From Cruise Curmudgeon to Obsessed Cruiser
David and his girl, Thanh.
July 10, 2012
by David Wenstrom
“Why don’t we go on a cruise?” Thanh asked, as she had many times before.
“Because we are not Bill and Melinda Gates,” I replied.
I am man of modest means. And men of modest means—men who have memorized the Dollar Menu at McDonald’s (or the “tasting menu,” as I call it)—do not go on cruises. I’d seen enough old movies to know that cruising was a pursuit reserved for the select few—aristocrats and oil barons, not special education teachers.
Even if I could scrounge up the hundred grand or so for a cruise, there was the matter of what to wear. I knew extensive formal attire would be involved for I’d seen Cary Grant cross the Atlantic in an endless succession of stodgy suits and starchy tuxedos in “An Affair to Remember.” I did not own a tuxedo. I didn’t even own what could technically be called a suit. A sports coat and Dockers might suffice for snorkeling, but what about dinner?
Which brings us to food. Cruise veterans might touch on the tropical sunsets or the splendors of Glacier Bay, but their narratives never strayed far from the food—the sumptuous dinners, the scrumptious desserts and, above all, the fact that one can eat all one wants whenever one wants to eat. I did not want to eat all I want to eat. Largely, because I did not want to spend countless additional hours at my gym undoing the damage.
“I’m serious,” Thanh persisted. “Let’s go on a cruise.” Thanh had been on two cruises. She had tasted the forbidden fruits of midnight dessert fetes and she wanted more. “Sure,” I relented, as I pondered my post-cruise paunch. (On the bright side, I’d be so broke after the cruise that I’d lose the paunch in no time due to starvation.)
We booked a seven-day cruise to the Mexican Riviera (it was news to me that Mexico had a Riviera). It was also news to me that I could afford a cruise. The price of passage was about what I’d typically spend for a week in Yosemite in one of those unheated hovels they call tent “cabins.” As much as I liked the price, I had serious reservations about the product–an interminable week of grazing and sunbathing on the high seas. I’d bring a book; that would help kill the time.
My first inkling that cruising might not be quite what I’d imagined occurred as our airport shuttle approached Los Angeles Harbor. A gleaming white colossus gradually emerged from the storied Southern California mists (smog). “Our ship,” Thanh said. My eyes grew wider and wider as the leviathan loomed larger and larger. That was no ship; it was a small planet. Those “floating palaces” in the old movies were mere asteroids in comparison.
As we boarded Diamond Princess, found our stateroom and explored, it dawned on me that my kill-the-time book might not be necessary. There was so much to see and do, so much in fact that by the second day I was seriously concerned about my tan, or lack thereof. Thanh and I were so busy enjoying everything from comedy acts to conga lines that I hadn’t had time to acquire that bronze patina that would prove I’d been on a cruise
Thanh agreed to turn it down a notch and try a little Lido deck lounging. We grabbed some deck chairs, grew bored after 20 minutes and resumed our whirlwind of activities.
I did, eventually, acquire that seasoned-seafarer tan, thanks to some unforgettable shore excursions in the warm Mexican winter sun—snorkeling off the Marietas Islands (and photographing their fantastic blue-footed boobies!), whale watching out of Cabo San Lucas, parasailing miles (it seemed) above the sparkling waters of Mazatlan.
I didn’t put much of a dent in that kill-the-time book—and not for lack of trying. I’m an early riser, and every morning I’d slip over to the still-quiet Horizon Court buffett to sip coffee and read at a window table. I never made it past the first paragraph. I simply couldn’t tear my eyes from the passing coastline, the rolling waves, the rollicking dolphins, and the mysterious, mercurial sea. I could’ve sat there for hours, utterly at peace.
What I wouldn’t give to be there now, sipping my coffee at the dawn of another extraordinary day! That first cruise four years ago transformed me from cruise curmudgeon to cruise fanatic. Thanh and I have since been on second cruise to Mexico and we hope to take a Hawaiian cruise in the next few months.
While I once dodged Thanh’s suggestions that we go on a cruise, it’s now my friends and colleagues who do the dodging as I pester them relentlessly about the joys of cruising: Stressed? Why don’t you go on a cruise? . . . Getting married? Why don’t you go on a cruise? . . . The Giants lost? Why don’t you go on a cruise? . . . The Giants won? Why don’t you go on a cruise?
Really, why don’t you go on a cruise?
David lives in Redwood City, California and he’s enjoyed two Princess cruises. Thanh has been on four Princess cruises!
189 Comments Post a Comment
Continuing the Discussion
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says... December 19, 2012 | 2:41am
[...] To Please My Girl [...]
David, we’re thrilled you’re now an obsessed cruiser and you shared your very entertaining story with us! Your girl has good taste!
I’m thrilled, too. And I’m glad you think she has good taste!
I’ve been hooked since my first cruise in 1972! I taught kindergarten for 40 years and the sea was my stress buster. Every school break I could hear the ships horn calling me for another adventure. I leave on Aug. 3rd for my 98th cruise. Now , newly retired, I find the sound of the sea calling every couple months. I’m planning for a big 100th cruise in Feb. Enjoying the “good life” !!!
Your 100th! Wow, I have some catching up to do!
i FINALLY CONVINCED MY FRIEND LEA TO GO ON A CRUISE, SOMETHING OF WHICH neither OF US HAD WANTED TO EVER DO, and yet I had gone on one before, so was “in the know”. Lea finally agreed and now she won’t take hardly ANY vacation unless it involves a couple CRUISES in a row! We have several more upcoming scheduled cruises this Jan. and next summer! Just wish the Vernadahs weren’t so expensive!
We just cruised on the Ruby Princess and couldn’t be happier to be on Deck 5 with a window but no balcony. We were just down the hall from the piazza, the 24 hour cafe, the art gallery, the internet cafe and a big beautiful dining room. Others with balconies were on decks where there was nothing happening as they were all cabins. Don’t blow money on a balcony as you will be too busy to spend that much time in your room.
How does one afford 100 cruises!! I PAIN stakenly save for the 4 I have gone on!
You must be richer than us! Actually, maybe poorer!
Actually, my husband and I find that every time we compare cruise expense with any other vacation we try to take, the cruises come up cheaper with my searching all my “cruise sites” for specials and deals.
David what a fabulous story. My hubby was not keen to cruise, but 4 years ago we went on the Dawn Princess around the Pacific islands and he became hooked. Two years later we were on the Sun Princess around NZ. We absolutely love Princess Cruises and could find no fault. This will be tested in Feb 2013 as we embark on a 9 day cruise with Voyager of the Seas. If money were not an issue I am sure we would be joining those who cruise several times a year. Bon Voyage to all who do cruise.
I am with you Vivienne, my husband was adamant he would not cruise ever and then in 2008 I went ahead and booked a 7 day cruise to the South Pacific, that was the beginning of the end. We went again to the South Pacific in Jun 2011 for 14 days, and he was so excited, I am sure he knew the Pacific Jewel back to front before we even got on it. He absolutely loves the South Pacific but this time I put my foot down and said I wanted to see other parts of the world so he relented and in May 2013 we head of the Canada and Alaska but you guessed it, the trip had to involve a cruise. We are so excited to be going on a cruisetour this time, it involves 7 days land into the heart of Alaska and then 7 days cruising the inside passage on the Diamond Princess, counting the days.
Maxine, you will love the Alaskan cruisetour! We started our curisetour on May 16, 2012, in Fairbanks. Loved every second of it and then it got better, we go on the ship! The glaciers were fantastic and the shore excursions even better! Every guide on our tour was quite knowledgeable and informative. It made the experience even better. Would love to do it all again!
I have been on 5 Alaskan cruises. I love the scenery and it’s so relaxing. And I’m always hoping to spot a whale or 2.
David, I have been hooked for 20 years and have seen all seven continents on cruise ships. A great addiction to have!
We have cruised three times and I tell everyone “you can put me on a ship and take me anywhere” . For my partner and I there is no better way to vacation.
I know when you cruise once it gets in your blood and you need to go again. We cruise every other year with my son and daughter -in-law. It has been 4 wonderful cruises and I am taking one with my daughter the in between year. I love and would not change it for anything else.
What a great story. We have just booked our 3rd cruise. This one is going to be on the Allure of the Seas. Princess is out ship of choice, but wanted to try the big one. Love cruising. The only way to travel. Have visited a lot of places, and have a lot of places left to visit. Try to go every year.
Enjoy your future cruises……..
Loved your story, David – reminded me of the concerns & reservations that I had until we took the Coral Princess to Alaska… followed by cruises to the Mexican Riviera and the Caribbean (all on Princess, of course.) Needless to say we are now hooked on cruising and have booked another next February through the Panama Canal.
Love your story David. My husband and I are addicted too and are in the process of booking our 4th and 5th cruises as I write this.
Randy: can you tell me a little about the cruise to Alaska on the Coral Princess? That is our planned trip for 2013. Thank you.
Alaska is the place to cruise. Been there twice 2009 and 2011! Once on Carnival and once on Princess. Of the two, I liked Princess the most. Either way, I’m ready for a return visit. The scenery is terrific, lots to see and do.
If time permits, do the land portion as well, the landscape in the interior is stunning. Travelled from Fairbanks to Whittier and boarded the Coral in September 2011 and the fall colours were wonderful.
Have just been on Alaska land Criise from Vancouver in May and it was the most enjoyable and wonderful holiday i have ever had, Princess is very good can’t wait for my next cruise with them,advise anyone to do the cruise ,i have passed it on to all my friends.
Mona, I hope you won’t be as disappointed as I was on the Oasis of the Seas. It was beautiful, especially the central park area….but they had to give up space in the show areas…..You have to make reservations in advance to be able to see a show as there are very few seats. I was really quite disappointed as they filled up fast…..I prefer the smaller ship with a larger seating capacity for the shows & I can usually catch it more than once on a Princess ship.
my husband and I have sailed 888 days on Princess, think we should get the T Shirt
Funny you should say that. We had fixed seating for dinner on the Dawn Princess and never made it to a show because the theater was always too full…both before and after dinner.
David, I was and still am hooked on river (Mississippi) cruising but my son talked my hubby & I into a big ship cruise in 2004. Panamal Canal on the Coral Princess from SF to Ft Lauderdale. We’re hooked. Big ship cruising is a retreat for me and river cruising is playing hookie.
Good luck w/Royal…..will never do that again!!!From now on, I will only cruise with Princess…..We leave in Jan for #4. Can’t wait for my lounge chair & drink of the day!!!
David, welcome to the obsession!!! My first was a 3-day cruise to Mexico. Since then, I cruise an average of once a year…Mexican Rivera was grand…but so is the Mediterranean and Hawaii!!!! And don’t forget ALASKA…Princess treated my beau and I royally for that week!!!! (You can order Silver Salmon every night for diner!!!). For my birthday this year, we are cruising the Baltic…Princess, once again!!! I am so excited to see St. Petersburg!
David, what a marvelous CRUZN story! It should be a suggested reading material for potential and hard-core CRUZrs – like I think I belong to both categories.
Kathim, you will enjoy the overnight stay at St Petersburg. Ensure you take the ship’s tour to Moscow and for the finale, see the ballet show. I love it.
We just got back from a Mediterranean in Jun 2012 on Ruby Princess – it was an “awe-and-shock” exhilarating awesome CRUZN trip.
WOW to the staff’s usual excellent service. Love you all. KEEP CRUZN!!!
I’ve taken the Baltic cruise twice before with my late wife and am taking it again July 28th. I am reasonably sure you will not be disappointed; I haven’t been even considering the long journey from LA to Copenhagen. I’m not sure they still offer the all-day trip to Moscow that I took, but there are plenty of other things to do and see in St. Petersburg. Have a great cruise!
We are now leaving for our 89th cruise, we will do our 90th in august, the best value for a vacation.
How many cruises do u take a year?
I got hooked after my 1st cruise 10 years ago. I am now a travel agent. Come and join our group cruise to the Mediterranean on the new Royal Princess September 27, 2013.
Jim, where could I find out more about your group cruise in September 2013? I’ve been on 6 cruises, but as a single I have trouble finding cabin mates. Do you know if there are any singles (women) in your group that needs a cabin mate?
My husband and I looked at this cruise, however it is completely sold out!
Loved your post!
That was a wonderful story and so well written. I think it is so true of so many! We are now about nine cruises in and encourage all of our family and fiends as well. May I suggest the Mediterranean- nothing like it!
WE ARE SO GLAD YOU FOUND CRUISING. WE HAVE BEEN ON OVER 40 CRUISES AND OVER 27 WITH PRINCESS. FOR US, IT’S THE ONLY WAY TO TRAVEL. CAN’T WAIT FOR OUR NEXT ONE IN ALASKA IN AUG. AND THEN THE CA COAST IN OCT. IT NEVER GETS BORING.
Well David I am glad you had a positive experience. I was looking forward to our cruise to Alaska. I also had heard of the delicious food and midnight buffets. Sadly our experience was different. The food was poor at best, deserts nothing to talk about we were very disappointed about the cruise as was many people on it. Alaska however was amazing.
I have to wonder just what type of food some of these people eat at home. Most of us mortals do not have access to gourmet dining on a regular basis and most of us Moms are just happy to have someone else prepare our meals!
Had the same experience on Alaska cruise this year. Food was not what we had heard about. Many on our cruise also not anxious to cruise again. Alaska and the trains were amazing.
Well, we just returned from Alaska-cruise and land- on the Island Princess.
It was great and the food was wonderful.
I know what you mean. Our 1st to 5th were the best cruises on Princess. We’re doing our 9th this Sept. but they seen to be getting a little bit worse each time after that. From the food not been as good to service not as fine as it once was. We’re thinking about doing some land vacations…
Our experience on Princess was great. Carnival food left a lot to be desired. Which cruise line are you referring to?
I went to Canada from Boston in June on the Carnival Glory. Other than the french fries, the food was great, from the buffets to the sit down dinners, everything was hot & fresh & there was an amazing varity. It was also my first cruise & I can’t wait to go again.
Hi David!
I am so glad you decided to give in to Thanh’s requests to go on a cruise! We also have friends that are just sure they will be bored on a cruise. I keep telling them “if you’re bored it’s your own fault!” There is sooo much to do, or not, whatever you feel like.
We will be going on our third Hawaiian cruise in December, and can’t wait! This will be our 10th Princess cruise in 10 years. If you watch the promotions and plan ahead, a cruise can be a real bargain! Even the clothes don’t have to break you, after all, the people on the last cruise won’t be there to remember you wore the same thing this cruise… I find some really nice “sparkly” blouses after the holidays on the clearance racks, and pair them with black slacks or a long black skirt, It also takes a lot less packing space than all those fancy & expensive dresses. My husband has a black suit, and a pleated “tuxedo” shirt & tie he got for $17 at the Burlington Coat Factory. We just added some nice studs and cufflinks and he looks great in it! I know this sounds cheap, but it’s just practical. (You’re probably thinking LOL by now)
Anyway, kids, keep enjoying your cruises. Hopefully, you’ll be able to do it when you’re old fuddy-duddies like us, ritired and on a fixed income! And go to Alaska if you get a chance, right out of SF. The best time we’ve found, is at the beginning of the season (late May or early June). The weather is great, prices are good, and the mosquitos are still hiding…
Enjoy life, and “Escape Completely”
I always smile when I read where one of the reasons to cruise is to re-connect with friends. We re-connect with friends on our Princess cruises because our friends are the crew. We had a wonderful cruise around the South Pacific on Pacific Princess which was unfortunately cut short at the Panama Canal when my husband was taken ill. The ships doctor, nurses and crew could not do enough for us and their port agents were great.
A year later we joined the Sun Princess to cruise around New Zealand and first night out my husband had a tap on the shoulder and a ‘Good Evening Mr Gell, how are you?’ It was one of the waiters from the Pacific. In the dining room two of the waiters said good evening and asked if my husband (by name) if he was better.
When I took my mother on the Crown Princess to Norway last year I was approached by one of the casino staff who called me by name and asked after me and he was from Ocean Princess.
I wonder who will be on the Grand Princess, when we travel in August, that we know? Luckily the crew have name badges because they remember us but I can barely remember my daughters names at times. Its called old age!!
A cruise with Princess is like going home to visit friends.
thank you for just making me smile!!
Hi,,,,,I am going on a South America and Antarctica cruise on January 2013…did Panama and Easterna and Western Carribbean in the past couple of years….I am addicted and it is wondeful the same as you guys…it could be our story too…..we are all so blessed…..hopefully can do this every year another place….
Oh David, I know just what you mean, I had been bugging my husband of now 36 years for about 25 of those to try a cruise but I was hit with a brick wall every time, no matter how I tried to sell it he just wasn’t having a bar of it, his main concerns at the time were,
1. I need my early morning cuppa no facilities in the cabin what am I going to do?
2. Don’t fancy being stuck on a ship with people I don’t like and can’t get away from
3. Where do I hide from all the kids
and so the list went on, until eventually while booking our holiday for 2007 he saw an offer for a cruise to the Caribbean early 2008, he asked ‘did I want?’ of course I snapped his hand off, so 2 holidays booked on the same day and only 6 months apart, how were we going to afford it all?
Well it time arrived for us to fly out from UK to Barbados, the longest flight we had ever taken, I nearly fell over when I first saw the size of the Sea Princess and I got worried I would get lost, but I needn’t have as I soon found my way around and was wow’d by every sight feeling like a princess myself in heaven, I never thought I would ever have this dream come true, as for my husband well he got his cuppa every morning, although there were some children on board they were hardly ever seen nor were they any bother, as for being stuck with people we didn’t like it was actually hard to find the same people again, so yes he enjoyed it too so much so that the weekend after we arrived home he was straight back to the Travel Agents booking the same cruise on the same ship for the following year. Sadly this has been our only 2 cruises but we are defiantly hoping to cruise again one day.
I love your story, I, too, was concerned about being “stuck” on a ship with all those strangers. Of course, my concerns were for naught. The ship was enormous. As for all those strangers, I had a wonderful time meeting people from all corners of the globe and from all walks of like. Thanh and I even met a couple who knew my aunt and uncle!
David, what a beautiful piece of writing! You have captured so effectively and so concisely so many of the elements that excite my wife and me about cruising. Your piece must surely be worth an upgrade next time you travel with Princess!
You are far too kind! But I do like that free “upgrade” bit.
Way to go!,I also had a gentleman friend who thought Canada was the only place to take a holiday.He didn’t have a passport till he met me.His first cruise was a 19day panama cruise on the Island Princess.My 2nd one.I knew he would like it but just incase he was bored I got him a few pocket books. He did not read one page,he was so busy.Next one will be Alaska.He can’t wait.I think I now have a cruising traveller for life.
We’ve been on many cruises, one time on the Norwegian cruise line, Holland America once and 2 times on Princess cruise line to Alaska. If you go be sure go by Princess cruises and go on the Denali Wilderness Tour into the park and you can then upgrade your tickets so you can go deeper into the park. Pirncess has special cameras on these tour buses where they can bring the animals far away and show everyone on their monitors. Bring telephoto lens and v. good binoculars. Do not book any short flights to Arctic Circle or to see pipe line. over $600. and your lucky to see anything. They have 2 small airports in the area and if 1 is full Princess will suggest the other airport. 2 of us went and saw nothing. We went dog sledding on the glaciers, book early am it will get cloudy and it will get we went 2 times to be able to do this.
The flight up to the glaciers was great. And dog sledding on top of the glaciers with 80 degrees temp. The experience was great. There was 300 dogs up there.
David, your story made me laugh! Well written! I’m a Princess employee in the corporate offices and when I joined the company I could not even imagine a vacation that did not involve carrying a backpack into the wilderness or sitting by a campfire. Then, my co-workers though me into taking a cruise vacation to Alaska so I could get to know our product. Well, 22 years and 16 cruises later (plus 2 more coming up) I’m still very much an outdoors kind of girl, but I count the days till I go back to sea on one of those beautiful ships.
I’m still an outdoors kind of person, too, but it is nice to be thoroughly pampered now and then.
David, you are “now hooked” I would say. Cruising is a fabulous way to see nature in a different way. Porpoise, whales, seals it’s all there. Princess Cruiselines really know how to treat their clients, every person I came in contact were amazing.
Returning once more from Alaska, it is the most fabulous place in the world, I have now been there 3 times and being a travel agent this is one of the most popular destinations for people in the summer time living on the West Coast.
If you love Alaska, then you really have to take an Antarctic cruise. It’s the most amazing place and cruising there is a wonder. Our Captain said that it was like “…Alaska on steroids!” It was indeed. And since you have to cruise down the eastern side of South America from Buenos Aires to get to the peninsula, you get both types of cruising at once, hot climate and cold climate. And don’t get me started on Iceberg Alley at dawn, it left me speechless. I’d go again in a heartbeat!
Did you do that cruise with Princess? if so what Ship?
Yes, we were on the Star Princess. You won’t be sorry, it was extraordinary!
We’ve been to Alaska 4 times, We’ve done everything we wanted, I guess Will have to put Antarctic on our bucket list.
You will love the 14 day Hawaii cruise! My husband and I sailed on the beautiful “Sapphire Princess” in April and loved every minute of it. We especially enjoyed the ScholarShipat Sea lectures about Hawaii. If you still want to read that book, may I suggest the Sanctuary adult retreat, our favorite spot.
Hi Judy, where did you sale out of?
Let me correct my spelling (see – I’m already looking for a bargain) <>
Where did you SAIL out of?
Hi David So glad you like cruising . We are going on a 16 day cruise to Bejjing out do anchorage , this our 16 cruise. Leaving in Sept , we have taken our daughter with us since she was a baby she is now 19 an avid cruiser and loves princess!
Debbie, we are doing the same cruise – Anchorage to Beijing! We’re flying into Anchorage a week early and bumming around by ourselves with a rental car. My friend and I have gotten hooked on cruising ever since our 1st cruise to Alaska. We laughingly say we are doing an “Around the World” cruise on Princess ships in segments over 5 years. We have done the Baltic cruise (loved St. Petersburg) after spending a week in Ireland by ourselves, the Mediterranean, and last fall, sailed from Southhampton, England to New York (again, after spending a week in London and France on our own.) That crossing ran into Hurricane Isabelle off Greenland – grateful neither of us got seasick as that ship was really rocking and rolling. It’s the only way to see the world!
talk about obsessed.l immigrated to the usa and came on the queen mary which is docked in ling beach now. this was 47 years ago from southhamton.ever since we have been on 20 cruises 90% on princess. we have been on the two royals and 2013 we will be going on the new royal on their maiden voyage from venice to ft lauderdale.ITS THE ONLY WAY TO GO.do what you want.keep it up PRINCESS and aloha from kauai
Many many cruises under our belts. One month from today fly into London for 12 day British isle cruise on Princess caribbean. Only way to go. Great article. Keep sailing!
We have booked this trip for next May. Please write a review with some tips somewhere as I have not been able to find anything anywhere about how people liked the trip
Great trip. Scotland and ireland amazing. London a bit expensive but folks were wonderful. We loved the trip. We leave tomorrow for a cruise from barcelona to venice. Cruise number 5.
Do you have to book the excursions that are offered on board or can you get a cab or transportation on shore once off the ship.
Yes, you can do your own excursions. Many ports you can just walk into town. Just do a little planning ahead via the internet. We’ve booked our own tours for Bangkok, Buenos Aires, did Beijing on our own, but a private tour to the Great Wall. But have taken many of the Princess tours as well. Or at least their transportation into a city then on our own, till we took their bus back to the ship. Cruising is wonderful….
Yes, you can get a cab on shore, but be careful, especially in foreign ports. When you book an excursion with Princess, you can be sure it is safe and that Princess knows where you are, so if there’s a problem (something breaks down or the excursion is delayed for any reason) the ship will not leave without you. Yes, it’s a little more expensive, but well worth the peace of mind.
Been there done that in 2006. Three days in London (expensive) but worth it. Ours was a 10 day trip around the British Isles. I was going home in a sense as I was born in Northern Ireland. My wife and I enjoyed ALL of the ports.
We have completed 27 cruises and #28 is booked for October when we fly to Barcelona for a few days prior to a 12 day cruise. We have done 3 Alaska cruises, all with Princess. We enjoyed all three cruises BUT you have to go inland to REALLY see Alaska. We have been from the Kenai (Seward) to Prudhoe Bay (and many places in between), we rode the haul road from Fairbanks to Deadhorse/Prudhoe Bay and walked on the Arctic Ocean as it was still frozen. Got more places to see, after this fall trip our next sights are set on going to Russia on a Baltic cruise.
Jean we will be on that cruise and will sail on to NY after the British Isle itinerary. See you there!
David, this September I will experience first time with Princess doing the Alaska Inside Passage. I’m a travel agent and have sailed on many cruises with many lines. I also sent lots & lots of cruisers with Princess. The quality of service Princess gives must be quite remarkable since nobody came back with any complaints or dissatisfield. I look forward to doing this with Princess for the first time and hope to do few more. Your note makes me smile and quite entertaining. Way to go!
Davidin Oct my wife and I are flying to Quebec Canada and cruise the east coast It will be our 5 cruise and we have only been married 9 yrs= We love It
I do have one complaint. I didn’t win at Bingo, and, believe me, I tried!
We felt your pain. We did the same thing. Still a lot of fun.
Fantastic story – now if I can only convince my better half to try a cruise, I’m sure he’d love it! There are so many misconceptions out there about cruising, but I think 90% of people would love it if they just tried it!
Loved David’s story. I, too, love cruising. My husband and I had been on 16 cruises together before he passed on to the heavenly ocean in the sky. It’s been 2 years since he’s been gone, but I did go on one cruise since then with a gal friend. I’m looking forward to my next cruise adventure. We love Princess. Have tried other lines but always return to Princess. I have heard people say they are afraid of being out in the ocean without land to be seen but it’s no different than being in the air with the land way down there. If it’s your time to go, guess you just have to enjoy the trip. “KEEP ON CRUISIN” See you aboard sometime!!!
Guess we will have to come back to Princess. Holland America is going down hill fast.
I agree 100% but Princess is not much better than Holland, remember they are both owned by Carnival! Our last cruise on Princess (2011) to Hawaii was a disaster, never again!
I had no idea that Carnival owns both Princess and Holland America. Our experience with Princess was very positive unlike Holland which had many disappointing moments!
I agree Franklin, I too was on Princess for the Hawaii 14 day cruise last year I beleive we went in Dec all their entertanment was so late at night we did nothing but eat and sleep, the food was awful as well. The best meal was the last night on ship and it was tacos, beans and rice. it was AWFUL, never ever again.
We did an NCL cruise in January of the Hawaiian islands, after spending a week at the Hale Koa military resort on Waikiki Beach. Never having sailed on anything but Princess, I was curious to see what a different cruise line would be like. Let’s just say, I’m back to Princess cruises. Sadly, there were 12 family members on this trip, with only 2 of us past cruisers. Since this was their only cruise experience, I don’t think the other 10 people will go on a cruise again, no matter what I tell them about our Princess cruises.
Had the opposite – great cruise on the Crown Princess, clean, caring staff and wonderful things to do, unlike the disaster on the Holland America – hated it, old and dirty and they did nothing about our complaints and they even had sickness on board, we had to even wait to get a glass of water, and no compensation for all our troubles!! Sure hard to believe they are owned by the same company!
amazing how people think cruises are soooo expensive but when you add what it would cost for hotel, food (endless) and entertainment it is quite an inexspensive vacation, we are one our 21st cruise and adore Princess Lines
My best friend and his wife asked us to share a cabin on a cruise they had booked with Disney. That fateful trip was two weeks after 9/11. It was a great way to get awy from all that was going on. When we returned I looked back at the Magic and said”Can we go again?” I never repeated a vacation. Always something different.That was 10 cruises ago. Everyway from Hawaii to Portugal. The last 3 were with Princess. Two more booked right now. Island Princess to Panama Canal and Golden Princess to Alaska for the second time. Cruising is our passion. Princess is our cruiseline.
Back in 1996 my wife came home one day and stated that she had booked a cruise with some friends and wanted to know if I cared toin her – what could I say?? This was on the old royal and we had a great time traversing the panama canal. Since that first cruise she has not booked another! However I have booked 34 since that date and right now we have exceeded one year at sea with Princess and have four booked for 2013, working on the second year.
Back in 1983, my husband reluctantly agreed to go on a cruise to Alaska. He wasn’t at all excited about the experience but after doing the Inside Passage all I had to do was mention a cruise I was interested in and he was ready for me to book same. Discovered Princess in 1988 and thus far have chalked up 39 cruises with Princess. In a few days will be flying to the Uk to board the OCEAN PRINCESS then in the fall to the South Pacific on the SAPPHIRE PRINCESS. I always feel that I go on feeling like a pampered princess and come off the ship feeling like a queen.
It took me four years to convince my husband to cruise after my first one with my daughter in 1998. After that he was all for them and some years we would go on three in a year. Tragically, he was killed in an accident two years ago and I figured my cruising days were over. Not to be, I went away with my girls on what would have been our 40th anniversary and a few after that. I am preparing for a two week Alaskan cruise on Princess in August and am trying it solo this time. It will be my 20th cruise.
You will love solo! I actually prefer that now. I was amazed at how busy I was and never felt alone or lonely. Your experience might/probably will be a bit different considering the circumstances, but I hope that the positives way out shine the darker moments. My condolences on your loss.
Having been on 49 cruises, 13 on Princess, I have seen the glamor and glitter fade. Cruising has changed dramaticallly along with the food especially, very disappointing. Our last cruise to Hawaii (the 4th) was very sad, the cruise line does not enforce dress codes and seeing men in the dining room with a T-shirt and ball cap just isn’t right. Economic times and cruise company consolidations are the major contributors to the demise of a once great way to take a vacation. The future looks bleek with fares getting lower and lower as the cruise companies try to fill their ships. With the lower fares comes lower quality of service and food, I won’t even start with the caliber of entertainment. There are a few cruise companies that are still 6 star but the cost of these cruises is prohibative.
Also, with the lower prices, you get the “lower class” of passengers who do not oversee their children. Rules and/or guidelines do not apply to them. We have been cruising since 1984, when our children were 14 & 7 yrs old and EVERYONE dressed for dinner and had manners.
I’ll agree to a point on this. Since I have started cruising, I too have noticed a decline in food, a bit in service, and a bit in entertainment. Unfortunately for cruise ships to break even they have to have over 80-90% occupancy. For a “good” profit they have to fill to over 100% (3 or more to a cabin). Costs have risen for the cruise lines but the fares seem to be lowering – take advantage of the the lower fares but adjust your expectations. It’s still a good deal, food is normally good, entertainment is normally good, and service is generally great. If you want better food, service, etc. then you will have to “Pay” for it but choosing the appropriate Cruise Line and Ship. I’m still cruising and loving it, I just know that if I want a higher standard of cruise I have to come up with the higher price to support that.
Ha, Ha. My husband was just like David. I suggested a cruise many times before he agreed. He thought it would be boring. It only took one cruise to change his mind. We just finished our fifth cruise. Love the story David, you tell it well.
The best vacations are the ones that float. We are booked on our 13th Princess Cruise next February (Emerald Princess to the Caribbean) and our total cruise count is 18. You can see more of the world that you could if you took the traditional land trips. Princess is our only choice. And Princess will give you nothing less that a “5 Star” experience. Enjoyed your story.
Great story, David! I got hooked in 1983, when I took my first cruise on the Sitmar line just before they were acquired by Princess. It was to the Western Caribbean and included the Panama Canal to Gatun Lake and the amazing San Blas Islands. A must see!! I think I’m up to about 20 cruises and am next planning a South American cruise for a very special birthday next February. Don’t forget to tell your friends about the adventure shore excursion choices that include hiking, snorkeling, cycling, zip lines and/or rope challenges! The rope challenge in Antigua was awesome, something I never thought I could do at age 58. And cycling in Juneau past a glacier in the rain was rewarded by a visit to a micro-brewery with (of course) a tasting! I look at cruising as the best way to see a bunch of places without all the packing and unpacking!
I am hoping that this blog will convince my husband Bob to go on a cruise. I cruised back home to Australia on the Canberra back in 1984 and have wanted to do another ever since! He keeps saying…”What is there for men to do??” and so I have kept asking P&O to produce a brochure aimed at men and men’s activities on board! PLEASE P&O just do it!
WELL THESE MAKE ME WANT TO GET ON A SHIP TOMORROW…I LOVE TO CRUISE AND SEE THE WORLD, MY HUSBAND IS ON A WALKER AND THE CRUISE WORLD IS THE BEST FOR US, I ALSO BROKE MY HIP LAST YEAR AND CRUISING IS PERFECT FOR ME TOO…THE STAFF OF PRINCESS REALLY KNOWS HOW TO HELP ANY WHO NEED TO USE A WHEEL CHAIR OR WALKER…WE TRY TO GO 1-2 TIMES A YEAR…I ALSO LIKE TO GO WITH MY GIRLFRIENDS WHAT A BLAST WITH THE GIRLS ESPECIALLY WHAN WE CAN SHOP AROUND THE WORLD….AND TO EAT ALL THE FAB FOOD….I AM A CHEF AND THEY ALSO MAKE ME WHAT EVER I WANT AND MY WAITERS ALWAYS KNOW WHAT I LIKE AFTER THE FIRST NITE….THANKS PRINCESS FOR ALL YOUR CARING……CHEF MELODY
We just took our 24th cruise on May 24, 2012. We were hooked in 1983 when a friend of mine who worked for a now defunct cruise company told us that we could use her employee discount and we went on a 7 day cruise out of NYC for $100.00 each. Next cruise, we booked a guaranteed inside cabin and were upgraded to a balcony. Cruising has become a way of life for us. We’ve been on Norwegian, Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Princess and our favorite is Princess. Happy cruising in the future to all of you
The exact same thing happened to my husband, except I booked a four day cruise out of L.A. and told him he was going. On the second day, he’s lounging on the deck looking into never, never land. I asked him what he was thinking about and he said “Our Next Cruise”. He’s been out of control since.
Like your “out of control” comment!
You sound just like my late husband. He thought cruises were for the very rich until our Alaska honeymoon cruise tour in 2007. It was still hard to talk him into going, but he loved it. We were able to do a 10 day cruise in the Carribean and a 10 day Canada New England cruise before he passed away last January 2011. Then I thought I would never cruise again, but introduced one of my girlfriends to Princess and we are going on our second cruise together next month;.
We had a somewhat similar experience. The main difference was that I got my husband on a cruise in 1981 when Love Boat was so popular. It was a now defunct line that cruised from Los Angeles to Ensenada. He got sea sick because the boat made figure eights so it would take longer to get back to Los Angeles. I loved it, and pestered him for the next 8 years. He finally agreed to take one and enjoyed it so much, he now says it is the only way to travel. We have also cruised on Norwegian, Holland America, and Carnival, but since our first Princess cruise shortly after 9/11, we are confirmed Princess cruisers. Our daughter is celebrating her birthday right now on a Princess cruise in the Mediterranean. We will be taking what will be our 11th (if I added them up correctly) Princess cruise at the end of the month with our son and daughter-in-law. If we had more spare time, we would take more Princess cruises. We have not been disappointed. And we also pester our friends about taking cruises with us. The ones who have come along have been sold on the idea, too. Thanks for sharing, and thanks to Princess for their great service.
Sounds much like my first cruise in 1989, 581 cruise-days ago.
David, your cruise story was amusing and well worded. I love to cruise and I was a little apprehensive prior to boarding my first cruise ship. A few years ago I looked into living on a ship but that was something I could not afford.
We have been on 57 cruises of which 35 have been on Princess. In the past 3 years we have concentrated on taking repositioning cruises andhave crossed the Atlantic 4 times and have 5 ansd 6 booked for October, 2012 and April, 2013. Prior to cruising we travelled a lot and toured Europe and the US by bus. Cruising is now the way we spend our vacation dollars with the ship being our hotel as we see the world. For us it is the only way to “fly”.
We cruise with family and close friends and it is a blast. Have done a Caribben Cruise, Mexican Cruise twice, Alaska twice and are getting ready to book our next cruise to the Panama Canal. Once you get a taste of it notin else can compare to it.
Went down the amazon in 1993 on the original “love boat”. Pacific princess.,! That was the first longer cruise of two weeks. The others were short, 7 days and that gave me a taste of longer cruises! Next one was short in china down the yangse river before the dam was built but it gave me the exotic cruise! So now I wanted to do longer and more exotic trips. Several years later in 06 I left on the legendary qe2 on my first world cruise of 106 days thinking it was a once on a lifetime event! Then in 08 I went on the final world cruise on it before it was sold to Dubai. In may I returned from my 5 th world cruise on the newer pacific princess having been on it for three straight years!! Loved it and all the staff ! Food the most fantastic on any ship and I’ve been on most cruise lines ! The sea days luncheons are so elegant ! Like the old midnight buffets, ice carvings, shrimp waterfalls, and desserts to die for! French baker with unbelieveable breads! The topping on the cake was having captain Steuben , Gavin McLeod, on board for several weeks, what a sweetheart!! Ahl,ost like being on the “Love Boat “
My husband talked me into cruising many years ago and Princess is our choice of Cruise line. We have been around the World with Princess Cruises, over 300 days at sea. We can hardly wait for our next cruise and start planning as soon as the one we are on is over. Thank you Princess for always giving us more than expected.
We started cruising in 1988 and we go at least twice a year or more. It’s just relaxing . We have never had a bad cruise. So, have fun everybody. Jim
We cruise very frequently. We are approaching our 100th cruise with Princess. Every spring and summer we have enjoyed the thrill of cruising out of NY (Brooklyn) our home port. Because of health reasons I cannot fly over 4 hours without oxygen. Why are all the Princess ships in Europe and Alaska? Come back to NY, we are suffering from cruise withdrawal. We’ll be on the Caribbean Princess when it arrives in NY in Sept. and then 10 days later on To Quebec and back on the Emerald. Please don’t forget the Eastern seaboard in spring & summer.
I love cruises. I have been on a bunch. One of my favorite was flying to Tahiti from California, boarding the Tahitian Princess and seeing some of the Polynesian Islands, Christmas Island and then going to the Hawaiian Islands. In Hawaii my little trips were flying in helicopters. AWESOME!
Hi, David
You’re a fine writer and expressed the realization of the love of the solitude of the sea beautifully, among what is sometimes can seem a lot of people. My first involvement with a sea passage was in the early years of 1950′s(at 6 yrs of age) when we crossed the North Atlantic coming to Canada from Britain. I survived the 30 metre waves and made a new home. Since my wife and I have traveled with Princess and others on several cruises which we have enjoyed tremendously!! We’re off to the Mediterranean next, but you would love Tahiti – the best.
Carry On Cruising,
Slainte
Chris & Colleen
After 9 years in the Navy, then 22 1/2 years Coast Guard, and then the merchant marine, I’m a genuine, 100% sailor, and love the sea. I talked my bride into going on her first cruise, and now she’s the one planning our next one. We are now “Elite” with Princess and cruise 2-3 times a year. I love taking the love of my life to places she would never see if it wasn’t for cruising. For me the chow on board sure beats what I used to get in the Navy or the Coast Guard, but I do have to watch the weight a little.
Having heard stories of the special treatment for anniversary celebrants on Princess cruises we booked a 14 day cruise with Princess so we would celebrate our sixtieth Wedding Anniversary at sea. The day came and passed with out a word, what a let down. We could have spent it at home with friends. Apart from that, the cruise was great.It must have been, we booked with Princess again.
You do have to tell them it is your anniversary! We celebrated ours and my parents on an Alaska cruise with a 7 day land tour (15 days total with Princess in Alaska!). It was a trip of a lifetime! We both got the special chocolate dessert for our anniversary at dinner. We also purchased flowers to be delivered to the dining room and everyone stopped by to say happy anniversary. We purchased the $70 anniversary package which got us chocolate covered strawberries in our room, Princess champagne glasses, a card from the captain, a professional portrait, and chilled champagne. Our waiters were amazing and were very helpful with my mother who was using a cane at the time. Our junior waiter helped her to the elevator every night after dinner even though he didn’t have to. He also sang a love song for my parent’s anniversary.
Hello Jennifer, thank you for your reply. Our travel agent told us she had advised Princess of our big day and quote ” You have nothing more to do but go and enjoy, everything is taken care of ” Well thanks to you we will know what to do when our Seventieth rolls around, Maybe you will be on board and help us celebrate.!! Thanks again, Ron Walker.
If Princess knows it’s a special day or event they always do something. If you booked with a travel agent (and told them) then the agent should have notified the cruise line (and done something themselves), if you booked directly with Princess then you need to tell them as well. Even better is when you get on the ship – let the “Passenger Services” desk know, your room steward, your waiters, cruise director, be excited and everyone around you will get excited too.
Hello Michelle, If you read my reply to Jennifer you will know we thought it was all taken cre of. Oh well, better luck next time,maybe we will meet on board some day. Thank you for your advice, Ron Walker.
Keep cruising David, three more and you’ll be Platinum and the benefits will start to kick in. Than will be Platinum after your next cruise and you’ll see.
For the price of one Gauguin cruise in Tahiti, you can do 2 or 3 on Princess.
Yes but a Paul Gauguin is all inclusive including cocktails wine beer softies and bubbles and is fantastic. It is also far better food and it depends on where you want to go, as we are going again to tahiti in August 13. I have done 12 cruises and just booked the 14 night on the Diamond princess leaving on 25th of jan around beautiful New Zealand and then over to Aussie. My new wife was in too minds to do another cruise as we did the 28 night around Aussie and found the food very average and the staff could be quite rude at times (mabee this was because they had been at sea for too long) but we thought we would give it another go and was able to bribe my wife with a week in Sydney afterwards to go shopping ….man im stupid thats really guna cost me now
Wonderful story. I suggest you skip LA and take the Hawaii cruise out of San Francisco. There’s nothing quite like sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge, the most beautiful structure on Earth, as you depart for Hawaii, the most beautiful place on Earth. Go Giants!
my husband did not want to cruise but he went on the first one to please me.We’ve been on four so far two on princess and two on carnival.Now even when it should be a girls vacation he wants to and come along.I must say princess is our favourite
My husband and I went on the 14 day Golden Princess Hawaii cruise from L.A. in February 2011 – the BEST cruise ever (we have been on 7 cruises & have an 8th planned for the end of 2012). I, like you, thought there would be lots of time for reading, and took 3 books to read during those 8 days at sea. I finished the first book on the airplane on the way HOME from the cruise. There was plenty to do, even with 8 days at sea. Keep cruising – you’ll be glad that you did!
Does anyone have been on the Southeast Asia & China Cruise with Diamond Princess?
We booked the cruise for April 1. 2013.
Just looking for some Info.
Loved your story, David!
If you ever decide to give up teaching, please take up writing. I was thoroughly entertained!
Until you have cruised it is hard to tell someone to take a chance and plunge in. We have been on 9 cruises and the last 5 have been on Princess. We are now dedicated Princess travelers. We use cruising as a way to see the world and since it is so large we will be cruising until we can’t cruise any more. You can visit many countries/destinations on just one cruise. I don’t think we would be able to choose one particular cruise as being the best because they are all unique and the countries you visit are amazing. Alaska is next on our agenda and are looking forward to it. We would have loved to be aboard the new ship launch in 2013 but it is already sold out but we will be booking a trip on it when we are on our Alaska vacation. There are so many destinations aboard a princess ship that we do not want to do the same one twice until we have gone around the world!
David, loved your story. That is exactly the way the love of cruising begins. We just booked
our 14th cruise. I thank my mother-in-law all the time. She’s the one that started the passion
for cruising.
P.S. Agnes, don’t miss Alaska. It’s an unforgettable voyage!!!
I personally did not like your snarky comment about San Pedro and the “smog” as you call it. Perhaps you would be happier to take your attitude and your comments and maybe sail out of Galveston or Mobile or New Orleans. The air is just so much cleaner there. San Pedro could do without you and your juvenile comments.
You are kidding, right? It was a beautifully written commentary, and I doubt anyone took the smog comment in a negative way.
No offense, but wow Roger, something is wrong here.
I was pretty smoggy the day of our departure, but you are right, Southern Califonia has cleaned up considerably since I lived there for a year in the ’70s.
David, My Husband was like you . He said he would never get on a Curise ship, because he couldn’t take his Mortorcycle around the deck.
We will be taking our 5th. Cruise in August and he loves it. He can leave the phone at home and just relax.
I just returned from “Land of the Midnight Sun” cruise to Norway on the Ocean Princess, 17 days round trip from London—it was fabulous and my 18th Princess cruise (40 cruises total). I loved your story and have loved cruising since my first cruise in 1975. I have 2 more trips booked and can’t wait to receive the new cruise atlas fromPrincess. Princess is my favorite cruise line!!!
David, loved you story and got me dreaming about another cruise. Isn’t the Diamond Princess a great ship. I did an Austrailia and New Zealand cruise aboard the Diamond Princess and loved every minute. I’m just back from cruise # 6 and can’t wait until #7— maybe Alaska or back to Austrailia!! There is something for everyone and it can be as busy or as quiet as you want it to be but I never got past the first chapter of my book!!
My husband was the same before I pleaded with him to go to Alaska, RT from San Francisco. Although he very much got into the swing of things on board, he prefers a few years off between trips. I’d take several cruises a year if we could afford it! I wish you many more happy voyages and I’m glad you have discovered the joys of cruising!
Congratulations, David. You passed the test and are no longer a holdout for cruising! In five days I leave on my 29th cruise (15th on Princess – 16 and 17 are already booked for Sept. 2012 and March 2013). Princess is a great place to start cruising and STAY! You need not even look for another line. I can’t wait for the new Royal to make her debut; I have sailed on both of the previous Royals and this newest one is almost unbelieveable. I can’t say enough about the Princess brand of hospitality. Others don’t even come close.
Happy sailing,
Fielding
David, we know what you mean as I’m also addicted. We’ll be on our 5th cruise (2nd to Alaska) in about 35 days aboard the Island Princess. The anticipation is exciting; the event even more so!
Next week, we are going on our fourth cruise. In 2008, we were on the Sapphire Princess for a 12 day Alaskan, land/cruise tour. Next week we fly to London and in Southhampton get on the Carribbean Princess for a 12 day cruise to Norway and Iceland. Princess handles everything and if you pardon the pun, the Alaska trip was real “cool.” The scenery, glaciers, and wildlife were amazing. And don’t forget the food. As the official historian for the Borough of Brooklyn, N.Y., I have given tours of wonderful Brooklyn for 30 years. On a Princess cruise, my wife and I get to relax and get to see the history of other places on this amazing planet.
My sons know my dream would be to be on a cruise 3 out of every 4 weeks. Talk about total release from stress and cares of the world! Haven’t cruised yet? You NEED to! A young 75 year old GrandMom almost at a goal of 40 cruises…so far….
I went on my first cruise to Alaska last summer and absolutely loved it. I am a cruiser for life. My husband and I plan to go on another cruise to Alaska soon. Yes, cruise to Hawaii, you’ll love it! Aloha from Honolulu!!
I went to Alaska last summer and now I am a cruiser for life. My husband and I plan to go back again. yes, cruise to Hawaii, you’ll love it!
Aloha- from Honolulu
What a fabulous story David! Thoroughly enjoyed reading it. My husband and I are both very happy you thoroughly enjoyed your first AND second cruise and look forward to taking more cruises. We took our first one week cruise after we were married on the secret beach in Oahu around the spectacular islands of Hawaii (we were not a young married couple either) nearly six years ago stopping on Maui, Hawaii (two places) and Kauai and LOVED every moment. We are ‘cruise newbies’ and active people for our ages of 58 and 65 so enjoy the many more adventurous cruise shore excursions such as hiking to the top of volcano’s, mountains and waterfalls. After saving a few more years we took our second cruise, a two week cruise, in the Caribbean aboard the Grand Princess. We were even more impressed to explore all nine of our island day stops. We CAN not wait to book our next cruise, hopefully another two week one anywhere in the world too. Happy cruising to everyone who is new to cruising or who has cruised many times. We too are happy to highly recommend cruises with Princess and feel taking a cruise is THE way to take an amazing vacation. Cheers.
Totally enjoyed reading David’s first cruise adventure! My hubby was also a curmudgeon and changed his tune on his first cruise. So much to do and see on and off the ship…no time for being bored–ever! May there be some more cruises in your future (the next one in ours: Hawaii!). And Princess is the BEST!
I totally agree 100%. Been on 26 cruises, 22 with Princess. Decided long ago we’re sticking with Princess for all the benefits of being Elite and much more. It’s a win win situation. There is no better way to enjoy a vacation stress free. This is the only time my husband can relax totally, since he’s till working his business after retiring from a Federal job. He absolutely dislikes land tours, unless it’s a brief land tour enroute before or after a Princess cruise. As he says, “no land tours for me”. I’m sticking to stress free vacations with Princess cruise. It’s the only way to go!
For years I balked at my husband’s suggestion of going on a cruise. Eee-yuuu, you have to sit with strangers during dinner, you have to dress up for dinner, it’s too expensive, yada, yada, yada. Finally, to appease him, I consented to a week long Mexican Riviera cruise. I was hooked the moment I saw the ship; the couple with whom we were sharing the cab looked at us and said “wow, is that your ship? Maybe we should consider a cruise!” After that cruise, I couldn’t wait to go on another to a tropical area, but dear hubby suggested we go on an Alaska cruise instead. Again, I balked (I won, went again to Mexico) but finally consented, and now I can’t get enough of Alaska. Sadly, hubby passed away two years ago, but I am now proudly introducing cruising, and Alaska, to three friends in September. I’m happy to keep my husband’s love of cruising alive and hope to turn at least one friend into a cruise fanatic like me!
Great story (and great writing) David; and so glad you had a great first experience. Our first cruise was several years ago and since then we perhaps have gone overboard by cruising with Princess to all seven continents and 5 oceans. We’ve visited places and seen things we never thought we’d visit or see in our lifetime. Hope you continue to cruise and enjoy each and every day at sea or in port.
David,
I found your narrative style simply great.
You have a future in the keyboards writting anything you want and when your brain tells you,
“break time”…go on a cruise.
I am just as hooked as the other Tom, Dick and Joe’s that made comments, respectfully said. You motivated too many “bloggers” to acknowledge your feelings.
I have cruised 16 times and I have to say, we all cruise according to our pockets and I am just as happy and satisfied as the person who did 50 or 100 cruisesin the most expensive accomodation or cruise line.
Keep it up… keep writting, keep cruising, stay happy alive and polite.
Sincerely,
Luis Fernandez.
David sounds a bit like me a couple of years ago! I was so chilled after the second cruise that I could happily have done the whole trip again (and I’d been worried about five continuous days at sea …..)
Have just booked a third cruise and am already planning the fourth – definitely got ‘the cruise bug’!
My late husband Ron and I took our first cruise with the Star Line Pisces on a Far East cruise with two days ashore in SIngapore. He was reluctant to take a cruise but had always wanted to visit Singapore so I craftily talked him in to taking the trip to celebrate our 30th Anniversary. At the time I was working in a school so had to have holidays to tie in with the school breaks. That trip to the Far East was in the Summer holidays and unbeknown to me my husband had checked when the October half term would be and he announced he would like to take another cruise then! That was 15 years ago and we had the chance to take 12 cruises since then. We visited so many wonderful places but I think our favourites were the Rockies Land Tour followed by an Alaskan cruise on Dawn Princess, the Norwegian Fjords sailing from Southampton on Grand Princess and the Baltic cruise on Star Princess. We also cruised around the Med and the Greek Islands and the Canaries and cruised down the Nile and stayed over in Cairo. We tried various other cruise lines but much prefer Princess. We met some wonderful people from all countries during our cruises and had such fun linking up with people on the cruise critic members website. In fact I am still in contact with many of these people some seven years on. Sadly, my husband passed away last October and was not able to fulfil his wish to see the Panama Canal. I would dearly love to take further cruises but the single supplements imposed by so many of the cruise lines (Saga have special offers occasionally with no single supplements but not often!) make it so costly. I am working hard to encourage a friend who, like me, is a widow that her next holiday should be with me on a cruise. Happy Sailing to everyone who had posted. It was lovely to read of everyone’s experiences.
I enjoyed my first cruise 3 years ago and my first trip to Florida, I live in england and i thought cruise was amazing thought i would get bored, didnt have time, the food, the staff just everything was first class, on my 3rd next year with the emerald princess again. I cruise alone but never feel alone and I love the formal evenings all that bling. happy days x
Ha ha ha this is great. I was the same – don’t want to go, don’t want to go, don’t want to be here, want to go home, blah blah blah – day 2, I’m never getting off this ship!!! That was 8 cruises ago
)
This article is about as inspiring as a stale fart.
My husband and I never took a cruise until 2 years before we retired. Now there is not enough time. We have been on 13 cruises, 9 on Princess. We have booked our 14th cruise in 2013 for our 50th anniversary. 26 glorious days to the Pacific islands.
David,
You drank the kool-aid like the rest of us and are hooked!! Love,love, love cruising..this fall will be #15 for us!! Glad you listened to the beautiful, and very smart Thanh!
Hope to meet you two one day on a Princess Cruise!
Enjoyed all of the posts…as a CRUSLVR we will be taking #31 in October to Hawaii, Samoa and Tahiti. Oyr first Tahitian/Hawaiian cruise was in 1991 on the beautiful “old” Pacific Princess for 11 days and fell in Love with Tahiti and Princess.. In 2006, along with long time friends who had been to Tahiti in the late ’60′s, we boarded the Tahitian Princess for 11 days, 6 ports to celebrate our joint “50th wedding anniversaries. on our 44th, just in case we didn’t make it
.
We cruised to Hawaii round trip for our Golden Anniversary on the Golden Princess in April 2011 and will take our 3rd cruise on the Saphire Princess for 28 days in October 2012. Life is good and Paradise is waiting for us!
Enjoyed all of the posts…as a CRUSLVR we will be taking #31 in October to Hawaii, Samoa and Tahiti. Our first Tahitian/Hawaiian cruise was in 1991 on the beautiful “old” Pacific Princess for 11 days and fell in Love with Tahiti and Princess.. In 2006, along with long time friends who had been to Tahiti in the late ’60′s, we boarded the Tahitian Princess for 11 days, 6 ports to celebrate our joint “50th wedding anniversaries. on our 44th, just in case we didn’t make it
.
We cruised to Hawaii round trip for our Golden Anniversary on the Golden Princess in April 2011 and will take our 3rd cruise on the Saphire Princess for 28 days in October 2012. Life is good and Paradise is waiting for us!
Princess is fantastic – we have been on 9 cruises – Holland America, Norweigan, Regent, MSC, our Carribean on the Crown Princess in Jan. 2011 was wonderful – clean, friendly and worth every penny… listened and fixed our small problems…
Holland America was terrible for us, dirty, old, staff who ignored our complaints, and sickness and no compensation for all our problems…
will not due HAL unless they give us a free one…
Princess is best of all the lines we have tried so far!!
Congratulations on your conversion to the Obsession.I know this is a Princess blog but you should try some of the sister lines in the Carnival Family.I was inclined to name them but then thought perhaps Princess would not allow my post to appear (LOL !)
Just booked our 5th Princess round the Mediterranean Greek Islands and also visiting Rome,Venice and Naples in Italy (not the US places of the same name.!!)
just came back from Ireland/Scotland and Normandy France (the British Isles) for 12 days
the part finally arrived and ship was repaired. Noone could leave the ship. We were docked all that time, Princess could of made bus arrangements for tours or let us visit London. Due to the late departure and1 bad weather at sea we couldn’t go to 2 ports. Instead of 2 sea days we had 4 sea days.Some people like to cruise cand enjoy the casinoes. That was not option. We were to close to shore. Under all circumstances,They did credit our account $75.The excursions have almost double in price since the last cruise we had in the Mediterrean a few years ago. I feel Princess could of of done better on the prices. Princess was charging their passengers $8. to go to a shore and another cruise line didn’t charge their passengers. Most excursiions included dinner at a restuarant. As if we needed to spend the day eating. We could of been saving money or visiting other places. We saw a lot of nice places.. I recommend everyone to vsiit The Battlefield at Normandy, France.
Hi,
My partner and I are due to go on a Hawaii cruise(our 4th with Princess). Apart from Pearl Harbour excursion can anyone suggest any ‘must see or must do’ other excursions ?
We are both looking forward to our cruise,setting off from Scotland on Tuesday 12th March and embarking the Golden Princess on Wednesday 13th March.Already counting the days.
same with NCL. Old and dirty
David you sound like my husband did 4 years ago but i convinced him to go on a 10 day cruise in the Caribbean for our 40th anniversary. The second day he said “we will do this again” and as of this year we have taken 5 cruises in the Caribbean. We love it and usually do two week cruises.
My most memorable vacations have been on Princess Cruises. I have been fortunate enough to cruise with Princess 15 times and am presently planning our next one. I’ve cruised on several other cruise lines and always return to Princess. I have always had the best personal and friendly service beginning with booking my cruise. Safety is the first thing that is emphasized with the staff and passengers. The staff on the ships are caring and will do anything to please the passengers. The activities are non stop so there is plenty to choose from. The ships are well maintained. There are many areas to choose from when dining. I can go on and on but about how we love the Princess Cruises.
I love this story. I love the description of the current ships as planets and the old cruise ships as asteroids!!!! It is amaze g just how addictive cruising cam become!!
We have just booked our 5th cruise with Princess David you must do the best cruise Alaska Amazing to see seals on icebergs bears on the shore wow book a balcony and go Life is meant to be enjoyed.
my husband and i have just returned from a26 day cruise on prince ss dawn had a great time food was exelent staff was 100% entertainment was outstanding but boy have we come home with abad chest infection as many other people would have beaware next time go well prepard for getting sick
My husband didn’t want to cruise after a bad experience crossing the English Channel in the 1970′s. We did a Canadian/Alaska land trip in 2008 ending by sailing the Inside Passage on Coral Princess. We have now cruised around Australia (we are Aussies) and to New Zealand.
My husband, each time he receives information from Princess or sees a cruise ship on the television, talks about our next cruise. We are discussing our 4th cruise in 2013 but can’t yet decide on the destination.
A great relaxing vacation after working with students with special needs. I also am a teacher who needs the batteries recharged and cruising certainly allows this to happen.
I had to drag my husband on a cruise to New Zealand last Januaryt…. he reckoned he would rather eat razor blades than go on a cruise !!!! He took 3 books to read as he was going to be bored out of his brain..read 10 pages the whole 14 days!! He was addicted on the first day and we are going on our next cruise in September and looking where we can go after that !!! Princess you do it so well..thank you !!
I had to drag my husband on a cruise to New Zealand last Januaryt…. he reckoned he would rather eat razor blades than go on a cruise !!!! He took 3 books to read as he was going to be bored out of his brain..read 10 pages the whole 14 days!! He was addicted on the first day and we are going on our next cruise in September and looking where we can go after that !!! Princess you do it so well..thank you !!
I really enjoyed your article David…and sent it to my DH’s kindle. He too never wanted to go on a cruise but I finally persuaded him to try just one. We cruised NZ from Australia a few years ago…. and did it again for our 40th anniversary…and in between a transatlantic from London to NY via Norwary, Iceland and Greenland. And, in about 5 weeks we will commence a Baltic cruise. Yes, he too is hooked…thankfully. A cruise every one or two years is now something to look forward to.
cruising from the UK to Australia [ a 10$ pommie ] I was sick before we even set sail just turning the engines over was enough to set me off. This was in 1967 and by the time we rached Sydney I was a stone lighter and never wanted to board another ship, but my husband was a naval man and loved the sea .It was not until 2007, and he had had a heart attack that I decided to indulge him and we booked a cruise; I decided that if nothing else losing some weight would be compensation for my gesture. Went along to the health store to purchase the requirered sea-sickness medication, a charming assistant told me to take ginger??? crystalised ginger tastes good and it WORKS. Our experience meant another couple joined us to cruise around New Zealand, earlier this year there was 6 of us on the cruise, now we are all looking forward to another adventure , by ship of course, and one of the couples book up for a european trip even though our New Zealand trip had been blighted with bad weather and rough seas, the accommodation, great staff, good food and entertainment made for a great time despite the weather.
Just finished an Alaskan cruise on the Island Princess. It was our 28th cruise since the first one in 1987. We try to go at least once a year. Everything was great. This was the third time to Alaska. Princess is my favorite, we have been on Carival, Royal, Celebrity, NCL and others that don’t exist anymore. We are also Carnival stockholders and get the shareholder benefit of on-board credit on Princess since they are owned by Carnival Corp.
I love this story and I love how ypu describe the current cruise ships as floating planets and the old ones as merely asteroids!!!!
And I love you for loving it! Keep on cruisin’ . . .
Why doesn’t Brisbane, Australia have newer ships for our season downunder, they are all nearly 15 years old, is it because you think of us as a last resort before the ships are sold to other countries? They are always fully booked, so why not give us a good ship not old rust buckets.
Can I just say what a reduction to seek out somnoee who truly is aware of what theyre speaking about on the internet. You definitely know the best way to convey an issue to gentle and make it important. More folks must read this and understand this facet of the story. I cant believe youre no more fashionable since you definitely have the gift.
We are going on our 12th cruise on December 5,2012. This is our second Hawaiian cruise. Can’t wait to go..
Thanks for the good story,
My experience was slightly different my wife emigrated from Britain in 1956 and was sea sick all the way to Australia she had a terrible time. i of course had a wonderful time. most of the reason was that my poor wife had to share a cabin with her sisters and I had a cabin with several Irish labourers who were emigrating to work on the Snowy Mountain Project. In 1988 we did a short cruise of 12 days around the South Pacific Islands. Elsie very recultantly and with plenty of sea sickness protection remediess. We had a really wonderful time she discovered the joys of cruising and fell in love with it. When I suggested that we try Princess Circle Pacific Cruise of 75 days in 2008 she was again unsure and took lots of seasickness remedies with her but the Sun Princess gave us a wonder journey and we so enjoyed the trip we booked a World trip the following year and we have now done over 300 cruising days on the Sun, Dawn and Sea Princess and Elsie is the person pressing to do more and cannot wait until the next cruise. It certainly is a great holiday at a resonable cost and Princess is a wonderful cruise line to do it with. Keep on Cruising.
David, You’re right! Cruising is the BEST vacation ever!! My husband and I have been on several and so look forward to our next one, May 2013! Best wishes on your next cruise adventure!
What a great primer for the uninitiated. Heck, it got me all pumped up to go somewhere (anywhere)!!!, and we are at the Elite level with Princess. Way to go David, and keep on preaching the thrill of cruising.i
My husband and I have been on several cruises over the years – the first in 1974! and it is still our favourite – whether it is ocean or river cruising. I was suffering withdrawals this month as we haven’t been on one for a while – so I went whale watching in Hervey Bay for a few hours just to be on the sea! No whales but just to be on a boat (slightly bigger than a life raft) was a joy. Hope to be on a BIG ship next year.
Have enjoyed reading all the wonderful comments and agree with most. Our last encounter with Princess was on the Dawn Princess in December 2010. We got as far as Tauranga (4 days into a 14 days cruise)where I had a heart attack trying to get to the top of Mt Manganui. My husband informed the ship and that I was admitted to hospital, of course they left at their appointed time. My husband had to hire a car and drive the Port of call to retrieve our belongings but most importantly our passports. Carnival Office from Sydney was in constant touch checking on my well fare. Insurance company was a pain, we were not compensated for the loss of the cruise and after my convalesence we contacted Carnival several times to see if they would go halves in a return trip to New Zealand. Never got a single reply which we thought was rather sad. Still love cruising and have had 2 since with Holland but apart from their balcony cabins being larger than normal the service and entertainment did not live up to their Signature of Excellence advertisement.
Princess screwed me – I got a blood clot and was in the hospital – never got reimbursed a dime from them, or even offered a discount on future cruises. Don’t trust them!!