To wonder why everyone raves about cruises?

[malificent7]

It has never appealed until recently. I thought it sounded like you are trapped to an itinery, on a long , boring journey woth only a day in each place and no space from fellow passengers but everyone I know seems to love them...i am seriously tempted.
So what is so good about a cruise and has anyone actually hated them?
Is the food as good as everyone says and is it relaxing? Apparently you don't get sea sick...is this true?

Went on one once, loads of people came down with The Shits.
You have heard of Snakes on a Plane? This was Shits of a Ship.
Blocked toilets. Code Brown in the pool. Unexpected log in the buffet area.
There was no escaping The Shits.
Husband farted in his sleep, pebble dashed the curtains.
Methane Mayhem.
Faecal Fright.
What shall we do with the shitting sailor, E-coli in the morning.

Neighbour warned us not to go after they got the Ship Shits a few years before and we thought we would be extra careful with handwashing etc. Didn’t work.
Never ever again.
It made the news. Laughed at at work. Shit shamed.

I went on one in my early 20s with my family. Hated it. I love to be in peace and nature. This was anything but. Not a fan of organised fun and I didn’t like the itineraries being so strict (which obvs they have to be). Would rather have been able to stay in certain locations longer for example or go off the beaten track. Never again.

I have a friend who regularly does cruises as a wheelchair user. I’m considering one myself having recently become a WC user, the fjords sounds amazing!

Been on a dozen cruises. Not got the shits yet. Sounds like no one was washing their hands on the one you went on. They are really strict these days about sanitising your hands before you go to the buffet or dining room, especially since Covid.

Absolutely. The thought of going on a ship that size makes me feel ill. The biggest one I’ve been on was the P&O Ventura which was 3000 passengers and that was too much for me.

Never had the runs that I’m aware of but I have IBS so may not realise! I’m manic about hand sanitation and washing my hands.

Have been on over 10 cruises and only had covid once. Was confined to my cabin but dh allowed to wonder the ship after testing negative. I’ve also had pneumonia after and that has left me with a heap of issues.

Not stopped me though, on my next cruise in June. last one was in October. Can’t decide about next year yet :))

Think about it. 2000+ people on a cruise is like a village on one boat.

It is not for me. I do get the attraction of being well fed, and also only having to unpack and pack a suitcase once on holiday. One of my late aunts loved cruises and a work colleague does too.

Fred Olsen's small ship Balmoral is nice - 1325 passengers, and its size means it can go to places the floating appartment blocks can't. I've been on it, cruising the Seine and docking at Rouen. Super trip, lovely scenery.

I'm going on it this year. We used to sail on cruise and maritime before they ceased.

Azamara’s ships have a capacity of around 700, which is just right, the ship never feels crowded.

Regent I think was 700 lovely
celebrity APEx was 2500 too many

Saga are 999 and - as with others - never feel crowded

And because it's passengers are oldies there are no slot machines etc.Entertainment is good - there is a theatre. We, normally, sit at the bar after dinner in the bar with live music and quizzes.

All those saying that you have to rush to be back on the ship at a certain time, that is certainly true of a day’s call. However a lot of cruises do late port departures or overnight calls which give you more time

As a fellow cruise fan I agree about the overnighters, @NeedWineNow, but have had too many where we've been promised a late (11pm-ish) departure, only to find on the day that they've changed it to 6pm

Obviously they can do this ("operational reasons / port fees" or whatever), but while I've not been affected personally it's a bit of a bummer for those who've made evening arrangements

I’m looking at Fred Olsen’s Balmoral, is it adults only?

Just back from my first cruise with P&O Iona to the Norwegian fjords and we (myself and my partner early 40’s) liked it! The ship was massive but never felt like there were 6000 people on it. We deliberately chose out of school holidays so there weren’t loads of kids about but it was a family friendly ship so to be expected. Food was great, never got sea sick, we were never bored (and we’re introverts), and it was nice to spend a day exploring little towns we would never have gone to otherwise. I love the sea/water/scenery so knew I’d like it. Sitting on the balcony sailing into the fjords was stunning. Managed to get some quiet time in the infinity pool/whirlpool to myself early doors which was lovely.

However, I don’t think I’d choose a cruise for destinations like Barcelona etc that I’d do as a city break in itself. Or for a ‘sun’ holiday. I’d probably choose a smaller adults only ship next time, and keep it for places like the fjords or the Baltics etc. Would also look to depart from Scotland or north England as the coach to Southampton wasn’t that fun!

With Azamara there is a cabaret lounge, a piano bar and the crow’s nest bar and the top forward of the ship where there is a live band ( always good) and dancing in the evenings. The entertainment staff who do the cabaret lounge shows are young and enthusiastic and it’s lovely seeing them doing what they love.

Sounds much the same 🙂🙂

Saga ships have a cabaret/bar. The main meeting space has a piano and music is played there often

A couple more bars too

Yes re cabaret staff - really throw themselves into it.

Enjoy!

Even nicer - I shall look them up. 😀

@AccidentallyWesAnderson

Apparently the Balmoral isn't adults only but I have no memory of any kids on board. (But we didn't go during the school holidays.) It's got what I'd call a grown-up, civilised vibe.)

FWIW, the Fred Olsen Borealis is adults-only, but I haven't been on it.

Them and ambassador are on my to try list with them going from Liverpool on some itineraries.

As much as I dislike people I have never really found issue with the size of ships (other than getting lost!) when with P and O. I would never do the likes of Royal Caribbean though personally.

Maybe look up Oceania too, @CrystalSingerFan; they have 700-odd ships and some at about 1200 too, which are the ones I prefer

You'll need deep pockets though - they nearly tripled many prices when NCL acquired them from the previous private ownership and they've been chipping away at what they offer ever since, but I find the actual product hard to beat

Thanks. In fact it was the Borealis I saw when in the Fjords and I liked the size of the ship. Would you recommend Fred Olsen? They would work better for me location and itinerary wise.

P and O Aurora is adults only. We did the Norwegian fjords in November 18 months ago, stunning scenery but very cold. We went from Southampton so could take lots of cases with warm clothes. 1800 passengers, just right.
Just been on Azura for 2 weeks, bigger ship and the first week had a lot of children on there, but to be fair it was Easter week. 3000 on there but we didn't find it too crowded.
Booked Aurora again in 2027 for another cruise to Iceland and Norway but in the summer this time.

Thanks - will do. I started cruising after the pandemic, when cruise lines offerred fabulous bargains and my brother's friends knew where to find them. 5 nights, Soton to bits of N. Europe on MSC. approx £400! For a single bain!!

It's changed since then, sadly