How long should you go on a cruise for?

Can you go on a cruise for 3 months?

Three months on a cruise? Piece of cake! Or maybe a giant piece of cake, the kind you need a crane to lift. You’ll need a seriously large suitcase, though. Like, one the size of a small car.

World cruises exist, folks. They’re a thing. Not just some rumor started by my crazy Uncle Barry.

• Holland America Line and AmaWaterways are totally into this long-voyage thing. They practically worship the extended cruise.
• Camaraderie? You betcha! You’ll be closer to your fellow passengers than your own family by week three. You’ll know their bowel movements better than your doctor.
• It’s like a floating retirement community… but with better cocktails. And potentially more bingo.

This year? Expect to pay a pretty penny. Think “I just sold a kidney” kinda penny. But hey, memories, right? Memories and possibly a slight sunburn the size of Rhode Island.

My friend, Debbie, went on a 6-month cruise last year. She came back speaking fluent Bingo. She lost 15 pounds, mostly from constant shaking during the high seas. She also acquired an inexplicable fondness for shuffleboard. And a parrot. Apparently, that’s a common side-effect. Don’t ask.

Seriously, though, longer cruises are a thing. Get on it! Just pack extra sunscreen. And maybe a small loan of a million dollars.

How long is a typical world cruise?

World cruises: variable duration.

• 100-140 days: common. January start. April/May finish.
• 180 days: Oceania’s offering. Mid-summer conclusion. Full circumnavigation.

My uncle, a retired naval architect, told me this. He’s picky. He only travels first class. He hates crowds.

Length depends on itinerary. Simple equation: more ports, longer voyage. A longer cruise costs more. Duh.

Note: Specific cruise line durations fluctuate yearly. Verify details directly with the cruise companies. Prices? Astronomical. Expect a six-figure sum. Oceania’s longest voyages book up fast.

How many months can you be on a cruise?

Months on a cruise… huh.

It’s a strange thought at 2 AM, really. Cruises can last, like, forever.

• Typical extended cruises: Weeks, easily.
• World cruises: Can stretch to 9+ months. I saw one advertised—275 days. Whoa.

Imagine that. I mean, really imagine it.

I guess some lines offer cabin rentals. Fancy. Living on water. Must get old, maybe.

I picture my grandma. She’d love that. She deserves it, actually. A long, long escape.

• Cabin rental: Some lines offer. Pricey, I bet.

Yeah, she’d be happy. Maybe I’ll check into that. Maybe.

Can you take a 6 month old on a cruise?

Six months old on a cruise? Forget it, they’ll be crawling under the buffet, grabbing shrimp like a tiny, ravenous pirate. MSC? Nope. Not ’til they’re half a year, minimum. Think they want drool on the deck?

• Six months is usually the magic number. Like suddenly, poof, they’re seaworthy.
• MSC: Six months or older.. Seriously. They’re strict. Like a bouncer at a fancy clam bake. No babies allowed.
• Other cruise lines? Check their rules. Some might be more lenient. Maybe they have a special nursery for diaper explosions. Who knows.
• My cousin Carol took her kid at five months. Lied about the age. Don’t tell anyone I told you. Chaos. Pure chaos. Baby screamed the whole time. Sounded like a dying walrus.
• Pro-tip: Wait ’til they’re two, at least. Then they can gamble. Just kidding. (Mostly.) But seriously, older is easier. Trust me. I took my niece on a cruise when she was three. She threw a tantrum because the pool wasn’t filled with pudding. Kids, am I right?

Is working on a cruise ship worth it?

Working on a cruise ship? Honey, let me tell you. It’s like a glamorous prison sentence, but with better buffets. Think of it as a floating frat party – only the hangover lasts six months.

Pros:

• Free food! Okay, maybe not free, but you eat like a king. Seriously, this alone might be worth it. My cousin, Brenda, gained fifteen pounds her first month!
• Travel! You see the world, albeit through a porthole sometimes. Imagine, a different stunning vista every day, while scrubbing toilets.
• Meeting people! You’ll make friends from everywhere. Prepare for intense roommate drama. My friend, Gary, had a roommate who collected seashells, and I mean seriously collected them. Every single surface was covered.

Cons:

• Roommates. It’s like sharing a postage stamp with a stranger. Expect to fight over the shower. And the shelf space. And the air conditioning remote.
• Work hours. Forget weekends. Forget nights off. You’re always on call. It’s less a job and more a lifestyle choice; a lifestyle choice made in a slightly-smelly cabin.
• The sea. It gets old. Really old. Like, “I’ve stared at this same endless blue expanse for 100 days” old. Trust me, I know. My uncle, Frank, he got sea-sick after two weeks. Had to go on anti-nausea medication for the rest of the contract. He also got a sunburn even though he stayed indoors most of the time. The ship’s sun somehow gets everyone!

Bottom line: It’s a wild ride. A potentially amazing experience, but one with enough chaos to make your head spin like a washing machine on high. 2024 is a great year to try it. Just pack your Dramamine and your sense of humor. And maybe a really good pair of earplugs.