Short trips....love them

[ETinCA]

We are going on a quick 3-day weekend on the Elation on Oct 9, probably for the last time before she leaves San Diego after April. I love planning these short trips for quick get aways. Leave Friday after work and go to work a bit late Monday. Kind of a quick taste of why we like cruising before we go on the next one. The long trips are wonderful, but we don't always have time to take a week off. My son is thrilled because at 9, he will be two cruises away from Platinum
Others out there like the quick trips?

[WinnieinWA]

Nope, not a fan of quick cruises. Too many kids and my air costs more than the cruise. I'm happy it works out for you hard working parents tho. If I lived by a port I'd take advantage of them. Happy sails.

[yogi2929]

Originally Posted by ETinCA

We are going on a quick 3-day weekend on the Elation on Oct 9, probably for the last time before she leaves San Diego after April. I love planning these short trips for quick get aways. Leave Friday after work and go to work a bit late Monday. Kind of a quick taste of why we like cruising before we go on the next one. The long trips are wonderful, but we don't always have time to take a week off. My son is thrilled because at 9, he will be two cruises away from Platinum
Others out there like the quick trips?

We're like you. Love the short cruises. Lucky enough that Carnival is keeping one ship for the short cruises out on the West Coast.
7 on the Paradise, 2 on the Elation and one more in January.

[MszKitty]

Love the quick trips! We used to do Vegas weekends. Now we do the weekend cruises instead. Its actually cheaper in the long run.

6 on the Paradise
4 on the Ecstasy
5 on the Monarch of the Seas
1 on the Elation
1 on the Viking Serenade
1 on the Azure Seas (our first cruise)
and 1 special one-nighter on the NCL Pearl

[hill6]

If I lived where I could go on short 3 day cruises as a weekend get away I would definitely to it. If you have to do airfare etc it is not realistic to do, but driving and living close it is worth it.

We have done a 4 nighter in conjuction with Disney and it was perfect. This year we have a 4 nighter planned as a long weekend. We didn't have the timeoff left to take a week so a 4 nighter is better than none at all.

[Frank12]

Living in Central FL, I'm 3 hours from 4 different ports. Love the little weekend getaways. Not as much as a long cruise....but better than nothing.
In fact, We leave on the Sensation in 2 days for a "quickie". Be back Sunday!

[oncruisecontrol]

Originally Posted by ETinCA

We are going on a quick 3-day weekend on the Elation on Oct 9, probably for the last time before she leaves San Diego after April. I love planning these short trips for quick get aways. Leave Friday after work and go to work a bit late Monday. Kind of a quick taste of why we like cruising before we go on the next one. The long trips are wonderful, but we don't always have time to take a week off. My son is thrilled because at 9, he will be two cruises away from Platinum
Others out there like the quick trips?

We like short cruises, and it's convenient since we live 10 minutes from Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale. But, we always take 7 or 8 day cruises now because the 3 to 5 day cruises are so short that I'm bummed when I have to get off the ship! At least after 8 days, well........there's no place like home. Lol.

[marshhawk]

Did a 3 night cruise last year, which got me hooked into cruising(not MWA) am doing a 7 night cruise in Jan 2010, and am about to book a 5 night for 2011, with Alsaska 7 night in 2012. DH wants to do a 14+ cruise, but finding a cat sitter for that long would break my tiny piggy bank.

[jules815]

I'll be doing my first 4-nighter in March.

Living in Chicago, unfortunately we have to factor in the air fare, which could end up being more than the cruise. I'm sure once the time is here though, I won't be complaining. It will be nice to get away while it's still cold here.

My parents live about an hour from Port Canaveral, and they do last minute, shorter cruises all the time.

[Casino Player]

Originally Posted by ETinCA

We are going on a quick 3-day weekend on the Elation on Oct 9, probably for the last time before she leaves San Diego after April. I love planning these short trips for quick get aways. Leave Friday after work and go to work a bit late Monday. Kind of a quick taste of why we like cruising before we go on the next one. The long trips are wonderful, but we don't always have time to take a week off. My son is thrilled because at 9, he will be two cruises away from Platinum
Others out there like the quick trips?

HHHHHEEEEELLLLLLLLLLOOOOO ETinCA: Short cruises could be good. They could also be bad. There are many many kids on short cruises. Children could be good or bad. I am not all for or against sailing with children on the cruise. Also, I have taken several longer cruises of 10+ days and really enjoyed them. The only thing about a short cruise is that you don't have a whole lot of time to get used to the ship.

[Traveler353]

I have my first 4 night coming up this week. I wish that either NOLA or Mobile did 3 nights. But, I suppose that they would have to be to "no where" cruises. Actually that would be ok with me.

[KULPN]

We have done a 4 day, a 5 day and a few 7 days. We are repeating a 5 day. Depends on where you live and what you want. I personally, love the 5 days. We have pets and 5 days works out great for the pet sitter. Plus less time for DH to take off from work. A getaway for us, living in Tampa, needn't be long to be fun!

[Kurbanfan]

Originally Posted by MszKitty

Love the quick trips! We used to do Vegas weekends. Now we do the weekend cruises instead. Its actually cheaper in the long run.

6 on the Paradise
4 on the Ecstasy
5 on the Monarch of the Seas
1 on the Elation
1 on the Viking Serenade
1 on the Azure Seas (our first cruise)
and 1 special one-nighter on the NCL Pearl

We are the opposite........we would rather go to Vegas then do the 3 dayer to Ensenada ever again.....Vegas is cheaper for us.....compt rooms........compt food.....and free drinks........ Plus odds are better in Vegas..........
Now if I lived in Miami.......it would be a whole different story.........

[Litewait]

and will miss them when Elation leaves. I have done 3-3 nighters, 3-4 nighters and 2- 5 nighters, all from either San Diego or LA. I don't cruise them for the ports but to be on the ship and away. Well ezcept for the 2 night Cabo run, loved that! I am diligently looking to squeeze in atleast 1 more 3 nighter for my ds and myself before Elation leaves. Love the ship and crew and will really miss them. The Elation has allowed us to board after school on Fri. and get back and him only miss one class on Mon morning. I am self employed doing Licensed childcare so it is hard for me to miss alot of work (my clients can't miss work)

Counting the days til our 8 day New Years cruise on the Spirit though! Come on vacation!!

[MszKitty]

Originally Posted by Kurbanfan

We are the opposite........we would rather go to Vegas then do the 3 dayer to Ensenada ever again.....

I used to like going to Vegas when it wasn't so big and glitzy. (geez...that makes me sound old, but we've been going there since we were 18 yrs old...they weren't as diligent about checking ids )

We don't go for the port of Ensenada, we go for the getaway. Several times, when we've gone with a group of friends/family they golf at Bajamar (which I understand is a good course). Sometimes we don't even get off the ship.

Vegas is cheaper for us.....compt rooms........
When we pay less for 3 nights on the ship than it would cost for 1-2 nights in Vegas, that's pretty comparable to getting a comp'd room. (we used to get comp'd rooms all the time, but since we don't go as often, they aren't offered as much.)

compt food.....
Food is included on the ship, so that's comparable to getting it comp'd in Vegas.

and free drinks........
= to smuggled booze (and he often gets free drinks from the casino host)

Plus odds are better in Vegas..........
Personally, I don't play so I can't comment on the odds. Hubby plays either poker or blackjack. Very rarely, in the end, does he come out a loser. There have been times when he's won enough to pay for the cruise.

We do go to Vegas occasionally, (once/twice a year) but the reason we do more cruises over Vegas is he can be in the casino for hours on end if he wants, while I enjoy other activities (nightclub, lounges, trivia games, sit on the balcony enjoying the sea air, whatever my little heart desires ). I feel comfortable going into the nightclub alone on the ship, but I would never venture into a nightclub or lounge in Vegas alone.
Vegas and the mega casinos are so big and spread out. But no matter where we are on a ship, we are still close enough to find each other in a matter of minutes.

3 1/2 - 4 hour drive to Vegas.....less than 1 hour drive to Port of Long Beach!

....and free entertainment (production shows, live music, comedians, etc)

Now if I lived in Miami.......it would be a whole different story.........
If we lived in Miami, we would have even more short cruises under our belt...or at least different itineraries.

I'm just glad we do live close to a port so we can take those short cruises.

[Martini Mom]

Originally Posted by MszKitty

Love the quick trips! We used to do Vegas weekends. Now we do the weekend cruises instead. Its actually cheaper in the long run.

That's exactly how we feel. Besides, I'd rather be on the water than in the desert ANY day. Also, we aren't gamblers.

Short cruises are also great trips for the kids. Our next cruise will be a week or longer for adults only. The kids can stay with grandma.

[sk8rpatty]

Originally Posted by Litewait

and will miss them when Elation leaves. I have done 3-3 nighters, 3-4 nighters and 2- 5 nighters, all from either San Diego or LA. I don't cruise them for the ports but to be on the ship and away. Well ezcept for the 2 night Cabo run, loved that! I am diligently looking to squeeze in atleast 1 more 3 nighter for my ds and myself before Elation leaves. Love the ship and crew and will really miss them. The Elation has allowed us to board after school on Fri. and get back and him only miss one class on Mon morning. I am self employed doing Licensed childcare so it is hard for me to miss alot of work (my clients can't miss work)

Counting the days til our 8 day New Years cruise on the Spirit though! Come on vacation!!

Hi Donna! You'll just have to drive up and get on the Paradise when the Elation leaves. Jordan will be back on her in January, so I'll be doing more 3-day cruises on the Paradise next year.

I would prefer to do longer cruises, but I love the fact that I can take a 3 day out of Long Beach and not take any time off work.

[Yukon111]

Long Beach isn't as nice as San Diego but that is my only option.

I love the quick cruises. I took a 7 day in Feb., 3 day in May and going on another 3 day in 2 weeks. I live less than 6 hrs from San Diego and 8 hrs from LA.

[Litewait]

Originally Posted by sk8rpatty

Hi Donna! You'll just have to drive up and get on the Paradise when the Elation leaves. Jordan will be back on her in January, so I'll be doing more 3-day cruises on the Paradise next year.

I would prefer to do longer cruises, but I love the fact that I can take a 3 day out of Long Beach and not take any time off work.

Yep, I guess we will be seeing more of you! Paradise is our only option for somwthing short nnow..

How is Jordans new ship??

[Martini Mom]

Originally Posted by Yukon111

Long Beach isn't as nice as San Diego but that is my only option.

I agree!