I want to go on my first cruise, but...

[Pat Rice]

Hello I hope that this post will not give you the same headache that it has given me. Every couple of years my family and I have a generational family vacation (This usually includes my parents, me, my brother, and my kids). This is my year to plan it, and I was thinking of going on a cruise. After our family meeting yesterday two family members are afraid of the open ocean. do you have any tips for first timers who are afraid to get on the boat, and how they can still have fun while forgetting that they are in the middle of the ocean??

 

thanks in advance

[PRMLVM]

Choose one of the Quantum class ships; you almost have to go out of your way to see the ocean (one of my complaints about those ships actually!).   If they love the pool, they will be confronted with the ocean (the pool decks and even the solarium have big open sea exposure), but during the day it's not so scary.  I can scare myself looking out at the vastness at night, but during the day it's not so bad (of course, it depends on if they have an actual phobia, or just a vague gut feeling like mine).

[smokeybandit]

You don't even realize you're on the ocean since the ships are so big 

[loki007]

tell them to get the drink package, they'll be fine. All kidding aside, we used to do this as well when my kids were young. 22 people ages 1-75. Never had better family vacations. There is literally something for everyone on a cruise. The big family dinners are such great memories. 

[Smokey79]

I went through the same thing with my wife before her first cruise. Everyone is right. You won’t notice but the battle is getting them on board. I have no advice on that as she didn’t fight all that much about getting on the boat. However, her anxiety was up for sure. Once she realized it wasn’t going to be a walking on the walls experience and that there was enough lifeboats for everyone (she’s a Titanic fan) she was good. Plus she was struck by how pretty it is once you get away from the coast. She’s now a convert and a serious brand ambassador for Royal. 

[HeWhoWaits]

Start "small" with respect to itinerary. Go on a trip that has limited open water time (3 night Bahamas cruises from Florida fit the bill).

[Bakerette]

9 hours ago, PRMLVM said:

Choose one of the Quantum class ships; you almost have to go out of your way to see the ocean (one of my complaints about those ships actually!).   If they love the pool, they will be confronted with the ocean (the pool decks and even the solarium have big open sea exposure), but during the day it's not so scary.  I can scare myself looking out at the vastness at night, but during the day it's not so bad (of course, it depends on if they have an actual phobia, or just a vague gut feeling like mine).

Same thing with the oasis class where you will also see the ocean from the boardwalk. If they are worried about getting seasick tell them that there is natural remedies that don't require medication as well as over the counter medication & prescription only medication that they can get to prevent motion sickness & seasickness Also no matter what cruise ship you book they all have interior, ocean view, balconies & suites if you book oceanview rooms then your cabin will be roomed on deck 3 & can seem the ocean from the large porthole in the cabin or an oceanview balcony or any of the available suites you will be able to see the ocean & smell the Seabreeze air from your cabin

Edited March 18 by Bakerette

[rjac]

I would strongly recommend you have a travel agent set everything up for you if your family decides to do a cruise. [email protected] has been handling our reservation for our cruise this coming weekend and so far it has been smooth sailing. Please note that mei-travel is a sponsor of this forum and a lot of folks here book through mei-travel. By the way, I was the same way many years ago and finally caved in in 2006 when my brother in law kept bugging me after five years. I had the same fear about the ocean, getting sea sick, etc. We went on the Navigator of the Seas. When the cruise ended, my brother in law asked me if I liked the cruise. My response was "no, it was too short". We have become "cruise addicts " and have been cruising pretty much every year doing back to back cruises or cruises over 11 days. Hope this helps! 

[PRMLVM]

I would also have them watch the TONS of videos about whichever ship you do choose, so they can see how much of a cruise is (or can be) inside, away from the sea.

[Mrs. Thomas]

On my first cruise I had an issue with feeling "stuck" on sea days. I was on Allure and would go walking in Central Park and it would help me feel like I was on land again. If you want to forget you are in the open ocean, it isn't hard to do with all of the inside things you can do. The Oasis class has so many things to keep busy that it's easy to forget your are on a ship or in the ocean. 

[smokeybandit]

You could literally go about your sea day on board,  eating, drinking, and being merry, and not even see the water.

[SeaSunnedTraveler]

But sunrises and sunsets are the best part of a day at sea!!

 

[GatorCruiser]

It’s hard to explain to non cruisers the feeling of cruising. I liken it to kids first entering Disney world. I get so amped up on embarkation day. Cruising is the best. 

[Smokey79]

45 minutes ago, GatorCruiser said:

It’s hard to explain to non cruisers the feeling of cruising. I liken it to kids first entering Disney world. I get so amped up on embarkation day. Cruising is the best. 

My daughter has been on three now. Her grandmother asked if she wouldn’t rather just go to the beach instead and she replied “Why? There’s beaches almost every day when I’m on the ship and when there’s not I have the pool.”  

[rjac]

54 minutes ago, GatorCruiser said:

It’s hard to explain to non cruisers the feeling of cruising. I liken it to kids first entering Disney world. I get so amped up on embarkation day. Cruising is the best. 

What we love about cruising is you get to your cabin, unpack your luggage and the only decisions you have to make is where and what to have for breakfast, lunch and dinner! Beats the hell out of going on a vacation by automobile or worse flying to a resort for a week. On a cruise, you get to see a different port/location pretty much everyday. 

[PhillyLady]

Okay, I have done family vacations on both land and sea, and I definitely prefer sea!

You can do as little or as much as you want together, but you can still be connected.  No kitchens, no cooking, lots of great restaurant choices, nightly entertainment, visits to interesting ports, all-inclusive price.

I started cruising as a child, so I have no phobias, but through time and our urging  EVERYONE on both sides of the family has gone on a cruise, and they all love it, no matter their preconceptions. 

As to water fear factors, do the family members go to beaches and/or swim?  Cruise ship safety is incredible in modern times, and driving in a car is more dangerous on a daily basis than cruising!

If they want calm waters, try to pick a location that is high season (best weather) and has limited heavy duty water travel (e.g. Caribbean islands, Bermuda, etc in early Summer). 

If you do not try it at least once, you will never know and can never make an informed judgment. 

Best wishes!

 

[rjac]

On 3/16/2025 at 10:13 AM, Pat Rice said:

Hello I hope that this post will not give you the same headache that it has given me. Every couple of years my family and I have a generational family vacation (This usually includes my parents, me, my brother, and my kids). This is my year to plan it, and I was thinking of going on a cruise. After our family meeting yesterday two family members are afraid of the open ocean. do you have any tips for first timers who are afraid to get on the boat, and how they can still have fun while forgetting that they are in the middle of the ocean??

 

thanks in advance

Hi Pat,

Show this to your first timers who are afraid to get on the ship

[LandstromCruise]

Tell them to suck it up. It’s your year to plan and that’s what you planned

[HeWhoWaits]

13 hours ago, PhillyLady said:

EVERYONE on both sides of the family has gone on a cruise, and they all love it, no matter their preconceptions. 

Our daughter-in-law was terrified about doing a cruise. She went on a three-night Bahamas cruise in June 2023 and is now pushing for a seven-nighter as their five-year anniversary vacation.

[Mrs. Thomas]

@rjac That picture just made me even more excited for our trip! Thank you for that! We are getting so close (17ish days) and I'm battling the fears of forgetting or being late with that of "let's just leave now" LOL 

 

@Pat Rice Just had a friend go on her first cruise. They got back last week. I asked her if she caught the cruising bug and she said "YES!" They have already booked their next one. It's not for everyone, but it should at least be tried once. I agree with @LandstromCruise. Tell them that it was your year to plan and they just have to suck it up! 

[Mike n Ky]

On 3/17/2025 at 10:39 AM, smokeybandit said:

You don't even realize you're on the ocean since the ships are so big 

On the Oasis class it's like being on a small island surrounded by the ocean, the difference being that the 'island' is moving.

[AshleyDillo]

On 3/16/2025 at 10:13 AM, Pat Rice said:

After our family meeting yesterday two family members are afraid of the open ocean. do you have any tips for first timers who are afraid to get on the boat, and how they can still have fun while forgetting that they are in the middle of the ocean??

I second the advice given to start with a short cruise.  If you want a longer vacation, couple a 4-night cruise with a land vacation at the embarkation port.  For example if you go on Wonder of the Seas out of Miami, you can stay and explore Miami to make up the rest of a weeklong vacation.  Or alternatively, you can consider doing Utopia out of Port Canaveral and coupling a few days at Orlando theme parks with a 4-night on Utopia of the Seas.

This keeps the time spent out at sea to a minimum. The 4-night itineraries will visit CocoCay (Royal Caribbean's private island) and Nassau, Bahamas. You're never that far from land on these sailings.  Also the Oasis class ships are huge and when you are in the middle of the ship you can't even see the outside in most places. Plus these ships have a lot of options with respect to dining and entertainment.

If things go well you can plan longer cruises in the future that go to more varied destinations such as Europe or Alaska or even more Caribbean.