Does anyone do the same cruise a year later?

[Rahi]

I sort of want to do the same cruise next March.. My husband is not so sure.. and maybe to wait a year... So I'm wondering if you all have went on same exact cruise year after.. (Noordam, btw..)

[tomc]

Oh, sure. I've taken the same cruise several times to Alaska and NE/C and have taken essentially the same cruise to the Caribbean twice with the third time coming up next year.

I am a "ship is the destination" person and the itinerary does not matter. For those who do care about the itinerary, it gives you a chance to do stuff you did not have time for last time.

[FRANKIEDNYC]

:) We Have Taken A Maasdam Carribean Cruise Several Years In A Row From Norfolk, Va In January. The Price Was Right We Love The Ship And Norfolk Was A Very Handy Port To Us. Also Great To Spend About 10 Days In Warm Weather In January

[grannynurse]

I don't think HAL is using Norfolk anymore. We had some discussion on this earlier. Check the 2008 itineraries.
GN

[Randyk47]

We've never taken the same exact cruise the next year. We've repeated a cruise on the same ship, same itinerary but 3 years later. That's the closest so far. We're destination cruisers, meaning we're still collecting new ports and islands. While we've obviously repeated several (i.e., St Thomas, Barbados) we try to look for cruises that take us to new and different places.

[Druke I]

We did repeat Alaska on Stardancer. First year there had been a mechanical problem, missing one port - as compensation they gave us 1/2 off same cruise following year in lieu of cash compensation.

That was prior to Sundance/Admiral being absorbed by RCI, and the ship's remodeling into Viking Serenade.

[RuthC]

I did round-trip trans-At's three years in a row. The first and second year were similar; second and third year were almost identical---the major difference being the (dis)embarkation port was Boston instead of NYC. There were very slight differences in the itinerary otherwise.
And I'd love to do it again! :D

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Most definitely:) and not just the next year several times I have done it just 3 to 4 months later. Now we did do Alaska last year and are going again this year but it is a different ship and itineray but we repeat the Mexican Riviera on the Oosterdam frequently. We were just there in March and we will repeat it again Dec.15th then again in 8 weeks on Feb, 9th. Not only do we repeat the ship and itinerary but we go to most of the same restaurants in port and the best thing is we always get the same cabin:D That way we always feel like we are going home.

[LoveMyBoxer]

We sailed on Noordam for 1st time this past New Year's, and had such a great time that we booked for Christmas and New Years on Noordam for December 2007.

[localady]

We loved Alaska sooo much, the next year we returned for a B2B!!;) :D
We also love the Oosterdam and hope to return to her many times while she does her Mex Riviera run. It is the perfect vacation for a left coaster!!:D

[RevNeal]

Absolutely. I did the Oosterdam's 7-day Mexican Rivera cruise in Feb 2005, then repeated in in January 2006. I did the Noordam Inaugural in Feb 2006 and then did a very similar cruise aboard her in January 2007. :)

I have no problem doing repeats a year later. Christopher doesn't like doing them, but I do.

[senator6]

We have done the same cruise several times, did Panama Canal 10 day and Veendam 14 day cruises twice and will be doing Boston to Montreal for 2nd time this June. We enjoy the ship of course, but have found different things to do at each port.

[Krazy Kruizers]

On ly a couple of times have we done the same exact cruise on the same ship the following year. Much prefer to do something different.

[sail7seas]

Absolutely. Not only do we do the same cruise a year later, we do it repeatedly year after year.

In the past, we have done HAL's Seafarer and Wayfarer cruises so many times I've lost count.

We do Canada/New England summer after summer and back-to-back. In August last year, we did a repeat itinerary two cruises in a row and had done it the previous year. We are doing it again this August, back-to-back.

For us, with the exception of Europe and a few other itineraries, for the most part, the ship has become our destination. In the Caribbean, sometimes we don't even get off the ship if it stops in a part we've been to many times and don't much care about. On the other hand, we have some favorite ports and can't wait to revisit.

[INSIDERS CABIN]

Sure-the best part of the cruise is the ship! Sometimes we don't even bother to get off......

[Fblack]

I have done 18 Mexican Riviera cruises. In 2005 I took three in one year. I try to take different ships. But have been on the Ryndam twice, Statendam twice and Mercury twice.

[loveallcruises]

We were on the Noordam last November. We sailed the Saturday after Thanksgiving and this year we are going back November 10th and coming home the day before Thanksgiving

Loved the ship and the staff.

Can't wait

[kakalina]

Without a doubt! We have repeated the RT Hawaii many times, and the transition through the canal also.

There are more things to see than can be seen in one day at most ports and we do so enjoy the attempt to see it all.

[sab490]

Did Noordam 10-night last December. Doing the 11-night this coming December. This will be the third time we have repeated a ship, but never close together in time or similar itineraries. We did RCCL Voyager twice (both good), and X Galaxy twice (one great, one pretty awful).

- Steve

[Tricia724]

I like to have something different each trip.....at least a couple of different ports.....and if doing some of the same ports, it's nice to try a different ship. We've hit many of the Caribbean ports several times and have tried to do something different each time we were there, but we're kind of getting our fill of them. The only port we never tire of is Half Moon Cay.

There are so many interesting places to go that we haven't seen yet that we're trying to do some of them before our health and stamina give out. Having said that, though, if a great opportunity came along for a cruise that was a repeat for us, we'd surely consider it. It just wouldn't be our first priority.

I think we might feel differently if we lived close to a port where we could just hop a ship without the logistics of airfare and overnights. Then it might be kind of fun to go on short notice without regard to the stops or the ship. But unless we decide to float down the Ohio River, our cruising requires making choices and advance planning.

[Dolphins]

We try to take a 10 or 11 day winter getaway cruise from New York every January. We have a choice of ships (NCL or HAL), don't have to fly anywhere and the kids should be in school. Only wish they offered longer cruises at that time, 2 weeks would be perfect.

[agabbymama]

Nope, would never do the same cruise a second time. I very seldom go back to the same destinations a second time. There is so much out there to see and do, once I've been somewhere I move on to see new and interesting places.

I'm not a "ship is the destination" person. I cruise for the ports. If it was feasible to get to all the stops any other way, I wouldn't cruise at all. But going to Alaska, it would be very expensive to fly to all the ports, New England/Canada could be done also, but not in the 11 days the cruise does it in. And I haven't seen any bridges to St. Martin, St. Thomas and San Juan. I absolutely hate "at sea" days. I'm not interested in drinking, gambling, playing trivia games, laying in the sun or going in the pool, or attending art auctions or lectures. I usually read or play card games in the cabin.

You have to decide if you are happy going on the same ship to the same destination, it doesn't matter what the rest of us say.

[Lynne Myrna]

Yes....we were on the Noordam for the 11 day Christmas cruise, we are going back for the same cruise in November to celebrate our birthdays. The ship is beautiful, & the service is exceptional, & that is why we want a repeat:).

[mamaofami]

We've done Easatern Caribbean several times and would do it again. We know the ports, love the beaches, and like the idea of knowing where we're going to go and what we'll do. Feels very comfortable and I love the idea of getting into a warmer climate during the colder months in New York.

[hot4disney]

On Disney we went every year about 11 months apart for 5 years..we just alternated the direction ( east or west). We re-book while still onboard and get a nice onboard credit too!

[serendipity1499]

Sort of?;)

Have cruised the Canal several times on different ships to different final destinations with several of the same ports in between...

In April 2006 we cruised the Amazon River on the "Prinsendam" via the Caribbean & Devils Island.. Nov. 2006 repeated several of the same Caribbean stops on Ryndam...Again in Nov. 2007 doing the exact same ports in the Amazon on the Regatta..Only most of the Caribbean Ports are different...Looking forward to doing the Amazon & Devils Island again, as we can do & see things which we missed before.. Never bored with either sea days or Ports that we've repeated..But have stayed aboard the ship instead of disembarking at a port which we did not enjoy the first time..They are few & far between..

We enjoy sitting on the Promenade deck to either people watch, read, rest, or just look at the water on sea days..:)

If you loved the ship & the itinerary, Go for it! :) Betty

[IamAlyce]

We have done several ships two years in a row and also did a B2B on Holland's Zuiderdam. When we did the Elation out of San Diego the 2nd time, we asked to see if our previous waiter was still with the ship. He was and came running over to talk w/us. He then had himself switched to our table so that he could serve us, the kids loved it!!

[saltydog28]

Yes, on Celebrity. We've gone to Bermuda three years in a row, skipped a year, then went the following year. I like the fact that the ship anchors overnight.

Pat.

[Sunshine91]

Sure - why not? We were on Noordam's inaugural in Feb 2006 (10 nights) & then did a very similar itinerary this past Jan (11 nights). So far, all of our cruises have been to the Caribbean so we've been to some of those islands several times. You can't possibly take in everything a port has to offer in one short port call.

John & I have definitely become part of the "the ship is the destination" philosophy. We love everything about the entire voyage - the ship, the ports, the social atmosphere.........

What kind of holidays did you take before cruising? John & I went to the same beach every year, renting the same condo. Did we consider that boring? No. We absolutely looked forward to it. Only now, we live at the beach, so we cruise. :)

[Dolphins]

Nope, would never do the same cruise a second time. I very seldom go back to the same destinations a second time. There is so much out there to see and do, once I've been somewhere I move on to see new and interesting places.

I'm not a "ship is the destination" person. I cruise for the ports. If it was feasible to get to all the stops any other way, I wouldn't cruise at all. But going to Alaska, it would be very expensive to fly to all the ports, New England/Canada could be done also, but not in the 11 days the cruise does it in. And I haven't seen any bridges to St. Martin, St. Thomas and San Juan. I absolutely hate "at sea" days. I'm not interested in drinking, gambling, playing trivia games, laying in the sun or going in the pool, or attending art auctions or lectures. I usually read or play card games in the cabin.

You have to decide if you are happy going on the same ship to the same destination, it doesn't matter what the rest of us say.


If you are more interested in the new and interesting ports rather than the ship, have you ever considered a European River Cruise? You can sail from Holland to the Black Sea with a new and interesting stop every day and no sea days, gambling, trivia games or pool. We've done those cruises in the past before flying became such a hassle. Now, the ship is our destination and no more flying for us. All I ask for in a winter vacation is to be able to sit under my favorite tree- a palm tree.

[Spoely]

Yes, indeed! We loved the 14-day Southern Caribbean (Ryndam) so much last April lthat we are repeating it this coming November (Veendam). Some of the ports I love and a few I can cheerfully do without. For those few we have a wonderful "at sea but in port" day. Can't beat it!:)

Part of our reason has to do with the itinerary, and the other part involves cruising out of Tampa.

Cheers,
Karen

[airlink diva]

Hello!
Yes, I'm really thinking about taking the Maasdam 10 day cruise again next year (only if I can't get the pricing right on another HAL cruise). I loved the ship and the ports.
Since I did alot of tours in most of the ports, I most likey just play it by ear and do my own thing in each port this time.

[paradisegal]

We actually did our Zuiderdam Itineray again only 6 months later. My parents enjoyed it so much they "treated" us if we would go with them again. I for one would never turn down a cruise, especially a free cruise. It was surprisingly relaxing as we knew the routine and just went with it.

[bepsf]

Sure - Why not?

For those of us who treat the ships as our "Vacation Home" - it's not uncommon to take the same cruise/ship more than once.

This isn't limited to the shorter itineraries - Many, many folks who take the World Cruises go year after year.

[jeda]

We are just back (May 9) from the Zaanadam Vancouver to Vancouver, Circle Hawaii cruise (my parents, sister and I) and yesterday my parents booked the same cruise departing Vancouver Apr 22, 2008 and again invited my sister and I to tag along and help them..We feel blessed to take this trip again.

[BumperII]

Sure - Why not?

For those of us who treat the ships as our "Vacation Home" - it's not uncommon to take the same cruise/ship more than once.

That describes us to a Tee! We have done the Alaska Vancouver to Seward b2b three times, and we are doing it again in August. Some people go to the seashore, some go to the mountains. We go to Alaska.;)

After our cruise, we spend a few days in Vancouver to take in the Bard On The Beach festival and the Merry Night at the Opera on Vanier Island. Since we started cruise vacations, more than half of them have been to Alaska!

[Dolphins]

We would like to go to Bermuda every October as it is our favorite port of call. However, as the ships get bigger and the cruise lines sell the older, smaller ships, few remain that can still dock in both St. George and Hamilton. Celebrity recently acquired two ideally sized "R" ships and one of them is going to Bermuda this year but neither is scheduled to go there in 2008?

[WyKnott]

Way back when I was younger and poor, I would do a 3-day out of LA down to Catalina and Ensenada on RCL each Memorial Day. Each year we added more people and finally ended up with around 26. At that point, people moved, went on to other things or lost interest and the cruises stopped.

It got so I didn't even get off the ship. The ship was the destination for me then. Now that I can afford to take longer cruises, the ports are more important than what ship. This year, our first Alaska cruise on the Noordam! One month, two weeks to go! :D

[Atomica]

I've done the same cruise more than once and don't mind at all; it's a good chance to experience things you didn't get to the first time around.

I do like trying to pick a different ship whenever possible, though.

[Love Cruises]

We went on the NOORDAM in March/2006 and then again this past March/2007. Itineraries were almost the same - 2 different ports this year. We don't mind this one bit since we just like to be on a "dam" ship.

In 2005 we were on a 30 day round trip San Diego cruise that went to Hawaii and Southern Polynesia. We met quite a few people that do this exact same cruise every year and never get tired of it. I would love to do this one again. It is a great trip to get away from NYs cold winters.

[kruise53]

you bet the ship is the destination for me have traveled hal for many many years and now enjoy the ship while other passengers at port it feels like my own private yacht then yea baby!!!!!!