Alternatives To Cruise Ships

 

Alternatives To Cruise Ships

Want to try a short cruise?

1 Short cruises go from Florida.

2 Short cruises go from Singapore.

3 You can take a cruise with no destinations.

Advantages of Overnight Ferries

4 Try an overnight ferry which has on board entertainment. Some ferries from the UK to Spain and back one or two nights, depending on route, day of the week and time of day and year, have lots of on board entertainment. If you like cruising and your family refuse to go on a cruise, this could be your answer, cabin with bunks, all day entertainment, but no swimming pool.

I loved my trips to and from Spain on Brittany Ferries to Santander and back from a different port. (See my previous posts)

Cargo Ships

Some cargo ships take passengers. No entertainment. 

Except videos to watch. You could take three version of The Titanic.

Cruise Activities: Celebrity Cruises Starting Wine Tasting and Vineyard Excursions

Problem
How do you see what you want on ships and excursions?

Answer
It depends on how wide or narrow your interests are.

Story
When I went on the Dolphin cruise from Florida years ago I was astonished at the amount of entertainment on board. Everything from one act plays to watch to sports competitions. Plus shopping in the shop, no end of things to do.

Bridge and Comedy
I have a friend, Ivor, who runs bridge tournaments on cruise ships. Another close friend of mine, Brad, runs courses on the history of comedy and comedy writing courses.

By contrast, no entertainment when I tried out a place on a cargo boat which took half a dozen passengers who were seated for dinner with the captain and senior crew members. The main entertainment was watching videos or reading books from their library.

Now wine and vineyards from Celebrity. I thought I would google wine and cruises and up popped another.
https://www.ttgmedia.com/news/features/drink-up-becoming-a-wine-connoisseur-with-celebrity-cruises
http://www.celebritycruises.com/home
https://www.amawaterways.com/explore/wine-cruises

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer. I have several posts on touring vineyards in England, Rioja in Spain and worldwide. Please share links to my posts.

Cruises: balconies, cabins, excursions, tips and travel sickness

CABINS
I've thought of chaining rooms in a hotel, or asking to see two or three rooms, then picking the one I prefer. At least if you look at two or more, you will be more satisfied with your own room if you know there's no better option.

DRUNKS & FALLING OVERBOARD
The figures and conclusions about falling overboard are intriguing as well. I'd always puzzled over the deaths by falling overboard of Barny Barnet and Robert Maxwell. I'd suspected they were pushed. However, reading about the number of drunks and suspected suicides falling off ships, I now feel that drink is a larger factor to consider. Prevention is better than cure. Don't get drunk and make sure your companions are sober.

EXCURSIONS
Very useful points to consider when booking. I have to admit I'd prefer to pay more for the ship's own excursion which guarantees to get me back on time, rather than save £10 and risk losing £100 or even £1000 flying on to meet the ship at the next port.

As for the remark about the police being more interested in protecting the tourist industry\s reputation than solving the crime, I've heard that accusation made in high profile murder cases and had previously dismissed it. Suddenly, I see links everywhere, and understand that you can't rely on the police being interested in the welfare of the tourist, when all of them or a few of them or even one of them is more closely attached to their own neighbourhood, workplace or country.

The comments from readers at the end are also interesting.

http://www.destinationtips.com/cruises/16-things-cruise-lines-never-tell-you/?utm_content=119e48&utm_source=outbrain&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=16+Things+Cruise+Ships+Keep+Hidden+from+Customers+-+52561485&utm_campaign=OUT+DST+9930+16-things-cruise-lines-never-tell-you-desktop&utm_term=5425786