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 haven’t been on a cruise before, the closest I got to one was booking a holiday in an all inclusive resort hotel. I hated every minute of it.

I like my holidays far away from other people, eating different food each day in different (local) restaurants and moving around under my own steam, to my own itinerary. I like being outdoors as much as possible and I also really hate organised entertainment and fun.

Oh and I get very sick on boats.

I can totally see why it would be an ideal holiday for some people though. Very little organisation and thinking involved, for a tour of a different part of the world with lots of food, entertainment and shopping on tap.

I hated the idea of a cruise and my oh booked it. I was genuinely disappointed he had done that I figured it would be '"organised" fun. Which I hate.

Honestly .... I was blown away. Wonderful waking up somewhere different very day , great food and entertainment
Loved it. Done several since

I loved it but got quite stressed out trying to get to all the activities I wanted to do. Everthing starts exactly on time. Not many people spend much time in the quiet looking out to sea spots so you can get away from the crowds.

My DH didn’t like it as much because he felt we didn’t spend enough time in each port to experience the places we were visiting properly.

https://www.cruisecritic.co.uk

Some insider views.

If you start to feel seasick, get up on board and watch the horizon. The whole sea sick thing just disappears and you get your sea legs. Enjoy.

I didn’t hate it, but probably wouldn’t choose to go on one again. I missed being able to explore somewhere in the evenings and I did feel a bit trapped, kept having intrusive thoughts about jumping overboard.

I did a Norwegian fjords cruise a few years ago. My biggest issue was it felt cramped and trapped, especially the days at sea, of which I think there were 4. It felt like a long journey. Especially since it was cold so things like the pool were out.
However, it was worth it as it was absolutely the best way to see the fjords so ultimately an experience I’d repeat. Take lots of books.

I went on a 8 day cruise to the south pacific and hated every minute of it. I felt like I was on a floating RSL. Food was terrible I felt claustrophobic in our cabin and couldn't sleep and the entertainment was so repetitive I got so board. People just sat around and drank all day. I will admit it was a cheap cruise and therefore I cannot comment on a more luxury cruise.
Will never go on another one, just wasn't for me

I think of you're not sure about cruising then something like the Norwegian fjords- which are best seen on a cruise is perfect. Worst case scenario cruising isn't for you but you saw something amazing in the best way. Whereas if you did 10 days in the Med you might wish you'd stayed on land and done a self drive.

We love cruises but would never, ever cruise from the uk again. I’ve never seen anyone declined service due to over consumption of alcohol apart from that cruise. I’ve never seen arguments over sun loungers apart from that cruise. The epitome of it all was seeing a grown man eating his breakfast at 7:30am in the pouring rain sitting on a sun bed with a towel over his head because he was so determined to reserve it.

My DM went on a cruise around the med which she didn't particularly enjoy and described as "like Butlins on a boat"
If you loved Butlins you should have a great time.

Ive been on one and didn't hate it, it was enjoyable, but I wouldn't go again.

P+O Iona has 5,200 passengers. So you'd be sharing that experience with 5,199 other people, the good, the bad and the ugly. Yikes, do you really want to do that ?

If you want to see the fjords, just go there and stay in a nice hotel , see them at your own leisure, not at P+O's timetable.

I've been on two - I don't mind them as holidays but I went before I realised the terrible environmental impact they have. Sitting on the top deck is equivalent to the air quality in Delhi and double that in the busiest part of London. I wouldn't go again solely because of this.

www.geekyexplorer.com/cruise-ship-pollution/

I hope you have a nice holiday however you choose to do it

Can't help you as I loved it and yet I had always said it would be my idea if hell.

We were invited on one paid for by my DH family and I was dreading it for all sorts of reasons. Ended up booking one for the following year as soon as we got home and then did another one the year after that too.

Not sure if I'd want to go on one until Covid is more under control though.

I love them. It's an incredibly civilised way to travel. The ships are beautiful. The cabins on the ones I have been on were lovely and plenty of room. The staff are attentive and friendly. The quality is great. How about a three day one to see if you like the idea of it?

I didn’t hate it, but I found the service very uncomfortable and almost subservient which would stop me going again.

@takingmytimeonmyride

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.

Which cruise lines was it?

Years ago my mother went with HURTIGRUTEN
She couldn’t fault them. DH and I will use the same company one day!
The Coastal Express boats are working boats that are the delivery boats for the remote communities some of which are only accessible by sea. These boats range from 100 passengers to 500 passengers.

I understand why you’re nervous. I’ve been trying to work up the courage to do a cruise to the Fjords for years. What puts me off is the proximity Of other people, cramped cabins, dire entertainment, over eating and drinking. Plus over priced tours . However once Covid dies down I will give it a try. I would like to know which cruise lines people used for cruises they enjoyed.
A smaller ship probably be best. The environmental impact is a big concern too.

I love cruising and have been on loads.
You have to choose your cruise line very carefully. Some are party ships, some are full of pensioners or
children , some are just fabulous . It also matter who the cruisers are. Americans are very different from UK cruisers.

Some ships have 'free style' dinning, where you just turn up and ask for a table, others have set times and tables. There is always a huge buffet alternative.
You need to research the ports and choose what you want to do. We usually don't do the ships trips but often something similar for half the price.
I've seen some wonderful sights, volcanoes in Hawaii, ice fields in Alaska ,Petra in Jorden. The only way I could have done this was on cruises.

The Fjords are best seen on a cruise ship with a cabin with a balcony.

Take sea sickness pills as a precaution, but it’s a stunning place to go and the views from the ship are amazing.

There are always quiet places and you will be able to find your own favourite places on the ship. I find gyms are usually fairly quiet and I like to spend time in there.

I think even if you dislike cruises, the views from the ship are worth it and you might enjoy it. Yes you get die hard cruisers who rave about cruising or the particular cruise line, but you can usually precook a table for two and keep yourself to yourself as much or as little as you like, so you can minimise contact with them.

Do your research on each stop , there are port guides on places like cruise critic and this will help you make the most of your time in port.

Sorry another fan here. My advice is to check the itinerary carefully to ensure the ports are suitable for what you want to do - can you visit places on public transport during port calls or do they require (expensive) cruise company excursions? (coach trips are my idea of hell), how big is the ship? What are the dining arrangements (set times or when you feel eating?) how formal is the ship in the evening (dress for dinner or casual?) There's usually a variety of entertainment, shows, singers, bands, nightclub but get a feeling for who it's pitched at?

I've not done p&o do no first hand knowledge but friends went on Iona with their parents and they are in 20's 3 times I think to different places - certainly not just for older people.

If you like butlins you will love a cruise, think classy butlins on water! Bingo, entertainment staff ... it is obviously more crowded than say centreparcs, tiny pools etc. I book a balcony room normally so I have my own space outside (might not bother for fjords as not necessarily outside weather). Should add they normally carry wildlife guides and people to give talks on these itineraries.

If you want the real butlins at sea experience the American owned lines are what you want, far brasher with go carts, water slides and men in shorts and caps in the dining room (I know the horror )

People

Norovirus

Covid

I hated one I went in in the Med with ds (he loved it). Wouldn't go again anywhere.

Pre-covid so very busy.
Hated herd mentality for everything and the stress of booking trips and getting there on time and queuing for everything.

Trips were rushed whistlestop tours so u barely had time to look around. Got left behind at one stop, thankfully it wasn't too far to get to the boat but there were a couple of others who had got left behind between Italy and next stop in Spain.

They show u a pool but it's a size of a large jacuzzi so never made into it as it was always packed, fighting for space to move on decks.

To top it all, the weather was terrible, we were on top deck (of a big ship swaying in horror) with balcony that we couldn't go on for safety, antisickness pills were given out constantly but couldn't eat of course when feeling queasy.

I missed greenery, trees, plants, it all felt very artificial. I actually prefer Butlins as it's at least on land

U will see the fjords I suppose but from my ship we only really saw harbours, too far to get close to anything.

If weather ok and a short cruise then u should be ok.