Short cruise with my mum

[Chelsea1]

I'm not sure exactly how to title this so will start from the beginning, as it is quite a long story.

 

My mum (ex teacher, very active grandmother, aged 78) dislikes water, cannot swim, suffers from motion sickness and has a genuine phobia / dislike of boats. My dad (now deceased, UK government scientist and global entomologist) was a true adventurer, loved expeditions, camping, roughing it, sailing and boats.

 

My parents married in 1964. Dad booked their honeymoon to Norway (Oslo)from Newcastle, UK, including their car - as they were planning to drive around Norway - on, from what I can gather, the equivalent to a very basic "cruise ferry boat" today. The crossing took approx 72 hours.

 

So, mum and dad boarded the cruise ferry (boat) for their Honeymoon and watched it depart Newcastle, with their car still on the dock! Dad went to the front desk and they confirmed the car could follow on the next crossing, but they would have to wait 5 days in Oslo for it, so they decided to go without the car.

 

They had just bought their first home with a mortgage, so dad booked an inside cabin, steerage class dining with bunk beds, for the crossing out to Norway and a first class cabin with twin beds and a window for the return journey :)

 

The weather on the North Sea going to Norway got rough quickly and the boat had little stability. Mum started feeling ill on the first night and spent the full 3 days on the lower bunk sick as the boat pitched and rolled. Dad was fine. The cabin steward was very concerned for mum and told my dad he had never seen anyone so sick - he was worried about dehydration as she had not moved or eaten anything and could not retain fluid for 3 days. Mum told the steward that she wanted to die. She told me recently that as they approached Oslo up the sheltered fjord she started to regain a little strength and could smell the lovely aroma of coffee.

 

So they disembarked in Oslo, without car, and booked into a B&B. They made local friends who helped with transport and accommodation around the country and they had a fantastic holiday. Mum still felt dizzy for a full week - she told me the whole street or room would turn upside down without warning.

 

They returned to Oslo for the night before the journey home and mum said to dad she could not do it by boat, she would have to fly (at huge expense back then). Talking to some other guests one said there was a Navy hospital just down the road and they could give her a sea sickness shot so she would feel no sickness no matter the weather, so they went in the morning and mum had the shot.

 

In mum's words - the journey home was a millpond, she enjoyed the smorsgasboard buffet in first class and felt little movement. Dad was so relieved and agreed the weather was much calmer.

 

But since then mum has rarely been on a boat and tells me she feels ill just crossing a river or standing on a jetty.

 

However, she loves the history of Cunard and the ships.

 

So last weekend I suggested the idea of a short - very short - 2 night cruise on the QM2 from Southampton to Belgium and back and mum said she would love to do that so long as it is very short, she has minimum time at sea and it is on the QM2, which is very stable.

 

My question is, how to make the most of a 2 day cruise on the QM2?

Our minimum length to date has been 7 nights and we struggle to do everything then. I really want mum to enjoy this and be too busy / happy / enjoying the ship to worry about motion or water, so hopefully she will want to cruise again.

 

I'm flexible as to class of cabin/dining/excursions/etc. for the two nights on board /one day in Belgium.

 

Does anyone have any tips or ideas - I would really appreciate them.

[Pennbank]

Great story,

However you will not enjoy the full enjoyment of the QM2 experience in 2 days. It just does not happen. Sorry to be so blunt.

Edited December 30, 2016 by Pennbank

[easyboy]

Having enjoyed QM2 is different from just having experienced it. It takes more days than that to enjoy, including the time to develop new friends. But if you want to fully remove her previous trauma and bring her back to cruising, you may want to bring along her close friend/relative who can devote time, and be with her on that short cruise. Teachers are used to some person listening to them. At your mum's age, she may be longing for that attention, preferably in the comforts and ambience of QM2. That should hopefully keep her busy and happy. JMHO.

 

 

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[Ray66]

Yes, I agree with Pennbank. I would just stay on the ship and not bother to get off. It's a very large ship and there's lots to explore. And having afternoon tea in the Queens Room (ballroom) is a real experience not to be missed!

 

However, if you want to go ashore, the ship will dock in Zeebrugge and the tourist place to visit is Bruges. You can get there either through a ship excursion (probably expensive), take the ships' shuttle to Blankenberge and from there get a train which runs every hour (only a few Euros), or by taxi.

Edited December 31, 2016 by Ray66

[Castaway24]

Just get a taxi to Bruges to save time so you can enjoy the ship too. We did the shuttle/train and although reasonable it does waste time so it is what is precious to you that counts?

 

 

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[Scrapnana]

Since Mum did well with the sea sickness shot all those years ago, I would make sure she had one before you get on QM2. Hopefully, she will get on the ship with a positive attitude (since the shot had worked before) and not notice any motion that you might encounter.

 

As mentioned, there is no way she can see and do everything on the ship but maybe this will encourage her to go again.:D

[Salacia]

partial quote

So last weekend I suggested the idea of a short - very short - 2 night cruise on the QM2 from Southampton to Belgium and back and mum said she would love to do that so long as it is very short...

 

Is it a "2 night cruise on the QM2 from Southampton to Belgium and back"? :confused:

[Eleteace]

I honestly get so travel sick that my mum says I could get seasick stepping over a puddle! I'm fine on cruises though. Apart from occasionally in the bay of biscay...

 

I've cruised Cunard with my gran of a similar age who absolutely loved it. Sounds like the 2 day one will be a nice taster for you :-)

 

 

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[Ray66]

partial quote

 

Is it a "2 night cruise on the QM2 from Southampton to Belgium and back"? :confused:

 

Yes on 22nd May, sandwiched between eastbound and westbound TA's. This also gives people from the US two days to spend in the UK if they don't want to go on to Belgium.

[Salacia]

Yes on 22nd May, sandwiched between eastbound and westbound TA's. This also gives people from the US two days to spend in the UK if they don't want to go on to Belgium.

 

Thanks, Ray.

 

That's certainly not much time to sample the ship, and that short turn-around is really rough on the crew. But the idea of spending two nights in the UK in the middle of a back to back TA is terrific :)

[Chelsea1]

Thanks everyone for your replies - interesting to know why there is such a short 2 night, would love to do the same in reverse with 2 nights in New York!

 

I will think carefully about the pros and cons of this.

 

It's really just to get mum onto a ship without any major problems - the actual channel crossing time is only about 6 hours to Belgium, so what could possibly go wrong...!

 

She doesn't really have any expectations of service and will be very happy to chat to crew and passengers so I'm not too worried about that. It's really to try and help her over what is a real phobia of being on a ship and seasickness, as she also loves the history of shipping and the Cunard ships.

[MarkBearSF]

We'll be aboard for that brief stint. We're taking a round-tip transatlantic crossing with that jaunt between.

 

As others have mentioned, it will be very different from the classic Cunard experience. However, if you bypass the scurrying off and back in port and spend the day on a quiet day on the ship, you'll get a sense of the experience. (Although a number of activities will not be scheduled because it's a port day). As local residents, I'd assume that bypassing a day in Bruges is no huge sacrifice.

[Salacia]

Thanks everyone for your replies - interesting to know why there is such a short 2 night, would love to do the same in reverse with 2 nights in New York!

 

I will think carefully about the pros and cons of this.

 

It's really just to get mum onto a ship without any major problems - the actual channel crossing time is only about 6 hours to Belgium, so what could possibly go wrong...!

 

She doesn't really have any expectations of service and will be very happy to chat to crew and passengers so I'm not too worried about that. It's really to try and help her over what is a real phobia of being on a ship and seasickness, as she also loves the history of shipping and the Cunard ships.

 

Chelsea, it seems you have a realistic view of the cruise, so in that case, I have a feeling you & your Mum will have a fine time. As an added bonus, after this two night cruise, your World Club Status will go from Red to Silver :) (Not many of us have the opportunity of a two-nighter.)

 

Nice of you to take your Mum on a cruise - you'll both have a fine time, and if not, you'll still have something to talk about :) -S.

[Chelsea1]

So, 2.5 years on, and I have finally persauded mum and booked her on a 2 night cruise to Hamburg with flight direct home to Manchester. The original plan in 2017 did not happen,  but she is now ready (aged 81)!

 

We will be on the 18th October New York to Southampton transatlantic and mum will board in Southampton. I will collect her from the train station.

 

Hope she is up for a Hamburg party cruise 🙂 

 

[Host Hattie]

That's great news, I hope you all have a wonderful time.

[cruiseluvva]

I can’t wait to hear how you get on. Do please come back and tell us.

[Chelsea1]

I will definitely report back!

[luckymal]

Maybe having a inside cabin would help, would not be able to see the movement of the waves.  Pennbanks comment not a bad idea to stay on ship and have a good look round plenty to discover, plus afternoon tea. I am sure you will enjoy.🍷🥃

 

p.s. The casino is closed when in port.😀😀

[Sauer-kraut]

I hope she has a wonderful time, I'm so glad she finally is ready to sail.  Best of luck to her. 

[newjoisey]

i would not recommend a 2 night cruise  

[Chelsea1]

I do sort of agree regarding the 2 nights, however when I suggested 4 nights previously that was met with horror and "what will I do on a ship for 4 days?"

 

This October we are boarding in New Your sailing to Hamburg and I also offered the full segment, which was met with even greater horror. I had to offer!

 

The 2 nights with a flight home is acceptable, so I have booked it.

Also mum is excited to sail down the Elbe and dock in Hamburg even just for a day, as I really like travelling in Germany , as did Dad, and she has not been.

 

To be honest with the extras - first class train from Manchester to Southampton, upgraded direct flight back to Manchester and the single supplement for a mid-ships balcony - it is turning out to be a pretty expensive 2 nights.... and I am already being asked if the "noise and smell of the engines" will be a problem.

 

🙂

 

Edited August 21, 2019 by Chelsea1

[LittleFish1976]

' and I am already being asked if the "noise and smell of the engines" will be a problem. '

 

Bless your Mum! She's going to get a shock when she discovers how fabulous and luxurious it all is, I think. I hope you both have a wonderful time.

 

 

[Sauer-kraut]

 

 

 

Only if you booked her down here....