rosiemontrose

Maybe I missed this, but have you seen a therapist? This sounds like social anxiety as well as claustrophobia. Therapy can help. Medication can help. Why struggle?

Thanks for the thought, but, as a general rule, I don't struggle. It's not social anxiety - it's actually cleithrophobia - that is, the fear of being trapped - it's often mistaken for claustrophobia and also often present when one is also claustrophobic. I find it easier just to say I'm claustrophobic and leave it at that.

On an everyday basis it doesn't bother me in the least. Investigating here is to make sure I don't find I have a serious panic attack when I'm already in the middle of the ocean. I could manage to be in a small room if I knew I could have a window or a door open. I can't, so that seems to be that, although I shall still see if I can find a ship without aircon, or a ship where sleeping on the balcony isn't an outlandish idea, or maybe I'll buy a picnic and hire a dinghy.

I am curious if you have a problem with crowds and standing in line with maybe a 100 other cruisers? If so, look for the smaller ships.Check out ship sizes before booking.Avoid mega ships.

It depends how closely packed the crowds are... Actually, I assumed I'd be able to eat at unpopular times and avoid the crowds. Maybe there will be other occasions when people have to stand in line, I don't know - but if the line itself is somewhere where I can get out of it if I want to then it shouldn't be a problem. It's being trapped that's the main fear.

As stated, there is normally a decal on the balcony door or frame advising not to leave it open. Very likely all those people you talk to actually do leave their doors open, which is why I can walk down any cabin passageway, on any given day or night, on any given ship, and hear the wind whistling under the cabin doors, and I can find the cabins with open balcony doors every time. One reason you find that there are so many complaints of too warm cabins, is the common practice of leaving balcony doors open.

Right. Well. I can't do it now I know it shouldn't be done. It did occur to me, though - don't forget I know nothing about cruise ships except what I've learned very recently - are there any cruise ships without air con? Or could I sleep on the balcony?

I was concerned about being claustrophobic in an inside studio cabin ( tiny!) so I brought a small battery operated fan for air movement and some Xanax just in case! :)

 

Btw some Royal Caribbean ships have solo cabins with a balcony. ( though I found the virtual balcony gave me to feeling of a more open space without the actual balcony).

I gather that a couple of the P&O ships now have solo cabins with a balcony, too, as the demand for such is on the rise.

Rosie,

 

My response above was supposed to be responding to the post from someone else.

Oh, I beg your pardon, Elaine. I'm not that familiar with these boards. As I'm not that familiar with cruises and stuff... But now I'm looking I can see it. *slinks off*

There is a sign by the balcony doors to keep shut but people don't care and want to do as they please since "they are on vacation"

Oh. Okay. Gotcha. I don't need to be cooped up on a ship with a load of people who do as they please "because they're on vacation". I don't suppose in that case that leaving the balcony doors open is going to be the only thing. All through investigating all this I have been told about the bad side of things, too, which I've so far managed to ignore...

If you discuss your problem w staff ahead of time, I would bet that they can do a 1 on 1 muster drill for you. Contact the special needs department of the cruise line w your problem and ask how they can handle it.

 

DON

Good idea - I think I will discuss it with them just in case they have an answer. Although, now I know about the balcony doors I'm not wildly optimistic. Thank you, Don!

Not to hijack the thread but I'll answer your question. The worst of mine was six or seven years. Through a combination of treatment with a caring, competent psychiatrist and some therapy it's now manageable. Not gone, but manageable. I wouldn't say everything is back to normal but most days I control my life and it is good.

 

My wish for you is that you find that place. There are people that can help.

 

Just watch out for the black dogs...

Thank you, traveler279. I'm glad to hear you're in a good place now. My usual, everyday life is fine - it's only on occasion that my claustrophobia makes itself felt - and most of those occasions I can avoid. This is why I'm investigating, though - it would be daft of me to book a cruise and then find I can't cope when it's too late and I'm in the middle of the ocean.

If I'd ever met a psychiatrist that I felt was competent - compassionate, even - I might have explored that avenue - but I'm afraid to say I haven't. And I've been to quite a few appointments with friends suffering with stuff more life-disrupting than mine (eg bipolar) so I have a few examples from which I've come to that conclusion.

Usually, the claustrophobia is not a problem for me. And, really, going up the stairs is much healthier for me than going in the lift!

If you search these boards for chengkp75's information about how a ship works, you will learn why propping balcony doors open is a problem.

The explanation chengkp75 has given is sufficient for me to not book a cruise. But, thank you for the thought.

Regarding the AC and balcony doors. The thermostat in your cabin only controls a small chiller unit that cools the recirculated air in your cabin. ...... The "wind tunnel" effect you have experienced is the manifestation of how leaving the balcony door open unbalances the AC for the entire section of cabins.

Thank you for the explanation. I totally get it now.

What I don't quite understand is how everyone I've spoken to in real life has told me - emphatically - that they all leave their balcony doors/windows open overnight because they like the sound of the sea...

Does this mean that when people buy places on a cruise ship part of their contract as a purchaser is to keep their balcony doors shut? Maybe it's in the small print...

However, unfortunately I can't unknow this now.

^^^^^^^ IMHO This is the best advice you've been given. Contact Special Needs. I spent a couple of years in the place where you are (crowds, elevators, planes and such). Right in the middle of that I was forced to do a cross country flight for a family emergency. The first thing I did when I checked in was explain to the agent about my situation. The flight crew were fantastic. Good luck. I hope you find a way to love cruises. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thank you. Yes, I'm just trying to get used to the idea that it's a disability. Which, of course, it is... It sounds like yours was temporary - any idea how you came out of it?

Mine's been with me for a couple of decades and when I've had to do stuff like get on a plane or have an MRI scan, it's become very much worse every time.

I would contact the Special Needs department on the line you are considering. Talk to someone and tell them your issues. Be forthcoming so they know exactly what your issues are. Explain that you are willing to do the tour BUT you really need a little personalization so that you can enter a cabin and "take a moment" to see if it works for you. Explain that you would require a crew member to be with you when you do it both to explain the room and so that you are not alone.

 

As far as I can see, this is a disability ......

 

.... Bottom line, don't give up on cruising because of "what if" scenarios. Call the cruise line and ask for help. The worst that can happen is you won't get it and you choose not to sail. The best that can happen is that you get great help, you sail and you become addicted to cruising.

Gosh - well - I'm a tad stunned - having never thought of it as a disability... It's never occurred to me to think there would be strategies in place to deal with such a thing. But I suppose if that is what it is, then there would be....

I'm also not used to asking for help. I must try harder.

Thank you so much for introducing me to a whole new way of thinking about it.

I don't want to discourage you, but just want to be realistic that rooms on the ship, even balconies, are smaller than hotel rooms. And the bathrooms are very small. You can attempt to leave the bathroom door adjar but if the ship rocks it may close on it's own unless you prop it open. And in some bathroom designs, the shower can flood the bathroom area which would make leaving the door open unfeasible. ....

I shall put 'door wedge' on my 'buy for cruise' shopping list. What a great idea! I have them at home for the same type of wind-tunnel effect.

And I shall look forward to getting fit with all these stairs, too. Or at least make sure I have a book on me at all times for when I have to rest-up before tackling the next flight.

Thank you for some great practical advice!

When you've decided on a ship, Google the deck plans and hunt for a cabin close to the stairways- usually by the lifts- or one with easy access to the outside. The ship we use the most (P&O's Ventura) has balcony cabins near the rear, and opposite is a small flight of steps which take you straight on to an outside deck- just seconds away.....

Thank you - great idea! I am completely new to all this and wouldn't have thought of it. I need to find a way of 'keeping' this thread in my view now... *rushes off to investigate, Ventura, too*

Well, I overspoke. The rotating thumb latch will operate the deadbolt. The lever handle on the inside opens the latch and overrides the deadbolt as well, just like a hotel door. Nothing on the inside of the door is electronic, it is mechanical, and by law must function to allow egress in any emergency by a single action (moving the lever handle).

I can't tell you how grateful I am for these details. They have made me feel a lot better about the whole thing. I totally like it all being mechanical and not electronic! Yay!

Am gonna say thank you, anyway - *Thank You!!!*

Cabin doors cannot "jam" from the inside. They are designed that even if the deadbolt is thrown, and even if the battery is dead in the electronic lock, you can quickly and easily open the lock with the thumb latch from the inside. This is a safety requirement. Door locks sometimes fail to open with the keycard, but that is only from the outside.

Ooh! I suddenly feel a great deal more optimistic about this whole venture! Thank you so much! You literally mean a simple, manual thumb latch? I've just googled a picture - that would make me feel totally fine if so.

I've actually been thinking about this very thing. I have some type of claustrophobia as well. Sometimes, when I'm traveling down the interstate in my Jeep, I'll suddenly feel very closed in. I have to stop on the side of the road and walk around beside the interstate to get a feeling of space.

...

We're still going on the cruise, of course, but I can relate.

Thank you for the empathy, LandsharkFrenzy!

Yes - it's 'some type of claustrophobia' - as you say - I always call it that because otherwise it all gets a bit complicated - I'm actually - sort-of - okay in a smallish space - but not if the door is shut - I'm not okay if I think I might be trapped in it - so I can get panicky if I'm surrounded by a crowd in a big place, or if a room is obviously locked for some reason - I once had to get out of an enormous lecture theatre - in a hurry - because I was overcome with the conviction that someone had locked the door. And I, too, have felt it when driving - sometimes in fog - but recently in a Mini car because when I picked it up and drove off down the road it suddenly made door-locking noises!!! Eek!

Are you going on a shorter cruise first, to make sure that a longer one will be okay?

How do you do in resort type hotels? Well, that's what the ship is like. Unless you go on a VERY small ship, you won't even KNOW it's a ship! They are huge, and public areas are spacious! I would look at deck plans and book the largest cabin you can afford, as ship cabins aren't as large as hotel rooms. Carnival has the largest standard cabins, but if you can swing a mini or junior suite on other lines, the space will be more like a hotel room.

 

.....

 

And, if you don't think cruising is for you....simply don't! While most enjoy it, not everyone does. Your life will go on if you never take a cruise!

I've never been in a resort-style hotel. The hotels I have had to use when getting around have been pretty businesslike and near the ground floor so I don't have to get in a lift, and I always have to make sure I can get out of the window if the door jams... Yes, this claustrophobia/fear of being trapped thing is pretty limiting. I can't stay on a train or a plane for long in case I need the loo ie double whammy - no way!!!

Yes - a balcony would be essential, but now I've been told about it messing up the air con I'm not so sure - I would have to have it open to be able to manage.

There are many things about cruising that really appeal to me - largely the fact that I can get to places without going by plane, and going to several places without having to pack and unpack all the time. I think I can manage most of it - thank you for your suggestions. The main thing is the cabin itself and being able to have the balcony doors open. By the same token, I couldn't actually shut the door into the bathroom/shower room - I'm assuming I could leave that ajar, though???

Don't listen to people who say "... not everyone shows up for muster drills..." that's a good way to get yourself thrown off a ship. Also sleeping with balcony door open, while possible, tends to foul up a lot of other cabins' air conditioning - and is strongly discouraged. That said: even in just an ocean view cabin the sight of the open sea is so liberating that it might just immunize you. A balcony cabin is great, but there are many open deck areas where you can hang out. I have never experienced a mal-functioning lock, but I suppose it is possible. Finally, it is easy to figure out times and locations to enable you to avoid crowds.

 

Give a short cruise a try - you may very well find that the breadth of the sea will more than off-set any closeness experienced.

Thank you for your reply. Okay - that's useful info - ref the balcony door being open messing up the air con. I would be relying on having it open. It's only when a door is shut that the (utterly irrational and uncontrollable) panic begins.

Sorry to hear about your claustrophobia. You can go on a smaller ship, some have less than 100. You can get a balcony room. You can always get fresh air alone sitting outside. You can sleep with the balcony door open some. Most have room service. You can visit the buffet at odd times and find less crowds and move around people. The back tends to be way less crowded. There are always a quiet corner on a ship. Backs of shows are less crowded. Not everyone shows up for muster drills. Join the spa, they tend to be more quiet. The Haven rooms on the Norwegian Escape can be completely private, butler service even. You board privately in a much smaller group, private dining rooms. And ultimately you can do it.. Research the Haven rooms online and in YouTube. Might be more ideal. Some meds help as well. And ultimately you can do it!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Thank you for your reply! And for the suggestions! But mostly for the encouragement.

Hi - it's great to have such a resource as these forums!

Unfortunately, I think I might have put myself off the whole idea of cruise ships before I've begun - I keep reading up about a ship and thinking - Fab! This is the one! - and then I'll read more about it and put myself off it. And so I'll start reading about another one and now I'm just going in circles.

So then I thought maybe I'd do a ship's visit in Southampton and see for myself before I booked anything but having read all about that in depth I don't think I'll get to see what I need to see... Apparently, you might not even get to see a cabin, let alone try locking yourself in it to see what happens... And to do that I'd need to take a couple of days off work so it's a bit daft to take the risk of not seeing what I need to see.

I am quite badly claustrophobic, but it's the fear of getting trapped above all else that produces the (irrational) panic, so it's the locks on the doors and windows that I need to know about, not so much the floor space etc.

I would have to have a balcony cabin and it would be a solo trip. (So I know I'm paying over the odds straight-off, but I'm prepared for that because I've wanted to go on a cruise for a long time.)

But I am worried that I won't be able to handle the claustrophobia if the locks are the wrong kind or the doors etc get jammed. I would never get in a lift anyway so they're not a problem. (I'm hoping I won't have to climb too many floors, though...) But I can't handle being stuck in great crowds of people, either. eg in the drill muster...

I keep reading and reading and then I think I'll just book a four-day trip to see how it works out - but it is possible that I'd get on the ship and then a door will jam and I'll get carried off the ship some time later a complete basket-case.

Any suggestions? I can't believe I'm the only claustrophobic person to want to go on a cruise...

The other major thing (uh, I have a list of little things, too) is that a friend who went on a solo trip last year found herself constantly plagued by people who seemed to think she shouldn't be on her own. For that reason - is there room service? Could I have all my meals in my cabin? I'm reading contradictory things about that.

Anyway - I've waffled enough. Thank you for reading.