CRUISING’S UNFORTUNATE STEREOTYPES
YOU HAVE PROBABLY HEARD that “cruising is not for everyone.” But that’s like saying travel is not for everyone. If you like to travel, you will almost certainly enjoy cruising. It’s that simple. Cruising, however, has accumulated unfortunate stereotypes, which continue to recycle. MYTH NO. 1: I’LL BE BORED Many people, particularly men and younger, active folks, believe cruising is dull and sedentary. They picture bulk loaders crowding buffets while active folks sit bored and unstimulated. Sorry, not so.
Today, most cruises offer around-the-clock activities. Ships have workout rooms with high-quality equipment, jogging tracks, pools, and daily exercise classes. Some larger ships have volleyball courts, basketball courts, and even climbing walls, golf simulators, and ice rinks. At ports of call, a variety of sports—from golf to cycling, snorkeling to kayaking—are offered. There are far more opportunities for sports and athletics than most of us have at home. Some lines now even offer extreme adventures like off-road vehicle trips or mountain biking. If you go on a cruise and sit on your butt, that’s your decision. For the active but less athletic, most ships offer swimming, shuffleboard, table tennis, walking areas, and spa amenities, including hot tubs and saunas. Many ships offer yoga or stretching classes. At night, for the energetic, there’s dancing in many forms, from ballroom to reggae to line dancing to salsa.
A range of organized activities targets gregarious and fun-loving people. Versions of television game shows are popular, as are more traditional events, such as bridge tournaments, arts and crafts classes, and dancing lessons. Most cruise ships have casinos, and almost all have bingo.
If learning is your goal, dozens of cruises specialize in providing educational experiences and exploration of a region accompanied by experts. Like floating graduate schools, these cruises may focus on political and natural history, or may even offer lectures on topics unrelated to the ship’s destinations.
Finally, there is no place better than a cruise ship to relax. The favorite cruise activity for many people is curling up in a comfortable deck chaise with a good book. Even a big ship with constant activity offers quiet spots for meditation, reading, or just enjoying the beauty of the sea.
MYTH NO. 2: CRUISING IS FOR RICH PEOPLE; I CAN’T AFFORD A CRUISE If you take a vacation of three or more days during which you stay in hotels and eat in restaurants, you can afford a cruise. In fact, a cruise may be cheaper than a deluxe resort vacation.
Let’s compare cruising with a modest vacation: Vic and Edna’s one-week trip to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and the Smoky Mountains. Driving from their home near Cleveland, Ohio, Vic and Edna spent about $400 on gas for the Chevy. They averaged $75 a night plus tax for motels, or $577 for the week. For breakfast and lunch, it was Shoney’s- or Denny’s-type restaurants. They’d go more upscale for dinner, and they liked beer or wine with their meal. Total for seven days’ food: $588. In the mountains, they mostly hiked and drove around. One day, however, they played golf; on another they visited a museum and a theme park. On the Friday before heading home, they rented horses for half a day. Golf, admissions, and horses came to approximately $260. Recapping:
During the same period, a good middle-of-the-market cruise line (not super-budget or super-luxury) offered a seven-night Caribbean cruise for $899 per person, including round-trip airfare. The cruise visited San Juan, St. Thomas, Martinique, Tortola, the British Virgin Islands, Antigua, and St. Maarten. Even better values could have been had with promotional fares, which were as low as $579.
These were promotional rates, not the “rack” rates listed in the brochures. The point is, on the seven-night cruise, Vic and Edna could have enjoyed the amenities of a full resort, dined in grand style,
VIC AND EDNA’S SPLENDID VACATION Lodging $577 Gas $400 Meals $588 Admissions $260 Total $1,825
danced to live music, visited six beautiful tropical islands, and soaked in a whirlpool under the Caribbean moon for about the same amount they spent on their road trip. We are not suggesting Vic and Edna should swap the Smokies for the Caribbean, only that they could afford to do so if they are inclined.
MYTH NO. 3: CRUISES ARE STUFFY, ELITIST, AND FORMAL Most cruises are none of the above, though the description might fit some passengers. Cruises cover a broad range of dress and social protocols. You can choose a cruise at whatever level of formality or casualness feels right for you. Overall, cruises have become very casual and informal. Even on “formal” nights—such as the captain’s welcome-aboard party and/or farewell party—only half of the men wear business suits, and women don cocktail or party dresses. Newer ships offering alternative (to the main dining room) dining options make it possible to avoid formal events entirely. Yet, on the most informal ships, like Carnival, people dress to the nines—and it’s often the men more so than the women. And they love it.
MYTH NO. 4: CRUISES ARE TOO REGIMENTED FOR ME Granted, it takes organization to get everyone on board a cruise ship. It takes similar regimentation to get everyone off at the end of the cruise. At ports, you need only get back on board before the ship sails. Some folks lump cruises into the same category as whirlwind bus tours—eight countries in five days and that sort of thing. A cruise might visit eight countries in five days, but you will have to check in and unpack only once. That’s the beauty of cruising—you can hang out on the ship and just enjoy the ride, or you can get off at each port and pursue your own agenda.
Also, the trend toward more relaxed dining hours and alternative (to the main dining room) dining venues has resulted in notably less regimentation aboard ship.
MYTH NO. 5: I’M AFRAID I’LL GET SEASICK Well, you might, but the vast majority of people don’t, particularly on a Caribbean cruise. Even those who get queasy in a car can usually handle a cruise. Overthe- counter antinausea medications like Bonine (doesn’t make you drowsy) or Dramamine get most folks over the acclimatization period of the first few hours at sea. Bring some: you may never need it, but having it is comforting. Usually, Dramamine or Bonine is available from the purser’s desk or the ship’s medical unit.
Some guests swear by Sea Bands—a pair of elasticized wristbands (similar to tennis bands), each with a small plastic disk that applies pressure to the inside wrist, according to acupressure principles. They are particularly useful for people who have difficulty taking medication. Sea Bands are sold in drug, toiletry, and health-care stores (sometimes on board ships as well) and can be ordered from On the Go Travel Accessories (5603 NW 159th Street, Miami, FL 33014; # 888-303-3039; www.onthegoaccessories.com). If you take precautions and become seasick anyway, the ship’s doctor can administer more powerful medication.
In regard to seasickness, remember: don’t dwell on your fear, and if you become queasy, take medicine immediately. When you deal with symptoms quickly, relief is quick.
Minimize the probability of getting seasick by choosing an itinerary in calmer waters: Alaska’s Inside Passage, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and the Gulf of Mexico. Less smooth are voyages on the Atlantic, Pacific, or Indian oceans or the South China Sea. And remember the time of year may also matter. The Caribbean can be less smooth during hurricane season. You are unlikely to be in the storm’s way, but water conditions can kick up far from the trouble zone.
MYTH NO. 6: I’M APPREHENSIVE ABOUT WALKING ON A MOVING SHIP If you are not agile or fit on land, you might envision tortuous trips down narrow gangways or climbing ladders through tiny hatches while the ship rolls and pitches. But those images are really in the past. Generally, if you can handle a hotel, you can handle a cruise ship. Large vessels have wide, carpeted halls with hand railings, and slip-resistant outside decks. Elevators serve all passenger decks, so using the stairs may not even be necessary. Passengers use no tricky ladders or tiny hatches.
Modern cruise ships have state-of-the-art stabilizers, and even in bad weather and heavy seas they are amazingly stable. Small ships, depending on their draft and build, may be more subject to the motion of the ocean and are a little more challenging to get around. Being smaller, however, there’s less territory to cover. Most ships launched in the last ten years were built with consideration for passengers with ambulatory disabilities. Most new ships offer wheelchair-accessible cabins and ramps.
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