Views on a cruise

Hi, Lucky. I've sent you a private message. The things we disliked just really applied to our particular cruise, and I'm sure won't be a problem on yours. I hope you have a lovely time (and congratulations on your 50th, of course!)

I can see some of the attraction of going on a cruise but, given recent reports of the very significant environmental damage these floating towns cause, I would not go on one.

Kim19, I always go with Saga. Cannot speak too highly of them. Have already booked a cruise on their new ship next year. Really look after you well, cannot do enough for you. The crew remember you from year to year. Expensive, but then I like a decent cabin. Five star service and five star food.

For the first time we’ve booked a river cruise, flying to Basle then 8 day cruise to Cologne. Am having a little ‘wobble ‘ now! How strict is the dress code? DH is disabled but can cope onboard without his travel mini scooter but would need it ashore.....can we expect help from staff when leaving and returning to ship? Not had tickets and info yet, but wonder if we can expect evening entertainment on board? Any advice or tips much appreciated!

Ginjeannie, don’t wobble, everything will be fine. Dress codes depend on which cruise line you’re sailing with, so it would be handy if you could let us know, but all cruise lines are much more casual now.
Your husband will be fine getting his scooter on and off the ship. There is plenty of room to move a scooter or wheelchair on and off the ship.

Oops, just noticed, it’s a river cruise. They tend to be merely smart casual, not formal. I don’t know about getting the scooter on and off a river cruiser.

I once took my youngest son on a boating lake and I ended up being sick for the rest of the day so a cruise is totally out of the question. I know a couple who have been on 2 so far this year and they love them. I don't like water. We are all different.x

Many river cruise ships say that they may not suitable for people with reduced mobility. There can be steepish stairs to negotiate or clamber across other river cruisers if double berthed. You may be more comfortable on an ocean cruise.

Just come back from first cruise - Celebrity ship to Norwegian fjords. Was not sure if this would be the holiday for us, but went with an open mind. Overall, we both enjoyed it much more than we anticipated. We met so many like minded people. Ship was kept spotlessly clean. Food, entertainment and the staff all first class. Really easy leaving from Southampton as well.

Ooh, I'm already excited!!
DH has booked an early 70th birthday trip. Christmas in New York with a return cruise on Queen Mary 2.
Four nights in New York with trips to the theatre and ballet (The Nutcracker), and a seven night return voyage on QM2.
This is for 2020.
I've started planning already. ??

We're off to Alaska next year with a 7 night tour through the Rockies on our way to Vancouver to join the ship first. Really looking forward to it.

MiniMoon, enjoy it, I think you’ll love it.

Jane10, we did the Alaska cruise and Rockies tour for our Ruby Wedding, it was absolutely fantastic, enjoy.

Thanks Maddyone!

We have never been on a cruise ourselves so not able to give my opinion. We have met many people on holiday who love cruises. I don't think we have met anyone who has only been on just one cruise. Some friends of ours have been on cruises all over the world, always go with the 'top' cruise lines. The last three they have been on haven't been up to the usual standard. I think it probable depends on what you expect from a cruise. I love watching the cruise programmes and can see why people get excited. There are some absolutely gorgeous ships. For me, I just don't fancy being on the ship a lot of the time. We like to do our own thing and definitely like to go out for a walk in the evening. If you fancy being on a ship and don't mind being held captive, so to speak, then I think you would love one!

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Cruises for Brits only - wow + over 50s only- doubly my idea of a nightmare.

Jura, what a truly nasty comment!

If you don’t like Brits, why did you live here for so long and why do you concern yourself with British politics?

oh maddyone - you totally got this wrong, for sure.

No Blacks
No Dogs
No Irish

I'd love a cruise with dogs, actually.

I apologise if I’m wrong Jura, but I understood you were saying that a cruise with only Brits and over 50 age group would be your idea of a nightmare, doubly.
Can you let me know what you actually meant? Big apologies if I’m wrong.

I love cruises, but have never cruised with Saga. I have cruised with Holland America, Cunard (only once) and Celebrity. Way back in 2004 I went on my first cruise with DH and my parents, my lovely Dad was still alive then. It was with Costa. There were never enough seats/loungers wherever we went on the ship, although it was a lovely ship otherwise, but for that reason we never went with them again. Likewise my second cruise was in 2007 with DH. It was to the Baltic with NCL. It was a fantastic cruise for destinations but we felt the ship was a little tired, so likewise we haven’t cruised with them since either.

What I meant was that any Holiday, and even worse coach or cruise- with only one nationality or ethnic group, and only of a certain age- would be awful for me/us. Swiss only, or USA only, or whatever 'only' - would feel like a 'ghetto'. I like mixed groups, different people, mix of ages, languages, cultures ...

Anyhow Saga have had to apologise for adveritising British Only as there has been so much outcry about it. How would they determine what the 'British' would be. My Swiss friend is currently on a cruise, with his Belgian husband- who have been working for years in the UK and are house owners - would they be allowed? Loads of British citizens are not British born and bred, and do not have British passports.

Oh I see, I understand now. Well I shouldn’t have thought that any cruise line should be advertising for any specific nationality only, very divisive in my opinion, and completely removes the possibility to mix with others from different places. That’s one of the things I enjoy about cruising, especially far flung places. We’ve been to the Far East twice, Japan, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and other places. On these cruises we’ve met people from all around the world, and especially many Americans, and in particular Americans with the most interesting backgrounds ie a couple who escaped from Vietnam on the last day before it fell, and are now American citizens. Also some American Jewish people with moving and interesting backgrounds, and they originated from many different European countries. Also a Ukrainian who escaped communism and is now American. Plus we met Australians, Europeans, British, you get the picture. It’s one of the reasons we don’t cruise P+O, because it’s mostly British people, not that we don’t like our own nationality, but we love meeting people from a variety of backgrounds. We also travel widely (not just cruises) and again enjoy meeting and talking with the nationals of the country we’re visiting.
So I now completely understand what you were saying and have some sympathy with that point of view. Thank you for explaining.

We have been on many Saga cruises and whilst the majority are from the UK (the ships sail from the south coast) we have had fellow travellers from America, Africa, China all sorts of places. There is certainly not a no blacks policy on Saga and we would never consider cruising with them if there was. We have met many people of all races and religions from all over the world on our cruises and as for the Irish we had many Irish people on our last cruise which included stops in Ireland. Admittedly I have never seen any dogs on our cruise but we did have a parrot last time.