Boring, boring, boring
Posted by Max Dunn Tue, 08 Aug 2006 16:22:10 GMT
I am a pessimist. Let me get that out of the way so we can avoid the criticisms and evil glances that this next comment will generate. The comment I would like to make is this: Often I am finding at sea days on this cruise to be boring, boring, boring.
Part of the reason for me feeling this way surely has to do with the fact that we have been on so many other cruises. So we don’t feel amazed any more just walking around looking at the shops, the bars and the nice furnishings. Another reason is that we are not drinking ourselves to exhaustion all day long, but are simply have a glass or two of wine with dinner. I was also going to blame the mainly UK crowd on board for being boring themselves, but this is not really the case; we have met some wonderful people at dinner and some very interesting conversations. In contrast, we have been on cruises with Americans where we hardly talked to anyone. The kids also love the Fun Factory here and want to stay in it all day and night, so we hardly see them, which also contributes to the lack of liveliness.
Another reason is that when I went on previous cruises, I was working in high-stress jobs where I was making decisions all day long, so I really enjoyed the low-stress, low-stimulation environments of a cruise. But now that I am retired and in a low-stress environment all the time, I am looking for something a little more exciting on my vacations.
This cruise does have some interesting ports we will see, and I have some good books so I will survive. And who knows, maybe I will be able to eventually tune-in to the cruise pace and learn to enjoy it. But I probably won’t get to that point until right before the end of the cruise so I won’t be able to enjoy it for long. (See, I told you I am a pessimist!)
Tiny violins… :-)
Yea, I didn’t think I was gonna get much sympathy for this…. ;-)
I have a bit of my own “downside” to people curious about cruises to Mexico. I was friends with a man who was a country singer and he performed on some cruise ships. I accompanied him a few times after his divorce. TALK ABOUT BORING!!!! These cruises are set up so that when you finally hit shore at the destination (Ensenada-Cozumel-Mazatlan-whichever) you are truly limited to in the amount of time you are permitted to spend on shore. Cruises do not want you spending all your money on shore but rather you spend money in the Casino, Bars, Clubsm Beauty Salon, and Boutique shops on the ship. For the most part the boutiques do not have the “best looking” or current designs (frumpy)in women’s fashions so it is a bit ridiculous. I would liek to think I am half-way saavy when it comes to purchasing women’s clothing or getting my nails or hair done. Guys if a woman becomes restless or bored on a confined ship, we will usually resort to shopping. Funny thing I saw was passengers who were sea sick. Actually it was sad to walk past them out on the deck trying to revive themselves with fresh air and patches behind their ears or wearing seasick prevention wrist bands. I think too as people began to drink more throughout the trip and soak up the sun, their is the possibility to aggravate it worse if you become dehydrated. IIf you have never been on a ship, you should know that no matter what size room or occupancy you get and no matter what deck - the rooms are SMALLEr than you imagined. These rooms are on a ship, not a resort. Windows are small too. So make sure you LIKE WHO YOU ARE SHARING A ROOM WITH. Remember this is just on small cruises. I can not speak for overseas.
If you get bored easily, bring lots of money is all I can say. If I were you, I would get on an airplane, fly to Mexico and stay in a house, condo or cottage on the beach. You will have more freedom, the ocean at your feet and the freedom to come and go for a weekend or a week. I have bought beautiful pieces of jewelry, delicous tacos and had my hair braided ON THE BEACH and all for a very fair price! You get a alot of information from them, plus you get to know these people as they hang out near your beach area and are great for information. Take a taxi everywhere!
Hope this helps.
Jenine DiConti (an experienced traveler)