[sacha]

I would love to do a cruise that had daycare!

[ADelish]

I absolutely love to travel. When I was in college i did a summer abroad in Italy, and got to see so many amazing sites, I never wanted to leave!!

I've been dying to go back, I really want to do a European tour. I figure, while I'm over in Europe, why not hit a few different countries! When in Rome...!

[Petite Powerhouse]

I'm another who likes cruises, and I am all about the balcony. No inside cabins for me.

I recently went to the Western Caribbean and soon I'm off to the Eastern Caribbean. The Caribbean is a good place to go on a cruise because the islands are small. You really can get away from the tourists and into the real island in the time you have ashore. If you cruise to Europe, on the other hand, it is much better to take a cruise that also includes a few days or a week ashore and inland where you stay in a city or two.

As for dining options, my upcoming cruise has My Time Dining—where you eat whenever you want—but I went with scheduled dining at 8:30 p.m. because I like having the same wait staff every night. I have a good time with them.

I'm looking forward to all the physical activities on this particular ship. Royal Caribbean has the rock climbing wall, Flowrider, ice skating rink, boxing ring, and so on.

Land vacations are great as well, but cruising to the Caribbean or along the Mexican coast is less expensive for me than going to Europe. Plus, the cruise I am taking soon was paid in large part by my Realtor as part of the deal for buying my home. In the next year or two, though, I'll probably finally get to Scotland, which is the one place I have wanted to go my entire life.

I like vacationing places like Vegas, too, which is so near to me, but the truth is I have lived in eight states all across the country and I've spent time in another 40 of them (all but Maine and Alaska). I have traveled across America ten times. I've seen a lot of it.

[krampus]

I've never been on a cruise before but my fear of norovirus outbreaks and preference to be alone are probably pretty strong deterrents.

As for roughing it vs. splurging, I meet in the middle. The idea of living out of a backpack and schlepping my own trail mix all the way from home is certainly unappealing, but I don't mind cutting costs (splitting a sandwich with a companion for lunch, sleeping at a hostel, etc) when I travel. I am much more of a city/culture person than a beach bum and I love the hustle and bustle of stepping out into a big new city by myself.

Do you prefer to travel alone or with people? I like going with a small group of friends/my mom, doing our own thing for a few hours a day, and meeting for dinner.