To cruise or not to cruise

[Summerslam]

Would you? Assuming you had the money and could afford it, does the idea of floating around the Mediterranean or Caribbean, for a week or two, appeal?

I've heard so many differing opinions. Personally, I think I'd like it. Just me and DH, on an adults only cruise.

What do you you think? Relaxing holiday visiting different places with no effort? Or akin to a sojourn on a prison ship, trapped with passengers you can't escape from?

I’ve spoken to a couple of former employees ( in their 20s) of a cruise company. They didn’t speak very highly of them. They told me that during the Pandemic they were basically abandoned on the ship and unable to leave for three months. One of the Parents had to get the British Embassy involved so they could get them off the ship to fly home. That conversation has stayed with me so I won’t ever go in a cruise.

I also know several people who have worked as entertainers on cruise ships.

During Covid new staff had to quarantine for (10 days?) in solitary confinement, no catering, just packaged food, during maintenance before the ship sailed. 3 months on board (okay, it was a contract) without leaving the ship or mixing with the passengers. Staff staircases only. Anybody testing positive, staff or passenger, on board was taken to the hospital deck until their departure.

The dancers do three shows a day, several shows to memorise, and have to be available on rotation for “gala nights” in full ballroom attire, all from a 4-person bunk cabin. One gave a below-decks colleague 10 dollars a month to take care of her laundry. He was delighted.

We aren’t keen on the entertainment side though on the line we go on (small ships 700-800 passengers) it’s pretty low key - the odd theme night or tribute act. No formal evenings just the normal dress code no shorts or trainers in the dining room. When I was younger I used to enjoy dressing up to the nines but can’t be arsed anymore. I just take a few casual maxi dresses.

I love cuising. I've been on 3 cruises. We just did one this year with our teenagers. It's a great holiday for families with Teenagers because there is lots for everyone to do seperatly and you can still get together for dinner and excursions. We had a lovely holiday

@gabsdot45 do you mind saying what cruise you did or what cruise company you went with? I’m considering going on a cruise for the first time and one of the draws would be the activities for teenagers and us being able to do our own thing then meeting up.

PM if you’d rather. Of course feel free to ignore too!

@Summerslam not with a continuing pandemic, not worth it. Maybe in a couple of years?

We’ve been on two cruises, both princess. One round Alaska, 10 years ago for our honeymoon which was incredible. We’ve just returned from what was meant to be a Baltic cruise over the summer, this time with the children and again, it was a brilliant holiday. We LOVE cruising, so much so we’ve booked again for next year but trying a different cruise line and an even bigger ship! Cannot wait!

There are so many cruise lines which offer different styles of holiday depending on what you are after. We plan to try and cruise with the kids whilst they are young as it’s a brilliant family holiday. Then possibly do adults only once they are older and past holidaying with us. We love the food, the entertainment, the bars, waking up in different countries, the high customer service etc. We don’t do cruise company excursions, we get off and explore independently.

I would suggest finding an itinerary you like the look of and then researching the cruise line to see if they are the right fit for you

With teens I would do a newer Royal Carribean ship or something like the newer MSC ships as they have so much to do. Ice rinks, dodgems, water slides, climbing walls, wave riders etc...... you will never see them!

I never thought I would enjoy cruising but I’ve been on two this year and really enjoyed them. We went with P&O.

Some weird misconceptions on here. I must admit if I went on cruises Jane McDonald seems to go on I'd never go again.
As for 'not leaving the port' - that's just odd. An excellent cruise line will give you about 6/8 options of what you can do on each landing - taking you many miles hours from berthing location - into mountain areas, remote villages accessed by jeep etc, archeological sites, museums, galleries etc.
I was cautious before I did my first cruise to celebrate a big anniversary after years of self directed holidays with DH across several continents - but I would choose adult only and a high quality company. I'd not cruise every year - cost is prohibitive - besides I like a variety of travel options. I'd rather go rarely for 'the best' than go often for the mediocre.

StoneofDestiny
is it Regent Seven Seas you travel with?

Massive fan myself, though as ever each to their own
I've been on many lines but keep coming back to Princess, who are a good middle-of-the-road option to start with if you pick one of the grand class ships - beautiful but not too overwhelming, large but not too huge, busy without being frantic and the staff are hard to beat

Right now many are still sailing at low capacity - they claim for safety, but probably because many resist their endless Covid requirements (though some are dropping them now)
This means you'd be unlucky not to get a deal where tips, internet and drinks are included, but you'll need to do it soon before passenger numbers rise again - and of course aim for outside of school holidays to get the best prices

Agree with PPs that a balcony's a must, though if you once have one you'll never want less; if there's a greater onboard pleasure than the utter peace of sitting on your own balcony with a glass of something nice just watching the sea slip by I've never found it

For me the only downside is limited time in ports; you don't get much time to explore, but it's a good way to test places out and see if you'd like to return for a land holiday, and anyway the chance to see lots of different places cancels out the disadvantage

Enjoy ... but do be aware that you'll probably end up as hooked as many of us!!

Thank you!

And oh my, that sounds like DC2’s dream environment.

As for 'not leaving the port' - that's just odd. An excellent cruise line will give you about 6/8 options of what you can do on each landing - taking you many miles hours from berthing location - into mountain areas, remote villages accessed by jeep etc, archeological sites, museums, galleries etc.

This. We did an intensive Croatia cruise early this year which also took us to Montenegro and Bosnia Herzegovina. We saw the famous bridge at Mostar on one excursion.

Never been on one but would love to!

Also in terms of ports,I generally do my own thing -plenty of places where you can book your own tours for much cheaper then the cruise line tours -ie alla tours in St. Petersburg or whale watching in Icy point straights.
Or check out cruise critic and get the advice that to get to whether (say a famous glacier) it's just a local bus that goes from x every 30 mins -or pay £35 for the tourist one

I follow cruising with crew on YouTube, she works on virgin voyages so you can see crew conditions, which look good.

We have never had a drinks package, just paid what we wanted and never been in a ship pool. Also only had a balcony once on virgins uk staycation cruises last summer. Can't wait to book next one, probably try Disney I think.

Check out YouTube for people like Emma cruises and cruise with Ben and Dave for cruise reviews and tips. Both British focussed.

@DuchessDarty We did MSC this summer (sans kids). The teens on board looked like they were having a great time. The ship had water pipe slides and Go ape type thing and the teens also had their own area to hang around in. This included a large inside football/ basketball court. We never went to this part of the but when we first went to explore the teens were in there with massive inflatable balls over their heads playing a version of football and bouncing off each other. Really funny to watch. Some things you would pay extra for like the 4D cinema, bowling alley and arcades but there was no need.
Mostly they liked hanging out together in the hot tubs (away from the adults). We had a full day and night in Palma and talking to one mum the next day in France said her daughter and her new friends had all gone off to Magaluf together for the day. Apparently they only just made in back in time for our midnight departure. Needless to say daughter wasn’t up so the rest of the family were off to Monaco whilst she stayed onboard.
I think a big ship cruise is ideal for kids and teens. Even if they aren’t sociable ( like my son) they will doubtless enjoy getting off and seeing new places everyday but having a lovely cabin to escape back to if they want to chill.

Sorry, another question! Do you need to clear customs each time you get off the ship? And carry your passport on day trips?

My cousin did a cruise with her teen daughters a few years ago when they were about 14 and 17. They enjoyed it, but said that another time it would have been better if they'd had a few friends on board. The sisters luckily get on well, but other teens on board were in larger groups so my cousin's children felt a bit left out of the fun.

Love cruising, just back from one. You can be as social as you like, loads of organised activities but no need to join them. Great food and drink, great gym, some crowded bars and restaurants but also plenty of quiet ones, inside and outside- I love cruising through the water in the evening with a drink. Loads of variety in places to see, again lots of organised trips and excursions but you can do your own independent thing too. Plus some high quality entertainment if you want it too, loads of excellent singers and good plays / circus type acts on the one I just did.

Only been on one many years ago (the Princess) and hated it. My mum and I were sea sick most of the time (not properly sick sick, but always feeling queasy) so not an enjoyable experience. Since covid, I would never go on one.

@MorrisZapp No. You have to show passports etc when you first embark and then you get your cruise card. The ship zap your card when you get on and off ( you can come and go as you want) and sometimes X-ray your handbags.
The cruise terminals are mainly there for information and usually have some shops and cafes.

You don’t need your passports unless you want to hire a car or moped or something like you would on other holidays.

I've been on two (one to Northern Europe and one to Southern Europe, both two weeks) and I loved the experience but couldn't go again now knowing how bad they are for the environment.

foe.org/blog/cruise-ships-environmental-impact/

They use the dirtiest fuel and pump sewage into the sea and are bad for marine life. But yeah if you can ignore that I love the buffets and waking up to a new place every day and room service!

Has anyone done a Fred Olsen Norwegian cruise? We are thinking of booking for next March.

Personally, I think Cruises are for the brain dead.
I like to put a little more thought and effort into my travels than just writing a cheque.