Cruising and MS: The Pros and Cons

After reading my series on 'Cruising and MS' you may still not be sure if taking a cruise is right for you. Here’s my shortlist of the pros and cons of cruising with multiple sclerosis. I’m sure others will have items to add to the list. Please jump in and add your thoughts!

My thoughts on cruising with MS

The pros

• You only unpack your suitcase once
• You get to see out-of-the-way places which you might otherwise never visit
• Lots of time to relax if you choose
• Lots of activities to fill the time you don’t want to relax
• You set your own schedule once the ship sails from the home port
• The staff and crew are attentive to all your needs
• There are more things to do in a day than you have time for
• The sway of the ship in open seas feels normal to those of us with MS balance issues
• Opportunity to meet new people and share personal stories
• Beautiful vistas you can’t see from home
• Casual wear is standard apparel – gone are the days of formals and tuxedoes
• Alaska and northern Europe cruises are in cool weather areas, important if you’re heat sensitive
• Caribbean and Mediterranean cruises are in warm areas, important if you’re cold sensitive
• You can eat a wide range of food at all hours of the day and night

The cons

• Cruising is not inexpensive – even with a low fare, there are still additional fees and service charges added to the final cost
• You are confined on a ship with thousands of other people
• Motion sickness, which isn’t the problem it used to be with the more stable ships, but it can still happen
• The swimming pools are never large enough to fit many people
• Cabins on cruise ships are infamously small
• There are more things to do in a day than you have time for
• Weather is out of everyone’s control
• Itineraries sometimes have to change due to weather
• Disembarking a cruise ship on the final day is always very early in the morning
• Visiting the ship doctor will incur a large bill, even for small problems
• You can eat a wide range of food at all hours of the day and night

Happy travels!
Laura