3 night trial cruise

[KangarooKenny]

I’m thinking of booking a trial cruise as DH can get sea sick. Preferably a northern departure, but not necessary.
What would you suggest ?
I think I’d prefer a smaller ship, but happy to just experience a cruise.

Is your DH keen?!

Trouble is short cruises are more like party cruise /booze cruises. So not reflective of a week long one.

North Sea up to Norway etc is bad anyway. The med mostly fine.

If he gets sea sick would he want to do this?

Yes, thinks he will be ok on a big ship.
Its best we find out now before we book a bigger one !

Specifically for sea sickness, cruises from the UK usually involve more days at sea (often going through the dreaded Bay of Biscay!). So from that perspective a fly/cruise may be better with any sea days on the calm Med etc.

We’ve done many week/2 week cruises and one short cruise and the 3 night one was our least favourite as it was a completely different atmosphere. Felt a bit rowdy (and we were in our 20s then, 30s now).

Bigger/newer ships have better stabilisers to minimise rocking but there will still be moments especially if you sail in winter or through the Bay. I get seasick but found that normal seasickness tablets helped loads and I only have one bad day before feeling fine.

We did a 2 night cruise with P&O, I think it was Azura, to Guernsey and back. Not as "booze-cruisey" as other destinations so was more of a proper feel to it.

Did you enjoy?
suitable for early teens?
and were the seas rough?

thanks!

I can see the appeal of a short "trial" cruise but would suggest not the North Sea or anything involving the Atlantic/Bay of Biscay. Fly/cruise to the Med should be calmer and warmer! I get ill on a rowing boat 20 miles inland but have been absolutely fine on the Med. Took patches, wrist bands and tablets with me and didn't need any of them. Plus cruise ship medical centre will have tablets/injections for the worst case scenario.

We did enjoy it, the sea was calm, although to be fair we didn't really get out of the English Channel 😁 We both felt fine on the ship, although I was affected afterwards when back on dry land which has put me off doing a longer cruise. Which is a shame as we'd hoped to do the Fjords. In a way I wish we'd just done the cruise we really wanted to do in the first place. Not sure whether I'd say it was particularly suitable for early teens, but it wasn't unsuitable if you see what I mean? I think early teens would probably enjoy cruising with Royal Caribbean more from what I've seen/heard.

What happened after you got off?

I was very dizzy, like the ground was rushing up to meet me, and it felt like I was still feeling the ship's swaying motion, which is odd as I never felt like that when I was actually on the ship! It lasted about 6 months, the doctor said it was vertigo, but I don't think it was. Having done a bit of reading it seems that it can affect some people that way, and there is evidence that it can be linked to oestrogen levels. I was probably peri-menopausal at the time so I think it was just bad timing/I was unlucky. I know plenty of people who cruise and none have been affected like this, so I wouldn't necessarily let it put you off.

I’d suggest the royal Caribbean short cruises to guernsey or France (2-3 days usually) they sometimes have an Amsterdam one too

It's best to book a cabin midships (not bow or stern) and on a lower deck if prone to seasickness. The motion of the ship is less there. Having said that, I've only noticed the movement of the ship in the aforementioned Bay of Biscay and during a Force 10 in the Sea of Japan.

Also, the vibe of each ship can be very different. We had two nighters on the Queen Mary 2 (afternoon tea with white glove service and full orchestra), P&O (stag parties) and the now defunct CMV (Christmas party feel). So a quick cruise is definitely worth trying, but the experience can vary considerably.

I agree with booking one in the Med or Adriatic rather than the North Sea, Irish Sea, Engish Channel or Atlantic.

It is still a lottery. On one holiday to Ireland we had a rough crossing going over , but the return crossing was as smooth as a millpond.

Maybe try him on a river cruise first, or a shorter boat trip on the Thames or large river near you before you get more ambitious, or a harbour cruise round somewhere like Devonport or a trip out to the Farne Islands. Basically anywhere that does boat trips near where you live.

Bloody hell… sounds awful

and very relevant to the OP!!

The swaying and dizziness when you get off the ship is real, but only affects some of us - about 1%. It's called mal de debarkment and lasts for a little while after you get back. I get it, but it's never stopped me sailing. Just leads to the occasional moment - usually in the supermarket for some reason - when I have to stop walking. DH knows the signs and just asks if the ship is moving. I may be fortunate in that it doesn't seem to affect me too much.

I get mal de debarkment sometimes too but it also doesn’t stop me sailing.

I agree with others than a short break might put you off.

I would to the Med or Caribbean for a 7 nighter, choose a nice ship that suits you (do you want big or small, lots of entertainment, excellent food, calm atmosphere etc), a cabin right in the middle and bring some stugeron. It’s very unusual to be seasick on calm cruises on modern ships.

A 7 day to the Fjords on Britannia, you do get some time on the North Sea but a lot of time is spent in calm Fjords. Britannia is a relatively new ship and has good stabilisers.

Alternatively fly cruise to the med.