Vacation

[Glo]

We just got back from the vacation of a lifetime--a carribean cruise. Our whole family was together for the first time in 2-1/2 years, which made it extra special. The service on Celebrity was over the top; I felt like a queen every day. Too bad vacations go by so quickly!

[Selah]

Welcome back, Glo! My MIL is on a Celebrity cruise right now. I've heard great things about Celebrity's ships and service. I've been on a few cruises myself, and you're right, they treat you like royalty. Re-entry is really hard...I still yearn for my cabin steward to come in and make towel animals on my bed! :)

[Float On]

Glad you had a great time!

[catherine]

Glo, can you tell me more? I've never been on a cruise. I was playing around with the idea of a cruise with my family for my upcoming in March 60th (yike), but then I was thinking, it's SO MUCH money. So, I'd really abandoned that idea, but you've just revived it.

So tell me about your experience--how long was it? What did you do? etc...

[Heidi]

Glo, can you tell me more? I've never been on a cruise. I was playing around with the idea of a cruise with my family for my upcoming in March 60th (yike), but then I was thinking, it's SO MUCH money. So, I'd really abandoned that idea, but you've just revived it.

So tell me about your experience--how long was it? What did you do? etc...
This is off the topic, but we rented a lovely house right on the beach with ocean view from all the rooms (three bedrooms, four bathrooms) for a long weekend for my 60th birthday for our family of six (two sons with their spouses). It was very lovely and MUCH cheaper than a cruise. For our 35th wedding anniversary we paid for an Alaskan cruise for the family and we did not like it as much as that house on the beach; too much food, too much togetherness, not enough time to spend in interesting ports (just a few hours here and there), too many people crowded together on the ship (most of us are introverts). So I would think twice before sinking so much money into a cruise, your family is even larger than ours.

[lmerullo]

Glo - welcome back! I love cruising, and dh and I have been on ten different cruises. I haven't been on Celebrity, though.

catherine - I think for a family reunion type venue, there is nothing better suited than a cruise. There's food for all tastes, entertainment, childcare, etc. Time can be spent in quiet retreat or with the whole gang. Something for everyone! It is actually a frugal way to spend time, as I doubt you could house and feed any number of people for the price of a cruise, and especially not to the level that's available to cruisers.

[Acorn]

Catherine, we took a 14 day Mediterranean cruise to celebrate my parents anniversary. It included our extended family and I was dubious about the whole event, having never been on a cruise previously. We had a wonderful time and it is surprisingly relaxing and reasonably priced (provided you aren't a big drinker/gambler/shopper). I agree with Imerullo that for a large gathering it is almost an ideal holiday - something for everyone and enough diversions that you don't feel the need to spend every meal/minute with one another.

[loosechickens]

Well, we're just getting packed at the moment to go on our first cruise, ever.....a Princess cruise for 14 days down through the Panama Canal leaving L.A. on 12/20 and getting into Ft. Lauderdale 1/3......it's our anniversary, Xmas, my birthday, etc., so we went for the big room with balcony on the supposedly best deck and location according to friends who cruise a LOT, and anticipate having a great time.

It's very different from anything we've ever done before, and we have a mutual agreement not to sneer at "wretched excess" and just enjoy the trip. No figuring up the carbon footprint of the trip, wasted food, overkill in the little luxuries department, etc. and just have a good time instead.

We'll be staying in Miami for a few days before flying back from CA....but I'll come back on when we get back and report on the trip.

We're definitely not shoppers, gamblers or drinkers, but I HAVE splurged and put a number of books on my Kindle for the trip, and we actually got some new clothes from, gasp, regular stores and online, instead of just thrift store stuff, although some of my favorite thrift store finds will make the trip with us, too. ...... just the cruise alone was pretty darned expensive, about triple our usual monthly total for all expenses, not to mention a rental car in FL, and airfare back to CA, but we're trying to loosen up a bit and remember that this is part of WHY we were always so frugal and saved and invested, but boy, spending it is harder than you'd think, after so many years of simple living. Because this cruise on the Coral Princess is anything BUT frugal, OR simple, hahahaha.

Glad you had such a good time, Glo......hope we do, too.

[Zoebird]

I am also glad that you had a great time. I hope anyone who takes a cruise has a great time. My ILs cruise a fair bit, and enjoy it a lot.

I think it would be pretty terrible for me, particularly if I was trapped on a boat with my ILs. They want us to do a Euro river cruise with them, but I just couldn't do it. Those cruises usually only have 40 people or so. And if two of those people are my ILs and 3 are us, that leaves only 35 other people. And they probably wouldn't want to run interference between me and my ILs. LOL After all, it's their vacation!

No, it's a much better idea to. . . avoid my ILs at all costs, and in particular, avoid cruising with them.

But we think cruising is great for them. FIl gets to see the world (his dream -- he loves to travel) and Mil gets to say in giant, floating America where everything is secure and she doesn't have to eat "dirty, foreign food" (don't ask). And, they usually go with friends from church, so she doesn't even have to emotionally leave her own neighborhood. So, it works very well for them. :)

And I'm glad it exists as an option. Because people seem to really like it. I think it looks restful and/or fun party (depending upon how you do it), and you get to see and do a lot of cool things. :)

A friend of mine is doing asia/south pacific for 30 days later this year (or rather 2012), and i think that's pretty awesome. :)

[Anne Lee]

I think the benefit of an all inclusive package like that is one person doesn't get stuck doing all the work as can happen in other vacation scenarios. Sometimes, even just negotiating where to eat can be a nuisance in big group, let alone trying to get seated.

So glad you had such a nice time. My in laws have a time share and we use their points sometimes. The somewhat luxurious lifestyle is really nice, I admit, though I can't imagine trying to live that way.

For a darkly funny take on cruises read the late David Foster Wallace's A Supposedly Fun Thing I Will Never Do Again.

[Mrs-M]

Sounds so nice.

[Simplemind]

I am the queen of discount/frugal travel. I think there are many positives to cruises. Right now they are a killer deal. I would never pay more than $100 per person per day. They are nice if you want to relax and not have to go go go. The food can be staggering but you just have to get out of the mind set that since you paid for it you have to eat all of it. The food was a big plus for my teenage son who could have spent the whole cruise with his mouth open underneath the soft serve ice cream dispenser. I love sitting on a deck chair and reading a stack of books not having to make a decision about where we are going to go and when and where we are going to eat. Every man for himself!
I also like staying put. Right now we are in Maui about 10 steps from the beach. We flew over free with FF miles. The place cost me $99 a night and has a kitchen and washer dryer. There is the expense of renting a car which you don't worry about on a cruise. We eat out about half the time. Cost wise they are close and each has advantages.
Have a great trip Loosechickens. We were very close to being on the same cruise! That particular one is on our bucket list. The Maui deal fell in my lap and the day worked a bit better for us so Panama is on the back burner for now. Can't wait to hear about your experience.

[Glo]

Here's a few more details on our trip: I'm estimating that the whole trip cost about 4K. That's a lot but we paid for the extras for my family. As an example, there were meals out before we got on the boat. Our party consisted of DH, me, our three sons, one daughter-in-law, as well as our DIL's 80-year-old grandmother. So those extras add up.

Once we got on the boat, we were in the lap of luxury. DH and I upgraded to a suite which had a huge bathroom with two sinks, a two-person stand-up shower, and a bathtub; but the reason we upgraded was the balcony--it had a four-person dining table and room for two chaise lounges. We spent lots of time on that balcony and even had our butler serve us and some family members breakfast out there. It was great.

Our boat stopped at a port everyday except one day, which was devoted to going back to San Juan where we had originally departed. We paid about $79/per person for excursions, but we all did our separate things. When part of our family came with us, we paid. One day we all hired a driver to take us around St. Thomas; the cost was $25 each but that was 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. IMO, that's the only way to go because the tour was customized for what you are interested in. And it can be as long as you like--all day or just a few hours. (Most days we arrived on an island at 8 a.m. and departed at 5 p.m.)

I loved being on the boat and really didn't care if I got off or not. You can be busy all day or just relax at the pool or on your own balcony. I bought a kindle and loaded it will books for the trip; I do love that kindle! They had all kinds of seminars, dance lessons, card-playing lessons, tours of the boat where the public normally doesn't get like the kitchens, etc. They have beauty treatments like spas, pedis and manicures, massages, etc. DIL talked me into getting a pedicure and manicure, which cost $140 (yikes!--and that was just for me!) but I hadn't had one since I retired, which has been over 5 years so I'm not complaining. They also have a full gym with trainers if you need them. We went to a trainer's lecture about exercise and nutrition. There was also a casino. Although DH and I are not gamblers normally, we did go to the casino. I went once and lost $30 on the slots in about 20 minutes; that was enough for me. DH went to play craps two times and tripled his money; he started with $100. Once the $100 was gone, he would quit, but he was lucky so he came back with $300 (although he knew when to quit!).

Now for the food: I never saw so much good food in my life; and I never ate so much! (As some of you know, I've been on a weight-loss quest for the past year and have lost 40 pounds; of course, now its 30 pounds as I gained 10 pounds during vacation! Yuck! But I'm back on track now and do feel so much better.) There is food available 24/7. There is one formal meal a day and it takes about 2-1/2 hours to eat because its four or five courses and they take time serving as well as serving palette cleaners. For me, it was wonderful family time as we all ate together almost every day. I had planned to eat mostly sushi and fruit but that didn't work out. One problem was the butler bringing you platters of food every time you were in your room. And I admit--I'm weak!! One day DS3 brought us a plate of shrimp with ****tail sauce that his steward had brought to his room and it was too much for one person. When our butler saw that empty plate, he brought us shrimp ****tail every day!

Because we upgraded our room, DH and I got a complimentary dinner at the french restaurant on board. The cost is extra if you want to dine there: $40/person. The meal was so fabulous we paid for us and our family to have another meal there. And each time, I was escorted out of the dining room by our waiter! I'm telling you--they make you feel like royalty.

I forgot to mention there are nightly shows on the boat with very talented people in them. There is also a movie theater to enjoy if you are so inclined.

The only negative part of the vacation was getting there and getting home. I hate being in airports; the crowds and the cramped seating. In fact, we upgraded to first class on the way home and that was a lot more comfortable and I was the first one off the plane! Airlines charge $20 per bag up to 50#. DS1 paid those charges going, so I wasn't aware of the charge, but once we upgraded to first class, the baggage charge is free.

It was a wonderful trip and I'd do it again in a heart beat. And I'm not much of a traveler. This was our first vacation since our son's wedding in San Diego 2-1/2 years ago. And we could spend a lot less money too.

I can't complain about anything on the ship; there is something for everyone. You can be as busy as you want or just relax. The cheapest time to travel is between Thanksgiving and Christmas; the deals are fabulous. We could have spent a lot less, but we chose to treat our family members and do some small things for ourselves.

[Zoebird]

I'm so glad that you enjoyed it, Glo. :) sounds like you had a lovely time.

[Mrs-M]

Sounds fabulous, Glo!

[Azure]

That sounds like so much fun! I'm saving my pennies for my dream vacation to London with by best friend.

[Float On]

Thanks for all the details. It sounds wonderful!!

[treehugger]

That sounds wonderful, Glo. I have been on a few cruises, and I agree that they are a great way to vacation with a big group. Something for everyone, plenty of alone time if one prefers, no one gets burdened with all the work, etc. I, too, love the days at sea. So relaxing and peaceful. License to read all day long in the fresh air with beautiful scenery going by. My favorite cruise destination is Alaska.

Some day my husband and I want to cruise to Alaska out of SF. The idea of being able to take local public transit to the pier and get on the ship is so appealing!

Kara