I am thinking of taking a Cruise but am concerned about the close quarters and crowds. Should I be?

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Wide Awake

I took my first cruise for 9 days last summer. it was a lot of fun!

It depends on whether or not your cruise has lots of port stops. On those days you won't be on the ship at all - so you have nothing to be concerned about.

Actually, I never felt crowded on the ship. However, we also tended to go early to dinner within our seating time, and at times visited restaurants other than the main dining room. If there's a show or some entertainment you want to see on board, get your tickets early.

If you have a choice, get a balcony room vs. an "ocean view" or an inside room. A balcony room has a place you can go outside and stand or sit, and will made you feel less crowded. An "ocean view" room has a porthole.

brown_eyes_jessie

Of course it depends on the ship. The state rooms are quite small. If you've already paid for it, it usually doesn't cost much to move up to a larger room. The balcony rooms are very much worth the money. The crowds again depend on the ship. The small the ship the less people on board but also smaller space.

jakesmom73

If those things are a problem for you anyway you may have an issue. BUT! That would be an excellent opportunity to face a few fears.

haley

if the ship is big do not even worry about it

madril76

Depends on what type of cruise ship you are going to be on. I found that there was less space and more crowds at the shore stops we went to rather on the ship itsself.

THERikmeister

no. The bedrooms are close together, but if your on a nice cruise ship, the rooms are more spacious then one would think from looking at the outside. Crowds are no problem at all. There aren't any.

TINKERTOY ..... the 1 & only

I have been on about 12 cruises, just completed one in May and have two more booked this year.

The cruise lines are now building mostly ships that carry 1500 to 2500 passengers these days. BUT, they do a great job of managing the crowd and it does not feel crowded at all. The only time you see everyone is when you get to ports and people are getting off the ship and on the last day of the cruise when everyone is leaving.

During the cruise people are divided into two dinner and show seatings so while half are eating the others are in a show and then about 8:00 PM they switch. There are so many activities on ships all day and evening that you rarely have a crowd. There are so many places to find a seat and sit that you don't feel like you are crowded. The ships usuallly have a 3 or 4 story atrium or central area that people congregate in, but then there are the pools, the health club, cafes and clubs, a casino, sun decks, a walking/jogging track, and other decks where you can sit in quiet and read.

Ships are also built these days with mostly outside cabins and also many more have balconies than in the past. These cabins have a spacious air and are great. I will no longer cruise unless I get a balcony cabin. These tend to keep you from feeling closed in; you have a big picture window in outside cabins, and a big sliding door in balcony class. Prices for balcony cabins are also now pretty reasonable, vs an outside. In my book its worth the difference.

gfdgirl

Depends on the ship. I tend to sail the larger ships and they feel more like a small city. There's so much space and so much to do you'll never know there's over 2500 people on board!!

Haley

well when my friend went on her cruise she wasn't in her room that much and the crowds weren't that big. so if u go on a cruise just worry about that many things and just focus on relaxing!!!!

Karen

I have been on Carnival Cruise Lines cruises 3 times now and I never had any problems with the quarters, the rooms all seemed big enough for all 4 of us. I don't think you really spend a "great deal" of time in the cabins, for us that was mainly just to sleep, or to get ready in the morning. But I felt it was very spacious everywhere on their ships. I don't remember ever having any "crowd control" issues either, they really do a great job with keeping people entertained and having a good balance all through the ships of exciting things for people to do! Have fun :-)

_me_

My husband and last I sailed on Celebrity's Millennium, which holds about 2,000 passengers. I would never have guessed there were that many people on board. There were so many different places to go on the 11 passenger decks, it was not hard to find a quiet spot. Most cruises give you an assigned table for dinner so there is absolutely no waiting. The only area that was a bit crowded was the pool, on days at sea. We took an adult-only cruise, which I would highly recommend if you are traveling without children.

The big cruise lines have web sites where you can check out their deck plans and view photos of their cabins.

dawn

Cruises can be great but be prepared to be close to people you don't know. Every meal you will sit at a table with people you don't know. The benefit is if you are a people person you'll love it, it gives you an opportunity to meet lots of new people. I f you are going in international waters you should also be aware that the laws in your country may not apply. I have read about horror stories of rapes and possible homicides. Several people have "disappeared" on cruise ships. The cruise industry likes to keep a lid on stuff like that but believe me it does happen. A ship does not turn around if someone is missing so if you go overboard you better be able to doggie paddle.

Emily V

No, cruises are so much fun. Don't let the small rooms make you uneasy because you won't be spending a lot of time there! Also, the ships are usually big enough to where you don't have to fight crowds very often.

Listen, once u cruise u will not want to do anything esle but cruise again year after year. I make it a point to cruise every year if not twice, it's been 7yrs now. Now it depends on u what type of cruise to take & if u want to get all of ur friend & family together or just friends & have a "party Party time" than I suggest u sail on one of Carnival Cruise ships & their room are quite larger than other cruise lines. But u can take the girl/boyfriend & have a lovely time too. I like the way that the make a really big effort to help u party all the time. Royal Carribean is ok, it's kind of laid back & their rooms are smaller. Freedom of The Seas is RC's newest liner & I plan to "Get Out There" & check it out. But those are the only 2 cruise lines that I can comment on... The Crowds r not a problem even on the larger ships.. Oh, let me tell u this...Don't get caught up in the "Bar Trick", Those special drinks that come w/the cute fruit & wonderful taste.. for $ 6.95 or higher per drink +tax & tip. At the end of a 7 day cruise you will ring up a bill that might be the cost of ur next cruise. So be smart & don't caught up in the sun & fun of it all. F.Y.I "A liter of "Evian" looks just "Ketel One" or "BomBay Saphire"!!! Hint hint!! & "Motts Apple Juice" looks just like "Remy VSOP"! It maybe be tacky but it saves my pocket @ the end of my cruise. Hey money is tight sometimes & u want to have fun too w/o counting pennies on vacation.

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