Would we like a cruise???

[Givenup2026]

I’m currently in bed with a never ending flu/cold while my husband is skiing in Switzerland… Anyway! We’ve been thinking of going on a cruise but we’re unsure for different reasons (my husband thinks it might make him feel a bit claustrophobic) whereas I don’t like tributes bands nor musicals…. So we think we might end up getting bored or with cabin fever.

We also have a 6yo, so it has to be kid friendly.

So given that’s the case, do you think we’d enjoy it? And any you would recommend?
Ty!

I guess the AIBU is pondering going when we’re both hesitating.

Cruises are not all equal.. if you prefer high end, look up Explora cruises. This is the first one I’ve actually enjoyed. It’s like being in a 6 star hotel, the food and service are excellent, and if you go somewhere exciting it really is a wonderful holiday.

THANK YOU that’s exactly what I was looking for! (Albeit maybe a bit boring for our 6yo, but love it!)

They do look lovely, but in a different league price wise - probably 3 or 4 times your budget of £3K. Ultimately, it comes down to the fact that you get what you pay for - much as it does for land-based holidays. Presumably you pay more for high end all inclusives that you do for Riu, the same applies to cruises.

Afraid I forget the name of the ship but it went round all the Canary Islands, I think about ten days, sorry a bit hazy now. Loved it. The excursions were wonderful. Goat farms, olive oil farms, sea salt mining, all interesting and so little leg work that you need to do.

Lots of different spaces on board. Different bars/ restaurants. Sushi , Italian etc. We didn't go in the pool on the ship but lots of people did . all sorts of activities for kids. I really do think you'd enjoy it.

Don't go for too long a trip the first time, that's all I'd say. Don't do a fortnight.

As I say, I think the first one you do could be the best. Hard to explain. Perhaps it's just me. My husband keeps asking if I'd do one to see the northern lights but for me, it's all about getting to feel the warmth of the sun on my skin so I keep saying no..and he'll ask me again a bit later . I won't change my mind ..

Scenic are incredible too for river and ocean cruises.

I don’t fit into any of the scathing boxes this poster used, and absolutely loved my fjords P+O cruise last year.

First of all, they don’t ’belch Smoke’. The port cities benefit financially from having cruise ships dock there even if the passengers spend little.
You sound like an utter snob

Well I didn’t think there was something similar! For comparison, the hotel we were thinking of going (before I thought of the cruise thing) costs around £1500 per night for the 3 of us, so when you add it up, it’s about the same amount.

Pleasure.. the kids club won’t be as big as on other lines but at 6 you can get away with it and he can meet others there. The boats are owned by the two Italian billionaire brothers who own the MSC line. They were designed to emulate their own personal yachts and as designed in Italy. Should be a nice European professional crowd in summer with some Americans.

We did a short Disney one as a bit of a test. I decided that even if I hated it DD would love it so it didn't matter.

Whilst I didn't love the intensity of the Disney cruise the actual cruise experience I enjoyed. The ship was huge with so much to do. The restaurants were crowded at times but we did room service and just went for lunch early or late to avoid the rush. We got off at each port stop which was lovely and chilled.

We're doing a Royal Caribbean cruise this year so will see what that is like.

So would you up your 3k cruise budget?

For the right one yes…. I wouldn’t pay that for a Royal Caribbean or a P&O though

Well, yes, but you said your budget was £3K, and I was just pointing out that you won't get the luxury end of the cruise market for that.

If you are prepared to up the budget to similar to the amount that you pay for the hotel, then you will get a much more luxurious cruse, with probably all the things that you are looking for.

I suggest Retreat on Celebrity, the food and beverages are excellent if you are upping your budget and there is stuff for your DC to do. A suite is around 4k a week each for your DH and yourself.

I see. I was probably looking at it from the wrong POV.

Maybe the Royal Caribbean experience is closer to RUI and thus I would hate it?

I hate towel art!

I agree that this might work well, or perhaps Haven on NCL - a bit more luxury for you, and still all the whistles and bells for DD.

I think you just have to give it a try. For us, it’s always matching destinations with our preferred cruise line. With the kids Royal Caribbean worked well because of the activities. We now prefer Princess or Celebrity as they are more relaxed and not so ‘in your face’. There are still things to do but it is easier to find quiet spaces.

We sail Retreat and it really is an excellent product. Love having the lounge and restaurant with a good vibe in the rest of the ship. Not particularly child centred though. If prepared to up your budget, I think you may like Regent but I’m not sure about your 6 year old.

That’s the only thing… we’re worried about our 6yo. At the beach we can entertain him most of the time and then drop him off at the kids club when needed but we don’t know if it would be the same on a cruise

I’d look at cruise critic at the reviews and forums. We took our dcs on celebrity 3 or 4 times as teens and they loved it. That was years ago though so I can’t remember about teen clubs or stuff like that.

Disney 4 cruises when young were amazing for a child. We sailed in suites then as well and had the private pool deck, and lounge. I’d imagine similar now. And they have their own private island in the Bahamas. We went 3 times 😁

We’ve cruised 6 times with royal Caribbean and Disney. Love Disney, it’s a great experience unless you do the UK ones from Southampton, people behave crazy on them (it’s like everyone has spent a fortune so they want their moneys worth!). RC shops have something for everyone, there is so much to do. I didn’t think I’d be a cruise fan but I loved it - going to Norway is a great option but if you’re not sure, most lines do 3/4 night options for you to try. If I was in your shoes I’d look at RC or P&O as both good for kids (my son has been cruising since he was 5, he now prefers RC to Disney)

Love hotels the fancier the better. Disliked cruising. Endless noise and too many kids .....

Cruises can be fun. My last one was very rough and it did ruin it a bit for me. Couldn’t walk around without risk of falling over and felt like I was on a rollercoaster in bed at night! Probably 50% of the days were like that. The cruise we went on 7yrs ago wasn’t rough at all, guess it just depends.

I couldn’t think of a worse holiday than a cruise personally, but I know lots of people love them. I don’t even like the idea of hotel holidays all inclusive or otherwise, so we always have a villa either self catering or with a cook, so we have a private pool.

I think Costa might fit. They are Italy based so lots of Mediteranian cruises.

Also children are around later in the day, all the reviews say there are children up at 10.00 pm, but they have probably had a siesta.