OK, I admit it. I’m on a cruise. Among European travelers, more and more people are cruising…and I want to know what it’s all about. My learning curve will be steep, as I’ve gone cruising in the Caribbean but never in the Mediterranean — and I’m giving our new Mediterranean Cruise Ports guidebook a shakedown cruise of its own. This new guidebook (a collection of existing chapters from our other guidebooks brilliantly reconfigured for the cruise traveler by Cameron Hewitt and others on my staff) is hot off the press, and is selling very well.
Today’s blog entry is the first in a two-week series on cruising. I’m not trying to sell the typical cruise traveler on independent travel. My hope is to equip independent types who are taking cruises with the information necessary to enjoy the best of both worlds — the economy, ease, and glorious hedonism of cruising with the joy and challenge of dipping into the cultural wonders of Europe on your own. It’s an attempt to travel “through the back door” — as much as is possible when you make land with 3700 shipmates (along with several other, similarly big shiploads).
Sailing away from our port of embarkation, I joined my fellow cruisers on deck to wave goodbye to Barcelona. As we gracefully floated by the Disney ship docked at the next berth, its passengers waved happily to us. Insinuating that we were envious of not being on a Magic Kingdom cruise ourselves, the ship’s thunderous horn gloated to the tune of “When You Wish Upon a Star.”
Meanwhile, on this trip I’m sailing with Royal Caribbean on the good ship “Liberty of the Seas”. Already I can feel some “ship pride” setting in. I love this boat. We’re sailing with 3700 passengers and a crew of 2000 (although the ship holds 4000 passengers, we’re sold out as some single passengers paid to use a double cabin).
I make a point to thoroughly move in, as I’ll be here for a week. With a tight compartment, it’s important to be organized. I’ve never packed so much before: deck wear, nicer evening wear, and more-rugged travel clothing to use on land. I even brought four pairs of shoes…if you count my flip-flops.
Attending the “Destinations Review” program in the huge theater, I expected a big crowd. This was the chance to survey the shore excursions that’ll be sold throughout the week, but only 30 people showed up. People are here to do what cruisers do: eat, lay around, shop, gamble, and sightsee…not in any particular order.
Back in my room, I sorted through the mix of papers that I picked up: special offers, schedules, events, and educational opportunities. One page asks “Thinking about Botox?” Another offers a “free teeth-whitening consultation.” One reason is clear about why cruising can be so inexpensive: they make more money off you once you’re on board.
By the time I’ve surveyed the deck scene, shot a few baskets, played ping-pong, checked out the gym, and watched a couple of guys surfing on the raging “FlowRider” surf simulator, we’re far out on a glistening sea. As the sun sets, I stand atop this floating city of fun playing putt-putt golf. Scanning the horizon futilely for Mallorca, I’m wondering how I’ll do: will I enjoy the people, the food, the congestion as we spill into port, evenings at sea, and the days on land? During the next week, I’ll enjoy days in Provence (Toulon), the French Riviera (Villefranche), Florence (Livorno), Naples, Rome (Civitaveccia), and then a day at sea to return to Barcelona. Then I’ll catch a fancier cruise line (Celebrity) and sail the eastern Mediterranean for a second week.
Anchors up and stay tuned. Europe through the Back Door is going to sea. Stay tuned for an upcoming post where I try out our new cruise book on actual shore excursions.
Looking forward to you opinions and views on cruising. My wife and I have been go it alone type travelers for many years and the idea of a cruise with 3700 others is a hard sell. We have talked of a cruise in the near future because we both feel nothing ventured is nothing gained and we may be missing something enjoyable. So your can help with our decision making by telling it like it is with the good and not so good. Happy and safe travels.
I’m very interested in hearing about this as we are just over 2 weeks from embarking on a mediteranean cruise of our own! We love to cruise since it gives the security and ease of a floating hotel while being able to see/do lots of different things. Yet we like to do things on our own once in port since the excursions tend to be pricey compared to the trains/bus transport you can do yourself.
Hope you enjoy cruise life!
My husband and I have done the RS on our own for a decade. We have done two other cruises and did not like them. Then in April we were working so hard and didn’t want to work so hard for vacation and did not want to pay the Euro rate. So we signed up with NCL Epic of the sea. 4000 people. Wow that was a big one for us. We sailed from Barcelona through Italy back to Barcelona. Pompei was one thing we really wanted to see. Well we had such a great time. It was Free Syle cruising so all the things we hated were eliminated on NCL. Top entertainment every evening. We had a great state of the art room, not crowded at all. We still had a chance to eat lunch at local restaurants on our stops. Tours we took were no more than 25 people, no matter how many buses they needed. And since we had been to Rome twice they actually had “Rome on your own”, basically transportation into Rome. We went to all our old haunts that we love. So I don’t think I would do this every year, but there is a place for the right cruise. And you don’t need to participate in everything they offer. You just tailor it to your likings.
Things to be careful to take into consideration before you sign up: most cruise ships are crowded; all are about food and lots of it; for some you must dress up; some have big time entertainment while others not so much; some are for party people (they look hung-over in “port” and I don’t mean the wine); space is sparse; watch out for smokers even if they just smoke on their verandas; you can pay alot for the cruise ship’s port tours and if you opt for the free-lancers you may not be safe. It’s not totally true but to some extent this phrase captures cruises: they are for the unwed; the over fed and the almost dead.
Ooooops!!!! Cruises: for the newly wed; the overfed and almost dead. Actually they are not bad at all for the unwed if you have a big enough cabin.
Can’t wait to see how Mr. Steves will handle the brief excursions during the port of calls. It’ll be interesting to see how he dissects the sights. Hopefully he’ll include a list of must see sights within a small time frame. I figure I’ll take a 1/3 (being generous) of what he does and that may be what I can accomplish with the same amount of time. Hopefully he’ll include a list of must see sights within a small time frame.
Someone talked me into taking a cruise to Alaska on NCL and I was very surprised. I really enjoyed a different perspective from the water. River travel (and sea travel), after all, were for a long time major modes of transportation. I would like to take cruises in Europe to see the vineyards, castles, and other fortifications from a very different perspective. Some cruises are very low key (like the Free Style on NCL) and educational; whereas, others are very lazy and decadent.
i thinkin cruising can be considered travel if you explore the area at your stops
I, too, look forward to your take on these two cruises. We’ve sailed this same ship, Liberty of the Seas, and a sister ship, the Freedom of the Seas, but in the Caribbean. Great ships. We know several people who enjoyed doing a Mediterranean cruise, but we are a bit reluctant to do one. My spouse and I have been to a few places in Europe for business trips, separately, and plan to someday go together for a long vacation that explores while traveling over land. Land-based is our first priority. Your trip reports will help us decide whether to also do a Mediterranean cruise.
interesting post, i look forward to hearing more! my wife and i love both independent travel and cruises. i think of them as two seperate types of holiday. cruises are a vacation; a vacation from worry, stress, schedules, everything. independent travel is more about the adventure of making your way and figuring it all out and maximizing your experience. one is effortless, one is not. i think both have their place. my ideal is to have a cruise-type vacation as well as an independent travel vacation.
just when you started to lose me with the video clips (( tough to do at work on the sly )) you draw me back with a new topic and spin..looking forward to it
Been a big follower to RS over the years and always use the guidebooks and videos. In October, we will be doing our third transatlantic trip. This will be from Venice to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Just bought his latest book on Med ports of call and it is very thorough. We land tour with the good insight provided in these well researched books. For those new to cruising, it is a fun way to see a variety of ports of call in brief periods of time without the stress of wondering where you will stay this evening. Also, lets you know if you want to return. I like Holland America ships as they are the most nautical without all the glitz of rock climbing etc..
Love the 8 day crossings…
Bon Voyage
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