Visit to the Greek Isles

[Cantousent]

The wife has proposed a 7 day cruise of the Greek Isles. I was taken quite aback, but I have always wanted to visit Greece for a long time. I've not been a big fan of cruises because I largely think they're a waste of money, but I guess we'd fly to Venice, go on the Cruise, and then come home. That might give us a chance to see a bit of Italy while we're at it. There are four stops in Greece and, for some weird reason, a stop in Croatia. As always, since this my version of stripping on a webcam, and since I'm quite as shameless as Eddo in my own way, I'll post pictures and give a little report of the experience. Plus, if any of you board monkeys lives in or around Venice, Greece (there are four stops), or Croatia, let me know and I'll buy you a beer. I promise to keep my clothes on. From what I understand, this Cruise is set for November, which makes a lot of sense scheduling wise on our end.

[theslug]

I just got back from a cruise. Don't do it! You'll lose your soul Cant....

 

Greece sounds pretty cool and I think a cruise might ruin that since you have a timed schedule and you wouldn't be able to walk around all the ancient sites and and the cities at your leisure. Not to mention their restaurants open at like 10 at night if I remember, and I don't know how you could pass up a traditional Greek feast for some mediocre cruise food. Just my two cents.

[Cantousent]

Yeah, that's another thing. I'm afraid I'll gorge myself daily on the cruise, which won't be good for me at all. I don't know. We're still discussing it. That, and it would be our second major trip in one year. I tend to like to spread out these trips over a longer period. We've barely recovered from the England escape. Still. Greece.

[Sand]

My view is this... If you have the opportunity to go over seas and visit places you would not see otherwise GO FOR IT! If you have the money and can take the time off from work, and you don't have children as of yet, a nice Greek holiday can be rather romantic if done right. Of course if you are totting tots and other immature humans along Greece may not be the best place. Hawaii or even Australia may be better choices then. Well, I reccomend Australia anyway, kids or no. That country is great. If I could afford it I rather live in Australia than Iowa.

Edited June 13, 2007 by Sand

[metadigital]

Cruise ships can be a fantastic way to travel. Be aware that, to stave off boredom, generally food is provided in all forms and overabundances. (My mother goes on a cruise at least every year. Yes, she is nearly eighty, but she would out-powerwalk you and swims everyday: last year she went on a walking tour of Tuscany.) Anyway, be warned that most people are older on a ship; some people retire and cruise around the world.

 

As for whether you'll like it, that depends on the ship, the culture of the crew and how much you are shelling out. Ships travel at night (there is little danger of seasickness out to sea, though November, if memory serves, is a stormy time in the Mediterranean: wasn't it late September when Xerxes's armada was dashed against the coast at Artemision?) and pull into port for the day, so you're best advised to plan your shoreleave to dash about and see everything.

 

Personally, I'd travel the Greek Isles by yacht (they are readily hired, including pilots) and spend a week or two just sailing around. But I like sailing.

 

I think it might be be the rainy season, too, in November.

[jaguars4ever]

The wife has proposed a 7 day cruise of the Greek Isles. I was taken quite aback, but I have always wanted to visit Greece for a long time. I've not been a big fan of cruises because I largely think they're a waste of money, but I guess we'd fly to Venice, go on the Cruise, and then come home. That might give us a chance to see a bit of Italy while we're at it. There are four stops in Greece and, for some weird reason, a stop in Croatia. As always, since this my version of stripping on a webcam, and since I'm quite as shameless as Eddo in my own way, I'll post pictures and give a little report of the experience. Plus, if any of you board monkeys lives in or around Venice, Greece (there are four stops), or Croatia, let me know and I'll buy you a beer. I promise to keep my clothes on. From what I understand, this Cruise is set for November, which makes a lot of sense scheduling wise on our end.

Don't be such a cheap-skate, Eldar! Clearly the missus wants something romantic, so cough up the dong for the sake of your schlong.

 

 

I promise not to strip, on or off the webcam

Well let's not rule anything out.

[Pop]

You should go, if not just to catch a glimpse of the solid dome of air pollution obscuring Athens from the sea.

[Hurlshort]

Or, you could baby sit and send me and my wife to Greece, jerk.

 

So you might want to think about the fact that you are taking on a pretty heavy flight. Will you have time to recover enough to enjoy the cruise? I'm kinda of the mentality that if you are paying the expensive airfare, you should get as much time in Europe as possible. But I've never been to Europe, so I'm not the voice of experience.

 

I've been on a 4 day cruise. I'd imagine Greece is cooler to see by sea than Mexico. I wasn't wowed.

[Gorgon]

Whats the point of cruises, there are cheaper ways to get to where you want to go, and if you don't get any of the sailing experience on a boat so large you can't even feel the waves.

 

Make sure you go to crete it's awesome.

[Darth Drabek]

My parents are both teachers, and I'm an only child, so we took a lot of vacations in the summer when I was growing up. As I got a little older, the trips evolved from driving out west and staying in KOAs to taking cruises.

 

One thing to consider: All cruise lines are not created equal. Generally, the bigger the ship, the lower the quality of service. Also, some of the older folks who demand the personalized service and better cuisine (and who have the cash to afford it) have defected to the "premium" cruise lines -- Princess, Celebrity, et al. -- as old mainstays like Royal Caribbean have driven their cruise experience toward the mainstream.

 

If you go on a Carnival or RC cruise, you run the chance of being crammed like sardines into one of their hulking superships. The level of revelry is usually higher on the cheaper cruise lines, because there's a younger crowd -- recent college grads, honeymooners, etc.

 

Of course, you're not going to soak up the sun and drink mai tais all day. I would think a Mediterranean cruise would attract a more cerebral group of travelers.

 

I've been on two Caribbean cruises (RC) and one Alaskan cruise (Celebrity). My buddies from college and I are planning a cruise for next summer, now that the grad schoolers are finishing up and we're all getting settled into our jobs. I love the cruise experience and recommend it. As far as vacations go, you could do much worse.

[kirottu]

Cant, I wonder if your wife happens to be vicious little minx. Erm, no offense ment.

 

Didn

[samm]

That might give us a chance to see a bit of Italy while we're at it. There are four stops in Greece and, for some weird reason, a stop in Croatia.

You don't see much of a country by spending one day in one city Anyway, croatia is said to be very beatiful nature-wise, and quite interesting if you are a speleologist.

[Cantousent]

I was thinking more that we would spend a few extra days in Italy after we're done. My wife wasn't really complaining that my job doesn't make enough money. She was complaining that the job didn't make enough money to make it worth being gone for so long every day. I think this trip is kind of a peace offering for the bitter recriminations we've had. ...But I don't know. Women are inscrutable.

[kirottu]

It definately sounds like a peace offering, but tread lightly.

[WinterSun]

I'm sure your wife has no intention of pushing you overboard and moving in with a Greek waiter.

[Cantousent]

I just can't see doing this trip. The England trip was fun, but exhausting. Another transatlantic flight just doesn't appeal to me. Of course, it really isn't all up to me, but the thought just sounds too tiring right now.

 

I guess no Greek waiters for the wife.

[Gorth]

I was thinking more that we would spend a few extra days in Italy after we're done. My wife wasn't really complaining that my job doesn't make enough money. She was complaining that the job didn't make enough money to make it worth being gone for so long every day. I think this trip is kind of a peace offering for the bitter recriminations we've had. ...But I don't know. Women are inscrutable.

[metadigital]

Casual references get you every time.

[Walsingham]

Women are strange. They try to read far too much into everything. This is how they enjoy Catherine Cookson.