Thread: Newbies with a few questions

Hey Cruisers!,

We are planning our first cruise and would like a couple of general questions answered

We're planning on traveling June 2009, Mediterranean, 7 nts on Norwegian Gem (I've read a few posts about this particular ship thanks!).

1. My husband has motion sickness issues. Any tips when selecting a room? We currently are working with a travel company that is offering rooms located (i don't know the appropriate jargon) in the middle of the ship. We can choose from various decks but they're all in the middle of the ship.

2. Is the balcony room worth the extra dollars? We CAN afford it just wondering if it's worth it. Plus my hubby is 6' 3", just wondering how tiny the lowest deck, cheapest rooms are. A friend told us to get the cheapest room since you're never in your room anyway except to sleep.

thanks!!

Welcome aboard the friendliest cruise board on the net!!

There are two types of 'motion of the ocean' as I like to call it. There is the rocking and rolling. The rocking is from side-to-side and the rolling is from front to back. The best place to be on the ship to protect against the rolling is as close to the middle as possible. Also, lower is better to protect against the rocking motion - problem is, balcony cabins are going to be mid-level and up. Oceanview and inside cabins can be had on the lower levels.

Most standard cabins are pretty much the same size between the inside, oceanview, and balcony cabins. They can vary by a few square feet, but pretty much they're all close in size.

As for whether to get a balcony cabin, it really is up to what you want. It's great sitting on the balcony enjoying a cup of coffee in the morning as you're pulling into port, or sitting out there enjoying cocktails as the ship is leaving port.

If you spend alot of time in your cabin, then go for better; if you spend alot of time outside the cabin, then go for cheap. Just keep in mind that what one person likes, another will dislike. So your friend's advice may work for them, but not necessarily for you.

By the way, we've been on the NCL Gem and it's a nice ship - you'll enjoy it.

Pete

N 2 CLF, .

Thanks Cruise Planner,
Thanks so much for the info. I think the final choice will be based on what will be most comfortable for my husband to avoid motion sickness. The balcony I imagine will be nice to do exactly what you stated...sip coffee in the am or drinks in the pm but...if he's sick, what's the point. Thanks again, you've been a big help!

Boyconny, thanks for the welcome!!!

Originally Posted by couple2go

(i don't know the appropriate jargon) in the middle of the ship.

Welcome aboard

The front of the ship is "forward"
The middle of the ship is "mid-ships"
The back of the ship is "aft"
The left side of the ship when facing foward is "port"
The right side of the ship when facing forward is "starboard"
Front to back movement is "pitching"
Side to side is "rolling"

I hope that helps.

As has been said middle and as close to the waterline as possible is best to avoid motion.

The weather in June should be calm anyway so hopefully your husband will not have a problem.

Originally Posted by couple2go

Hey Cruisers!,

We are planning our first cruise and would like a couple of general questions answered

We're planning on traveling June 2009, Mediterranean, 7 nts on Norwegian Gem (I've read a few posts about this particular ship thanks!).

1. My husband has motion sickness issues. Any tips when selecting a room? We currently are working with a travel company that is offering rooms located (i don't know the appropriate jargon) in the middle of the ship. We can choose from various decks but they're all in the middle of the ship.

2. Is the balcony room worth the extra dollars? We CAN afford it just wondering if it's worth it. Plus my hubby is 6' 3", just wondering how tiny the lowest deck, cheapest rooms are. A friend told us to get the cheapest room since you're never in your room anyway except to sleep.

thanks!!

When we booked our Hawaiian cruise (which usually involves rough seas), we booked a midships cabin (this was a Princess ship). I'm the only one in my family who can be affected by sea motion, and I also brought along some ginger in a couple of different forms.

We prefer to book inside cabins, for the reason your friend stated. We try to get out of our cabin as much as possible. Another reason is that my hubby prefers sleeping in a dark cabin (from his years of working graveyard for the 9-1-1 system -- when he got home to sleep, he used blackout curtains). Also, we're both non-smokers so if we're on a ship that allows smoking on the balconies, we probably would continue to book insides or ocean view (OV) cabins.

Definitely have the deck plan in front of you while talking to the travel agent. When they tell you a specific cabin number, look to see what's near the cabin, and what's over the cabin. If you like what you get, you can mark your booking "no upgrade" or take your changes with an upgrade by booking a guarantee (but request to be asked first before any changing).

My girlfriend, myself, and her father were just speaking about the "motion of the ocean" today. My girlfriend was telling her father how amazing it was that as the ship was rocking (and good enough to wash the pool deck with the pool water) I was just walking like everything was fine. people were falling left and right and loosing balance and I kept walking strait... I told them my secret was in those various rum drinks

Seriously if he does get sick, might want to make sure you tell him to give himself an extra day or two once he gets back to land to get rid of his "sea legs." Some people, once again not me, get a little dizzy once on land.

As far as the Balcony, Pete is right - what one will hate, others will love. Me, I NEED a balcony. We love to sit out and have a cup of java, or we love to be alone while the other is getting ready and just watch at "nothing." we also like to keep the door open while sleeping, we find the ocean noise relaxing. I always recommend to get a balcony if you can swing it...

Remember too about the inside staterooms, you have NO concept of time, imagine a small hotel room with no windows. And for the Oceanviews with no balcony, well to me that is a tease, I would be trying to kick the port hole out LOL...

Honestly it does not matter. You can put me on deck 0 with the staff and I would be just happy to be on-board....

And, where does your husband get sick, because these big ships have some very sophisticated stabilization systems, so unless the seas are rough, you hardly notice..