cruise as often as we can while we live in this part of the world, because we suspect DH will be transferred from FLA at some point in the future.

 

Normally we would take two vacations in a year, but it just worked out that we had three in twelve months. We'll probably book another cruise in the fall during hurricane season when prices are low.

[JanineM]

Las Vegas is no longer a bargain destination. We used to go 4-6 times a year. That was when weekday hotels on the strip were $50-90. Dinner in a nice restaurant was less than here in the Los Angeles ares. Headliner show tickets did go over the $100 mark. OK ten years ago.

 

I have found many of the 'sister' restaurants have higher prices than in their home city.

 

So when the cruise price is right - even with airfare we are better off sailing then LasVegasing.

 

We were really surprised by the prices. We hadn't been in 10 years, and decided to splurge on a really nice hotel right in the heart of the strip. I didn't think that there would be $1.99 breakfasts anymore, but did not expect $24.50 for brunch, or $7.50 for a short-poured well drink. We do spend a lot of time in the casino, so I counted on getting "free" drinks and tipping the waitresses well to keep 'em coming. We only found one casino where there was reliable wait service, and that was the Bellagio. Of course, that regular drink service was to their benefit as we spent a LOT more time there than anywhere else. If we do happen to go again in the next year, I'll definitely stay at the Bellagio.

 

On a side note, my boss is a big time gambler and he tells me that the hotels could care less abou the average guest. They focus on those who spend a lot on the tables.

 

Honestly, I won more in the slots on X last month than I did in Vegas!

[firefly333]

I just got home tonight from the Rhapsody, my 4th cruise since Halloween.

 

If you are bad, I am worse lol.

 

Still tired.....it takes me about a week before the cruise bug starts to hit again.

 

Didnt bother me, but heard lots complaining about all the kids. You would think they would expect a lot of kids on a cruise the week of Easter? I thought most of the kids were darling. Some didnt act totally darling, but most were cute as can be.

[massfriends]

We have been on three cruises in the last 12 months. I guess I have become accustomed to this type of vacation.

 

Last weekend we spent a bundle of money to go to Vegas for three nights. The flight was free, but we could have paid for a weeklong cruise for just the price of the hotel room.

 

From the moment we arrived at the hotel we were annoyed. The service at reception was horrible (unwelcoming and poor organization), room service trays sat in the hallways for DAYS, 45 minute waits for restaurants (and then exhorbitant prices to boot), a really uncomfortable bed, and the room was really, really noisy.

 

After about two days it hit me ... I have been totally spoiled by cruising! I expected friendly staff, a room that was cleaned before 2 pm, options for meals, responsive wait staff, etc., etc.

 

Good grief, does this mean that I can never again take a land based vacation?

 

Anyone else find that cruising has completed changed their expectations for other vacations?

 

Sorry to hear about your experience in Las Vegas. For us it is totally different. We are diamond members w/ harrahs. We just spent 5 nights at Paris premium room on 29th flr. looking out at the Eiffel tower and the fountains at the Bellargio. We had dinner in many nice resturants and 2 shows. All harrah's properties have special lounges for diamond members with free drinks & food. Total bill zero..all compted.

We go to Vegas maybe 3 or 4 times a year and refer to it as our All-Inclusive land based vacation. Our cost airfare & gambling money. Gambling money is usually the amount we would pay for a balcony cabin..so cost about the same...experience totally different.

We still cruise..did a B2B on Explorer in Jan. and are going on Mariner in Sept. and on Mariner again in Jan. 08.

Don't give up on land based...all vacations are different.

ENJOY WHAT EVER YOU DO!!! :)

[firefly333]

Honestly, I won more in the slots on X last month than I did in Vegas!

 

As I just mentioned got home tonight from the Rhapsody. The lady I sat with at dinner played a 3 card poker game they taught her on board. She says she doesnt really gamble and thursday night decided to go play a few hands. Talk about beginners luck. She won $700 she said. Paid for all her extra stuff for the week.