Views on a cruise

I would never go on a sea cruise. A total waste of money, in my opinion, to be stuck on a crowded boat for ages with second rate entertainment and barely having any time to visit sights - no thanks.

I have been on a river cruise though-The Nile- and loved it. Lovely food, a nice rom with a little balcony, good entertainment and plenty of time for sight seeing. Make sure you get a room away from the engine room though.

the world is a beautiful place. Is it wrong to want to see some of it? in a way that destroys it faster than any other form of travel?

Yes. Yes I think so.

Your second paragraph describes my recent cruise to Norway quizqueen.

What about cows, notanan2? Are you meat and dairy free?

I loved cruising with my late husband so decided to go on a cruise alone last November. I hated it! Being on your own in a crowd is miserable. You need a companion and then it would be okay.

Its not a credit system... giving up straw/dairy/meet/take away coffee doesnt make it okay to do do something as catastrophic as a cruise for "fun"

Douro River cruise was brilliant for food and entertainment, daily trips were great value for money. Croisieurope do take children free in July and August, not ideal if not your cup of tea. Cunard is great, sailing from Southampton to Hamburg on Queen Mary 2 with my DDs and their men and then on my own on Victoria to Amsterdam and Zeebrugge for Bruges. Stayed extra night in Amsterdam due to horrendous weather, missing Bruges ? Got P&O Cruise to Amsterdam, Zeebrugge and Cherbourg in October, can't wait ?

I’d never get my OH on a cruise he hates the idea of being trapped with a load of other people in a floating tower block for days on end. Really bad for the environment and those huge ships with thousands of people really clog up small ports. You can’t see much of any country in one day in a touristy port with thousands of others. Where does all their waste product go? As for drunken punch ups and seasickness. It’s a no from me.

DH and I went on a few cruises and absolutely loved it; we only went on smaller ships (fewer than 700 passengers), and just loved life on board.

I have now done 2 on my own (DH died last year), and have another one booked for next year with the same company. I go on my own and am really laid back about not being with anyone - I have got to the age now when I want to do things independently and in my own time. I don't want to share a cabin with anyone, so would never ask a friend to come with me. I socialise at mealtimes and other diners are so friendly and chatty. I don't mind being on my own and sitting reading in the sun, or just watching the sea go by. You usually find someone will come up and have a chat anyway.

I am not a big one for the entertainment in the evenings, and just prefer to go and sit in the bar after dinner with a nightcap; there is usually some laid back piano music or a gentle singer in the background, which just suits me.

Other people might think differently, but really you don't know until you try it.

But ships go up and down on the sea. I dont like going up and down.
I have managed to feel wobbly on a canal boat which was moored in a basin. When people moved about the boat wobbled.
I will stay put. ???

BlueS would you be willing to share the company you travel with, please?

I'm with willow, being an emetophobic I couldn't think of any thing worse.

Love cruising, was worried when my husband suggested it as I have been seasick in the past but rarely do on cruising, lots of different ways to cruise/ firms etc but try a few and see which company suits you.
Larger ships are ok if u want loads to do, but like large holiday parks, smaller ones are often thought of as dull but they are quieter with different forms of entertainment.
Agree with other commentators that some trips can be expensive and it can be fun to get off and explore yourself.
But sometimes if it's a multi site trip it is easier to go on an organised trip

We tried a P&O Caribbean cruise, the ship was beautiful, we had a balcony cabin which was lovely and there was so much to do that you couldn't do most of it!
We found the buffet restaurant on the top deck was like Butlins at sea, wandering around with a tray searching for somewhere to sit, not for us at all. You still had the 'towels on sunbeds' issues which really surprised me. When you sat down for breakfast you had to order everything all at once because the waiter only came to your table to take your order & then to drop all your food off in one go i.e cereal, cooked breakfast, toast, tea/coffee, sauces, butter etc if you forgot the toast or sauce you couldn't have them as you never found a waiter again!
The trips ashore were incredibly expensive if you booked them through P&O/the ship, on a first time cruise this is what people tend to do.
All in all, I loved seeing all the Caribbean countries, I enjoyed the cruise but it was a bit too much for the 'masses' really. I'd cruise again but go for a bit more upmarket one, less people, more 1:1, yes it would be more expensive but they generally include your trips ashore & drinks so worth it we feel.

Saga if you’re over 50. None of the above issues or complaints. Smaller ships, high percentage of caring crew to passengers. No tipping, no set mealtimes, no fixed tables (unless you ask for it). Join in or not as you wish. Option to join other single travellers for going ashore if you want. No pressure. Everything is up to you what you do. It’s not for some but the vast majority of people we meet on our cruises love it and keep coming back.

Carooline on Saga at breakfast you will have waiters bring you what you want when you want. Go to the buffet yourself or ask them to get it for you. They make numerous trips to look at your table to check if you want more tea or coffee or anything. The crew are always smiling and get on with each other. Their memory for faces is unbelievable. We get many hugs from all sorts of crew whenever we go on board. It’s lovely.

Excursions are expensive and not inclusive on Saga but they do cater for the slightly older passenger and take very good care of you. We find just going around on our own works well for us.

I'm not in favour of cruises. Breeding ground for norovirus and bad for the planet. Love sailing though!!

Working for a disabled man I was expected to accompany him on cruise holidays twice a year. I was apprehensive but found I loved it. In fact I loved it so much that I got a better paying job and took my OH daughter and son on a cruise. They all loved it too. OH liked the fact that it was so big on the ship that there was always somewhere quiet he could go. I'd recommend RCI or PO who are both great for anyone with disabilities as my employer was in a wheelchair and the staff were really helpful. Also there is a doctor and nurses on board and a helipad to transport anyone seriously ill.

Undertaken 3 cruises, different companies, different sized ships but preferred the smallest one which actually resembled a vessel rather than a floating skyscraper.
First trip was on an enormous ship; I’d expected Titanic without the icebergs and got Benidorm on waves.
The second was on the smallest boat, cruising the Norwegian fjords - beautiful and scenery marred only by enormous cruise ships that were also there.
The reality of cruising really came home to me on the third trip, visiting Dubrovnik along with another 5 ships. Seriously you just couldn’t move ashore! Made a mental note to travel overland in future and check all destinations for cruise ships’ schedules so I can avoid at all costs if any are in port.

GrandmaJan- thoroughly recommend QM2 get it booked. Our trip on QM2 was our 3rd cruise (husband was always anti cruise until i developed fear of flying) Our first was with Celebrity in the Mediterranean and we were hooked. Year later again with Celebrity the Fjords and then we booked a month long cruise with Cunard on QM2. Absolutely wonderful we sailed from Southampton to New York (sailing intoNY was breathe taking) up Eastern seaboard to Quebec, back to NY and finally back to Southampton. We're still talking about our amazing trip 6 years on. We've done 3 more cruises with Cunard since and have another booked for next year to hopefully see the northern lights.

I did a 7-day cruise ( Celebrity Cruises) with a friend. Good service and food and a nice rest. We really enjoyed each other's company and we enjoyed the experience. However we would not take another cruise preferring to take our time doing our own thing on land.

Carooline We always cruise with P&O and have never had your breakfast experience. We always breakfast in the dining room. Are shown to our table and then have very attentive waiters. A very stress free experience.

I'm glad cruise ships have been banned from Venice. We have been a few times and watching them coming in is scary and, I believe, damaging. Hopefully the passengers can find another way in to see this beautiful place.

I’m intrigued, Maggiemaybe, what was wrong with your New Zealand cruise? We are going on our very first in November, a longed for, saved up for cruise to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. It’s round NZ, Tasmania then to Sydney. I’d like to avoid whatever it is you disliked?