<p>I don’t like boats and have no understanding of the attraction of a floating hotel, and I just can’t imagine how terrifying it must have been in the dark. Do we know if people were killed on impact or were they trapped an drowned? Just horrible.</p>
<p>Do we know if people were killed on impact or were they trapped an drowned?</p>
<p>Several people were found with lifejacket on.</p>
<p>You should go on a cruise sometime, cartera, you’ll understand. Constant entertainment, great food, cheap vacation, never have to pack your bags but get to go to amazing ports. It is a very cheap way to travel, people are very happy with it, and you get to see so many great places without any hassle.</p>
<p>When I first saw those pictures (of a beautiful boat we’d considered cruising on, nixed because of their smoking policy), it really hit home. When I read that story about the woman who tried to get someone to take her toddler to save it (and no idea of what happened to that family), it broke my heart. And it makes me wonder how often people come very close to death in different situations, without even knowing it.</p>
<p>I have friends who love cruises. They just don’t appeal to me. It seems that so many times, the least attractive place - on a Caribbean Island for example - is the port of call for the cruise ships. When I have traveled to those places, those are the places to avoid. I think I would like an Alaskan cruise better. I also really don’t like boats generally - love being in the water, not on it.</p>
<p>I know alot of people really like the Alaska cruises, but for us, it was probably my least favorite. The port stops and the scenery weren’t much different that where we live in the PNW (except for the massive glaciers), so it was no big deal. If it was just me and my husband, we would probably not vacation via cruise (unless it was something like Windstar, where they have long stops in exotic ports, and a small boat experience). But with kids, you can’t beat it.</p>
<p>we were on a sister ship over Christmas - this was our first cruise with Costa - and every Costa cruise travels along that route from Rome to Savona before heading off - we were very surprised how lax they were with muster - English speaking passengers are not invited to the regular muster but to a muster in a bar (stop giggling) where the English speaking hostess shows you a video on muster and then you get 30 minutes of ads for the excursions. The lifevests were hidden in our rooms - in the past on RCI they were out on our beds and we had to put them away after muster so we knew where they were. I would think that if muster is always treated as a serious practice (such as on RCI) then the staff would know what they are suppsed to do and be a bit more prepared too - if it is treated as a chance to talk aout excusions, then the staff is not going to be as prepared either. </p>
<p>I am certainly not excusing this captain but it seems to me that the whole corporate culture is more lax.</p>
<p>The captain is a 10 year veteran and for some strange reason went on a joyride. I hope he gets the maximum coming.</p>
<p>We have been on at least one cruise every year since 1996. Just got back from a memorable New Years cruise and already booked on a 19 day next January to South America for our 20th Anniversary. I personally feel safer on a ship that on a plane. Every time a plane hits turbulence, I feel like the bottom is going to fall out. Once we were cruising the North Sea on the way back to Dover and it was really rough but the old Royal Princess handled it without a worry.
Everyone should know that leaving your home in a car any day is more dangerous than sailing on a cruise ship.</p>
<p>Busdriver, I never understood the appeal of cruises either. Then this last year I went on one with my sister and mother, because my mother wanted us to come with her.</p>
<p>I still don’t understand the appeal very much. Cartera, save your money for something more active.</p>
<p>“The captain is a 10 year veteran and for some strange reason went on a joyride. I hope he gets the maximum coming.”</p>
<p>I’m sure he’ll get executed if they can do it, or life in prison if they can’t. What strikes me is that he said this was the third time he’d done that, in that location. I wonder how often that kind of thing happens.</p>
<p>CF, cruises are just great for multi-generational get togethers. The old folk can sit on the boat, or go on a less strenous tour. The active people can get out and do whatever they want. And the kids can do their kiddie/teen programs, getting away from boring parents, with so much freedom. And then everybody gets together as a family to eat, or go to entertainment. It really is the best family vacation one could have with different generations, everyone gets to do what they want, but still get to spend time with family. On your own, meh, not so exciting. Unless you want to see alot of ports without the hassle of moving every night.</p>
<p>Every year I ask my kids where in the entire world would you like to go for vacation. I get no enthusiasm until I suggest a cruise.</p>
<p>Meh. I thought the cruise I was on was pretty boring. Different strokes for different folks-- I prefer going somewhere interesting (like Yosemite, or London, or something like that) and staying there for a while.</p>
<p>I too like cruises. My favorite, done several times, is Bermuda. On the smaller ships, you dock right on the main street. Hamilton was a port for the British navy and so the main street is where the ships dock. You walk on and off the ship just like a hotel. (I dislike going on the bigger ships which anchor further out and make you take a tender in.) It’s also right near the bus terminal if things haven’t changed. You can take a public bus to just about every place on the island. You’re much, much closer to the heart of things than you are at any hotel. Some ships spend part of the time docked on the other side of the island. </p>
<p>I’m no athlete. Bermuda has some neat historical stuff and great beaches in addition to golf, etc. There were also some interesting art galleries. </p>
<p>I also liked Alaska…except it was our Costa Cruise. Very, very weird experience. Again, we went on one of the smaller ships. The glaciers were beautiful and being on a boat is a great way to see them. We didn’t do Denali…if I ever go back, and I’d like to. Still, the views were unreal and you could actually enjoy them rather than focusing on driving. </p>
<p>I’m divorced. It’s a great way for divorced moms with kids to travel.</p>
<p>The first, and by far best (of a grand total of two) cruises we’ve ever been on was a repositioning cruise from Vancouver to Hawaii. I love boats and sailing and was determined that my first cruise would involve GOING somewhere (not just circumnavigating some pre-set course). The days at sea going to Hawaii were relaxing and wonderful----sitting on our balcony looking out over the Pacific was just surreal. There were some huge swells, but we came prepared with scoppolamine (not sure how to spell that) patches (we each used 1/2 of one), so we were fine. Then cruising around Hawaii…doing very active excursions and then returning to our beautiful ship to relax and enjoy the sunset and a fruity drink as we left for another port…just perfect. </p>
<p>Our dream is to take one of the Mediterranean cruises some day. And I hope we do!</p>
<p>^churchmusicmom, I also use doctor prescribed Transderm Scop (Sopolamine) patches when cruising except noticed that I always get a little motion sick within a day or two AFTER removing them. I guess that’s better than getting motion sick during a cruise.</p>
<p>busdriver: I’m sure he’ll get executed if they can do it, or life in prison if they can’t. What strikes me is that he said this was the third time he’d done that, in that location. I wonder how often that kind of thing happens.</p>
<p>I saw a video someone had taken from shore of a cruise ship hugging that same coastline, horns blaring, for the entertainment of the crowds, and the narrator said it was a common practice.</p>
<p>I also wonder how often this happened and if the cruise line had turned a blind eye to it.</p>
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<p>The best cruise I ever took was just my DH and I. ;)</p>
<p>I like cruising, but after five of them, DH said “I’m done.” He doesn’t like all the big crowds, the waiting in lines, the rather mediocre food, etc. He also struggles with sea sickness. The cruise we took by ourselves was a much smaller ship than they are sailing these days, so it seemed a completely different experience than the mega ship cruises. </p>
<p>I am biding my time and hope to convince him to take a cruise through the Greek isles someday on a small luxury cruise ship after the kids are gone and finished with school.</p>
<p>I agree CM. I always look forward to the sea days. On my list of cruises to do is a Transatlantic with around 6 consecutive sea days.</p>
<p>We did the Greek Isles/Istanbul/Ephesus cruise nearly 25 years ago and loved it. There’s no way we could have seen so many of the islands without being on a cruise, and it is on our list to do again after we’re done paying for college. I walk a lot on cruises, and we’ve also gone biking, kayaking, and rafting, though we rarely ever use the ship’s excursion. </p>
<p>Polynesia is another on the bucket list we’d like to do via a cruise.</p>
<p>I do like the smaller ships – no interest in sailing with 3500 others, thank you. </p>
<p>I’m impressed at what I’ve read about the deputy Mayor, who got on board and spent hours helping passengers get off the ship before and during the list. Unlike the captain, he apparently managed to avoid falling into any lifeboats. (He mentions that the only ship’s officer he saw was a young junior officer, who worked side-by-side with him to help passengers evacuate. I hope that young man gets a promotion.)</p>
<p>jshain said (referring to the trans-derm scop patches):
</p>
<p>We cut ours in HALF and shared one. Had no adverse side-effects…just slept REALLY well at night!! 
Could have been the glorious rocking of the ship, though. That might sound bad to some, but trust me it was amazing and restful. At least to us! Our steward kind of anxiously checked up on us the first at-sea morning when the rolling had begun in earnest, saying that many passengers were having a hard time with it. We were fine, though, and attributed it to the patches.</p>
<p>You may have had land sickness. I get it all the time. It has nothing to do with medication. My dad told me in was common among sailors. His home was a whaling port and men would be on the ship for years at a time. When they got off, some would get extremely sick.</p>
<p>My ex used to laugh at me. Then after one cruise, he got it bad. When we went to bed, he started screaming at me to “stop rocking the bed; it’s not funny.” I had to get out of bed to prove I wasn’t doing anything. He couldn’t believe it. He was sick as a dog for 48 hours, but at least he never laughed at me about that again. </p>
<p>Anyway, just letting you know it may have been land sickness. Some people have no problem at all adjusting to motion, but have a hard time adjusting when the motion stops.</p>
<p>^^^^^I always get that rocking motion for a couple days duration after cruising. I even get it after being on the boat all day at our lake house. It doesn’t make me feel sick, it just feels like I am still on the boat.</p>
<p>I read about a woman once who had the land sickness after having gone on a cruise one year prior. She was still “rocking” a year later, and nothing her doctors tried had relieved it!</p>