My wife really wants to go on a cruise

[JewelerSteve]

and I really can't think of too many things that I would want to do less.. :confused:

 

I'm not a fan of go here do this so any cruise we take would have to have an open structure to it to even consider it.. I really hate lines, I grocery shop at 2am at the 24 hour store just so I don't have to stand in line.. And she wants a tropical cruise and if I were to go I would want to go to Alaska or Antarctica..

 

So how do we find a compromise where she gets her cruise and I don't end up angry the whole time?? Typically my idea of a great vacation is staying at a B&B on a lake near a casino with friends and the wives go to the casino and shopping and the guys stay at the B&B and sleep and fish.. I'm concerned that being stuffed that close together with that many people will be a 'bad thing' for me..

[phoenix1181]

Sounds like you've already decided not to like cruising. What about your wife doing a "girls" cruise with sister/daughter/mother/girlfriend? That way you're both happy................

[Mydnite]

My O is the same, he hates lines or queues, does not like to be told what to do and when, but he went on a cruise with me and loved it, but he did go with an open mind, and we did plan a little to make sure we avoided the lines, for example, don't go to the buffet between 12 - 2, we read reviews for ships and you can get an idea about the queues, and choose a ship where these do not tend to be an issue.

 

Almost any cruise line can have an open structure, it is what you make of it and you choose how you want to spend you time.

[mikel24m]

Your best bet on a cruise is to do what everyone else isnt .A great example is on our last cruise we didnt feel like getting dressed up for the big formal nights so we ate in the buffet. Both nights we had a great meal and pretty much the only people in there, and had the best time with just us.You go to ports people are all in a hurry to get off and usually its a bunch of rude people pushing and shoving and cutting in line, wait a couple hours you can walk right off the boat with no hassle. You just have to think the compete opposite of the other people. Good luck

Mike

[wdw1972]

I say suck it up and be a decent husband by going on ONE cruise to make her happy. You might actually love it! But, if not - then if she loves it she can book solo cruises while you're off fishing with your guy friends.

 

In my situation I LOVE cruising - love it alot and love to cruise as often as possible. He likes it, but is happy with cruising once every several years. Despite loving him, I like my solo cruises better than our cruises as a couple. So, I'll cruise once or twice a year solo - to his relief, lol! Once in a great while I'll book 1 for the 2 of us.

 

Sue/WDW1972

Ryndam 4/11/10

Eurodam 3/5/11

[janetz]

My husband thought like you but I did indeed get him to go and he loved it. You can do whatever you like. You do not need to be in any lines at all. People who have never been on a cruise have perceptions that are not aways correct. Go, and come back and tell us how addicted you are. ;)

[sm0115]

My dad is the type to grouch about everything, not want to do this or that, has to be in charge type. A few years ago one of his employees went on a cruise talked it up so much my dad bought my mom a cruise for Christmas one year. My mom figured that he'd pretty much stay in his room or the casino while she did whatever. Nope. Complete opposite. He loved everything about the cruise. They've gone on several now. This is the man who griped about my mom even wanting to go to Moody Gardens when we went on vacation one year in Galveston. Needless to say we didn't do Moody Gardens.

[cb at sea]

You don't have "lines" on a ship....do what you want, when you want...it's a vacation!

 

You can chill in the casino, while she suns at the pool...that's what hubby and I do! He hates sea days...I don't mind them. He likes to do watersport stuff...I sit on the beach and read and tan.

 

A cruise is simply a vacation. Antartica and Alaska, while I'm sure it's "scenic", isn't my idea of fun....cold isn't "romantic" at all.

 

Do you love your wife? Give her what she wants, and do it gracefully. She's worth it, don't you think?

[maureencruiser]

Hello, Steve, welcome to CC even if you do not ever go on a cruise! You look like exactly the type of person I would want to go on a cruise with-you look like a lot of fun!! My advice is get a book or 2 about cruising and read them so you will know what a cruise really is. A lot of the books have chapters called "Unfortunate Misconceptions about Cruising". You may find some of your concerns answered there. Watch the Travel Channel-they have a series called Great Cruises where you actually follow the host while she's on a cruise-seeing what she does, etc.. My favorite cruise line is Royal Caribbean-go to their website and poke around-you might be surprised. I, too, would love to do Alaska and Antarctica, but, haven't yet. Unfortunately, those would be longer cruises and you don't sound ready for that yet. How about a compromise, fly to FL, spend 3 days on land, then take a 4 night cruise. RCI does 4 nighters out of Canaveral (Orlando) and Miami. These are on older, smaller ships so they don't have all the bells and whistles, but, maybe they are less crowded so you won't miss all the hoo-haa. Do some research and see if you change your mind-I hope you do.....Maureen

[JewelerSteve]

I am a lot of fun as long as I don't have to mix with "people" :)

 

I'm thinking that a 'short' cruise somewhere she wants to go might be reasonable, maybe 3 or 4 days.. I could survive a crowd that long.. I was thinking about going on one till a friend got back from his, they took their young daughter, and started telling me how terrible it was.. that put me right back in to the I'm going to Canada fishing you go wherever you want mode..

 

If we do go I think I would have more fun on a smaller cruise with fewer people.. As long as I can get some fishing in it should be bearable.. And for the record, this is my research :) I'd rather chat on a forum that read a book or article on some web site..

[kitty9]

I am a lot of fun as long as I don't have to mix with "people" :)

 

I'm thinking that a 'short' cruise somewhere she wants to go might be reasonable, maybe 3 or 4 days.. I could survive a crowd that long.. I was thinking about going on one till a friend got back from his, they took their young daughter, and started telling me how terrible it was.. that put me right back in to the I'm going to Canada fishing you go wherever you want mode..

 

If we do go I think I would have more fun on a smaller cruise with fewer people.. As long as I can get some fishing in it should be bearable.. And for the record, this is my research :) I'd rather chat on a forum that read a book or article on some web site..

 

Sorry, but you cannot listen to the experience of one person and then decide you won't like it either. If you don't like crowds, you're not going to like a cruise, regardless of the size of the ship or length of cruise. Plus, those shorter cruises can get to be rather rowdy with people trying to shove 7 days of partying into three days of a cruise.

 

Let her take a cruise with family members or friends. There's no need for you to be miserable.

[Zubsin]

Short cruises are NOT a great way to start ... it takes a couple days just to figure everything out. How about traveling with a couple you enjoy hanging out with. I will say that I find that the people who travel "with" others tend to hand out by themselves so that would solve your lack of social skills :) (sorry)...the big ships are designed to give you the illusion of initmacy. The dining rooms are the only really large spaces and depending the cruise line they have may have lots of alternatives. I recommend NCL as they are less formal and have lots of small dining areas. I THOUGHT I WOULD HATE cruising but I sucked it up and took my mom to Alaska 4 years ago and now I'm on my 5th cruise and I love it! keep an open mind and find another couple to go with you! Donna

[JewelerSteve]

I would love a trip to Alaska or the Antarctic, but that's a no go for my wife.. I'm willing to give a cruise a shot, and while my crowd skills have gotten rusty since I work alone at home, I do get along with just about everyone.. Just as long as I have a bit of personal space where I can go hide when I get too crowded..

 

This spring we are traveling to Marco Island with another couple and spending a week together.. But I'm thinking about this fall, our 23rd anniversary is in August and to celebrate her retiring from the USAF after 22 years, would be a good time for us to go somewhere with just the 2 of us..

[printingchick]

Try to find a cruise where all the ports are DOCKING, rather than TENDERING. You will end up in frustrating lines if you have to tender to and from the port of call. At docking ports, you can get on and off the ship whenever you want, as many times as you want. No cattle-calls required.

 

You will stand in brief lines getting back onto the ship, but that is just to pass through security. It involves showing your ID card and walking through a metal detector. These are safety measures involved in any kind of travel these days.

 

You may find you like cruising better than you expect!

[tomko2]

I would love a trip to Alaska or the Antarctic, but that's a no go for my wife.. I'm willing to give a cruise a shot, and while my crowd skills have gotten rusty since I work alone at home, I do get along with just about everyone.. Just as long as I have a bit of personal space where I can go hide when I get too crowded..

 

This spring we are traveling to Marco Island with another couple and spending a week together.. But I'm thinking about this fall, our 23rd anniversary is in August and to celebrate her retiring from the USAF after 22 years, would be a good time for us to go somewhere with just the 2 of us..

 

There are lots of places on a ship to be on your own. Pick a reasonably large ship so you will have more space to roam. If you pick an RCI ship I would recommend something the size of the Navigator of the Seas; large enough without being too big. It has 4 and 5 night cruises with the odd 7 night cruise. Photos in the link below.

 

What a nice way to celebrate both your anniversary and your DW's retirement.

 

Kathy:)

[taxgal]

Sound like a Bermuda cruise might be right for you. They leave from NYC, Baltimore and other ports. Generally you spent 1-2 days at sea, 3-4 days at Bermuda, and 1-2 days at sea. While there you can golf, fish, swim, sight see, etc. In addition to that there is shopping and carriage rides, et al.

[Grannycb]

I'd try to convince your wife to go to Alaska. My DH didn't think he'd like Alaska, always wanted to go to either Europe or the Caribbean. I talked him into it. He LOVED Alaska. We've taken three cruises there. However, if your DW goes to Alaska, you'd better be ready to go tropical next time. Avoid lines by taking private excursions. You'll both enjoy your time much more.

[Cruisin' Chick]

When I was dating my hubby, he told me he went on a cruise the year before and had a lot of fun (he went on a single basis, which meant he was paired up with another guy). I had no inclination to go on a cruise -- had even turned down a chance to go on a free one years before (one of our clients was a cruiseline). But I decided to be a good sport and try out an one-day cruise (went round trip from SD to Ensenada, a gamblers special).

 

Then went on my first real cruise (7 days) and loved it. The only vacation we've gone on that was more than a couple of days that didn't involve a cruise was our honeymoon in Hawaii. We even took our daughter on her first one at 23 months of age, and she loves them too.

 

I do know of a few couples in which the husband doesn't want to go on a cruise. One would rather go hang-gliding, while his family sits on the beach. Not fun for them. So the wife took her kids on a cruise without him. Another man is very frugal -- they usually go to visit his parents or hers back east. The wife has motion issues, so she's ambivalent, even though we think she may love the pampering. Maybe one day they'll go on a cruise (and he'll realize it's a great value).

 

Either you try out a cruise (but for heaven's sake, leave that 'tude at home and maybe you might actually enjoy yourself) or give her a gift of a cruise with a female relative or friend. There are plenty of women who go on cruises w/o their husbands.

 

BTW, other than the getting on or off the ship, you can actually avoid lines (on our last cruise, we had great timing and got to the berth at 12:15pm, was sent to an available check in clerk, went through security in minutes, got our ID photo taken and were in our cabin before 1pm). We had traditional dining (which doesn't sound like your thing), but I actually prefer this -- and I'm not exactly traditional in many ways. You don't have to eat in the main dining room on many cruise ships (there's often a buffet that's open for meals), you don't have to participate in any activities. There's never anyone telling you what to do.

 

And if you go on this cruise with your wife, maybe you can book an Alaskan one for the next one.

[spongerob]

and I really can't think of too many things that I would want to do less.. :confused:

That is exactly what I thought before we took our first cruise. 17 cruises later...I think you can see that my opinion has changed. :)

[cruisinreunion]

I say send your wife with her girlfriends for a girls getaway! She can enjoy her cruise with others who won't have to be convinced to go...she'll have a great time and you will look like a hero:d

[kicker]

You like to fish? Some Alaska cruises have Land/Cruise packages, and Alaska fishing is great.

 

Caribbean cruises: most have deep-sea fishing excursions you can book. Depending on where you'd cruise, I'm sure every location would have some type of fishing trip or two.

[flamomo]

I think you'd find ships are less "crowded" than lots of other places you might go. And if you get tired of being around other people, you can go to your cabin for some alone time, with or without your "hunney bunny". You might enjoy having a cabin with a balcony, so you have your own outdoor space.

 

Let's face it, you should be able to put yourself out there and take a 7 day cruise to somewhere tropical, just because it's what your wife wants to do. I bet it'd make you lots of brownie points, too!

And you COULD find that you will have discovered a great new way to vacation. And just maybe, your wife would reciprocate and agree to go to Alaska on a cruise with you (which, BTW, is a wonderful place to cruise).

[BlueCat1105]

If you really want to go along (and I think you'll need to try a bit harder to be more positive or you'll be really unhappy), then get a balcony cabin. You can be away from the crowds and have room service if you'd rather not go out in public. And your wife will have the run of the ship if she so desires.

 

I'm a little more solitary than my husband, and he'll go off wandering a lot more than I do. I sit on the balcony and drift and dream.

 

BC

[UtterCaro]

So how do we find a compromise where she gets her cruise and I don't end up angry the whole time?? Typically my idea of a great vacation is staying at a B&B on a lake near a casino with friends and the wives go to the casino and shopping and the guys stay at the B&B and sleep and fish.

 

Welcome to Cruise Critic. Since you and your wife spend time apart on vacations anyway, why not explore the idea (and budgeting) of separate vacations? Our family switches between solo, couple, and family trips -- it works for us.

 

Caro

[RetireeWannabee]

I am a lot of fun as long as I don't have to mix with "people" :)

 

I'm thinking that a 'short' cruise somewhere she wants to go might be reasonable, maybe 3 or 4 days.. I could survive a crowd that long.. I was thinking about going on one till a friend got back from his, they took their young daughter, and started telling me how terrible it was.. that put me right back in to the I'm going to Canada fishing you go wherever you want mode..

 

If we do go I think I would have more fun on a smaller cruise with fewer people.. As long as I can get some fishing in it should be bearable.. And for the record, this is my research :) I'd rather chat on a forum that read a book or article on some web site..

 

If fishing is your only requirement, then find an itinerary that offers an excursion for it. I think that is the compromise.

 

Really, crowds aren't so much a problem once onboard. Ships are BIG, people disperse to do the stuff they want to. You could relax in a deck chair in peace, so long as you don't insist that chair be by the pool.

 

Yeah, it sounds like you will move around in a herd with thousands of strangers, but that's not how it is. as another poster mentioned, pretty easy to not be part of the herd if you select off hours for the things that might attract a crowd.

 

Try it, you might be surprised by howmuch you like it!!