Having hesitation about something you’ve never done before makes sense. It’s unknown. Expectations can be all over the place. Sometimes hearing someone else’s experience is enough to explore something your curious, but hesitant about. I am going to share common cruise concerns I hear from people all the time that hold them back from experiencing the joy of a cruise.
CLAUSTROPHOBIA
If you have never cruised, you may not realize how large the ship actually is. When you are out of your stateroom you may not even realize your on a ship. There are plenty of open space and open decks where you can get lots of fresh salty air. There are many floors. The restaurants, theatre, activities, spa, ect. are spread out and to get from one place to another you will most likely use an elevator. You and everyone else on board! The elevators can get pretty busy. There are many elevators which helps, but if being in an elevator really bothers you, you may want to plan ahead. Unless your a stair master champion and can easily scale 10 or more flights of stairs, your going to want to get a stateroom in an optimal location to everything you’ll be going to. You can also be patient and wait until it’s empty. Speaking of staterooms, if you are claustrophobic, you will probably be better off in a balcony room. Most of the wall leading out to the balcony is glass so that feels a little better, but being able to open the door and get fresh air makes a big difference.
MOTION SICKNESS
These ships are very large and the larger the ship, the less movement you feel. This is especially true in calmer Caribbean seas. Current ships are quipped with stabilizers and that helps reduce the sway. Most of the time you won’t notice, but if you are especially prone to motion sickness, it could impact your trip. Be prepared. Pack non-drowsy Dramamine or something similar. There are also small patches you can put behind your ear that some people swear by. There is always a small medical facility on board and they can help if you feel you need it. Stateroom location plays a role here too. The forward of the ship always has more movement. If seeing the water makes you sick, you may want to consider an inside room. I don’t know the science behind a portable fan, but it’s a must pack item if are prone to motion sickness.
NOT LIKING THE FOOD
Not liking the food is a surprising, but common concern I hear a lot. I can assure you, you have nothing to fear. There are so many different food options, you will find something you like. If you don’t like what you got, you can try something else. It’s all included. You have already pre-paid for that experience. Take the opportunity to try new things. If you don’t like it, go back to what you do like. You will not go hungry! There’s always the standard American diet choices like steak, pizza, chicken, fries, pasta, but their are also many other options to suit many diets. On our most recent cruise, there was a large section completely devoted to vegetarian and vegan options in the main buffet. There are always gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options at the main dining rooms and at the specialty restaurants. If a specific diet is of concern to you, ask your travel agent which cruise line or ship offers what you are looking for.
BOREDOM
If you are bored on a cruise, you picked the wrong ship or too long of an itinerary for you. Speaking with a travel agent who knows what kind of activities you like and what is on which ship could prevent this. Not all ships are the same. Don’t pick a cruise based on price or port location alone. You may end up regretting it. Sometimes, you don’t have a choice. If you are with a large group for instance. I really can’t imagine anyone being THAT bored with all there is to do. Try something new. Pick an activity you would never try at home. I bet you will have more fun than you can imagine. This is how I discovered the piano bar. I never heard of such a thing. We decided to go check it out and now it’s the first thing I look for. So fun!
YOUR NOT SAFE AT PORTS
Every port is different and you do want to know where you are going and learn about the country of the port you are stopping at. For the most part, if a cruise ship is docking there, it is relatively safe. You are surrounded by people (unless you decide to travel off the beaten path) and if you feel completely unsafe, you can always just head back to the ship. I would consider myself a cautious, aka “semi-paranoid” person and I have never experienced feeling unsafe. For some of the islands, tourism is their main industry, this is how they survive. They know how to hustle, so you may be asked if you want to buy something, but a polite no thank-you has always been sufficient. You are in another country and things are different. I have witnessed things like too many people squeezing in a taxi or no seat belts and I would not feel comfortable doing something like this and I wouldn’t. I’m always careful about the water, these kinds of things, but nothing nefarious.
CRUISES ARE FOR YOUNG PARTIERS OR BORING OLD PEOPLE
There is such a spectrum of people who cruise, they cannot be pigeon-holed. The commonality in people who like to go on cruises are they are people who; like to have fun, like to relax, like having choices, enjoy trying new things, and they want to make memories. The itinerary and cruise line you chose will have an influence over the demographic of your fellow cruisers. If you go on a transatlantic cruise through the Panama canal, expect to be surrounded by a bunch of history buffs and engineers. If the cruise line caters to families, obviously there will be younger people and children. More children are also cruising than ever before and these kids will surely grow up to be future cruisers with expectations and experiences to match. The cruise industry is constantly evolving and growing to better meet the needs, not only of their loyalists, but underserved and first-time cruisers. There is an effort on behalf of the cruise lines toward inclusion of guests with special needs in the form of accessible staterooms, pool lifts, vibrating alarms, braille, rentable wheelchairs, and crews trained to deal with autism. There is space for everyone and that is reflected in cruise guests.
If cruising is something your curious about, or if a group your are connected to wants to cruise, give it a chance. Your hesitation may be the only thing standing in your way and it may cost you a great vacation filled with amazing memories.
