Do You Love or Hate a Cruise?

i haven't taken a cruise, but i'm told that they are so big that motion sickness isn't an issue unless one suffers from it severely.

my issue with them is being corralled with so many other people in a restricted space. eep!
khairete
S.

My DH loves them, I'm ambivalent.
I am very susceptible to motion sickness, especially on boats; however, cruise ships really don't bother me. Normal days at sea I don't even notice it. My doctor prescribes me a scopolamine patch (put behind the ear) that I take along in case there is a storm that kicks the waves up. So, this part is completely fine. (side note: Some ports aren't big enough for cruise ships to dock. When this happens, they take you on a small boat from the cruise ship to the shore. I have to use my patch for these trips, or I will get sick on the small boat before we get to the dock. But still, it's doable, I just need the patch).

I'm ambivalent because I like seeing and doing new things. I love when the ship docks and you can go on excursions. However, they are always a little artificial (the area right around the dock never reflects the rest of the country, it's all geared to tourists) and it always leaves me wishing I could spend more time on each island getting to see more. I think - with the amount of $ we spent on the cruise, we could spend a week on one of these fabulous islands and really experience the country.

What my husband loves about them is that they are almost completely stress free, with little advance planning other than deciding if you want to go on an excursion. You don't have to think about where you will go to dinner. You don't have to plan afternoon activities. You can play everything by ear. Want to go to formal dinner tonight and eat lobster? Then go. At the last minute you decide you just want to go to the pizza bar? That's ok too. You can lay on the deck and read a book, and if you get tired of that, wander around and find an activity - there is always something going on. Want to go dancing in the evening? Do it. Oh, wait, that excursion was more tiring than you thought it would be and you want to just lay around instead? That's ok too.

I like this about cruises too. But give me a choice between a week-long Caribbean cruise and, for example, a week in Costa Rica ziplining, hiking in the rain forest with monkeys, and seeing volcanos, and I'll pass on the cruise every time.

I've never been on a cruise and have no desire to go,

A lot of people love them!

Have fun!

I used to like cruises but as I have gotten older, I realize my time is short and I get anxious, especially if it's a longer cruise. I need stimulation, as in walking, and sightseeing, and there is only so much walking to do on a boat when you're out there for extended periods of time with a ton of other people around. A one-day cruise I can handle, but to be for days or weeks out in the middle of nowhere and being idle? I go nuts, especially if there are illnesses on board, then I really start feeling trapped and antsy. I need to keep busy, as in, cleaning, cooking, or something other than just sitting around vegging out.

I also don't like having my time limited when we do touch land. I want to take my time and see whatever I want to see, even if it's not offered on an excursion. I guess I am just too much of a control freak, I like to schedule outings like hiking in a park or forest, a museum, island exploring, going to local hangouts, eating like a local, taking in the culture, visiting the historic district, etc., and that is usually too much to do in a few hours or even one day on land. My friend gets motion sickness and brought dramamine on a one-day cruise to the Bahamas, which he used. We have been on smaller vessels since, and he's been fine, I think he was just nervous for his first time on water. I got sick on a cruise to the Bahamas, but I was also about 4 months pregnant at the time. I otherwise am fine.

I have never taken a Christmas cruise but my sister often cruises toward the end of the year, around NYE. She's one of the people that B describes, booking one or two per year in advance, the minute she is done with her last one. If you DO get motion sickness, the worst thing you can do is go indoors or lie down, stay outside, and look at the horizon -- that advice comes from a charter boat captain. Cruise ships also sell products like pressure point wristbands on board, in the gift shop. They usually have several options for motion sickness, if you do see it come up and didn't prepare, so don't worry about that. As others have said, you usually don't feel much at all on such a large boat. Anyway, it's worth a try to see if it's something you like or not, and I am a firm believer in trying everything once, twice if you like it. Hope you all have fun!

I've been told that most of the difference is being on a BIG ship. The bigger the ship, the less of an issue the motion sickness is. However, a big ship doesn't guarantee that you won't have any motion sickness. My mom went on a cruise on a large ship, and she still got sea sickness. That was hard for her because she could barely eat and had to leave the dining hall a lot :(

Don't use Dramamine. Instead, use Bonine motion sickness tablets. You can order them on Amazon if they aren't in your local drug store. I used these in Hawaii when I was doing a day long cruise around the island, and it was fantastic. I can barely get through an hour on a boat without being a mess. But friends told me to take a pill an hour before going to bed the night before, and then an hour before getting on the boat the next morning. I was able to eat, snorkel, talk to people, walk around the boat, and have no grogginess or nausea. What a difference for me! Dramamine just makes me groggy and I don't function well on it. Who wants to get on a boat and have trouble staying awake!

With a cruise that you are spend a lot of time on, I think that you might actually want to talk to your doctor about it. They have prescription patches that you can wear, which might be better than taking a pill every day, but the doctor can tell you that.

Have you considered a Disney cruise? I've read nothing but good things about them. Your daughter would love that and they think about the parents too. I would rather pay a little more money and know that you're going to have a very professional crew who care about your child and your family.

I have no desire for one myself but I've known people who love them so much that as soon as they finish one they book another for next year.
You can try it and see how you like it.

I experience extreme motion sickness on small boats, and you couldn’t pay me enough to go on a cruise, but everyone here seems to be saying big boats are different, so maybe worth a try. I’ve tried Dramamine, Bonine, Scopolamine patch, wrist bands and ginger chews, and recommend all of them for different sorts of car and plane trips, but nothing works for me on boats. Maybe see if anything works for you on smaller boats before you book, which will at least give you a sense of what tools you might have if you feel ill on a larger ship. My other idea would be to consider an all inclusive resort somewhere on land, next to water, so that you can enjoy the activities, meals, and opportunities to explore whatever area you you choose, and then maybe your husband and daughter could go on a day cruise while you stay at the resort.

Our family of four has been on two (Mediterranean and Hawaiian Islands). There are benefits of seeing many places in a week but only having to unpack once...the ship is your hotel. Food options are plentiful and that is helpful with non-adventurous eaters especially. There are shows and activities for all ages; we tour the port during the day but almost always participate in a ship activity at night.

Drawbacks are usually only one day at each port and usually only daytime hours as well. (Not true of Hawaiian Islands cruise though.) It also can be complicated, as often the good stuff to see is more than an hour away from the port so you have to either use public transportation, rent a car, hire a driver, or take a pricey ship-sponsored excursion.

Seasickness not a problem for our family, though we do get sick on small boats.

I am not a person to do one every year, but we have enjoyed the two we did. I would probably not do the Hawaiian one again because we like to snorkel and dealing with bathing suits and equipment and the way one looks after snorkeling...not the greatest for a cruise. I recommend cruisecritic.com for reviews and research.

I've never been but I have friends and family who just adore it. These huge ships just don't have the seasickness problem, though, that "normal" sized boats have. Short of a hurricane (which you won't have in December), I doubt you'll have a problem. We don't usually have a problem in skyscrapers during windstorms either - they're just too big to move.

The advantages are that there are tons of activities for all ages, and your kid can't really get "lost" because it's a large but finite environment. The supervision of kids' activities is usually very good. It's usually all-inclusive (or close to it) so you aren't pulling out your wallet all the time. You can go to different ports and not be packing/unpacking all the time as you would if you were driving/flying to new places. And if the ship visits a port you aren't interested in, you just stay on board and don't take the excursion.

The biggest problems most people talk about are illnesses (norovirus, bed bugs, etc.) and way too much food. Some have very formal dinners (which some cruisers just love because they have the wardrobe and like fancy stuff) while other cruises have tons of casual and family-friendly options. So research ahead of time so you know what you're looking at.

I would think a change of scenery would be great under the circumstances.

Love it! I've been on a cruise only once, though. I was 12 and my family went on a cruise to the Bahamas. I LOVED it!!

I have been on 2 cruises and hated them.
I felt stuck & was constantly worried about being in the middle of the ocean.
My husb gets motion sickness & he hated it the entire time.
There's only so much food you can eat & circles you can walk on that thing.
Even with the stops to go ashore & all of the activities on board....l was bored.

I have been on 8 cruises but never at Christmas. It is my dream however. If you get motion sickness ask your doctor for a Dramamine patch. I have never experienced motion sickness on a cruise but I have often seen people with a patch. There is also a doctor on board who can help you if you get sick. Cruises are so much fun. If I could afford it I would take one every year. The ships are large enough that you really cant feel the motion. Give it a try. Maybe start out on a 5 day cruise instead of a 7 day. Cruises are such a great way to see the world. I hope you will consider a cruise and have a good time while on it. Good luck