Anyone feel panicky while cruising?

[Blue Eeyore]

I'm taking my first cruise ever and I'm a little nervous. I DO NOT fly and am afraid of heights. I've never been out in the middle of the ocean and I wonder if I'll get nervous, looking out and seeing no land. Think it'll freak me out? Has anyone experienced panic from being on a cruise ship??? Thanks!

 

[Muushka]

My husband was very nervous about our first cruise. If it had not been Disney, I KNOW I never would have gotten him on a ship! He did just fine. But I think it had a lot to do with the familiarity of Disney. We did a second DCL cruise and he was fine. We are doing our first (gasp) non-Disney cruise in 2 months, and he is fine with that. So no, you are not the only one!

PS I still cannot get the man on a plane...

 

[All American]

I haven't cruised yet, so I am no help there.

However, I am TERRIFIED of flying and want to pass along some advice my mom gave my way back in high school. "Just remember what is at the end of the flight." It is not a huge thing, but when I start to get a little nervous I think of what I am going to and try to imagine all the fun I can have (did this alot flying to Hawaii. That Pacific Ocean is a little too big). We leave in April, and you had better believe that I will be repeating that to myself over and over until we land.

I am guessing that you are close enough to drive, but when you are out in the water, just take a deep breath and remember what you are sailing to---paradise. Good luck!

 

[bschiffler]

WE are leaving tomorrow for the OCt 21 sailing and I have a nervous stomach! Not about cruising, the flying! I go on 3 trips a year and do this to myself everytime I fly. I feel like getting to the cruise will be the biggest relief becuase I am out of the airplane. It takes the fun out of traveling for me...all the anxiety!

 

[Nik's Mom]

I discovered that I was afraid of heights when we jumped on a ski gondola for the first time last year. I was TERRIFIED! I will test out the fear of heights thing by stepping out onto our verandah. If I get scared, I'll just go back in. Now, I'm scared of drowning, so I may be uneasy if the ship is rocking a lot. Here's to a smooth-sailing ship!

 

[Stinasmom]

While on the Magic for a week, I really felt like I was at a very nice Themed Hotel---all inclusive, at that. Unless you were up on deck 9--which has many glassed in areas to make you feel very safe---or deck 10 which is quite open air, albiet very safe railings all the way around--- the ship felt like a building. (that happened to be moving throught the water!)
Really, unless you hit rough water, weather, or winds, she's quite stable, luxurious, and comfortable.
If not being able to see land makes you nervous, there are SO many other things to do on the ship to keep you 1) away from windows and 2) too occupied to worry about it! Go to the movie theater!
The shear number of relaxed people aboard may comfort you too.
So, just think of it as a big hotel!

 

[mog]

My parents came with us on our second Disney cruise a few years ago. My mom was VERY nervous! She really wasn't sure if she could make herself do it. She was worried about being "stuck" out in the middle of the ocean on the ship, afraid of heights, etc.
When she first saw the ship, she was a little stressed out about it, but we got on board and by the next morning, she was going out on deck to get her coffee all by herself in the mornings. She loved the cruise! They went on another one with us 1 1/2 years later and now she is asking when we are going again!

 

[wendygirl]

I too was VERY nervous the first time we cruised - my dd (15) wanted a land/sea package for her b-day and I begged her to choose something else! Nothing doing ... she wanted mickey on water! so I was a good mom and said "ask your dad" knowing he would freak at the price and save me from vacation with no land in sight! But no ... he said, YES!!!! ugh! I almost died right there!

Happy to report we are going on our second cruise (a 7 day!! !!) and I cannot wait - snorkeling too!! I am so glad she stood her ground and helped me face my fears. I now love cruising and snorkeling! and I hope you will too!

 

[DVC Mary]

I never felt like I could fall off or even that the kids could fall off. There are railings w/ clear plex-glass everywhere. I thought I'd be a little nervous on my 1st cruise, but it was great.

 

[been2marceline]

Relax and enjoy....

Worried about sinking? Most of the trip the crew is worried about keeping the ship in water deep enough so they don't run aground!

Even if the ship got a hole in it ( unlikely cuz is it over 3 inch thich plate steel - thicker than tank armor ) you are stilll close enough to land - 2 hours is close cuz it would take that long for the ship to fill with water if you blew a hole in each watertight section, that you could go half speed to an island before you would be in danger. Weekend in Havana anyone?

Not to mention there are plenty of lifeboats for all.

You have a much greater risk of being killed by slipping in the bathtub, being hit by lightning, struck by a falling coconut ( more people are killed each year by falling coconuts than in shark attacks) than ever getting into trouble on a cruise ship.

When was the last time that a great number of people got killed on a cruise ship sinking? 1911?

Even the Titanic sinking was due to stupidity.

Believe me, the greatest danger to you or your family is the dings that Disney will manage to put in your bank account!

 

[Blue Eeyore]

Wow, what a response! Thanks, I really needed that. I started having nightmares last night now, but I'm just ignoring them. I keep telling myself that this is Disney.

Here's a funny story for you: I'm afraid of heights and elevators too. I have reoccuring nightmares about falling in a tumbling elevator. Anyway... I've been on Tower of Terror many times, lol. Only because it's Disney. And I'm really thankful for the express elevator for the California Grill. Stopping in between floors at the Contemporary makes me nervous.

I applaud all of you who are scared of flying, but still do it. I absolutely, positively will NOT fly unless I can be knocked unconscious for the entire trip (and of course I have fears about anesthesia as well!!!)

I'm glad to hear that you feel safe because that's another thing... we'll have a 2 year old with us and he's my life. I don't want to constantly have to worry about him falling off the ship.

Thanks again!

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

I am also afraid of heights, but only mildly nervous about flying. I always have the "car going off the bridge into the water" nightmares. Looking at open water with large ships can give me a freaky feeling in my stomach. I have cruised 4 times and it did not bother to me to be on the ship at all - it is so big. I felt very safe. I still do not care to be on the dock sometimes though.

 

[seashells]

I have a fear of heights and deep water. I saw the new remake of Poseidon and the scariest part of the movie was at the beginning when they showed a calm day at sea from the top deck. The expanse of water freaked me out. I went on my first cruise in Sept and the view of the water was not as bad as I thought. I really felt secure on the ship looking out, but forget looking down. Right up till the end of the cruise I did not feel good looking down and seeing the side of the ship cutting throught the water.

 

[3riverscruiser]

We have been on 7 Disney cruises, with 2 more "in the hopper." The only times I have ever experienced panic is when I see the final stateroom charges.

 

[captchris]

One of the things I noticed on our cruise is that the ship goes slower during the day and speeds things up at night. Perhaps they do this to cut down on the breeze on deck...to make it more comfortable for the passengers.

 

[been2marceline]

Anesthesia is one of my favorite subjects - isn't that a specialty at the bar at Serenity Bay?

I'm glad you're feeling better, I'm sure you have a wonderful time!

 

[rkdahl]

I actually get nervous when I'm not cruising!!!

After you go you'll be just fine and looking forward to the next cruise!

 

[justjill]

My mother is SEVERELY afraid of flying but LOVES to cruise.....totally different feeling I guess being that you are not several thousand miles in the air

For the panicky feeling, if you are not opposed to a little medication, Xanax will take the edge off BUT you are not supposed to drink while taking so therein lies the dilemma.....

if you get motion sickness, the patch works great for me and I get sick riding in the backseat again, not supposed to drink with......just in case you were wondering.......

 

[Colorado DISers]

I was very "panicky" leading up to our first cruise. Once we got on the ship, had lunch at Parrot Cay and walked around the ship to check it out, my anxieties were all but gone. I was such a relaxing, yet, exciting experience. We are looking forward to our 2008 cruise. We are doing a 7 night this time, because 4 nights were just too short.

 

[SurfnStitch]

Hi. I just wanted to put my 2cents in as well.

Honestly I think you'll be perfectly fine!!! Really. I happen to have a long list of phobias from flying, to heights, to snakes and on and on. I have to admit that before I got on the ship I was a little anxious, but once I caught my first glimpse of that ship I was totally excited and all worries went away. I felt like I was bouncing around in that bus heading towards the ship. I bet you'll be the same way!

I thought I would worry once we were out at sea, but I kept busy the entire time while on board and when you're inside it really doesn't feel like you're out at sea! I kept telling myself not to let my worries/anxieties get in my way of having a good time. Let me tell you, I'm more than ready to do another cruise, a longer one this time!!

Good luck, have a GREAT time and let us know how you did!