“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.” -Nelson Mandela
The first cruise that my husband and I went on was in 2008 and we loved it so much, we took a second cruise only 9 months later. Since then, we have taken as many cruises as possible and we are constantly looking for our next one.
There is much to love about cruising! When we first started taking cruise vacations, we wondered why we had waited so long to start cruising and I don’t think we had an excuse. However, as much as we love it, we understand that cruising isn’t for everyone. If you are afraid to cruise or if you have only taken one cruise that left you with the impression that it isn’t for you, let me encourage you to try again.
Reasons that I’ve heard people use for not liking cruising:
“I don’t know how to swim.”
I can’t tell you how many times I have heard someone use this as an excuse to avoid taking a cruise. My response is, okay, so don’t get into the pool or go to the beach. The odds that you will end up in the water otherwise are very low!
Other comments that I have heard surround the vastness of the ocean and the perceived deep below. This is more understandable but this can be a simple change in your mindset. The ocean is so very beautiful and the ocean blue at sea is surprisingly vibrant. I try not to contemplate how deep the ocean is around us and try to enjoy the view instead. I would also point out that your ship might be closer to land than you realize, depending on your cruise.
“There was nothing to do.”
If you came off of a cruise ship with this excuse, I am truly confused.
Part of the ship’s crew is dedicated to passenger entertainment and those crew members organize and host activities and events, day and night, all over the ship. The daily schedule for these events is often provided nightly to your stateroom, can be viewed on your ship’s app, or can be viewed on your stateroom TV. Check the list every night for the following day. You could choose from watching or participating in a ship-board contest, enjoying a band on deck, taking a tour of various parts of the ship, enjoying a wine tasting, testing your luck in the casino, taking a class or seminar on any number of topics including informational sessions on your ports of call, playing bingo, shopping in onboard shops, enjoying a relaxing spa day, competing in a karaoke contest, or attending an art auction just to name a few activities.
If you aren’t interested in scheduled events on sea days, consider bringing your own entertainment such as reading a book, playing cards or games in the ship’s library, people-watching, enjoying the pool deck, taking a nap (or two), or trying a combination of organized activities and relaxing on your own. I have even loaded movies and TV shows on a mobile device to watch but many cruise ships now offer movies in their theatres or on stateroom TVs.
There is always something to do on a cruise ship and cruising is one of those vacations that can be what you make it. If you enjoy an all inclusive resort, cruising is the same idea except that you are moving and have the chance to explore a new country at each port of call.
“I don’t like being fussed over.” or “I don’t want to get dressed up.”
I understand these emotions. While my husband and I don’t mind a little fuss, we have our limits, especially at dinner. Most cruise lines offer flexible dining options for which the service levels can vary. Mix these options up so that one night you are fussed over and another night you are on your own. Don’t feel like you HAVE to eat in the formal dining room every night and the variety might be more enjoyable.
Formal nights aren’t our thing either. We don’t mind getting dressed up but we would not enjoy a cruise that required a suit, tie, and formal gown every night. Most cruise lines offer flexibility here as well. If you wish to get into your formal gear, there are usually one or two set formal nights depending on the length of your cruise but even then, it is not required for you to wear formal gear. We prefer more of a dress code that in my work life would be considered business casual. You know, somewhere between shorts and a tee-shirt and a tuxedo and gown but we don’t want to do this every night either. We enjoy a more casual vacation. Overall, there is an option that is comfortable for everyone. Don’t let this be your excuse not to try cruising.
“I get seasick.”
Happily, I don’t suffer from seasickness. In fact, during one of our cruises to Bermuda, the seas were so rough, the crew closed the outside decks to passengers. The high winds and rough seas resulted in one of the wildest cruise legs we have ever experienced. But instead of suffering like most of my fellow cruisers, I happily enjoyed a waffle for breakfast while my poor husband felt sick to his stomach.
I know that the sensations and resulting symptoms of seasickness are not fun. Some passengers are sensitive to the normal motion of the ship on a calm ocean while others don’t experience seasickness unless the ocean is rough and stormy.
Fortunately, today’s cruise ships are very large and the technology built into them is designed to minimize some of the rolling motion that might trigger seasickness. I would also point out that cruise ship captains purposefully steer their ships out of the way of storms and rough seas whenever possible. As a result, I can report that of the many cruises we have taken, only two of our trips have had one rough sea day.
If you think seasickness is an issue for you, there are ways to cope! First, consult with your doctor before leaving home for options to help. Some medical options can help you with your symptoms or even prevent them. If you are very sensitive to motion sickness, to make sure that you don’t suffer excessively, book a short cruise to see if the medical options can help you on a longer cruise.
If the drugs help, additional tips I can offer can also help. Since we love to cruise, we have learned how to manage on the rare rough sea day. When your ship encounters rough seas, find a spot to spend the day that is mid-ship and on the lowest deck that is open to passengers. This ensures that you will feel less of the ship’s motion that might bother you. In addition, refrain from looking out at the horizon and limit your movement around the ship. All of these efforts have helped to prevent my husband’s rare seasickness.
I hope that I have been able to dispel your preconceived concerns about cruising and that you’ll consider trying a cruise.
Let’s Just Go! 