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.

Forgive me if I have this wrong, but I don't really think that cruises are right for your family at this time, OP.

The reason I am saying this is that most people when they investigate their first cruise are full of optimism, and ask the doubting questions once they have thought about it. You seem to be full of doubt from the get go, right down to the towel art, lol.

Last year, I thought about going on a river cruise, as lots of my friends have done these quite happily. I thought it would be great to be in sight of land (5g!), walk off into town centres, have basic excursions included, flight from Heathrow, etc. Then I start on the negatives - expensive, being strapped to other boats during the night, very little outside of German speaking places,etc. The itinerary is the most important thing to me, and I haven't found the right river cruise yet.

I've looked up some of the suggestions here for higher end cruise ships, and really, I wouldn't feel comfortable taking the risk. I don't need 6* food, and everything we've experienced so far has been more than good enough for us. I want my ship to look like a ship. I don't need ice rinks, etc., nor would I want to go on an American dominated ships. Mumsnet loves the faux brags, so take with a pinch of salt.

There is an undertone here about the class of fellow passengers and I just have no time for that.

Exactly! We’re full of negatives rather than a balanced pros and cons

We have done a lot of cruising…with children when young (NCL, Royal Carribean) and as a couple, NCL Haven, MSC Yacht Club and recently 3 generations of us were on royal carribean. We love the premium packages, worth it, lovely rooms, better service & dedicated space on deck. Not that much more imo.

Book a good cabin with space if you like to have plenty space- lots of deals and often it comes with premium benefits ie drinks package, speciality restaurants, concierge etc.

Royal carribean have great entertainment especially bigger ships but go premium ie suite class as the benefits are amazing.

Kids clubs are fab, our Daughter still raves about the kids clubs, she is 25 now and first went age 8….family ships do them best.

Ports of call - personally the med is fab, loads of choices to do stuff on your own, you can get train from citavitechia to Rome in an hour, it’s very cheap. Greek islands are fab to do, the Aegean and baltics are also very good. I prefer these to Mexican Rivera or carribean which are very samey and mostly purpose built.

You need to try and see, if yo like all inclusive you will love.

It was on our 'to do' list so we did it last year and won't do it again! Our daughter was almost and LOVED the kids club but it wasn't our idea of fun. We did a Marella Greek Odyssey cruise. Ship was lovely, crew amazing but apart from a handful of younger people with kids it was full of old people!

Can I recommend P&O’s Arvia ship. Huge, family friendly ship with so much to do! You’ll never get bored. Also P&O cruises are really reasonable prices. Highly recommend a week on the Norwegian Fjords.

When my DDs were younger I took a couple of P&O cruises. I wasn’t overly keen but they loved the children’s club and all the activities. As they’ve gotten older we’ve taken a Virgin Cruise and two with Royal Caribbean. I didn’t enjoy either but again … the teens loved the onboard activities - ziplines, surf machines, shows and the ports such as Coco Cay - that’s just a giant water park owned by Royal Caribbean. Last June though we sailed back from New York on the Cunard Queen Mary II. What an amazing experience that was!! I immediately booked another Cruise on the Queen Anne to see the Northern Lights last October. Again the most amazing experience. My teen DDs were initially bitching about the Cunard age demographic ( average age is seventy 😂) but they have a teen club and they met lots of grandkids. It’s such a lovely experience - I joined the guests choir, there’s afternoon tea every day 😂 a really great library. I booked another for next Christmas!

I really fancy a cruise but this would be my idea of hell, even one day of it. Would love to have a guaranteed no sea sickness cruise.

So you have a £1500 a night budget?

Yeah it was not pleasant. We didn’t feel nauseous thankfully, but it was so just dangerous walking around. Not sure how some of the older passengers stayed on their feet. We did sail from Liverpool in October though. Previous cruise we sailed from Palma and probably why it was smoother. Lying in bed at night when it was especially rough felt like we were in some kind of crazy rollercoaster.

It made me laugh as we set sail from Spain to sail back to Liverpool and the captain came on the tannoy and said to expect ‘rough to very rough’ sea conditions and then the sail away party band first two songs were ‘the tide is high but i’m holding on’ and i’m still standing’ 😀

Yes we sailed across the bay of biscay and that was the roughest part. Also don’t choose a cruise for a particular destination as ports can get cancelled, due to weather, or in our case Lisbon was cancelled due to a strike. The week we sailed a lot of ships had ports cancelled - amended due to the weather. I think one cruise was meant to go to France and Spain and instead the only stop was Falmouth in Cornwall!

For the right cruise, sure that would offer a similar experience to what that type of hotel would.

I had the same experience. Arriving in the most gorgeous village, 2000 people got off, followed by a Disney cruise and the place was rammed. Couldn’t wait to get off. I prefer to stay in a lovely hotel and explore different restaurants, do what you like and explore or laze about. The only future one I would consider is a Nile Cruise.

We travel a lot and we’ve always turned up our noses at a cruise. I really don’t know if we’re being fair about it but we also think of it as Butlins on the Sea. A friend went on a P&O cruise round the Mediterranean last year for her fortieth with a group of friends and family and she found it a bit cringey with things like trying to relax round the pool when a ship entertainer just randomly turns up and starts singing. She said so many people were just permanently drinking and p155ed and it’s not like she doesn’t like a drink herself. I’ve been in cities when a cruise ship is in dick too and it’s not pleasant, I’m so pleased Venice doesn’t allow them any longer. I always see horror stories about food poisoning bugs on the big ships too and Rip off Britain holidays always has a few cruise horror stories. I’d quite like to do Nile cruise or the Antarctic but I would never go on one of the big ships. I may be completely wrong about them though.

Dock, I meant dock 😆

What are the names of the hotel you usually stay in so we can match it a similar experience service, food and beverage wise?

There’s a big difference between your original 3k budget and £1500 per night budget.

I don't like heights (can barely walk across a pier with those slats!) I was absolutely fine 👌

Same I’m terrified of heights and it’s just wasn’t a thing for me and it was the same with seas sickness, I’ve never had it on a cruise.

This is the Michelin star one: https://rivieramaya.grandvelas.com/

This is the more kid friendly one https://www.finestresorts.com/cancun/finest-playa-mujeres/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=GOOGLE_AO_FPM_UK_SEARCH_BRAND_ALL&partner=13609&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=297915185&gbraid=0AAAAAD3viXsq7wJN6JVrY0zDBGbApzkxe&gclid=CjwKCAiAybfLBhAjEiwAI0mBBu7AyKpfZ72OYN5Lhkc8Mc2pN-vV90Cdop-GHfqSbUd-R_1HC11oexoCzQsQAvD_BwE

and we were potentially going here this summer as we’re curious about Hawaii

https://www.fourseasons.com/maui/

This is the Michelin star one: https://rivieramaya.grandvelas.com/

This is the more kid friendly one https://www.finestresorts.com/cancun/finest-playa-mujeres/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=GOOGLE_AO_FPM_UK_SEARCH_BRAND_ALL&partner=13609&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=297915185&gbraid=0AAAAAD3viXsq7wJN6JVrY0zDBGbApzkxe&gclid=CjwKCAiAybfLBhAjEiwAI0mBBu7AyKpfZ72OYN5Lhkc8Mc2pN-vV90Cdop-GHfqSbUd-R_1HC11oexoCzQsQAvD_BwE

and we were potentially going here this summer as we’re curious about Hawaii

https://www.fourseasons.com/maui/

That's good to know. Thanks

Where did you sail to?

We love cruising and it’s great for kids.. food is lovely and there’s lots of entertainment to choose from.. go for it

Apologies @Zanatdy I've just read that you sailed from Liverpool. I wouldn't be brave enough for that type of cruise, I have always flown out to the starting point (Venice, Barcelona, Barbados etc) and I would always choose to avoid the North Sea, the Bay of Biscay and crossing the Atlantic.

I love a cruise, both holidays this year are cruise holidays. So much to do on the ship (if you want to) and so much to explore both on and off. We’ve only been to one show (in four cruises) but will go to more on the longer cruise this year. I love the formal nights when you get dressed up. I love the food in the restaurants and the buffet. We’re going to Norway in June for a week, which is a great place to start if you’ve never cruised before.
Haven’t taken children but have been on ships that are child friendly. Seems to be plenty of entertainment for them.

Which line?