help! husband jumping ship.......

[Dorset Cruiser]

We have been cruising for 11 years but last October did a two week villa holiday on Tortola in the BVI. We had a wonderful time but we were amazed at how much money we spent! We had to pay airfares to and from UK to BVI (not inexpensive), then the villa hire, car hire, petrol, food, drinks, water etc etc. Add to that we had to either shop for meals or find somewhere to eat out. We had to make our beds (maid only once a week) and wash our dishes, sweep the floors. We were so jealous when we saw the cruise passengers packing up after a day in Cane Garden Bay and making their way back to their cruiseships, while we had to worry about the hot water running out after 6 people took showers and then we had to think about where and what to eat that night:mad:

 

It decided us that cruising is our ideal holiday. A lovely day ashore seeing new places and then back to an immaculate ship, with the cabin all made up neat and tidy, a long cool drink, a long, hot shower and off to dinner, followed by a first rate show - and waking up the next day somewhere new - wonderful - you can't beat it.

[madamcruisequeen]

You should try Branson, MO. That is one of my favorite places.

[BobBeaSea]

Dorset Cruiser, you should have tried an All-Inclusive!! Whether cruising or on land I have NEVER lifted a finger to do any "work". :D

[nrdsb4]

:)

We have been cruising for 11 years but last October did a two week villa holiday on Tortola in the BVI. We had a wonderful time but we were amazed at how much money we spent! We had to pay airfares to and from UK to BVI (not inexpensive), then the villa hire, car hire, petrol, food, drinks, water etc etc. Add to that we had to either shop for meals or find somewhere to eat out. We had to make our beds (maid only once a week) and wash our dishes, sweep the floors. We were so jealous when we saw the cruise passengers packing up after a day in Cane Garden Bay and making their way back to their cruiseships, while we had to worry about the hot water running out after 6 people took showers and then we had to think about where and what to eat that night.:mad:

 

It decided us that cruising is our ideal holiday. A lovely day ashore seeing new places and then back to an immaculate ship, with the cabin all made up neat and tidy, a long cool drink, a long, hot shower and off to dinner, followed by a first rate show - and waking up the next day somewhere new - wonderful - you can't beat it.

 

Though I do like cruising, I cannot imagine ONLY cruising. Think of all the incredible places you'd miss out on! The itineraries are somwhat limiting now that the megaships seem to be the norm.

 

That said, your post tickled me, as my husband and I have done two private villa Caribbean trips and many of the things you mentioned as problems are things we absolutely loved. Eating on our own schedule. Full time open bar right by the pool, lol. Having our own food on hand six feet away in the kitchen (and reduced the temptation to overeat at the buffets because we paid for all you can eat) and not having to wait in line like a heard of cows to get our meals. No eating mediocre cruise ship food at night at a prescribed time in uncomfortable formal wear; instead, throwing a marvelous piece of fish on the grill while we lounge by our own private pool watching the sun set over the Caribbean sea. Occasional forays to a 4 or 5 star quality restaurant on-island catering to a small number of customers vs. thousands. Had a dishwasher, no problem there, and I confess we didn't make our bed even once and who cared! When I saw cruise ship passengers gathering their bags and trudging back to meet the ship, I felt sorry for them, LOL!

 

It just goes to show, to each their own, and aren't we lucky to have the choice? I only got to take one vacation as a child, and that involved a long car trip in the back of a cramped Camaro when we drove from Ft. Worth to Disneyland to see the Grandparents.:) Now it's cruises, land-based island trips, European vacations. The world is the limit (well, funds withstanding, lol).

[Dorset Cruiser]

Dorset Cruiser, you should have tried an All-Inclusive!! Whether cruising or on land I have NEVER lifted a finger to do any "work". :D

 

 

We have been AI in Europe on a couple of occasions. You are still in the same place for two weeks - I like the thrill of waking up somewhere new every morning:D

[Dorset Cruiser]

:)

 

Though I do like cruising, I cannot imagine ONLY cruising. Think of all the incredible places you'd miss out on! The itineraries are somwhat limiting now that the megaships seem to be the norm.

 

That said, your post tickled me, as my husband and I have done two private villa Caribbean trips and many of the things you mentioned as problems are things we absolutely loved. Eating on our own schedule. Full time open bar right by the pool, lol. Having our own food on hand six feet away in the kitchen (and reduced the temptation to overeat at the buffets because we paid for all you can eat) and not having to wait in line like a heard of cows to get our meals. No eating mediocre cruise ship food at night at a prescribed time in uncomfortable formal wear; instead, throwing a marvelous piece of fish on the grill while we lounge by our own private pool watching the sun set over the Caribbean sea. Occasional forays to a 4 or 5 star quality restaurant on-island catering to a small number of customers vs. thousands. Had a dishwasher, no problem there, and I confess we didn't make our bed even once and who cared! When I saw cruise ship passengers gathering their bags and trudging back to meet the ship, I felt sorry for them, LOL!

 

It just goes to show, to each their own, and aren't we lucky to have the choice? I only got to take one vacation as a child, and that involved a long car trip in the back of a cramped Camaro when we drove from Ft. Worth to Disneyland to see the Grandparents.:) Now it's cruises, land-based island trips, European vacations. The world is the limit (well, funds withstanding, lol).

 

 

It would be a boring world if we were all the same and all had the same thoughts on things. Neither of us EVER had a holiday as children. We made sure our own children saw a lot of the world with one overseas holiday and one UK holiday each year from the age of about 4. We have enjoyed all sorts of holidays with them, including self-catering and all inclusive holidays abroad, holiday houses and cottages in the UK etc. We found cruising 11 years ago and love the whole experience of being looked after in wonderful surroundings visiting new places. If there is a particular port we like, mainly in Europe, we make a point of trying to have a few days there to look round at leisure. We are taking the children, their partners and our two grandchildren on the Ruby Princess in January as a late celebration of our Ruby Wedding in October this year. We hope they love it as much as we do.

 

We are trying our best to spend their inheritance while we can still travel and there is still a whole lot of the world to see. We realise that our life is not a rehearsal - it is the only one we get - and we intend to enjoy it:D

[nrdsb4]

It would be a boring world if we were all the same and all had the same thoughts on things. Neither of us EVER had a holiday as children. We made sure our own children saw a lot of the world with one overseas holiday and one UK holiday each year from the age of about 4. We have enjoyed all sorts of holidays with them, including self-catering and all inclusive holidays abroad, holiday houses and cottages in the UK etc. We found cruising 11 years ago and love the whole experience of being looked after in wonderful surroundings visiting new places. If there is a particular port we like, mainly in Europe, we make a point of trying to have a few days there to look round at leisure. We are taking the children, their partners and our two grandchildren on the Ruby Princess in January as a late celebration of our Ruby Wedding in October this year. We hope they love it as much as we do.

 

We are trying our best to spend their inheritance while we can still travel and there is still a whole lot of the world to see. We realise that our life is not a rehearsal - it is the only one we get - and we intend to enjoy it:D

 

Your last paragraph is priceless - I love it!!:)

[Katink]

You should try Branson, MO. That is one of my favorite places.

 

What a coincidence! I was just researching Branson for a late September vacation. I've heard it's beautiful. Any suggestions for a place to stay? I found Still Waters Resort on Expedia and it has wonderful reviews on Trip Advisor.

 

We try to alternate land and sea vacations and I love both but cruising.....ahh, that's the life for me. :)

 

Katink

[Cruise Junky]

After just coming back from 8 days on Maui and cruising Hawaii last year, no contest....land trip all the way. It was the most relaxing vacation we've ever had....no dressing for dinner if you don't want to, no having to be back on the ship by certain times....if you felt like sleeping in that day and laying by the pool there was no guilt as you weren't missing any islands. The cruise was just too confining....you had to do Kauai today because you were in Kona tomorrow. No comparison!! I love cruising but really only to places that don't make sense by land.

[jms2362]

Go to St Lucia, it is wonderful, Bahamas is not very good. Different class of people, I am being a snob but you pay for what you get. If he wasn't happy on those cruises, go to a nice resort, but not Bahamas!

[ocean waves]

thanks everyone for all your great replys. i myself wasn't too keen on the bahamas and if we did have to do a land vacation i'd like to look into other places. i'm still trying to "talk" my husband into trying one more cruise so we'll see.

[nrdsb4]

thanks everyone for all your great replys. i myself wasn't too keen on the bahamas and if we did have to do a land vacation i'd like to look into other places. i'm still trying to "talk" my husband into trying one more cruise so we'll see.

 

You might consider St. John. Absolutely beautiful, and since it is a US territory, no language barriers, no passport required, etc.

[llund]

Although I really love the cruises, I also really love the all-inclusives. I personally like the Sandals resorts and have stayed at the one in the Bahamas. It is beautiful and has its own private island. They is so much to do and the food was great. There is a bus that will pick you up in front of the resort and take you into the Nassau. Also, there is a bus that stops at the resort and will take you to a casino down the road. We stayed at the Sandals in the Bahamas and also 2 different Sandals resorts in Jamaica. I am not sure about Breezes but I am sure it is very much the same. I am hooked on Sandals, though. I definitely want to try one of the Sandals resorts in St. Lucia.

 

It is nice to change between cruises and all-inclusives.

[where next?]

Hi ocean waves,

 

Your predicament was mine about four years ago after our second cruise. Our first cruise was aboard the NCL Dawn our of Miaami and we had a wonderful cruise.

 

Our second cruise, which was to be aboard the Norway (NCL), was when the boiler explosion occurred so we had to quickly change ships and ended up on the NCL Dawn again, this time out of NY. We enjoyed our weekend in NY but my husband didn't enjoy that cruise at all. Primarily he felt that there were too many lines, etc. He didn't want to cruise again the following year. (We always cruise for April school vacation)

 

Well, it took about two weeks of severe whining by me and our two kids who love crusing for him to agree to cruise again. He looked at the options that I laid out for him and said Princess is for me. We've sailed on three Princess sailings and have loved all of them.

 

Last year because of his job we had to do a land vacation instead of a cruise. We were bored to tears after about three days. We all wanted to be back on a ship!

 

Next year we're trying our first Royal Caribbean cruise at our kids request. They think RCI will be better than Princess for them. I'm anxious to see because I've really enjoyed our Princess cruise.

 

My advise ... whine and whine and whine! Or ... do the land vacation so he sees how boring it is compared to a cruise (IMHO)!

 

Best of luck! Oh, by the way, look at my signature - I have our land vacation 2007 with a big UGH!

[ocean waves]

the saga continues. as of today i'm holding my breath for my husband to hopefully decide on either a NCL trip to bermuda for 7 days out of new york, or a wonderfull 13 day trip that costs only a bit more than the bermuda one on RCCL out of port liberty. he feels that the bermuda trip is a compromise for us as its part land and part cruise as the NCL dawn stays a total of three days in bermuda. i feel that its a bargin to get an additional six days on a cruise for a 1/4 or less of a full 7 day cruise. hopefully by tommorrow we'll have a reservation somewhere.

[UK Fan]

we just sailed on fos in april and my husband wasn't too thrilled about the whole experience.we have sailed twice before, once on aos and once on jos and he liked those trips better. this time around we ran into some snags like the food being overly cold in the windjammer a number of times, my husband did mention this to the person who greets you when you come and go and he polietly said he"d look into it, he had a go around with a crew member when they lost one of our suitcases on the first day, i must admit the guy was rude to us and the food wasn"t up to par some days in the windjammer but heck we were on vacation and i was willing to overlook a few things, also my husband felt that if they were going to build the ships larger they should have made the adult pool area a bit bigger, the chairs were pretty close together and really hard to get into a row if you were lucky enough to get a spot. i think all in all we had a nice trip but now he wants to do a land vacation and is looking into breezes in the bahamas. has anyone stayed there and whats your opinion of the place as opposed to cruising?

 

I think I love cruising more than mu husband too, but we always seem to compromise. This year we went on a cruise in April and in August we will be going to Hawaii. We will probably do a couple of long weekends too (Las Vegas, etc). If you are looking for a great all-inclusive, we stayed at the Paridisus Palma Real in Punta Cana last year and had a great time. The food was great and the casino was a lot of fun. It was very relaxing. We also enjoyed the watersports that the resort offered and the pools were magnificent! Golf was included in the rate, so my husband took advantage of the course 5 of the 8 days that we were there.

[beachbumfamily]

we just sailed on fos in april and my husband wasn't too thrilled about the whole experience.we have sailed twice before, once on aos and once on jos and he liked those trips better. this time around we ran into some snags like the food being overly cold in the windjammer a number of times, my husband did mention this to the person who greets you when you come and go and he polietly said he"d look into it, he had a go around with a crew member when they lost one of our suitcases on the first day, i must admit the guy was rude to us and the food wasn"t up to par some days in the windjammer but heck we were on vacation and i was willing to overlook a few things, also my husband felt that if they were going to build the ships larger they should have made the adult pool area a bit bigger, the chairs were pretty close together and really hard to get into a row if you were lucky enough to get a spot. i think all in all we had a nice trip but now he wants to do a land vacation and is looking into breezes in the bahamas. has anyone stayed there and whats your opinion of the place as opposed to cruising?

We were on the fos in april and i got to admit the food really wasn't all that abandoned the main restaurant after a couple of days luke warm not so tasty food over fussy service ,found windjammer to be more relaxing with more choice ,i find the pools on ships always a problem never big enough not enough loungers unless you get there about 7-30 in the morning but has not stopped us booking next year it's just made me a little wiser on what to expect and how to get the best out of my cruise ,and yes you can do a land vacation but you could still end up with luke warm food and nowhere to sit at the pool