To cruise or not to cruise?

Am with Jingl on the 'all that water under you' thing.?

Think we will stick to a nice hotel!

PPP cruises do seem to attract older people but if you are on a family friendly trip then they are very popular wedding venues and so there are all ages on board.
As for alcohol, why not take your own with you to drink in your cabin? We bought local booze at stops!

Nobody has mentioned the food poisoning which seems to crop up regularly on cruises!

Cagsy, we have a friend who hates dressing up. He is now a cruise convert. Most have a buffet restaurant which is casual, serve yourself and eat anytime. If you are happy with this rather than formal dining you can dress as you please. The dress code is usually in the brochure.

We are going on our first cruise in April. Cape Town to Southampton on the Queen Victoria. We usually fly, but saw a good deal and thought we would give it a whirl.
I am a bit concerned about being with a lot of over-eating, old people for 18 days!!! Any experiences?
I am sure it will be brilliant for people watching and the cost of the drinks makes me think perhaps I will opt for an alcohol free couple of weeks!

Thanks for stating this LyndaW as we are in a similar situation. Lots of friends and family love cruising and I'm fairly tempted but DH not sure at all, for reasons I don't think stand up to scrutiny.
As we live in Liverpool I'd love to sail to and from here. DH hates getting dressed up so as a rule any holiday that requires long trousers is out, would this be a problem?
We have a small family business that our youngest DS has to cope with alone if we're away so tend to go for short holidays - 8 or 9 days max. I am tempted by fjords but tend to go looking for the sun on holiday so not sure.
Confusing isn't it?

We have been cruising for few years now, and wish we had started sooner. We go on mid sized ships, around 1000 passengers. We have both sailed from Southampton, but there can be the problem of the Bay of Biscay sometimes, although it is not always rough. Fortunately we don't suffer from seasickness. We have also done a couple of fly cruises but then you can't take so much luggage as you are governed by the amount the airline allows, plus the security etc at the airports, there and coming home. Leaving from a UK port, although there is now security, doesn't mean you have to arrive as early as at an airport. A very short cruise of 5 nights or less is normally full of drinkers on stag and hen parties, so I have been told, but not been on one so can't say.

Most of what has been said is what we have found. Formal nights are not as formal as they used to be, although some people still go rather over the top. Tables for two are ok if you don't mind sitting with the person you sit with everyday of the year. However tables for 4 can be tricky if the other couple are not really your type. Six or more is probably better, although 10 can sometimes be a bit much.

I could never have an inside cabin, or just a porthole, so always have at least a picture window, although when we get a good deal, we like a balcony. If you are on a lower deck and to the rear of the ship you can sometimes fine the noise of the engines annoying. We were once told if not sure where to have a cabin, then have one in the middle of the ship, both from front to back and top to bottom.

Someone has asked about mobility scooters. These are allowed on ships, but not normally taken ashore or on trips out. Other types of walking aids, chairs etc are usually taken ashore, but not necessarily on a coach trip. It depends on the country and the type of coach.

A river cruise is a very much calmer experience. We have been on one. A lot less people, the boat moors within walking distance of a town centre usually. However beware of ships with very small cabins. Most are fine with a double, or twin beds. However I believe there are a few where they are more like bunks and folded away to make room during the day.

I was never sure that I would enjoy cruising but have been twice now the first to Alaska the second to the Caribbean so very different destinations.we went with Princess cruises both times and I would now recommend cruising to anyone. We found we had plenty of time to explore in each port and on sea days there is constant things to do. We had anytime dining which meant we could eat any time we wanted and in any restaurant. As I suffer from IBS and like to eat little and fairly often this was great. Enjoyed the entertainment first class shows in the theatre, and some good comedians and musicians in the bars. Also enjoyed quizzes and the casino.so go for it , I would be very surprised if you didn't have a great time.

We've been on eight cruises. At first we were happy to sit at a table for ten, but I found the small talk very tiring. My husband is outgoing, I am not. So on subsequent cruises we opted for a table for two. It was much more relaxing for me. The waiters were always very chatty anyway. We could talk to people as and when we felt like it. Visiting a different port every day is the best thing about cruising. There is ample time to look around. We were always back on the ship with hours to spare because we were tired walking around. There is usually an option, by the way, for free dining. That is a self service buffet and you sit where you like.

Going on our first cruise in March having taken years to persuade husband to go. He is terrified of being stuck with people he has nothing in common with. So wish me luck it could be my first and last cruise.

I have done two cruises, one late DH and one with a friend. Am wondering if I dare go again but alone this time. Friend had endless problems.
I just love being on a big ship, the wonder of how they manoevre in small ports, the thrill arriving in a new place/country almost every early morning. The only downside is the constant bombarding with delicious food!!!!!!

I use a mobility scooter for anything more than walking round the house , has anyone experienced a cruise using one of these? Also I have wondered , if I took the scooter how feasible it would be to get off the ship at various ports? It seems to me that organised outings might not work for us as I cant see a coach with my scooter in the boot...or maybe theres a roof rack al la The Clampetts :-)

If you use the Shewee properly nothing will get wet!

He he he!

Jingle I like a view of the life boat rather than the sea.

Is no one worried about the boat sinking?

Waking up in the night and thinking of all that water under you is my idea of hell. >>shudder<<

Bellanonna as said it all. We went on Celebrity Eclipse fantastic. Table for two every night and no never stuck with same people. 3000 passengers. This was our third cruise. Go for it you wont regret it

If you use a shewee you, or the bed, will get wet!

I would always recommend cruising.

Go for a mid sized ship, enough space to meet new people and avoid those you don't get on with. Never ever ask for a table for two. If you are travelling as a couple you will be together all day and night! Go for a large table, you will meet new people, many of whom will be only too happy to pass on hints and tips. If you plump for fixed dining, same table at the same time every evening you will have to have the ' how many cruises, which ships etc.' only once. If you really don't get on with the people have a quiet word with the head waiter (maitre'd) and ask to be moved. If you go for freedom dining where you turn up for dinner when you want you will probably be seated with new people every night and you will have the same boring conversation every night. Remember on the majority of cruise lines you only have fixed dining for the evening meal.

I think this sounds like a perfect idea for a first cruise!

Friends chose a company which actually collected them from their door (Saga?) so no worries or extra expense getting to the ship. Seemed a good idea. Apparently some people had been collected from the Highlands and Islands. Ships aren't my thing however!

As the first person mention, it all depends on what holiday you are looking for.
If it is for just lazing around with entertainment, one quick days visit to each port, then you will find cruising a wonderful experience.
But make sure you don't go on a ship that has a mass of accomodation.
My late husband and myself thoroughly enjoyed our cruise on the Queen Elizabeth, which had only taken three previous trips, so still very new and the food was simply delicious. We had three others on our table which we did not mind as some of the time two of them chose to go to a different bar and pay for their food. What I would adivise is get a room with a sea view.

I think you should try something like the Marco Polo (Cruise and Maritime) round Britain cruise. It is a smaller ship with very good food and entertainment. It was a 10 day cruise from Tilbury round the top of Scotland down to Ireland then the Scillies and France. We like walking and got off the ship everyday for 8 or 9 hours to do our own thing. We took a couple of pieces of fruit with us for lunch (the breakfast and dinner are so good that you don't need a big lunch too) There is usually only 1 or 2 formal nights but you can choose to eat elsewhere on board if you don't want to dress up and the food is equally as good. (for formal you don't actually have to don a long gown or anything as a smartish top and trousers will suffice) Otherwise it is informal dress. We also did the 14 night fjords trip on the Marco Polo which was amazing.

Love cruising. On bigger ships you never see the same people twice. For a virgin cruiser, I would suggest you try a British ship. We have just returned from a Fred Olsen cruise which was the best ever! Although we were on a small ship, everyone was polite and friendly. We cruised round the Canary Islands, had lovely weather, food good, entertainment fine and dancing if you wanted to.

You see different places every day, changing scenery and you can always take a sea sickness pill if needed. You talk to whoever you want and you can meet some interesting passengers. The captain comes over the loud speaker at mid day and tells you about the weather ect, and always says at the end of his message, 'And all is well on the bridge!' That made me smile.