I am hyper-sensitive to getting motion sickness, I don’t like crowds of people, and don’t have a lot of money to spend on vacations. Learn how I turned these fears into a vacation experience that keeps you coming back for more.
Seasickness
I will admit that my first few cruises I was seasick. I often told my wife that I felt sick when still at port, just from the rumbling of the ship. I did the patch behind the ear and took medication. Now I don’t feel the motion of the boat at all and often wonder what other’s around me are talking about when they can feel the ship moving. What’ my secret?
First off my first cruises were in the Pacific Ocean and involved waves over ten feet tall. So that isn’t a fair first try since most cruises you will not see weather like that. Also, I was paranoid, and it was in my head to be watching for any motion and fearing the worse. Once I focused on the positives of my vacation and earned my sea legs, then I overcame my seasickness and didn’t have an issue.
Today’s cruise ships are very stable, and most of the time you can’t even tell you are on the ocean. I just returned from a 7-day Caribbean cruise to the eastern Caribbean and didn’t feel the boat’s motion even once, even though I could feel the wind and see the waves around us.
If you are the type of person that feels motion sickness in the backseat of a car, then pick up the patch, wristband or medicine and don’t worry about seasickness. I always felt tired when taking the medication and quickly learned that fresh air up on the deck during a sea day eliminated any feelings of sickness. My experience in talking to others is that the ships are always much smoother than anything they anticipated.
Large Crowds
Busy days at the mall, Black Friday shopping, and large crowds in large cities make me feel uncomfortable and is what I imagined on a cruise ship with over 2000 other passengers. I quickly learned strategies that left me feeling like I had the boat to myself. Here are a few of those tips;
- Mealtime Madness. If you head to the buffet on a sea day at noon to 1 pm, then I guarantee you will see cruise ship crowds at the worst. So just make a couple of adjustments, and you can avoid it. Go to the buffet before or after peak times. There won’t be crowds, and you may get the freshest food. Also, look to the dining room as an option. You can be seated at a quiet table and avoid all the chaos often found up on deck during a sea day.
- Make the Ship a Port of Call. This is one of my favourite tips. There’s no rule saying you have to get off the ship in port. So if you don’t have an excursion planned then get off the ship and stretch your legs at the port shops and get back on before noon. You will find the pools, and hot tubs are empty, and there’ll be no lineups at the buffets.
Sea Day Solitude. Avoid the main pool area during sea days and find somewhere quieter on the ship. Often there are adults only areas and usually a second pool that is much quieter and peaceful than the action found around the main pool. One of my favourite things to do on the sea day is to find a lounger somewhere along the side of the ship that provides a more quiet atmosphere to relax, and you often get a great view of the ocean, island and clouds that are what you imagine when you book a cruise. - It Happens. Just like at home at the grocery store, Canadian Tire or getting your license renewed you find lineups and wait time. Sometimes the same thing happens on the cruise ship, and it’s hard to avoid. You are likely to find lineups for embarkation day as you wait to get on the boat or when you choose to get a tender to visit a port. Remember there is always lots to do on the ship and if you find a lineup that you want to avoid then simply find another activity or enjoy a glass of wine on your own balcony, watching the sunset.
Cost
I often find cruises for under $600 for a 7-day Caribbean cruise. Throw in another $400 for your flight from Canada to Florida, and you have a $2000 per couple vacation. This works out to about $300 per day.
Consider what it costs to do any other 5-star vacation experience. A nice hotel will cost almost $200 a night. A dinner out at a fancy restaurant can cost over $100, throw in breakfast and lunch for $50 and you are already over $300 per day. Then consider the fact that you have world-class entertainment, and can often visit a different country every day or two, and you start to see how cruising can be the least expensive 5-star vacation you can book.
For many years I booked all-inclusive cruises or loaded my family into the minivan and headed out across North America. It didn’t take me long to realize that when you add it all up; these vacations are often the same cost or sometimes even more, and they aren’t 5-star experiences! Once you try your first cruise, you will quickly realize your dollar goes so much further at sea.
I have travelled and booked dozens of cruises in the last 15 years. I have been to more than 30 different ports along the North American coast and throughout the Caribbean and I am certified with most of the major cruise lines.
Whether you are setting sail on your first cruise or you are an avid cruiser looking for a unique and distinct experience, I am the best travel agent for you. Contact me today, and we’ll start planning your next voyage.
