Cruise Takeaways

I had a few key takeaways from this cruise:

• Cruising can be fun.

I used to think that cruising is a boring way to travel and that it’s just for old people. It’s not. In fact, it has something for everyone. There is a wide spectrum of cruise lines at different market segments offering a wide range of options and features that could suit different age groups, budgets, and preferences – from contemporary to luxury, casual to sophisticated, relaxing to active, tranquil to full-blown partying, solo travel or travel with your significant other or the whole family, and entertainment for the young, old, or multi-generational. You just have to decide what kind of cruising you want and which places you want to visit.

• The cruise itself is the attraction.

I am more of a land traveler because I like exploring places in-depth. Cruising can be limiting because you stay in each city only for the day and in most cases, you only have a few hours to explore the destination, especially if it’s a tender port or a port that is at least an hour away from the city centre. A big chunk of the time is spent on lining up for the tender boats or sitting on the bus. The tour schedule is set and you have to strictly follow it lest you get left behind by the ship. Shore excursions only really skim the surface and you don’t get the chance to have a deeper immersion in the culture of the places you are visiting.

But I realize these are not the reasons for cruising. Most people choose to cruise because of the cruise itself. They want the ease and convenience it provides. It leaves the planning and worrying behind. They like the cost-effective packages that include almost everything they need. They are content to just see a “sample platter” of destinations because that way, they will not get too tired or too overwhelmed. The amenities and onboard activities are as important to them as the cruise destinations. I have talked to avid cruises who genuinely look forward to the spa, gym, water slides, ball courts, casino, dancing, onboard shows, shopping, and fine dining on the ship. I have met people who go on cruises just to enjoy the beaches during the day, party every night, and crawl back to their cabin ready to wake up to a new place the following day.

As some say, “It is not the destination, but the journey that matters.”

In short, it is really a matter of personal choice. As for me, I know now that if the focus of the trip is going to be relaxation and family time, cruising would be a good option. And for some people, especially those with special needs, this might even be the best travel option.

• Cruising is a good travel option for my husband.

I will not say it’s the best travel option for him, because there are times he travels for adventure (i.e. hiking, mountain-climbing, stargazing, geological exploration trips). But for leisurely travel, it would be a good choice. Due to his preference for a super laid-back vacation (i.e. just the regular getaway type with minimal effort and activities) and given his dietary issues, cruising will provide us with a million conveniences.

On a cruise, you unpack and unpack only once as your literally bring the hotel with you. Second, there is no need to be rushed in the mornings as your floating hotel goes with you everywhere. You wake up, and voila, you are at your destination for the day. The washroom travels with you everywhere, too. There is no need to line up or wait for a “comfort break,” and you can take your sweet time doing your business. There is food available 24 hours a day with a range of options, and you could pre-plan your special meals with the chef. You have a choice to stay onboard, sleep in, or do your own thing on the ship if other members of the family opt to go on an early morning shore excursions and you’re not interested to join. There is plenty to do on the ship, with activities that cater to various interests and energy levels. This definitely makes life easier for him, and for me.

• Seasickness is not fun.

I normally don’t get seasick (I even survived staying onboard a yacht bouncing up and down at the harbour while we were waiting for some tardy co-workers who arrived thirty minutes after we were supposed to commence a short cruise), but on stormy days, even onboard a large ship, I discovered that I am not that invincible after all.

We experienced a major Atlantic storm while enroute from Sydney to Halifax, Nova Scotia. At dinner time, the ship started swaying. Pieces of small furniture slid from one corner to the other. Dinner china and utensils crashed into the floor. Half of the ship’s passengers did not show up for dinner, while half of the remaining half, including myself, excused themselves from dinner at some point.

In my case, I already started feeling queasy after the first course (and my rollercoaster-loving husband who was actually enjoying the bouncing of the ship could not understand why I did not find it fun). Halfway through the second course, I apologetically told our dinner mates that I wasn’t feeling well and would prefer to go back to our cabin.

My husband followed me as I quickly navigated the corridors while trying my best to control my nausea. Unfortunately, I didn’t make it. Inside the elevator, I suddenly threw up like my survival depended on it. And yes, I made a HUGE mess. It was a good thing that no one else was with us. I felt relieved that no other passenger had to see all that, and even more relieved knowing that it did not happen at the dinner table.

But I guess I was not the only one. My husband told me that when he fetched a pot of tea from the restaurant while I was in the shower, he witnessed a few other passengers "marking their territories" within the ship in the same way that I did. He also noticed that every elevator, stairwell, and corridor were hastily equipped with stashes of vomit bags.

Clearly, I don’t get the sole credit for inspiring this practical and brilliant idea.

At breakfast the following day, one of the servers confirmed that the storm we encountered that night was particularly bad. In fact, a third of the ship’s crew also got seasick.

• You can easily pack on the pounds on a cruise. (And this is scientifically proven, supported by research data and numbers…and personally attested by yours truly.)

Next time, I go on a cruise, I should bring loose-fitting clothes. This will minimize my stress level, specially on formal nights. I mentioned in a previous article that I nearly did not fit in the cheongsam I brought to wear for Captain’s Night…and I comfortably wore that with some space to spare only the week before!

No matter how disciplined you are, the amount and the variety of food available on the cruise ship would bring you down – big time!

Let’s face it. I am a foodie. And I can be weak. How could one ignore the buffet temptations and fine dining options while on a relaxing vacation? And I am not even going to talk about the wine and the cocktails. Let’s just stop the pretension, shall we?

The more realistic solution would be to manage my own cruise behaviour by making healthier choices and following a dining strategy (choose grilled options and avoid high-calorie and high-sodium dishes), staying active (walk more and climb stairs instead of taking the elevator), and beginning a regimen of daily walks and exercise as soon as I disembark.

I recall putting myself on a strict diet of salads and soups for a couple of weeks and observing a period of abstinence from junk food and wine when we got back home after our cruise.

But it’s all worth it because the cruise experience is fantastic. I will definitely look into planning the next one.