Back from cruisin’
Ahh…just returned back from a cruise through the Mediterranean. My girlfriend and I met on a cruise in the Caribbean almost seven years ago, this is our first cruise since. After this we decided that cruises are the only way to travel. You’re pampered the entire time, the food is absolutely amazing, everyday you wake up in a new city, there’s nothing more relaxing and stress free, and it’s relatively cheap, especially since everything was in US dollars. (everything is included except alcohol, excursions, and spa treatments)
Sometimes I wonder if Finns (and the rest of Europe?) really know about cruises cause all the cruise lines in Europe seem to be like 99% Americans/Canadians. These giant ships are very very different from the Stockholm and Tallinn booze cruises. Helsinki Summers are full of big ships bringing tourists to the city for the day then exploring the rest of the Baltic, but I wonder how many Finns have actually been on one?
Big thanks to Hank and Kristian for continuing to write while I was away!! And of course, who can’t visit Pisa without this obligatory photo…
All the biggest cruise ships in the world (top fifteen) has been built in Finland. Anyway, cruise ships are for lazy couples :). Try Italy via train, for example
Comment by tim73 — Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 2:57 am
YAWN!
Comment by Anonymous — Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 3:11 am
“Try Italy via train”
- Yeah, so the train staff can constantly harass you with ‘ever-better’ deals to trade you for your maglight, and other belongings! You would think the place was a third-world country. Not only that, but the deals were all third-world to. Come on, two Cokes for a Maglight? Americans might be dumb, but give us a little credit.
(Oh, I love Italy. Really.)
Comment by Fred Fry — Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 3:15 am
“Americans might be dumb, but give us a little credit.”
Like 2 500 000 000 dollars per day ? That Chinese bartender is especially liking your kinds…
Comment by tim73 — Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 4:00 am
Welcome back!
Comment by Stefan Constantinescu — Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 4:09 am
Did you get the chance to do any shuffle boarding?
Comment by dhen — Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 5:03 am
In any case, I’m not sure what this has to do with the car tax or white flags of surrender, but I’m sure that others here will find a connection.
Comment by dhen — Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 5:34 am
I find being around large groups of Americans (or groups of large Americans) stressful. But maybe that’s just me.
Comment by rachel — Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 6:17 am
“I find being around large groups of Americans (or groups of large Americans) stressful.”
You must be real popular at family gatherings;)
Comment by Fred Fry — Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 8:23 am
“everything is included except alcohol, excursions, and spa treatments”
I don’t know about the Mediterranean cruises, but I’ve been told that in the Carribean, people who think that they’ve paid for an all-inclusive package (suggesting that everything’s been paid for, no extra costs) are often surprised when the first thing that they get on the ship is a list of “suggested” tips that they are expected to pay to just about every crew member that they come into contact with in the days that follow.
Comment by Kimmo W. — Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 9:02 am
In any case, I’m not sure what this has to do with the car tax or white flags of surrender, but I’m sure that others here will find a connection.
Well, you may notice how happy everyone is that Phil is back. It’s the classic bad cop good cop routine.
Comment by N. Siinistö — Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 9:53 am
I have some friends who did a similar sounding cruise last year. They did enjoy the style of holiday, the food, the visits to numerous ports and the weather. They did have a good holiday overall, but they weren’t so complimentary toward the behavior and attitudes of many of their fellow passengers. The passengers were mostly older Americans.
If their’s is anywhere typical of the reports that non-Americans tell their friends back home, it’s not so surprising that particular cruise companies tend to have a concentration of Americans.
Btw my friends did return to Italy for 6 weeks this year - but not by liner this time.
Comment by pi — Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 12:03 pm
Sorry Phil, but here in Yurop, cruising is something you do in your 70s or if you happen to like Canasta or Cribbage. But I can see how a certain kind of slightly worried American wanting to tick off countries (”if it’s Tuesday this must be Elba”) might find it easier to keep Europe at arm’s length and retreat to the boat every night - you never can tell with those European hotels, can you? Somebody might speak foreign.
Still, as someone said, we shouldn’t grumble - Finns make most of the tubs they sail on. Welcome back. I hope you enjoyed the rest. Not sure some of the posters did.
Try Saga Lines next.
“In the evening you can watch West-end style shows and cabarets, sit back with a cocktail in the classic South Cape Bar, watch a film in the cinema, or enjoy the quiet ambience of the ship’s library.
At the end of the day you can retire to your comfortable cabin. All cabins combine sumptuous fabrics and calming colour schemes, with high quality furnishings and flat screen televisions.”
Go on holiday and watch TV.
Comment by Geriatric Lines — Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 12:39 pm
are often surprised when the first thing that they get on the ship is a list of “suggested†tips that they are expected to pay to just about every crew member that they come into contact with in the days that follow.
Yeah, I’ve been on those Caribbean cruises and with the American tipping culture, they expect you to tip the cabin boy, bus boy, waiter… The cruise liner I was on just charged a flat fee of $10/day/person and you could “adjust” that fee as you see fit.
Comment by Phil — Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 1:17 pm
find being around large groups of Americans (or groups of large Americans) stressful. But maybe that’s just me.
Yeah, it was for me at first. We heard so many retarded questions being asked, and heard assholes demanding to speak to people’s managers and yes…even demanding to speak to the Captain. LOL!!
The cruise staff treats you so well, that I think people began to abuse this and whine about little things and demand this and that, cause they knew the staff HAD to keep a smile on their faces. It often made me embarrassed to be American. But on the planeride back to Finland, there were a bunch of drunk Finns in the back, making everyone angry and Finns very embarrassed, so I’m guessing all nations are embarrassed of their own people.
Comment by Phil — Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 1:20 pm
Did you get the chance to do any shuffle boarding?
No…just ping pong.
Comment by Phil — Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 1:21 pm
I would not recommend cruising for anyone. You can’t find a more ecologically destructive way to spend your holiday unless you maybe spend it flying an aeroplane - not from one place to another, but all the time.
Comment by Spoilsport — Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 1:53 pm
Welcome back, Phil! I got already scared that you left the blog for this rather scary Kristian dude. Anyways, must’ve been nice trip. Being a poor student, I don’t dream of cruises, but Interrail would be so cool. We’re planning to go next year, need to save money first.
Comment by Passer-by — Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 2:12 pm
If I were a retiree or traveling with kids, I’d consider going on a cruise for holiday. In both cases, comfort and easy access to services count for a lot.
Comment by Markku — Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 3:27 pm
Phil, welcome back, Maryland crabs are running, but so far small this year.
Kristian was great, I loved him. He is the only one to make Finns look out of the box, and actually suggest a solution rather than be a constant critic.
By the way Finns hate that. Most of the bloggers did not even want to go there.
Comment by winter — Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 3:33 pm
You can’t find a more ecologically destructive way to spend your holiday unless you maybe spend it flying an aeroplane - not from one place to another, but all the time.
Are cruise ships that bad? I didn’t know. Is it worse than 2,000 people renting 1,000 cars and driving for 10 days in a row?
Comment by Phil — Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 3:42 pm
Being a poor student, I don’t dream of cruises, but Interrail would be so cool.
At 27, I’m too old anymore for trains and hostels.
Comment by Phil — Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 3:43 pm
Phil, welcome back, Maryland crabs are running, but so far small this year.
I’ll be in Baltimore next Friday for a few days. Guess what we’re having for dinner the first night!?
Comment by Phil — Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 3:44 pm
Kristian was great, I loved him.
Yes!! I enjoyed him and Hank very much while I was away!
Comment by Phil — Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 3:45 pm
17 wrote > I would not recommend cruising for anyone. You can’t find a more ecologically destructive way to spend your holiday unless you maybe spend it flying an aeroplane - not from one place to another, but all the time.
I say you do things your way and we will do things a our way, and keep you tree hugging recommendations to your self. ecological destructive you say ? ok, I recommend you plug your ass and stop farting.
Stop dictating what is ecological, live your life or check out and pick out a good box. man im sick of eco. assholes polluting the web
Comment by hill billy — Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 3:51 pm
Spoilsport must hate Al Gore, with his constandy flying around for humanity crap.
Comment by winter — Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 4:09 pm
Hill billy, I am sick of hillbillies who can’t even stand differing opinions, or that someone actually is concerned about the planet we’re stuck with.
Plus, I have no authority whatsoever to dictate anything, I was just mentioning. Calm down! 
Phil was asking whether cruising really is that bad. Here’s some figures:
“In one week, a typical cruise ship generates 210,000 gallons of black water (sewage), 1,000,000 gallons of gray water (shower, sink, dishwashing water), 37,000 gallons of oily bilge water, more than eight tons of solid waste, millions of gallons of ballast water containing potential invasive species, and toxic wastes from dry cleaning and photo processing laboratories.” (Panetta, L. E. (Chair) (2003). America’s living oceans: charting a course for sea change [Electronic Version, CD] Pew Oceans Commission.)
from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_pollution#Cruise_Ships
Plus fuel emissions.
Comment by Spoilsport — Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 5:40 pm
“In one week, a typical cruise ship generates 210,000 gallons of black water (sewage),[...]more than eight tons of solid waste,”
Well, that’ll be the last time I get drunk and jump overboard. Yuck
Seriously, it’s good that people only shit and shower when on cruise ships. Otherwise, this planet would be doomed.
Comment by Kristian — Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 5:46 pm
Post #1 Tim73, you’re a twat. Sorry
Comment by Punter — Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 5:50 pm
post 27, this planet will be here long after your butt is eaten up by worms. believe me, that planet dont give a shit if your on a ship or not. the planet will laugh its ass off (if it had one) at you trying to save something that will be here long after your dead.. im laughing now. hahahahaha
Comment by hill billy — Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 5:59 pm
Kristian:
Seriously, it’s good that people only shit and shower when on cruise ships. Otherwise, this planet would be doomed.
All would be just fine and dandy if they took that waste water to port to be treated. However, it is more economical just to dump it in the ocean.
Comment by Freeridin' Franklin — Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 7:07 pm
“this planet would be doomed”. Yea, its not like all those folks on a cruse ship quit crapping when on land.
But then that why I like kristian, showing off the stupidness of the posting bloggers. Did they show any solution, thats workable, or just the same old “you pollute” crap.
Comment by winter - "Yea, Proton Power, now in remission†— Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 7:16 pm
I would not recommend cruising for anyone. You can’t find a more ecologically destructive way to spend your holiday unless you maybe spend it flying an aeroplane - not from one place to another, but all the time.
Yeah, and your posting on the Internet about it is helping out tons.
Comment by gopha — Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 7:24 pm
“Yeah, I’ve been on those Caribbean cruises and with the American tipping culture, they expect you to tip the cabin boy, bus boy, waiter… The cruise liner I was on just charged a flat fee of $10/day/person and you could “adjust†that fee as you see fit.”
Cruise companies actually have to pay hotel staff more when ships work in European/Med waters as the tipping prospects are much worse there. So one way or another, you are paying. The difference is how many hands handle the money.
Comment by Fred Fry — Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 8:34 pm
Seriously, why do you people get so defensive about?
What’s wrong with exchanging opinions and viewpoints? From now on I’ll leave you to it, unless I have a ready solution for a perfect world to post for you all. (Or you learn to deal politely with people who don’t agree with you. ;))
Comment by Spoilsport — Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 9:00 pm
You’re pampered the entire time, the food is absolutely amazing, everyday you wake up in a new city
This is the most annoying thing about cruises, really. You get to spend a day in cities where you wouldn’t run out of things to do in a year.
Comment by Freeridin' Franklin — Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 9:13 pm
Seriously, why do you people get so defensive about?
Since we’ve seemingly banished the more sophisticated trollers, we’re left with the fur hat variety.
That some people reduce themselves to actually arguing with them might be an indication of FFT’s demise.
Comment by Freeridin' Franklin — Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 9:57 pm
#20:
“Kristian was great, I loved him. He is the only one to make Finns look out of the box, and actually suggest a solution rather than be a constant critic.
Comment by winter  Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 3:33 pm ”
Voi Kristian parka ja raukka. He was in enough black water already for disposing illegally of sewage from the good ship “Public Transport Thread”, and now he’s up to his eyes in shit, thanks to Comrade Winter’s ringing endorsement.
With friends like those, who needs enemas, eh?
Still finding it hard BTW to fathom why a 27-year-old apparently not in a wheelchair has no more ambition than to be on a ship full of his or her countrymen, exploring Europe in one-hour air-conditioned bites. It’s great for the wrinklies and the blue-rinse crowd, I’m sure, and a gigolo would probably have a field-day with the HRT wives and widows, but… well.. it’s not very “adventurous” is it?
“Everybody back on the bus!”
Comment by Geriatric Lines — Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 11:22 pm
Wow Phil, you’re quite tall! Are you 6′4 (193cm) or something?
Comment by Annonymous — Wed, May 30th, 2007 @ 11:25 pm
#34 “Cruise companies actually have to pay hotel staff more when ships work in European/Med waters as the tipping prospects are much worse there. So one way or another, you are paying. The difference is how many hands handle the money.”
At least that way, once you’ve paid for the whole cruise, that’s that, with no expectation of forking out more protection money coerced through emotional blackmail.
Some American friends of mine came to Finland a couple of summers ago, and rounded up their trip with a cruise on the Kristina regina, going from Helsinki to St. Petersburg, Tallinn, Riga, Visby, and back to Helsinki. The fact that there nobody expected tips (the crew were paid a living wage, which was naturally reflected in the price) was one of the high points of their entire vacation.
Comment by Kimmo W. — Thu, May 31st, 2007 @ 12:13 am
“(the crew were paid a living wage, which was naturally reflected in the price)”
Now that is funny.
It all depends on the shipping line, the recruiter, the nationality of the employee and the job they are assigned to. Then there is the issue of who you are kicking part of your salary to on the ship to avoid getting a lower-paying, crappier job.
Comment by Fred Fry — Thu, May 31st, 2007 @ 6:37 am
gopha:Yeah, and your posting on the Internet about it is helping out tons.
QFT - as you cool kids on the Internet like to say.
Comment by Pave — Thu, May 31st, 2007 @ 9:54 am
Seriously, why do you people get so defensive about?
It’s called the Internet. Welcome! It’s where people slam each other anonymously.
What I find funny is the fact that a couple of times you’ve called someone out as being “defensive” about something they believe in when in fact you are just as defensive, if not more. The only difference is that you candy coat it with smileys and a Mr. Rogers-like attitude.
My big problem with you lecturing others on wasting natural resources or polluting the environment is that just by making one post about it on the Internet, you are also wasting natural resources. You post gets set from your computer to where FFT is hosted. That’s at least 15 hops. Which means you are using at least 15 different devices hosted at 15 different places which use electricity. Each of those 15 places gets it’s electricity from a plant that gets it’s power from either a coal, oil or nuclear source (no I didn’t forget air or water on accident). Each option has some kind of an effect on the environment.
Al Gore is a perfect example of hypocrisy in this subject.
While I don’t take pleasure in my contributions to the destruction of the environment. I’ve recognized it and learned to live with it. You need to as well - if anything for the sake of not pissing off others. When someone invents that thing they used in Back To The Future to power the Delorean with trash, we’ll all be happier.
QFT - as you cool kids on the Internet like to say.
I don’t know if I should take that as a flame or not. Choose your own adventure. If it was a flame then I’d have to ask if you have ever used acronym yourself. If you have then why are you on my dick about it? If it wasn’t a flame then I can say that I am lazy, it’s a lot easier typing three letters instead of typing out “quoted for truth”. I don’t consider it cool, just convenient.
Comment by gopha — Thu, May 31st, 2007 @ 4:19 pm
gopha -
I was “on your dick about” the most dangerous argument there is: “Stop whining because it doesn’t do any good”. It works for anything anybody posts or comments here or anywhere but so what? Should we all just stop discussing because it’s not “helping out tons”? I don’t think you really feel that way as you are here - posting.
I see now that you actually meant that Spoilsport’s posting was indeed hurtful, not just fruitless. There’s some flawled logic in that: How much extra energy does it take to deliver such a small amount of information as his/her comment? Besides, maybe Spoilsport was using a public computer that would have been on (and online) the whole time anyway (as I am currently). Sure, it takes some electricity but does it really matter in this consumption-crazy world? I mean, enough for you to make snide remarks about it.
You seem to have missed Spoilsport’s point entirely. I didn’t see him/her complain about every kind of consuming, only the cruising kind which (s)he argues is relatively very destructive.
But I guess I misunderstood you also.
Comment by Pave — Thu, May 31st, 2007 @ 5:20 pm
The only cruise I am interested in is Hurtigruten along Norway´s coast. Quick visit to some port would only leave me frustrated. I prefer a week in Istanbul, two weeks in Campodia, two weeks island-hopping in Greece, driving Via Baltica, and so on. Maybe when I am 70+ and I have bad knees and even worse back I´ll try a cruise.
I believe that the food was good, but I prefer eating in local places, sniffing different atmospheres.
Comment by presso — Thu, May 31st, 2007 @ 8:23 pm
I actually agree with Presso on this one.
Cruising is just not for me. Doesn’t fit with my ideal holiday scheme. I did one once, and I found there was never enough time in each place and that I was permanently having to make myself aware of what the time was so as to make it back to the boat on time before she left.
I like holidays where I can remove the watch and get thoroughly lost in the destination and not spend the whole day at all of the tourist traps.
But, different people, different holidays.
Welcome back!
Comment by JG — Fri, Jun 1st, 2007 @ 12:39 pm