Anyone been on a cruise?

Vanilla · 20 Nov 2012

***EDIT - PICS AND GENERAL INFO POSTED BELOW** WILL UPDATE**

So i'm going on a cruise in December. I'm taking my elderly father who has always wanted to go on one.

We had a great deal as we know a few people in the industry. The cruise is 11 days and goes to Spain (Tenerife), Portugal (Funchal), Morocco and Italy.

Any advice? I'm expecting this to be an OAP fest but many friends who have been have said it's not - there will be a lot of 'young' people in the same situation as me.

Been advised to bring everything i need with me (Euros, seasickness tabs) and anything to avoid buying things on the ship.

Really looking forward to it

Tunney · 20 Nov 2012

A cruise... to Madeira. Yeah, that's going to be an OAPfest. You might strike it lucky and find a couple of other people under 70. Cling onto them for dear life.

Skidder · 20 Nov 2012

I have been on one cruise which I won in a raffle, I was about 28 I guess and had a great time. It was great fun but it was a very relaxed ship (as I think many are now) with none of the captain's table and black tie nonsense. It was around the Yucutan peninsula, Belize and Honduras so mostly yanks. It was a windstar four masted sailing ship so smaller than the big gin palaces (only 300 people). I personally like active holidays so did something every day like snorkelling, kayaking, rafting, hill walking etc. but equally you can just slob out.

I am sure you will have a wonderful time and good on you for making it happen for your dad.

Kosmiche · 20 Nov 2012

I can't decide if a cruise would bore the crap out of me or if I'd enjoy it.

[TW]Fox · 20 Nov 2012

Eames said:
I can't decide if a cruise would bore the crap out of me or if I'd enjoy it.

I was like this. Some of the idea appealed.

Then I got a ferry to Calais and was bored out of my mind within 60 minutes. No amount of bars or swimming pools would have convinced me to do it for 6 days

4T5 · 20 Nov 2012

Good on ya for taking your old Dad. :cool:

Should be some fun in the Doris that do the entertainment & who work on board so not all hope is lost.

arknor · 20 Nov 2012

i heard the old birds are right goers and they wont take no for an answer.

Vanilla · 20 Nov 2012

I'm hoping it will be good. We embark at Barcelona and are flying out the day before so we can have a wander around.

From there it goes Casablanca > Tenerife > Funchal > Malaga > Civitavecchia > genoa > Barc.

The ship is about a year old and is the fifth largest ship type in the world (140k tonnes, insert mum joke here). I have my own balcony room. Out of the 11 days there are only four days at sea. You hit a port early in the morning so as soon as you wake you can explore.

Now the bad things I have found during my research:

- Can't bring own alcohol on board. They search so you have to smuggle and risk gettign kicked off. Alcohol on board can be expensive.

- Excursions run by the ship are pretty expensive.

arknor · 20 Nov 2012

certainly goes to the rigth destinations if you want to be pray for a cougar hunt onboard the ship LOL

mr.bond · 20 Nov 2012

been on 2 cruises, love them.
you'll have fun, see a few differnet places, put on a stone weight and get drunk, enjoy it.

swillsy · 20 Nov 2012

I've been on one and your right everything gets crazy expensive! drinks, trips and photos!
They are awesome for chilling out and seeing different sights however don't get your hopes up all you'll see is young families and old people

liverpool199 · 20 Nov 2012

I went on a cruise in june this year (around the med) and before i went i was absolutly dreading it. I loved every minute of it, the food was fab and 24 hours a day. entertainment was really good (if you didn't enjoy the enthertainment you just walked to the next bar) and the drinks prices were around what you would pay in your local pub
Most of the other passangers were o.a.p but there were quite a few younger passangers onboard.

Paul11 · 20 Nov 2012

i been on a cruise, thought it was brilliant

was much better than i expected

2blue4u · 20 Nov 2012

I've been on one and I loved it. Wasn't too sure about taking a cruise beforehand but this was free (so was everything on board), six star luxury and all suites on board. It included a stop at Civitavecchia and Genoa.

I can't really comment about it being an oapfest as ours involved one company taking over the entire ship.

Although, from what I've heard, you will need plenty of stamina

AHarvey · 20 Nov 2012

Vanilla said:
- Can't bring own alcohol on board. They search so you have to smuggle and risk gettign kicked off. Alcohol on board can be expensive.

- Excursions run by the ship are pretty expensive.

Don't drink? it's not the be all and end all of a holiday.

Research the places yourself so you know where to go and avoid the excursions.

Although the worst thing that can happen would be it sinking and as you're out at sea you can't easily escape and maybe there's no one to rescuse you and either you drown or get eaten by sharks.

Andybtsn · 20 Nov 2012

We've been on two cruises. Both with Royal Caribbean.
The first set sail from Miami and went round the Carribean, we went to Haiti, Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Mexico. That was a 7 day cruise, you spend a day at each place, the rest is sailing.
Second time we set sail from NYC and again did the Caribbean but for 10 days, we went to Haiti again (it had changed a lot in two years), Dominican Republic, St Kitts and St Thomas. I think 10 days was a bit too much that time but we still really enjoyed it.

Make sure you get a room with a balcony. Oh and there is so much things to do on the ships, you should never be bored unless all you like is PC gaming

The food is great, fantastic service, rooms are a good size (depending on what option you go for), I love it.

I want to do an Alaska cruise next but we may do a hot one next year with a small child

Our room was the top one nearest to me taking the pic, going out on the balcony at night in storms is a but surreal!

doofer · 20 Nov 2012

Considering most Cruise Lines have what are in effect Male Escorts on board to entertain the ladies and lots of old rich guys have young fit wives... Even if you end up on a boat with nothing but horny old grannies, always good to remember that worse things happen at sea.

Cosimo · 20 Nov 2012

4T5 said:
Good on ya for taking your old Dad.

LiE · 20 Nov 2012

Went on my first cruise last year with RC (Independence of the Seas), it was a fantastic holiday. So good in fact, we are going with RC again next year in June (different stops).

The ship will always keep you busy, the food and service is great and plenty of things to do. You'll love the days at sea where you can relax after doing several full days in port. Have a look into some excursions in advance as they will likely get full closer to the sail date.

Tenerife was one of my favourite stops, lots of great places to see. Funchal was good, you can take the cable car to an area that has some stunning views and the famous sled rides.

Pawnless Endgame · 20 Nov 2012

I'll need a much higher paying job before I can cruise, but congrats Vanilla, and good on you for treating you Dad too!

Funnily enough, we were only talking about cruises last week. One of them is going to the Norwegian Fjords next February. Not exactly the sunniest place but the ship is supposed to be comfy. Restaurants, bars, casino, cinema, live entertainment, fitness suite. Not sure what age group goes; colleague goes every 5 years over the last 20 years or so. Married to a police officer, so they've got a bit of cash.