Last minute cruises

Has anyone taken one? The prices seem good - about 75% off full fare. Before I call the booker I'd like to hear some first-hand experiences. I'm looking at leaving from NY for 8 nights to Bermuda and back some time in Jan or Feb.

• I cannot think of anything worse than a cruise. And a cruise to Bermuda and back sounds awful.

• Always been leery of cruises to begin with after reading Tina Feys book I am fairly certain I will never. One particular thing that was unerving is that the low paid staff was responsible for leading evacuation from ship, also had the legal authority to kill you on a life raft if you were found to be a risk “Luxury cruises were designed to make something unbearable (a two week transatlantic crossing) seem bearable. There's no need to do it now, there are planes. You wouldn't take a vacation where you ride on a stage coach for two months but there's all-you-can-eat shrimp. You wouldn't take a vacation where you had an old-timey appendectomy without anesthesia while steel drums play. You might take a vacation while riding on a camel for two days IF they gave you those little animal towels wearing your sunglasses.” ― Tina Fey, Bossypants

• I took a brief cruise out of Miami to several Bahamian ports. Hated every minute of it. That is just me, the seas were rough, people all dressed up vomiting. They lost an engine on the return trip and we were hours and hours late. Missed my flight out of Miami. The only good thing was a black gospel choir on it's way to perform in Nassau. They sang for us several times on the ship.

• I've been on a few cruises. They're not terrible. But avoid Carnival at all costs. They're NOTORIOUSLY homophobic and unwelcoming.

• Why would you want to be trapped on a huge ship for days? It's like being in prison. And they take you from one junky trinket shop to another. They never tell you that the sea is often rough causing terrible seasickness and vomiting and being catapaulted back and forth.

• No one can puke at the drop of a hat than me, but I can take a cruise. In fact, I love them. The trick is to never sail Carnival or any other low rent ship. The best ships are Royal Caribbean, especially the megaships they use to sail the Bahamas and Caribbean seas. The boats are massive and rarely cause sea sickness, since they are so huge. The trick is to have a seaband if you're that fragile. I keep them handy, but I have only used them once or twice. Mind you I can violently vomit from car rides, small boats, and flights. Yet, I have only really slightly vomited on a ship once. I think what works for me is the engineering of the ship. The big ships are like land barges. In regards to sailing on RC, the ships offer a lot of activities, so you don't feel trapped. They have rock climbing, ice skating, surfing, miniature golfing, gambling, spa treatments, swimming, shows, shopping, comedy shows, talent shows, trivia contest, dancing, dance lessons, cooking lesson, wine tasting, and etc.

• [quote]They have rock climbing, ice skating, surfing, miniature golfing, gambling, spa treatments, swimming, shows, shopping, comedy shows, talent shows, trivia contest, dancing, dance lessons, cooking lesson, wine tasting, and etc. If R6's post was written to make cruises seem attractive, it's done just the opposite for me. This is the latest re the Queen Mary's Xmas 2012 cruise:- [quote]More than 200 passengers on Queen Mary 2 fall sick with vomiting and diarrhea on exclusive Christmas Cruise - as those on SECOND liner become ill with 'norovirus' Imagine the horror.

  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2254566/Queen-Mary-2-Passengers-sick-norovirus-Caribbean-cruise.html

• I jack off on you pillow

  Cuban%20Cabin%20Boy

• I take a cruise every year or so with my friends. We're all over 50. We go on Princess (what else??) though last year we tried Royal Caribbean. Cruising has changed a lot...you no longer eat "family style" with people you don't know. You can wander into any of the restaurants any time you want. The staterooms are still tiny but have balconies. All the cruise lines try to be gay friendly with either "Friends of Dorothy" or "LGBT" meetings in various places on the ship. The staff is picked for their attitude which is always helpful. I like to be able to explore an island and then get back on board, have a marvelous dinner and then get up the next day at another island. The cruise lines really try to give you a first class dining experience. The entertainment can be hysterically funny, even if unintended. One night we saw a big Russian woman singing Proud Mary. "Get up doot doot doot doot doot doot doot..." It's not for everyone, but I find it relaxing and love being on the water. On the bigger ships I don't feel crowded. And if you're with friends, you hardly pay attention. The only thing scary is that norovirus. Ugh.

• PS re Last Minute prices, they can be a real bargain. I took a cruise from Rome, up to Monte Carlo and then down to Naples and the Greek Islands before ending up to Venice. The trip alone was $2200, excluding air to Rome. We met two lesbians who signed up at the last minute and they got the entire trip for $1500 including air from Dallas. You have to settle for an inside cabin.

• R8 Next time, wait until I'm in the cabin and I'll help you with that. OP, you do realize that Bermuda is not in the Caribbean, right? What's the weather like in the winter?

• I have the same question as R11. Bermuda is off the coast of North Carolina. It's gonna be really cold this time of year and besides the beaches there isn't a ton to see/do. Same with the ship. You'll be able to enjoy the buffet and casino, but you won't be able to sit by the pool or do anything outdoors.

• Last-minute cruises can be cheap deals if you live near a cruise departure port and don't have to worry about airfare. The biggest downside is that there will likely be NO GOOD CABINS AVAILABLE for these cheap fares: they'll either be underneath the pool deck, or will have obstructed porthole views, or be in a particularly noisy area like near the kitchens or loud machinery. You are not going to get some fab cabin with a balcony and a grand piano. A lot of people say they only spend time in their cabins to sleep, so what is the big deal - but trying to sleep while the pool deck is being power-washed at 5 AM, or the anchor is being hauled up, or when the ship engines start roaring into action is pretty tough.