Cruises - CDC says avoid cruises

Cruising is always fraught with health concerns but in the middle of a pandemic no way!
I find it hard to understand the ignorance of those prepared to set sail in a Petrie dish primed to replicate all manner of infections.

Petri dish. Petri dish.

We love cruising in the smaller ships, and have two cruises booked, the first at the end of May (Greece and Islands) and the second in the Caribbean (Dutch Antilles) over Christmas and New Year.
I must say it does feel bizarre to be talking about holidays when war is waging elsewhere.

I’ve never fancied a cruise because I wouldn’t fancy dressing up for dinner every night, or sitting with strangers when having food.
However I fancy a river cruise although I don’t know anyone who has been on one, the thing that concerns me is that I can’t walk far due to my physical problems so when you get off the boat to sightsee I wouldn’t be able to do it.

Just did our pre flight PCRs for the French river cruise on Tuesday. We'll be tested every day on board and the Covid protocols are very strict. Will keep you informed.

I loved cruising but don't think I will do another one.

No, cruises do not appeal to me, but I never say never about aanything. In 2019 DD treated us to a day trip to be shown round and have lunch on the Cunard ship, Queen Mary, and were blown over by the sheer quiet 27 star luxury of the ship

As a result we have booked a short cruise to Norway and back, just for the luxury cruise ship experience. 6 days, that will be quite enough, but the standard holiday cruise with 6,000 others on a big ship, is not my bag.

Oh, I had forgotten, I am going on a cruise at Easter. The whole family on a hired cabin cruiser on the Broads.

Does that count as a cruise?

M0nica there's no such thing as a 'standard cruise' these days. There's so much variety available. The massive ships look awful to me but people seem to love them. We really like the smaller quite cruise ships and river cruise ships. After this French river cruise we're booked on an ocean cruise later in the year on a small ship. No casinos, onboard pubs, flashy shows, hidden charges etc.

Never been on a cruise...doesn't appeal to me...but covid risk wouldn't put me off....I've had 4 jabs ....I never worry about it....I am back to going to home football games.....theatre....concerts ....I have had covid though...but I know you can get it again

Now your talking Monica I ve had some lovely holidays the rivers on canal barges and love that
It’s the ‘poshness’ (what a great word) of it all that puts me totally off cruising, probably because although through my job and owning my own home etc etc I m considered ‘middle class’ whatever that might be, I m a working class gal at heart and dressing up to sit with the captain does not appeal to me in the slightest I dont do ‘dressing up’
I m casual but smart as they say and being stuck for weeks with people who all have money would be my idea of hell put me in a tent with some hippy s and I d be more comfortable

Each to his own

I have cruised a few times on smaller ships (mostly Fred Olsen) and have never dressed up! You do get allocated a dinner table but no compulsion to eat there. Many people do and love putting on their glad rags and enjoying a 5 course meal, the company and the wonderful table service but there are other options, less formal dining rooms with equally good food. 'Smart casual' for me. I've never had to play bingo or go to a show either but love the talks, crafts, book group and libraries on board. I've met some lovely people, some now friends, visited places I would not otherwise have seen and I have stayed healthy. Would I do it again? Not this year but hopefully sometime in the future. Like a previous poster I thought cruising was not for me then I went on a ship visit (tour and lunch on 'Balmoral' and liked what I saw.

Blubelle I wouldn't argue with you, but I think your presuppostions about who the people on board are like are probably wrong.

There is no such thing as class, only income levels. DH and my BiL both have lower income backgrounds( their fathers were apostman and a factory worker) but if neither is a dresser up, both enjoy the finer things in life. I have to go back another generation, for my approved low income background.

But one of the things I have learnt is never to have preconceptions about people. I have talked opera, Egyptian archaeology and books, to name but a few, with the most unlikely people.

As I said, we are going on a short cruise, with our DD, just to sample life on a luxury cruise ship. We are unlikely to do anything longer as I am prone to seasickness.

M0nica you will love Norway. I still remember opening the curtains and being absolutely staggered at the fabulous view up fjords and beyond. The air itself felt different as we walked around the places we landed at. Enjoy!

Yes, we have been to Norway before, DH often on business and both of us in winter. This time we will be visiting a couple of southern cities, but I confess, we are mainly going to enjoy the facilities on board. I am just crossing my fingures that the days of the long crossing between Southampton and Bergen will be calm, but I will be well stocked with sea sick tablets.

Good luck. Seasickness is awful. We went for a day visit to QM and found it to be so huge! Like a cathedral afloat.
Bon voyage.

My sister recently went on a coach trip to Normandy and several came back with Covid, including her !

It's all that re-circulated air, they say.

My sister recently went on a MERE coach trip to Normandy and several returned with Covid, including her - she is 80 and had managed to avoid it thus far!

Ps: It's all that re-circulated air, they say!

Sorry! My first message hadn't shown up!

M0nica

Blubelle I wouldn't argue with you, but I think your presuppostions about who the people on board are like are probably wrong.

There is no such thing as class, only income levels. DH and my BiL both have lower income backgrounds( their fathers were apostman and a factory worker) but if neither is a dresser up, both enjoy the finer things in life. I have to go back another generation, for my approved low income background.

But one of the things I have learnt is never to have preconceptions about people. I have talked opera, Egyptian archaeology and books, to name but a few, with the most unlikely people.

As I said, we are going on a short cruise, with our DD, just to sample life on a luxury cruise ship. We are unlikely to do anything longer as I am prone to seasickness.

Bon voyage, Monica! ... the one cruise I would love to do.

We are off on our very first cruise this summer to the Norwegian Fjords with our dear friends who are frequent cruisers.

I am petrified of large boats, the sea along with a phobia of being sick, what could possibly go wrong

(the moral of this story is watch your DH and his friend refilling your wine glass at dinner, then getting you to agree to a cruise)

Bluebell the majority of people who cruise are just ordinary everyday people. I’ve done lots of cruises and can honestly say I’ve only ever met one snobbish person, who was arrogant and rude to the staff. We pitied his poor wife.
I love the whole concept of entertained , not having to lift a finger and being looked after by brilliant hard working staff.
The ships are immaculate. You’re as likely to catch covid in your local pub or supermarket.

I can’t help but think of the Poseidon Adventure film, it’s enough to put me off for life.

We're doing an Alaskan cruise in Sept a part of a "Big Trip". We go from Seattle and return to Vancouver. Only worry is getting all the correct paperwork / tests done.
Our starting cruise years ago, was on a small ship now long gone. Our first day was at sea and I spent most of that day with my head down the loo. It wasn't a rough sea, just a significant swell. HOWEVER, next morning we arrived at Villefranche to a sparkling sea, blue skies and all was well. We have never looked back and have enjoyed many cruises all over the world. I always take tablets, wristbands and ginger with me but have never had to use anything again.
Neither of us are dresser-uppers, smart casual is fine and we usually try to book a table for two in the main dining room. I don't think I'd like to go on the bigger ships or the ones where you are requested to dress formally for dinner. A cruise isn't cheap and you need to do some research on your choice. A medium sized ship that has good reviews, with interesting ports of call. We've always met lots of lovely folk to chat to but without the feeling of ending up in each others pockets. You can catch Covid just going to the shops as I did recently, but we've booked a balcony cabin just on the off chance of being quarantined.