Common questions about cruising...
There are so many reasons people won't go on cruises, but many of them are fears that are unfounded. These are a few of the common sentiments of those who make excuses as to why they shouldn't go on a cruising experience -- (insert whiny tone here)
I am going to address these and add a bit of my personal experience in the matter, since I have actually gone cruising before, and let me tell you.. it was fun!
It's too expensive!
Okay, so it seems a little expensive at first. But you have to bear in mind this amount covers food, lodging, discounts on shore excursion options, possible lower airfare, shows, amusements, etc. (No, this doesn't include alcohol, sorry) If you really want to think about it, it ends up costing you less than a land based vacation (like a road trip, especially with the price of gas these days, sheesh!). Furthermore, if you book in advance, for instance, through a Travel Agent, you might actually be able to pay it over a period of time. When I went on my trip, it was with my mother, and she was the one paying, as it was a birthday present for me, but she had made arrangements to pay it in installments for nearly a year in advance, but it was more manageable than paying it all at once, and we had a great time!
There is also the possibility of having your trip during certain parts of the year, such as in the shoulder parts of the season (near the beginning or the end of a season) and it might be cheaper since it's not a high season kind of fare, which is usually more expensive. I'd recommend talking to a travel agent, or the cruise line booking representative.
I'll probably sink like the Titanic!
Uh.. no. You will not have a Kate and Leo "I'll never let go, Jack" moment on your cruise. That kind of occurrence is highly unlikely to the point of being nigh impossible. For one, since the Titanic, cruises do not "damn the lifeboats" for the sake of being more aesthetically pleasing. Rather, the lifeboats are actually visible on the outside around mid-ship. Secondly, as part of procedure, within 24 hours of your voyage you are required to partake in a safety drill which shows you how to get to your assigned lifeboat and includes usage of those lovely bright orange life jackets. For me, it was a loud, somewhat uncomfortable, hot, and echo-y experience. I hated it, but good grief did I ever appreciate it! I did take pictures of the process, as I was the official/unofficial photographer for our first cruise, ever (and my mom wanted pictures of everything!).
Safety is paramount on the seas, and thanks to the international regulations known as SOLAS (from the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea) all cruises have fire extinguishing systems, and smoke detectors to further contribute to passenger safety. For more information on passenger safety, MSN Travel has an article on Cruise Safety.
I'll get seasick!
There's actually a fat chance of this happening. Ships are really huge, and they have these things called stabilizers which keep the boat from rocking too much in water, ensuring a relatively smooth passage. I say relatively because if you're going against the current or if there's a small squall (that's a storm to you landlubbers) the seas can get a bit rougher, and you'll feel the motion of the ocean a bit more. But generally, you hardly feel it.. trust me. (I get motion sickness and I didn't feel a thing.) However, if you are really afraid of getting sick, don't hesitate to buy some Dramamine or Bonine from your local pharmacy. I recommend the non-drowsy stuff myself, because who wants to miss anything on their cruise?!? If you are unsure about taking meds on your vacation, or you just don't like pills, head to your doctor before you go, and see if you can get a Transderm patch, so that you don't have to take any pills. There are also more alternative and rather holistic remedies, as well. These include ginger capsules (ginger is a natural stomach soother for those queasy moments) and acupressure wristbands, which can also be found at your local drugstore.
I can't bring my kids!
Oh yes you can! Cruise companies are aware that their target customers bring kids, which means they have kid-friendly cruises. There are all sorts of supervised activities for all ages, from tots to teens. Some cruises even have babysitting available if you want to spend a romantic evening for two on the Promenade.. or whatever tickles your fancy.
I won't be able to stay in touch with people from home!
Yes you can! Sure, it costs an arm, a leg and a couple of other body parts to make calls from a cruise, especially on international waters, but most cruises nowadays have Internet cafes where you can pay for some Internet time and keep up with e-mail and send digital photos of your vacation to all your jealous friends! ;) I did it, and it wasn't too expensive. I was still able to keep in touch, and check up on my e-mails, which was important since I was about to go back to the university the following week.
I have a social phobia or a severe claustrophobia!
Then you probably won't like cruises. Cabins are not necessarily huge (unless you have some kind of suite or something), so they might make you feel a bit hemmed in, especially if you have an interior cabin with no window as opposed to one with a window. As for those who don't like crowds.. well, cruises tend to be somewhat crowded, full of different kinds of people, old and young alike. If these are your phobias... you might be better off in a different kind of vacation.
So be adventurous, take your cruise and explore that horizon... you just may enjoy it and want to come back for a second trip!
Until next time, clear skies and happy times!
- It's too expensive!
- I'll probably sink like the Titanic!
- I'll get seasick!
- I can't bring my kids!
- I won't be able to stay in touch with people from home!
- I have a social phobia or a severe claustrophobia!
I am going to address these and add a bit of my personal experience in the matter, since I have actually gone cruising before, and let me tell you.. it was fun!
It's too expensive!
Okay, so it seems a little expensive at first. But you have to bear in mind this amount covers food, lodging, discounts on shore excursion options, possible lower airfare, shows, amusements, etc. (No, this doesn't include alcohol, sorry) If you really want to think about it, it ends up costing you less than a land based vacation (like a road trip, especially with the price of gas these days, sheesh!). Furthermore, if you book in advance, for instance, through a Travel Agent, you might actually be able to pay it over a period of time. When I went on my trip, it was with my mother, and she was the one paying, as it was a birthday present for me, but she had made arrangements to pay it in installments for nearly a year in advance, but it was more manageable than paying it all at once, and we had a great time!
There is also the possibility of having your trip during certain parts of the year, such as in the shoulder parts of the season (near the beginning or the end of a season) and it might be cheaper since it's not a high season kind of fare, which is usually more expensive. I'd recommend talking to a travel agent, or the cruise line booking representative.
I'll probably sink like the Titanic!
Uh.. no. You will not have a Kate and Leo "I'll never let go, Jack" moment on your cruise. That kind of occurrence is highly unlikely to the point of being nigh impossible. For one, since the Titanic, cruises do not "damn the lifeboats" for the sake of being more aesthetically pleasing. Rather, the lifeboats are actually visible on the outside around mid-ship. Secondly, as part of procedure, within 24 hours of your voyage you are required to partake in a safety drill which shows you how to get to your assigned lifeboat and includes usage of those lovely bright orange life jackets. For me, it was a loud, somewhat uncomfortable, hot, and echo-y experience. I hated it, but good grief did I ever appreciate it! I did take pictures of the process, as I was the official/unofficial photographer for our first cruise, ever (and my mom wanted pictures of everything!).
Safety is paramount on the seas, and thanks to the international regulations known as SOLAS (from the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea) all cruises have fire extinguishing systems, and smoke detectors to further contribute to passenger safety. For more information on passenger safety, MSN Travel has an article on Cruise Safety.
I'll get seasick!
There's actually a fat chance of this happening. Ships are really huge, and they have these things called stabilizers which keep the boat from rocking too much in water, ensuring a relatively smooth passage. I say relatively because if you're going against the current or if there's a small squall (that's a storm to you landlubbers) the seas can get a bit rougher, and you'll feel the motion of the ocean a bit more. But generally, you hardly feel it.. trust me. (I get motion sickness and I didn't feel a thing.) However, if you are really afraid of getting sick, don't hesitate to buy some Dramamine or Bonine from your local pharmacy. I recommend the non-drowsy stuff myself, because who wants to miss anything on their cruise?!? If you are unsure about taking meds on your vacation, or you just don't like pills, head to your doctor before you go, and see if you can get a Transderm patch, so that you don't have to take any pills. There are also more alternative and rather holistic remedies, as well. These include ginger capsules (ginger is a natural stomach soother for those queasy moments) and acupressure wristbands, which can also be found at your local drugstore.
I can't bring my kids!
Oh yes you can! Cruise companies are aware that their target customers bring kids, which means they have kid-friendly cruises. There are all sorts of supervised activities for all ages, from tots to teens. Some cruises even have babysitting available if you want to spend a romantic evening for two on the Promenade.. or whatever tickles your fancy.
I won't be able to stay in touch with people from home!
Yes you can! Sure, it costs an arm, a leg and a couple of other body parts to make calls from a cruise, especially on international waters, but most cruises nowadays have Internet cafes where you can pay for some Internet time and keep up with e-mail and send digital photos of your vacation to all your jealous friends! ;) I did it, and it wasn't too expensive. I was still able to keep in touch, and check up on my e-mails, which was important since I was about to go back to the university the following week.
I have a social phobia or a severe claustrophobia!
Then you probably won't like cruises. Cabins are not necessarily huge (unless you have some kind of suite or something), so they might make you feel a bit hemmed in, especially if you have an interior cabin with no window as opposed to one with a window. As for those who don't like crowds.. well, cruises tend to be somewhat crowded, full of different kinds of people, old and young alike. If these are your phobias... you might be better off in a different kind of vacation.
So be adventurous, take your cruise and explore that horizon... you just may enjoy it and want to come back for a second trip!
Until next time, clear skies and happy times!
