Not being able to get off the boat for the first 48 hours is scary

[conversationist]

There is something strange about your first cruise and it comes down to a lack of control. I have never been a situation, before being on a Cruise Ship, that would not let me get away from that environment for such a long time. It is somewhat similar to a long Airplane ride, after the pilot locks the door there is no getting off. It is similar to being locked in.

 

Has anyone not gone on a Cruise yet because you were nervous and upset about being stuck in one environment for up to 48 hours (if the first day is at sea)?

[samtig]

It is so exciting - there is so much to do & the ship is so big, I don't think about it that way. Just glad to be there! However, I couldn't stay in an inside room - then I'd feel confined. I have a touch of claustrophobia & have to be able to see outside. This doesn't bother most people though.

[colleenbean]

I kind of feel the same way, I am leaving Saturday w/my BF for my first cruise- I am just thinking about all the cool distractions on the boat and then it seems ok. Go For it!

[Quilting_Cruiser]

It is somewhat similar to a long Airplane ride, after the pilot locks the door there is no getting off. It is similar to being locked in.

 

 

I don't think it's anything like a long flight. On a ship there's much, much more room and you can move around and enjoy yourself rather than sitting in a seat for hours at a time. It's more like being at a resort--it just happens to be moving through the ocean!

 

I've got a business trip to Beijing in April and that's an 11.5 hour flight from San Francisco. I can't wait to see Beijing, but I'm not looking forward to so much time on planes to and from China!

 

Cheers!

Jayne

 

:)

[johnql]

Yes, I think many people have that anxiety about being cooped up on a ship if they have never cruised before. I know I did. That's why I chose as my first cruise a short 3-day cruise to the Bahamas. I figured if I didn't enjoy myself, then it wasn't that big a loss. But here I am, 14 cruises (plus several river cruises) later. Love cruising now!

[eyzwdeshut]

It is so exciting - there is so much to do & the ship is so big, I don't think about it that way. Just glad to be there! However, I couldn't stay in an inside room - then I'd feel confined. I have a touch of claustrophobia & have to be able to see outside. This doesn't bother most people though.

 

I agree... it's not like being cooped up. it's like being on a floating resort. It's not much different than spending the day at the same hotel in Las Vegas. They have a lot of the same features!

[motherchic]

The cabins themselves are small, if you are clostraphobic staying in the cabin itself for a long time may be difficult.

But there is soo much to see and so much to do and it will take you several days just to learn the layout of the ship. There is the outside of course where you can sit, surrounded by many cruisers but you just have to walk a little way to sit and be by yourself.

Same thing inside. Explore, join in, you will be amzed how truly huge these ships are. Enjoy !

Nadine

[fantavet]

Not being able to get off the boat for the first 48 hours is scary

 

No, knowing you only have 48 hours LEFT on the boat is scary :(

[Happy ks]

If you've never been on a cruise ship before, it is hard to comprehend just how large they are. You will not feel cooped up at all and there is plenty to see and do. We actually love the sea days, it's the only time we can do absolutely nothing and feel fine about it.

 

Your first cruise, you will be so busy checking out the ship, you will wonder how the day flew by so quickly. If you are really nervous, treat yourself to a massage, that will make you relax! Note: if you do want a massage the first day, book when you board, they fill up quick.

 

It really is like being in a huge resort, with lots of choices for everyone.

[caprcorn28]

I am not claustrophobic - so I don't understand the "fear," so please know that is where I am coming from! I am one of those cruisers that loves the inside cabins because they are soooo dark and I sleep so well. I don't however like long flights, not afraid of them, but I get too antsy to sit there anymore. I can't sleep, I can't sit still...I get bored. All the books/magazines/movies in the world...doesn't matter.

 

Ships are SOOOO different than that! You are in a floating city! You can STILL go outside and get the fresh air (maybe that will help you feel not so "locked up"?). You can explore the ship, you can eat til you bust. You can watch shows, play in the casino, swim...its endless! You will meet so many wonderful people that you can sit and talk to...the hours will FLY by!!!

[Luvcrusin']

Once you have cruised, being on the ship for 48 hours can actually become your favorite days!! "At sea" days allow you to discover all the ship has to offer, which is unlimited! Happy sailing!!:D

[Empress Bubbles]

I've got a business trip to Beijing in April and that's an 11.5 hour flight from San Francisco. I can't wait to see Beijing, but I'm not looking forward to so much time on planes to and from China!

 

One of the ONLY ways to survive such a long flight is to sleep it away! A couple of 4 hour naps between the meal services and the flight will be over before you know it. I hope you have a wonderful trip!:)

[ozland]

conversationist:

 

Ahhh.....your post brought back memories! My first cruise.....Sydney to Wellington, NZ......5 days (back then). No ports of call AND an inside cabin with 3 strangers (they also allowed you to book single with quad occupancy back then). I loved it!

 

As everyone else has mentioned, there is so much to do the time flies. I love sea days.

[Xywritegal]

Conversationist,

 

Great thread. I understand where you are coming from. My husband shares your concerns, which have prevented him from going on a cruise thus far. While I have not experienced anxiety issues of this nature, I can definitively say that being on the ship is quite different than a cramped airplane. To me, it feels more like a floating hotel or resort. There is so much to explore and see onboard.

 

As for the loss of control, it is true that you don't have the freedom to get off the boat whenever you want when the ship is at sea, but there is so much going on onboard, wanting to get off the boat won't be an issue.

 

Cruising is not for everyone, but there is only one way to find out if it is for you--by going on a cruise. I would encourage anyone who has concerns about cruising due to claustrophobia or anxiety issues to give a short (3-5 night) cruise a chance, preferably in an oceanview or balcony cabin. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, as they say. Hopefully, you will enjoy the experience as much as those who have posted on this thread.

 

Xywritegal

[Dee777]

My husband has been wanting to cruise for a couple years now, and I have been putting it off, but not for the reasons I told him (no time, busy @ work, etc.). I, too, am afraid of being "trapped" on a cruise, and I am claustrophobic as well. Well, as I posted a few days ago, the whole of my husband's family is going cruising in December this year, and we are going too. I know the chances are extremely good that I will have the time of my life, but I am thinking that cruising is going to be a big stress for me until I am actually ensconced in my room and it is a reality.

 

Getting on a ship that I cannot get off of until they TELL me I can get off it is rather a daunting task for me, but I am thinking a couple tequilas before I get on and I should be relaxed enough to not freak out lol. I feel your pain, Conversationist!

[Dremac373]

Like others that replied, my wife and I too felt the same way "what if we dont like it" or "what if the only fun time is when we get off for excursions" Being avid all-inclusive resort vacationers we are used to coming and going as we please and seeing something new every day, having breakfast lunch and dinner at our leisure and not always a buffet.. Several family members voiced thier opinions and so we felt we'd give try it with an open mind and start off small, as in a 4 day cruise. I know theses ships are huge and there are plenty to do but one can only swim in the same pool every day for 2 days straight and see the same promonade(sp)..I am sure we will like our 1st cruise or we would not have pre booked our second with out even taking the 1st :D I say go with an open mind and rememebr it will be whatever you make it

[Quilting_Cruiser]

One of the ONLY ways to survive such a long flight is to sleep it away! A couple of 4 hour naps between the meal services and the flight will be over before you know it. I hope you have a wonderful trip!:)

 

Thanks for the encouragement! I've never had much luck sleeping on a plane, and my flight leaves at 9:45 a.m., so I'm not too hopeful. I rarely ever take a nap, so in all likelihood, this will be a long one! I'm getting a sleep mask, so that should help. Even if I'm awake and uncomfortable for the entire flight, it'll be worth it--I've never been to Asia, and can't wait to see the Great Wall of China.

 

Cheers!

Jayne

 

:)

[Kathie44]

I've heard the"...stuck on the boat.." concern expressed many times from people who had no clue what the ship is like. We had no clue either before our first cruise (were not worried about it,either) . Believe me when I tell you that as we walked along the length of the Explorer of the Seas to the gangway our eyes were like saucers and our mouths were absolutely hanging open. We felt like total "hicks from the sticks". At the time this was the largest class of ship and we were overwhelmed by the size and beauty of it.

We have sailed smaller ships since and still they are enormous! (We were recently on Mercury to the MR and a first-time cruiser was aghast when I mentioned that we like the ship even though it is smaller. "This is SMALL???", she said)

You will not feel cooped up at all and there is so much to do that you might not be able to fit everything in or you may be even more relaxed to find that you have so much uninterrupted reading time.

Two years ago I got into the trivia and other fun games offered on RCCL and Celebrity. DH isn't into it and seldom goes with me. I go by myself and am always welcomed by teams who need another player.

You can always go outside and find a lounge chair on the Promenade, pool or sun decks. Voyager and Radiance class ships of RCCL have mini-golf, rock walls for climbing and most ships have tracks for walking and bball courts. You will meet tons of friendly, interesting people. Check out the Cruise Critic roll call for your cruise and meet them in advance and if you are sailing Celeb. or RCCL, sign up for the Connections or Meet and Mingle parties on board.

You will probably come home hooked like we did and ready for the next cruise. We are now booking longer cruises and the extra days are such a bonus. :D

We had 4 sea days on the Merc. cruise and I was busy every minute. Breakfast, 1 or 2 morning trivia, read for a while, lunch, afternoon game (s), playing cards with new friends we met first on the roll call and in then person at dinner the night before we sailed. Read for a while before dinner, then the show and sometimes evening events after and of course... reading. Mix that in with casino time, music and dancing and the days were full. There is also shuffleboard, spa, golf games at the pool and golf simulator, arts and crafts, seminars on digital cameras, internet use, art auction, library if you run out of books, free movies and on and on.

Don't worry, you'll have a wonderful time!!! :D :D

 

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[nomars_girl]

My DH is dreading the day "at sea" on our cruise. He has never been one to relax on vacation always feeling the need to get out and see things and be a tourist (while trying to act like a local). I am looking forward to it - although I wish it was later in the voyage. I'm usually exhausted after a day of sightseeing with him. We have a very port-intensive itinerary (Rome to Venice with Greek Isles). The need to get back to the ship in time every day will hopefully cure him of his need to see "just one more thing" before we can relax or get something to eat.

[wraithe]

First time out to sea, I was submerged for 5 days out of 7 during sea trials. That was my first taste, and three days after we pulled in from that, we pulled out to sea for patrol, and we were submerged 85 days before we surfaced again, and were out for 108 days, so you can see how I could have trouble relating.

 

First pleasure cruise was a 9 night cruise from Baltimore, with three at sea days due to a change of itinerary, they were some of the best days I spent on the ship. Loved them. Second cruise on Mariner, 7 nights and there was so much that we never even saw on the ship, like the ice skating rink for instance. Good luck with your cruise.

[celbercrz333]

Con,

There is so many times on a ship where you forget you are on a ship. It's funny how if you are in the theatre, the casino, the dining room--places like those--that you completely forget you're on a ship! I did many times. I've sailed twice and unless you have rough seas, you won't even notice that you are floating along. And ships are SO BIG that you have so many places to go. Walking from one end to another is a huge undertaking, multiply that times several floors and you're on a hike! The ambiance of the ship itself is magnificent, so much so that you might feel like you are in an upscale high rise building somewhere in NYC or Atlantic City or Las Vegas. Ships today are created so you feel rich. Getting off might be the last thing on your mind. I think not only will you do well, you'll want to book another cruise.