Should I go on a cruise?

Agreed most people eat on board. However they buy souvenirs in the ports, the ships are re-provisioned and the port fees must be quite substantial. I remember when we went around the market in Stavanger, there was a man on a bicycle, weaving around us , singing Money, money, money.

That’s not my own experience. Many people spend all day off the ship enjoying the destination and the ships are pretty much empty during port days.

I’ve just come back from a cruise around Scotland and it was very obvious from talking to locals, car hire people and private excursion companies and guides just how much the local economies benefit from the cruise ships. I haven’t been on a cruise ship own excursion for more than ten years (since I learned sense) and there are a lot if people like me now who prefer to do things independently.

By the way, the Scottish islands were dream cruise destinations especially Shetland which was a complete WOW.

A very interesting thread for me. I have always been an independent solo traveller and have back packed all over the world alone with the odd organised trip thrown in if it went somewhere logistically complex. However, OH who normally stays put, has always wanted to transit the Panama Canal in a big ship. So against all my instincts we are actually booked for 2019. ?

So I shall report back next year as tbh I am dreading it. I don't possess a dress and am used to travelling in one set of clothes with a spare pair packed.

I know someone up thread asked about Wifi and mostly it's an extra and quite expensive apparently. On Silversea cruises its inclusive I think.

I went on a cruise last year to the Norwegian fjords. The snow on the mountains was so beautiful I was quite happy to just gaze. As some have already said you don't even have to turn back the bed, my cabin staff was fab. Every morning my bed was made my nighte folded and cabin cleaned. There was a choice of entertainment and guided tours every stop. Stay in the middle of ship to avoid too much motion. . If I could afford it I would go every year. There were people up to their mid ops on board so age is no barrier

Btw. I don't do dressing up so I went to the buffet for the 2 formal nights. The food is so good it doesn't matter where you eat

We were persuaded to go on one by friends and boy were we sea sick . DH refuses ever to repeat the experience but we love river cruising . No need to dress up on river cruises and no thousands of people getting off to go on excursions . Watching the world go by as you sail along , especially on the Rhine or Danuabe , is magic.

We’ve been on a few on smaller ships. I’d recommend the Baltic and would love to go back again. We hate hotels but love cruising?? We don’t do formal so went to the self service mostly. We enjoyed the lectures on board. The crew work so hard keeping everything spotless. Love waking up having arrived at a new destination overnight. Husband met someone he works with when we were boarding then we didn’t see them again.

I have always dreamed of going on a cruise. Now, my kids have offered to cover the cost of one. Looking at a river cruise. However, I have very limited walking mobility and notice that all the excursions seem to be included in the cost and most or all involved walking. Could anyone advice me if there are any cruises (looking at about 5-7 days in Europe) where my limited mobility would not be an issue.

I have a problem with motion sickness as well so cruising on the high seas is not for me. Like HumptyDumpty I am concerned about outbreaks of norovirus which are often reported on liners. If there is any gastric infection around I will be sure to catch it.
I would love to see the Norwegian fjords though.

Franbern river cruises are not ideal for people with limited mobility. In fact this is highlighted in brochures. On our last river cruise this was clearly stated but obviously ignored by some. This meant everybody else being held up on stairs, the gang plank and on walking tours. Of course we were all very polite about it to people's faces but thought it was most inconsiderate. I've had mobility problems myself and would be mortified to have done this.
Ocean cruises are infinitely more suitable for those with limited mobility. Lots of lifts, ramps and scooters on many cruise ships.

Take seasickness tablets with you, just in case. If you don't need them, they can stay in your suitcase.

I have been on a cruise once and enjoyed myself but found you didn't see much of the different places. Everything on the ship was fabulous.

DH and I loved cruising and enjoyed everything about it. We only went on small ships (fewer than 800 passengers), and had fabulous trips.
This year sadly, I am on my own as DH died last year, but I have booked a river cruise for my birthday and a Baltic cruise (which will be on the same shop we went on last time). I am going on my own and confident that I will be well looked after. And I shall still enjoy the dressing up for the formal nights!

Same ship, not shop!

A few years ago we enjoyed a lovely cruise around the Dalmatian islands on a small boat with only 21 other passengers. It was very informal and friendly. We sailed for a few hours each morning to reach a different island, anchored up in time for lunch, went ashore to explore then came back to the boat early evening for a drink, a meal, a bit of casual entertainment and then spent the night in that harbour before setting off again for the next island the next morning.

We would really love to find another cruise like that as we definitely do not want to go on a large floating hotel. Can anyone suggest how we find one?

Anyone not sure about a cruise. Do 7 nights in the Med, that way if you don't think it's for you it's not long till you get off but you'll visit interesting places and have good weather. If it is, book your next one as soon as possible. Going off in a couple of weeks on our 20th and can't wait.

Not sure about cruising? . P&O do 2 or 3 night cruises. Our first cruising experience was to Guernsey from Southampton. Left on Friday. Whole day on Guernsey.on Saturday.
Back on board for formal dinner ( if you so wished) and back on Sunday. It was great and gave you a real taste of everything. Been on several longer journeys since and about to go to northern Norway soon.

bbevan although I have not been on one, I believe that the short 3 or so day cruises have become booze cruises and hen party type events and thus not a true representation of cruising. Pity really. I love cruising

We had a wonderful time on a Baltic cruise last summer. It was so good that I wish we hadn't done it so we could do it all over again! It was a Viking Ocean cruise. Smaller than the huge cruise ships, drinks, visits and gratuities included so no big bill at the end of the holiday. No extra cost for speciality restaurants and the main dining room and buffet were wonderful. No dressing up, pubs or casinos. It's 10/10 from me for Viking Ocean. We've been Cunard and P&O before but its Viking for us from now on.

I don't think 2 or 3 night taster cruises give the feel of a full cruise.

I am a cruise virgin but do fancy the experience. This thread has been really interesting and informative.

One of my friends and her husband cruised up the east coast of the USA (from New York) stopping off for excursions (her husband is a history buff and he really enjoyed the trips apparently) They travelled in a northerly direction and even got some whale watching in too! I am not quite sure where they ended up but that sounded like my sort of cruise.

Hearing of the places that posters have been to has whetted my appetite!

We’re going on our first ocean cruise this year to the Norwegian fjords with Fred Olsen. We went on a river cruise a couple of years ago and loved it.
Really looking forward to this one. I’ve never been sea sick although I can feel sick in cars sometimes but I’ll take some travel sickness tablets just in case as we’re sailing form Dover so have a few sea days to enjoy.

I went on a cruise years ago and loved it I would love to go again but don't want to go on my own.
Regarding sea sickness, I suffer badly from travel sickness in cars/buses/coaches but was fine at sea.