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LafayetteLady -> Cruising (11/2/2011 6:52:48 PM)
Ok, enough with the Fat threads, the Pro domme bullshit and the wankers looking to piss everyone off. Let's talk about something fun...Vacations! Specifically Cruises! I've finally gotten the bucks together to take my trip to Europe. I will be traveing alone, and have actually been looking at using Cruises as part of the travel. So everyone...have you taken a European Cruise? How about a transatlantic one (no Titanic stories, please, lol). I'm not all that interested in the Red Light/has bar district in Amsterdam, although I am planning on going there, but for other reasons. So with that in mind, how about some happy talk (for a pleasant change) about what I simply MUST see in Europe, cruise experiences, especially if you know anything about singles cruises, and what you enjoyed the most and hated the most!

littlewonder -> RE: Cruising (11/2/2011 9:17:04 PM)
I've never taken a cruise yet but I'm planning on taking one next year sometime...not sure when. However, my daughter went on a Mediterranean cruise a couple of years ago and while she absolutely loved the traveling and seeing all the places she did she said she felt she was not given enough time to really explore and discover each country they stopped in. Instead they were touted around in tours one place to another and given a couple hours of free time. She said she would rather just go to one or two countries and be able to just stay a few days in each one on her own without a schedule or having to be somewhere or have to follow a group around.

DameBruschetta -> RE: Cruising (11/4/2011 12:36:24 AM)
I haven't done a trans atlantic yet (mostly due to funds) but I love cruising and am counting my pennies until my next one. Have you checked out at cruisecritic.com yet?The forums over there have a ridiculous amount of info and there is a good amount on ports and such.

Iamsemisweet -> RE: Cruising (11/4/2011 6:32:22 AM)
I haven't taken a cruise, but I have spoken to lots of "cruisers" in countries I have been in. First, don't miss Venice. Try to go on a cruise there. Venice is a city that may not be there much longer, so see it while you can. Second, the cruisers invariably set that the extra tours and add ons they try and sell you are way overpriced. Don't be afraid to do some research (Rick steves writes great travel books) and tour on your own.

LafayetteLady -> RE: Cruising (11/4/2011 12:36:04 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: littlewonder I've never taken a cruise yet but I'm planning on taking one next year sometime...not sure when. However, my daughter went on a Mediterranean cruise a couple of years ago and while she absolutely loved the traveling and seeing all the places she did she said she felt she was not given enough time to really explore and discover each country they stopped in. Instead they were touted around in tours one place to another and given a couple hours of free time. She said she would rather just go to one or two countries and be able to just stay a few days in each one on her own without a schedule or having to be somewhere or have to follow a group around. I have been on two other cruises. A weekend cruise to nowhere (party cruise) with my mom the year before she died. THAT was a blast. The other was a Disney Cruise with my son, which was also great. There are places I want to spend significant time, and others I just want to "highlight," see the major attractions and be done. This is a trip of a lifetime for me, so there may be more than one cruise involved as well as land stay. Part of the trip will be spent visiting a friend in Germany and another from the UK, so those will be land stays.

LafayetteLady -> RE: Cruising (11/4/2011 12:42:09 PM)
I can't remember if Venice was a stop on any of the trips I looked at so far. To be honest, my head is spinning a bit from information overload. I have a friend on facebook who is a travel agent and since there really isn't an additional cost to have a travel agent put together a package for you, I've asked him to do some leg work for me with a list of places I want to see. This way, he will be able to tell me where I need just a passport, or also a Visa, spell out extra costs, etc. Having been on two cruises before and loved them both, I'm really looking forward to this. Part of my thoughts right now is whether to do the transatlantic part on the way there, or on the way home. On the way there, I have time to relax and get into "vacation mode." On the way home, it is kind of like making your vacation last just a little bit longer. Either way, Titanic is never far from my mind, lol. Damn disaster movies.

GreedyTop -> RE: Cruising (11/4/2011 12:44:48 PM)
if you go to Germany or the Netherlands (on your own) try to visit Maastricht!! ANCIENT (at least by US standards..LOL).. gorgeous, interesting, and lots of great pubs/restaurants. Luxembourg, too.. (but be prepared to WALk.. and not just walk, but CLIMB FRIGGIN HILLS (but absolutely worth it!!)

LafayetteLady -> RE: Cruising (11/4/2011 5:24:16 PM)
Thanks Greedy. I actually may be meeting up with a mutual "friend" in the Netherlands when I go.

strongbottom88 -> RE: Cruising (11/4/2011 5:26:25 PM)
I have never done a singles cruise, but I have gone on Mediteranean cruises. This past spring I tried to go to Egypt, but all of the political upheaval prevented it. The pyramids and sphynx would still be my biggest curiosity. I would say that if you can get to Malta, it is well worth it. I found Rome more interesting than Athens from a historical perspective (although the Acropolis in Athens is exceptional) and as a city in general although if English is your first language, Rome can be a little more challenging if you are spending much time there. The Greek coast is beautiful and if you can take the ride from Athens down to the Temple of Poseiden it is well worth it. Barcelona is interesting, although again if you are not somewhat fluent in Spanish it can be a challenge if you spend much time there. There is an older part of town that takes on a midevil type of appearance with very thin alley-sized streets and passageways surrounded by old buildings several stories high full of shops and residences. I spent some time in Instanbul. It is huge, like bigger than New York city and I am sure that if you know your way around there is a shitload to do. I did not find it that interesting from a tourist perspective outside of a couple of old mosques and museums and the novelty of the city having a bridge that crossed from Europe to Asia within itslelf. I believe it is the only city that is on two separate continents. It would take a lifetime to see everything of interest over there, especially if you want to spend any time really checking out stuff.

MistressDarkArt -> RE: Cruising (11/4/2011 7:17:52 PM)
Congratulations, LafayetteLady! Sounds like you have a wonderful trip coming your way! Having been on dozens of 'forced marches' and cruises as a child/teenager I have come away with 2 bits of advice that should do well for you wherever you go: 1. Plan the first day and the last day, let everything in-between unfold as you feel each day. I was a 'victim' of my parents' 9 countries in 3 days style of traveling. It wasn't until I became an adult my older brother set me straight with the above advice, and traveling is much more relaxed, spontaneous and enjoyable now. Avoid tours where you are constantly in motion getting somewhere else instead of enjoying where you are for a while. 2. Food on cruises: with advance notice you can get anything you want, even if it's not on the menu. That 'lobster and baked alaska' night at the end can be every night if you want. Hell, ask for two lobster tails if you feel like it. Caveat: it's been a few years since I've cruised and lines may have tightened up on this trying to cut costs.

LafayetteLady -> RE: Cruising (11/4/2011 8:00:25 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: MistressDarkArt Congratulations, LafayetteLady! Sounds like you have a wonderful trip coming your way! Having been on dozens of 'forced marches' and cruises as a child/teenager I have come away with 2 bits of advice that should do well for you wherever you go: 1. Plan the first day and the last day, let everything in-between unfold as you feel each day. I was a 'victim' of my parents' 9 countries in 3 days style of traveling. It wasn't until I became an adult my older brother set me straight with the above advice, and traveling is much more relaxed, spontaneous and enjoyable now. Avoid tours where you are constantly in motion getting somewhere else instead of enjoying where you are for a while. 2. Food on cruises: with advance notice you can get anything you want, even if it's not on the menu. That 'lobster and baked alaska' night at the end can be every night if you want. Hell, ask for two lobster tails if you feel like it. Caveat: it's been a few years since I've cruised and lines may have tightened up on this trying to cut costs. Thanks MDA I have cruised before, so I know all about the wonderful food. Thankfully, I'm not a big drinker, so I won't end up spending a whole lot extra. Not the least bit interested in the "9 countries in 3 days" type of trip. Seven to ten days will be spent in Germany visiting with one of my best friends and her new husband. I have never gone to visit her, always the reverse and I wasn't able to afford the trip for her wedding last year. So I'm very excited about that part. I'm seriously considering a transatlantic cruise either to Europe or back home, so that is another week. That leaves about two weeks to see the rest. I'm working with a travel agent who seems to be able to book a second Mediteranian cruise for Western Europe (Italy, Spain) that will be another week and then on to Paris and Amsterdam. My biggest worry at this point? I won't ever want to come home!

Hippiekinkster -> RE: Cruising (11/4/2011 8:12:09 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: GreedyTop if you go to Germany or the Netherlands (on your own) try to visit Maastricht!! ANCIENT (at least by US standards..LOL).. gorgeous, interesting, and lots of great pubs/restaurants. Luxembourg, too.. (but be prepared to WALk.. and not just walk, but CLIMB FRIGGIN HILLS (but absolutely worth it!!) Yeah, Luxembourg City is pretty hilly. It's got a gorge running through it. Where in Germany ya goin', LL? While going across the pond in a boat might seem appealing, that's time you WON'T have in Europe. You might regret it.

MistressDarkArt -> RE: Cruising (11/4/2011 10:06:05 PM)
quote: Seven to ten days will be spent in Germany visiting with one of my best friends and her new husband. I have never gone to visit her, always the reverse and I wasn't able to afford the trip for her wedding last year. So I'm very excited about that part. I'm seriously considering a transatlantic cruise either to Europe or back home, so that is another week. That leaves about two weeks to see the rest. I'm working with a travel agent who seems to be able to book a second Mediteranian cruise for Western Europe (Italy, Spain) that will be another week and then on to Paris and Amsterdam. My biggest worry at this point? I won't ever want to come home! Yeehaw, that sounds spectacular! Travel safely, and have a blast!

LafayetteLady -> RE: Cruising (11/4/2011 10:51:45 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Hippiekinkster quote: ORIGINAL: GreedyTop if you go to Germany or the Netherlands (on your own) try to visit Maastricht!! ANCIENT (at least by US standards..LOL).. gorgeous, interesting, and lots of great pubs/restaurants. Luxembourg, too.. (but be prepared to WALk.. and not just walk, but CLIMB FRIGGIN HILLS (but absolutely worth it!!) Yeah, Luxembourg City is pretty hilly. It's got a gorge running through it. Where in Germany ya goin', LL? While going across the pond in a boat might seem appealing, that's time you WON'T have in Europe. You might regret it. In Germany, I will be mostly in the Essen area where my friend lives. Yep, that time on the boat is a week I won't be in Europe, but since this trip is going to last about a month, I'm not that worried. Also, I'm looking at making that transatlantic trip on the Queen Mary 2, of the Cunard line (as in Titanic). That in itself is an experience. I may not be doing the "9 countries in 3 days," but I do know exactly what I want to see in some areas and have the freedom of time to extend my stay if I want to (which means I just decided that transatlantic trip must be TO Europe so I don't have a must leave date...).

Hippiekinkster -> RE: Cruising (11/4/2011 11:48:07 PM)
Essen - that's a shame (relatively speaking). If there's any way you can talk them into taking 4 days or so and going down to Bavaria, you should. Munich is just amazing. It's my favorite city - period.

geilematz -> RE: Cruising (11/5/2011 1:25:17 AM)
or Vienna or Prague

Hippiekinkster -> RE: Cruising (11/5/2011 2:21:17 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: geilematz or Vienna or Prague Wien ist ganz fantastisch. Meiner Grossvater kommte aus Wien. Ich habe nicht nach Prague gereist. Aber liebe ich noch München. Die Museum, besonders beiden der alten und neuen Pinakotek, sind Weltklass. Care to translate for people? I am not exactly fluent in German, so feel free to correct me.

calamitysandra -> RE: Cruising (11/5/2011 5:29:35 AM)
If you are in Essen, Köln (Cologne) is quite doable and, even if I am biased, very much worth a trip. History from the roman times over the middle ages into the now everywhere. Also, the castles along the Rhine, especially Schloss Burg are like windows in time. Which time of the year will you be travelling?

LafayetteLady -> RE: Cruising (11/5/2011 10:40:37 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Hippiekinkster quote: ORIGINAL: geilematz or Vienna or Prague Wien ist ganz fantastisch. Meiner Grossvater kommte aus Wien. Ich habe nicht nach Prague gereist. Aber liebe ich noch München. Die Museum, besonders beiden der alten und neuen Pinakotek, sind Weltklass. Care to translate for people? I am not exactly fluent in German, so feel free to correct me. I'm going to take a stab (which will be partly right I'm sure. You say that Vienna and Prague are fantastic. You have family from there? You have not been to Prague. Bt you love Munich. The museum and than I couldn't figure out the rest. How did I do? [8\|]

LafayetteLady -> RE: Cruising (11/5/2011 10:42:09 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: calamitysandra If you are in Essen, Köln (Cologne) is quite doable and, even if I am biased, very much worth a trip. History from the roman times over the middle ages into the now everywhere. Also, the castles along the Rhine, especially Schloss Burg are like windows in time. Which time of the year will you be travelling? Spring/early summer of 2012 if all goes according to plan.

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