Prefer to cruise with SO only or with another couple/group?

Just curious, do most of you prefer to cruise with your SO only (just the two of you) or do you prefer to go with other couples, family members or groups of friends?

DH and I went alone and we had a wonderful time. However, to be honest it looked like the groups were having the most fun. ;)

Thoughts?

Since this will only be my second cruise... I've only cruised with groups... and the same is true for my up coming 7/1 cruise...

We have a hell of a lot of fun together.

This will also be our 2nd cruise and we have only gone alone. Me and the hubbie have two kids so we look forward for some alone time. As far as going with groups, it would be fun if the family or friends joined us but as long as we can venture on our own.

What a good topic. Let me say that DH and I usually cruise alone and every couple cruises, we bring the kids and friends and familys. We took our first 7 day cruise in Oct 03. We went alone and went on the VOS. I had chatted on line for months before the cruise, so I had alot of friends to look forward to meeting. I really thought I would meet them and then go on with the vacation just DH and I. Well we ended up making some of our life long friends there. We are actually cruising with them again this October. It was nice, because we could go do our own thing, then meet up and hang out with friends.

Whichever you choose, just have fun.:p

Kathy

We went on our first cruise with just the two of us but for the next one, my sister, my mother, our DD, her DH and our soon to be 4 year old grandson will be joining us. Then two days after that one, DH and and I will be going on one alone. The thing I like about cruising is that even if you're with a group, you can be alone if you want to. Many years ago we did a few land vacations with friends and swore we'd never do it again. Couldn't stand to have others with us at all times :(

I think cruising with a group would be a blast!

That said, my DW and I have only cruised with each other (once and this next one coming), and I would say this -

We met a LOT of great people on our cruise, and more often than not, we would get together in a "group" either to watch a show, meet at a bar, sit by the pool, etc., and not always with the same "group" of new friends.

We had the time of our lives, (made us wonder why we never cruised before, actually), and for 10 days lived like Hedonists :)

Part of the fun was doing what we wanted, when we wanted, with little or no worries. If we were part of a group, then we might feel some obligation to always stay together as a group, or at least have to explain why we wanted to 'stray' from the group.

I've cruised several times with a family group (of 8 or 9), and once just with DH. What made our group cruises "work" very well was the clear expectation that we would all have dinner together in the main dining room each night, but other than that we were free to do whatever we wanted. If the expectation had been that we would do everything together all week, it would not have been as much fun!

I just returned from my eighth cruise a few weeks ago. I have cruised with husband, husband/son, family, and a group of 10 ladies from work. They were all fun and quite different experiences. I really enjoyed the one with my husband the best. The one with my co-workers was extremely fun. We agreed before we went that each would do what we wanted and meet for dinner. I really did more excursions/ shopping/spending because there was only one of me this time. They were all rewarding in their own way. I would suggest to try them all. I don't think you can go wrong with a cruise whomever you choose to go with.

Cruised with only DW on MOS 10/95 and then with DW, SIL and BIL on NOS 11/03. I preferred the group. We often did different excursions and met up at dinner to discuss the day. Made you feel like you had a chance to experience more. Going again on JOS 1/14/06 with a group of about 15 - this time with kids.

I have been with my boyfriend and with my boyfriend and parents. On this upcoming cruise I am booked with my boyfriend, my parents, and his parents. We are of the understanding that we are going to meet for dinner and some shows. Hopefully each other's parents are not going to by vying for our attention and one feel left out.

So far DH and I have only cruised with each other, but our upcoming Alaska cruise will include my stepdaughter and her boyfriend. And next year I am cruising with a group of chick friends, so we'll see how this "group" thing goes. I know one thing, it's taking a lot more planning to do this Alaska cruise for the 4 of us!!! Still haven't gotten our flights yet.

We've done it 3 different ways-

All "flavors" have been good-but, as my signature says- a bad day of vacation is still better than a good day at work!! We're very low key-we make our plans, and if someone wants to "jump on board" they're more than welcome...

My experience:

Enchantment (husband and I)

Westerdam(husband and I)

Majesty (niece and I)

Brilliance (husband and I)

Empress (husband and I)

Enchantment (husband and I and 7 friends)

This friday (aunt, 4 cousins and I) Majesty.

All were great adventures. The recent one with friends was fun because we could do stuff with them if we wanted--and not if we wanted to be alone. We had dinner together every night. During the day--we sometimes hung out and other times went our own way--same for the evenings after late dinner. Only predetermined time--dinner--to reconnect and share our daily activity reports.

Linda/Ohio

We sometimes cruise alone and sometimes with friends. Even when we cruise alone we always make new friends. We just love to cruise!

My hubby wont cruise, he worked on the ships and has no desire to go.. yet. I go alone with a group of friends every year. Before I met him, I cruised alone, met him on one of those cruises. I like going alone, even with my group I spend a lot of time by myself and doing my own thing.

It's all good!

1st Cruise - Went solo and had a WONDERFUL time

2nd Cruise - Went with 2 friends and had a great time

3rd Cruise - Went with SO and 7 single friends and had a really great time

4th Cruise - Went with my SO and we had a relaxing and fun time

Each was different but still good. I can't say that I preferred one over another. :)

Up until now, H and I have only gone alone. This upcoming cruise, we will be cruising with one other couple. We have always wanted to go on a cruise with other people. Groups always look like they are having fun!

I've cruise once as a solo cruiser, twice with groups, once with two other couples and three times with just hubby and I. Unless I have some very close friends on the same ship, I prefer to do the "hubby and I" route. I would go with friends again too if the timing was right, but I'm not as interested in group cruises these days. (I did consider cruising with the Reali-Tini group, but the timing and $$$ weren't right) If I want to meet more people, it's easy to join a roll call group here on CC or just start conversations with the other passengers. :)

Love to cruise with friends and family. There is so much to do, however, DH and I love to do different things on a cruise. On sea days, I love to relax, have drinks at the bars, visit the casino, and play games. Husband likes to visit the gym, play basketball, join the guest talent show, etc. He obviously likes more activity than I, therefore, it is nice to have friends and family to hang out with periodically during the cruise. We also share plenty of time together (if you know what I mean), which just adds to the enjoyment. We love to cruise!

We've done all three; cruised just the two of us, cruised with our son, and cruised with our friends. Each was a different experience and fun in different ways. Personally, I am more relaxed if it's just DH and me alone, but I'd cruise any of the three ways, NO PROBLEM.