What’s not to like about cruising!?

By Diana Brent

AUDIO VERSION

I have been fortunate enough to have experienced both ocean and riverboat cruises, and I have never been disappointed. I have enjoyed sailing with Holland America, Celebrity, Norwegian, and Viking.

River boats are much smaller than ocean-going vessels and as a consequence, are less crowded. The atmosphere is sedate—you can’t really tell that you’re moving as you glide through the peaceful water. You are often so close to the land you can see and hear people going about their daily lives, hear footsteps strolling pathways, and hear the swish and rumble of traffic along the busy streets bordering the shoreline.

On the larger ocean cruises, I have never experienced seasickness. The ship is generally very stable, but on the open ocean, you will get some sense of the swell of the waves as they gently rock you to sleep. You won’t blame that extra glass of wine at dinner as you stagger a bit down the passageway, because everyone else will be doing it too. Eventually, you find your sea legs. It’s amazing how the waiters and wine stewards can maintain their elegant table service despite the rocking and rolling of mother ocean. Unfortunately, this pitching can also make it more challenging to follow your guide dog’s directions through the movement of the harness.

I love how self-contained cruises are. Once you find your stateroom, you get familiar with its layout. You unpack, sleep in the same bed, and everything stays where you put it for the duration of your stay. The one thing that even sighted passengers find challenging is figuring out the intricacies of the TV and remote control. They are definitely not accessible for us.

Your cabin number is in both raised print and braille usually on the door on the wall just outside the door, and if you know where to look for them, braille signs are located outside most of the other places you might like to visit as well including the regular and accessible washrooms.

I like cruises that last at least ten days to two weeks—I find it takes the first couple of days to learn not only the layout, but the routines of the ship.

When you’re in port, you might leave the ship for a shore excursion or two, but there’s always ways to keep busy when you’re at sea or cruising along the shore of a river. A quick tip about shore excursions—they tend to be pricy, and the popular ones often fill up long before you board your ship. Having said that, they can provide you with some really fun experiences like visiting a coffee plantation or whale watching in Hawaii where we could actually hear the whales singing through hydrophones. In Germany, we learned to make sausages. You can also discover your own port amusements or just explore the areas near the harbour on foot.

One afternoon on my most recent cruise, my friend and I decided that remaining on board was preferable to joining our husbands on their hike to witness (from a distance) a not so dormant volcano spewing plumes of steam and ash into the sky. My husband conducted a brief mobility lesson ahead of time, locating elevators, washrooms, and a seating area near a bar where we spent a very relaxing afternoon sipping drinks and chatting with other shipmates who wandered into the Dutch Café.

Speaking of elevators, on this ship there were braille and raised print labels on the door frame indicating what floor had been reached and raised symbols on the inside panel included identifiable buttons and both braille and print numbers, arrows and words. They also talked and when you were waiting, they rang so you knew when they’d arrived. One thing that wasn’t considered, however, was that if you were waiting at the elevator bank close to the blues bar or nightclub during entertainment hours, the music was so loud you couldn’t hear the elevator sounds. Sets of stairs included useful clues as well. At half landings you could follow the railings around which led you to the second set of stairs, but the railings ended at the top and bottom on each floor.

With our most recent cruises, I’ve found the online company sites and onboard apps for exploring and booking activities and restaurants to be reasonably accessible using a screen reader on either my iPhone or computer. Don’t forget that you can always connect with customer and accessibility services by phone during your planning, and I have found them to be reasonably friendly and helpful. I like to talk to accessibility services early on in my booking process, so that they are aware of my needs and I am clear about what accommodations they have available. I don’t appreciate unpleasant surprises, and I’m sure they don’t either. I am not a guide dog owner, but I have been on cruises with friends who are. Depending on where you are cruising with your furry companion, there are different forms that must be filled out and regulations complied with to ensure a successful trip. Ships do ensure a relieving area for Fido, who as usual, is a favourite with all of your fellow passengers.

In years gone by, I found I could get braille bingo cards, menus, and the daily activity calendars in braille, whereas more recently, I have needed to use the onboard ship’s app, which I found to be quite accessible using my iPhone. Although braille can be more convenient, the downside was frequently out-of-date and incorrect meal options.

I have never been on a cruise where the food wasn’t amazing. There’s usually a main dining-room you can go to regularly, where you may be sitting with the same people all the time, or you may be chatting with different people for every meal, depending on the routine of the ship. Often located near the pool in the open air, and on several other decks as well, there are fast food and light meal and snack options and maybe an ice-cream or milkshake station to satisfy those sweet-tooth cravings. Of course there is the ever-present buffet, and other specialty restaurants you can book to celebrate a birthday or anniversary. On some cruises, you can even enjoy a fancy afternoon tea complete with dainty little sandwiches and mouth-watering scones and pastries. As with the shore excursions, it is advisable to book the specialty restaurants ahead of time, especially if you are travelling with a group and are hoping to celebrate a special meal together.

I have generally found the staff on cruises to be friendly and helpful. Your stateroom steward and the bar and dining-room staff make a point to get to know you. I found it very refreshing that on our most recent Holland America cruise, very early on, they were addressing us by name, without being prompted. They also let us know as they were serving us, where glasses were located. Having those unobtrusive cues, without constantly having to educate, makes the experience refreshingly relaxing and easy.

On sea days, there are numerous activities including lectures highlighting the history and culture of the places you’re about to visit; arts and crafts like origami, painting, flower/lai making, knitting, crocheting, needlework, and scrapbooking; ukulele, harmonica, or cooking demonstrations/lessons; wine, beer, and spirit tastings; games like trivia and bingo; and of course, more active pursuits like swimming, exercise and dance classes, fitness centre, and brisk morning walks around the promenade deck. There is usually a library and rooms for playing cards filled with board games and puzzles. If you like to shop, you will definitely not be disappointed finding everything from an art gallery, cheap and expensive jewelry, souvenirs, toys, clothes, cheap duty free alcohol and perfume, along with purses and larger bags that you will desperately grab on your last day to stow those extra must-have trinkets that you’ve accumulated along the way.

Many cruise ships also include a casino which I don’t think ever shuts its doors except when the ship is in port, and generally the shops and scheduled activities are closed then as well.

If you like to be pampered, visit the spa where you can luxuriate in manicures, pedicures, facials, massages, and sometimes a whirlpool, steam room and a sauna. As you head down to the captain’s fancy champagne dinner, decked out in your new finery, having thoroughly enjoyed your complete beauty makeover, flash a big smile for the photographer who is prominently stationed to cement this moment in memory.  

Evening shows include live music both instrumental and vocal, from classical, to country, to modern rock, or maybe you’d prefer comedy or a dance troop. There is sometimes a piano bar, lots of other bustling bars and a club where, if you’re feeling energetic, you can dance the night away or just relax in a quiet lounge and chill enjoying the expansive ocean view.

These days, it is relatively easy to make your own online cruise reservation; however, if it is more comfortable for you, using a travel agent or booking by phone is always an option. Sometimes we have used multiple strategies to ensure just the right balance for our vacation. Reservation packages vary between cruise lines, and are generally based on double occupancy—no, your guide dog doesn’t count. The basics generally start with trip durations from three days and up which includes your stateroom and meals. Beyond that, extra costs include things like Internet access, beverage packages of alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks, upgraded staterooms to outside or balcony cabins, a certificate for a specified sum for onboard purchases and, as already mentioned, specialty restaurants, shore excursions, spa, and the shops, are added expenses. If you must take flights to and from your embarkation destination, those must also be figured in, though you can sometimes find packages where they are included. We tend to purchase the extra drink and Internet packages, which ensures that most of your cruise expenses have been paid before your vacation begins and you don’t feel nickeled and dimed every time you order a cup of coffee.

My advice: If it’s your first cruise, connect with other cruisers to get their experiences. Don’t be in a hurry, do your research and plan. There are many options out there and wonderful places to explore and enjoy. For me, my title says it all: What’s not to like about cruising? I can’t recommend them highly enough.