Worried about cruise?

Question

I know i am going to sound really spoilt for saying this but i am seriously thinking of cancelling the cruise we have booked. My reasons for this are that i have been using a cruise chat forum recently and they are all going on about the wine list, whether or not there will be lobster and one voicing a concern that she had had to downgrade to a lesser suite this time!! We are just a normal working class family, i just drink what i like the taste of even if it is 99p a bottle, wouldnt know where to start with a lobster and have booked an inside cabin for 4 as it was the most economical option for a family and i figured that yes a balcony would be great but we are only sleeping in it at theend of the day. Plus i am worried about formal nights where everyone is dressed as i still look like a sack of spuds no matter what i wear. Also i have some serious scarring to my legs where i was hit by a drunk driver years ago and i am so self concious. What do you think i should do.

Answer 1

Hey, you know what, this year i'm also going on a cruise accept to Europe. Honestly I am kinda nervous about going too. I also have scabby legs from falling off my bike and that kind of stuff. But think about it if you cancel then in time no matter what you do you will regret not going. I've searched on the cruise website for stuff that you can do on the cruise ship and i found tons. You could go swimming, get and mani and pedi, massage, restaurants, cooking classes, pottery classes, paint t-shirts, go workout in the gym, and much much more. You have credit for your room and whenever you buy something you charge it to the room. There are so many things that i want to do and i've even convinced my mom ( i'm 13) to put another $200 on out credits so i can do more. Cruises are great for making memories. I have been so excited for this for like over 3 months. I have been researching into this since Febuary. When people come back from cruises then talk about how much fun they had and how they wish it was longer. One of my BFF's Kendra went on a cruise last year and she was telling us all the fun things she did she had soooooooooo much to talk about that we talked about for 2 weeks(even though her cruise was only a week) . She told me that she regreted asking her mom for a longer cruise.  She had a blast and she took like 1000 pictures that she showed us. It's really fun and exciting. She cheered me up and now i hope this cheers you up .Please don't cancel ur cruise you'll think bback on it and regret it soooo much if you do.

Answer 2

I use cruise travel as a way to sample foods we wouldn't otherwise order in a restaurant.

It's also a great place to meet people. You'll meet all kinds and, unless you make an effort to do so, you'll never see or hear from them again after you disembark. If you find someone you don't fit in with, just move on... Dining room table mates are a little more problematic. Book the biggest table you can get - your chances of finding someone to hit it off with are greatly improved.

Do pay attention to what others do and talk about. (It's a great way to learn) but then feel free to ignore it.

We travel on a shoestring but have been seated with folks whose on board accounts exceeds their fare. IMO, we have a better time than they do...

Answer 3

I took my family of four on a cruise in 06.  We are working class folks as well.  What you quickly realize is that there are all types on that ship.  You have your teens running around whose cruise experience will be totally different than mine.  You have your rich folks, the older folks, you have your occasional unpleasant cruiser, and of course you have plenty of folks just like you!  The cruise is what you make of it.  I know folks that bring two changes of clothes and throw them in a bag, skip formal night, and spend the cruise eating from the buffet every night and that's great!  Others LOVE formal night, and then go the extra mile and book an evening or two in the formal restaurant as well, because that's what THEY want to make of it.  And if you think the cruise is only for the young supermodel-like crowd, you have never been more wrong.  Truly...TRULY, there are all types of folks on a cruise.  I am being 100% honest.

I do recommend that you sample whatever wine you can, and if they throw a lobster tail in front of you, tell your server that you don't know where to start.  They help all kinds of folks week in and week out.  Cruising has become my favorite vacation because it is what you make of it.  You will LOVE your room...and the shows...and the service.  Go and have a GREAT vacation!

Answer 4

My husband and I just got back from out first cruise.  We are hardly upper class lobster eaters hehe.  Yes there are some s****. people, but you're all there for the same reason, to have a great holiday!  But being a young, not exactly rich couple, we didnt have any problems with anyone.  I promise, no one will give you a hard time.

You don't have to eat in the main dining room on formal nights.  We only dressed up for one of the 3 on our cruise.  You can still go to the other less formal restaurants those night.

So my suggestion, is go for it! :-)  You and your family will have a wonderful time.  I promise.

Answer 5

Don't you dare cancel.  Trust me.  You will have a great time.  I also book an inside cabin on the lowest floor, although next month I did get upgraded to an inside cabin on the second floor, but only because I went trough AAA and booked a year inadvance.  There is nothing wrong with traveling within your means.  As for formal night, you will see all sorts of things worn.  I usually wear, a long black skirt and dressy top with black hose and heals, nothing over the top.  As for the food, just eat what you enjoy.  Cruises are for everybody, that is why they have all price ranges.  Please go and enjoy yourself, trust me you will have a great time!

Answer 6

STOP- YOU are YOU YOU are going to have FUN So what if you don't like the wine and  Know nothing  about it? drink coke , drink perrier , mix perrier with a white wine , don't drink if you rather not-Who cares?and before I go further let me tell you that YOU are more sensible to have made the inner cabin reservations -WHY?  Because on a cruise you are always out of your cabins and  on the balconies and decks- Why would you want to spend an  extra amount when all you do in a cabin  is SLEEP? so you are one wise person !

As for the lobster part- When  and  if you order it , ask the one who serves you to please clean  it and just let the flesh be o your plate as you don't like to be messy! they will oblige with no fanfare

As for the formal nights, just go and  get a long evening  black skirt and a nice black top to match- if these are cheap get other colors  too- If you are good with the needle, then  buy a packet of shiny sequins and just sew them in any old order all around the front- There  you have  an evening top and skirt-Ok so you have legs that has scars , Buy a sarong and  wrap it around your swimsuit and just remove it before you get in to the water , then wrap a towel( a long one) and no one will be  wiser-actually do you care what those whom you know not think and  say? You are with those who love you and that  is what matters- so go ahead and make the most of your well deserved cruise- and keep away from silly online cruise chats!

Let us all know how you enjoyed your cruise

Answer 7

I think you should go and have a wonderful time!  Not everyone will be snobs, and who cares about those who are?  I went on my first cruise in May with a good friend and we had a blast.  There were all kinds of people on the ship, and for the most part everyone was fine.  The lobster is good, they serve you the tail out of the shell and you just cut it up and eat it.  If you have any concerns, you could quietly talk to your waiter, they'll help you.

For formal night, we say everything on women from casual cotton pants to nice gowns.  I wore black pants and a decent gold sweater and was fine.  Again, you'll see all types and it's fine.

As for your scars, the only thing I can say is what a good thing it is you survived it.

Have a great time!

Answer 8

I went on my first cruise vacation in March and I had some of the same concerns that you have.

Maybe it will help you to decide if you read the details I wrote about my experience, here's the link:

http://www.squidoo.com/Mexico_Cruise

Answer 9

I say go on your cruise and have a great time.  Those folks who frequent the chat forums and stuff are usually the complainers looking for someone to listen to them.  Every cruise has some down sides for some people.  But you don't let the little things and the complainers spoil your vacation.  You just go with the flow.  I have been on about 20 cruises, usually doing 3 a year the last few years and have 3 booked right now.  I don't expect everything to be perfect, and it usually isn't.  

The formal nights are REQUESTED ATTIRE AND NOT REQUIRED ATTIRE.  Depending upon the cruise line that you go on most people will dress something like formal; men will wear a suit and tie or a tux and women will wear anything from a nice dress to a party dress to a long gown.  Nobody cares what you wear, its up to you, and there will on formal night always be people walking around in jeans and shorts until they dress for dinner and a photo AND/OR after the photo is taken and they change back to casual.  As long as you are dressed at least sports/resort casual (in plain English about like you would wear to church or to work) you will not be denied access to the main dining room or show room or casino, or disco.  No one is going to stop you and say you can't come in.

I have been on 4 different cruise lines and the food is always good and yes I have heard that they will not be serving lobster as much, but they still serve fillet mignon, prime rib, shrimp, steaks, roast lamb, pork and chicken.  So the meals will still be great without lobster and if you want you can still order a second plate.  Then if you don't want to deal with the main dining room every evening there is always a casual dining place where you can get a great meal buffet style and sit and eat as much of whatever that you want.

The only thing I have to say about your cruise is you should have booked a balcony or at least an outside cabin.  Those people who say you will not be in the cabin much are correct ONLY IF YOU HAVE AN INSIDE CABIN.  If you have a balcony cabin, or even an outside one, you WILL spend more time there, especially on the balcony as it provides you private space.   Ask yourself this, would I spend much time in a hotel room if it had no windows and absolutely no way to see what time of day or what the weather is??  Now contrast that with  a hotel room with a view.  If anything don't cancel, upgrade if you can.

Answer 10

Please whatever you do DO NOT CANCEL!!

My fiancee and I have cruised once, and are going again for our honeymoon in Oct. We had the time of our lives..We ARE NOT upper class by any means.

Yes the dinning hall is fancy, but a nice pant suit would be sufficient if you are worried about your scars.

You can do whatever you wish it is your holiday!

also there are many options of where to eat, if you don't want to go to the dinning room then dont. We ate at the casusual buffet restaurant for almost every meal, simply because it was casual and the food was awesome!

so please go and try it...you will love it.!!!

and if you don't...then don't go back...but at least you won't regret trying it! good luck, and have fun!

Answer 11

Oh sweetie, if we worried about what others say we'd never take the time to enjoy life.  Life is what "You" make it, not what others think.  "Don't let a few bad apples spoil the whole lot."

I've cruised for years and have quite a few cruises under my belt and I can say some where great and other's stuff happened.  It's never effected my decision to keep on cruising.  In fact, my husband and I are going again in October.

I'd like to address your other concerns like the wine.  I don't drink, but I know for the fact they have wine tasting on the boats.  The food is excellent and whether they have lobster or not, I seem to manage to gain a few pounds because of all the good and different types of food available.  Also, you can email or call the cruise line your going on and ask them about the concerns you have about wine and lobster.  There always willing to be helpful.

The cabin you are starting off with on this trip is a great idea so you'll have more money to spend on excursions and other gifts you may want to bring home.  I use to feel that the grass was always greener on the other side.  You might want to look at this trip as a "Gratitude" vacation.  Not everyone gets to go on cruises or can afford to go on period.  

As for your scarring on your leg, I have to use a scooter because of my arthritis.  I felt exactly like you did when I realized I felt different than most people.  I came to an acceptance of the difference and decided to go on our schedule cruise the first time.  I got a few stares, but overall the majority of folks were thoughtful and kind.  

The greatest gift I have today is that I'm a child of God and he loves me for who I am today.  The same goes for you!!!

I hope and pray you enjoy your trip and don't let your fears hold you back from trip.

Answer 12

are you going to be that selfish and ruin your family's vacation all over if they serve lobster one night or not? and you only sleep in your room, the rest of the day you should be out enjoying the activities. dont worry about what people thing about how you look, youre never going to see them again anyways, enjoy your cruise, you will have fun, dont cancel it

Answer 13

The cruise I went on is awesome - you need to go!

This video might get you excited to go cruising:

http://www.bofads.com/stories/cruise.htm