Had anyone been in a cruise and hated it?

[Pumpkinstace]

My 40th is coning up and I want to go norway to see the fjords.

A cruise seems to be the best way to do this and sounds amazing... However, I only seem to find reviews that completely cruise arse licking.... people that go 3-4 times a year, have tried all the ships etc.

I still haven't found anyone who has been on a cruise and found it isn't for them.

If you have been on a cruise and hated it please tell me about it.

I’d be surprised if you ‘hate’ a short cruise such as you describe.
You might find it’s not your most favourite way to holiday but as a one off, if you choose carefully it will not be much different to going to a hotel and staying their for a week.
There are very different kind of cruise- the big, show boat ones that are basically Las Vegas on water.
And then there are the kind my grandparents
Used to go on- cultural tours that show you the sights and give guest lectures on various subjects whilst at sea!

It will be the P&O iona I think.

I think it was that route / boat which ran in to difficulty a few years back in choppy water….passengers had to be rescued and furniture was flying around everywhere. That would be enough to put me off!

I've been on a cruise and I didn't particularly enjoy it but I didn't hate it. Just felt a bit trapped and like my holiday was completely dictated by somebody else's schedule. Mine was 14 days though so it's a bit different to something shorter like yours!

I had a lovely seafood meal in Spain before I joined the 24 hour Santander-Plymouth ferry.... except it turned out not to be so great after a couple of hours. I've had food poisoning 3 times and none have been introverted.

I would have hated to share a cabin with me (or be next door).

Is that sufficiently negative?

Off the point but Iona is beautiful, we went on the shakedown cruise just before her maiden voyage.

@Blankspace4

I think it was that route / boat which ran in to difficulty a few years back in choppy water….passengers had to be rescued and furniture was flying around everywhere. That would be enough to put me off!

The ship had its maiden voyage this year.

I thought it was ok but wouldn't rush to go back on one. Ours was a week long, medium sized boat. We did some interesting trips but I hated having to get up early (for me) to go ashore. Entertainment was ok. Food was nice. I hated all the stairs. It just wasn't my idea of a relaxing holiday.

Ahh I’ve just checked and it was the Viking Sky (which I believe is now back in service)

www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/viking-sky-what-happened-storm-norway-emergency-evacuation-coast-a8837371.html

I did the P&O one to Norway, OP. Not what you've asked for but I bloody loved it. Would definitely cruise again and can see why people get hooked.

DH totally wasn't into the idea before we went, couldn't see why anyone would want to spend their holiday on a boat. He was completely converted by the end of it!

I wouldn’t have thought you’re likely to hate a cruise if you were willing to go on one - barring something unexpected going wrong, obviously.

But - you’re not likely to turn up for your holiday and suddenly go, fuck me, it’s in a boat... I hate boats!! I didn’t realise I’d be on a boat...

@AlexaShutUp

I did the P&O one to Norway, OP. Not what you've asked for but I bloody loved it. Would definitely cruise again and can see why people get hooked.

DH totally wasn't into the idea before we went, couldn't see why anyone would want to spend their holiday on a boat. He was completely converted by the end of it!

These are the reviews I keep hearing.

DP isn't keen but will go with me. I'm hoping he'll love it and so will I and we can go to the Caribbean for another.

I so excited, I'm scared I won't like it.

I went on the QE2 a long time ago, just before it had a major refit. It was full of elderly American women looking for husbands. Having said that, these women were a right laugh and I had a great time. There were, I think, four or five meals a day which meant you could just keep eating. On one occasion they served curry and then came round with rice and chips and people were having both! Classy, eh? Not what I imagined at all. The lamps had paper shades with burn marks on them, but as I say, this was just before a refit. There is something nice about being on a boat, like being on an island where they move the scenery for you. I went down the Nile and it was great. I would love to do the fjords - I think it will be a brilliant way to do it. Always people to talk to with the same interest as you. You get taken to the good bits, have people who tell you about the place, and you get fed a lot and entertained during the boring bits. No driving home after dinner, no need to pay for anything, just get pissed and stagger back to your cabin. Gosh, I think I want to come with you! Get an outside cabin though - inside without a view is not so good.

I should say, the QE2 and the Nile were separate trips!

@tabulahrasa

I wouldn’t have thought you’re likely to hate a cruise if you were willing to go on one - barring something unexpected going wrong, obviously.

But - you’re not likely to turn up for your holiday and suddenly go, fuck me, it’s in a boat... I hate boats!! I didn’t realise I’d be on a boat...

I think I'm wary of marketing, they are sold as these wonderful trips.

But, yeah. It's a boat.

Surely they are cramped, noisy and full of people..

Is it hard to find a quiet spot? Is it like spending the week in a canteen? It seems like sitting in bars and cafes is the done thing.

We've taken the kids to butlins loads and love
It.. this will be without kids though.

I wouldnt do it in case of bad weather and choppy seas but also if anyone gets ill the whole boat gets it

We have been on the P&O Ventura for 14 days and bloody loved it. At age 26 and 29 we were definately one of the youngest couples but honestly it was one of the best holidays we had ever done and only wish we could afford to go again (2 dc now age 6 and 4!)
P&O food was incredible. We did find the entertainment a little 'old' and got many "are you lost?" comments based on our age. One guy joked that P&O stands for Pensioners and Oldies. It definately didn't put us off and we would go again with them but would also love to try someone like Royal Carribean

Did a cruise once and never again.
I just felt rushed at every stop. Watching clock so wouldn’t miss the ship leaving. The food was boring. The mandatory lifeboat drills annoying. We had a suite with two balconies but the bathroom was tiny. Too many other passengers drinking themselves into oblivion every night because all inclusive. Just felt trapped really.

I'd never even considered going on a cruise, until my friend who had been on several suggested we go for our 40th. So we went to the Norwegian fjords.

It was great, I loved it. For me, being a mum of 5, it was very relaxing, not having to do a thing for a whole week. I dropped my knife and waiters rushed over telling me not to pick it up! Don't think my kids would do that.

I liked most of the excursions, apart from a sightseeing coach trip - it was boring and I fell asleep! Wish we'd just gone for a wander round instead.

I did get a bit seasick when it was choppy, I think it was more psychosomatic as I hadn't been on one before and was scared we were going to capsize. Also my son had given me a cold so I was snotty for the first few days (this was years ago before covid times)

All the food included was great, we spent a lot of money on cocktails and Prosecco.

If I could give a slightly different perspective, since you specifically mention the Norwegian fjords.
I was in the fjords a few weeks back (well, in the region, the fjords themselves were pretty bloody cold). They were stunningly beautiful, and one thing that made them so wonderful was a complete absence of oversized and ugly cruise ships this year, presumably due to covid. We saw pictures of huge ships docked in these tiny villages and it was just grotesque, frankly. Then the passengers disembark for the day, see the most obvious things at a very superficial level, drive the locals absolutely crazy, only make a minimal contribution to the tourist economy because they spend nothing on food or accommodation, then bugger off again in those monstrosities. The ships utterly ruin the unspoiled nature for all tourists and inhabitants, it's the very definition of selfish.
All tourism involves something of a tradeoff between costs and benefits to the local economy and environment, but large cruise ships so deep into the narrow fjords are pretty unjustifiable at any level. Those large boats belong on the open seas, where they're less noticeable, and can dock at large ports. If you really want to see the fjords by sea Maybe find an option with smaller, more environmental ships that have less impact. Or do what we did: go by train from Oslo straight to the fjords (eg on the line to Flam), hire an electric car for a few days to see things qt a relaxed pace, then a small (public transport) boat through the fjord back to Bergen. That keeps our impact as tourists to a minimum while also pumping money (loads of it, Norway aint cheap) directly into the local economy. When we were there, the locals were pretty friendly to tourists, but several did express relief at being able to have a few years without the big cruises.

@RuleOfCat

If I could give a slightly different perspective, since you specifically mention the Norwegian fjords. I was in the fjords a few weeks back (well, in the region, the fjords themselves were pretty bloody cold). They were stunningly beautiful, and one thing that made them so wonderful was a complete absence of oversized and ugly cruise ships this year, presumably due to covid. We saw pictures of huge ships docked in these tiny villages and it was just grotesque, frankly. Then the passengers disembark for the day, see the most obvious things at a very superficial level, drive the locals absolutely crazy, only make a minimal contribution to the tourist economy because they spend nothing on food or accommodation, then bugger off again in those monstrosities. The ships utterly ruin the unspoiled nature for all tourists and inhabitants, it's the very definition of selfish. All tourism involves something of a tradeoff between costs and benefits to the local economy and environment, but large cruise ships so deep into the narrow fjords are pretty unjustifiable at any level. Those large boats belong on the open seas, where they're less noticeable, and can dock at large ports. If you really want to see the fjords by sea Maybe find an option with smaller, more environmental ships that have less impact. Or do what we did: go by train from Oslo straight to the fjords (eg on the line to Flam), hire an electric car for a few days to see things qt a relaxed pace, then a small (public transport) boat through the fjord back to Bergen. That keeps our impact as tourists to a minimum while also pumping money (loads of it, Norway aint cheap) directly into the local economy. When we were there, the locals were pretty friendly to tourists, but several did express relief at being able to have a few years without the big cruises.

Cruising is the most sensible option for us mainly due to norway being so expensive!

I'm also diagnosed autistic and I don't think I want the stress of navigating my way on my own, organised itineraries is the way to go for me.

Plus the food, I want to experience cruising mainly for the food

I'm biased because I really love cruising.

I'm quite introverted and insular, and can go a whole cruise without really interacting with anyone outside my group, other than ordering things and general pleasantries in the lift etc. It's hard to describe but it's quite possible to get into your own zone and find peace while surrounded by hundreds/thousands of others, they just become background noise. And every ship seems to have quiet little places inside and out which nobody else ever seemed to go to, you just need to hunt them out.

There are organised activities all day and night which some people seem to really get into but it's all a bit ra-ra-ra for me, lots of audience participation, couldn't think of anything worse really! If you're not into that kind of thing either, then I think to be a happy cruiser you need to be content doing nothing, because the alternative on sea days is hours and hours snoozing and reading on a deck chair. I bloody love it but have always chosen warm weather cruises which helps.

Obviously if you get seasick that is going to be a problem too!

*I think I'm wary of marketing, they are sold as these wonderful trips.

But, yeah. It's a boat.

Surely they are cramped, noisy and full of people..

Is it hard to find a quiet spot? Is it like spending the week in a canteen? It seems like sitting in bars and cafes is the done thing*

Depends on the ship and line. Some of the cheaper ones and the massive ones like Royal Caribbean mega ships are cramped, noisy and full of people. The more upmarket ones aren’t. P&O is very Brits abroad, but Norwegian fjords probably doesn’t attract the same crowd as the Med at the height of summer, so might be better.

There will be quiet spots but the best quiet spot is your balcony. Don’t scrimp here: inside cabins are horrible and ones without an opening window aren’t much better.

People spend a lot of time in the bars and cafes because they’ve paid a small fortune for drinks packages and are making sure they get their money’s worth.

I think the best cruise lines are Celebrity and Princess: upmarket but not snobby.

I didn't think I would like cruises but have. But I only go on ones where being on a ship has a point e.g. Norwegian Fjords, Yanghtzee River, Galapagos. And we choose the ship carefully. So the upmarket ones have libraries with reading rooms that are very quiet, quiet places to sit and look out to sea, quiet bars. But you pay for that. The cheapest ships have lots of people on board.

And I have often had an inside cabin because the public rooms are so lovely. The one time I had a balcony, it wasn't really worth it.