Is Cruising A Stressful Vacation?

[alexxandraa397]

I have cruised probably 15 times, and I absolutely love it. My boyfriend will be cruising with me in a few weeks, and it will be his first cruise. He's worried that the vacation will just be stressful because he has to "worry about where to be at what time." He says, "I just do things whenever I feels like it. If I wanna go to the beach, I'll go to the beach. If I wanna do blah blah at blah blah time, I'll do blah blah at blah blah time." I tried explaining to him that I enjoy knowing what I am doing so that I don't have to think about it, and I don't have to make plans. To me, THAT is the stressful part! And I also tried telling him the only things that he'll need to follow a schedule for is dinner and excursions. But he is set in his thinking. Besides leaving him at home, anyone have any suggestions to help!? If there's anything I've learned from cruising, it's that cruising is what you make of it, so if he goes in with a bad attitude, he will no-doubt have a miserable time. :confused:

[Ocean Boy]

Cruising can be as structured, or unstructured, as you want to make it. If you want to go to shows then, obviously, there is a set start time. Other than that you can even dine on your own schedule if you choose to. Ports of call can be just as structured or unstructured as you want to make them. Except for being on the ship around 30 minutes before leaving ports of call you can do the cruise just about any way that you want.

[KeywestK]

The beauty of cruising is you can be as busy and as structured as you want to be, OR, you can be as unstructured and as go-with-the-flow as you like. Tell your BF that just because all those activities are posted on the daily planner doesn't mean he has to partake of any of it! You can tell him they are merely suggestions;)

 

Also, no one is forced to go ashore in port. Many people like to stay on the ship on port days and take advantage of the near empty ship, no crowds at the pool, and just enjoy a quiet day. If he is not interested in organized tours, you can get off at a port and walk around and take in some sights, relax at a cafe, or maybe just hire a taxi for an hour or two for a relaxing sightseeing ride, or a couple of hours at a beach.

 

Cruising really is whatever you make of it. He can write his own rules and enjoy his cruise his way:)

[bluegirlum]

My ex-BF and I liked to cruise because it was so NOT stressful. There are so many things to do--or not do--that we could just do whatever we wanted. If I wanted to hang out at the pool and he wanted to go to the casino, then we could do that. It's not like going to Paris or something where there are a ton of sights that you have to fit into your itinerary. Some of the ports have great things that are fun to see, but otherwise lots of them are just fun to walk around and grab a drink in. He's probably just nervous because it's unfamiliar. Maybe if you ask him about the kind of things he'd like to do and show him options, then maybe he'll feel less stressed.

[alexxandraa397]

Well we have excursions planned in 2 of the 4 ports (waterfall climbing in Jamaica and Pirate Snorkel in Cozumel). I asked him ahead of time if he would like to do those things, and he said yes. I don't think he understands you can't just get to port the day of and say, "hmm I think I'll go climb that waterfall today," so you need to plan in weeks/months in advance. Unfortunately that means picking a set time to do those things.

[knittinggirl]

I'd suggest purchasing some water shoes for your waterfall climb. I gather that's pretty structured, if it's the Dunn River Falls one. They make you hold hands, and climb together at the pace of the guide. On the other hand, DH and walked down the path next to the falls and had a blast. If you want to avoid getting hassled, stay out of their craft market.

[Jasp 0401]

I find cruising the only way to spend your holidays.You get to do the stressful stuff before you leave. Like choosing port excursions that need to be pre booked ahead of time.Then once you are on board you can just relax and take each day as it comes. I would tell your BF that the activities are posted on the daily cruise planner to let you know what is happening that day.It doesn't mean that he has to do any of it. It is up to him if he wants to do any of them.

[Desert Cruizers]

We think the only stressful part of a cruise is disembarking, hunting for your luggage among masses of luggage. Rest is easy.:) I pre plan all our tours so we know when and where we want to be, otherwise onboard, we do what we feel like at the time.

[setsail]

One has to be flexible if they are going to travel/cruise

[windjamming]

While I agree with you that not knowing what we're doing is more stressful, I can understand why cruising can seem very stressful for someone who's not a "planner". Whenever I tell my family about our plans their eyes tend to glaze over, and I am sure I sound like the teacher in the Charlie Brown cartoons. To them it's just a lot of information to try to process all at once.

 

I've learned to dial back the information to just some basics, with a few more details as we get closer to sailaway. Everyone's happier.

 

I also leave a few things open so that there is at least some semblance of "winging it". Perhaps you can do MTD or leave one of the ports without plans (or at least not telling him about it, haha). Fortunately it sounds like you are on a Caribbean cruise, which is totally easier to do things on the fly than, say, a Mediterranean cruise.

 

Your BF will be fine once he gets onboard and sees that he's really not pinned down into anything (except being back onboard before sailaway).

 

Happy sailing!

[bighairtexan]

MY BF was SO stressed out before his cruise. Really weird things. What if I get too sunburned? (um.... Rash guard shirt and SPF??), what if I get shipjacked (REALLY???), what if I get seasick? (ginger, ginger ale, sea bands and meclazine).

I wanted to ask him "What if I make you LEAVE NOW since we haven't even left the dock?"

 

He's now been on about 10 or so cruises and loves it. But I'm telling you, it was touch and go and I was getting stressed out about him. Luckily once we were under way and he saw the reality of cruising, his stress dissolved. Good luck!

[renee1222]

My husband had doubts going into his first cruise as well. Not necessarily about it being stressful, but about being "stuck" on a ship with thousands of people and having limited time in ports to do much. He kept saying we could just spend a week at St Martin or St Thomas if I wanted to go there. I finally got him on his cruise last year (after 10 years of marriage) and now he LOVES it! He's agreed that we need to take at least one cruise every year, just us, no kids. We currently have 3 cruises book over the next 18 months...two just us and one with the kids. He's even apologized for it taking him so long to agree to cruising!

 

Other than the 2 excursions you have planned, I would try to make it as relaxing and unstressful as possible. Let him decide how late to sleep in, whether to eat at the buffet or MDR, etc. Show him the options and then let him choose what he wants to do. Obviously certain things have to be scheduled, like shows, certain meals, excursions, etc. but there is plenty of down time where he can choose to do whatever he wants, especially on sea days.

[bearette]

If he is worried about a set dinning time then switch to Anytime Dinning. As far as being on a schedule...does he make the movie times at home? Something's have a start time and others as at your leisure. It is up to you what you want to do. Know that he is going to be difficult at first and let him pick what he wants to attend. Don't stress if he wants to do things out of your normal cruise routine.

[Ladysilver]

The only thing I find a little stressful on a cruise is debarking the ship. :mad:

[cb at sea]

You don't HAVE to be ANYWHERE at any time! Jeez....you should be able to let him know that!

[OCruisers]

As hard as it is for those of us who love to cruise find it hard to understand, some people really just don't like cruise ships. :o

 

LuLu

~~~~

 

[alexxandraa397]

we're going on freedom, western caribbean :)

[RCI Cruisers 004]

OMG......it is the most un-stressed way to vacation ever ! We plan everything thru Royal, so if there is a problem, they take care of it.....transfers/ excursions....when we get to the airport to catch our flights, we literally switch to relax mode because we know everything is taken care of !

[JasonV1]

Do whatever you can to make embarkation and debarkation easier (for him). That is the only time I stress (and even then only a little). My tips:

 

Arrive in the port town the night before, or if driving at least get within a couple of hours. Getting rest before embarkation day will go a long way towards helping everyone relax.

Arrive at the port early (but remember that if you do anything you have with you when you board you'll be carrying it around until your room is ready)

Pack the minimum required for the trip. It takes a few cruises to get the hang of doing that.

Have all docs in a letter sized envelope (ticket to get onboard, any receipts for parking if you have them, and so on). I have my master envelope on every cruise that has maps to/from port, hotel reservations, cruise docs, parking reservations, etc. All docs for the trip (save identification) in 1 place.

You will be asked for identification multiple times when boarding, so if you want do something to make it secure but easy to get to. I have passport holders I can wear around my neck; they look dorky but I only use them when embarking/debarking.

 

Once onboard, nothing matters. It really doesn't. If you are stressing, you are doing it wrong. Even I am able to relax my control freak tendencies, but only when my luggage has safely arrived at my stateroom. Oasis class is a nice boat for control freaks as you can plan your shows in advance. But even then, if you miss a show is your cruise really ruined?

 

As for excursions, book them through the boat so you know it will wait for you if you are late getting back. I never book independent tours until I am more familiar with the port. Leave any passports in the room as well. I prefer drivers licenses, and a copy of my passport if I'm really feeling worried.

 

I have cruised probably 15 times, and I absolutely love it. My boyfriend will be cruising with me in a few weeks, and it will be his first cruise. He's worried that the vacation will just be stressful because he has to "worry about where to be at what time." He says, "I just do things whenever I feels like it. If I wanna go to the beach, I'll go to the beach. If I wanna do blah blah at blah blah time, I'll do blah blah at blah blah time." I tried explaining to him that I enjoy knowing what I am doing so that I don't have to think about it, and I don't have to make plans. To me, THAT is the stressful part! And I also tried telling him the only things that he'll need to follow a schedule for is dinner and excursions. But he is set in his thinking. Besides leaving him at home, anyone have any suggestions to help!? If there's anything I've learned from cruising, it's that cruising is what you make of it, so if he goes in with a bad attitude, he will no-doubt have a miserable time. :confused:

[skagen]

I know I'm not alone - my line of work (software development manager) has be frequently checking e-mails/resolving issues off-hours.

 

The simple fact that the internet su**s on a cruise ship, while many of you may complain about it, is the biggest blessing to a guy like me. I literally cannot do anything about any problems and for me that is the ultimate disconnect. I don't touch the computer for an entire week and I love it.

 

By this I mean that it is hands down the most unstressful time of the entire year.

[Big_G]

Cruising was never stressful until I sailed Celebrity Reflection, sat down in Michael's Club, looked at the craft beer cooler and said to my dear wife, " I only have seven days to try all of these?" :eek: Much to her dismay, I gave it a good go. Fortunately for her, there were a few that I'd already tried. :D

[Ken Greco]

Sometimes concerns about cruises are not really expressed clearly. Is he the type that uncomfortable with meeting other strangers on the ship? Let hi relax and do his own thing on the ship; as for excursions sometime you meet others your age that can do things off the ship without booking through the ship. Rent a Jeep, tour the island, go to a beach all unstructured.

[bigque]

I cannot equate cruise and stress. Cruising is so cool and stress free. Nothing for me to do all week except for what I want to do. I don't schedule myself to do anything other than the excursions and dinner. When I leave the house and get in that car or board that flight to the port I am so relaxed as the fun time as begun for me before I ever get the ship. The stressful time is when I am a week back to work and I am still daydreaming about the stress free and fun vacation I just had!

[emeraldcity]

Cruising can be stressful. The honeymoon couple who made two big mistakes, for instance ... 1. they got on the Love and Marriage Show ... 2. The audience was packed with friends and family. Dad was REALLY surprised when they admitted where they had their first "encounter".

 

As long as you avoid that... you should be good.

[abridalmaven]

Cruising can be as structured, or unstructured, as you want to make it. If you want to go to shows then, obviously, there is a set start time. Other than that you can even dine on your own schedule if you choose to. Ports of call can be just as structured or unstructured as you want to make them. Except for being on the ship around 30 minutes before leaving ports of call you can do the cruise just about any way that you want.

What OB said nails it. This last cruise we went on we had no set plans because my husband was just over pneumonia and i was awaiting surgery. Everything was played by how we felt that day, and we were with other people on this cruise too. It was a fun and relaxing vacation that we sorely needed. yes we did meet for dinner and booked shows and alternate dining, but had we felt we wre not up to any of it, we would just not gone.:D