Our travelling pharmacist Dave Harcombe, a cruise virgin, has chosen P&O Cruises for his first expedition on the high seas accompanied by his wife Babs. Dave’s first-timer blog is not to be missed.
Our cruise to Norway is fast approaching. Cruising always throws up many questions for first timers. In no particular order:
- Will the ship be full of OAP’S?
- Does it matter?
Spending the kids inheritance. That’s what Babs and I are doing and we’re not yet old. In fact the average age of a cruiser is 53. Silver travellers do have fun don’t we? Shades of grey or is it blue rinse. Experience of life does count. Paraphrasing Cindi Lauper -“oldies just wanna have fun”.
Nothing wrong with that. Anyway there are worse places to depart this planet than from a luxury cruise ship – Barnsley springs to mind!
We once went on a Shearings coach trip. THAT bus depot WAS God’s waiting room. Outside many puffing away on cigs -every puff taking them a little closer to their maker. Our fellow travellers were so old. Looking like a trip to LOURDES, there was more metal in the walking frames and sticks than was used in building the bus! Yet we had a wonderful time.
- Will it be a free for all getting on and off the ship? Maybe? We shall see. Some queuing is inevitable. It’s not great in some larger airports is it!
- Will we get lost on the ship? Maybe. Does it matter? You’re on holiday. Relax.As long as you don’t get stuck in the engine room all week then I’m sure you will be fine. Carry a book just in case. My lovely nan used to say “I never worry when I get lost -I just change where i want to go”
- Will I eat too much? That’s up to you. If you want to get fat you can eat eat and eat. Wall to wall food 24 hours a day apparently.
No one is forcing you to eat. The answer is maybe to lose a bit before you travel and buy clothes with expandable stretching waistbands. Most people over indulge because the food is already paid for and it’s all around. I’m sure we don’t eat as much on shore excursions when we have to pay for it there and then.
- Will we get the feeling of claustrophobia? With thousands on the ship will we be overwhelmed by tourists? Hopefully not.
- Will we get enough time in port to be able to do everything? Probably not -there is always so much to see and experience- with the exception of Withernsea on any day of the year.
- What about illness. Is the ship a cauldron full of germs?
Here is the plug. A visit to your local pharmacy before you travel will save time and money. Stock up on Loperamide, seasick tablets, antibacterial hand gel etc..
You hopefully will not need them but like the scouts, travellers should be prepared.
Holidays are what you make of them.
Explore and interact with the locals and fellow passengers and you will experience so much. Sights and sounds to remember and people too.
• Read Chapter 1
• Read Chapter 2
• Read Chapter 4
• Read Chapter 5
• Read Chapter 6
• Read Chapter 7
• Read Chapter 8
• Read Chapter 9
• Read Chapter 10
