<p>Has anyone been on a cruise recently? trying to plan next cruise</p>
<p>I don’t know if these are recent enough for you. Over spring break this year we did a Windstar cruise in Costa Rica. Last August we did a Windstar cruise starting in Istanbul and ending in Athens. These boats are really small, roughly 145 people as passengers so they can get into smaller ports. We enjoyed the trips very much. They are more expensive than the Celebrity/Royal Carrib ships but they do offer discounts.</p>
<p>Have fun planning your trip. I love planning trips!</p>
<p>This thread may be a little dated, but our fellow cc’ers were extremely helpful and we had a wonderful time! <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/262299-need-cruise-recommendations-boat-kind-not-idiot-actor.html?[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/262299-need-cruise-recommendations-boat-kind-not-idiot-actor.html?</a></p>
<p>As noted in the old thread, head over to cruisecritic dot com. Something about the intials cc - it’s as helpful as this one. We planned a May cruise that we had to cancel and now we’re going a week from next Sunday on the Mariner - can’t wait! Incidentally, there are plenty of cabins left and you get a senior discount starting at age 55.</p>
<p>Marilyn-
That’s exactly the ship we went on!! Have a blast! Have you signed up in the roll call section of cruisecritic? Its a great way to meet people and if you get enough people to sign up, they thow you a small, private party!</p>
<p>Marilyn, where are you cruising? Hubby has been wanting to go on a cruise, but so many of them require you be gone a minimum of 10 days. Don’t think I’d last that long on a ship.</p>
<p>We’re going July 6 on the Royal Caribbean Mariner out of Port Canaveral for 7 days - Coco Cay (Bahamas), St. Thomas, and St. Martin, plus three full sea days. I have been very active on our roll call; even got DS to start a Facebook group for the college-age kids but nothing is really happening on it. We had 57 people signed up for the Meet & Mingle before something happened on the RCI website and tons of M&M’s disappeared - hopefully they will reappear.</p>
<p>Acinva - if you’re interested, there are lots of double cabins left (not much left for 3 or 4 people to share, though).</p>
<p>jym - what did you like best about the Mariner? Which ports did you go to?</p>
<p>We were looking for a vacation that three diverse personalities could all enjoy and this ship really seems to be the place. Plus, even though we were a late booking, we lucked into a senior discount and a “hump” balcony cabin (not what you think!). There seem to be so many places to go and so much to do that I don’t think we’ll ever get bored. I also realized that it will be the longest that we’ve stayed in one place (so to speak) on vacation in about 7 years - normally we hit multiple places in short bursts. We’ve been on three other cruises - over a 30 year period.</p>
<p>If you really want a cruise that won’t even seem like a cruise, check out the new ship that they’re revealing - [OASIS</a> of the SEAS](<a href=“http://www.oasisoftheseas.com/]OASIS”>http://www.oasisoftheseas.com/) . I don’t even believe this ship will float! It’s astonishing.</p>
<p>Sounds like we had the same itinerary, Marilyn. As for what did I like best?? Hmm… gotta think. The shows were fun and we loved the side activity we did in St. Martin. We did the Americus cup yacht race. Definitely a great time!</p>
<p>The only time I have ever been on a cruise was for our 25th wedding anniversary. It was in the fall, and it was a “repositioning” cruise on Carnival. Twice a year these longer cruises are offered as the cruise lines move their ships from one seasonal venue to another (such as from Alaska to the Bahamas via Hawaii/ Mexico/ Panama Canal and then back in the spring to Alaska). Our cruise was from Vancouver to Hawaii and then around the islands for several days. I LOVED the days at sea…crossing the Pacific was absolutely grand. And then going from island to island with different adventures each day was just perfect. I highly recommend it!</p>
<p>Last June took a 4 day to the Caribbean on Carnival. 1st time cruise. Had a great time and would do it again.</p>
<p>Just came back from a 12 day cruise to the Baltics. This was our 6th cruise. What do you want to know about cruising?</p>
<p>I’d like to add my voice in support of cruisecritic…it’s a great website, and I would say so even if I hadn’t won a shirt (but not a cruise, pout) in their last giveaway! Out next cruise will be in December.</p>
<p>cbreeze, we cancelled our planned Baltic cruise when S declined his free ride offers, but hope to make it there soon. Was it wonderful? How was St Petersburg? I envy you!</p>
<p>i have been on 6 already. grand princess, grandeur of the seas, caribbean princess, celebrity galaxy, golden princess, and the dawn princess</p>
<p>Yes, it was absolutely wonderful. All the cities visited were beautiful and I wish we had more time there. How can one justify just spending 7AM-2PM in Oslo? And the same hours in Talinn?</p>
<p>We had 2 days of solid sightseeing in St. Petersburg. The Hermitage was of course, the highlight and it didn’t disappoint. In order to keep the tour groups moving, we were only allowed a little more than 2 hours there !! If you could, choose a tour that will allow more flexibility. Hope you get there soon !</p>
<p>Love your screenname cbreeze. How a propos!</p>
<p>Thanks, jym626.</p>
<p>cbreeze, we leave on that cruise in 17 days. Were you on the Jewel?</p>
<p>No, we were on Crown Princess. We spent two days prior embarkation in Copenhagen though. We had a grand time, have fun.</p>