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.

Don’t really get the comments about ships being busy and crowded . Just go to a quieter area of the ship- of which there will be many! The areas people congregate, everyone is there for the crowds and vibe. What a weird view. The ships are huge, you can do what you want and can’t understand how anyone could feel trapped. You can leave the ship from c 7am to 5/6 each port day.

@Washeduponthebeach How presumptuous of you! We went to Venice - were docked miles away. Got a small boat into central Venice and then a v boat to Murano. It was super quiet had a lovely lunch in local restaurant and enjoyed mooching around with our child in buggy. Don’t recognise what you’re saying at all! We never take ships tours. It’s no different an experience to a land holiday staying in bnb (When you don’t get evenings anyway but do on cruise because night nursery and kids clubs!)

Ps the comments from non cruisers are what I used to think. I was soooo snobby about people who go on cruises. Until I went on one. Now I realise what a dick I was!

@Laughsaminute

Love it, have been on many and in my 30s. I don’t like resort holidays, I prefer to visit real places, eat local food and travel by public transport. Cruise allows all of this.

Hated P&O due to type of people it attracts, food was shite. Shows not great. Beautiful ship though (Britannia). Norwegian fjords was fantastic.

Love NCL, Celebrity, Costa.

Any harbour that is able to accept a cruise liner is most DEFINITELY a resort type highly tourist place!!

I’m interested as think it will be a fun experience for the children.

Anyone done fjords with pre teens?

Agree with previous poster about cruises leaving U.K. We definitely prefer to fly to meet the cruise. You get a better passenger mix which can make a difference. Venice/ Naples/ Rome.

@Reallyimeanreally2022 Savonna? Rome? Naples? I don’t count these as resort type places! Honestly never noticed cruise passengers because we take ourselves away from the port early doors, mix of walking and public transport. It’s really difficult to spot many tourists in Naples- have you been? It’s wonderful, get totally lost in all the little streets and cheap, wonderful food. Most tourists there are Italian I’d say (in churches/ museums). Anyway what you describe is not my experience but then we’re quite adventurous people so pretty confident using our lonely planet and apps to get off the beaten track!

@Reallyimeanreally2022

Yes I think if I struggled with mobility then a cruise would be perfect

But anyone on here enjoyed cruises if super active? I run a lot and my children are super active and enjoy walking and exploring.

The last ship I cruised on had waterslides, a flowrider, rock climbing wall, ice skating rink, gym, running track, basketball court... among other things!

I like to relax and enjoy the overfed/cocktail/seasick medication buzz on my cruises though.

@Reallyimeanreally2022 fjords... off the ship will they like hiking? Because that’s all really there is to do. Except the bigger towns like Stravanger which has an excellent oil museum that they’d enjoy. Otherwise it’s all scenery and views which might be a bit boring for a pre teen. Ship wise, P&O Celebrity Cunard will be pretty boring for them. RCL NCL MSC much better for their age group.

[quote Laughsaminute]@Reallyimeanreally2022 Savonna? Rome? Naples? I don’t count these as resort type places! Honestly never noticed cruise passengers because we take ourselves away from the port early doors, mix of walking and public transport. It’s really difficult to spot many tourists in Naples- have you been? It’s wonderful, get totally lost in all the little streets and cheap, wonderful food. Most tourists there are Italian I’d say (in churches/ museums). Anyway what you describe is not my experience but then we’re quite adventurous people so pretty confident using our lonely planet and apps to get off the beaten track![/quote]
But how much “off the beaten track” can you really get when you have to be back on board at a certain time?! Genuine question as I’m keen on trying

I have been to two of those cities

Absolutely beautiful and loved every minute

“Off the beaten track”? No

My MiL went on that Norway trip once, and loved it.

I really feel for you because P&O cruises are amazing and I would be so annoyed in your shoes. But.... these are unprecedented times, please don't rule out booking again because when this is all over you will have a brilliant time!

@Branleuse

we went on an overnight ferry a few years ago that was massive and like a cruise ship. Choppy seas on the mediterranean that night. Jesus, we were clinging to the sides. Kids were crying and it was so hard to sleep. Stugeron didnt touch it.

We had a night like that on our first cruise. Thankfully neither my DP or I were properly sick. I was absolutely fine and my DP felt just a bit off.

I loved it! Trying to walk along the ship or going up and down the stairs while the ship was rocking around was just fun to me! I had extra helpings of food in the dining room as so many people had been turned off their dinner!

Never, ever, had a bad crossing across the Bay of Biscay, weirdly! Now, the Mediterranean?! That was rough as f**k the first time we sailed it. Waves crashed up on our 6th deck balcony!

I do accept however, that I could be a total weirdo in this respect!

So sorry wrong cruise thread!

I really fancy the Hurtigruten fiords/northern lights cruises but the ships I've seen don't have balconies. A balcony is a must! I'm probably the opposite of most cruisers in that I love the sea days, so relaxing and have more going on eg, talks, workshops etc. If I could sum up cruising in one sentence it's an all-inclusive holiday that moves. Have a great time!

Funnily enough I’ve just had an email from celebrity with offers up to 20% off. Link for anyone interested.

www.celebritycruises.com/gb/cruise-deals/fly-cruise?ecid=em_cel_gbr_23553738&rid=322605871&emsc=UKCELLNCHELXCAPCVALVIPCOOLNOBK&empf=Y&emct=E&lnkid=https%3a%2f%2fwww.celebritycruises.com%2fgb%2fcruise-deals%2ffly-cruise&utm_campaign=ELX&utm_content=&utm_source=23553738&utm_medium=email&consumer_id=8885367

Very tempted.

@Reallyimeanreally2022 we’ve been on several cruises and always DIY trips using trains etc, maybe a taxi. Never missed sail away or been anywhere close. Have skipped Vatican due to time but have done colleseum. For context we’re on a tight budget and in recent years have travelled with baby/ toddler in buggy and older parents. So if we can do it anyone can. It just takes quite a bit of planning. There’s usually plenty of time to do something decent in port and have a meal (many don’t as prefer to eat for free on ship but I like to spend my money locally).

My PIL went on a cruise a couple of years ago for a special anniversary, MIL refuses to fly so this was meant to be the holiday of a lifetime. Very soon in she decided she hated it. She didn't like the food or the entertainment so lived in the cabin for two weeks living off fruit and bread rolls. She got off for the first stop but at the second they were handed leaflets re looking out for signs of terrorism so she wouldn't disembark then or at any other place they docked. It must have been like living on a floating prison and I feel sorry for FIL who missed out on everything as a result.

*Reallyimeanreally2022
Yes I think if I struggled with mobility then a cruise would be perfect

But anyone on here enjoyed cruises if super active? I run a lot and my children are super active and enjoy walking and exploring.*

You are so wrong about cruising, most ports offer excursions such as hiking, some offer kayaking. There are exercisesclasses on board and stuff to do all day long if you want to. I never use the lifts on my cruises unless it’s more than up 5 decks so always clock up a really high number of steps (15,000 to 20,000).
If your DC are active they would love the sports courts, swimming, ice skating, shuffleboard, table tennis, rock climbing, the list goes on and on.

@CoronaPeroni Hurtigruten is not a cruise it’s transport. Very basic facilities and expensive. Lots of people love it, but it’s a VERY different experience. I’d like to go one day.

@Laughsaminute I get bombarded with their emails and Facebook ads and they call them cruises!

To the previous poster suggesting that cruises are more suited to people with mobility problems, while it’s true they are well catered for in terms of special cabins and assistance, for the regular passengers cruises are bloody knackering!

All that walking up and down decks, down the length of the ships which are huge. Walking from the ship out of the port to catch the bus/ train. I always lose weight on a cruise and easily do 10k steps! The food can be super healthy if you want, I eat a med diet, no carbs and food on cruise is lovely. You can have anything you want really. I stick to G&T, proper cocktails so again low cal.

It’s definitely not the same as an all inclusive resort. It’s far superior!

Hurtrigruten is in my opinion a posh ferry, although I have seen they are about to launch cruise liners so clearly moving in that direction. They’d be a bit boring for me personally.

Best port hands down to cruise from in Europe is Barcel. So easy to reach from support and new facilities. Rome is a pain as it’s so far from the city of Rome and airport. Also much older so facilities not as good.

Southampton is ok but it does attract a certain group, which I find overwhelming on mass. Hence why I avoid P&O. Is rather fly to get an international passenger mix. Others it can be very butlins on sea!

Sorry that was meant to say Barcelona is easy to reach from the airport!