cruising for little old ladies.

sagalout1954

Sister site to Tripadvisor (CruiseCritic.co.uk) has cruise review/forums - all you need to know about a cruise BEFORE you go on it! simply look up the cruise line here or navigate to the correct forum and ask the 'been there, done that' posters. Still pretty much a matter of opinion of course and we're all different.
http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/?__utma=1.506873237.1261143502.1261143502.1270049736.2&__utmb=1.4.10.1270049736&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1270049736.2.2.utmcsr=google|utmccn=(organic)|utmcmd=organic|utmctr=cruisecritic.co.uk&__utmv=-&__utmk=21404731

balmaiden

margaretclare, I resent somewhat the implication that my Mother has poor hygiene standards and that is why she picked up the norovirus. Mum had a hospital appointment to remove a cancerous growth on her leg, this is where we believe she picked up the virus. I can assure you that both Mum and myself used the hand sanitiser on entering the hospital and when leaving. We did not use the toilets and Mum was adament she did not want a cuppa in the hospital incase she picked anything up. We are fully aware of the importance of hygiene. Having spoken to our GP regarding Mum this week he tells me that the virus is airborn as well as being picked up from objects.

Sorry if I sound angry but I have witnessed, my not long widowed , Mother, become extremely ill in the last week and a cleaner more fastidious lady you could not wish to meet!!!

margaretclare

I did not say that your mother had poor hygiene standards!

Obviously, when you are in an environment with other people, whether in hospital or on a cruise ship, these things become more difficult and scrupulous hand hygiene is necessary for ALL. Not just your mother in hospital, but everyone around her.

Fenella

Can I suggest Saga cruises? They have two cruise ships specialising in cruises for the over 50s with many cruises out of Southampton or Dover. The Company that owns Saga also has another smaller cruise ship, the Spirit of Adventure, which is for over 21s.
They have excellent food and service and transport to the port or airport is often included in the price.

sagalout1954

balmaiden wrote: »

margaretclare, I resent somewhat the implication that my Mother has poor hygiene standards and that is why she picked up the norovirus. Mum had a hospital appointment to remove a cancerous growth on her leg, this is where we believe she picked up the virus. I can assure you that both Mum and myself used the hand sanitiser on entering the hospital and when leaving. We did not use the toilets and Mum was adament she did not want a cuppa in the hospital incase she picked anything up. We are fully aware of the importance of hygiene. Having spoken to our GP regarding Mum this week he tells me that the virus is airborn as well as being picked up from objects.

Sorry if I sound angry but I have witnessed, my not long widowed , Mother, become extremely ill in the last week and a cleaner more fastidious lady you could not wish to meet!!!

Good grief, perhaps your Mother being so ill has made you oversensitive. It wasn't implied that your Mum had poor hygiene standards, it wouldn't matter if she wiped herself from head to toe with anti bacterial/viral wipes - if some other dirty pig doesn't keep themselves clean then Norovirus is easily spread. It won't be those with good hygiene habits spreading it, they'll be the ones catching it .......like your mother.

margaretclare

sagalout1954 wrote: »

Good grief, perhaps your Mother being so ill has made you oversensitive. It wasn't implied that your Mum had poor hygiene standards, it wouldn't matter if she wiped herself from head to toe with anti bacterial/viral wipes - if some other dirty pig doesn't keep themselves clean then Norovirus is easily spread. It won't be those with good hygiene habits spreading it, they'll be the ones catching it .......like your mother.

Thank you, sagalout. Of course I did not imply any such thing. What I meant to imply was - these bugs may well be airborne but they have to come from somewhere. If they arrive on a hospital ward or a cruise ship, someone has brought them there. It only takes one.

Our local hospital recently had to take the drastic step of closing 5 of its wards to new admissions. You can guess that 4 of the 5 were care of the elderly wards. This was followed by a few days in which NO visitors were allowed on to any of the wards. http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/local_news/southend/5046596.Southend_Hospital_remains_closed_to_visitors/

It can be supposed from this, that there was a feeling that the bug was being brought in from outside and this was seen as the only way of protecting the already-immunocompromised patients on all the wards, not only the more obvious care of the elderly wards.

kindofagilr

sloan wrote: »

So reassuring, kindofagilr, to hear your recommendation for Carnaval cruises. We wanted to add a cruise to the end of our week in New York and Las Vegas, and it had to go on a specific day, so our Carnival cruise found us rather than the other way round. We sail from Long Beach, California down the west coast of Mexico on 11th April for our first cruising experience on the Carnival Splendor. I am really looking forward to it.

Aww that sounds lovely

Yes they were really fabulous, all the staff were wonderful, the food was gorgeous, and the ship was amazing, which ship are you on? We were on the Carnival Destiny.

We crusied from Miami to the Bahamas and back, we were meant to stop at Nassau and Half Moon Cay but unfortunatly the seas were too rough when we were meant to go to Half Moon Cay (there isnt a concrete port so ship couldnt dock) but they refunded us some money for that onto our ship and sail card. (and obv that wasnt carnival's fault that the seas were rough)

If anyone is interested in "The Rock Boat" here is the link, I would love to go back on it but Ive just had a baby so money is tight

http://www.therockboat.com/

Its mainly American Artists that are on TRB and not one's I had heard of but when I saw them live WOW amazing, some of you may have heard of Sister Hazel?

(Gaelic Storm are Irish and totally awesome!)

Here's Hanson singing "Under The Sea" from the Little Mermaid lol on the Lido Deck

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JC6wQFC6CzE

Ok I will shut up now lol

kaspar

i think this thread will put a lot of people off cruises!

westcountrymaid_2

My mum and her partner are leaving Southampton to celebrate her 70th birthday next month, it will be her first cruise. They are going with Princess cruises http://www.princess.com/learn/destinations/
I believe apart from a couple of nights the cruise is fairly informal (don't have to wear posh evening dress just smart casual I think) and the cruise will be around parts of the Med including Spain and Italy.

Hope you're mum gets better soon.

Nick_C

Balmaiden, have a look at http://www.crowsnestonline.net/forum/forum.php

Its a community web site (with a few hundred members) for people from the UK who like cruising. Its a friendly community, and you will find a lot of knowledgeable people who will be happy to give you advice and opinions.

It would be helpful if you would be a bit more specific about the "formality" of cruising that worries you. Is it the dressing up? Is your mum worried it may be "too posh"? Would she be happier in a British or American environment?

Fred Olson is certainly a possibility, but I would also consider P&O - more modern ships that are likely to be more stable in poor seas and have a much bigger range of facilities.