How did you catch the cruising fever? Did you see an ad, or a commercial? Did you have a friend or relative who cruised and got you involved?
Tell us your story!!
I have told this story before, but it explains how I got involved.
My husband was active duty military. We had never taken a real vacation, and if we did, the military had to know at a moments notice where he was at all times.
I left the house one day, angry. I was so sick over faithfully giving up my hubby.
I saw a huge sign in our local TA's window, talking about Carnival.
I went inside, and booked. The drawing point, was the phones on the ship worked, but they were very expensive to use.
I came home, and informed my family that we were going on a big ship, and they had better pack, because we were leaving in one week.
I got on the computer about 8:00 that night, and typed in Cruising.
Cruisemates was the first site I saw.
I was still on the computer at 7:00 the next morning.
I saw the Ecstasy for the first time, and knew I was in love. I can't get enough cruising. It is in my blood!!!
my first cruise was actually because my dad works with kenwood and he got a free cruise from them then he paid for me and my brother and we wnet!!! i had never been on a cruise before!!! i'm so glad i went!!! after we got on the legened and ate the first thing i shouted when we got in our room out on the balcony was I LOVE CARNIVAL lol.... i'm going to try differnt cruise lines soon but i will alaways love carnival and it will have a place in my heart!!!!
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Miranda
"Cruises will create some of the best memories of your life"
Future Cruises-
Coral Princess
Past Cruises-
Carnival Liberty Spring Break 2008
Carnival Legend October 2007
I had met my future wife in the summer of '88 and there was a couple we hung out with and the wife was a travel agent. She talked us into (wasn't hard) a three night cruise in May of '89 on the Starship Majestic of Premier Cruise Line. We had a great time and after our wedding in December of 1990 we left St Pete for Miami to board the Song of America for a 7 night western that included Labadee, Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. The same itinerary I did last May with my kids on the Mariner.
The rest is history. While I am not married anymore, thank goodness, I have been cruising a couple times a year for the last several years now and plan to continue.
After these two I have booked it will be 17 over the last 19 years. Not as many as some of you, but I am still young! 8)
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Dave the Wave AKA- Diamond Dave
Song of America Dec '90
Starship Majestic May '89
Sovereign X 5
Majesty Jul '01
Enchantment X 4
Regal Empress Dec '02
Sensation '04
Mariner May '07 April '08
Grandeur Feb '08
Inspiration Oct '08
Radiance of the Seas Oct '10
This web site and all of you who have prior experience got us hooked! LUANNE WE HAVE A ? FOR YOU
This I am going to say has nothing to do with this posting title but I don't know where to ask you this question. You recommend Henry for tours in St Thomas and we would love to know why? Have you done any Sonny Liston tours vs Henry or Airforce One? Need some answers from you again. Henrys tours are 35.00 vs Sonny Listons 25.00 for shopping, sight seeing and beach stop. Sorry I posted this in this title.
My SIL won a cruise through his work one year, then again the next year. I couldn't let my daughter out-cruise me. I searched and searched and finally booked one on the Elation for 5 nights. That's all it took. We cannot cruise multiple times a year and sometimes not every year but I have the "addiction" also, maybe I should join Liz's thread
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Carnival legend November 2009
Carnival Glory October 2007
Carnival Elation November 2006
In '99, my girlfriend/future wife had a travel package for those timeshare interviews. We used the cruising with the Ft. Lauderdale and Orlando vacation and that is how we got hooked. So, she got me hooked and she got hooked herself. She doesn't cruise with me anymore... her loss.
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Michael
Cruised more times than I can remember.
Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.
Courage and perserverance have a magical talisman; before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish into the air.
Pick your company wisely! Hang around people who are going to help you become all God created you to be.
I got myself hooked. I was taking a course on travel and tourism, with the intentions on working in the industry when done, when we did a section on cruising and all-inclusives. I said to myself that I wanted to goto a Club Med and go on a cruise. Carnival was the one I wanted to try first. I reminded my mother that they did give my brother a rather large chunk of money to buy his truck (as wekk as more $$$$ for other stuff too) and that if they were waiting for me to get my license to buy me a car, I was 22 at time time, it would be a long while because even if I could afford to get my license I couldn't afford to maintain a car!!!! I said I want to go on a REAL vacation and that was it. After weeks of moaning and groaning I got my way....I booked a seven-day Western Caribbean on the Holiday that fell during Xmas/Boxing day 1991. I had to wait 16 years until I could go again.
Between the early 70's through the mid 80's we had the obligatory "family vacations from hell" in our RV (along with a 16' ski/fishing/whatever boat) year after year after horrible year. Trust me, before we had the boat (1980-81) they were worse because we would go with another family with a son/daughter the same age. We never went anywhere where we were served or waited on, my first hotel stay and commercial jet flight was in 1985. Heck, one of the girls my niece met on the cruise has been on several cruises and she is only 11!!!!! My family (and another) were still making the annual RV/camping holiday from hell at 11!!!!
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1991 Holiday
2007 Victory & Triumph
2008 Conquest & Liberty
2009 Valor, Freedom, and Splendor
2010 Glory and Liberty
2011 Glory
Song of America Dec '90
Starship Majestic May '89
Sovereign X 5
Majesty Jul '01
Enchantment X 4
Regal Empress Dec '02
Sensation '04
Mariner May '07 April '08
Grandeur Feb '08
Inspiration Oct '08
Radiance of the Seas Oct '10
We had completed two trips to Europe and were planning another trip in approximately a year. We have friends that keep asking us to try a cruise. We had tried a cruise on the Fairsea back in the Sitmar days 1973 I think. Two of the couples we went with got divorced I think it started on that cruise. Anyway hearing from our friends about Alaska we decided to give it a try in 2001. Needless to say the cruise industry had changed, we met lots on nice people and had a wonderful time. I made the decision before going that I would try hard to make it work. I rented a tux, entered many activities, and went to all the nature talks, in addition to land excursions. It turned out great and we never looked back. Mike[/i]
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Travel Mike's Future cruises: Mariner Galveston 2-26-12,Magic Galveston 3-4-12 NCL Pride of America Hawaii6-2-12 HAL Statendam 9-9-12 Vancouver
My brother died Thanksgiving, 1995. My grandmother died Thanksgiving, 1996. My mother, my sister, and I decided that for Thanksgiving, 1997, we were going to do something fun rather than sit around thinking about those no longer with us. So we booked cabins on the Sensation.
My husband Mike didn't want to go. He kept telling me that he would stay home while our son Thomas and I went. I forced him to come anyway. Needless to say, he had a blast and wants to go cruising all the time.
Now, ten years later, we have 22 cruises behind us and 4 more booked. So I guess you would say that we are hooked.
My boyfriend graduated high school in 2002. His mom and stepdad wanted to do a big something for him, but he wouldn't make up his mind. So they suggested a cruise. Since we had never been, it sounded good to us.
They booked the Imagination in June of 2002 and away we went for four nights. I was instantly hooked! I loved everything about, but my favorite thing by far was the back of the ship @ 2 a.m. It still is
We went again in 2004, and then I started booking with friends in 2006. One in 2007 and two coming up this year!
This web site and all of you who have prior experience got us hooked! LUANNE WE HAVE A ? FOR YOU
This I am going to say has nothing to do with this posting title but I don't know where to ask you this question. You recommend Henry for tours in St Thomas and we would love to know why? Have you done any Sonny Liston tours vs Henry or Airforce One? Need some answers from you again. Henrys tours are 35.00 vs Sonny Listons 25.00 for shopping, sight seeing and beach stop. Sorry I posted this in this title.
As far as I am concerned, you can post a question anywhere.
I first met Henry on line. I was doing research about St Thomas, and found his web site. I e-mailed a simple question, and he sent me back the sweetest e-mail. Long story short I have a new friend. We send each other e-mails unrelated to excursions, and he has recommended history books about the island for me to read.
I recommended him to others here, and other sites, and they have sent e-mails thanking me for find him, for them. He is honest, and fair, and treats you like you are a very special guest, I am told.
I can't wait to meet Henry in June. I am bringing Texas souvenirs, and he promises us the time of our lives.
We were hooked on our first cruise..................way back on the Carnival Carnivale! We had an inside cabin which was at the end of a hallway. I can't recall the size but it was small. The bathroon stool was located inside the shower! The shower tended to leak so our metal and carpet floor could be a little slippery. We had a great time going to Nassua and Freeport. The next year we did the Fantasy and the rest is history. To us
a cruise is the best! We like taking other couples with us and they are hooked to!
Another couple we have known for years and years talked us into cruising. Our first cruise was just completed this weekend on the Holiday. Needless to say we are HOOKED! Now I know the excitement that you guys have been talking about! I had thought "these people have to be exagerating" (spelled wrong) (sorry Luanne) But you weren't! I had a blast and am going to book another one asap!
My school, back in 1971 @ age 13............my first cruise was to the Eastern Mediterranean aboard the P&O Cruises schoolship UGANDA.
My 2nd was in 1984 aboard the QE2, it was a special introductory offer between British Airways and Cunard. It involved a 3-1/2 hour flight across the Atlantic from London Heathrow to New York JFK, 5 nights at the fabulous Waldorf Astoria in New York City and a 5-day Transatlantic crossing aboard the QE2. Believe it or not we only paid a total of $3000 each for that once in a lifetime opportunity!
We've been hooked ever since and our travels have since then taken us down-under, up-over North, South, East, West, Far East, Middle East, Near East, you get the drift, so to speak ..............
I served in the U.S. Navy during the 60's and was on an aircraft carrier in the Caribbean and Mediterranean. After many years and many land based vacations we decided to visit my sister and bro-in-law in Florida. My bro-in-law was also in the navy and we decided to try a cruise vacation just to test the waters,so to speak, the rest is History. We are hooked and love cruising.
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1999 "Fantasy"
2000 "Imagination"
2002 Celebrity " Galaxy"
2004 "Glory"
2004"Victory"
2007 "Liberty"
2007" Explorer of the Seas
2009 "Valor"
2009 "Fascination"
2011 " Pride"
I actually get rather sea sick on ferry rides and the such so I was ABSOLUTELY against any form of sailing for the longest time. When we got married, we did it at a resort and then we were going to go on our honeymoon. My wife INSISTED on a cruise. So I insisted on the largest ship my TA could find.
Now I didn't know how badly I was being ripped off by my travel agent because I didn't do a lot of research on cruising beforehand. (we were planning a destination wedding for 50 people)..
We went on an RCL cruise and had a fabulous time. I didn't find out till much later that I could have had a suite on Carnival for the same price I paid for my cabin on RCL.... So we switched lines this past June and had an amazing experience. We're planning our next cruse for November...
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Liberty 11/07
Triumph 06/07
Adventure Of The Seas 06/06
In October 2004 I unexpectedlly lost my Mother - who was a funloving woman and I miss her dearly - in January 2005 I ended up in the hospital having surgery it lead to a very depressing year. We were attending a great church and friends took a cruise and I was fascinated to learn that people like us could afford it - then we saw the pictures and that's all she wrote. Well, Mom left us a little cash and after taking care of what we had to take care of, I thought, what would Mom do - She would want us to have some fun and so we decided to take a vacation!! Now to add to this, my husband and I had never had a vacation after our kids were born - so we decided to give cruisin a try!
My husband wasn't totally excited about cruisin - he's not comfortable with being in deep water whatsoever - but he gave in and in September 2006, we were sailing on the Inspiration!!!
and that then lead to
May 2007 cruisin with our kids and their spouses!
it has now started a family tradition of the Letner Family cruisin each year in May! We love it!!
Sorry to get a little mushy. It's an emotional thing for me - you know, ladies, post-menopausal, empty nest!!
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I'm a Cruise Junkie!
Cheryl
[/url]
In October 2004 I unexpectedlly lost my Mother - who was a funloving woman and I miss her dearly - in January 2005 I ended up in the hospital having surgery it lead to a very depressing year. We were attending a great church and friends took a cruise and I was fascinated to learn that people like us could afford it - then we saw the pictures and that's all she wrote. Well, Mom left us a little cash and after taking care of what we had to take care of, I thought, what would Mom do - She would want us to have some fun and so we decided to take a vacation!! Now to add to this, my husband and I had never had a vacation after our kids were born - so we decided to give cruisin a try!
My husband wasn't totally excited about cruisin - he's not comfortable with being in deep water whatsoever - but he gave in and in September 2006, we were sailing on the Inspiration!!!
and that then lead to
May 2007 cruisin with our kids and their spouses!
it has now started a family tradition of the Letner Family cruisin each year in May! We love it!!
Sorry to get a little mushy. It's an emotional thing for me - you know, ladies, post-menopausal, empty nest!!
Cheryl, That is a beautiful story. Thank you so much for sharing with us.
Our local grocery store was handing out forms to win a carnival cruise. I made many trips to the store to get them. My hubby got tired of me wasting stamps, and gave me the money for a deposit. That was 6 years and 3 cruises ago. Next cruise...in 27 days !!!
Our local grocery store was handing out forms to win a carnival cruise. I made many trips to the store to get them. My hubby got tired of me wasting stamps, and gave me the money for a deposit. That was 6 years and 3 cruises ago. Next cruise...in 27 days !!!
My very first cruise was on my senior trip and if any of you have been on a senior trip - especially a cruise -- it was totally awesome (love boat)..lol. I enjoyed it so much that a few years later when it was marriage time, my parents gave us the choice of a cruise or a wedding --------- naturally I took the cruise (guess couldn't afford both). Didn't start cruising regularly until years later when the kids were grown. :-) Now...its a running joke at work. They know I work to cruise and cruising is a priority!
I over heard some women talking about a cruise. I remarked that it sounded like fun. One of the ladies told me that they were meeting with the travel agent that weekend at her home. They invited me to attend. Before I left her home I had booked and deposited with them on Carnivals Festivale for the next February. The cruise was so much fun. I was instantly addicted when I saw Festivale for the first time. Less than a week after returning home we were booked for the next year on Carnivals Mardi Gras.
Laura
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“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.“
---Mark Twain
In 2004, someone I worked with brought in pictures of her cruise and after seeing how much fun they had, I booked the RC Jewel of the Seas for Christmas week for my daughter and I. We loved it from the moment we stepped on board. I was then fortunate enough to include my son on my next 2 cruises for great, unforgettable Holiday vacations.
I've seen been on 3 cruises total since then and have loved every minute of them and look forward to the next.
Hopefully, my next cruise will be with someone special and not with the "kids".
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RCCL - Jewel of the Seas - 12/04
Carnival - Valor - 1/05
Carnival - Fascination - 12/07
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