Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Had anyone been in a cruise and hated it?

221 replies

Pumpkinstace · 28/09/2021 22:36

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.

OP posts:
namechanged221 · 28/09/2021 23:58

I hated a cruise.
Got a free one as my friend was working on it so just had to pay my flights.
I felt trapped, got seasick, hated the vibe of old people
It was not for me. Couldn't wait to get off every day

julieca · 29/09/2021 00:11

@namechanged221 some cruises are full of young people getting drunk. They are the ones I would avoid.

Bebabelouba · 29/09/2021 00:13

I would feel very unncomfortable about the working and living conditions of the majority of staff.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Holidays
Halloweiner · 29/09/2021 00:20

Not what you've asked for specifically, but I've only been on one cruise - the exact one you're looking at - and loved it. So a different perspective than the regular cruisers, but still a positive review Smile.

Babamamananarama · 29/09/2021 00:26

I went on a Royal Caribbean Mediterranean cruise once, for work. I'd never choose to go one one, for several reasons:

  • it's basically like going on holiday in a floating shopping centre, atmosphere wise. Westfield on water. (I don't enjoy shopping centres either).
  • the environmental impact of cruises is HORRENDOUS - they use a massive amount of oil.
  • all the reasons a previous poster mentioned re superficial tourism and the local economy, blighting the landscape for everyone else
SuperStarRose · 29/09/2021 00:26

You'll love it and I imagine the one you're going on OP will be beautiful.

Piglet208 · 29/09/2021 00:26

I went with P&O to Norway. First cruise.we weren't sure about being cooped up with lots of people but we absolutely loved it. Only 2 sea days and we found plenty to do such as interesting talks or reading in a quiet spot. The trips were fabulous. Train up a mountain, mountain biked down. A rib boat ride and a walk up to a glacier. You really don't have to love cruising to enjoy the fjords but tbh we did love cruising. We will try another one day when COVID calms down.

SuperStarRose · 29/09/2021 00:29

I went on a couple of Mediterranean cruises many years ago and they were really lovely. The ones where you have dress for dinner accordingly which always adds to the charm.

SpiceWeaselBAM · 29/09/2021 00:36

In Tina Fey's book Bossy Pants she gives a whole chapter to how much she hated the cruise that she and her husband went on for their honeymoon.

I think I'd love the scenery and the food but hate the cramped conditions. The rooms are so tiny!

Pikamoo · 29/09/2021 02:19

We went on a cruise and I thought I'd be a bit indifferent to it (didnt think I'd hate it but didn't think I'd be converted). It was amazing though!! We went round Italy and the Adriatic and it was so much fun. The boat wasn't noisy or crowded at all but it was one of the higher end one. I've not been on another cruise as we've done different kind of holidays but I'd definitely go again.

immersivereader · 29/09/2021 02:36

It just sounds so regulated.

EccentricaGalumbits · 29/09/2021 03:00

@immersivereader

It just sounds so regulated.
It's really not.

I mean, you arrive and depart a port at a scheduled time but that's the same as if you got there by most other means of transport.

Once on the ship, you can eat/drink/sleep/relax/do stuff at whim.

occa · 29/09/2021 03:08

I went on one once and hated it. Transatlantic on the QE2. It was so so boring and the people were really in your face and annoying. I'd way rather have sailed, tbh. Never again.

hellcatspangle · 29/09/2021 03:12

@Madcats

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?

OP asked about cruises not ferry crossings, it's not the same by a long way.
bert3400 · 29/09/2021 03:21

Did a Royal Caribbean a few years ago. Wouldn't go again. Pissed up Americans in a floating shopping mall, shouting "God bless America" every few minutes Confused. I liked my balcony in my room but that was it .

antoniawhite · 29/09/2021 03:40

My parents went on a cruise and due to bad weather had to be rescued near Madagascar. It was pretty frightening for them. And my mother came home with a stomach bug that had gone round the ship.

Nat6999 · 29/09/2021 03:58

I'm autistic but love cruising. P & O cruises are amazing, there is so much of a variety of food you will always find something you like, if you like Indian food there are often a selection of curries at lunchtime. You don't have to go on the excursions if you don't want to, I often found them boring & preferred to wander round ashore instead. There is so much to do on board, talks & quizzes, shows in the theatre, you can go to the cinema or casino, the midnight buffet is a brilliant experience, there are often things like cooking demonstrations as well. From what I have seen Iona is a massive ship, the shops in the shopping mall look interesting, look out for the sales of jewellery & watches, I bought a gold necklace, a bracelet & a couple of designer watches. Being on a cruise there is no weight limit for baggage so you can buy as much as you want. Make sure you have some comfortable shoes for daytime as you will do a lot of walking even if it is walking the deck walk around the ship. I expected days at sea would be boring, but it turned out they were the days I loved the most.

Dita73 · 29/09/2021 05:17

I really wouldn’t want to go on a cruise. When I see them advertised all I can think of is old people and norovirus

Porridgealert · 29/09/2021 05:36

For a couple of reasons I've done a lot of cruises. Best thing is you wake up in a new place every morning but you don't have to keep packing. The fjords, though, is so booooring. Sorry. I know people won't agree but yawn. Norway hasn't been having the snow it used to get - climate change has seen to that, so there are no waterfalls on the fjords like there used to be. If you want to be sure see snow, you have to go up to the Arctic Circle. I will say, though, the sky is the most beautiful blue. I guess its good if you like photography and walking. It would not be my choice but it has the advantage of being close to the UK so you get quite a few days on land rather than being at sea all the time.

whiteroseredrose · 29/09/2021 06:00

My parents did a small ship cruise to the Norwegian fjords just pre Covid. It was one that went from Newcastle or near there.

They are foodies, walkers, and not keen on other people, which begs the question of why a cruise, but it seemed easier now that they are mid 70s.

They would not do a cruise again for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, unless you book years in advance, you share a dinner table with the same people every night. My (and their) idea of hell, having to make polite chit chat with strangers every night. (After a few nights they discovered a self service alternative and stuck to that). The food was OK but nothing to rave about.

Other main issue was being in a crowd the whole time. As a family we always arrive wherever very early or late in the day to avoid crowds. Not possible on a cruise as you all disembark together.

There were some interesting talks and the fjords were lovely. There were other activities too which they avoided - apparently they went past a room with people singing and waving union jacks. Never found out what that was all about.

So a mixed bag really. I always liked the idea of waking up in a new place every day but the other bits would put me off.

Bagelsandbrie · 29/09/2021 06:02

Before booking I would join a few of the unofficial p and o groups on Facebook. They’ll tell you how it really is. I’ve been on them a while now as we were thinking of booking and it’s been interesting. The Iona is well loved but I wouldn’t book a balcony room after seeing how close they are to the public deck on the Facebook pages, no privacy at all, people walk past and can literally see in your room. Plus there isn’t any leaving the boat unless it’s part of a pre booked tour at the moment - Covid related- and people are having difficulties booking spaces.

Dizzy1234 · 29/09/2021 06:04

I've been on two cruises, I was dreading the first one as I didn't think it was for me but I loved it, went round the med with P&O, great food, fab entertainment, fantastic cabin, getting off and exploring different cities.
The 2nd one was carnival cruise line, didn't enjoy that as much, not up to the standard of P&O, bit of a party boat.
My in laws have cruise the fjords with P&O and they loved it (take some warm clothes)
Go, I think you will really enjoy it, check the itinerary and make the most of it.
My advice would be to have an outside cabin, makes all the difference being able to sit on the balcony and relax, I've seen the interior cabins and the tend to be dingy with no windows, a bit claustrophobic

PlinkPlankPlunk · 29/09/2021 06:13

This is interesting as I have both an urge to travel ASAP, and a sudden (and unexpected) interest in cruising. It may be age-related. I can’t decide whether I’d love it or hate it!

I would love to visit the fjords though; all of Scandinavia always looks so beautiful

ginislife · 29/09/2021 06:22

Cruising is definitely a case of pick your ship carefully. I've been on a few now and as a PP says Celebrity & Princess are definitely more up market. We made the mistake of going Royal Caribbean at half term. So many kids and no parenting !! 😂
I've not long come back from an 80s (music not age of passengers) cruise on Regal Princess which was fab
P&O Ventura 2 years ago food wasn't great

If you're planning to go on Iona 5 September 22 then I'll see you there !!

Spiindoctor · 29/09/2021 06:25

I liked the Cruise, didn't like DH much.