Bored on a cruise..really???

[Trip]

I was told that friends of a friend, who recently came back from a cruise, won't be going again, because they were bored...Imagine!

My first question was, what ship? But,you know, it was one of those..I don't know kind of things It seems they were happiest in ports, and when onboard, nothing seemed to interest them....I suggested to my friend, they go on a southern cruise,that way,they will have a port a day, with one day at sea..she said, maybe she will wait a while to mention it.

Of course we know it's different strokes, but, this was the first time I ever heard of anyone being bored..have you?

[Manuel]

All of the cruises that I have been on allways had something going on to keep us ocupied. Sometimes there is so much going on that I have to pick and choose which activity that I can attend.
What with shows, games, music in different lounges, bars and a casino, not to mention cocktail parties, who has time to be bored

TM

[Trip]

well....I have to agree with you...while I may not partake in some daytime activities, I am relaxing, reading, people watching, snoozing, or whatever, but not bored .. I think a more port intensive cruise, may be better suited for them, or not

[beenie weenie]

Bored of what? Relaxing, sun, sea, having all your needs cared for? I am thinking someone who is bored while cruising is likely the person who needs it the most.

At one point in my life I was so wound up (and I still am sometimes), that I feel the need to go nonstop, and I felt if I didn't have every moment of the trip planned with exciting stuff then I was doing something wrong. I am getting better at letting things wind down as time passes and I get better at managing my stress and re-learning how to relax and resist the urge to have everything planned to the last detail. Not sure if that is the scenario with your friends, but to each their own.

[Mike M]

I think you have to try to be bored on a cruise. Either that or the stick is a little too far up a certain place and you can't just enjoy something.

I've done everything from napkin folding (the social hostess remembered me two years later ) to pottery making. Some of the things I enjoyed and some I didn't care for but there was always something to do and most things were pretty fun.

I'll admit that I can be entertained by just sitting on a balcony and watching the wake.

Don't be afraid to try something. The worst thing that will happen is you may make a fool out of yourself in front of people you will never see again. BTW: If they don't like it (and you're not hurting anyone) then "to heck with them".

Take care,
Mike

[Ron]

I've never been bored on a cruise and doubt that I would be. Some things are more interesting, some islands and tours more interesting but boring? Nope.
But, there's different things for different folks. I don't like to lay by the pool with music blaring so loud it'll rattle your teeth but some do. I love to sit somewhere where it's quite, peaceful and prop up and watch the water and world go by. That to some might be boring but to me it's the ultimate in relaxation. The feel of the ship, the splash and swish of the waves as the bow cuts through the water, seeing a flying fish or maybe a school of them,
always something to see or maybe after eating about twice as much as I needed to in the buffet, getting fixed in my spot and nodding off for a short nap!! Yep--that's cruising to me--long way from boring!!

[rollerdonna]

"Bored" and "Cruise" shouldn't even be allowed in the same sentence!!
There is no time to be bored on a cruise. There is never enough time to do all the things I want to do on a cruise, and even on a quiet sea day, not enough "quiet time" to relax, because there are too many fun things going on that I don't want to miss! Sometimes I need a vacation after my vacation!

donna

[Trip]

It's funny you should mention napkin folding, because way before I cruised, I saw the activity sheet, from the Meridian..and I said who the heck wants to do that..now I know Mike

[Mike M]

Trip:

The napkin folding was on Celebrity Mercury and Amanda was the Social Hostess. She said that she hadn't laughed so much in a long time. There were only four of us in the class so I didn't disrupt things too much.

She was the Social Hostess on Millennium and she remembered me when we checked in. We also received an invitation to the Captain's Table. I didn't awe the table with my napkin folding skills.

I wish I could find the picture of me in my little "napkin hat".

Take care,
Mike

[ToddDH]

I admit I have heard several people say that cruises bore them. Then again, I think I should note that to me at least, a few of those who made such remarks I considered boring people themselves.

Of course cruising may not be for everyone. But then again, I don't have to be entertained 24/7...as a matter of fact, I don't want to be.

As do several others who have posted, I also love to lounge in a quiet place and read. I'm not really the "joiner" type although I love to be around interesting people and conversation that makes one think. As far as all those pool games go, I don't even put on a bathing suit anymore but it's not as if I can't swim. When I was 12, I used to not give a thought to swimming the half mile across the small lake we lived on when we were in Florida. I lived in the water when I was young.

Sometimes I even like loud music such as Dr. John, Jools Holland or Tommy Johnson tearin' up a piano. Ot maybe it's 60's rock and/or 40's jitterbugging. So it's not as if I'm a complete "stick in the mud."

People have said to me, "Why are you reading, why aren't you doing something exciting." I just look up and smile.

When all is said and done, what about that afternoon snooze you never seem to find time for when you're home.

Bored on a cruise? NEVER!

Todd

[venice]

it sounds like somebody didn't do their homework in advance of paying their hard earn $$$$$..fyi, it's ok to be bored (by design) for periods on any given day, because it's a way of recharging your system for activities..it's all about setting realistic expectations and then having a positive attitude once you board your ship

i think the cruiselines do an excellent job of providing enough choices that on any given cruise one should not be bored if they know how to plan their day...on one of my full charter smooth jazz cruise, i actually met a spouse that hated smooth jazz and hated cruising (it was her first cruise and she only came because her husband is a huge smooth jazz fan and he was going to go whether she came or not)...she was bored after the first day and one of the ship' s regular staff noticed it and on the second day worked with her to plan alternative activities (which is no small feat considering it was a jazz charter)..by the 3rd day her mood had completely changed for the better for the balance of the cruise

you are only bored if you want to be bored IMHO

[thecruisequeen]

I know many families (friends and clients) that won't cruise either they tried it and hated it or won't even try it.

Cruising is not for everyone. I have clients this week in St. John for 10 days staying at a villa (3 bedroom 2 bath waterfront). They have no interest in going on a cruise and I would not recommend it for them because I know it is not for them. They like to get up super early and take long walks on the beach also they want to surf each and every day, lay on the beach all day and go fishing.

Another client is also in St. John they were on their first cruise last year (Princess) they said cruising is just ok for them they are not rushing to book another one anytime soon. However they are big on suba diving. So their St. John trip this week is an organized suba diving trip.

I have another client that is on their first cruise this week on the Navigator a 5 niter they come home today so I will be curious to see if they like cruising.

I would not consider the mentioned families boring just because they don't like cruising. In fact they are fun, social and well travelled families.

I love cruising and can Never be bored but cruising is not for everyone.

[Parrot Mom]

Parrot Pop has a saying about retirement...the problem is you have no days off in retirement..We are busier now than ever before... I look forward to doing nothing....Yes, there are people who claim they get sea sick, would not like a cruise for a zillion reasons or they don't like to travel (as a neighbor told me yesterday). Please give me a day when i dont have to take care of our pets, plan a meal.. and can just sit and twiddlle my thumbs or contemplate my navel..

[Kimbopolo]

Didn't Confucius say: He who is bored on a cruise is bored by life?

[Manuel]

Originally Posted by Parrot Mom

Parrot Pop has a saying about retirement...the problem is you have no days off in retirement..We are busier now than ever before... I look forward to doing nothing....Yes, there are people who claim they get sea sick, would not like a cruise for a zillion reasons or they don't like to travel (as a neighbor told me yesterday). Please give me a day when i dont have to take care of our pets, plan a meal.. and can just sit and twiddlle my thumbs or contemplate my navel..

I agree with you 100%

As a matter of fact we are going to book an 11 day cruise next year, so that maybe I can have some time to just relax and do nothing.
I say that boredom comes from within.

TM

[Fern]

Some people are just not cruiser's . Most of you would think our schedule was boring, but we enjoy it. We order Room Service for breakfast the night before and sleep in. After we take our time getting ready to go out and about we generally go to our favorite bar for a Bloody Mary. Then we may stroll the shops, the Lido or the Promenade. If there's a lecture or a "game" show, we'll go to that. If we're hungry we'll eat lunch (usually pizza or a burger). If not, we'll have an apple back in the cabin.

We go back to the cabin where DH naps and I read or work crosswords while watching the ocean go by. We have a drink in the cabin and get dressed for dinner (Anytime Dining!). We'll stop at the bar again (White Russian for me, Martini for him). If things are fun there, we may not even go to dinner. DH enjoy's the Casino, so he'll go there for a while and I'll order Room Service for us before bed.

I know some of you are saying "yawn ", but we've cruised enough that we've learned to do what we want. We used to try to do everything and it was exhausting!

We have a great cruise every time,

[CruisinK n J]

In addition to more ports, this couple might like the stimulation of traveling with friends and/or family.

Judy

[Kimbopolo]

Fern,

I'm with ya. Right down to the crossword puzzle!

[Manuel]

Fern, I don't think your schedule is boring at all. The best thing about cruising is that there is something for everyone.

TM

[suse]

haha, I love being bored!!! No, really, what could be better? I'm the one on the lounge chair with a book in one hand, beer in the other, just about to nod off to the sound of the waves. Ghastly boring.

[skymaster]

HA! The lovely Mrs. Jones (Vita) and I try to pick cruises with MORE sea days, not less. We love all the activities taking place aboard ship, especially on sea days! As most of you know, we seldom leave the ship, and even on port days are NOT BORED! I even took a piano lesson aboard ship once, (Mariner of the Seas) so IMO if you can't find something interesting to do,,,well,,,you've got a major problem.

"SKY"

[venice]

I would suspect if your work life or home life is hectic..then on a cruise one looks forward to be bored (in a good sense)...if your work or home life is boring, you would want alot of action and activity when you cruise....also, if one cruises alot, then you have seen it done it all before, so it's natural that one would do less on any given cruise..and the obvious, if you cruise with children or if you are in your 20's-30's you want more activity..get in your 50's or no kids less activity may be more to your liking

my ideal 7 day cruise would be at least as many sea days as ports with one of the" ports" being a private island...laid back during the day, great jazz music at night which includes a Sunday Jazz/Gospel brunch

[thecruisequeen]

Originally Posted by skymaster

HA! The lovely Mrs. Jones (Vita) and I try to pick cruises with MORE sea days, not less."

Same here!!! Gotta love those Sea days!!

[johnthed0g]

As long as the weather is Ok it's fine, but I must admit we have seldom found anything that interests us that is put on by the ship, several sea days in bad weather would be a struggle....& if heaven forbid we were in an inside cabin with no private space..arrrgh! Having said this provided we can enjoy the sea air we are not bored, I do wonder though, we always wanted to do a world cruise, do people get fed up when they away for 3 months?

[Mike M]

The more I think about it I do tend to agree that if I was on a 60 day cruise, in an inside cabin, with a series of six and seven sea days in a row, I would probably get bored or become psychotic.

I did a fourteen day China cruise. It was a fantastic cruise but the inside cabin drove me crazy and I just wanted to get the heck out of there each morning. Luckily, there was only three sea days on this cruise so it wasn't too bad. It was the first and probably the last time for an inside cabin. To book an inside cabin again it would have to be a port intensive itinerary to very interesting places I've never been before.

Take care,
Mike

[Cruznut2]

Originally Posted by Mike M

I think you have to try to be bored on a cruise. Either that or the stick is a little too far up a certain place and you can't just enjoy something.

to pottery making. Some of the things I enjoyed and some I didn't care for but there was always something to do and most things were pretty fun.

I'll admit that I can be entertained by just sitting on a balcony and watching the wake.

Don't be afraid to try something. The worst thing that will happen is you may make a fool out of yourself in front of people you will never see again. BTW: If they don't like it (and you're not hurting anyone) then "to heck with them".

Take care,
Mike

Do you want to tell us why she remembered you 2 years later?

Some of my best times came from attending the things I thought would be boring. Like the Knobby Knee Contest on Celebration. One woman nearly closed the show with a comment she made. Too Funny!

Laura

Laura

[johnthed0g]

"Some of my best times came from attending the things I thought would be boring. Like the Knobby Knee Contest on Celebration. One woman nearly closed the show with a comment she made. Too Funny!"
The moral is "don't knock it 'til you've tried it" ...up to a point!

[Mike M]

Originally Posted by Cruznut2

Do you want to tell us why she remembered you 2 years later?

Some of my best times came from attending the things I thought would be boring. Like the Knobby Knee Contest on Celebration. One woman nearly closed the show with a comment she made. Too Funny!

Laura

Laura

Laura,

It was actually positive. I made her laugh and she remembered it. She admitted that napkin folding was something she enjoyed but few people attended the activity (it's probably why it's not seen anymore) and I had made it a bit more fun.

Take care,
Mike

[balabusta]

Bored on a cruise? There is no way a person can be bored on a cruise with all the activities planned for when a cruise is not in a port. Cruising is what you make it. People who are bored on a cruise have chosen to be bored. What I like about the "days at sea" are the lectures from the naturalists, talks about port shopping, trivia challenges, cooking demonstrations, going to the gym, and just wondering around the ship to see who I will meet that day!

[Henry43]

There are people who cruise who are not into socialization .Their objective is to sightsee and shop in ports but on the ship itself they are lost .