Going on a cruise, what is it really like?

Thank you for your replies. Time to start looking again at cruises !

Jaffacake2 Viking River (no idea re ocean) very good with all dietary needs. The menus list GF, Vegan, Vegetarian and the chef will also take on all suggestions as to what people desire.

Jaffacake, on our last P and O World Cruise we made friends with a lady who was (to us with no food intolerances) intolerant to almost everything and she was catered for perfectly in every meal. On an earlier cruise was a severely physically disabled lady (ultra cheerful!) who had to have all her food liquidised and they catered admirably for her too. On another cruise, we made friends with a carer whose "ward" was a bed/chairbound gentleman with special diet prescribed by his doctors and the catering staff provided everything as he needed it.

Jaffacake2 Saga are really good with people who have allergies; I don't have any myself, but I understand that you go to a meeting on the first or second day with the chef who makes a note of any allergies you have. Then at dinner every night you are brought the next days menus which are specially matched to your allergies so that you can pre-order your meals for the next day.

I have always liked the idea of a cruise but concerned that I may have problems with food allergies. I am severely allergic to wheat and nuts and carry epipens. I have been in hospital numerous times for anaphylaxis.
Does anyone have any experience of cruising with severe food allergies ?
Would be interested to hear your thoughts.

Graceless

I am also looking at cruises specifically the Danube to the Black Sea.
I have been on a Nile cruise about 30 years ago which to my surprise I absolutely loved. Not too many people and most, on my table at least, were singletons and really good company. I'm sorry can't remember the name of the company I booked with - it was one that advertised regularly in the weekend papers. All the excursions were Included and the guides spoke excellent English

Graceless I am also looking at cruises specifically the Danube to the Black Sea.

Viking Rive do several wonderful cruise on the Danube.

We loved one beginning with an extension in Prague and ending with an extension in Istanbul. Fascinating locks whilst cruising.

We love Viking as (almost) everything is included in the upfront price.

We treat cruises as a 5 star hotel that is in a different place every day. You can do whatever you wish. Only the lifeboat drill is compulsory (and that was virtual through our cabin tv on our last trip).

TV programmes show everything that is available, but it's your holiday to do as you please.

We are working our way through a bucket list of places we'd like to visit and can tick off 2 or 3 on one cruise.

I agree with others. Try a short trip to Rotterdam or similar.

I’ve done a few, if you are uncertain on a short cruise in summer to the Norwegian Fiords from or Southampton or Harwich probably others too that will give you a taste of the cruise routine, on a smallish ship. I have done a Viking River cruise, nice enough but pricey, other passengers were predominantly from the US, fine by me but may not suit everyone, Viking is a US company , not Scandinavian

Everything is done for you, excursions are not compulsory, there are queues to get on and off the ship and there is a time schedule to be kept, typical passengers are 50+, moderate disabilities are handled routinely

As a single I have always cruised with Cunard, I don't want to drive to Southampton and they have altered pick up points for their coaches so they are not viable anymore for me.
Looked at Saga, as a couple they are fine but what costs 6k more than doubles if you are solo. I did have one, was not impressed by the entertainment or the food so that's when i started using Cunard.
I did one P and O but not a patch on Cunard in my opinion, they make no effort for singles you are on your own for the duration, it would be nice for example to get a mixture of singles and couples at a table ir a meeting for singles I think I will try them again but not on their huge ships one of the older ones.
I live on my own so used to being alone but it seems much worse surrounded by just couples.

I’m going on a Mediterranean cruise next yr and I’ve never in all my life been on one before, I’ve heard many stories about cruises, once you’ve been on one you want to go again and again, they are very suitable for wheelchair users Limitless travel is taking me there and I’ve a personal carer all the way, it’s not cheap but then you can’t take it with you p, I’m all for giving it a bash

I have only been on one cruise as I needed a holiday a year after I was widowed, I wanted door to door etc and picked saga. It cost me a whopping £5000 in 2016. It was an older ship

The whole thing was as expected, lovely food and stewards. I met some very nice people and was put on a dining table with other solo passengers. I was amazed to hear that some had lock up and leave mcCarthy homes, just so they could go on saga cruises, which they had at discounts

Dress code was easy, the library was good, coughing from cabins was bad and I caught a very nasty bronchial cough to take home.

I will not go on another cruise

I have sailed on a Turkish gulet twice each with 7 guests and ships up to 6,300 people on MSC EuribiaNever had A bad experience.Favourite is Marella.Always something going on.

I always said I would never cruise cos I would be bored, despite many friends telling me it was marvellous. However, we treated ourselves to a Med cruise 8 years ago and absolutely loved it - so much so that in March we are going on our 8th cruise to the Med and Greek Islands and next Jan our third World Cruise for 3 months.

All with P and O.

I have no criticisms of them at all and don''t agree with some posters on here. EG there are plenty of options to eat without paying extra, from the large main restaurants to the buffet and numerous smaller outlets. The two "extra cost" restaurants include an Indian and a more "up-market" English - and are well worth it for a treat. Admittedly after Covid the restaurant choices were somewhat reduced (due, I imagine, to the squeeze on profits for several months and the enormous "refunds" they gave to those whose cruises were seriously affected by Covid, but are returning to normal.

Nowhere is overcrowded on board, plenty of activities of all kinds imaginable if you want them, lovely bars, fantastic entertainment of all kinds, and made some wonderful lifelong friends.

We've unfortunately needed medical treatment on board and it couldn't have been better. The hardworking staff are fantastic.

Drinks at the bar are equivalent to UK prices.

We prefer the medium-sized ships to the giant ones, they seem to have nothing much extra to offer overall and queues can get a bit tedious at times, but not on the smaller ships.

Can't wait for our next two cruises with P and O!

Interesting how different areas like different cruises. P and O isn’t considered too good here but probably just different expectations. We once went with Carnival but never again. We like to have good food and that particular ship didn’t cut it. You do get loyalty benefits on some cruises so we get a few freebies with Princess. If you go on YouTube and put in the name of the ship you like they often have a ‘tour’ by independent people- very handy.

Loads on cruises on YouTube, what to expect, things to do! Worth a look

We’ve been on two Riviera Travel river cruises in Europe and they were brilliant. We have another lined up in July. We have separate cabins, brilliant food and everything included. All drinks are included too. Excellent staff and trips. We’ve also done a Viking cruise to the Norwegian fjords and that was good too. OH gets very sea sick so we generally stick to river cruises.

Last night, we watched Susan Calman followed by the Good Ship Murder. Are these realistic portrayals of what it is like on a cruise ship?
Oh goodness, a week or two with Susan Calman! 😯
She's funny but in small doses.

followed by the Good Ship Murder.
I've been on a couple of cruises but don't remember any murders, perhaps I missed them.

Some of those cruise ships look so huge, as if they could topple over. I'd definitely choose a smaller one.

One week interesting cruise from Vancouver to Alaska, through the inside passage with Celebrity. Excellent service and food. Plenty of excursions to chose from.

I'd be steering clear of the Black Sea right now!!

I am also looking at cruises specifically the Danube to the Black Sea.
I have been on a Nile cruise about 30 years ago which to my surprise I absolutely loved. Not too many people and most, on my table at least, were singletons and really good company. I'm sorry can't remember the name of the company I booked with - it was one that advertised regularly in the weekend papers. All the excursions were Included and the guides spoke excellent English

We love a cruise as we don't like flying. We did two cruises with Royal Caribbean, both nice ships Explorer of the Seas and Independence of the Seas. Love waking up at a new port in the Mediterranean every day. Food was very good.

We tried P & O and the first two cruises were OK. Food not too bad, entertainment good. Then we tried P&Os new big ship Arvia. It is too big, queues at the lifts even and the food was poor. Really put us off. P&O may be cheaper bit they've cut back on included food. There were more restaurants on the ship that were extra cost.

We did go on a river cruise in Egypt down the Nile. That was very pleasant.

Just a word of warning about doing your own thing regarding excursions. If you get back late the ship will sail and you will have to make your own way to catch up with it.

We have been on quite a few cruises and enjoyed them all. Do what you want to do and leave the rest. Never had any problems with food, always been very good no matter which cruise line.
Our favourite is Saga which can seem a bit expensive but some excursions are included. We didn’t need to spend any extra money unless we were in port .
The crew couldn’t have been more friendly and helpful. Good entertainment day and evening if you wanted it. Always plenty of of quiet places .
Of course you need to try before you make your mind up everyone likes different things.

woodenspoon

Which ship was it so I can avoid it.

I think it’s generally P&O s way of doing things now. Budget cruises and then pay for extras. Bit like RyanAir😬

This was a family ship. If they still do adult only it might be a bit different, re entertainment?