I don't get "Cruises" -- Queen Mary 2 = floating mall

I have never done it so maybe I just don't see what is appealing about spending 7 days on a boat that goes around in a big circle. Some family members are going on the Queen Mary 2 soon so I looked at the website just to see what it was like. Now I REALLY don't get it. 5 days on the ocean, 3 days in tiny ports in the Carribean. You can fly to Barbados for $200, be there in 90 minutes. The QM2 is anywhere from $1500 to the sky, with many berths around $1600 - $2500.

Maybe I'm just the wrong age. I don't associate long ocean voyages with fun. Every movie I have seen about boats ends in disaster: Titanic, The Posiden Adventure, The Bounty, Waterworld.

14 decks of sports facilities, pool, shops, lounges, a casino, a planetarium, a bookstore and a college-at-sea – a largesse which allow you the freedom to experience your own preferences and passions.

http://www.cunard.com/QM2/default.asp?Active=onboard&sub=byday

Isn't this like a vacation where you never leave the hotel? A planetarium? I'm going to be so bored that I will go to a planetarium. What's the up-side?

measles, mumps and myrobella plus a host of other exotic microbes not otherwise available on the B-list carriers ...

Do Again," by David Foster Wallace. (It's actually a long essay in a book, but I think the book has that title too.) He takes a cruise and has some pretty interesting and funny things to say about it.

as a military contractor.

it was an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experience.

i'm very glad i did it and i'm also very glad i'll never do it again!

to the Bahamas, and I have to say, we really enjoyed it. The ship cruised at night, and we docked in the morning and spent the days on shore. I thought the food was really good, the entertainment was fun and it was pretty relaxing.

Just my $.02. Prior to this cruise, I couldn't get my husband to even consider one, now we are looking to do a longer one.

It was pretty kid friendly, as well, which was nice.

it was a lot of fun! in our case, there was a good mix of cruise time and shore leave, with plenty of activities in both places. when in port, you can go on an organized tour or activity or just explore on your own, just be back before the ship leaves!

the food was AMAZING. not a good place if you're prone to overeating and packing on the pounds! it's all you can eat, all paid for, except, iirc, for the wine.


the other half of our honeymoon was in orlando -- disneyworld and universal studios theme parks -- including a FANTASTIC lunch at emeril's (bam!)

Travel to a beach resort and never leave the grounds for 2 weeks.

I think that there is a hang-over mystique from the days when travel itself was glamourous, and cruise ships were the only means of travel.

Give me a couple of weeks in Tuscany with beautiful countryside, gorgeous weather, and some of the world's greatest art in the local cities. Hey that's what I am doing this summer, what a surprise.