Guest Lecture: Grandma Cruise’s Best Tips For Senior Cruisers

Greetings fellow and would-be cruisers. Professor Cruise’s mom and H’s grandma here. I’ve been asked to share a few thoughts from a “senior” perspective on travel, cruising, and the joys and challenges that are a part of those experiences.

A few caveats. First, as you will soon see, Professor Cruise didn’t get her writing talent from me. Second, these are completely personal opinions from a 70-year-old woman who is always happy just to be with her family. The travel adventures are a big bonus. So, in no particular order, I’ll talk about cruise lines, traveling with several generations, and adventuring out into the world at a somewhat advanced age.

As you might imagine if you’re a regular reader of Professor Cruise’s blog, traveling with her and her family is really fun, often nature-based, and done with economy in mind (as much as possible considering the already privileged state of being able to travel).

In general, cruising is a great way for families with various ages in the group to travel together. There’s usually something for all ages to enjoy, with chances to be together or have some needed alone time.

I’ve traveled on several cruise lines, some more than once. They all have pros and cons, depending on what your most important criteria are for a great travel experience.

Carnival From A Senior Perspective

If you want to be surrounded by many young, partying cruisers where there are many activities that happen after people my age are asleep, this is the line for you. The atmosphere is fun, energetic, the drinks flow and tanning is a sport. We’ve sailed to the Caribbean several times on Carnival, once during Spring Break. If you want the public spaces to yourself, get up early as all the party-goers are staggering back to their rooms to sleep until afternoon.

The staff of Carnival was especially friendly and helpful (maybe they were afraid I might break a hip), the food was plentiful – definitely quantity over quality at the buffets. They offer the chance to try new, exotic foods (snails, frog legs, bone marrow, etc.). The warm chocolate melting cake with vanilla ice cream, available at dinner in the dining room, still appears in my dreams sometimes.

My grandson H liked the Dr. Seuss-themed activities, including the breakfast and parade. The library was small (I’m an ex-librarian, so I’ll be mentioning this again), but a nice place to read and relax. The sea day activities were standard, although if you go during Spring Break be prepared to be the only person at the art lectures, auctions, and other things.

Carnival is a good choice if you have a wide age range in your group, like to party and feel vicariously young by watching and possibly participating in dancing to LOUD music and wearing as little as possible.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) From A Senior Perspective

I’ve sailed with Professor Cruise on this line several times, and especially enjoyed the Panama Canal cruise. To me, the food was better than Carnival, the activities were good and the atmosphere was quieter. I like to walk the deck of the ship, and it was easy to do on Norwegian. Again, I think this line is good for groups with wide age ranges.

Holland America And Alaska From A Senior Perspective

Professor Cruise treated me to an Alaskan cruise for my 70th birthday (I know, she’s great), and it was wonderful. I highly recommend Alaska as a cruise destination. The ports of call are amazing if you love nature, incredible scenery, and have young people with you. Seeing my grandson H standing in a pristine stream with salmon swimming and jumping all around him is a priceless memory.

This cruise line had many features that especially appealed to me. The food was very good, and the activities were perfect for me. There were live cooking demos from America’s Test Kitchen, an Oprah Book Club discussion group, an excellent piano-violin duo and a large library with a coffee bar and recliners in a row with huge windows in front of them. It was great for this old librarian.

The atmosphere overall was more sedate, the passengers were on average older, but I think anyone could feel comfortable. Professor Cruise by accident or careful planning (we’ll never know for sure) picked the perfect cruise to make turning 70 less painful.

Princess From A Senior Perspective

Last Christmas Professor Cruise, Mr. Cruise, H and I cruised to and around Hawaii for two weeks. It was fun, festive and a great almost stress-free way to spend the holidays. Santa was there for all ages and the entertainment was good and included a choir made up of passengers.

The sea day activities were some of the best I’ve experienced. A lovely Hawaiian couple entertained, lectured and taught classes on Hawaiian crafts and culture and really enriched the trip. A series of talks by a great, funny biologist on the wonders we would see, and an expert who gave some talks on how DNA science helps solve famous criminal cases (I know that sounds heavy, but it was very popular and entertaining) were very good.

I enjoyed the food – I always do – and if you like relaxing and enjoying a high number of sea days, this would be the cruise for you.

Viking River Cruises From A Senior Perspective

Although this next cruise line offers a very different experience, and Professor Cruise and family weren’t there, I’ll briefly mention river cruising on Viking Cruise Line. I went from Prague to Paris and it was great. If you want a small ship with all the excursions included, a more luxurious, peaceful trip this is for you.

The food was excellent, although there are no huge buffets, and the passengers were all older adults. This wasn’t a cruise for all ages – there were no activities for children. I definitely recommend river cruising. Just know that if you express any interest in Viking, you’ll receive book-length, glossy brochures VERY frequently.

Grandma Cruise’s Thoughts On Traveling With Family

If there’s anyone still with me, I’m almost finished. I just want to share a few thoughts about traveling, especially with family. I just returned home from a road trip with Professor Cruise (yes, she does travel on land too) along the Oregon Coast and to the Shakespeare Festival in Ashland.

It was fabulous, as we enjoyed the beauties of the natural world and the human-created beauty of the six plays we saw. Travel, however you choose to do it, is a gift that opens you up to learning more about the world and yourself.

Traveling with several generations of family can challenge your ability to compromise and also make you feel incredibly proud of your children and grandchildren. Seeing a trip through the eyes of a six-year-old, forty-year-olds, and myself deepens and expands what you’ve seen and learned. If your children also plan the trips and make the arrangements you used to make, it helps you see them in a new way, as wonderful adults who have grown beyond your own boundaries.

In closing (finally you say?) I recommend traveling, however and with whomever you choose. It will enrich your life and even help you appreciate home.

P.S. My son and his family just moved to Egypt, so more travel is definitely in my future.

Happy Travels! Keep reading Professor Cruise. Isn’t she funny and amazing?

*Enjoy the blog? Don’t forget to subscribe to receive new lecture materials over e-mail (scroll up to the top right if on a computer or keep scrolling down if on a mobile device) and follow Prof. Cruise on social media:

Pinterest

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook