R S Taking a Mediterranean Cruise

A couple of years ago I believe it was Maria from this Forum who suggested that RS add a cruise tab to the Forum. I'm all for it. I find Cruise Critic clunky to use.

I’ve been on cruise critic for 15 years and find it to be a very good site. I booked multiple group excursions for 4 different Med cruises all with people I met in cruise critic. When I’m doing a cruise it’s my go to site.

Adding the link to the RS cruise episode:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dqrOSk-Wyk

Also, RS guidebook author Cameron Hewitt did a travel talks episode on Mediterranean cruise ports. This was 6 years ago so not sure how relevant today:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMK83si_Zvc

Well he still offers a Mediterranean Cruise Port Guidebook, on this website. I dint know how often it's been updated.

I like CruiseCritic and go to it when I have booked a. cruise. I am on the Roll Call for the cruise that I am taking this October and have signed up for the Meet & Greet.

I read the reviews but often they are not relevant or helpful for my cruise. CC used to have reviews of individual ports before COVID but they do not offer that presently. I now come to R S to get information about the ports.

I find the CC site to be "busy" There is so much that sometimes there is too much, at least for me.

Still I like CC and use it and will continue to use it but I love this forum.

I always appreciate websites that stick to doing what they know best and stay in their own lane. Rick does land travel in Europe;although he did put out 2 guidebooks for Med and Northern Europe Cruise ports. CC does cruises, but is a huge site with a multitude of forums. But once you know where to look, it doesn't take long to ask a question and get answers.

I use both also. I prefer SR for all my travel sites, excursions, tours, hotels, transport…etc. And… CC gets way more involved with info about what the ship itself offers. I cruise for the itinerary. I use which cruise line because of where it takes me and the sail dates offered.
I do get very tired of all the “critic mentality” on CC. ie…how many lobsters can I actually get included... But then again…that’s not important to me. It is to many. My entertainment is about the itinerary…ports and sightseeing, history, art, their local food and any lectures offered. Other’s entertainment revolves around the ship’s activities. And I realize it is called…cruise critic….
So yes…there are times that I’d prefer the RS approach to cruising in Europe.

I like CC for information abut the ship. I always use CC after I book the cruise. Love the Roll Call and always make the Meet & Greet.

Like the reviews from guests who are on the cruise I am going on or have taken it in the past but often these guests do not offer much information.

Also sometimes guests are on the ship I am sailing on but they are on a different itinerary. Other times, guests are on my itinerary but a different ship and sometimes not even Norwegian.

I like all the information I get from this Forum about the ports themselves and really being able to interact with members on this site?

I would love to go on a Rick Steves Cruise .......

I would like to see an updated version of the travel talks on cruising in Europe as a lot has changed over the past few years. I do use CC for information on the different lines and ships and for basic information about the ports but I still rely on RS for more details. I agree that this site is easier to use than CC. I’ve been using Rick’s Mediterranean Cruise Ports book for planning my next cruise and it’s been helpful. There are some of my stops that are not covered, most notably Kusadasi.

Hi Kathleen

I would like to see R S and staff go on more cruises and watch it on PBS but I would prefer that they offer cruise vacations. I, too, would like more updated talks about cruises.

I can not consider a R S trip because of my age, some health issues and you have to be able to keep up. I could. never keep up with a R S vacation.

I did not know that Rick has more than one book on Mediterranean cruises. Has he or staff gone on more than one?

Do you use the free books on the internet "Tom's Cruise Ports." They are excellent! I found them via Cruise Critic.

My wife has had back surgery, and she's still not fully recovered. She rides a folding personal scooter that runs faster than I can walk--with a 10 mile range.

Cruises combined with a few days in cities before and after the cruises has allowed us to adapt to her physical limitations the last 3 years. We're just not ready to give up traveling in our early retirement years.

This may be for a limited audience, but if you are into Disney Cruises, there is the DISBoards which are an AMAZING source of info about Disney cruising.

Bets

I checked out Tom'a Cruise Ports and it will now be a source of information. But there was a glitch. I forget what happened. Oh, I think that it was The Mediterranean Cruises which is my next one. For some reason, I could not load that one. The others I was able to loads.

I have to go back and check again.

UPDATE. I went to Tom's Cruise Ports and there continues to be a glitch with The Mediterranean Cruises. All I get is a white page when I try to load Mediterranean Cruises., All the other links work fine but not the Mediterranean Cruises. I am disappointed. Would you check and see if Mediterranean Cruises works on your end

David

I am 78 and have among other things arthritis of the knees and spinal stenosis. I could probably go somewhere for a week or so and explore and relax. but cruising allows me more options. I spend. few days in my port city pre cruise and a few days in my port city post cruise.

kelly'd

have you gone on Disney cruises? Look wonderful and amazing but expensive for one person. They are definitely not geared towards a senior citizen who travels alone.

@bostonphil - yes! We’ve been on 4. They are definitely expensive but in many ways you absolutely get what you pay for.

BostonPhil, I know you like a good bargain and I am glad that you are out traveling! I wanted to share a website I use to find bargains for solo travelers. I am always looking for affordable trips! Cruiseplum.com has a special section for solo travelers. You can set it to show you the cruises with low to no single supplements.

Carol

I will check out CruisePlum, Thanks for the tip

Kelly'd

I would expect a Disney cruise to be very high quality. How many went on your cruises? How many adults? And how many children?

And what do you get? You paid the cost of the cabin(s) What comes with the ticket price?

We have always cruised with 4 people - 2 parents, 2 kids. Grandparents and brother-in-laws have come on Disney too. We get two connecting rooms for our 4 people.

Disney is similar to other cruise lines in that almost everything is included: room, food, entertainment, transportation. Optional paid services include the spa, specialty restaurants, and shore excursions.

I’ve cruised on Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, and Disney, and Disney is by far the best. We are considering trying Princess next year, though, because of their itineraries. That is the one downfall of Disney; because they have so few ships, they don’t go as many places or they only go during certain weeks.

I was surprised when Rick Steve’s added mentions of cruises. Nothing wrong with cruising but it didn’t seem to line up with his travel philosophy.

Suki, I think you're right about it not aligning with his travel philosophy. But the cruising industry has really grown, and I think he saw an information gap that he could fill. Namely independant day trips for the more common European cruise ports. It's a good niche for his guidebook department, and smart marketing. But to hope for RS led cruises or a whole video series? Wishful thinking.

I was surprised when Rick Steve’s added mentions of cruises. Nothing wrong with cruising but it didn’t seem to line up with his travel philosophy.

I’ve seen the program where Rick goes on the Med cruise and own his guidebook for Northern European cruising.

He demonstrates how to maximize your short time in port and how to DIY activities instead of taking expensive cruise line excursions. So in that sense, it does align with the RS philosophy (although I don’t see him moving to that model over land tours!).

it is interesting to me that boston phil asked her question back in June and after many answers the thread went to sleep until a couple of days ago when it attracted several more answers. I guess the thread is timeless because it wasn't really a question and she has been on her - fairly eventful - cruise.

Is this a time when folks start to be looking at cruises?

Nigel, We are having what are called "Black Friday Sales" in the US. Traditionally, this was the Friday after our Thanksgiving and was called Black Friday because so many people went Christmas Shopping that the stores would make it "into the black" financially. Stores would offer big sales on this day to attract customers.

Well, we are in the electronic age now and the sales patterns have changed. There are still "Black Friday" sales but they seem to last most of the month of November. The Cruise Industry and joined the fray and now offers some very attractive Black Friday Sales this month. I do think that many people are shopping right now and dreaming of somewhere sunny and bright as the dark of winter comes.