I've Been Thinking About Taking a Cruise

I appreciate you seriously considered the trip as part of the whole don't knock it before you try it philosophy.  You go in thinking you will hate something, you probably will. However, I do think despite this you would have been able to give a fair assessment of cruising.  Much like thinking you would love RVing didn't keep you from being able to give an honest evaluation.  Perhaps if you found a cruise (ship, itinerary, etc.) that included a bit more of the things you do like about travel you would try it?

Once again, Pam, you blow me away w/ your candor. Very cool.

And commenter Elyse of www.anonymoustraveler.com ( http://www.anonymoustraveler.com ) -- great tips!

Hi Pam, 

There are many things you might want to consider before you finally take your cruise.

I am a travel writer so I do travel often.  I have gone on many FAMS and Press Trips.  I have paid for many cruises as well.

I have cruised with friends,  alone with my kids, , with extended family, colleagues, alone with my spouse and alone with girlfriends.  

I've been on big-big boats and super small ones.

Over the last 9 months I have been taken 3 cruises.  2 different Mexican Riviera Cruises (NCL & Princess) and an Eastern European River Cruise that was hailed as top of the line though I wouldn't support that rating after my experience. (UNIWORLD). 

Regarding the offer of a 'mini-suite.'  Mini-suites are often glorified balcony cabins and can be far from glamorous.  Depends on the cruise line.

There are no standards for what it includes.  As an example on NCL a mini-suite does not come with suite amenities such as private concierge bookings. Also, each ship on each line is as different as can be.  I have been on 3 NCL cruises and 4 RCC.  You can't assume that the experience on one ship reflects the other on the same line  

Be careful with what concierge service includes as well.  That too can be very misleading.  At its worst it is upgraded towels and floor mats.  At its best it is a person catering to your whims.  

Make sure you bring a bad of medicine for what might occur.  Ginger tablets are benign and can be effective with sea-sickness.  Keep in mind that the size of the ship can affect sea sickness.  Also the water you are cruising and the time of the year are factors.

While on medical issues: I had a very scary medical experience on a cruise which is written about on my site which I will reference below.  

If you are sick, insist on being worked up - not just looked at and written off as norovirus which is often the case.   The ship often protects itself from your symptoms so be pro-active (just in case)

My site http://www.travelersanonymous.com has a section on Cruises.

It is under Special Interest Travel where you can read lots of tips and stories.  

Why do I still cruise? 

I like being able to go to a lot of places and not pack and unpack.  
On the cliche Ocean Cruise - it is age-range and demographic friendly meaning your kids, parents, etc. can accompany you.
The rooms are user- friendly albeit often basic.  
Food is dependable and on most ships in abundance. if you go hungry on an Ocean Ship, it is your own fault.  Now on River Ships, mealtimes are structured and snacking options are limited at best.  
Participation in activities or shore excursions are your choice.  
You can truly stick within a budget.  If you plan well and shop the deals, it is cost-effective.  You pick the line, the cabin, the activities.  You pick the extras.

Regarding the days at sea.   When on an upscale line, I have often enjoyed the day or two at sea.  It gives you a chance to enjoy the ships amenities and to relax.  

Last summer my husband and I went on a Med. Cruise and felt that an extra day at sea would have made the trip perfect. 

And one last but very important tip:  On board when staff offers you something always ask "Is this included?"  

Cruise lines make lots of money in extras and sometimes the way they offer you a product can be misleading.   if you aren't a veteran cruiser you might think that the bottled water at dinner in the Specialty restaurant is included.  

The waitperson approaches with 2 bottles of water and asks, "Do you want water with gas or without?"  A first time cruiser wouldn't think to ask, "Is that included or extra?"  

My answer is "Tap water will be just fine."  

Elyse Friedman Caiello (www.anonyoustraveler.com ( http://www.anonyoustraveler.com ) & www.travelersanonymous.com ( http://www.travelersanonymous.com ))

I think you made the right decision for you.

The only cruise I've even been on was a on a 12-passenger in Alaska's Prince William Sound. I'd to that again in a heartbeat...but I'd have a difficult time seeing the appeal of a trip on a big, big boat with a bunch of organized activities, casinos and endless meals (nope--I'm not big on the idea of Vegas, either).

www.midwestguest.com ( http://www.midwestguest.com )

I took a ship to Spitsbergen in the Arctic because it was the only way to see the place. It was emphatically not a "cruise" though - we were on a small ship that took only 50 passengers and I spent most of my time either kayaking or on shore.

Aside from that, my only cruising experience was for the purpose of a marketing conference and they were so determined that we would work rather than have fun, they drained the pool.

Even if I did like cruising, I would not take a cruise because they are one of the most environmentally and socially damaging forms of travel ever invented. Flying around the world is more ethical as far as I'm concerned!

i've never been on a cruise before, but the idea of being trapped on a ship terrifies me. i'm much more content to do an all-inclusive vacation instead.

www.shebecameabutterfly.net ( http://www.shebecameabutterfly.net/ ) and www.msmodern.com ( http://www.msmodern.com/ ) and www.taking-back-control.com ( http://www.taking-back-control.com )

It cracks me up all over the place that one of your indicators for a good cruise is "Not too much time at sea." I get it, I totally do, but you gotta admit the irony. You gotta.

Nerd's Eye View ( http://www.nerdseyeview.com )@nerdseyeview

I have enjoyed the 3 cruises that I have done, and yet I am also not a big cruiser. I am not a big fan of shuffleboard or bingo so when I pick a cruise I want to know that either there will not be that much time at sea or there will be something more interesting to do and an interesting group of people to hang out with. 

For our 25th anniversary my wife and I did a Shakespeare / MacMania cruise to the Panama canal. When we were at sea we were in classes and performances with a very interesting group of people. Not a cheap option but more fun, for me, than the midnight buffet.

And since David Foster Wallace already coined the phrase "a supposedly fun thing I'll never do again" about his cruise experience then it's better that you skip, right?

I think in addition to the fact that you'd have found it unpleasant (for you) is that you are a person who has strong likes and dislikes, but you don't relish the negative. Some people get rich and famous for not liking things, putting themselves in places that feel uncomfortable to them, etc. Not being one, I think you made a fabulous choice.

Also maybe someone else now gets a chance to go! Win-win.