How to enjoy (or survive) a cruise if you don't like cruises?

Question

I'm invited on a group trip on a cruise ship. There is nothing about a cruise that attracts me but I have never been on one. Please, if you have cruise experience, help me understand how to survive this without going insane.

I have never been aboard a cruise ship. This cruise is during the winter in the North Atlantic so I'll be indoors all the time. I don't like crowds, I don't like lining up for activities. I love water but I prefer to be in a small sail boat, or waverunner, paddleboard, or actually in the water. I love forests and mountains and lakes. I don't like sun or beaches or being indoors with lots of people. I don't drink, I don't gamble. I do like fun and games but not if I have to fight crowds to do it. I'm not claustrophobic, it's not that I can't be in a crowd, it's just that I have no potential to enjoy something if I have to stand in line and fight crowds to do it.

Help! What should I know about cruise ships that will allow me to enjoy this or at least survive it? I can't upgrade to private VIP whatever because this is a gift, I have to be gracious about it. I can't stay home because it would ruin the trip for everyone in the group. I can stay in my cabin and play games on my phone ... up to a point, but not so much that it comes off as rude.

Answer 1

Cruise ships vary tremendously so the most important thing to do is to research the one you'll be on. Does it have a performance space, like a comedy club or a nightly skating show, where people sit at tables and watch a thing? Does it have many different restaurants where you can eat special food? A movie theatre? Lectures on the science or history of the area you're traversing? Do any of these appeal to you at all? (Assume for the moment a complete absence of lineups and crowds, because you're not alone in disliking that and the ships do a lot of work to minimize that.)

As you research the ship, look also for hang-out spots: a place you can sit with a coffee and a book (or I guess your phone, though a book somehow seems better socially, and doesn't rely on either battery or Internet, which may be a challenge) for several hours. A place you and another person or two could quietly chat, or play cards (a deck is easy to tuck into your suitcase), or even a board game if you have room in your bag to bring one. You could even plan that with other people in the group - "anyone up for some [game] one of the afternoons? I'll bring my copy!".

Planning ahead is going to be critical. Knowing the things on board you're ok with, and the spots you want to look for when you arrive, might make it easier to endure the few things you can't get out of.

Years ago now I was a speaker at a conference on a cruise. We did talks on sea days, and had three separate days at sunny destinations where my partner (who had been included for free) and I hiked around seeing lovely flowers and scenery. On the sea days, he hung out in quiet corners and read, or watched people, or ate interesting food. In the evenings we went to shows together. He had a good enough time that he's prepared to do another purely personal cruise some day. He says checking everything out in advance was key to enjoying the time.

Answer 2

Kate Gregory gives an excellent answer which I entirely agree with. Let me add a couple of extra things. Like you I didn't think I liked cruises, but when I went on one I found it much more enjoyable than I thought. Cruise lines put a lot of effort into making the experience enjoyable for all sorts of people. In particular they try to avoid lines and waiting. The only times I remember waiting in line were to leave the boat and go ashore (which is pretty unavoidable unless you wait until everybody has left) and waiting to go into an evening show because we went early to try and get the best seats. If we had waited we could have strolled in and still got good seats.

One important part of the cruise experience is the shore excursions. You say your cruise is in the North Atlantic in winter, so I'll assume it's similar to the one my relative went on, visiting New England (Boston) and Eastern Canada (Halifax, Prince Edward Island, Quebec). All of these are interesting cities with plenty of history and some options for wildlife viewing excursions.

I'll also say the cruise ships I went on had very extensive and underused libraries. They also had plenty of lectures and activities for days when there is no shore visit.

Answer 3

Many cruise ships have well-equiped gyms. Ships I have travelled on have treadmills, stationary bicycles, assorted strength machines, a few free weights; also an open space where floor mats can be placed and where they hold a few exercise classes. On some ships the gym has big windows allowing a good view of the sea while running or cycling.

Many cruise ships have inside swimming pools, although they are too small to easily swim any distance. (Reason: a big pool has lots of water and you would not want all that water sloshing around in a rough sea.)

I would recommend taking clothes and footwear for the gym.

Answer 4

I'll tell you what... We're sometimes reluctant to do something but then discover it's not that bad after all, or even very fun. So, you're going, right? Don't go with a negative attitude and adopt the "let's see when we'll get there" attitude. Then, once there, just go talk to one of the staff on the boat and be straightforward in explaining your situation. You can bet that you're not the first one with that dilemma and they will surely be able to assist you and make your trip fun. Take this as a new experience and an opportunity to discover new things, and you might be surprised!