Claustrophobic on the Wonder ... Help Please!

[disneymath]

So, we've had our first ever cruise (DCL Alaska, August 2011) booked for over a year now. Recently, my dad has been second-guessing this plan of ours because he is claustrophobic and not sure if he will be able to handle being on the boat. For example, one of his worries is that the halls will be really cramped and narrow.

I wouldn't say that his claustrophobia is extreme, but for examples he REALLY did not like the MRI machine when he needed some hospital tests and he bailed on Mission Space at the last moment when he saw how the console comes in on you.

He wants to go on the cruise, but there is also a fear of the unknown. He would hate to get to the ship and find out "no, this won't work for me".

I figured if anyone would have advice/ideas/experience about dealing with claustrophobia on a a DCL ship it would be you folks here on the DISboards. (FWIW, we have a Cat 7 Navigator's Verandah Stateroom booked.)

 

[maria-fan-22]

So, we've had our first ever cruise (DCL Alaska, August 2011) booked for over a year now. Recently, my dad has been second-guessing this plan of ours because he is claustrophobic and not sure if he will be able to handle being on the boat. For example, one of his worries is that the halls will be really cramped and narrow.

I wouldn't say that his claustrophobia is extreme, but for examples he REALLY did not like the MRI machine when he needed some hospital tests and he bailed on Mission Space at the last moment when he saw how the console comes in on you.

He wants to go on the cruise, but there is also a fear of the unknown. He would hate to get to the ship and find out "no, this won't work for me".

I figured if anyone would have advice/ideas/experience about dealing with claustrophobia on a a DCL ship it would be you folks here on the DISboards. (FWIW, we have a Cat 7 Navigator's Verandah Stateroom booked.)

The Disney Ships give more sq.ft. per guest than most other cruise lines. They are rarely crowded. The halls are small but two average people can stand shoulder to shoulder across the hall. The elevators are small too. My sugegtion is to spend time looking outside and don't spend too much time indoors.

 

[mhsjax]

So, we've had our first ever cruise (DCL Alaska, August 2011) booked for over a year now. Recently, my dad has been second-guessing this plan of ours because he is claustrophobic and not sure if he will be able to handle being on the boat. For example, one of his worries is that the halls will be really cramped and narrow.

I wouldn't say that his claustrophobia is extreme, but for examples he REALLY did not like the MRI machine when he needed some hospital tests and he bailed on Mission Space at the last moment when he saw how the console comes in on you.

He wants to go on the cruise, but there is also a fear of the unknown. He would hate to get to the ship and find out "no, this won't work for me".

I figured if anyone would have advice/ideas/experience about dealing with claustrophobia on a a DCL ship it would be you folks here on the DISboards. (FWIW, we have a Cat 7 Navigator's Verandah Stateroom booked.)

I am right there with your father. Even thinking about being closed in sends me into a panic. I also bailed on Mission Space. I saw the video and said oh he** no. I ran out. As far as the MRI machine, they couldn't even get me in one. I would rather die, I am that bad.

I love cruises, I don't feel claustrophobic at all. We have always had a cabin with a veranda so I don't have a problem with the room.

 

[mousemom11]

The hallways on board as wide, if not wider, than the hallways in your home. So, if he doesn't have a problem with the halls in his house, I would think that he would be OK with the hallways on the ship. The public areas are typical of restaurants, bars, and theaters that you find at large. The cabin bathrooms are small. Don't know if that will be a problem for him.

 

[Soccermom-Cheri]

My claustrophobia is so bad that I can't walk down the tunnel into Space Mountain - Mission Space is out of the question for me. don't even talk to me about a closed MRI

On our last cruise I did have a suffocating feeling walking down the halls. I just walked rather fast and made sure one of the kids was talking to me. I also do not like Animator's Palate as there are no windows so I can skip that restaurant.

My only advice is to spend a lot of time on deck. The loungers on deck 4 are a great place to read or people watch.

 

[SILLYANDI]

Here's a picture of one of the hallways..

http://www.buildabettermousetrip.co...der/pages/disney-cruise-line-135-Hall_JPG.htm

 

[Aquachick0410]

Can I ask how long your cruise is? If it's longer than one of the 3 or 4 day cruises, then i would suggest he try one of those first to see how he does. I'm not as clausterphobic as your dad, but i don't like be confined to small areas. I try to spend lots of time on deck 9 by the pool and up on deck 10 to see the sea. Remind him it's a vacation so pack plenty of books and magazines so you'll have something to take your mind off the feeling like you need to go walk around to places which will then possbily make him feel clausterphobic once he's walked the ship and has no where else to explore.

 

[tikibirds]

Also claustrophobic (must have aisle seats everywhere, wanted to die on Mission Space and bailed on an open MRI), but I've had no problems on DCL, even staying in an inside room twice.

 

[disneymath]

The Disney Ships give more sq.ft. per guest than most other cruise lines. They are rarely crowded. The halls are small but two average people can stand shoulder to shoulder across the hall. The elevators are small too. My sugegtion is to spend time looking outside and don't spend too much time indoors.

Thanks for the info!

I am right there with your father. Even thinking about being closed in sends me into a panic. I also bailed on Mission Space. I saw the video and said oh he** no. I ran out. As far as the MRI machine, they couldn't even get me in one. I would rather die, I am that bad.

I love cruises, I don't feel claustrophobic at all. We have always had a cabin with a veranda so I don't have a problem with the room.

Turns out that my dad bailed on the MRI too ... your post has given him hope that the cruise will be okay though.

The hallways on board as wide, if not wider, than the hallways in your home. So, if he doesn't have a problem with the halls in his house, I would think that he would be OK with the hallways on the ship. The public areas are typical of restaurants, bars, and theaters that you find at large. The cabin bathrooms are small. Don't know if that will be a problem for him.

He's fine with the halls in the house ... we've actually just finished looking at photos of the dining rooms on the DCL site and he's pretty sure he'll be fine with those.

My claustrophobia is so bad that I can't walk down the tunnel into Space Mountain - Mission Space is out of the question for me. don't even talk to me about a closed MRI

On our last cruise I did have a suffocating feeling walking down the halls. I just walked rather fast and made sure one of the kids was talking to me. I also do not like Animator's Palate as there are no windows so I can skip that restaurant.

My only advice is to spend a lot of time on deck. The loungers on deck 4 are a great place to read or people watch.

Well, he loves to read and there is supposed to be spectacular scenery on the Alaska cruise so he should have lots to keep himself occupied with while on deck! I had him carefully look at the photos of Animator's Palate and he wasn't too concerned. (His issue is more the "no room to move" than the "can't see outisde".)

Here's a picture of one of the hallways..

http://www.buildabettermousetrip.co...der/pages/disney-cruise-line-135-Hall_JPG.htm

Thank you for this ... it was most helpful!

Can I ask how long your cruise is? If it's longer than one of the 3 or 4 day cruises, then i would suggest he try one of those first to see how he does. I'm not as clausterphobic as your dad, but i don't like be confined to small areas. I try to spend lots of time on deck 9 by the pool and up on deck 10 to see the sea. Remind him it's a vacation so pack plenty of books and magazines so you'll have something to take your mind off the feeling like you need to go walk around to places which will then possbily make him feel clausterphobic once he's walked the ship and has no where else to explore.

It is a 7 night cruise. (Unfortunately, squeezing in a 3 or 4 day test cruise beforehand isn't in the cards.) We'll definitely make sure he has plenty of books to read and will make the most out of the navigators to keep us occupied. And on port days, I'm pretty certain we'll spend a good chunk of time off the ship.

THANK YOU everyone for your super-fast replies ... they have been very helpful. (I had my dad read them and he feels better about the whole thing.)

If anyone else has anything to add, please do!)

 

[com_op_2000]

DD(adult) had this issue when she had an inside stateroom. She slept one night upstairs on deck without issues with DW and one night with DSiL; by the 3rd night she was able to sleep in her room. Use the showers in the spa, it is bigger that in the rooms.

 

[mmmears]

I was going to suggest a veranda stateroom, but it looks like you have that covered. Since we could get out of the room, it didn't feel so cramped.

The hallways weren't so bad, but we were near the stairs and elevators so we didn't really have to walk down the long corridors. You may want to check and see where your room is located in that regard, since not all rooms are down a long hallway (some are right at the elevator lobby and you wouldn't even have to go down the corridors). The walkways on the public decks really aren't cramped at all, just the ones on the floors with all the staterooms.

I will add that the bathroom is pretty cramped, but overall we didn't feel claustrophobic on the Wonder (and I can't stand Mission Space).

 

[disneymath]

Also claustrophobic (must have aisle seats everywhere, wanted to die on Mission Space and bailed on an open MRI), but I've had no problems on DCL, even staying in an inside room twice.

Thanks for sharing your experience! (My dad is kind of awed over how our DIS community works.)

 

[mom0104]

My mom is very claustrophobic and even though she has not been on a DC she has been on two Royal Caribbean cruises and had no problems whatsoever. I have been on both ships and the DC rooms are much larger. As long as his room has a window or balcony he should be fine.

He may want to discuss with his doctor and they can prescribe something to help with his initial anxiety. Once he gets through the first day with no issues he will enjoy the rest of the cruise.

 

[matrixband]

I don't blame him with the MRI. That is intimidating.

However, the ship is HUGE. I bet he will have no problem at all. The stateroom bathrooms are a little small, but certainly not claustrophobic.

 

[disneymath]

DD(adult) had this issue when she had an inside stateroom. She slept one night upstairs on deck without issues with DW and one night with DSiL; by the 3rd night she was able to sleep in her room. Use the showers in the spa, it is bigger that in the rooms.

It might be chilly sleeping on deck in the Far North, but still good to know it's an option. Thanks for the suggestion about the shower!

I was going to suggest a veranda stateroom, but it looks like you have that covered. Since we could get out of the room, it didn't feel so cramped.

The hallways weren't so bad, but we were near the stairs and elevators so we didn't really have to walk down the long corridors. You may want to check and see where your room is located in that regard, since not all rooms are down a long hallway (some are right at the elevator lobby and you wouldn't even have to go down the corridors). The walkways on the public decks really aren't cramped at all, just the ones on the floors with all the staterooms.

I will add that the bathroom is pretty cramped, but overall we didn't feel claustrophobic on the Wonder (and I can't stand Mission Space).

Thanks for the input. Our room assignment is for Deck 7 (aft). It looks like the cabin is in the middle of a "not so long" long hallway and relatively close to the aft elevators. It also looks like at the very back of the ship there is a wide open area where he might be able to go if he wants to "stretch his legs near the room".

My mom is very claustrophobic and even though she has not been on a DC she has been on two Royal Caribbean cruises and had no problems whatsoever. I have been on both ships and the DC rooms are much larger. As long as his room has a window or balcony he should be fine.

He may want to discuss with his doctor and they can prescribe something to help with his initial anxiety. Once he gets through the first day with no issues he will enjoy the rest of the cruise.

He's not the type to resort to meds, he just needs to get his head wrapped around the potential issues and decide if he can work through them or not ... as I've mentioned, all the info that has been shared has been very helpful.

I don't blame him with the MRI. That is intimidating.

However, the ship is HUGE. I bet he will have no problem at all. The stateroom bathrooms are a little small, but certainly not claustrophobic.

Thanks, the more photos and stuff I show him, the more obvious it is that most parts of the ship are large.

 

[iloverags2]

I'm claustrophobic to the point where I cannot even ride in an elevator, but I absolutely LOVE cruising! I have been on Mission Space twice, the first with my husband who kept me relatively calm, and the second time with my sister who had to deal with me in full-on panic attack mode! Being on a cruise hasn't even brought me close to that. (And I have only once done and MRI...and open one - which in reality is not really that open - and had to take a pill to really put me in la-la land ahead of time.)

Just as an FYI, my DH is 6'7", and although he is not claustrophobic, he does feel uncomfortable in closed-in spaces. He has never had a problem with cruises in the past.

 

[Suz D]

My DH hit the panic "let me out now" button on the "make your own roller coaster" thing at Epcot. He LOVES cruising and doesn't have any problems. Our first cruise was in an inside category 12 (now 11c) and our 4th was in an inside 11. The others were in 9's but he had no problems at all with the inside cabins.

I would have to agree that the bathrooms would likely be the most difficult but they weren't a problem for my DH.

 

[tonypitt]

I echo the concerns about the bathrooms being small. This was my biggest concern on the cruise and perhaps the biggest reason for not wanting to immediately book another one. I know that the split bathroom is a benefit Disney touts, but I would have loved to have had a one room bathroom. (Just knock out the wall that separates these 2 rooms and it would be perfect.)

One thing I didn't think of until the 2nd night of the cruise--the public restrooms are much larger. That doesn't help much when showering, but I did find it more convenient for other things.

 

[robin09]

Here's a picture of one of the hallways..

http://www.buildabettermousetrip.co...der/pages/disney-cruise-line-135-Hall_JPG.htm

ummm, why does this make me think of the Shining?

 

[clawmachine]

If you think about it, being in the middle of the vast ocean, often with no land in sight, is kind of the antithesis of being "crowded" and closed in. That's actually one of the greatest emotions I have while standing on the balcony at night - the feeling of being "free."