Have you ever had ship envy?

[Trip]

I did once.....years ago, we had booked the Tropicale. This ship turned out to be a great disappointment. When I got off in ports, and saw other ships, I found myself wishing I could walk up the gangway of another ship, and sail away

On the other side of the coin, in one port we were with the, then,pricey Raddison Diamond, the new catamaran style ship..Highly innovative at the time. We met some cruisers who said,"Can we come back with you on your ship?" It seems that this was one of the first cruises, and people were bored to tears

So, have you ever wanted to walk up the gangplank of a neighboring ship?

[ToddDH]

Not I, Trip.

All three of our three cruises have been on RCI's Explorer of the Seas and at every port I believe we were the classiest ship. Overheard one couple while we were in I believe St. Maarten and who were on the Carnival Destiny with which we shared the quay, ask another couple from the Explorer what made the ship different from there's. When the Explorer passenger told them about the Royal Promenade, Ice Skating Rink, etc. and showed them a postcard collection depicting areas of the ship, the Carnival couple said they wanted to finish their cruise with us. When the Explorer couple asked what the Destiny had going for it they replied, "Nothing, it's filthy."

Todd

[rollerdonna]

Not really envy, but strangely enough, it seems that whenever we cruise, we see a certain ship in a certain port that then becomes our fixation for our next cruise. We always end up booking some ship we've seen in port....

donna

[beenie weenie]

I did in the beginning, we docked next to a bigger newer ship on our first cruise and I had a bad case of ship envy... I think it takes time to define your tastes. What you like and dislike and find ships and cruise lines that are a good fit.

It also takes time to realize that no matter how wonderful a ship is or isn't you can still manage to have a great time the vast majority of the time.

I have pretty well made up my mind that if you put me in a nice room with a balcony over 180 sq. ft., feed me three decent meals a day, keep it all clean, stop at interesting ports or at least a place with a few nice beaches, if the crew treats guests with some respect, which of course should be reciprocated by the guests, that makes me happy and every thing else is a bonus.

[Trip]

Bw, this was a cruise that had multiple issues...a dirty ship, a crew that seemed overwhelmed..crazy kids running amuk, and the staff not telling anyone,when they were selling excursions on Guadalupe, that, on Easter Monday, the island was basically closed, as it is a beach holiday. They said..we didn't know....I asked what did you do last year? No answer...there was almost a mutiny by the pax in the atrium..

In spite of this crapola..we had a good time..But, I would have sailed away on another if I had my druthers...

[beenie weenie]

Originally Posted by Trip

Bw, this was a cruise that had multiple issues...a dirty ship, a crew that seemed overwhelmed..crazy kids running amuk, and the staff not telling anyone,when they were selling excursions on Guadalupe, that, on Easter Monday, the island was basically closed, as it is a beach holiday. They said..we didn't know....I asked what did you do last year? No answer...there was almost a mutiny by the pax in the atrium..

In spite of this crapola..we had a good time..But, I would have sailed away on another if I had my druthers...

Oh my post was not in any way a reflection upon or related to yours. I can certainly understand where you were coming from. I was just posting my own experiences/feelings regarding ship envy. Our least enjoyable cruise so far was Costa Concordia on the Med. but the ports were pretty amazing and we had other positives that made up for the short comings. When there are more negatives than positives, I can sure see how a person would get a pretty bad case of ship envy no doubt.

[Trip]

I knew that

[Kimbopolo]

In Cozumel, we pulled up to a HAL ship (don't remember the name) and I thought it was the most beautiful man-made thing I had ever seen.

Later that afternoon we watched her leave port just before us and sail (literally) into the sunset.

Breathtaking....

[skymaster]

Many years ago, when you were in port with other ships you were allowed to board, and visit those ships. It was kind of neat to do that, and you could get a good idea of whether you'd want to book that ship in the future. Back to the question, I probably have had ship envy, but frankly, I don't remember any specific instances of that. Since we've been fortunate enough to sail most of the ships out there, or at least their sister ships, we pretty much know what they're all about. If I want to sail them, I just wait till I can afford to do it, (sometimes a LONG wait) and book. That way, there's no "ship envy"!

"SKY"

[Mike M]

I have never had cruise ship "envy" but there are ships that I want to sail. Basically all of them.

Actually, there is one ship that we always want to sail. We saw her docked next to us on our first cruise on Celebrity Mercury. It is the "Costa Victoria".

We did book the Victoria but canceled the cruise in order to go on a Cruisemates cruise. For some reason not sailing her has always left us wanting to still sail her. Also, the name just rolls off the tongue. Try it: "Costa Victoria".

Someday we will and then we'll know if canceling had been a good thing or not. She is an older Costa ship and, on a triva note, she is the sister ship of the Norwegian Sky. My wife loves the idea of sailing on a ship that isn't predominantly U.S./Canadian passengers. It's like being in a foreign land when you're still on the ship.

Take care,
Mike

[Dave the Wave]

I was having ship envy here. I was cruising on the Minnow of the Seas as the Carnival Legend came out from under the Skyway bridge and left me in the wake. I want to join all the people having fun during the sail away party

[nlb1050]

Don't think I ever really had ship envy.

MikeM . if you want non American/Canadian feel to a ship then MSC will fill that need. American/Canadians are in the minority on MSC even in the Caribbean. At least on the ones we were on and they were 11 and 10 night cruises.The few announcements that are made are all made in 5 languages and none of the announcements are very long.

[Mike M]

Nancy,

I believe Costa also does the announcements in five or so languages. I would try MSC in a heartbeat if there is an itinerary that fits. I know that on both the MSC and Costa Victoria I would need to book a suite or balcony because the cabins are on the small side. I'm a spoiled cabin guy and need, at least, a balcony. I've done insides and couldn't handle it again.

When we booked the Costa Victoria we booked a Cat 11 suite and I spent hours looking at virtual tours of the cabin and the ship. I know she's almost ten years old now and relegated to seven day Mediterranean cruises but I still want her.

Take care,
Mike

[nlb1050]

Mike, for our first cruise on the MSC Lirica we were upgraded to a balcony (MSC calls all balconies suites) and it was very nice, walk in closet, tub in the bathroom, nice sofa and quite spacious. You would enjoy it.

[venice]

on the full charter Smooth Jazz Cruises, when we are in port and the cruisers on the other ships hear about our entertainment, there was alot of envy: mrgreen::mrgre en: