Would You or Have You Been on a Cruise Ship/liner
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As much as I like the idea of touring around countries and islands and on a glamorous floating hotel it just doesn’t appeal to me. I don’t like the fact I would feel trapped not being able to get off, especially when you hear about these sick bugs that go round. I couldn’t think of anything worse being trapped in a cabin. I suppose you can’t get off a flight either but then I would only ever do short haul anyway so wouldn’t be an issue.
Pjran I do a mixture of both. I like going from Southampton as it is so much easier but you do lose sunshine days if your cruise comes back from sunnier climes. Our next cruise departs from Southampton but we fly back to Gatwick. They put on free coach from Gatwick to Southampton on the way.
eyeballkerry I’ve never had a free coach. Is it a Caribbean cruise leaving the uk for its winter period?
Never been on a cruise and never will, the enormous size of one gives me the heebie jeebies and the thought of being surrounded by water with no land in sight feels me with dread.
Pinkspirit I have been many cruises and the size of ship seems to get smaller the longer you are on. You find your way around and some parts are not relevant to you. As for being surrounded by water, it can sound scary but at least it has life boats unlike an aeroplane.
I went once but there were so many downsides from broken glass under the bed when we arrived to toilets backing up, making them unusable and the free-for-all at the top deck buffet (a bit like a rugby scrum!). I would never go again.
tumblespots You seemed to have a very bad experience and not surprised it put you off. Which cruise ship were you on? It’s such a shame that happened to you.
eyeballkerry It was a P&O ship (Oriana?) back in 2016. There were so many things wrong with the cruise that we were going to complain when we got home, but it would have taken weeks to write it all down so we didn't bother. We just decided to get on with our lives and not waste any more time on it.
I have been on seven cruises and have two more booked for this year. It all started just over two years ago when we wanted to do something different to celebrate our anniversary. Once booked we panicked and hoped we would get Covid and couldn’t go. I usually get sea sick and we hate crowds. But after our first cruise we were hooked. We still go on other holidays as well. Any questions about cruising please feel free to ask.
I would love to go on a cruise one day to see the northern lights. I do get sea sick but the pills help and they are big so might not be too bad
My parents have been on a few cruises and they love it. You do get off the boat, they stop at different places every day. They have never gotten ill. My mum and I went on a Norwegian cruise when I was younger. It was brilliant. The cabin was nice, just a standard cabin but it was a good size, food was fantastic and the entertainment was great. Went on a Nile Cruise too with my parents when younger and again it was fantastic.
Pjran we didn't spend much time in the cabin either. The cabins had everything we needed. I remember on the Nile cruise we would go back in after our day out and the maids had made animals out of the towels. I was always excited to see what they had made each day. I made my dad take photos of them.
MrsCraig We always get a cabin with balcony. One time on a ship we asked to look at the inside cabins. We were given a key and had a look. They are unfortunately not for us. We use the cabin quite a bit so worth the extra. We have had a suite twice and highly recommend if you the extra cash.
eyeballkerry my mum and dad got a suite on their last cruise. They said it was lovely but for the extra money they said they were just as well to get a cabin with a balcony. Don't think they thought it was worth the extra as they didn't spend that much time in the suite.
MrsCraig We got a really good deal. We paid an extra £500 for the two weeks and upgraded from a balcony to suite. This then included all the extras, it was definitely worth it for us. The size the cabin was amazing.
eyeballkerry that is a good price for 2 weeks, my parents paid a lot more extra than that unfortunately. They would get a suite again, but don't think they would pay as much. I don't think theirs included any extras either.
MrsCraig They should have got some extras included. We got a bottle of wine, fruit and sweets. We had a butler on call and had canapés delivered to our cabin every night. Our cabin was cleaned twice a day. We had the privilege of going to the better restaurant for breakfast. The butler came and drew the curtains at night, turned down the bed and left chocolate. All a bit over the top but we appreciated it.
eyeballkerry I think they got to go to the better restaurant for dinner each night but that was it. Certainly no butler or canapés.
I'd love to go on a cruise but my Mrs is terrified of boats and going into the sea or ocean
martinlufc5637 Have you thought about going on a river cruise. I haven’t been on one but they sound very nice. I think you get more of a personal service as they are a lot smaller than the cruise ships.
eyeballkerry she has a fear of water, we've travelled the world and I've never seen her in the sea or a swimming pool
I turn 59 next Friday, share my birthday with Queen Victoria & want to be amused on my 60th next year!
My partner is just in the process of booking our first ever cruise for my 60th next year, yes I'm apprehensive, nervous but excited too..
My hairdresser goes on cruises with her husband regularly as does my cousin & her husband, they love them..
janphoenix51 if you husband contacts the cruise company before you sail to let them know it’s your birthday they usually provide a celebration cake.
Pjran Unfortunately this was not the case with us. My mother tried to get a bottle of drink put in our cabin but P&O said they dont do it. Not sure if she went down the right route. As far as I know P&O will not provide anything for celebrations for free, could be wrong. You can have flowers delivered to your cabin at a cost. My waitress on board did arrange a lovely surprise in Sindu for me on my birthday. She had decorated the table, provided a bottle of wine and paid for our meal, but we are her unofficial English mum and dad.
eyeballkerry we’ve had cakes presented at the table in the past but requested that the waiter don’t sing. Of course you don’t need an extra food on a cruise 
This was presented to us by our waitress ( our unofficial daughter). She surprised us for our wedding anniversary, so thoughtful.
Pjran ...What husband...
Never married,been together 27 years on June 1st, his late Mum's birthday..Moved in with him a year later...June 1st..
Don't mind the celebration cake, don't want the big fuss though...
Never been on a cruise myself although my Aunt and Uncle love them. Since the media coverage of passengers being trapped onboard due to Covid and other unpleasant illnesses I hate the idea of being told I can not leave a ship should something like that happen.
EmmaWright762 Unfortunately in the news yesterday the ship Ventura has been the bug that is spreading around the UK. So people are quarantined to their cabins. This is down to people not being hygienic. This really winds me up when I am on board and people can not do the basic wash your hands before eating, wash your hands after going to the toilet. My husband tends to call them out. Hand sanitiser is freely available around the ships.
JLouM Problem these days doesn’t matter where you go, there are always unhygienic people. We do tend to avoid the buffet. I have seen people pick up an item then put it back. Ewwwwwww.
eyeballkerry ...My partner, daughter & I have carried Hand Sanitiser & Tissues for years , long before David's unwelcome relative Covid!
Women can be as bad as men for NOT washing their hands properly..
I was in Meadowhall Shopping Centre, Sheffield a few weeks ago & a black lady was watching me throughly washing my hands...Lady thought I had OCD & offered her handwash, I said I'm a Support Worker so always washing my hands, she smiled & replied that she was an retired Nurse so does the same!
Yes years ago in Egypt. It was lovely. It was on the nile and an easier way to see the things we wanted to see and not be in a coach all day. I'd go on another one somewhere else
Jerseydrew My silly old dad and his girlfriend went to Egypt before he passed away (Dec 2022). Absolutely true to form my old school Dad did not realise how hot it would be or that he would be steeped in culture should they venture away from the hotel. The girlfriend was disgusted by the beggars and they spent most of their holiday in the hotel grounds. What a waste of a holiday and good fortune this was on them two.
I have friends that will only cruise now and nothing else, may think of trying the water at some stage.
HEDGEHOGS We got very addicted to cruising but we still enjoy doing something else. We recently came back from a villa holiday in Portugal and we are off to Lanzarote end of the month staying in a villa. Cruises are great, but very tiring. Once in a villa I can really relax.
We sailed across the Atlantic from Southampton to New York on Queen Mary 2 which was an amazing experience.We started off from Southampton in foggy conditions and then mid Atlantic it was a bit choppy but being in bed we felt that we were being gently rocked to sleep.During the crossing, we saw no other ships which we found a bit strange.The Captain advised us at one point that we were close to where Titanic went down but no icebergs visible on that day! A wonderful experience all round especially when coming into New York and seeing the Statue of Liberty welcoming us in.
SueWard We are sailing from Southampton to the Caribbean in October. We sleep so well on the ships, as you say with the gentle rocking it really helps you sleep. Not sure I would want to know where Titanic went down!
SueWard many years ago I did a transatlantic crossing. We were half way when we hit a dreadful storm. The ship was REALLY rocking so much that there were very few passengers wandering around the ship and we were told not to go outside. To cut a long story short I got chatting with an officer and asked if there’s anywhere safe I could sit outside. He took me upto the helipad and arranged an afternoon tea.
Pjran Well that was really nice of him. The ship I’m going on doesn’t have a helipad. We have had it a rough where they close the outside areas and have also shut the balconies completely on the lower decks.
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