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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Do you get jealous of people who go on cruises

849 replies

Sportslady44 · 19/02/2022 16:37

Feeling very envious today. Friend is about to set off on a cruise for 14nights.

Cant stop thinking about it and them.

Can you put me off please?

Tell me some downsides of cruises.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Chikapu · 19/02/2022 17:32

Good god, no. A Jane McDonald style 'entertainer' could pop out and start wailing at any minute, that should put everyone off.

burnoutbabe · 19/02/2022 17:32

@Sportslady44

what about all the good things though lol the entertainment, the being at sea, the different countries!!!
I love it. Assuming lots of ports do get to see loads of places quickly -I sn unlikely to go to st Petersburg on a long weekend after all.

I don't do ones where you dress up much (maybe evening I'd wear smart jeans /nice tops) and you can mostly eat anytime.

(A 2 week cruise lying in the sun in the med would bore me -I like Norway or Canada and Croatia was interesting)

YogaLite · 19/02/2022 17:32

Omg, NO!
I went once and hated every moment.
It all felt dreadfully fake, I desperately missed trees and greenery.
After the first port, hated even looking at the sea. Didn't help sea was rough and we were on top deck.
Pool was a size of postage stamp so we didn't bother, yes, think Petri dish.
U don't get much time on land, we got left behind once by the coach group, thankfully within sensible distance from the port. Another couple got left behind in Italy and I do not know whether they caught up or not in Spain as not seen them after that.

U need to live herd mentality. Relaxing it was not.

Couldn't help thinking that they must have a temp mortuary there somewhere in the bowels bearing in mind that a lot of clientele is of advanced age..

mumsiedarlingrevolta · 19/02/2022 17:33

My absolute idea of hell.

Makes me feel claustrophobic just to think about it.

All a bit too prescriptive and forced for me.

I would much rather visit places and explore on my timetable not someone else's.

ancientgran · 19/02/2022 17:33

I think the only cruise I'd consider is to see the northern lights. My father was royal navy and I remember him telling me about seeing the northern lights for the first time when he was a teenager on north atlantic convoys. I suppose it was more cheerful than telling a child about the German submarines torpedoing his ship. Anyway I'd quite like to do that, not the submarines and torpedoes.

yoyo1234 · 19/02/2022 17:34

DH refers to them as floating Petri dishes.

SlashBeef · 19/02/2022 17:34

Christ no. Its everything I hate. The Butlins style entertainment would make me depressed.

Anonymouseposter · 19/02/2022 17:35

I don't fancy going on a cruise at all. I would like to be able to afford nicer holidays but I don't really feel jealous of people who can.

LuluBlakey1 · 19/02/2022 17:35

No

CounsellorTroi · 19/02/2022 17:36

@InFiveMins

I've never been on a cruise so I feel it's slightly unfair of me to comment negatively on them but they've just never appealed to me. When I picture them I think of Jane McDonald style 'entertainment' and school canteen type meals. I've also heard of the evenings they have where the dress code is very formal and the idea of turning up in a ballgown for a meal on a ship makes me cringe.
So many misconceptions. Many cruise lines don’t have any dress code other than the usual no shorts in the dining room at dinner, and that’s only if you want to do the fine dining rather than the buffet. The food is by no stretch of the imagination “school canteen food” and the entertainment can be of a high standard and can include stuff like piano recitals and art talks as well as shoes.
godmum56 · 19/02/2022 17:36

all that enforced socialising and sell sell sell :(

CounsellorTroi · 19/02/2022 17:37

Shows, not shoes.

apprenticewage · 19/02/2022 17:37

My dh used to work at sea...he wouldn't go on a cruise if he was paid! Staff are overworked and underpaid and in an emergency they are generally horrendously organized @Sportslady44 don't be jealous.

The rooms are usually fairly shite too!!

Classica · 19/02/2022 17:37

Are people on cruise ships really eager to be invited to the Captain's table, or is that just a cliché? If I was to write a book about murderous hi-jinx aboard a cruise ship it would feature rival ladies in the aforementioned chiffon and sequins determined to out do one another at catching the captain's eye. no matter what it took.

CounsellorTroi · 19/02/2022 17:37

@godmum56

all that enforced socialising and sell sell sell :(
It’s not enforced.
sazzy5 · 19/02/2022 17:37

Stuck with hideous people like my in laws, I would hate to go on a cruise. You cannot escape for long, it’s far worse than a hotel. You don’t get to see anything, it’s all hop off for a quick look around. Enjoy the gales here instead,

Kazziek · 19/02/2022 17:38

As someone who loves cruises, I don't think many of the PPs have actually been on a ship! They don't have to be expensive, or luxurious. I don't travel on large ships that block up ports. There is plenty of fresh food and choice. I've only once had terrible entertainment, so we went to watch something else. I've never had noro or been sea sick. You don't have to dress up on all cruise lines. I've never followed anyone with a rolled up umbrella, etc, etc.

I've never understood how people can go on awful package holidays to Spain, all crammed in on a plane, wearing football shirts and drinking beer all day, but to each their own!

OP, rather than be jealous, why not just go on a cruise for a couple of nights to see what you think? The one I have booked in April is excellent value and includes a drinks package.

SolidGoldBrassiere · 19/02/2022 17:38

@Totalwasteofpaper

😂😂😂 Floating norovirus toilets.

I would struggle to he jealous of that.

That would be my view of cruises.

I would not go on one if you paid me every pound in the universe. In fact, I can't think of anything worse.

godmum56 · 19/02/2022 17:38

I do love being at sea. I spent loads of time travelling on ships with my late DH, mostly oil tankers. If I did go on a cruise I would want a first class cabin wirth private balcony and full room service for all meals. I would read books and watch the sea in perfect peace and privacy

OfstedOffred · 19/02/2022 17:38

Also yes to hating anything under the umbrella of "entertainment". The performers are generally third rate, two friends ended up on cruises having failed miserably to get anywhere in performing arts on land.

StCharlotte · 19/02/2022 17:38

You can stop at Sydney, for example, but you can't have a nice leisurely dinner there as you're halfway to Melbourne by dinner time...

apprenticewage · 19/02/2022 17:38

Different countries yes...for less than 24hours...no and if you miss the boat then you miss the boat! It does not wait!!

The entertainment...stay there long enough and you will see the same shite over n over

The being at sea...Confused

WhatICallMyUsername · 19/02/2022 17:39

When the captain announced the "fun fact" that the closest land at that moment was 2 miles. Downwards Confused

Spending 36 hours getting to your first port, not wanting to go to the first port but desperate to get off

How early they start being noisy to dock even though you can't get off for ages after they start

Not being able to dock as the port was too shallow and having to get off onto another boat

I wasn't a fan, can you tell Grin

godmum56 · 19/02/2022 17:39

@CounsellorTroi
"It’s not enforced."

I was trying to make the OP feel better :)

CounsellorTroi · 19/02/2022 17:40

I've never understood how people can go on awful package holidays to Spain, all crammed in on a plane, wearing football shirts and drinking beer all day, but to each their own!

Lying on a sun bed for two weeks in an identikit Med resort is my idea of hell.