6 outdated ideas about cruising
Don’t be tempted to dismiss cruising because of outdated ideas – there’s plenty onboard for everyone.
1. You’ll be cramped
If you haven’t set foot on a modern cruise ship, you might be thinking that you’ll be crammed into a tiny cabin, sleeping on a bunk bed and jostling for space on deck or in the restaurant. Not so. There’s a real focus now on passenger to space ratio so whether your ship carries 500 or 5,000 people, everyone will be comfortable. Cabins have come a long way too and usually start at the size of a decent hotel room and go all the way up to massive, two storey palaces.
2. You’ll be surrounded by kids and old people
Cruising is for everyone. That means you’ll find a huge mix of people onboard from families with little kids to groups of friends travelling together, older couples, multigenerational families and everyone in between. You can also do a little research and choose the right kind of ship for you so you’ll be sailing with like minded people.
3. You’ll get bored
This one is almost impossible. The latest generation of cruise ships are packed with facilities ranging from skydiving and surfing simulators to cooking schools, waterslides to wine tasting sessions. Then there’s a packed calendar of activities every day with trivia, bingo, bridge, karaoke, movies, Broadway-style shows, live music and more. The best thing about a cruise is you can do as much or as little as you like.
4. You’ll get seasick
Modern ships have state of the art stabilisers, so even in rough weather you’ll be amazed at how stable the ship is. If you are prone to seasickness you can plan ahead – book a cabin in the most stable part of the ship, use seasickness bands or medication, and keep an eye on the horizon for the first day or so.
5. You’ll gain weight
This one is really up to you. It can certainly be easy to gain weight on a cruise (some studies estimate that people gain up a half a kilo a day!), but you can make healthy choices and stay slim. At the buffet, load up your plate with fresh salads, lean meat and fruit – and avoid the dessert station. Take it easy with the bread basket at dinner and skip things laden with heavy sauces. And all ships will have a gym, so try to burn a few calories every day so you can indulge later.
6. You’ll miss out on any culture
Non-cruisers like to say that cruisers don't ever interact with local people or have any authentic experiences. While that’s largely true onboard, once you arrive in port there are plenty of opportunities to immerse yourself in local culture. Many lines have now developed specific shore excursions that focus on culture, rather than shopping or beaches, or you can hire a private guide and see exactly what you want.