world cruise

[doverite]

Retiring Jan 2008!!! (from teaching high school students). Considering world cruise to celebrate. Has anyone taken one of these from the east coast or heard any comments from someone who has. Wondering what it would be like to be on board for 104 days. :)

[middle-aged mom]

Hello Doverite:

Try reading this link below. It's a live report from the ship Prinsendam by Ides of March, who is currently on this year's Grand Voyage. He has been posting his impressions from his trip, thus allowing the rest of us to sail vicariously with him and his wife (bless him!) It's a great read!

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=273494&highlight=ides+march

[Slinkiecat]

You're right, Middle-Aged Mom. That is a very good report on the world cruise.

My hubby and I took the 2005 world cruise and chronicled it as well, so when you have a minute or several, you might check out Grumpy's travelog as well. It's truly the cruise of a lifetime, and one we felt we could never top by doing it again. Of course there are many people who take it every year and consider it the ideal vacation to repeat.

Slinkie

[middle-aged mom]

Oh yes, Slinkie and Grumpy's chronicles of the 2005 Prinsendam World Cruise are wonderful! It was reading Grumpy's journal that made me determined to take the World Cruise one day myself, should I ever be so fortunate:) I should have included that as a link as well. Here it is:


http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=121609&highlight=Grumpy+Prinsendam

[Cruiseoften]

I followed Slinkie and Grumpy all the way and am doing the same with Ides and Gruxy on their 'Circle The Sun' voyage.

It's recommended reading!!!!!!:D

[doverite]

I was really pleased to obtain such informative and prompt replies. Now checking out the links.:)

[cruisequeen10]

Hopefully you have cruised before. The most days I have been on a ship is 14. 7 nights seem to be not enough, 10 is just right, 12 is pushing it and 14 is exhausting. I found that after the 10th day, I say "do we have to eat again" when it comes time to eat. It is like a cattle call to the dining room. Everyone thinks the same thing. You can only eat so much of that kind of food.

[CJcruzer]

Doverite- I see you are in Ontario - would that be Port Dover?????

JCcruzer

[elmorejj]

I just rec`d an email survey from HAL re the 2008 world cruise on the Amsterdam. The questions were related to itinerary and if I was considering the WC. They had 3 itineraries line up and were looking for input on them......jean:cool:

[kryos]

Retiring Jan 2008!!! (from teaching high school students). Considering world cruise to celebrate. Has anyone taken one of these from the east coast or heard any comments from someone who has. Wondering what it would be like to be on board for 104 days. :)
What a perfect way to celebrate the end of a long and rewarding career!

I too hope to do a World Cruise when I retire. I hear people go through a sort of "withdrawal" when they first give up the working life. I can't imagine any better way to chase those blahs away than by having a World Cruise to look forward to.

Do it! It'll be a great celebration.

Blue skies ...

--rita

[Slinkiecat]

That is all a matter of personal preference. I was willing to stay another month on the Prinsendam after a 113-day cruise. It becomes home very quickly when you choose the right cabin and itinerary.

Slinkie

[doverite]

I followed Slinkie and Grumpy all the way and am doing the same with Ides and Gruxy on their 'Circle The Sun' voyage.

It's recommended reading!!!!!!:D

I have now saved 77 pages of her review - excellent - all my questions being answered and more. Thanks so much for the link.:)

[Grumpy1]

Hopefully you have cruised before. The most days I have been on a ship is 14. 7 nights seem to be not enough, 10 is just right, 12 is pushing it and 14 is exhausting. I found that after the 10th day, I say "do we have to eat again" when it comes time to eat. It is like a cattle call to the dining room. Everyone thinks the same thing. You can only eat so much of that kind of food.NO! Not EVERYONE thinks the same! That may be your feeling, in which case, you shouldn't book long cruises, but I could introduce you to hundreds of people that would not agree with you. We enjoyed every night in the dining room, not only for the good food but also for the wonderful conversations with our tablemates.

Our longest cruise prior to that was 10 nights. We were NOT wanting to get off the ship after 113 nights. We are booked for a 12night, a 10 night and 15 night back to back, a 7 night and then a 66 night, all in the next 10 months. Does that sound like we get tired of it after 10 nights?

[Grumpy1]

I just rec`d an email survey from HAL re the 2008 world cruise on the Amsterdam. The questions were related to itinerary and if I was considering the WC. They had 3 itineraries line up and were looking for input on them......jean:cool:I receive all sorts of Emails from HAL, but that one hasn't shown up yet... maybe they don't want Grumpy and slinkie in 2008:mad:

[NapTown Jim]

Oh yes, Slinkie and Grumpy's chronicles of the 2005 Prinsendam World Cruise are wonderful! It was reading Grumpy's journal that made me determined to take the World Cruise one day myself, should I ever be so fortunate:)

Same here! I've probably got 28-30 years until I can retire, but I told the DW that on our next meeting with our financial planner I want to talk to him about setting up a savings account dedicated for this retirement gift to myself. I have to say though....if we had to pick today we might go with Cunard for the grand world voyage. We like their itenerary better than HAL, but alot can change in 30 years.

[cruisequeen10]

NO! Not EVERYONE thinks the same! That may be your feeling, in which case, you shouldn't book long cruises, but I could introduce you to hundreds of people that would not agree with you. We enjoyed every night in the dining room, not only for the good food but also for the wonderful conversations with our tablemates.

Our longest cruise prior to that was 10 nights. We were NOT wanting to get off the ship after 113 nights. We are booked for a 12night, a 10 night and 15 night back to back, a 7 night and then a 66 night, all in the next 10 months. Does that sound like we get tired of it after 10 nights?

I am sorry that I mentioned my cruising experience. It won't happen again. I guess everyone is subject to their own opinions.

[cruisequeen10]

NO! Not EVERYONE thinks the same! That may be your feeling, in which case, you shouldn't book long cruises, but I could introduce you to hundreds of people that would not agree with you. We enjoyed every night in the dining room, not only for the good food but also for the wonderful conversations with our tablemates.

Our longest cruise prior to that was 10 nights. We were NOT wanting to get off the ship after 113 nights. We are booked for a 12night, a 10 night and 15 night back to back, a 7 night and then a 66 night, all in the next 10 months. Does that sound like we get tired of it after 10 nights?

By the term "everyone". That would refer to the people I am travelling with. I guess I should have clarified that. I love to cruise and will continue to do so. Some itineraries are sometimes long, but have to go with the flow. I was just making a point. Everyone has opinions and shouldn't be judged so harshly. I was having a great day today, until someone starting yelling at me. Maybe I will not post anymore and will just read everyone else's instead.

[doverite]

You're right, Middle-Aged Mom. That is a very good report on the world cruise.

My hubby and I took the 2005 world cruise and chronicled it as well, so when you have a minute or several, you might check out Grumpy's travelog as well. It's truly the cruise of a lifetime, and one we felt we could never top by doing it again. Of course there are many people who take it every year and consider it the ideal vacation to repeat.

Slinkie

I'm so envious. Well, roll on 2008!;)

[doverite]

Hopefully you have cruised before. The most days I have been on a ship is 14. 7 nights seem to be not enough, 10 is just right, 12 is pushing it and 14 is exhausting. I found that after the 10th day, I say "do we have to eat again" when it comes time to eat. It is like a cattle call to the dining room. Everyone thinks the same thing. You can only eat so much of that kind of food.

Yes, I agree with you. However, on our last cruise, we did learn to pace ourselves eating and drinking wise after the first couple of days. My son however, was determined to try out the 24 hr food service and set his alarm for 3 am and then ordered a bunch of food to eat. He is tall and thin and has hollow legs.
;)

[doverite]

Doverite- I see you are in Ontario - would that be Port Dover?????

JCcruzer

Yes, that is right. And how would you know of our little town in South Western Ontario?;)

[doverite]

I just rec`d an email survey from HAL re the 2008 world cruise on the Amsterdam. The questions were related to itinerary and if I was considering the WC. They had 3 itineraries line up and were looking for input on them......jean:cool:

Was it an on-line survey, and were there some very interesting places to visit? Are they quite different from what they do now? I actually like the Cunard line's itineraries.:)

[cruisingclay]

We did an 18 day segment on the Amsterdam 02 WC. Singapore to South Africa with stops in Malaysia,Thailand, India, Seychelles:) Mauritius + Reunion:mad: We had a fabious trip. As far as the food, they had a different menu every night for 100+ days. We would do another segment in a heart beat if we had the time.
Clay

[CJcruzer]

Yes, that is right. And how would you know of our little town in South Western Ontario?;)

Because I am in the vicinity!!! And I tutor high school math classes...so I can sympathize with you looking forward to retirement!!!!!


CJcruzer

[CJcruzer]

Doverite: slight correction: i tutor math at the high school/college level - but not IN the high school - private sessions.

Now depending which local high school, and if you also teach the accounting class.....my two sons may have had you as a teacher!!!!

CJcruzer

[Slinkiecat]

We did an 18 day segment on the Amsterdam 02 WC. Singapore to South Africa with stops in Malaysia,Thailand, India, Seychelles:) Mauritius + Reunion:mad: We had a fabious trip. As far as the food, they had a different menu every night for 100+ days. We would do another segment in a heart beat if we had the time.
Clay

I just wondered what you didn't like about Reunion. We had an adventure there after an interesting day of shopping in the local stores. It seemed that nobody spoke English, but the prices on merchandise were posted and we had gotten cash from the bank ATM (probably Euros) before we got to the business district, so we had no problem shopping.

Mauritius was extremely barren and dull to me. The only interesting thing on the island was a long-legged wild sheep on a mountainside.

Seychelles was beautiful, but we got there on Sunday and everything was closed except for one hotel, so the beach was the interesting part. Oh, yes, I saw a cute lizard while we waited outside the hotel for our bus to return us to the ship. That would be a place to stay on a romantic getaway, but from a cruise ship it was pretty dull.

Tell us about it, please.

Slinkie

[cruisingclay]

Hi Slinkie,

Our experience was the opposite of yours. First of all, we arrived at Reunion on Easter Sunday. Everything was closed except an open air market. It was very interesting, however, it was March of 2002 soon after 9/11. When the people (mostly the venders) found out we were American they heckled us in broken English and French for being in Afghanestan. We had our 10 year old son with us and it was very uncomfortable for us. The rest of the trip was absolutely the best.

By the way, Slinkie, I followed your adventures on the 2005 World Cruise from day one all the way to the end. I updated my wife and fellow workers regarding your adventures almost on a daily basis. It was my way of taking another world cruise. Maybe someday we'll meet. We are fellow Neapolitans, but with our love of cruising, it is probably more likely that would meet on one of the dam ships.

Clay

[Slinkiecat]

...Mauritius was extremely barren and dull to me. The only interesting thing on the island was a long-legged wild sheep on a mountainside...

Slinkie

:o Senior moment here -- Mauritius was a beautiful and busy place and we had a grand time in the botannical garden as well as a shopping time on our tour where we picked up some beautiful sculptures.

The dull place was actually Ascension Island.

Slinkie

[Richard Stein]

I have been on one. Bring lots of clothes that you can change off into different outfits. Most do lots of sea days and few ports. Check out the QE2, an older ship but they do more ports on the world cruise. P & O has two ships going in different directions and they have washing machines and dryers on board. It would be cheaper to do different cruises to where you want to go and see more port, but the airfare will eat you up. You could purchase a round the world airfare and do three or four cruises off the same ticket. First go to Hawaii and do an NCL Hawaiian, go to Australia and do and Aussie-NZ on HAL or Princess, include a Pacific Princess cruise around Pacific to South Africa and fly back. HAL does a lot of extended cruises beside the World Cruise like one around South America. The QM2 did a recent around South America cruise and there were good prices late.

[doverite]

Acutually, I have driven to and from Hamilton, (13km round trip) daily for the past 18.5 years. I have been teaching mainly computer studies, some career studies and am presently doing some Co-op as well.

I presume you are tutoring for Fanshawe or Mohawk in this vicinity.

Have you travelled with HAL before? We are probably booking a group cruise for Dec. 27, 10 day Eastern Carrib. We have 6 cabins spoken for but have to get 8 to divide up 1 share and receive the other groups amenities and discounts.
Are in a Simcoe ite?:)




Doverite: slight correction: i tutor math at the high school/college level - but not IN the high school - private sessions.

Now depending which local high school, and if you also teach the accounting class.....my two sons may have had you as a teacher!!!!

CJcruzer

[doverite]

Round trip to Hamilton is actually 130Km not 13K.
:)

[Richard Stein]

Dear Doverite: HAL has computer enrichment classes on most of their ships. It has to be taught by someone. Have you considered aproaching them working while on the ship, getting paid a small amount, traveling, staying and eating for free. Just a thought given to me by the woman who taught the digital camera class. She has been to Alaska, Europe and South America at their expense. She does have a book on the subject.

[doverite]

Dear Doverite: HAL has computer enrichment classes on most of their ships. It has to be taught by someone. Have you considered aproaching them working while on the ship, getting paid a small amount, traveling, staying and eating for free. Just a thought given to me by the woman who taught the digital camera class. She has been to Alaska, Europe and South America at their expense. She does have a book on the subject.

I was pleasantly surprised to get your response. Yes, I certaily would love to teach computer skills on board. I wonder who I would contact.
Thanks:)

[middle-aged mom]

I was pleasantly surprised to get your response. Yes, I certaily would love to teach computer skills on board. I wonder who I would contact.
Thanks:)

Hi Doverite:

Perhaps you could start by trying here? Good luck:)

http://www.hollandamerica.com/about/employment.do

[Richard Stein]

You see Doverite we are here to help.

[doverite]

Yes, These boards are great. Everyone over here at HAL is so helpful.:)