Cruises - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

foofiter · 07-12-2005, 08:30 AM

I am trying to look into cruises that are cheap. I know you can get the rare cheapy cruise that is worth it even with all the tourists aboard (rare but they are out there). If you found a cruise cheap and it got you to a location you wanted to see, would you take it? Or would you just go plane/train/bus to get there?

My line of thinking is a cruise that stops off somewhere that I want to go. I will have food, a bed, and a ride to my destination for a few days for the cost of a plane ticket. Speed is no issue here.

For example a European cruise that leaves, say Holland or UK and stops off in St. Petersburg in Russia. Ditch the ship in St. Pete's and head to the trans-siberian railway from there.

Am I wrong here? The above is just an example...I think you guys ctach mky drift here. Using a cruise as a way to keep moving forward on the road.

foofiter

foofiter · 07-12-2005, 08:32 AM

and I realize a plane or trian would be cheaper but I have to factor in the food and bed too. I also like traveling by boat

Thoguhts?

foofiter

**omisan** · 07-12-2005, 10:04 AM

Having been on a cruise, I can definitely say this: it is not for everyone.

That said, despite the numerous drawbacks (no one our own age, too little time in ports, trapped in one place for days), it can be an amazing value. I was on a Caribbean cruise on the Holland America line for 7 nights (yay for work trips!) at a cost of around $700, not including the flight to/from Florida.

For that kind of money, I shared a 4-star stateroom (they can arrange sharing for solo cruisers, but keep in mind that rooms are pretty small), had all the food I could possibly eat (including 24/7 room service), and had a whole world of activities on hand. Not to mention I got to hit up 4 different countries, albeit the stops were relatively short!

Of course, alcohol isn't included, and you can quickly rack up a HUGE shipboard charge with the little cards they gave you. I think mine hit around $1000, including the many rounds I bought for co-workers... that was the most stupidly expensive part of it all.

Instead of ditching the ship, you can look into one-way cruises. You're not wasting the money for the portion you're not going to use, and from what the crew on the MS Oosterdam told me when we considered ditching in St. Martin, they freak the fuck out if someone bails mid-cruise.

Anyway, I'd recommend it for anyone who wants to shell out a moderate amount of cash for luxury and pampering, with the caveat of LOTS of old, out-of-shape people and limited range of options while in transit or in port.

foofiter · 07-12-2005, 12:35 PM

Thanks for the info Omi!

I would use this on my long term trip for a change of scenery and to see some ocean. It would also be a nice change from planes and trains all the time. I will have to do more research.

Anyone else?

foofiter

**tumblezweedz** · 07-12-2005, 08:00 PM

There are a lot of short term cruises you can get in the Baltic area - say take a train from Holland to Kiel, then hop on a boat to Helsinki then catch the train northeast to St. Petersburg... The one-way trips are short (a night or two at most) but fairly inexpensive, usually lively (lots of young Scandinavians in search of cheaper alcohol) and you can book for as far as you want to go.

As far as I know, there aren't one-way cruises to St. Petersburg, with all the Visa restrictions and all, but as I say, you can get to Helsinki and then catch a train from there.

Several of our friends took the boat from Riga to Sweden, which they mostly enjoyed, except I have one friend who felt pretty seasick as the seas do get surprisingly rough.

I think it would be a great way to get around Scandinavia and the Baltic, we certainly wanted to, but time and reality have a way of getting in the way.

We also looked into getting a cruise from Vancouver to Beijing (actually we wanted to get out in Sapporo, on our way to an assignment in Japan) but they didn't run the cruise when we needed to go, so we didn't pursue it. The other one we wanted to do was from Beijing (well, whatever the port is, obviously) to Thailand, stopping in a couple of places in China, Korea, Viet Nam Singapore Malaysia and Thailand (I think that was all) since we wanted to visit all those places but didn't want to drag the kids and stuff through all the transport/hotel changes that would have involved. Unfortunately, our plan was to travel in Nov 2001, and there were a few travel restrictions for active duty military at the time...

xanthuos · 10-08-2005, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tumblezweedz@Jul 12 2005, 08:00 PM
There are a lot of short term cruises you can get in the Baltic area - say take a train from Holland to Kiel, then hop on a boat to Helsinki then catch the train northeast to St. Petersburg...* The one-way trips are short (a night or two at most) but fairly inexpensive, usually lively (lots of young Scandinavians in search of cheaper alcohol) and you can book for as far as you want to go.

As far as I know, there aren't one-way cruises to St. Petersburg, with all the Visa restrictions and all, but as I say, you can get to Helsinki and then catch a train from there.

Several of our friends took the boat from Riga to Sweden, which they mostly enjoyed, except I have one friend who felt pretty seasick as the seas do get surprisingly rough.

I think it would be a great way to get around Scandinavia and the Baltic, we certainly wanted to, but time and reality have a way of getting in the way.*

We also looked into getting a cruise from Vancouver to Beijing (actually we wanted to get out in Sapporo, on our way to an assignment in Japan) but they didn't run the cruise when we needed to go, so we didn't pursue it.* The other one we wanted to do was from Beijing (well, whatever the port is, obviously) to Thailand, stopping in a couple of places in China, Korea, Viet Nam Singapore Malaysia and Thailand (I think that was all) since we wanted to visit all those places but didn't want to drag the kids and stuff through all the transport/hotel changes that would have involved.* Unfortunately, our plan was to travel in Nov 2001, and there were a few travel restrictions for active duty military at the time...

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I've tried to price various cruises in the Baltic and thus far, haven't really found ANY of them to be cheap. The only affordable one seems to be the overnight Helsinki - Tallinn cruise...even Helsinki to Stockholm, at the most budget level, is 56 euros.

Some suggested links for you, of ferries (and/or cruises), to help the search:
http://www.vikingline.fi/index.asp?lang=en
http://www.stenaline.co.uk/
http://www.superfast.com
http://www.transeuropaferries.com/
http://www.fcbsweb.com/

Enjoy!

foofiter · 07-12-2005, 09:34 PM

To go from west coast to Asia would be awesome! I am sure it is expensive though. I might have to look into Oz to Thailand or something like that. I don't want to spend a TON of time on a boat but I am sure I can handle a week or two. Having grown up on an island I do not have to worry about sea sickness. I love researching this stuff, it is quite fun! (for me at least).

foofiter

majolie · 09-27-2005, 09:12 PM

cruises are definitly not for everyone. i went on one a few years ago and i'm going on another in may. i can say it's not so great for young travellers, unless you're on a honeymoon or something maybe.

the reason i AM going again is that it's great for older people, and my grandfather is coming with us. it's the easiest way for all of us to get around, and ya, it is kind of nice to have lots of food and know where you'll be sleeping. that being said, i completely plan on doing some travelling of my own afterwards, as the cruise ends in venice and that will be great for hostelling about.

i'd say if you can find a cheap cruise, take it. repositioning cruises are sometimes good deals, and if they end in a destination of interest to you, all the better. my advice: bring a book and be 21 so you can drink.

whereshegoes · 09-29-2005, 05:35 PM

I am about to jump on a transatlantic cruise from Rome to Miami...it was cheaper than buying an air ticket! Less that 60 US a day and everything is included.

I think its good to try it out once and see if you like it...I have done a few but can only do them once in a very blue mood. I would be 1000 lbs otherwise...its all you can eat and the food is gooooooooooooooooood.

**Joker** · 09-29-2005, 09:03 PM

I cruised from NYC to Bermuda in 1998. It was a blast, but very expensive (the drinks were.)

All-in-all, its nice because as everyone stated, you have a place to sleep, your food is taken care of (and its really damned good food. I ate foie gras like it was going outta style!). The only thing you have to pay for typically is soda and alcohol. And I drank a LOT of alcohol. :D

The cruise line had a package that allowed for various excursions, and most importantly, in Bermuda, moped rentals (the only way to see the island). Just about every cruise has side packages available, be it a booze cruise, snorkelling, etc.

I would advise that if you want to have a trip where there is less adventure, more relaxing, do it. Or, use a 1-way cruise as a jumping-off point for an adventure.

travelguy · 09-30-2005, 08:16 AM

hmmmm I HATE TO FLY. since im planning a 3 month european vacation next summer i think a transatlantic cruise would be worth it for me. any of you guys know a good line or website i can check out?

whereshegoes · 10-08-2005, 02:42 PM

Yup! Travelguy...checkout vacationstogo.com ...they have WICKED prices on cruises...and the site is pretty useful for info..,.

Enjoy

Marcfj · 10-24-2005, 02:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by travelguy@Sep 30 2005, 07:16 AM
hmmmm I HATE TO FLY. since im planning a 3 month european vacation next summer i think a transatlantic cruise would be worth it for me. any of you guys know a good line or website i can check out?

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Good God almighty how the world has changed since the 1960’s when I first set out to see the world. In those days a traveler could find a reasonably priced passenger ship to just about any destination worth visiting. In fact, if my memory serves me correctly, passage across the Atlantic on one of Holland American Line’s passenger ships was only around $181.00 dollars each way. Though, I do remember hearing about a Yugoslavian passenger liner back then that would take passengers from somewhere on the east coast of the U.S.A. to Morocco for a mere $100.00.

In 1962 I paid only $80.00 for my passage, including meals, from Barcelona to Israel on a Turkish passenger ship. And that trip took a full six days as we stopped off in Marseille, Naples and Cyprus before arriving in Haifa.

However, in the 1960’s one could also fly very cheaply from New York to Luxembourg on Icelandic Airlines for only $167.00 one way.

Interestingly, at the present time, Smyril line operates its seagoing ferries between Iceland, The Faroe Islands, The Shetland Islands, Norway and Denmark. So I am keeping my fingers crossed and hoping that maybe, if luck will have it, they will eventually make some North American city their port of call.

If that happens I would then be able to drive my pickup, with a camper on it, across country and onto one of Smyril’s ferries and have my own transportation and sleeping accommodations upon my arrival in Europe.

foofiter · 10-24-2005, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Marcfj@Oct 24 2005, 04:43 AM
Good God almighty how the world has changed since the 1960’s when I first set out to see the world. In those days a traveler could find a reasonably priced passenger ship to just about any destination worth visiting. In fact, if my memory serves me correctly, passage across the Atlantic on one of Holland American Line’s passenger ships was only around $181.00 dollars each way. Though, I do remember hearing about a Yugoslavian passenger liner back then that would take passengers from somewhere on the east coast of the U.S.A. to Morocco for a mere $100.00.

In 1962 I paid only $80.00 for my passage, including meals, from Barcelona to Israel on a Turkish passenger ship. And that trip took a full six days as we stopped off in Marseille, Naples and Cyprus before arriving in Haifa.

However, in the 1960’s one could also fly very cheaply from New York to Luxembourg on Icelandic Airlines for only $167.00 one way.

Ok the finance major in me has to adjust the numbers for inflation. (3% per year average).

I adjusted for 45 years.

$181 in 1960 = ~$685 today
$100 in 1960 = ~$378 today
$80 in 1960 = ~$303 today
$167 in 1960 = ~$632 today

These all would be excellent deals if the existed. Even though flying is faster and costs about the same it would be interesting. I would love to do it one day if I got the chance!

Foo

**lilchappy** · 11-11-2005, 05:27 PM

I dont know about long cruises, but the 21 hour cruise from Italy to Greece (Bari to Patras) was a blast. Just make sure to reserve a deck seat (ie: a bench and table) and bring a crap load of alcohol. Between 5 of us, we brought on a jug of wine (5 bottles) a case of italian beer, and a 1/5 of vodka. By 10 pm, 3 hours into the journey, we had 15 people from all over the world playing american drinking games on the roof of the boat....quite dangerous when u think about it.

cya....lilchappy