Living on a cruise ship

I think I'd have to check beforehand that Anne Widdicombe would NOT be on the cruise as a speaker! I enjoy cruises but they have risks: my last one was visited by novovirus. Being on one for several months would be dire though.

We had a tour of a ship called The World where people own their apartments and the ship travels all over the globe. It was pretty hideous - all the public areas were beige (though they had a fabulous library) and, although the residents got to vote about where to travel to, those who owned the largest apartments got the biggest say. It was berthed in Falmouth at the time but most of the residents had gone off to Paris for the Golf Open. They seemed very keen on golf, generally! I can think of nothing worse, really.

We used to love cruising, but not the type in these messages. We had an umpteenth hand 26ft westerly centaur, and spent many happy hours sailing up to outer hebrideas, ireland, etc.When my son was young we made the rule that after one days sailing we had a day ashore so that he could go to the beach or we would enjoy wandering round little towns or get a bus to somewhere. Whilst he was very young we went to the Isle of Man a lot, because we could sail round the island, Peel had a lovely beach which Daniel enjoyed, and over time we made friends with a family in Port Erin and their son used to love playing with my son in the dingy etc, and catching crabs etc. He loved going on the little trains (shades of the dreaded Thomas the tank engine) and we walked a bit more when he was a little older and then caught the bus back to whereever we were moored.The best bit was we are very much purist sailors. Quite a lot of harbours have a rule that you have to use the engine to enter and leave harbour, but what a joy to be silently sailing along and free! We once had about 3 and a half weeks sailing and total spending on fuel was £8. Go were you want change your mind , it gave us great pleasure. Of course it was a lot of hard work too , cooking in a pressure cooker held by bungy cords on the cooker at an angle. Going with a rucksac to get groceries and lugging it down steep ladders etc. Having days of no wind and lots of rain but we used to stay in a harbour and play scrabble, and cards and Daniel used to like having a tray with raised edges where he could "race" is little cars by choosing what he thought would win and the waves and motion would move them to the other end. Happy memories and my son has his own little boy and hopes to one day be able to get a little boat so they can do the same . If it wasnt for covid and the cost I might enjoy a cruise, but cant see me being able to try it out. Ah well who knows. Covid may disappear and I might win the pools (hardly likely as dont do them!) Enjoy whatever you are able to do . Now the frost is finally leaving the roof, I think there is a chance of a little walk in the sunshine today.

My idea of hell. Pseudo luxury, fake decor, overcrowded, limited space. all floating on an element which is unpredictable and dangerous. I went through a force 9 gale outside Lisbon on a cruise. I watched a film about the Costa Concordia the other night made up from video shot by the survivors-horrific www.britannica.com/event/Costa-Concordia-disaster
Not if you offered me it for free with a balcony!

We have done about 30 cruises and we love it!! So pleased that we went on one just before lock down but have really missed it since. It was so very sad to see all the beautiful ships in Dorset but glad to see that the majority are sailing again. We can't wait to go again, but will not book whilst covid is still rife.

If you get offered a cruise for free, please could I have it

The thought of endless cruising fills me with horror. I will take my chances with the local care home if required thanks.

sundowngirl

If you get offered a cruise for free, please could I have it

With pleasure! I forgot to mention the environmental problems that worry me as well. With a cruise ship having a carbon footprint equal to 12,000 cars, producing huge amounts of waste much of which is illegally dumped and causing damage to the marine environment, they are a nightmare. And that's without the infections and health risks
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/09/210928193815.htm

I couldn’t be dressing up every night for dinner I like to dress casual on my holidays that’s why I’ve never been on a cruise

Juicylucy
My line of work meant spending periods of time on cruise ships meeting many people You are a 'like it' or a 'not for me.'

Yes I shall certainly do it for half the year if I'm left on my own. I will chose carefully though, facilities do vary

Lesley60
Nobody has to dress up for dinner on a cruise. There is a myriad of options as how you want to eat. You can be as casual as you want irrespective of how much the cruise costs.

Lesley 60 we have been on 5 cruises the first was a novelty so we dressed up every night after that on the other cruises I didn’t even take an evening dress nor did we use the dining room too formal for us. We just went casual and was happy with the other restaurants. No I wouldn’t want to live on one.

pce612 my thoughts too.

Well, even if we rented out our home, we couldn't afford a cruise, but that is no reason why those who can afford it, should stay at home.

Personally, I can't imagine anything worse than been cooped up with the same set of people for months, with no cooking etc to do and no chance of proper exercise, but one man's meat is another man's poison after all.

No, no, no. Just hate the thought of it.

No, a cruise for a holiday would be lovely but not in these times. I definitely would not want to live on a cruise ship permanently.

My idea of hell too. Wouldn't want to spend a week on one, far less anything more!

We've been on several cruises, med, Asia, Caribbean, Scandinavia and Russia. You can get plenty of exercise from swimming pools, running tracks around the ship, ice rink, gym, climbing walls etc. Also go ashore most days for sightseeing, beaches, boat trips, sea swimming.
Food is fantastic with huge self-service restaurants, snack bars, or formal dining if you prefer.
Doctors nurses security all there for you and room attendants are excellent. Also a helipad to airlift serious cases to hospital and fly in cabaret entertainment stars.
Would not like to live on a cruise ship but love it for a holiday.
We went wit PO and Royal Caribbean. Definitely like marmite love it or hate it.

I've travelled the world in many ways, backpacking, car touring, package breaks and luxury hotel stays. I've now done 4 cruises - 2 luxury Ocean Cruises and 2 river cruises.

Much to my surprise I loved the cruises, maybe because they were so luxurious, no children, no vast Ocean liners and very less travelled destinations we preferred to be escorted around.
Knew there were people onboard that were doing World Tours, many months long. I thought that would be hell on wheels trying to 'see the world' in one long journey.

I have been to Cyprus once at the early part of the season to see lots of older people who had spent the whole winter there - they were missing the cold wet miserable winter and certainly all looked to be enjoying themselves in the rather nice hotel with everything to hand. Seemed a good idea if you have the need to escape.

Not for me either. I've only been on one cruise - it will be my last!

Tried it for a week - never again!

Tried a week on a cruise my husband loved it Butlins on sea for me

Couldn't think of much worse - so superficial, massive carbon footprint, having to be sociable all the time. Did a cruise on the QE11 back in the 70's............never again. Give me mountains, coastal paths., woods and moors.........and my campervan!

I read in the paper a couple of years back about an older couple who are doing just that, in a Premier Inn……