Casual cruise in October?

[Troy Cauble]

Well it looks like our early October trip to the Outer Banks (NC)
is endangered by Isabel, so my friends and I are looking for
possible alternatives.

We'd rented a large beach house and were looking forward to virtually
no activity beyond going out for crabs & beer every night.
"No activity" could've included walks on the beach or laying out if
it's warm enough, or just hanging out reading and talking, but not
much else.


So, this might be naive as I've never been on a cruise...

Any suggestions for casual, lazy cruises reachable from NJ in
October? None of us are the "dress for dinner" type -- we'd
have to be able to eat in shorts and sandals. And we're not
into group activities (outside our own group).

I'd also appreciate non-cruise suggestions. Maybe we just
need to drive farther south to SC... or take a hop to the
caribbean. There are six of us, btw.

-troy

[Juliana L Holm]

There are certainly cruises you could take; you might consider the
Norwegian Dawn out of New York City; beautiful ship, and the freestyle
environment might appeal to you.

But I would not give up on the Outer Banks yet. My in-laws had a beach
house there for many years, and it went through several hurricanes. There are
probably two weeks of time for the OB to recover, and they have done it a number
of times. October could be great in the outer banks.

Wait till Isabel is through, then call. You might be fine.

They always lose a couple of houses in a hurricane, but the vast majority
of them weather it fine, needing just some repair and/or cleaning afterwards.

Julie

Troy Cauble > wrote:

> Well it looks like our early October trip to the Outer Banks (NC)
> is endangered by Isabel, so my friends and I are looking for
> possible alternatives.

> We'd rented a large beach house and were looking forward to virtually
> no activity beyond going out for crabs & beer every night.
> "No activity" could've included walks on the beach or laying out if
> it's warm enough, or just hanging out reading and talking, but not
> much else.


> So, this might be naive as I've never been on a cruise...

> Any suggestions for casual, lazy cruises reachable from NJ in
> October? None of us are the "dress for dinner" type -- we'd
> have to be able to eat in shorts and sandals. And we're not
> into group activities (outside our own group).

> I'd also appreciate non-cruise suggestions. Maybe we just
> need to drive farther south to SC... or take a hop to the
> caribbean. There are six of us, btw.

> -troy

--
Julie
**********
Check out my Travel Pages (non-commercial) at
http://www.dragonsholm.org/travel.htm

[Tom & Linda]

Ditto for the Norwegian Dawn.

Though a pair of long pants might be advisable, if you wanted to go to
one of the main dining rooms. You definitely don't have to dress up
though.

--Tom


Juliana L Holm wrote:
>
> There are certainly cruises you could take; you might consider the
> Norwegian Dawn out of New York City; beautiful ship, and the freestyle
> environment might appeal to you.
>
> But I would not give up on the Outer Banks yet. My in-laws had a beach
> house there for many years, and it went through several hurricanes. There are
> probably two weeks of time for the OB to recover, and they have done it a number
> of times. October could be great in the outer banks.
>
> Wait till Isabel is through, then call. You might be fine.
>
> They always lose a couple of houses in a hurricane, but the vast majority
> of them weather it fine, needing just some repair and/or cleaning afterwards.
>
> Julie
>
> Troy Cauble > wrote:
>
> > Well it looks like our early October trip to the Outer Banks (NC)
> > is endangered by Isabel, so my friends and I are looking for
> > possible alternatives.
>
> > We'd rented a large beach house and were looking forward to virtually
> > no activity beyond going out for crabs & beer every night.
> > "No activity" could've included walks on the beach or laying out if
> > it's warm enough, or just hanging out reading and talking, but not
> > much else.
>
> > So, this might be naive as I've never been on a cruise...
>
> > Any suggestions for casual, lazy cruises reachable from NJ in
> > October? None of us are the "dress for dinner" type -- we'd
> > have to be able to eat in shorts and sandals. And we're not
> > into group activities (outside our own group).
>
> > I'd also appreciate non-cruise suggestions. Maybe we just
> > need to drive farther south to SC... or take a hop to the
> > caribbean. There are six of us, btw.
>
> > -troy
>
> --
> Julie
> **********
> Check out my Travel Pages (non-commercial) at
> http://www.dragonsholm.org/travel.htm

[norma]

Troy Cauble > wrote in message >...

> We'd rented a large beach house and were looking forward to virtually
> no activity beyond going out for crabs & beer every night.
> "No activity" could've included walks on the beach or laying out if
> it's warm enough, or just hanging out reading and talking, but not
> much else.
>
>
> I'd also appreciate non-cruise suggestions. There are six of us, btw.
>
> -troy

How about renting a big house on the beach in Gulf Shores, Alabama?
No dressing up, good restaurants and they have great houses on the beach.
Norma

[Mike Schumann]

We visited St. John a number of years ago after they were hit with a
glancing blow from a hurricane. It was a fantastic visit. We had the
island to ourselves (most tourists were scarred off by their imagined images
of destruction). The island was more or less operational. It was
fascinating viewing the remnants of the storm (boats on dry land across the
road from the water, etc....). Great deals on hotels......

Mike Schumann

"Juliana L Holm" > wrote in message
...
> There are certainly cruises you could take; you might consider the
> Norwegian Dawn out of New York City; beautiful ship, and the freestyle
> environment might appeal to you.
>
> But I would not give up on the Outer Banks yet. My in-laws had a beach
> house there for many years, and it went through several hurricanes. There
are
> probably two weeks of time for the OB to recover, and they have done it a
number
> of times. October could be great in the outer banks.
>
> Wait till Isabel is through, then call. You might be fine.
>
> They always lose a couple of houses in a hurricane, but the vast majority
> of them weather it fine, needing just some repair and/or cleaning
afterwards.
>
> Julie
>
> Troy Cauble > wrote:
>
> > Well it looks like our early October trip to the Outer Banks (NC)
> > is endangered by Isabel, so my friends and I are looking for
> > possible alternatives.
>
> > We'd rented a large beach house and were looking forward to virtually
> > no activity beyond going out for crabs & beer every night.
> > "No activity" could've included walks on the beach or laying out if
> > it's warm enough, or just hanging out reading and talking, but not
> > much else.
>
>
> > So, this might be naive as I've never been on a cruise...
>
> > Any suggestions for casual, lazy cruises reachable from NJ in
> > October? None of us are the "dress for dinner" type -- we'd
> > have to be able to eat in shorts and sandals. And we're not
> > into group activities (outside our own group).
>
> > I'd also appreciate non-cruise suggestions. Maybe we just
> > need to drive farther south to SC... or take a hop to the
> > caribbean. There are six of us, btw.
>
> > -troy
>
> --
> Julie
> **********
> Check out my Travel Pages (non-commercial) at
> http://www.dragonsholm.org/travel.htm

[shoreguy]

First I hope the Outer Banks still works out. If not I will add a vote for
the NCL Dawn from NYC. Freestyle works on this ship. I will be on my 3rd
cruise on the Dawn in Feb.

Jump in the car and in 2 hours you are onboard and kicking back.


"Troy Cauble" > wrote in message
...
>
> Well it looks like our early October trip to the Outer Banks (NC)
> is endangered by Isabel, so my friends and I are looking for
> possible alternatives.
>
> We'd rented a large beach house and were looking forward to virtually
> no activity beyond going out for crabs & beer every night.
> "No activity" could've included walks on the beach or laying out if
> it's warm enough, or just hanging out reading and talking, but not
> much else.
>
>
> So, this might be naive as I've never been on a cruise...
>
> Any suggestions for casual, lazy cruises reachable from NJ in
> October? None of us are the "dress for dinner" type -- we'd
> have to be able to eat in shorts and sandals. And we're not
> into group activities (outside our own group).
>
> I'd also appreciate non-cruise suggestions. Maybe we just
> need to drive farther south to SC... or take a hop to the
> caribbean. There are six of us, btw.
>
> -troy

[Bob Fusillo]

The Gulf coast is what the poster wants -- everyone wears shorts all the
time when there.
Tangentially -- Can someone supply a list of cruise ships that allow shorts
at dinner? I should like to avoid them at all costs. I am over twenty, and
therefore am not afraid to dress -- I rather enjoy it.
rjf


"Troy Cauble" > wrote in message
...
>
> Well it looks like our early October trip to the Outer Banks (NC)
> is endangered by Isabel, so my friends and I are looking for
> possible alternatives.
>
> We'd rented a large beach house and were looking forward to virtually
> no activity beyond going out for crabs & beer every night.
> "No activity" could've included walks on the beach or laying out if
> it's warm enough, or just hanging out reading and talking, but not
> much else.
>
>
> So, this might be naive as I've never been on a cruise...
>
> Any suggestions for casual, lazy cruises reachable from NJ in
> October? None of us are the "dress for dinner" type -- we'd
> have to be able to eat in shorts and sandals. And we're not
> into group activities (outside our own group).
>
> I'd also appreciate non-cruise suggestions. Maybe we just
> need to drive farther south to SC... or take a hop to the
> caribbean. There are six of us, btw.
>
> -troy

[Troy Cauble]

Actually, the original poster is *considerably* over twenty himself.
Different strokes...

An earlier response suggesting the Norwegian Dawn had me surfing and
daydreaming about cruises for a bit, until I realized that *not*
dressing for dinner involved slacks and a collared shirt and that
"freestyle" meant paying to eat in some of the restaurants.
(I thought cruises were all-inclusive w.r.t. food and drink!)

Maybe someday though. The slacks thing isn't ideal, but it's bearable.
(For me & my wife. Some of my friends on this trip would be even more
resistant.) A suit or a tux is a deal breaker though :)

Anyway, we're not giving up on the Outer Banks yet, even though
Hatteras Island caught it pretty bad. Two weeks is a lot of time
to clean up. Things should be fine unless our rental house was
significantly damaged.


Thanks to all.

-troy



Bob Fusillo > wrote:

: The Gulf coast is what the poster wants -- everyone wears shorts all the
: time when there.
: Tangentially -- Can someone supply a list of cruise ships that allow shorts
: at dinner? I should like to avoid them at all costs. I am over twenty, and
: therefore am not afraid to dress -- I rather enjoy it.
: rjf


: "Troy Cauble" > wrote in message
: ...
:>
:> Well it looks like our early October trip to the Outer Banks (NC)
:> is endangered by Isabel, so my friends and I are looking for
:> possible alternatives.
:>
:> We'd rented a large beach house and were looking forward to virtually
:> no activity beyond going out for crabs & beer every night.
:> "No activity" could've included walks on the beach or laying out if
:> it's warm enough, or just hanging out reading and talking, but not
:> much else.
:>
:>
:> So, this might be naive as I've never been on a cruise...
:>
:> Any suggestions for casual, lazy cruises reachable from NJ in
:> October? None of us are the "dress for dinner" type -- we'd
:> have to be able to eat in shorts and sandals. And we're not
:> into group activities (outside our own group).
:>
:> I'd also appreciate non-cruise suggestions. Maybe we just
:> need to drive farther south to SC... or take a hop to the
:> caribbean. There are six of us, btw.
:>
:> -troy

[John Fereira]

Troy Cauble > wrote in
:

>
> Actually, the original poster is *considerably* over twenty himself.
> Different strokes...
>
> An earlier response suggesting the Norwegian Dawn had me surfing and
> daydreaming about cruises for a bit, until I realized that *not*
> dressing for dinner involved slacks and a collared shirt and that
> "freestyle" meant paying to eat in some of the restaurants.
> (I thought cruises were all-inclusive w.r.t. food and drink!)
>
> Maybe someday though. The slacks thing isn't ideal, but it's bearable.
> (For me & my wife. Some of my friends on this trip would be even more
> resistant.) A suit or a tux is a deal breaker though :)
>
> Anyway, we're not giving up on the Outer Banks yet, even though
> Hatteras Island caught it pretty bad. Two weeks is a lot of time
> to clean up. Things should be fine unless our rental house was
> significantly damaged.

I also have a vacation planned in the Outer Banks and was just searching
groups.google and came upon this thread.

I've been following this really close because my vacation is supposed to
start next weekend and is two week (first two week vacation in almost 10
years). In my case, I'm especially concerned because the area where the
house is that we rented is in South Nags Head, one of the hardest hit areas.
It was still under mandatory evacuation as of late yesterday. I don't know
where you were planning on staying but one of the best sources of
information I found is the Dare County Govt. site: http://www.co.dare.nc.us/

I also am very annoyed at the rental agency I chose this time (I've stayed
in vacation rental houses 8 times in the past 6 years through other
agencies). When I called them Sunday they basically wouldn't tell me
anything and just said to call back Wednesday or Thursday. Since it's a two
day drive for me I was planning on leaving on Friday, and it doesn't leave
much time for a change in plans if necessary. Meanwhile at least two of the
other rental agencies have a complete list of all their properties and the
availibility status.

[Joy Renee]

John Fereira > wrote in message >...

Dare County is now again open for business, and much of it is just
fine.

Here is info from the town of Nags Head:
http://www.townofnagshead.net

I own a house in S. Nags Head and just found out today that it
survived Isabel quite well. My property manager was not allowed in to
the area prior to today as only property owners were allowed in - not
property managers.

My house - Triple Play in S. Nags Head - is basically undamaged - only
two pieces of siding came loose. It is across the street from the
ocean, its my understanding it that the oceanfront homes sustained the
most damage.

I understand your frustration, it was very hard for my husband and me
to have no idea how our house survived Isabel for so long! I think
your vacation will be just fine.

> I also have a vacation planned in the Outer Banks and was just searching
> groups.google and came upon this thread.
>
> I've been following this really close because my vacation is supposed to
> start next weekend and is two week (first two week vacation in almost 10
> years). In my case, I'm especially concerned because the area where the
> house is that we rented is in South Nags Head, one of the hardest hit areas.
> It was still under mandatory evacuation as of late yesterday. I don't know
> where you were planning on staying but one of the best sources of
> information I found is the Dare County Govt. site: http://www.co.dare.nc.us/
>
> I also am very annoyed at the rental agency I chose this time (I've stayed
> in vacation rental houses 8 times in the past 6 years through other
> agencies). When I called them Sunday they basically wouldn't tell me
> anything and just said to call back Wednesday or Thursday. Since it's a two
> day drive for me I was planning on leaving on Friday, and it doesn't leave
> much time for a change in plans if necessary. Meanwhile at least two of the
> other rental agencies have a complete list of all their properties and the
> availibility status.