Seniors - The Best Times of the Year to Go on a Cruise

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.

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Seniors And Air Travel

The younger generations are eager to explore the world, take on all of the sights and bask in the cultures of foreign climes. With air travel now being as widespread as it is, individuals do have the opportunity to see places that older generations never dreamed of visiting. However, that is not to say that seniors should not have the opportunity to enjoy their retirement by seeing some of the world. Indeed, everyone should visit a far off country if for no other reason than to exploit his or her freedom!

It is understandable that many seniors are wary of flying. It can be a frightening experience if you have never done it before or if you are planning to take a longer trip than you normally would. However, the thought of it should not put you off. Aircraft are safer than ever at the moment, with rigorous checks in place to ensure that all safety standards are met. In fact, the experience can be quite pleasurable. You just have to relax and ensure that your preparations are complete before you set foot inside the airport.

All seniors should have a health check before they book a flight and then again in the week before travelling. This is to ensure that you are completely healthy and there will be no health complications to ruin your trip. You should have a routine check that consists of a blood pressure check, brief eye exam and a chat about any recent health problems you may or may not have encountered at the very minimum. You should also ask your doctor about medication routines before you fly.

Some drugs may increase the chances of blood clots, also known as deep vein thrombosis, occurring and your doctor will be able to advise you on the risks and precautions to take with this sort of medication. He or she will also be able to advise you on a medication routine that would fit in with the time zone you are travelling to so that regular doses are being taken when necessary. Make sure that you bring your medication on board with you. You should have enough to last for at least three or four days just in case the other supplies that you check at the airport get lost with your luggage. Never take a flight with just enough medication to last until you land. Similarly, if you are epileptic, asthmatic or diabetic, always take your medication onboard with you. You never know when you may need it, but always inform the travel and flight company a couple of days before you have to fly so that they are expecting you with that medication.

Going back to deep vein thrombosis, it can be more common in the more vulnerable and so seniors should take extra precautions. Firstly, invest in a pair of flight socks or stockings. Flight stockings are special socks that are like surgical stockings. They are designed to be tight in order to stimulate blood flow and thus should at least be worn to just above the knee, although it is advisable that seniors wear them to at least mid-thigh.

When you are actually on the flight, you should move at least once every hour, whether it means a trip to the bathroom or just walking up and down the cabin a couple of times. This will encourage blood flow and thus prevent blood clots occurring. However, if you are unable to get out of your seat regularly, there are some exercises that you can do in your seat. Cycle your feet every twenty minutes and pull your knees up as far as you can between ten and twenty times. Again, this encourages the blood to flow, whether you do it for two minutes or ten minutes every hour or so. It is all about movement!

As you can see, taking a flight as a senior requires a lot of forward planning. It is not as simple as just booking and hopping on a flight. You must make sure that you are prepared before you actually get on the flight. There are real hazards for seniors when flying, but that should not put you off. If you prepare well then there is no reason why anything should not go according to plan.