Seniors and baby boomers
love to cruise. But, there are some
things that could keep them from cruising during the high season, depending on
the itinerary. One of those things is
dreading a ship full of children.
Believe it or not, it is a concern.
Children are a blessing for everyone, but sometimes it is not the right
time to enjoy a ship full. Many older
Americans have difficulty getting around, or require assistive devices. Even younger people prefer an adult
atmosphere at times, and when they spend thousands of dollars for a vacation,
they expect to get what they expect. Younger
generations – identified as Millennials and Generation Z and younger – may have
trouble understanding this problem, unless they have difficulty getting around
themselves. I have heard comments by
seniors who cruised over the Thanksgiving holiday last year, that the ship they
were on literally had hundreds of children and teens on board. A lot of those children and teens became
unruly, making it difficult for seniors to get around without being pushed or
shoved.
Weather is another concern
for many adults. During hurricane
season, it can get very humid in the Caribbean, even more than what you may be
used to. We took a cruise to the Bahamas
in September one year and could not believe how humid it was. We got off the ship in Freeport, only for 10
minutes, and never left the dock – by the time we got back on board, we were
soaked from head to foot. There was a
hurricane somewhere in the Atlantic, which affected the humidity, so for the
rest of our time in that port of call, we stayed in the cool comfort of the
ship.
Being a part of the boomer
generation ourselves, we understand these concerns, and realize there are
certain times of the year that are safer to cruise than others. Unless you love being on a ship full of
children and young adults, or don’t mind the humidity, cruising all year round
on contemporary cruise lines may not interest older generations.
More expensive cruise lines,
from premium on up, are your best bet for having the least number of children
on board. If you prefer the contemporary
lines, consider avoiding the summer months from the middle of May until the
second week of September, which would be the time when school is out for the
summer. Also, try not to book during
holidays or school breaks (like the infamous spring break). We went on a back-to-back cruise last year,
beginning the week after Thanksgiving, and there were only a handful of
children on board, and most of the passengers were around our age. During the second leg of the cruise, there
were probably about 50 more children, but it was still a pleasant cruise.
Hurricane season officially
starts June 1 and runs until November 30.
In the eastern Pacific Ocean (off the west coast of the United States),
hurricane season begins May 15. Ships are
always on high alert and make advanced preparations for bad weather, but even
if the hurricane is not in an area where the ship would be sailing, it could
still cause the weather to be extremely humid hundreds of miles away.
Contact Travel, Tours &Cruises to schedule your dream vacation.
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