Anyone reconsidering their European cruises?

[phinz]

Regarding the "Italy tour for which there is no need for a cruise" I tend to disagree.

Not that it is not possible but if you do your research you will find Italy is extremely expensive and travel internally takes time. I did both and I find that cruising even with Disney rates is a better deal than road trip, I unless you do not care about losing time in transportation or mediocre accommodation.

But again that's my own view

Don't you "lose time in transportation" while on a ship, when you could spend the night in a city and really experience it, versus the eight-hour cattle call that excursions are? You can't really say you've seen a place until you at least spend a night there and experience it once the cruise ships and the mob of tourists leave. This is the exact reason I canceled my Wonder cruise in March with its short stop in Key West and replaced it with a week in Key West at a top hotel for less money.

 

[Ofinn]

Don't you "lose time in transportation" while on a ship, when you could spend the night in a city and really experience it, versus the eight-hour cattle call that excursions are? You can't really say you've seen a place until you at least spend a night there and experience it once the cruise ships and the mob of tourists leave. This is the exact reason I canceled my Wonder cruise in March with its short stop in Key West and replaced it with a week in Key West at a top hotel for less money.

I think cruising gives you an idea what cities you might want to spend more time in. I haven't been to any Caribbean port that I would want to stay more than a day in. 5 hours in key west was enough for me I really didn't care for it that much. I agree with you on Italy. Rome wasn't built in a day...I don't know how you can tour it in a day.

 

[phinz]

5 hours in Key West didn't even begin to scratch the surface of what Key West really is. You have to spend time there and get off the Conch Train and away from Duval Street. I've made good friends in Key West over the years, and I love it for its diversity, artistic community and acceptance of just about everybody. It's a rich culture full of beauty and wonder, and cruise ship tourists will never be able to understand it for what it is. I felt like you did after one night there, but went back and spent time there, and now it's one of my favorite places in the world.

Cruises are *not* a good taste of a culture, whether it be Italy, Cartagena or Charleston, SC. They aren't even a good indicator of whether or not one would want to return. You just don't get to see anything of consequence on a cruise. Cruises are best for cruising as opposed to touring. Overnights would be better, but even that really isn't enough.

 

[aggiedog]

Looking at the new 12 night itinerary, I don't like it either. I'd been day dreaming about the old itinerary for awhile. For us, the appeal of a cruise like that (or of the Baltics) is the ability to get to multiple countries without significant over land travel. They could at least have added Croatia or something on the Agean. Two of the stops are Rome and Naples. That is a 3 hour drive, straight down the highway - we did it 2 summers ago. And then spent an ah.maz.ing week in a villa in Amalfi, with several private tours, for what would have been 1/8 the cost of a DCL cruise.

 

[Ofinn]

5 hours in Key West didn't even begin to scratch the surface of what Key West really is. You have to spend time there and get off the Conch Train and away from Duval Street. I've made good friends in Key West over the years, and I love it for its diversity, artistic community and acceptance of just about everybody. It's a rich culture full of beauty and wonder, and cruise ship tourists will never be able to understand it for what it is. I felt like you did after one night there, but went back and spent time there, and now it's one of my favorite places in the world.

Cruises are *not* a good taste of a culture, whether it be Italy, Cartagena or Charleston, SC. They aren't even a good indicator of whether or not one would want to return. You just don't get to see anything of consequence on a cruise. Cruises are best for cruising as opposed to touring. Overnights would be better, but even that really isn't enough.

That makes sense. One thing I loved about our Hawaii cruise was that we were able to rent a car in each port and drive all over the islands. It was the first cruise where I felt like I really got to see a lot. The expensive cattle call excursions are not my cup of tea. Its one of the reasons I'm hesitant to do a med cruise. It seems very rushed in each port and there's so much time spent off the ship. I like cruising just to cruise. We may spend a week in Europe next year and them take the trans atlantic home. That seems like the best of both worlds to me.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Do not agree with the opinion that you see absolutely nothing of value on a day trip. You see the basics but you do see them. I don't have weeks and weeks to spend in each destination right now.

Rome can't even be toured thoroughly in a week.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Don't you "lose time in transportation" while on a ship, when you could spend the night in a city and really experience it, versus the eight-hour cattle call that excursions are? You can't really say you've seen a place until you at least spend a night there and experience it once the cruise ships and the mob of tourists leave. This is the exact reason I canceled my Wonder cruise in March with its short stop in Key West and replaced it with a week in Key West at a top hotel for less money.

I agree with you, though we will still cruise Europe for now as it is really the only way DH and I can do it with DS8 along. We tried an ABD with him and it was too tour intensive and too many early mornings for him. My DS8 is a trooper on tours and excursions, but boy does he love to unwind in the kids club after excursions and on sea days! For now, it's the perfect balance of all of us getting to see a little bit of the world and everyone then getting a chance to unwind and relax.

When we visit other locations (Mexico, Hawaii, etc.), we don't cruise as there are many resorts that offer a kids club experience for DS. He's an only child and he really loves to socialize and make new friends and not just hang with mom and dad all the time.

Would I love to rent a villa and a car in Italy and just relax, do day trips and explore - yes! But I think DS would lose his mind. When he is older, we will adjust our vacation style.

That being said, we think we are actually going to go on this cruise after all! (I'm the OP). I was really hesitant about Turkey and didn't want to spend the $$ on the cruise and feel uncomfortable or even stay on the ship in port. Though Turkey, Malta and Greece remain on my bucket list, we are excited to see some parts of Italy we've never seen and see Majorca and Sardinia as well!

 

[Danni75]

I agree of course with comments that you do not experience the same way by spending the night.
However you mentioned a 5 day trip. In that time you will either see one city or lose your time in transportation.
And regarding the compared costs with Key West I would be very interested to see a comparable itinerary in Italy for the same price.

 

[Ofinn]

I agree with you, though we will still cruise Europe for now as it is really the only way DH and I can do it with DS8 along. We tried an ABD with him and it was too tour intensive and too many early mornings for him. My DS8 is a trooper on tours and excursions, but boy does he love to unwind in the kids club after excursions and on sea days! For now, it's the perfect balance of all of us getting to see a little bit of the world and everyone then getting a chance to unwind and relax.

When we visit other locations (Mexico, Hawaii, etc.), we don't cruise as there are many resorts that offer a kids club experience for DS. He's an only child and he really loves to socialize and make new friends and not just hang with mom and dad all the time.

Would I love to rent a villa and a car in Italy and just relax, do day trips and explore - yes! But I think DS would lose his mind. When he is older, we will adjust our vacation style.

That being said, we think we are actually going to go on this cruise after all! (I'm the OP). I was really hesitant about Turkey and didn't want to spend the $$ on the cruise and feel uncomfortable or even stay on the ship in port. Though Turkey, Malta and Greece remain on my bucket list, we are excited to see some parts of Italy we've never seen and see Majorca and Sardinia as well!

I'm glad it worked out in you favor. I might have booked this cruise with the new itinerary I've never been interested in Greece or Turkey. I agree with you that cruising is great with kids. I'm finding the older they get the harder it is to get them off the ship. They just want to be with their new friends. It doesn't help that they're out to 1am. Try getting tween and teenage boys up in the morning on a cruise....grrrr.

 

[phinz]

I agree of course with comments that you do not experience the same way by spending the night.
However you mentioned a 5 day trip. In that time you will either see one city or lose your time in transportation.
And regarding the compared costs with Key West I would be very interested to see a comparable itinerary in Italy for the same price.

I didn't say 5 days. I said 5 cities. Big difference.