Is Cruising in Winter a Good Idea?
Why is Winter Cruising Becoming more Common?
Is Cruising in Winter actually fun?
Depending on your destination, winter is usually the most affordable time to cruise, especially when sailing from the UK, which makes it an enticing option if you want to see the world on a budget. Winter cruising is also a great way to experience something new - either by visiting a new destination that's more geared towards winter tourism, or by exploring the usual winter sun ports off-peak. Having said that, there are a few things that you need to consider before deciding if winter cruising is for you.
Will the Sea be Rough?
Obviously the first thing to think about is the weather. If you’re booking a winter cruise from the UK then get ready for rain and rough seas. Sometimes you’ll be lucky and it’ll be smooth sailing, but you can't rely on it. Think about how many named storms the UK has experienced in recent months and imagine being at sea during those high winds.
My parents recently sailed during a bad storm and the captain did everything possible to avoid the worst of the weather - they rushed back to the UK a day early and anchored in a small bay for the day to shelter from the storm. Even though the captain adjusted the itinerary to avoid the worst of the storm, they still experienced a lot of rain and rough seas and that's completely normal. A captain has a duty to keep the ship safe and on top of this will make adjustments to the course to improve the comfort of the passengers, but without going hundreds of miles off course there's no way to stick to the schedule and entirely avoid the storm.
If you want to be guaranteed good weather then the only way to do this is book a fly cruise. It might be slightly more expensive because of the flights, but it’ll still be more affordable to do a fly cruise in winter than doing the same cruise in the warmer months. When you choose a fly cruise, you'll be avoiding the worst of the winter weather. The North Sea and the Bay of Biscay are notorious for rough seas, so if you're happy to fly you can avoid cruising in either of these areas over winter. Having said that, doing a fly cruise in winter doesn't mean you'll avoid all of the bad weather - it just reduces the likelihood of you bumping into as many storms as the UK has.
How to Avoid Sea Sickness on a Winter Cruise
How to Avoid Sea Sickness on a Winter Cruise
One of the things people worry about the most when cruising in winter is the possibility of getting seasick. I've been travelling by cruise ship for the past 7 years and it's still on my mind when booking a winter cruise. Having said that, years of experience have helped me to hone my technique for beating sea sickness and there are a few things I won't cruise without.
First of all, I highly recommend these motion sickness wrist bands; the wristbands work by pressing into a pressure point on your wrist that reduces the feeling of nausea. I don't really understand the logic behind it and I was really sceptical when I first tried them, but they work so well that I now wear them when I have a migraine too! I also found this more aesthetically pleasing version of the seasickness wrist bands while finding the link to the normal ones for you - I have yet to try them but the reviews seem positive. I personally wear sea sickness bands throughout the cruise then get frustrated when I look back at photos and realise I've forgotten to take them off before taking family pictures, so I'll be buying these ready for my next cruise!
The second thing you can try are motion sickness patches - these are a new discovery for me. I'd actually never heard of them before, but I watched another YouTuber on board a fishing boat in the North Sea; she was visiting her friend who was working on board and started to feel unwell, so her friend applied a motion sickness patch and she felt better in just a few hours. I was so impressed that I went to look for them on Amazon and found the exact brand she used with pages of great reviews. I've bought a box of motion sickness patches and will be testing them out on my next cruise.
The final thing I would recommend are seasickness tablets - I've used "Stugeron" for years and swear by them. I got so sick on my first cruise that I had to have an injection in the medical centre. The doctor advised me to take one sea sickness tablet in the morning and one in the evening every day from 3 days before the cruise, all the way through until 3 days after (so you can get used to being on land again). I've done this for every cruise since and apart from when we got stuck in a really bad storm I've not experienced motion sickness since. I still pack the wrist bands and patches just in case though!
What Should You Pack for a Winter Cruise?
Trying to figure out what to pack when cruising in winter can be a bit of a complicated affair - especially if you're cruising from the UK in search of warmer weather! My suggestion would always be to pack layering pieces. Pack a vest top that can go with flowy skirts or comfy shorts for the warmer weather, but it could also be worn under a t-shirt and jumper for extra layers on a cooler day. If you have space pack one thin jumper and one thicker jumper, and don't forget your rain coat!
If you're heading North, it goes without saying that you should check the weather forecast and pack accordingly. I've just come back from two weeks in the arctic circle. Having been completely clueless on what to pack before I left, expect a Norway packing guide soon.
What is Cruising in Winter Really like On Board?
If you can brave a flight or potentially rough seas, the winter cruising experience is easily a 10/10! While winter is my favourite time to cruise, most people wait for the warmer months. This means the ships are rarely at capacity, making it easier for you to secure last minute reservations in your favourite restaurants and reduces the wait time for any of the popular on board activities.`You'll also find you get much more attentive service and you'll get to chat to the crew more because they're not rushed off their feet.
It’s a similar story on land - the ports aren’t over run with visitors which means you can visit must-see attractions with ease. You'll be less likely to need to book tickets and the wait times will be much shorter at any tourist hotspots. You'll also be likely to have a nicer experience overall. In the busy season locals are often sick of dealing with/avoiding tourists while going about their days - without the constant stream of tourists reduced to a trickle you'll find locals are more likely to be friendly and happy to have a chat.
Between the reduced cruise fares, lower passenger count and quieter ports, if you can brave a plane ride or potentially rough seas then I would absolutely recommend taking a cruise this winter!
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