Anyone been on a cruise since the pandemic? How was it?
Liz and I want to go on a few cruises next year (no flights) so probably with P & O again.
Any advice?
I like being left alone and love people watching so usually wear headphones that aren't plugged in to stop people talking to me! Ha Ha
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I’ve done 3 with Celebrity, two from Southampton (July 2022 peak of Omicron, June23 low Covid) and one from Rome (Sept 23 rapidly rising Covid).What subject do you want to know about specifically?
If it is a general cruise query, there are lots of groups on Facebook including P&O and Cruise Critic forum where there are boards for specific cruise lines.
I've been on three cruises the best by far being the Britannia and the Caribbean - Also went on Arcadia and another (forgot the name) Arcadia was pretty dire and we won't be using that again.
I'll pop over to cruise critic 
Thank you
There have been many cutbacks since Covid, mainly with food quality and staffing and forums have a lot of moaning going on.
Keeping the topic on health here, Covid is an issue and if anyone is moderately immunosuppressed I’d be wary. The good side is that there are good medical facilities on board and you can avoid people in the main but it does change the experience. The bad side is that, whilst much is crowed about Covid safe procedures (on Celebrity at least), it is half arsed. Yes, there air is changed a number of times an hour on ship, and hand hygiene is always pushed. But, Covid is airborne and now lines are cruising at full or near full capacity. There 1700 on our 2022 sailing and 3000+ on the last. One issue is that nobody wears masks except a few stalwarts like us yet if you are found to be positive or clearly symptomatic you are quarantined. The result is that many people pretend they are not ill and don’t go to bed for a couple of days to keep from looking ill. So it spreads like wildfire. After day 3 this last time, it was like a plague ship and the theatre was a ‘cougharium’. If you don’t care about this issue or have full confidence that your vaccine is enough to hold it off for your holiday, go. If not but you still want to go, I would book last minute according to Covid numbers nationally and sail from Southampton. We have been knobbled twice because of booking a long way out and then the dice rolled not in our favour. Anyone on high dose Pred like I did very happily in 2018, don’t bother I’d say.
I feel that! I'm not doing a cruise and that's that I would get a bit annoyed with everyone coughing around me. And let's face it... Cruise food is too much and doesn't help me stay cute and slip LOL
I reckon a luxury park home holiday for two weeks would be a nice getaway. I know just the place in Dawlish. Woodland walks, pools, gym and so on. Get a M and S shop in a couple of times and a Tesco delivery. Kindle. Laptop and sit outside in the sun ?? ha ha
That would comfortably allow us to be members of the local Nuffield Devonshire Health Centre which is a quick (free) bus ride away. I was a member for a while and it is really nice and I love exercising in a warm pool.
Sounds infinitely preferable to me! The cruise I did, did what it said on the tin and due to an unplanned upgrade just to get a balcony, we had a superb dining room we wouldn't have had otherwise. But the rest was not me at all. We have always camped - but I rarely cooked, there had to be a restaurant handy! However, even that is dodgy now: I was away last week, after one (very salty) meal my feet were like footballs and stayed that way. Two days after being home - back to normal ...
I think Liz is going to love this - no packing (intense with her)
We had a day out in the Land of my Father's this year. Looe in Cornwall. I've been many times but this time was extra nice,
Train return from Plymouth cost about £10 each. Liz had a field day buying in the Quirky Shop and SeaSalt.
We just wandered around and had a light lunch and wandered around and sat in deckchairs then came back to Plymouth after the rush hour.
It was so relaxing and happy.
On warm days we can sit outside at the Nuffield Devonshire health centre (up the road) and enjoy reading in the sun by the pool (no not swimming)
So no cruises.
The best thing about caravan/camper was always NO PACKING!!! I did the same last week - no idea what the weather would be, just transferred my usual gear to the wardrobe and added underwear in a case as was to be in a hotel, Came back with most unused - in Bavaria it was like high summer in the UK!
We are seriously thinking about buying our own holiday park home on a managed and secure site. It's not one of the chain park home companies. I met the owners, of the one we have in mind, when we first came back to England and were really impressed.
I DJ'ed in holiday caravan parks for a name company for a few months before we totally moved to California and I hated it. All Agadoo and the Chicken dance.... :/ So I always disliked holiday parks until I went to the one in Dawlish and it was really very nice
A PMR friend who lived in the New Forest bought one on a smallish site just outside Swanage. Their usual holiday habit up to Covid was Spain and the Canaries and were there a lot - no children and plenty of the wherewithal. They loved the mobile home and were there most weekends. Personally I would happily live in one on that sort of site.
Self-catering is great in that breakfast and one meal are easy - that has always been our winter version ...
That is great to hear. We don't cook much at all and I'm happy with Med style. Olives and so on with sourdough bread that's me done. Occasional Indian from M and S .... bought in microwave veggie stuff and loads of hummus.
I like the park homes with a balcony too
Walking in the woods is a great pull for me and there is the lovely beach at Dawlish. Plus it's a quick train ride and senior discount.
Plus we love going to Bath shopping and loafing around. Liz and I met there in my former pub back in 92. So we'll most certainly keep that up...
Yes - eating just for me now is much easier as a plate of antipasti is my idea of a meal and every supermarket has a decent deli counter. Thank goodness for salads - smoked salmon, hummus and salad last night, Himself always expected meat and veg ...
Anything simple and veggie for me too. Liz doesn't care to mess about in the kitchen! So, simple life eh!
My airfryer has been a lifesaver - I love meat and fish but plain can't be bothered thinking about it. A piece of frozen turkey or beef steak or salmon - olive oil and herbs/spices/pepper on top, into the airfryer and perfect in under 15 mins, No smell, minimal washing up. No thinking ahead - except buying it and salad/veggies.
PMRpro Liz does have salmon not fried
The airfryer isn't frying - it is hot-air oven-baking in a tiny oven. Why on earth they are sold as fryers is beyond me.
Saying that I think we came a cropper in the ports because there were 3 other cruise ships in Port so the narrow streets of various places we visited was like coming out of a football ground. It was so hot it was intolerable wearing a mask. On the ship was where we could be in peace. I think port and season choices make a difference.
Our next holiday is self catering too. A bit of a busman’s holiday though and I love being at sea being pampered.
Oh my! We got off at Gibraltar once and it was awful. Every dodgy street seller on the way to the main area. People outside shops hustling and all that. Nicest one was Lisbon as they have really way cool clothing shops and I went a bit nuts with the credit card!
I liked Grenada in the Caribbean too. A few superb reggae/mento bands and that was it. We sat and really enjoyed that.
I haven't been on a cruise as the thought of all those people in a confined space is my idea of hell, but I hope that you take your water wings, if you can't swim. 
Actually! I found them to be not crowded as there is quite a lot of space around. Peak food times were busy but not too bad. We always got a seat. Britannia was great as I found a really secluded spot near the ship's funnel and there was no-one there. There was no smoke or noise so we went back every day. The senior ships crew tapped their noses (I know) sign and chuckled as we had somehow found this area (with sun loungers) that everyone else on the deck below didn't realise was there. One bloke came up for a joint and that was it.
Anyway my mind is made up now.
I've been on two. Once for 21 days this May through the Middle East including Israel. We were fine.
My sister and husband went home from UK to USA a few months ago and both got Covid if that helps.
The USA worries me. My Mom In Law has dementia and is in last stage care. She will pass soon and my wife will go to North Carolina and Detroit + areas to finalise everything. She will be gone for about 3 weeks or so.
We never did get Covid
Oh I forgot we're both covered by my wife's medical plans from Bank of America but really I don't want covid
to be honest, I’ve stopped counting the number of our friends who’ve come back from a cruis with Covid! It’s the most perfect breeding ground, & mainly indoors. I’m ex-Navy. & cruises are the most popular holidays with lots of us (not David & I, it would be our very last choice, but each to their own)! We have a motorhome, & love to be outside, so we are lucky! We did fly twice this year, but used small airports where possible. We wore FFP2 masks from entry of one airport to exit of the other…but we were the only people! Good luck with your decision!
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