Cruising choices with an active Pandemic

[tgh]

Turtlemichael has done a couple of world cruises and may be on or about to board soon.
He was a regular contributor here and also posts regularly on CruiseCritic.
You could pm him

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Has anyone ever done one of those really long, 100+ days cruises?

I'm just back from 4 days staying at Circular Quay, which was excellent for cruise ship watching, and it seems Silver Shadow sails from Sydney today for a 140 day journey to Fort Lauderdale. It can also be booked in smaller chunks. But it got me wondering what it would be like getting on a ship in early January and arriving at the final destination on 27 May .

We are following a couple we "know" from Cruise Critic who are on the world cruise on the Shadow. It is not their first world cruise.
I dont know how I would go for that long on a ship, but our next cruise is 54 days - the longest one for us so far......

 

[drron]

We are going to check out how we might go on a world cruise. our next cruise in March is for 54 days.

Though at present we would need a lotto win or equivalent to afford such a cruise.

 

[tgh]

We have done only one longish BtoB cruise.
I found that I settled into the routine of the new life quite well and I was somewhat displaced at disembarkation.
We had both had enough of the food and for that reason alone would be unlikely to book longer cruises.

 

[VPS]

Has anyone ever done one of those really long, 100+ days cruises?

I'm just back from 4 days staying at Circular Quay, which was excellent for cruise ship watching, and it seems Silver Shadow sails from Sydney today for a 140 day journey to Fort Lauderdale. It can also be booked in smaller chunks. But it got me wondering what it would be like getting on a ship in early January and arriving at the final destination on 27 May .

I’d love to be able to afford to try it out. Longest I did was 21 days in Antarctica and I could have easily doubled that but it was Seabourn. One of the niggly things on the last 2 cruises was the coughe internet. I don’t need it every day but it would be nice to have time when it worked quickly

 

[Port Power]

Has anyone ever done one of those really long, 100+ days cruises?

I'm just back from 4 days staying at Circular Quay, which was excellent for cruise ship watching, and it seems Silver Shadow sails from Sydney today for a 140 day journey to Fort Lauderdale. It can also be booked in smaller chunks. But it got me wondering what it would be like getting on a ship in early January and arriving at the final destination on 27 May .

I’ve sailed 47 nights, which was a transatlantic followed by 32 days port-intensive down the east coast of USA. I really enjoyed it, and that was an inside cabin! (We were up on deck or out and about except when sleeping.) There was plenty to do on the ship during the sea days, and we had arranged many private tours for 6 people in US ports. This was a small, premium ship with 620 passengers. I hope I do like 100+ days, as I have booked a World Cruise for 2025!

 

[Pushka]

Longest so far is 21 days and I could have stayed on. Solo in my cabin but with a fellow AFF'er as company. Our next cruise is also 21 days in May. On a small ship of 900 people. I would love to do a world cruise. Cheapest on Viking which are all balconies is for solo, around $90,000 for 120 days. I think it's in my blood. Dad in the Navy would be on ships for 6 months at a time. No internet.

 

[woodyren]

Our two longest have been 47 days and 43 days on large mass market ships. Once settled in to the onboard routine we were certainly in no hurry to finally disembark.

 

[Anna]

At age 5 I did 6 weeks on a ship and loved it. But in January 2020 I did 14 days on Sapphire Princess and towards the end I was a bit bored many afternoons. It would be a terrible waste of money to book 140 days and not enjoy it! Plus just imagine the bar and spa bills after twenty weeks aboard!

 

[Port Power]

At age 5 I did 6 weeks on a ship and loved it. But in January 2020 I did 14 days on Sapphire Princess and towards the end I was a bit bored many afternoons. It would be a terrible waste of money to book 140 days and not enjoy it! Plus just imagine the bar and spa bills after twenty weeks aboard!

You will just have to make sure you choose a line that has drinks included. Plus, world cruises give you heaps of onboard credit which will cover hairdressers and some spa treats. Laundry is also included. And shore excursions or shore excursion credits so that you do get out and about.

 

[p--and--t]

I've only ever managed 16 days at a time so far. I have a stronger preference to stay overnight and experience how the locals live in new countries and cities and thus land journeys.

I have three shorter cruises (7, 12, 14) this year and only managing to see 2 new countries for a day or so as many cruises destinations I have already been to.

Not sure how I would handle 30+ days, I suspect I mind end up only eating, couch sitting and sleeping. I can do that at home.

 

[Pushka]

At age 5 I did 6 weeks on a ship and loved it. But in January 2020 I did 14 days on Sapphire Princess and towards the end I was a bit bored many afternoons. It would be a terrible waste of money to book 140 days and not enjoy it! Plus just imagine the bar and spa bills after twenty weeks aboard!

World cruisers on Viking have all their drinks covered. So.....

 

[Port Power]

I watched it all the way through but at a busier time of year maybe I wouldn't have

It's not about a shipwreck. I would describe it as horror with comedic aspects, set on board a cruise ship. What engaged me about it was so many of the details about a cruise ship were right, like uniforms, venues and activities. And I can well imagine many of the events are not too far from the truth of crew life onboard (not all, but many).

After reading about “Wreck” here, I’m watching it now. Crew wandering around the promenade deck? No way! Nevertheless, already I am ready to watch further episodes. Karen, staff captain, is not realistic. But what a character!?! Hotel Director/general manager would have greeted new crew. And a newbie dishwasher with his own cabin? Needed for the progress of the show of course. Overlooking the flaws, not a bad series at all.

 

[Anna]

only eating, couch sitting and sleeping. I can do that at home.

I can do that at home too, but only if I add 2 further tasks - grocery shopping and cooking. But I would not miss the former task Still wondering how I would feel for 140 days about not being able to cook something if I felt like cooking. Or not being able to do my own laundry whenever I liked in my own washing machine and hang it on the line to dry in a salt-free breeze. Not things I normally think about before going on a cruise

 

[VPS]

I can do that at home too, but only if I add 2 further tasks - grocery shopping and cooking. But I would not miss the former task Still wondering how I would feel for 140 days about not being able to cook something if I felt like cooking. Or not being able to do my own laundry whenever I liked in my own washing machine and hang it on the line to dry in a salt-free breeze. Not things I normally think about before going on a cruise

After being away now for nearly 10 weeks I dream about my own washing machine and hanging clothes on an outside line. Sad the things we miss but wouldn’t change it for anything

 

[Buzzard]

Has anyone ever done one of those really long, 100+ days cruises?

I'm just back from 4 days staying at Circular Quay, which was excellent for cruise ship watching, and it seems Silver Shadow sails from Sydney today for a 140 day journey to Fort Lauderdale. It can also be booked in smaller chunks. But it got me wondering what it would be like getting on a ship in early January and arriving at the final destination on 27 May .

Not me but a couple I know spend most of their time cruising, a lot back to back.
They have done over 130 cruises now.

 

[RooFlyer]

If you can access through the Oz paywall:

Inside the world’s most expensive cruise ship
No expense was spared in the creation of Silver Endeavour, the most luxurious – and capable – passenger vessel.

12ft

 

[JohnK]

At age 5 I did 6 weeks on a ship and loved it. But in January 2020 I did 14 days on Sapphire Princess and towards the end I was a bit bored many afternoons. It would be a terrible waste of money to book 140 days and not enjoy it! Plus just imagine the bar and spa bills after twenty weeks aboard!

Spent 40 days on a ship when I was 8 years old.

I looked at 3-6 month cruises in the 90's but I'd need to be bored or lose mobility to want to spend more than a few weeks on a cruise today.

 

[VPS]

Anybody any experience with NCL Norwegian. They have some good last minute deals for the Med and because I can't shake this virus completely and not feeling like driving much was thinking I might just hop onto this for 10 days to relax

 

[Port Power]

Anybody any experience with NCL Norwegian. They have some good last minute deals for the Med and because I can't shake this virus completely and not feeling like driving much was thinking I might just hop onto this for 10 days to relax

I’ve done quite a few NCL cruises. I don’t get into the nickel and dining and don’t use their shore excursion. I have always had a very good time, I think helped by a good Cruise Critic group. We always like O’Sheehan’s for many breakfasts and lunches, and as a meeting point when our cabins were all on that deck.