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Does one have to be a “people person” to enjoy cruises? What about introverts? Serious question.
Cruising for Fun, Not War
- Thread starter Capt MJ
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A1Janitor
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That is the best thing about a cruise. You can be either and have the perfect vacation.
The people person goes to the small lounges and mingle over piano playing ... or sits at the main pool with the outdoor party going on ... or sits at formal dinners ... participates in all the activities.
The introvert can sip wine in a quiet area while reading, sit in the room, workout, sit by a quiet pool, take advantage of great spas, eat wonderful food peacefully on the edge watching everyone, and enjoy the shows by themselves.
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My SA candidate son and I were big Downton Abbey fans, and the Viking River cruise commercials ran every episode. He has been saying since he was little that he planned to get a full scholarship to college. Consequently, we started recommending he consider serving in the military via the SA route. A legendary quote in our family from him around age 10 at the height of Downtown Abbey is: "When I get that full scholarship to college, we're going to take all the college money you have saved, and we're taking the whole family on a Viking River Cruise!" We will see if it works out.
Have only been on Royal Caribbean twice with parents (both Europe) including my parents' 50th wedding anniversary cruise with the whole family last summer. Another one planned for this July to Alaska. Cruises are fine but not my first choice - but they are a great way to have multigenerational vacations.
Would love to try Viking.
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I would like to submit a name one might not consider-Disney Cruise Lines. We have taken several cruises on them & have never been disappointed. We don't have young children & while there are plenty of kid activities, they're also plenty of adult only areas/activities. When in these areas, you wouldn't even know kids are on-board. Lots of verity of cruises, length of stay, etc.
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Since I test introvert and enjoy my alone time, I really enjoy cruises, and as I’ve noted, the smaller ones fit me best.
There are always lounges, viewing areas, ship’s library/reading room, tucked away seating areas to curl up with a book and just look out at the port or water. These days, most ships offer cabins with verandas and comfy lounge chairs. I am one of those up and walking the deck laps at oh-dark-thirty, exchanging quiet nods with other walkers, or in the gym really early, earbuds in. My DH and I review the ship’s daily newsletter for the next day, usually delivered while you’re at dinner, to plan together and alone time. You can be as social or not as you want. Many ships have 24-hour room service. There is nothing like PT’ing really early and watching the sun rise, ordering a bacon, tomato, spinach and cheddar omelette (mentioning bacon) to be delivered, running through the rain locker, throwing on a robe and opening the door to breakfast, then eating on your veranda, enjoying a good book. DH has been known to sleep through this.
Best introvert cruise memories:
- (one of my best all-time hall of fame) After a long shore excursion day, returned to ship in Geirangerfjord, Norway. DH heads to cabin for a nap before dinner. Most passengers disappear. I change and head for the hot tub on the stern of the ship. Wait staff delivers lovely beverage. Apparently they refilled it. Absolutely no one else around, as the ship gets underway and doglegs out the fjord to sea, and I get to see Bridal Veil and Seven Sisters waterfalls in peace and quiet in the early evening light. DH has to come help me out of tub.
- Baltic Sea, very far north, summer nights are very long, sunrises are very early being the only person in the gym, on the treadmill, watching the sun come up.
- Ship underway at 0300 from Tower Dock, London, headed seabound on the Thames. They open all the bridges to allow river traffic. It was me and 1 other couple outside watching the nighttime river scene, passing under Tower Bridge, seeing the Tower of London all lit up, the London lightscape. DH thought I was crazy, but he allowed as how the photos I took were pretty darn good.
Introverts are used to being creative in finding their re-charge time. Plenty of opportunity.
Here’s one of the headed-under-Tower- Bridge pics:
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We were across the pier from a Disney ship in San Diego, dwarfed ours. It looked very nice. I liked the paint job, especially the gold work on the stern that is faintly Pirates of the Caribbean.
We have thought about that for a multi-generational cruise. Good to hear additional positive reports from a repeat cruiser.
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We have been looking at various river cruises, Viking certainly. I always am interested in repeat cruiser assessments.
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A few years ago took a cruise on the Azimara lines “MV Quest” from New York to Bermuda. The Quest is a medium size cruise ship with only about 600 passengers. The ship was small enough to dock in St Georges and in downtown Hamilton as opposed to the monster ships that could only tie up at the Dockyard. Great cruise - nice mix of sea time to port time and you weren’t sailing with a small city.
parentalunit2
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I’ll throw out another line – MSC Cruises. Their cruise division has been around since 1989, and of course the Mediterranean Shipping Company itself has been around since 1970. Primarily based out of Europe, they have invested millions over the past 2-3 years to set up a Miami base to attract North American cruisers. Their clientele is still largely worldwide, even on the cruises out of Miami. We absolutely loved the international flavor on our week-long Caribbean cruise and quite literally met people from all over the world. They have a great ‘status match’ program that will match your status from chosen airlines or hotel chains. Just use the form on their website to provide your status in advance of your initial sailing and you will start off with them having various perks and points depending upon your level of match. They started this program to attract Americans to the line so we have a feeling it won’t last forever, but it worked for us!
They have Super Family Cabins (what we sailed in) that are simply two connected balcony cabins and the booking price is a single price whether you have 4, 5, or 6 people on your booking. Then they take it one step further with their Super Family Plus which is three connected balcony cabins with one price for 7 – 10 guests. We consider these categories a huge bonus!
Even though the kids are no longer small, I still love DCL. It is a slightly elevated experience over the other mass market lines. Fun fact: Disney asked for and was granted special permission from the USCG to paint the lifeboats yellow instead of orange. This was to keep with the Mickey colored theming of their ships.
Great thread @Capt MJ ! Thanks for starting it!
They have Super Family Cabins (what we sailed in) that are simply two connected balcony cabins and the booking price is a single price whether you have 4, 5, or 6 people on your booking. Then they take it one step further with their Super Family Plus which is three connected balcony cabins with one price for 7 – 10 guests. We consider these categories a huge bonus!
Even though the kids are no longer small, I still love DCL. It is a slightly elevated experience over the other mass market lines. Fun fact: Disney asked for and was granted special permission from the USCG to paint the lifeboats yellow instead of orange. This was to keep with the Mickey colored theming of their ships.
Great thread @Capt MJ ! Thanks for starting it!
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I have heard good things about them.
I agree with above that a cruise is great for multi-gens and also for ext/introvert groups, where everyone can find something they like without making the others miserable.
My favorite thing of all is just to sit in a shady spot on deck and read. with the lap of waves in the background and a soft (well not a wind tunnel at least) ocean breeze.
Been primarily around the Caribbean on the mass market ships. One day would love to do one of the really small ones.
My favorite thing of all is just to sit in a shady spot on deck and read. with the lap of waves in the background and a soft (well not a wind tunnel at least) ocean breeze.
Been primarily around the Caribbean on the mass market ships. One day would love to do one of the really small ones.
Hopeful Plebe Mom
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My Mid is home for break. Yay. Kid you not, almost the first thing he asks, is "Hey mom, do you know anyone who knows anything about cruises?" I guess they have pretty good incentives for future bookings (imagine that). Free open bar, shore excursions, wifi, specialty dining, I know NOTHING about cruising...but he asked if anyone knew of a good line, out the FL, to the Caribbean. Another point is that he is wanting to do this over spring break. Personally I cannot imagine usna allowing that, but he said they do!
Any advice? I told him I would ask my forum cruise peeps. Geared towards 21 yr olds.
Any advice? I told him I would ask my forum cruise peeps. Geared towards 21 yr olds.
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Mids are like any other college student going on a cruise on spring break, to Mexico, Costa Rica and Belize vacations. Drinking age is not 21 outside US territorial boundaries...
Cruise lines definitely have demographics they target. An old rule of thumb is look at their ads and what ages of people they show, what they are doing. Is it bridge, shuffleboard, cooking classes, museum tours ashore? Or onboard wave rider, midnight buffets, dance parties, pool party bbqs, scooter trips ashore? For his age group, there should be lots of people in his age range, buffet chow, informal ship style, water sports, modern music and dance venues, active onboard activities, fun shore excursions. The line that comes to my mind is Carnival. DH and I would not do Carnival, ergo, mids would have a blast.
Cruise Critic is a good site that offers professional and cruiser reviews of all the major lines, ships and itineraries.
Forgot to ask - is this him and a bunch of buddies? Or family vacation with elders along? Recommend will vary.
Cruise lines definitely have demographics they target. An old rule of thumb is look at their ads and what ages of people they show, what they are doing. Is it bridge, shuffleboard, cooking classes, museum tours ashore? Or onboard wave rider, midnight buffets, dance parties, pool party bbqs, scooter trips ashore? For his age group, there should be lots of people in his age range, buffet chow, informal ship style, water sports, modern music and dance venues, active onboard activities, fun shore excursions. The line that comes to my mind is Carnival. DH and I would not do Carnival, ergo, mids would have a blast.
Cruise Critic is a good site that offers professional and cruiser reviews of all the major lines, ships and itineraries.
Forgot to ask - is this him and a bunch of buddies? Or family vacation with elders along? Recommend will vary.
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Him and buddies.
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I have a feeling also that prices may drop. He’s is looking at Norwegian.
Is it common to offer the incentives I posted above?
Is it common to offer the incentives I posted above?
A1Janitor
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Very common. They offer them to me because as a return customer.
Norwegian was very nice. I preferred Royal Caribbean because the boat was like 1000 people - Norwegian was like 4000. I saw someone I knew from my town in line to get on ship. Never saw her again all trip.