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?

Delighted with Pand O cruises. If you can afford a balcony cabin, go for it. Try to avoid an inside cabin. The do a three night Southampton- Channel Islands- Zeebrugge cruise which is a good short one to see if it’s for you. Loved Norway on the Iona!

Definitely to cruise. We love them and have been on one most years. Our dc loved them too.
I know a few people who had reservations about cruising but once they had been on one they were hooked.

cruises are full of older people, with the occasionally honey Mooners
thrown in

The age demographic on any particular cruise will depend on so many things - the cruise line, the size the ship, the destination, the date of the sailing etc.

I've been on cruises on large ships with mostly families at Easter and Christmas, smaller ships with mostly older people, small ships for a short cruise full of partying twenty-something Americans.

You need to do your homework to work out what suits you best. We like NCL and Royal Caribbean, as they are more relaxed, with lots of different styles of entertainment.

cruises are full of older people, with the occasionally honey Mooners
thrown in

Depends on the cruise. The first one we went on was exactly like that. The second one was younger couples and families with kids.

Us oldies only want to sit and knit and drink tea dont we .

Yep. But the kids make me play in the pool.

Floating jail.

@j712adrian which cruise line/ship were you on that was like a floating jail?

Only if you get chucked in the brig !

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Ventura

See accidents and incidents.

Floating hell.

I've done well over 100 nights on cruises and never had do much as a mild stomach bug. Such a ridiculous comment to make. Most cruises aren't a bunch of old people. So much misinformation on some of these posts 🙄

Lots of really useful information here, thank you all. I'm definitely booking a cruise, I think for 7 nights rather than for longer just in case it all goes pear-shaped. The cabin with a balcony certainly adds a few ££££ but an inside cabin looks claustrophobic.

As for the tales of sickness etc, I could just as easily get ill at home.

So now to decide where to go...

And post Covid it’s even less likely with even more stringent hygiene measures in place. Especially if you go adults only.

Really ignorant comment.
It's fine to say it doesn't appeal and you wouldn't donut; but so many people who've never been on a cruise are writing rubbish about what it's like!

*do it, not donut!

Did you actually read any of the incidents/accidents?
There's nothing remotely hellish there. Luggage van dropped some cases; a couple of technical problems, cruise ship helped out in a rescue (those rescued were not part of the cruise), an argument that saw a couple of passengers removed... nothing serious at all.

99% of the people in board would have been unaware of any of this happening.

Check lots of prices online ; my summer cruise had prices vary by £100’s depending on agent. I found the cheapest price had balconies and insides at the same cost.

Its least expensive 2 or 3 months before sailing and the price the cruise company quote is cheapest when the deals first come out ( but not as cheap as waiting and going to a TA). We paid £1K less than another couple on the cruise did for their inside so do research.

Once on board there are offers and discounts on future cruises too. I didn’t think they were the greatest value but might suit if you like to get a deal without over thinking it.

@SmellsLikeMiddleAgeSpirit for your information it is NOT an ignorant comment

The cabin with a balcony certainly adds a few ££££ but an inside cabin looks claustrophobic

Inside cabins are ok if you are on a very port intensive cruise, and you are likely to just sleep, shower etc in the cabin. They can be a good way to save on the cruise cost, and some lines have 'virtual windows', which at least gives you an idea of the time of day/if it's light outside. We had an inside cabin on a 7 day cruise of the Med, and it was much better than we thought it would be.

However, if you can afford to stretch it a bit, then at least an outside cabin is probably worth the extra money. A balcony is worth it on longer cruises, or cruises with a lot of sea days.

My DS and I have been on a few cruises (P and O, MSC and Royal Caribbean). We love the huge ships, as there is plenty of space, lots to do, busy areas and quiet areas. We just get an inside cabin, as we just sleep in it. We love getting off the ship at different places and doing our own thing.

I love the main dining room food and DS likes the buffet, so we do alternate nights. Royal Caribbean is best for families - so much to do and great shows. The last cruise we went on, DS went ice-skating, did the zip line, rock climbing, mini golf and flow rider. The teen area was brilliant and we always went for a game of pool before evening meal and I went to the shows.

We do laugh at the ‘Serial cruisers’ though. (Privately of course). The minute they ask you how many cruises you have been on - you know what’s coming next! “This is our 67th cruise and the standards have really gone down hill, it’s not what it used to be”

We do other types of holidays too, but do like the variety of being on a cruise. Lots of freedom to do your own thing, visit different places and lots of activities, if you choose to do them.

And yet it's been deleted 🤔

@SmellsLikeMiddleAgeSpirit not by me it wasn’t. I stand by it

I have never been on a skiing holiday. Never fancied it. Just as some people don’t fancy cruising. But if the title of this thread was “To ski or not to ski” I wouldn’t come on here pronouncing that it’s like being trapped with a load of braying hooray henrys because a) that is likely not true and b) I’ve never been so I can’t really know.