Variety of Cruising is the Spice of Life

[venice]

disclaimer..I have only been posting on CruiseMates for about two years so the answer to my question may have been before my time !

Has CM ever conducted a group cruise for any other type of cruises other then oceanliners ? For example, a Windjammer (Maine or otherwise) cruise, a steamboat (Delta Queen padddlewheel type) cruise, an barge cruise thru the rivers of Europe, or an Easy Cruise type cruise ?

If the mission statement of Cruisemates states (CM is solely about cruising, purely editorial and not a travel agency), then CM can use it's considerable industry clout to get great group deals on these other types of cruises which will allow it's members to experience an alternative experience at a discount rate.

I often read other postings that indicate CM'ers would not be interested in an alternative cruise format I.e. Easy Cruise), yet my parents raise me to never say what you won't do unless you try it..and if you go with a group of friends it makes a new experience more palatable..

I'm in the final preparation stages for my Peter Deilman River cruise thru France and my birthday Maine Windjammer and was noticing a lack of information on these boards about these types of cruise..


Just a thought !

[dina]

Hmmmmm.. Now those are some really good questions. I know one guy who use to do the windjammer cruises but he hasn't been on the board in a long time.

I'm guessing most of the crowd here isn't into "roughing it". Types of cruises that people think of for Windjammer.

Its been a long time but I have taken a cruise down the Rhine river. Absolutely lovely. Its a whole different thing though.

[Sea Trekker]

i have been on every type of ship, steamers, paddle wheel, dive boats, and river boats. I will only go on the large, cruise ships. Now that I have tasted hot dogs and rough it with little fresh water, cramped sleeping.
I only want the good life that large ship can do.
Give me chapagane wishes and cavier dreams.

[Floridanamaw]

We would love to do a river cruise or paddlewheel cruise. One of these days we will. They are quiet a bit more expensive than cruising on the large ships. Less people on them so I guess they have to charge more. But..one of these days we will do one. I would love to do an Alaskan one. They look so interesting and the ships (boats) are smaller and can go into some places that the large liners cannot.

[mehawk]

I bet our cruise director, Kuki, could answer that question.

[msblackjack]

or you can pay me and I will try them all and write a very nice detailed review of each and a comprehensive comparision right down to the salt shakers or lack thereof