There's more to cruises than Bingo, buffets and bus tours
Let's bust some myths about cruising. The author discusses the benefits of cruises, including flexible schedules and strict schedules. While the ships are typically filled with older passengers, different cruise lines aim for different customers, including Carnival, Disney, Norwegian, or Royal Caribbean, for example. The author notes that while the passenger list on a Princess cruise tends to be older, you can also see young families and singles traveling alone or together. Activities such as children's programs and family friendly cruises can provide a fun and family-friendly experience, while others prefer a more relaxed experience. The writer also notes that passengers can eat at buffets all day and night and exercise while eating well, often without reservations. The article also discusses seasickness, the comfort of sleeping on a cruise ship, and the convenience of living on a tiny room compared to older ships.
Published : 2 months ago by ELIZABETH SNYDER [email protected], liz snyder in Travel
2) You’re on a strict schedule. The only time you must know is when the ship sails. As long as you don’t miss the boat, everything else is flexible. On the new Sun Princess, for example, you can eat breakfast between 6 and 11 a.m., or any time of the day in the “Americana Diner” restaurant. You can design your own schedule, doing a lot of activities, or doze in a chair with an open book resting on your chest while you pretend to read.
3) The ships are filled with old people. While it’s true the passenger list on a Princess cruise skews toward an older demographic, you’ll also see young families and singles traveling alone or together. Different cruise lines aim for different customers, so if you’re looking for young, party-hearty types, jump on a Carnival cruise to the Bahamas. Want plenty of kids’ programs and a family friendly vibe? Try a Disney, Norwegian or Royal Caribbean cruise. And if you do want a genteel experience, filled with senior citizens, Holland American fits the bill, along with river cruises. Of course, these are just generalizations. I knew one young couple, several years ago, who loved going on Holland America cruises because “we can walk faster than everyone and be first in line for the buffet and shows.” Whatever works for you.
5) You’ll be seasick the whole trip. Cruise ships have stabilizers that help keep a ship upright and prevent it from rolling from side to side. I also take a good old Dramamine pill before I go to bed, just in case and to help me sleep, and any time the seas get rough. (I am prone to motion sickness and also pop a pill before bus trips.) I’ve rarely been sick on a ship and find it better to stay ahead of the game, not waiting until I feel nauseous.
6) All you do is eat at buffets, all day and night. It’s true you can easily graze your way through each day on a cruise, but you can also be quite active. The Sun Princess, like most of today’s ships, has a well-equipped fitness center, along with free Zumba classes. You can also get in thousands of steps each day just by taking the stairs instead of the ship’s elevators. That’s an easy way to stay active without thinking about it. As for buffets? We prefer eating in the dining room, enjoying a good meal with great service.
7) In ports, you’re herded onto crowded bus tours. That’s certainly an option, but you can also tour each place independently or book your own small-group tour, either through the cruise line or a tour company. The choice is yours. Depending on the port, I’ve enjoyed everything from walking through the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia, to riding an ebike in Norway, all while on cruise ship excursions. Passengers also hire guides for private tours or set off to wander through a local market on their own. Again, the choice is yours.
8) The cabins are tiny, with even tinier bathrooms. Assuming you can’t afford a suite — or just don’t want to spend your money for the extra space — you will be in a fairly compact room. On older ships, it can feel quite cramped. However, on a new ship like the Sun Princess, the cabin space is so well designed that, on this trip, we had drawers we never used. (And I’m a notorious over-packer.) Same goes for the bathroom. It’s not huge, but it was just fine.
9) I have to eat dinner at set times and/or with people I don’t know. Again, this was true years ago, but today, most cruise lines offer flexible dining options. You can always eat at a buffet or other “alternative” restaurant onboard or show up at the main dining for “anytime dining,” with or without a reservation. As for seating, you can eat with other passengers — it’s a fun way to meet people — or request a table-for-two.
10) I need to cruise with another person or a group to enjoy myself. On every cruise, you’ll meet people who are solo travelers. The cruise line even hosts “solo travelers” get-togthers onboard. You can also meet people at the various activities like trivia and game shows as you join together on a team. Single supplements — the extra charge incurred by solo cruisers who stay alone in cabins made for two — are a drawback, but some lines waive or reduce these during promotional periods. Also, several newer ships from lines like Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Costa, Cunard, Holland America and Virgin Voyages have cabins for one, specially designed for people sailing by themselves.
Bottom line: Keep in mind that not all cruise vacations are created equal, and much of your experience will depend on a variety of factors like the cruise line, ship size, cabin type and itinerary you choose, not to mention whether the voyage is an ocean, river or even expedition cruise. Your best bet is to do some research and get out there!
Topics: Cruise Lines