Why I'm unlikely to ever "Cruise" (At least on a large ship)

[VPS]

I'm one of the "never" until looking at Norway for next year. Hurtigren seem to do interesting little side cruises up the coast e.g Bergen to Trondheim. I get seasick easily and it's ocean so don't want to go for more than a few days. Plus the trains are good for the interior.

I was supposed to do this earlier this year and was sick and unable to go. There is another TR on here about that cruise. Some friends of mine did it in September and apparently had one of the worst nights ever according to the captain. YMMV

 

[latawiec]

They did this last year for multiple cruises. I'm guessing they didn't clean the hull in a while.

Thanks for warning.

However, I was aware what happened last year and therefore decided to go on the seventh trip of the MS Queen Elizabeth in this summer season starting on 1st Feb 2024. So, hope similar (bio-security) risk is rather minimal.

Cunard · Queen Elizabeth · Ship Overview and Itineraries

Browse Queen Elizabeth cruise ship itinerary and find out more about the exciting ports this ship is sailing, including dates with the ship’s arrival and departure times.

cruisedig.com

 

[jb747]

Why wouldn't I cruise. People. Far too many.

 

[latawiec]

I was supposed to do this earlier this year and was sick and unable to go. There is another TR on here about that cruise. Some friends of mine did it in September and apparently had one of the worst nights ever according to the captain. YMMV

From my knowledge, seas of Atlantic Ocean are never completely quiet. However, in the north hemisphere storm are more prevalent between September and May.

We have been this year on cruise from London to Spitsbergen via Norwegian fjords and back starting on 20 June 2023.

And it was unbelievable weather, because we didn't have even one rainy or stormy day. Even in Bergen, the most rainy city in Europe we had sunny weather!

Similar weather happened also in 1973, when I was first time to Norway.

So minimize risk of exposure to storms I would select a summer season to travel to Norway.

 

[latawiec]

Why wouldn't I cruise. People. Far too many.

There are huge, medium and smaller ships.
I also don't like the huge crowded ships.

But I found some smaller, with below 1200 passengers, that are quite reasonable.

Before 2019 we liked the CMV's cruises on the Marco Polo and the Magellan ships.

Now the Ambassador Cruises operates two smaller ships the Ambience and the Ambition.

So, if you want you will find something suitable for yourself

 

[tgh]

Why wouldn't I cruise. People. Far too many.

aaaand yet…the people are one reason I cruise..
I suspect the clientele has changed, based upon our recent cruise.. but Silversea typically hosted an eclectic and interesting range
of well travelled well educated and well funded participants.
Dinner partners even on our recent cruise numbered a well published author of WWII history to an Aussie farmer from deep inland with the drawl to match to a steady stream of US and UK based folks from business and professional backgrounds.
To be fair I have not met a lot of ex fighter/airline pilots , so perhaps these folks seek a more er birds of a feather travel experience...

 

[RooFlyer]

Why wouldn't I cruise. People. Far too many.

Choose your cruise boat. My smallest for a 10 day cruise at Galapagos was 30. Heck, you can get down to 10 if you want to pay. Same for the cruises along the Kimberlies.

 

[RooFlyer]

But I found some smaller, with below 1200 passengers, that are quite reasonable.

Less than 300 for me! Crew to pax ratio not far off 1:1

 

[Quickstatus]

The problem is that smaller boats introduce their own set of issues...

Ocean stability is one thing.
Less chance to remain anonymous

 

[latawiec]

The problem is that smaller boats introduce their own set of issues...

Ocean stability is one thing.
Less chance to remain anonymous

Yes, ocean stability is one thing that small ships may not have. Medium and large cruisers are equipped with stabilizers used at stormy weather.
And with these at action the best cabin locations would be in the midship.

 

[Quickstatus]

And with these at action the best cabin locations would be in the midship

Or on land?

 

[RooFlyer]

The problem is that smaller boats introduce their own set of issues...
Ocean stability is one thing.

Well, I wasn't suggesting you do an Atlantic crossing in a tiny boat - but plenty of cruises occur in sheltered waters. Having done a cruise down the Kimberly coast Darwin to Broome as my first 'big boat' one (250 pax) - blue, warm, calm waters; infinity pool on board; drinkies on the pool deck looking at the sunset ... I'm always suggesting similar to those who want to 'try it'.

Less chance to remain anonymous

Stay home and watch the travel shows on the telly.

 

[SYD]

Well, I wasn't suggesting you do an Atlantic crossing in a tiny boat - but plenty of cruises occur in sheltered waters. Having done a cruise down the Kimberly coast Darwin to Broome as my first 'big boat' one (250 pax) - blue, warm, calm waters; infinity pool on board; drinkies on the pool deck looking at the sunset ... I'm always suggesting similar to those who want to 'try it'.

The Tasman Sea (AU <-> NZ) is one of the roughest waters in the world on bad days - tropical cyclones, remnants of cyclones and just good old Tasman Lows! Bass Strait is fun when cold fronts pass through!

Stay home and watch the travel shows on the telly.

But if you do step foot on a ship and potentially suffer…

And with these at action the best cabin locations would be in the midship.

Yes, midships and lowest deck should have the least motion for both pitch and roll. Neither of which bother me!

 

[tgh]

Less chance to remain anonymous

Oh my... we are graced with someone so auspicious that anonymity is precious…. really QS….


Small ships 250>500 pass are generally quite gentle in heavy weather, all have stabilisers and
try to make time through the night rather than at mealtimes.
I have been high up the front in very heavy weather and enjoyed the ride, but midships down low
certainly minimises longitudinal movement , lateral is less noticeable based upon location although the
length of the roll is greater up high.

 

[latawiec]

Well, I wasn't suggesting you do an Atlantic crossing in a tiny boat - but plenty of cruises occur in sheltered waters. Having done a cruise down the Kimberly coast Darwin to Broome as my first 'big boat' one (250 pax) - blue, warm, calm waters; infinity pool on board; drinkies on the pool deck looking at the sunset ... I'm always suggesting similar to those who want to 'try it'.



Stay home and watch the travel shows on the telly.

It is very good idea for those who afraid. Stay home.
However, if you not afraid and want yourself experience foreign places traveling is the only way.

I used all tourist activities from kayaking, sailing and also mountains tracking.
Now, when I am over 70 yrs old, I am taking easy and traveling mostly to one location and experiencing local attractions. Last January we have been from Perth to Hobart for two weeks to escape from our scorcher weather in Perth. In June 2023 we took a cruise to Spitsbergen and Norwegian fjords. It was a great experience.

In February 2024 we are taking again a cruise from Sydney to NZ.

We consider cruises as a very convenient way to visit foreign countries and places that we still didn't experience.

I will do it until I am fit and mobile and able to travel. Life is beautiful until you can experience it.

 

[drron]

The problem is that smaller boats introduce their own set of issues...

Ocean stability is one thing.
Less chance to remain anonymous

Not all small ships. The Silver Explorer which left Silversea yesterday was one of the most stable ships we have sailed on. We went through 3 Force 12 Atlantic gales whilst cruising on her. The worst was off Tristan Da Cunha where many of us lost glasses of wine but the next morning only 3 passengers didn't make it to breakfast.
The Explorer was the smallest cruise line ship we have sailed on at 118 passengers if full. but we have cruised on a 16 person catamaran in the Galapagos and an 8 person converted crab boat in Alaska's Inside Passage.

 

[Flyfrequently]

They did this last year for multiple cruises. I'm guessing they didn't clean the hull in a while.

It was a bad oyster!

 

[Lynda2475]

This thread is about NOT cruising, suggest the mods more all the fan boy posts to a more appropriate thread.

 

[justinbrett]

IMO, you can get all the pros of a cruise by flying to an all inclusive resort, and then you don't have the cons (like tiny rooms, strict port visit schedules and inability to leave and go somewhere else). Do a day cruise if you need a water fix.

I get a lot of people like cruises because they don't have to organise anything and the company takes them to all the sights without any fuss.

That's not me, I'm an independent traveller, I don't like other people organising my itinerary. I don't do multi-day land cruises either; even an organised day tour is a stretch for me.

 

[RooFlyer]

This thread is about NOT cruising, suggest the mods more all the fan boy posts to a more appropriate thread.

Most threads on AFF allow a diversity of views, and opinions. For instance, in the 'Airtags' thread, you keep posting about how great Tile is.


Don't like it, don't read it.