Your Cruise "Comfort" Zone ?

venice · #1 (**permalink**) May 6th, 2007, 12:47 PM

For those of you that have cruised the same ship, same itinerary more then once, do you do it because it fits within your "comfort zone" (i.e. you know what to expect, low price, port within driving distance etc.)

If you had a choice would you choose (price being equal) a different cruise line and ports and stepping out of "your comfort zone" or staying in your comfort zone with same ship, same ports

Lou 123 · #2 (**permalink**) May 6th, 2007, 12:57 PM

We have done both. We sailed the Conquest 2 times with the same ports and the Glory twice with different ports. We pick our cruises by location of the port, where it is going then by price. We do like the Conquest series but willing to try another ship class. One thing we do know is that we like Carnival..

Luanne Russo · #3 (**permalink**) May 6th, 2007, 01:09 PM

This will be our third Conquest trip, and it will be our last. We did it, because of two things. 1. Cheaper to drive than to fly. 2. It is a comfort zone.

But, now we are ready to branch out, and see other things.

GroovyDeeDee · #4 (**permalink**) May 6th, 2007, 06:37 PM

I've only done one, the Mexican Riviera on the Pride. I want to do it again, because I consider this my "training cruise" and I would know how to get more out of it next time. It's also a more convenient port. There isn't really a convenient port in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, but Long Beach is the closest.

IBCRUZIN' · #5 (**permalink**) May 6th, 2007, 10:28 PM

I have done Fascination twice. Both times were because they were last minute cruises that were short and cheap.

I plan to do the Destiny again in 2008 because of the itinerary. Didn't like the ship but loved the ports.

GroovyDeeDee · #6 (**permalink**) May 6th, 2007, 10:32 PM

Why didn't you like the ship? Is there much difference? I have only been on the Pride.

CarleneCruises · #7 (**permalink**) May 6th, 2007, 11:18 PM

I did the Sensation first and as that is an older ship, I feel I am moving up in the world everytime I go. I like carnival, they have great prices...traveling dates all the time and the features on the boat I like. I don't think that I would enjoy the "many extra" anmeties on other boats like the skating rinks, rock climbing wall, flow rider...I would never use any of that stuff so there would be no point in me booking that kinda cruise. I may venture off one day but I like carnival..Plus I live in FL so really I have 5 ports to choose from, great place to be!

IBCRUZIN' · #8 (**permalink**) May 7th, 2007, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GroovyDeeDee

Why didn't you like the ship? Is there much difference? I have only been on the Pride.

Carnival Destiny is a very different ship/cruise experience than any of Carnival's other caribbean cruises. It basically has a more latin flavor.

Go to any cruise forum board, read the reviews on Destiny to see what I mean.

I am not opening up a can of worms here by starting that debate.

Just check out the reviews.

However I will go again for the itinerary.

msblackjack · #9 (**permalink**) May 7th, 2007, 11:02 AM

my cruise comfort zone: warm weather!

if money and time were not a factor: I would try all kinds of lines and all kinds of iteniaries except for any cold weather cruising

Grandy · #10 (**permalink**) May 7th, 2007, 12:46 PM

We are comfortable on any Carnival Ship.....

venice · #11 (**permalink**) May 7th, 2007, 02:40 PM

Luanne...I've been reading on these and other boards alot of really good things about NCL's newer ships . If you are going to try another cruise line NCL might be a good choice and do the eastern caribbean so you really have a different flavor

IBCRUZIN - I understand what you mean about a different experience...as long as one does their homework in advance and understands that , it's ok and very much steps out of one's comfort zone which is good...It's the same experience when you cruise Europe on a smaller lline ..Several years ago my GF and I cruised Greece on Sun Line (Royal Olympic) where the ships was 99% Greek, Germans and Swiss and there were a total of 3 American couples onboard..talk about being out of my comfort zone both from the perspective of experiences from a "normal" mainline cruise company, but also from an entertainment, food, English being the 4th language for announcements etc. We loved it !!!

I've been on the Destiny out of San Juan and loved it (I got to practice my Salsa alot (VBG)

AlaskanGrown · #12 (**permalink**) May 7th, 2007, 06:23 PM

we first did the eastern caribbean and now we are booked for the mexican riviera. should be different but looking forward to it. My wife wants to do something over in Europe next.

skymaster · #13 (**permalink**) May 7th, 2007, 06:31 PM

The lovely Mrs. Jones (Vita) and I have done almost all the ports in the Caribbean many, many times, but as long as I'm still working, that's the type of cruise that we can take. I have 6 weeks of vacation a year, but the company won't let me take more than one week at a time, so that limits the choices of cruises! We have done all the main lines, (none of the "snob" lines), and honestly have enjoyed them all, and would do any of them again. The date, and the price are the only two factors that come into play when planning a cruise for us. Because of the military discount, Carnival has come out on top for our last eight or ten cruises. We love to cruise!

Ken