Going on a cruise, what is it really like?

Viking and Cunard were lovely. Norwegian was t bad but the food wasn’t quite as good and they nitpick you with charges that are included with Viking and Cunard, so the lower up-front cost isn’t quite as low as you think. My favourite cruise was Star Clipoers, in a sailing ship going from Athens to Istanbul in a week via three Greek islands and three Turkish ports. The ship is small - maximum 170 passengers, but the food was great and so were the well-prepared shore trips.

It took me years to coax my husband into going on a cruise as he thought he would have to dress up in a Tuxedo.
But we went on our first last summer and enjoyed it so much we booked another two, if you want to dress up for the formal nights there are people in tuxedos and ball gowns, however we chose to dress in smart shirt and trousers and me in sparkly top and trousers there are a mix and each to their own thing.
There was never a problem getting a sun bed and the food was really nice but we only had lunch in the buffet which had a good choice.
We were advised not to go on P&O or MSC so chose Princess we went to Scandinavia on Sky princess and couldn’t find fault with anything and we are quite fussy.

Travelling on a plane but with added drowning.

We’ve done several Riviera cruises, mostly on Rhine/Danube. Lovely small boats, about 160 passengers. Casual dress, evening entertainment in bar very low key. Daily tours included but we often go off on our own. Plenty of seating on deck. Marella cruises in the Caribbean were good, we don’t bother with the entertainment. We are not sunbathers but there was definitely a problem with lounger hogging.

Agree with crazyH wholeheartedly! Been on a few Royal Caribbean cruises and they are terrific. Buffets suited us as well as we too didn't want to get formal, the entertainment was second to none, activities were amazing, day trips to different places and accommodation and food first class. Of course you didn't have to do any of the above or do all of the above. So very relaxing. The cruises we were on had a huge area for just children with their own club and entertainment to suit, of course their own or parents choice.

We love cruising, our favourite line is P & O, they have two adult only smaller ships, Arcadia and Aurora. Best thing about them are all pricing in £ and no extra 17 or 18% added to drinks, as do most of the other lines, and pricing in $ We usually opt for the itinerary we like and have used other lines, Princess, Celebrity, Azamara, (though the latter more expensive now than when we sailed a few years ago). We tend to avoid the bigger ships and have not tried Royal Caribbean or MSC which seem to cater more for families, nor Cunard,
Very much “horses for courses”. Try a shorter one to start. It might be like Marmite, love it or hate it!! Good luck.

I wouldn’t go on a ship with too many passengers, we went Cunard and thoroughly enjoyed it, wonderful food , room on the ship.

We went to Norway with Saga last year - our first cruise - apart from a Nile cruise. Couldn't fault it - the organisation, meals, facilities on board etc etc. Taxi service to Dover and having lunch on board within a few hours of leaving home - no hanging around at airports etc. All passengers treated with care and respect - and there were many with disabilities. The downside, in my opinion, was not seeing enough of the countries you visit when on a cruise, with most meals (all if required) taken on board. Yes, we docked in several different places, but you don't really get to experience the culture or lifestyle of the country you're visiting, as we have with other countries we've visited on holiday. So it depends what you want from a holiday. I would definitely go again, and we met some lovely people on board, but maybe when I'm a bit older or more frail and have less of an urge to explore. I'm in my 70s.

Our Saga cruise was wonderful, one all in price for everything, including insurance, drinks, craft classes, gratuities, some excurtions, the lot which are extra with most companies. You also are picked up at your door by car and returned. Food, entertainment activities all excellent and it's all taken care of in one package. For a first time cruiser, I highly recommend Saga, you'll be well taken care of.

This sounds like a good place to start

Ask Simon Calder
What would you suggest for a Norwegian fjords cruise?

edition.independent.co.uk/edition/uk.co.independent.issue.190125/204938/index.html

Love a cruise, each to his own, P&O at Christmas probably avoid them next time.
Celebrity definitely suited us better.
But for a first time you’d be as well chatting to travel agent who has personal experience you’d probably get more of an understanding.
So many to choose from.

I have been on two Caribbean cruises and one to Asia, all with Royal Caribbean cruise line. Wonderful holidays, very relaxing and was thoroughly spoilt for the entire 2 weeks. Book that cruise you won't regret it.

When occean village were around,years ago, i went on a 9 day med cruise, it was wonderful, but ìd never dare cruise again, after what happened in covid where they were spreading it easily & yet they wouldnt let them disembark- covid is still around, yet folk act like its dissapeared, also lots of other things are around too, this bad flu, & RSV, and a miriad of illnesses that we thought were a thing of the past, TB, measles, or what used to be considered mild, chicken pox etc and shingles too.No, sad as it is, i dont think id be subjecting myself to the risks in the confined space of everyone shoved together on a ship.

Saga is brilliant! We can only do ocean cruises as my husband has to get around on a mobility scooter and the river cruises are on much smaller ships.
Best point is that everything is all-in - gratuities, meals, drinks, some excursions, but best of all is a taxi from home to port & port to home. Food is excellent as is entertainment in a raked theatre. Saga now sails from Dover and Portsmouth only.
They have a couple of quiz/puzzle sheets and a small newspaper daily. Other cruise companies are avaiable!

We went on a cruise once - never again for me!

Butlins on a Boat.

Admittedly, it wasn't one of the cruise companies you pay tens of thousands of pounds for, but still.

Funnily enough, we know somebody who went on the same cruise and loved it.

So, you get what you pay for, and make sure the entertainment fits your preferences.

MiniMoon

Cunard, not as posh as you would imagine. Two formal nights on our cruise, but they aren't compulsory, you can eat dinner in the buffet. You don't have to take part in any of the activities or excursions if you prefer not to. We were on Queen Mary 2.
We went on a 7 night Norwegian fjords cruise with a company that no longer exists. Very relaxed, we loved every minute.
Do give cruising a try, it spoilt us for any other type of holiday.

We did exactly the same cruise, although we booked direct.

Wonderful food, nice cabins, lots of things to do - and actually I got quite bored because I am very bad at being contained within one establishment. I wanted to eat out and walk out at will.

Do not take this as a criticsm. DH and DD loved it but if you are the kind of people, who like to go out spontaneously, explore local cuisines. get in the car and drive to visit remote small historic sites - and I am one of those people - it is not for you.

My friend and I went on a Riviera Travel Cruise earlier this year, it was awful. Got on the ship at 8pm after travelling all day, then we were expected to be down for breakfast at 5.45am, we believed it was for the people going on the excursion. When we went down for breakfast at 8am, there wasn’t any. The manager told us that breakfast was at 5.45am, I said but we and lots of others were not going on the excursion so why would we need to be up at that time. When I complained about it to Riviera, they said we should have gone down for breakfast at 5.34am😳. Never go with them again.

We did a Silver Sea cruise some years ago and it was superb. Then decided with friends we would try a cheaper option with P&O. Never again. As with most things you get what you pay for, although I know many who have loved P&O, so each to their own. Dun cruisn’ now, but glad I had the opportunity to try it.

You sort of get what you pay for. Even on the cheaper cruises you don't need to be herded. I quite like it myself. However you get a daily Newssheet on most cruises so you can chose what you want to do or not. I would say that on the larger ships the sun loungers are all like sardines especially by the pool but you can often find a quieter space if you don't need to be by the pool. Also there is almost always plenty of space on port days when everyone else gets off for anything from 3-6 hours.

We enjoyed Norwegian Fjiords with P&O from Southampton some while ago. Great to sail into a different fjiord each day. There were 2 formal meals , DJ required but optional, buffets fine, food seemed to go on all day! We booked trips in advance. I don't think we would have been keen on a larger boat. But decided it was the best way to see the fjiords

We have done several good viking river cruises and then tried one not river and never again. Too many people, a bit grubby, days at sea a bit boring.

I went on my first and last recently, Royal Caribbean. I personally hated all of it, was seasick the whole time and the crowds and noise really got to me. That’s just me, my friends love that stuff.

So if the weather is really rough, and people would be ill, do they wait until things calm down before leaving port? Or would the whole trip then get out of sync?

Princess and Royal Caribbean are both great, didn’t like P & O as much. But love cruising, no airports, no luggage restrictions, no worrying about where to find that evening’s dinner, no worries about safety. We think it was better pre Covid but have just booked to Greenland and Iceland via Cornwall and Ireland. What other holiday would give us that?

We never expect to be entertained all day on board. I love sea days. I read and people watch. DH enjoys taking pics with his ancient camera and always seems to meet kindred spirits. He enjoys the lectures too.
I do suffer from mal de mer but just stay lying down in the cabin. It soon passes.
Key things for us 1) small ship, no crowding 2) a nice cabin 3) good food whenever we feel like it 4) no noisy entertainment/end of the pier type shows 5) company if we feel like it.
6) good organisation.
Viking Ocean certainly ticked all our boxes