All ships are not created equal! If the idea of a cruise is on your mind, be sure to do your homework. Seriously. Determine what your budget is, where you want to sail, when you want to sail and what you want to see when you get there. Once you have narrowed that down a bit, do a search on Expedia, for example. This provides itineraries for different cruise lines. You can choose from 3-30+ nights to cruise to your heart’s desire. Now that you’ve narrowed it down to a ship or two, it’s crunch time. Check out the itinerary. Check out the type of stateroom you’ll be most comfortable in. If you use a wheelchair or scooter, it must be stored inside the cabin, which are generally small with very little space. There may be handicap rooms available that offer wider doorways and more floor access as well as bathroom amenities. First time cruiser? You might wish to sail mid-ship as it centrally locates you to the entire ship from guest services to atrium to dining and entertainment options.
Some ships are more adaptable to passengers with special needs than others. Word of caution: the elevators are small and usually crowded on port days, at dinner time, after entertainment shows and during embarkation/debarkation. If you use a wheelchair or scooter, patience is key! Also, getting on and off the ship can be problematic. Depending on the pier and terminal, the ramp from ship to shore can be steep and/or slippery with a couple of steps onto and off of it.
I have sailed on many different cruise lines over the years, from “fun ships” to luxury ships, up and down the east and west coasts as well as into the Caribbean and abroad. I’ve been on ships with as few as 100 passengers and as many as 2400+ passengers. You really have to gauge your own expectations and abilities when choosing a cruise. I find that I have higher expectations aboard the luxury variety of ships than the “fun ships”.
But all that aside, the purpose of going on a cruise is to see wonderful new things…to experience wonderful new things…to challenge yourself by participating in wonderful new things…to enjoy a new wonderful experience! Others may disagree with that statement. And that’s OK. Some take a cruise simply to get away from the everyday demands of life and enjoy good food, rest, relaxation and no electronic interference (although I think that last one may not work for some who are addicted to their phones!)
I enjoy cruising. The world I’ve seen since my first cruise many years ago, right up to last month just amazes me. I never thought I would see so much. In the words of Dr. Seuss, “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!”
Cruise lines I’ve sailed on over the years –
Carnival; Royal Caribbean; Norwegian; Holland America; Celebrity; Viking Ocean; Viking River; Disney
Twenty Steps at a Time 