Do you sail for the Cruise or the Ports?

[CGAGE]

At this point...we seem to be cruising more for the ship than the ports. Although we just did RCCL Adventure of the Seas out of San Juan pretty much because it went to Aruba for the entire day. We loved Aruba and our day there made our trip totally worth it.

So...with that being said...since we've been fortunate enough to cruise as much as we have and to have been to all of the ports we've been to...some more than once...we've decided to go for the ship more so than the destination. There are some exceptions though...since we live in the Tampa Bay area and are so close to so many great places to leave from...we do try to take advantage of the shorter weekend trips out of Tampa and Port Canaveral. Once a year my DH and I go on a week long cruise...and then do the short ones with friends and/or family. We're thinking of the Med out of Barcelona next year...places we've never been and on a ship we've been dying to go on. :) :)

Anyway...aren't we all lucky to be able to do this at all? We have an addiction and can't seem to get enough...the ships...the ports...the food and everything. WE LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!

 

Happy Cruising to all!

[Dannzzigg]

Now that I have finally been on my first cruise, I think I would have to answer : For the Ports.

 

I look at it this way: I spent a great deal of time planning our excursions at our various ports of call, and I had a wonderful time at each of them. If, for instance, weather had disrupted those plans, I would have been rather disappointed. For that reason, I don't think I will be cruising during hurricane season again. I just thank my lucky stars that we were not only able to visit all of our ports as planned, we got an extra day in Cozumel to boot!

[yarlenna]

Booking for the ports is risky. Many things can change a ship's itinerary. there are things like like labor problems, civil unrest and hurricanes, and mechanical problems with the vesel. Any one of these things can quickly convert your western Caribbean cruise to a cruise to the Bahamas. IF there is a port that you have your heart set on seeing, fly there. Book a room and enjoy your stay. On a cruise, enjoy the experience, the ship, the process of the voyage, the food, the entertainment and the company of hundreds of other cruisers. The only other thing that a cruise is guaranteed to come with is the bill.

[NewCruzer1]

Well, a 7-night 'cruise-to-nowhere' doesn't excite me in the least -- so, it's the ports.

But, I sure do enjoy the wind through my hair and the sunset over the horizon with no land in sight -- so, it's the cruise.

Now, I sure wouldn't like paying $80-$100 a night for a hotel room that looked like a cruise cabin -- so, it's the ports.

On the other hand, it sure is nice having that cabin steward (or cobbler's elf -- whichever it is) keeping the room tidy every time we step out of it -- so, it's the cruise.

But, then, of course...

[Mike A]

If it were up to me I would go on a 7 day cruise to nowhere! I could take or leave the ports. Let me stay on the ship, eat, lay by the pool, eat, get a message, eat, go to the casino, eat, hang out on my balcony, eat...

[sallyb]

If it were up to me I would go on a 7 day cruise to nowhere! I could take or leave the ports. Let me stay on the ship, eat, lay by the pool, eat, get a message, eat, go to the casino, eat, hang out on my balcony, eat...

 

I'm seeing a pattern here, Mike A!

[robertew]

Mostly for the cruise. Great weather (usually), plenty to eat, good entertainment, don't have to make the bed, etc, etc, etc. Also it's more fun to watch people at the pool games than to "watch-out" for people at some of the ports! :rolleyes:

[mo'vakayplz]

I always pick for the ports or the suite!

 

Any time alone with my husband is the key!

[Knights on the Beach]

I picked both, but the ship is my first consideration, then the ports second. I like to try new and/or different ships AND ports, but ports can change at the last minute, so the ship is definitely the first thing we look at when booking a cruise. At least that's the way it is right now while we are driving to the embarkation ports in Florida. As our kids get older and we are cruising more without them, I can see us flying to other embarkation ports for our cruise (California, Hawaii, Europe, San Juan), so in that case I'd be chosing the cruise more for the ports.

[SallyMay]

I voted both, however I do love the sea days. Nothing better than to relax looking out to sea and having the breeze against my face. That feeling is so relaxing. The ports are nice and I enjoy seeing new things and places. If it were only sea days that would be alright with me. :p

[cruisinsly]

Both! The ports are just as interesting as the cruise.

[dgebhart]

We sail for both. Our travel agent looks for deals and then calls. We have booked sometimes a year and a half in advance as we did for the Miracle in December. If it is a good deal we usually take it.

[kathyjack]

It's all about the ports for us. As long as we get some food for our tummies and a warm place to lay our heads, we're fine. But LOVE those islands. Not the same as flying into them for a week or more, the fun of a cruise is seeing 4-5 islands in a one week span. Obviously some ships are nicer than others. But honestly, we were on a HA ship a few years ago that was only months old and there were so many problems on it we couldn't count them on all our fingers, give me an older ship any day. Going on Destiny in January and it's age doesn't bother us in the least.

[Slinkiecat]

I've only been on one cruise, 12 days, and there was only one sea day. We scheduled excursions on every other day. I thought that was normal. haha. Guess not. When we flew to Hawaii for a 12-day vacation we stayed on each island 2 or 3 days and rented a car, arranged our own activities and never had to rush back until late at night.

 

Now we have a long cruise coming up with several sea days in a row at times, and I'm wondering what one does during the day on board besides walk around the deck, sit on the balcony, wait for mealtime, etc.

 

Slinkie

[DebBrown]

Now we have a long cruise coming up with several sea days in a row at times, and I'm wondering what one does during the day on board besides walk around the deck, sit on the balcony, wait for mealtime, etc.

 

Slinkie

That sounds about right!! Sea days to me are for relaxing by the pool, sleeping in late with my S/O ;), really getting to see the ship, ship board games, etc. They are just nice days to actually unwind.

[momof4boys]

Picked ports. This is our first cruise..just know we are going to love it. We booked based on the ports..wanted to see new and exciting places! :)

[MAGNUM PI]

The PORTS are what is most important to us. When considering our next cruise, we always first consider the itinerary available. Then select the best ship. Between ports, we enjoy what the ship has to offer, as we travel to the next adventure. While in port, we explore each island, to experience the uniqueness, that they have to offer.

We are thrilled with the southern caribbean ports, and have continued choosing this itinerary, for our last three cruises.

[collector]

Doug, just wondering if you're doing the same cruise we are-on the Legend to Costa Rica, Belize and Panama in Jan. We are ssoooo excited. We've done 8 cruises before but this is the first to Central America for us too.

[BelizePlease]

[quote name='Keith B.']I wouldn't care if the ship went out into the middle of the ocean and dropped the anchor and stayed there for the entire cruise.[/QUOTE]

I like this Keith B! :D

But, I voted for both. I looooooooooooooove being on the ship. :D
The more sea days...the better!!
But I also enjoy being able to visit places that I may have never thought of visiting for a land vacation. I mean...who plans trips to Honduras? But I can say that I've been there!! :cool:

[BelizePlease]

[quote name='collector']Doug, just wondering if you're doing the same cruise we are-on the Legend to Costa Rica, Belize and Panama in Jan. We are ssoooo excited. We've done 8 cruises before but this is the first to Central America for us too.[/QUOTE]

Collector - I'm hoping that this is the cruise we're doing in March of '06! Been to Belize, but not the other 2. :D

[lil nemo]

[quote name='BelizePlease']
I mean...who plans trips to Honduras? But I can say that I've been there!! :cool:[/QUOTE]

well we do! we cruised to roatan a few years ago and really fell for the island!
i like the primitive nature of it! so we 're going back!!

[BelizePlease]

[quote name='lil nemo']well we do! we cruised to roatan a few years ago and really fell for the island!
i like the primitive nature of it! so we 're going back!![/QUOTE]

Okay...but you [i]probably[/i] wouldn't have picked to spend a vacation there had you not [i]cruised[/i] there first....right? :D