When Do You Like To Cruise?

[RevNeal]

Ok ... when do you like to cruise??

[ekerr19]

Spring break (please don't flame me! - we do have kids)
Winter - we are in Colorado - any excuse to leave the snow & cold works for me!

[jhannah]

I selected fall; but we really are split. My DW teaches at a year-round school, so she has more, shorter breaks than a typical 9-month school. February and September are the longest breaks she has (about 3 weeks each) so those are optimum time to travel.

[RevNeal]

I almost allowed the option for people to choose more than one time, but I really wanted a more precise poll result.

I like Fall or Winter ... but, truly, I've cruised in every season.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Actually I like ANYTIME but I voted Spring. It sounds crazy but I like our HOT summers so seldom think of leaving then. Spring seems good to me after getting thru winter and a kick start to summer that is of course if you are doing a warm weather cruise. It was a nice break seeing Alaska in May. :D

[CaptData]

Winter is the time that I cruise. At -50C it is darn cold. I like to get warm somehow.

[Krazy Kruizers]

:)

Since we are retired, we can cruise any time we want to and as often as we are able to.

:)

[elmorejj]

As we were only allowed one selection, I put Winter. We like to cruise anytime between Dec. and May, and always over the holidays...jean

[SharonN]

Hmmm. It really depends on where the cruise is. Picked Winter since most people think about Carribean for a cruise and I don't want to go there when it's Hot. But summer would be best for Alaska or Europe and Fall for New England. I definitely try to avoid spring break and holidays

[iluvcruzin]

I won't flame you ekerr. I took a few of those spring break cruises. Now the kids are older I took my last one this year (yippee!!). I like taking a vacation in the Fall as prices are usually lower - even for land trips. I like Winter too - but not near the holidays. So.. anytime between Sept 1 - and March 1st excluding Thanksgiving and Christmas. Sort of like a coupon :D .

[doone]

I enjoy cruising early to mid-March. Living in New England, sometimes the winters can be long and its always nice to look forward to a wonderful caribbean cruise to break it up. Although, I could cruise anytime as well.

[Tatka]

I have very limited choices. My son is a student and we don't take him out of school duiring the year. So it's Thanksgiving week, Spring break or summer.

I didn't list February vacation, but I am not sure I would risk getting stuck in the airport duiring one of the snowstorm. Because of this we picked California Coastal 7 days on Mercury in April instead of Mexican Rivera in February 10 days on the same ship.

Also Mike's hockey tournaments usually scheduled for Christmas vacation or February vacation.

[RevNeal]

Thanks, everyone, for your responses! It's interesting to note the patterns ... a lot of people like escaping the winter. Amazing. I LOVE winter. Probably be we get so little of it here in Texas.

:)

[MISSYLOU]

I selected any time is a good time to cruise. We have sailed in all seasons, summer being the least favorite as the prices are higher and port cities more crowded.

Actually the best time for us to cruise is when we find a deal we can't pass up. We have rearranged vacation schedules on our last four cruises because we found a great price.

[tomc]

I prefer anytime from May - October, depending on work schedule and HAL's schedule. But I could only choose one, so summer was the best choice.

[doone]

Revneal, I enjoy winters here in New England, but its still nice to get away from the cold and snow up here. Come to New England about mid-January, you'll see what we "northerners" are talking about, brrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

[Globaliser]

When? Any day that has a "y" in its name!

[lka1012]

Actually, I prefer mid-November to mid-December, Kinda between two of the choices.

Kathy

[srpilo]

Though we're not retired, I am self-employed and can sail anytime of the year, so we book for "Price & Itinerary" versus "Favorite Time"...

Anytime ! .. (and it's never enough)

Srpilo :cool:

[Druke I]

I voted "anytime", as the poll would not accept more than one choice.

Had it allowed two choices, I would have opted for spring and/or fall.

Michael

[Keith Rita]

A cruise in the middle of winter breaks up the monotony of being cooped up indoors. Also, our anniversary is Jan--a great time to cruise! :cool: :cool:

[BCEagle78]

We like the November timeframe for the following reasons:

1) Lowest rates of the year
2) Hurricane season pretty much over (Caribbean)
3) Very few children on cruises this time of year
4) Great weather -- the hot weather in Caribbean is pretty much gone

Works for Debbi and Paul...

[RevNeal]

Come to New England about mid-January, you'll see what we "northerners" are talking about, brrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

I lived in Cambridge MA for 2 years while a novice in a Monastic community. I know what winters in New England are like. I like something in-between the extremes. In Texas we don't have seasons ... it's either blast-furnace HOT or wet and cold (but not cold enough to get much snow ... only periodic freezing rain). No real spring ... no real fall. Just Hot and Cold.

"Oh, you don't have really cold weather in Texas."

Yes ... we do. It doesn't last for more than a week or two, but it CAN and sometimes DOES get down into the single and even negative digits for a short period of time (usually for a few days in January). Throw in the horrible wind-chills and it can be VERY bitter for several weeks in the winter. But ... it's only just several weeks (at most). If one take a cruise vacation for a couple or three weeks in January one has a GOOD chance of missing the entire winter!

[Roadwork]

Our favorite time is Spring. We have done many cruises in March,April and May.

[dogladyjw]

When School is in session. Let's hear it for adults only!

[sandytoesrose]

We always cruise in January or February. Our anniversary is in February and it's a good time to get away the terrible Midwest winters. We also prefer to cruise when schools are in session.

[BBT]

I'm with the majority. I like a winter cruise. My second choice is a Christmas - New Years cruise. At any rate, we have to do something to break up our seemingly year-long winters - it is winter, or just before winter, or just after winter, or barely between winters here at all times. :D

[cactuslady]

I picked fall because here in Tucson we have five seasons: Fall, winter, spring, summer and monsoons. Summer is hot and dry, but the monsoon season, from the 4th of July or so to mid-September, is hot (105), humid, and punctuated by violent thunderstorms most days. Plus, the retired folks, business owners, bosses and anybody who has a choice has skedaddled to cooler climes, leaving unfortunates like me stuck here to estivate. (Golf is extremely cheap this time of year, however, if you can stand it.)

While the monsoons would be the ideal time to get out of here, (1) I can't and (2) it's too crowded in summer vacation spots. However, it's also the ideal time to (1) get fed up and book a cruise as soon as possible (2) look forward to a nice cruise as a reward for getting through the season without being washed downstream in a flash flood, and (3) see many parts of the world that are both beautiful and devoid of tourists and schoolchildren at that time. So we're off on the Prinsendam Sept. 20.

[gizmo]

My favorite times are late Fall and Spring.

[ASM]

I voted anytime and pretty much mean just that, BUT I'd never cruise during holidays. We're the traditional stay-at-home gather-the-clan type of family.This year we're sailing in mid-Dec just to be relaxed for the Christmas madness. I'm actually a little concerned that I'll not get everything lined up before I go.

[Sea Trekker]

Any time is a great time to cruise. Especially if you can get the extra perks by booking early,same cruise line,groups,and back to back.;)

[RevNeal]

This year we're sailing in mid-Dec just to be relaxed for the Christmas madness. I'm actually a little concerned that I'll not get everything lined up before I go.

:D
I find it far from relaxing to cruise during the weeks leading up to Christmas! Last time I did that I took a Thanksgiving cruise to Hawaii. We got home on December 10th and had so much to do to get ready for Christmas that it became a real headache and a mad-dash to get things completed. It was so awful that I promised myself I would never again cruise during the weeks just prior to Christmas. How short our memories are!!!! I'll be doing it again in 05 ... November 26 - December 10 on the Veendam! AAAAHHH!!!

I promise myself that I will have ALL my shopping done before I depart, AND that we will decorate on Thanksgiving day so we don't have to come home to that nightmare. And ... if I keep this promise to myself, I'll schedule another cruise early in 2006 to reward myself!!!! :D

[ASM]

I LOVE your promise to yourself, Revneal. Maybe that's the incentive I need. I have made a really great start on my shopping--most of its done except for my immediate family. I usually decorate early anyway. It's just that I have at least 3 extended family gatherings at my house the week we return. I've just had a particularly stressful year and really want a relaxing break. I sound like I'm complaining. I promise I'm not! I love all my responsibilities--just need a chance to catch my breath!

[Sonofabeach]

Springtime but when school is still in session. Not a kid person.........:rolleyes:

[MandyGirl]

I voted "Anytime" because I am thankful for having the opportunity/health to cruise.

However... I am a teacher from around Aug 6 - Memorial Day, so that leaves only holiday breaks or summer in June/July (assuming I am not attending unpaid inservice training during summer which happens a lot). And that also means I can only cruise when prices are higher and there are a million kids. Although I love teaching, an 'adults only' cruise mentioned previously would be awesome! (Teachers need a 'vacation' from kids every so often.) But I haven't found one of those when I am out from school...

[Roz]

December...after Thanksgiving and before Christmas. Cheaper and just a few kids onboard.

Roz

[weluvcruisin']

We love to cruise in January, after the Christmas rush it's nice to relax on a cruise. Although cruising anytime is our favourite vacation.

[seagoingJLW]

You do not have an option on your poll for our cruising habits. We usually cruise in the spring and again at the beginning of December.

Joan

[joeinwpb]

Late April (1st) choice, and last couple weeks of Sept, or Oct (2nd) choice.
The weather is warm in latitudes below 30°,
And the price is lower,
And the kids are in school.

I think the schoolteacher’s comments were extremely interesting. I never stopped to think about their dates for vacation before. :o

[BamBamG]

What dogladyjw said!

[Orcrone]

I prefer going during non-peak periods. Rates are lower and their are less PAX on board. That's part of the reason we chose October 30. (No comments about March 26 please).:D

Of course going somewhere warm during the winter is nice too (although not as preferable since I moved from Massachusetts to southeastern Virginia).

[gizmo]

When School is in session. Let's hear it for adults only!
I would like to see a couple of adult only cruises also.

I like the Spring but it has become too difficult trying to figure out Spring breaks. We have switched to the Fall for better pricing and less kids.
This year we did do the Canal in April, but it was last minute and the price was too good to turn down. We lucked out and there were very few kids on board. I don't know where we will go next year, but it will probably be in the Fall.

[catlib55]

We live in the northeast, and it is so nice to get away from winter weather for a few days and be able to swim and snorkel and sit in the sun for a few hours, so we like to cruise in the winter time. It's a nice break from the snow and cold.
Mary Ellen

[stanford's girl]

Usually late fall or winter season. But if I can find a great deal at any other time, I wouldn't hesitate to go. :)

[m steve]

We like to cruise twice a year, once late November around Thanksgiving and we do our holiday shopping at duty free shops for the family. Then we cruise in the winter around early Feb to get away from the cold. :cool: Since the summer is warm anyway why go away? I love Caribbean trips even if I've been there before. It's worth $2000 to take a cruise so I can save $100 on duty free booze.:rolleyes:

[Lisa63]

When I like to cruise and when I'm able to cruise are two different things. :)

My husband is a teacher and we have an 11-year-old son, so we are restricted to February break (Presidents' Week), April break (usually third week April) or July-August.

Before our son was born, which was also before my husband became a teacher, we used to love cruising in late March/early April. This was just about the time winter ended in New England, and also coincided with our wedding anniversary. We also took a few cruises in early October, which was nice due to the price -- and also to get that one last escape before winter.

[corkpopr]

The weather is still good and kids are all in school. Don't flame me, i have four kids. Vacation is when you finally get away from them LOL

[waterrats]

No better time to cruise than Hurricane Season. The rates are down, the heat is up, and as we learned last year, hurricanes can give you extra days at sea. It was awesome to get an extra two days at sea. Granted there were people on the ship complaining about being stuck at sea the extra days. For us it was more than welcome.

[cruznon]

I'd LOVE to sail when school is in session....however, as a teacher I have to sail when there's no school. But just wait until I retire! Then I intend to take advantage of all those repositioning cruises and the bargin prices in October, May, etc!!! And oh, those last-minute cruise deals!
When you're surrounded by kids everyday, an adult cruise sounds great.:)

[kryos]

When is my favorite time to cruise?

When all the lil' darlings are in busy in school. :)

Seriously, it's not that I mind children, I just feel uncomfortable when they take over the ship in their sheer numbers. A small amount of well-behaved children makes my cruise that much more enjoyable. And my recent Island Princess cruise ... with something like 12 children onboard ... was perfect!

Blue skies ...

--rita

[calm_seas]

I voted for anytime :). Itineraries, ships, and pricing all make up part of the decision as to when to cruise. I have enjoyed cruises at all different times of year, but I do enjoy escaping the cold Winter for at least a brief period. I am truly fortunate in that, being semi-retired, my times are very flexible!

[ryansmemom]

I chose Winter because that is when we usually cruise. However, we also cruise in the Spring and Fall. We will also cruise in the Summer although we have not done so as of this time. I did not choose anytime, because we definitly do not want to cruise on Holidays.

Not that we would turn down a great opportunity should one come up! ;) If you know what I mean ;) After all, any time on a ship has to be better than any time on land :)

Linda :)

[kelmac]

My wife is a teacher, so we can relate to what Mandy has to say. Since 2001, we have been averaging 3--5 cruises a year. Our pattern includes; winter break (have to book this one early/most expensive time to cruise); Spring break (usually book HAL or Celebrity to avoid too many kids); late May or early June (this can be longer cruises and the deals are a bit better). We have two seperate BtoB cruises planned this year.

As prices firm up, we will switch back to more land based travel.

Enjoy!
Kel

[bepsf]

I would have said anytime - but I've come to really enjoy escaping to the Caribbean in February...

[ger_77]

I like to cruise during any month with either a vowel or a consonant in them.:D

Seriously, I am an elementary school secretary living in the frozen tundra called western Canada and absolutely LOVE to get away during the winter. During January and February we often have 2 or 3 week stretches of nothing but -40 degree temperatures (celsius and farenheit, they're all the same!), and being able to escape even for a short time is wonderful.

We've cruised during the winter, summer and New Year's holiday, but I really prefer the winter as a time to cruise. DH just rolls his eyes and says "What ship, and where are we going?" ... gosh, I love that man!!!

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

[HAL92]

I like to cruise at any time of the year, depending on availability, routes, ports of call, and prices.