I love to cruise do you?

I felt the same till I gave it a go. Now, I'm hooked ! ...line and sinker

I love cruising as well; I see more places than when I go on a regular holiday and as a solo passenger it suits me.

We love cruising and have done quite a few with different lines over the years. It's the excitement of waking up somewhere different every day and the huge range of things to do, both during the day and in the evening, on the ship. The food is always excellent, the beds comfortable and we've met some very interesting people. We like a balcony so we have private outdoor space - we're not ones for lying on the pool deck with lots of other people, but it's amazing how easy it is to find a quiet little spot on deck, despite the people.
I'm sorry to see too many posters who've not experienced a cruise but have very definite opinions, based on....what?? Don't knock it til you've tried it !!

I've only ever been on short cruises, i.e. to Denmark, Sweden and on a gulet in Turkey. When I see those great big cruise ships with 1000s of people on them it just makes me shudder. I might enjoy a river cruise with less people on board though. It's each to their own.

Our first cruise was with Silverseas, a treat for a special anniversary with friends, and it was fabulous. We were persuaded to do a P and O with said friends which left from Southampton, and although very much enjoyed the company, definitely not for us. The sea days would have been boring on our own, nothing to look at from balcony except sea! Had to smile at those who would wait for a window table in the dining room. Glad we tried it though. Those massive ships look like my idea of hell.

Did a great cruise on the Nile once only 100 on the boat and loads to see!
In 1975 I returned home from Sydney by boat and it was fabulous as many were my age group plus we volunteered to be in the shows ! Great fun!
Would only consider a river cruise now !

I'm happy to give most things a go - I've done many things over the years which have pushed me well outside of my comfort zone, such as abseiling and skydiving, but I know I would not enjoy cruising. I just wouldn't be comfortable out at sea with all that deep water beneath me. I don't have to give it a go to know that. And there are other factors which wouldn't be my cup of tea too. I just know, deep down, it's not for me.

It was always one of my worst nightmares, but many of my family go and I have been persuaded to try it! So, we embark in just under a month, will let you know what I think afterwards ( I am dreading it!)

I am going on one in January to celebrate my 70th birthday, first one since losing my husband.
Cruises can be peaceful and relaxing, or party time whichever you choose. Don't knock it till you try it is my go to phrase.

Me too cheesy I like cruises. Hate flying.

I did my one and only cruise a year after my husband died, when I needed a holiday and wanted transport door to door. Saga fitted the bill. The ship was fine but the cost was astronomical. There were three days when the ship was tossed about, I had a cabin near the front, with a porthole and never left that cabin for the three days. I would rise up and meet the bed on the way down.

There was coughing from many cabins and I came home with the worse cough I ever had. I would never go on a cruise again

Good luck lindylou hope you have the best time.

I never get a cabin without a balcony because I like to sit outside during the day and watch the sea go by. I think they are cheap compared with other holidays. You get to go to a lot of countries with no airfares or vile airports messing you around with their rules and searches. If I feel sick I take a pill but usually those ships are so huge you don’t actually feel much movement, even in cyclones.

'Don't knock it till you try it'

is a strange thing to say. Don't need to try it to know that those huge ships are an ecological disaster, and employ very cheap, borderline slave labour (generally not those you see and serve you). Time is limited and there are so many places I want to see- to properly see- with time to go behind the scenes, explore at out own pace without the crowds. So don't need to try to know it is not for me/us.

Smaller ship, river cruise- perhaps one day, when we are too old to do what we love doing, how we love doing it.

I have been to Venice a few times and love it for lots of reasons. However, we didn't enjoy seeing a massive monster of a cruise ship suddenly intrude on the beauty of Venice and literally dwarf everything. I think there are plans in place to deal with this problem. We didn't envy the long groups of cruise tourists following some person at the front waving a scarf and heading for somewhere where commission could be earned. We like to stay in one place and explore as much of it as possible and not just tick a list.

Really looking forward to our very first cruise over Christmas and New year in the Caribbean. It’s on a small ship - just 312 passengers which I think will suit us as will the weather. Starts in Barbados and ends in Panama after cruising the Panama Canal, we have two days in hotels either end of the cruise and I’m getting excited already! Several port calls and also at anchor in several places. When at anchor they put a water sports plarform out for kyaking, snorkelling etc etc.

I couldn't think of anything worse. I think I would feel claustrophobic and somewhat trapped with a lot of people I don't even know and probably have nothing in common with and have to be in all sorts of situations with them and make small talk.

But we are all different... some people love that sort of thing.

eazybee

I daresay I would enjoy it but never had the opportunity.

The people I know who enjoy them are not the sort of people I would want to be shut up on a ship with day after day; all they seem to talk about is the food and the duty free, no mention of any of the places they visit.

Absolutely incorrect. We’ve been on several cruises. The one to the far east, visiting Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Singapore was an eye opening and so, so interesting cruise. We visited places I never thought I’d see, in particular Saigon, now known as Ho Chi Minh City, totally amazing. Then we cruised around Japan, visiting many places and also visited for two days Taiwan, which is absolutely beautiful. We saw so much during these two cruises, and it was all fascinating. Then we flew to Australia and cruised around New Zealand. Little knowing that our daughter would move there a couple of years later! We learnt a lot, especially about Maori culture. We saw so much including the fabulous Sounds, which are awe inspiring. We’ve also cruised to Norway, been up the incredible Flam railway, it was gorgeous. A Baltic cruise introduced us to several Baltic capital cities, including two days in St Petersburg, which was fascinating. I could go on but you get the picture. We’ve been to places we’d never have been to and seen things I never thought I would see through cruises. I also did a Nile cruise which was very interesting, although I wouldn’t do it now, the situation being as it is.

We’ve also met some lovely and interesting people. Any people we didn’t particularly like we avoided. We’ve made friends on cruises who we’re friendly with to this day. My favourite cruise line is Celebrity, but have cruised on others, including once on Cunard. Our next cruise is in September and for the first time ever I feel a bit nervous about it. We’ve booked it last minute, it’s to the Norwegian fiords, which will be gorgeous, but it’s MSC Virtuosa (we’ve never cruised MSC before) and is maybe not our kind of ship. Very big, maybe too big for us, and maybe more of a ‘party’ ship and we’re not party people but it should be big enough for us to find a more quiet corner. But anyway, for us, the ports are the important part, and we both love the scenery in Norway. So it will be what we make it.

We don’t only cruise. I’m sure that would be boring. We’ve not long returned from Greece. We get private apartments in small developments, a hire car, and we’re off. No fighting for a sunbed in a hotel for us, total freedom and independence to explore.

Incidentally we’ve booked a cruise with SilverSea next year, to the Galapagos. A very small, but luxury ship, only 100 passengers. All expeditions, snorkelling, equipment included. It’s to celebrate our Golden Wedding and I’m looking forward to it enormously. We fly to Equador and spend the first two days, with a city tour included, in Quito.

Yes, cruising must be like Marmite!

I love Marmite and cruising (sometimes combining both!). We have taken quite a number but due to health reasons cannot cruise at the moment. If I am given the go ahead, I would book like a shot.

Until you have tried cruising I don't really see how one can comment. For us, the joy of having excellent food, a theatre show every evening and waking up, possibly each day, to a new city (and not having to pack and unpack as when touring on one's own) is unbeatable.

We took our family on a cruise and they absolutely hated it, so it is... like Marmite. There's no wrong or right!

I saw a Netflix film called "The Secret Life of the Cruise Ship" about one of those monster cruise liners like a small city. 5000 passengers plus crew. My idea of hell. I also felt sorry for the crew shoehorned into tiny cabins with bunks.

In the past Ive been tempted by some of the Viking river cruises on small ships. However wherever you cruise from you have to get there and I have now completely gone off air travel. I am not a great joiner-in and I hate being physically too close to other people.

But can I take my dog?

We were once sat with the son of a high ranking Chinese government person. As rich as Croesus and so very different from anyone we had met before. He ate and ate and ate- about 7 or 8 courses and told about all the different cars he owned ( Mercedes, BMW, Porche ). We would never meet anyone like that normally and I count my blessings that I met him, shone a light on a few things about China at least. 🇨🇳

Butlins at sea

When husband was alive, my husband and I tried a Saga cruise many years ago and we met 2 other couples who company we enjoyed. All yjree of us women had been teachers and we really enjoyed the experience. From then on we became regular cruisers. We went everywhere in Europe, USA and Caribbean. Sadly now three of the six have died and I tried a cruise back to the Caribbean but disembarked in St Lucia where I now live.
I have happy memories and learnt a lot about other countries. I agree with those people who now prefer river cruises. They are quieter and you can look forward to smooth waters. The pace of life is slower and quieter.
We also did many holidays on Great Rail Journeys and. Can still read my diaries of our travels. We never stopped until there were only 3 of us left. When people said they did not understand our contant love of travelling my husband would tell them “We are investing in memories” and my diaries of all of our travels are with me here. Due to age, health and being alone on any journey no longer appeals to me, but the memories live on. When looking at news on TV my son often sighs and says “ I bet you and dad went there” and I smile and look back on happier days.