Well, you don’t need to go to the big entertainment, and there’s usually live music in more intimate venues around the ship. I’m more interested in the approach to the ports, so I go to sleep around 9:00-9:30 PM, get up at 5:00 AM, and go on deck with coffee and binoculars by 5:30.
You can find food ratings for the different companies online. River cruises tend to have better food, but fewer options at each meal. Ocean cruises are great for people/families with dietary restrictions.
I agree - and we like the bigger ships, more variety and the big shows are pretty good, hardly cheesy…we’ve passed on shows that don’t interest us, but we’ve seen some good shows, a couple of really good magicians, and a bunch of good bands…the same band that is playing the really bad '80’s music on the deck during one of the deck parties is also the band that plays what they really want to in one of the smaller lounges at 11:00 p.m., so that’s always fun…
The way the big ships are designed these days, we rarely feel ‘crowded’ unless we put ourselves in that position (big shows, deck parties, going to the buffet at noon, etc.), if you want to find a place to relax and hide, it’s very easy, many choices…
LOL, susan,you remind me of my wife…(feel something poking me awake…) “What??” “We’re coming into port, let’s go watch!” “Ugh…here’s an idea, you watch, then wake me when you want to eat breakfast…”
“But don’t you want to see the oil storage tanks?!”
Holly, is that YOU?!? 
We need a ‘like’ button…
I am Holly in the mirror universe.
(This means I’m bi and have a beard, right?)
If you ever go to Malta on a cruise, be damn sure you are up and watching. Best harbor ever!
And I left on my first cruise from New York. I then knew where Metropolis came from - but Malta is even better.
Malta is a wonderfully interesting port! Malta in general is on our short list for a return. Great weird archaeology, awesome cathedral interiors, lovely archaeology museum, underground place of worship–what’s not to like?
I just got back from an eleven-night cruise in the Mediterranean- like, two days ago- and Malta was our last port of call before heading back to Rome. Yeah, the port in Malta is simply fantastic- I wish we’d been able to spend more time there, even though at that point I was really damn tired of all the heat and humidity.
This was our sixth cruise, but our first in Europe. We like cruises because they’re a good way for us to find locations we want to vacation in further- it was how we discovered Cozumel, for example.
Some friends were discussing our parents’ future place of residence last night and the subject of cruises came up. Some elderly virtually live on a cruise ship because it is considerably cheaper than assisted living. If you are elderly or disabled, but relatively healthy, a ship costs far less than a home. You will probably be treated better and meet more people, because no one there will feel abandoned by family and fate. When you do get out, it won’t be to Walmart, it will be to exotic locations you’d never see if you lived in assisted living.
When my wife was twoward the end of the (then) year-long HCV treatment, we took a cruise so I could get a break from doing all the household work. It was very convenient and mostly she rested while looking out the window. I brought food, or she ordered room service, or we walked very slowly to a dining room. Lots of places to sit and rest, assistance a phone call away if I wanted to go up on deck or out for a brisk walk, interesting views from the balcony. She left the ship twice, for about 30 minutes each time. I don’t think we went to big shows, but we did listen to some musicians at smaller venues. Very helpful for me and not too much strain for her (other than the wheelchair that never arrived in LAX, but that’s not the cruise line’s fault).
A cruise ship shouldn’t be compared to assisted living. Yes, your meals and housekeeping are provided, but people in assisted living need help with basic daily needs including hygiene, bathing, dressing, and medication management. You’re not going to get that on a cruise ship.
Some elderly don’t need all that. My parents are very active, but won’t be able to drive much in the near future. They are still very sharp, but are losing the mobility necessary to drive. They don’t need all the care you describe, but like the parents of the others I was talking to, are living far out in a rural area and will need a place where they won’t need transportation. And a cruise is still cheaper than the places in their area.
Clearly, but I was responding to the phrase “assisted living.”
A cruise is definitely cheaper than assisted living, but as **CookingWithGas ** says, “assisted living” is a lot more than housekeeping and meals. And I’m not so sure living on a cruise ship is cheaper than an “independent living community” where residents have their own apartment and the monthly fees include meals, housekeeping, social activities and transportation - the ones I’ve seen run from $1500 to to $4K a month for one person ( a second person is maybe $1000 extra per month). If you want internet and/or phone service while you are cruising, that may eliminate any savings.
Some days, I feel like I’d love to live on a cruise ship after I retire - but I’m not under any illusions that it will be less expensive than living in my house. Because it won’t be.
Eh. Use your call phone with an international plan or a laptop with VOIP while you’re in port. And frequent cruisers get perks like money in your shipboard account or discounts on internet packages and future travel. I’ve seen people retire to cruise ships, particularly repositioning cruises (which are often long and cheaper).
“Assisted living” is different than “nursing home,” though. In these parts, “assisted living” pretty much is like living on a dry-docked cruise ship. Independence is a requirement, else you’re booted out to the nursing home.
My father was in an assisted living facility and I have also researched them for my MIL and this is incorrect. Yes, “assisted living” is not “nursing home” but it’s also not “independent.” For multi-level facilities, assisted living falls between independent and nursing home. Many of these facilities require you to be independent when you first move in but then as your needs increase they move you to the next level.
Here is a random example of an assisted living facility in Southfield, Mich., (presumably in your general area) that offers “personal care, housekeeping, transportation, meals, socialization, and medication supervision/management.” Here’s another one south of Detroit that provides “assistance with meals, laundry, medication reminders, physical therapy, Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and more.”
A cruise ship stops at meals, housekeeping, and social activities. Not a bad life, but my point stands that you can’t compare it to assisted living.
Bumped.
Here’s CNN Travel on the massive logistical effort involved in feeding cruise ship passengers and crew: Cruise ship food supplies: Amazing statistics on how much passengers eat | CNN