Need help talking hubby into transatlantic QM2 cruise!

[wilsonzoo]

Hi All --

 

I have been dreaming and drooling about the prospect of a transatlantic crossing on the QM2, but my husband is convinced that he would be completely bored and would go stir-crazy with 6 straight days at sea and no ports of call. I know that there are many, many activities to keep one occupied and have shared that with him, but he seems staunch in his opinion that he would not enjoy himself.

 

Oh, and his other arguements being:

A) transatlantic crossings have great potential for seasickness

B) Cunard will be a VERY expensive ship to sail on (i.e., spendy bar tab -- we DO like our vino and cocktails!)

C) Cunard probably caters to a more "mature", stuffy clientele than what we prefer (don't want to insult anyone, but that's his idea!)

 

Any thoughts on possibly changing his mind????? :confused:

Thanks!

[bonni99]

C) Cunard probably caters to a more "mature", stuffy clientele than what we prefer (don't want to insult anyone, but that's his idea!)

 

Any thoughts on possibly changing his mind????? :confused:

Thanks!

 

Well my partner and I have done two transatlantic crossings and we are 30 and 33 years old respectively- not all the transatlantic passengers are mature and we dont think of ourselves as "stuffy" either. I thought there was a good mixture of people aboard on both crossings.

 

Funnily enough I had to convince my partner to go too- but if your husband loves good food and relaxation as well as plenty of things to do then I am sure he would love QM2. Perhaps a short tester cruise would be an idea? I know that after one cruise both my partner and I were hooked!

[Mickb]

A transatlantic crossing is one of the world's great travel experiences.

There is so much going on board that he could not possibly do it all in 6 days. Its amazing how one starts off rushing around on day 1, but by day 5 life has slowed down considerably!!

As far as the bar bill goes - it s no worse than you would pay in a smart resort.

He'll have to make a leap of faith - but I'm sure that he will enjoy it!

[kath0366]

The bar bill was my biggest concern when I was on the QM2 last weekend, but drinks range between 4 & 7 dollars a drink. Champagne will set you back $10 a glass.

 

So that argument is blown....go and have fun!

[lannp]

I coudn't get over how fast the time flew. Movies, lectures, lunch in the pub, shows, art auctions, afternoon tea, wonderful library with magazines, leisurely meals in the dining room.

[kevinsac]

Silly man! :rolleyes:

 

 

There is a lot to do on the ship.....there is nothing to do on the ship. He can do as much as he wants or as little. At this point in my life, I value days at sea.

 

With six days crossing the Atlantic or the Pacific, I can read and nap and eat and nap and drink and nap all I want. Or I can run around from one event to a lecture to a movie to some games, and all of that before lunch.

 

Seasickness? Sure thing, it's possible. But that's not only on the open seas...I've had nasty days in the Carib, Med, and on the Baltic. It all depends on the weather. I've also had crossings in the winter which were mirror-calm. Seldom happens, but it can; no one can predict.

 

Expensive? Depends on your outlook. Drinks are expensive in any vacation spot and resort....Cunard is not any different. And not outrageously so, either.

 

Stuffy? Can be! Just like any cross-section of society. I have always contended that the longer a cruise, and the more upscale the itinerary, and the more higher-priced the cruise line, the more sophisticated the passengers. Those who want a party cruise will spend 7 days in the Carib or Mexico. Younger people generally can't afford a longer cruise across the ocean and usually do not have the allocated vacation time to be gone from work so long. Does "sophisticated" (my term, not meant to be snobby!) equal stuffy or old? Absolutely not.

 

I first sailed on the QE2 at the age of 8. Thereafter, my family did 9 world cruises and numerous other Transatlantic and regional cruises. All of this before I was 25. Certainly, there were less young people and party people on board, but I was not alone. As an "adult" (in most cases :rolleyes: ), I have now taken 3 cruises on the QM2. With that many people on board, you will certainly find people of similar backgrounds and those who share your tastes. A crossing is only 6 days at sea....you'd never have the chance to meet even a small percentage of the passengers.

 

Now give him a kick in the butt :eek: and tell him to make the reservations. Life is too short; you only live once!

[JGR01]

If he is worried about the bar bill (or you wish to surprise him) .. consider giving yourself an on-board credit and/or pre-ordering some wine.

 

While this is normally welcome-aboard gifts that a travel agent or friend might send to you .. what is wrong with sending them to yourself (and putting them on a charge card and paying it off months in advance). http://www.cunard.com/Planner/Default.asp?plan_active=Forms

 

I ordered champagne for sail-away, scotch for the cabin and several wines to enjoy with dinner. I just got back from Vegas and the wines there are VERY VERY expensive . so Cunard offering decent wines in the $22-52 range (low to high with most in the 30s) and DomP for $120 I thought it almost a bargain. I also included an onboard credit .. tho think much of that will go the minute spa-packages start getting booked!

 

I personally LOVE the sea days and book Caribbean trips based on more sea days than port days.. so the Crossing should be great! I took computer classes (Adobe PhotoShop) on one recent cruise and thoroughly enjoyed my time!

 

Not sure how MORE to convince him .. GO FOR IT! And if he gets bored on the Crossing .. um .. perhaps you can think of things to keep him busy.

[dtwtraveler]

:( Hate to post this, but my husband was really bored on the transatlantic! He wasn't interested in any of the talks, lectures, authors, casino, art auctions or meeting and talking with other passengers! He said that a transatlantic would be great if he was recuperating from an illness and maybe being on the ocean would be better than recuperating at home! Listen to your husband - if he says he'll be bored on the ship (as mine said before our departure), he'll be sure that he's bored as he predicted!

 

I decided to enjoy the crossing, and sometimes I thought that I should have crossed alone, since we only saw each other for breakfast, lunch and dinner! I left the room in the morning and didn't return until I dressed for dinner. I now realize that I should have crossed with a woman, because we would have had such fun!

 

My husband recently made the mistake of saying that I could pick our 25th wedding anniversary celebration. He realized his mistake and quickly said he would not go on another transatlantic, so we're going to the Caribbean on 12/8 in a B2 stateroom with a balcony on the QM2 - 7 islands in 7 days should keep him busy with just 2 days at sea to the Caribbean and 2 days at sea going home!

 

Good luck!

[Luv_to_Cruise]

My husband convinced himself by looking at the size of the dance floor in the Queens Room. He is thrilled to hear there is dancing TWICE Nightly and some afternoons, plus daily dance classes. He is not going to be bored.

 

He is all excited about going on our 10th anniversary cruise!

[Ab Ovo]

All who love transatlantics will encourage you to go.......

 

It seems your husband may well NOT have a good time........

 

Tell us what he does like, what he lives to do; maybe some of us can "spin" his likes into something he will want to ride the QM2 for.

 

But if you MUST:( talk him into doing something he does not want to do, well, I see trouble ahead.

[wilsonzoo]

Sadly, I think after reading all these posts I'm realizing that I'm trying to make a round peg fit into a square hole! It's not that he COULDN'T have a great time on a trans cruise, I think it's just that he WON'T, if you catch my drift. It's all about the ATTITUDE, and I just don't think his is there for this. I may have to grab a girlfriend and leave him waving us buh-bye on the dock. Maybe THEN he'd start changing his mind!!! ;)

 

Thanks for everyone's thoughts. And don't worry, I'm not giving up on one for myself!!! :rolleyes:

[dtwtraveler]

I just noticed that your surname might be "Wilson". My husband's surname is "Wilson". I wonder if they're cousins:confused:. I read all of the notes to my husband, and he commented that my description makes him sound "boring"! Interesting observation, eh?