Does anyone ever get lost on the inside of a ship?

[caribbeanqueenie]

I was wondering am I the only one out there that gets lost on the inside of a ship!
I never get lost on land. I am the one in the faimily that can get you back on track when lost in your car. Why then do I have a problem with ships?
I go down the wrong hallways back to my room, In the Lido one evening they had the curtins closed and I was so confused, and lost. I just have no sense of direction on the inside of a ship. My family laughs at me cause they have to watch which way I exit the elevators or turn me around when I head down the wrong hall way. Again on land I can get you back to where you want to go without a map. But on a ship, I am no good. Any one else out there that has this problem or is it just me.:confused:
Stephanie

[caribbeanqueenie]

I was wondering am I the only one out there that gets lost on the inside of a ship!
I never get lost on land. I am the one in the faimily that can get you back on track when lost in your car. Why then do I have a problem with ships?
I go down the wrong hallways back to my room, In the Lido one evening they had the curtins closed and I was so confused, and lost. I just have no sense of direction on the inside of a ship. My family laughs at me cause they have to watch which way I exit the elevators or turn me around when I head down the wrong hall way. Again on land I can get you back to where you want to go without a map. But on a ship, I am no good. Any one else out there that has this problem or is it just me.:confused:
Stephanie

[caribbeanqueenie]

I was wondering am I the only one out there that gets lost on the inside of a ship!
I never get lost on land. I am the one in the faimily that can get you back on track when lost in your car. Why then do I have a problem with ships?
I go down the wrong hallways back to my room, In the Lido one evening they had the curtins closed and I was so confused, and lost. I just have no sense of direction on the inside of a ship. My family laughs at me cause they have to watch which way I exit the elevators or turn me around when I head down the wrong hall way. Again on land I can get you back to where you want to go without a map. But on a ship, I am no good. Any one else out there that has this problem or is it just me.:confused:
Stephanie

[jtl513]

Sure, we sometimes go aft when we should go forward, or down instead of up ... particularly for the first couple of days. A lot of people do. Maybe it's that we have no "sun reference" to go by? :D

[Seago2]

Not usually, unless something is blocking the passageway amidships. This was a problem on the Elation but I got used to it pretty quickly. The more that cruise ships are built to accomodate a greater percentage of balcony cabins, the less likely there is to be an entire outside deck circling the ship. On most newly built ships, the only way you can get a sense of where you are is on the Lido Deck.

[noblepa]

It took me two or three days of trying to find the dining room on the Veendam before I realized that there is one deck on which "you can't get there from here".

Paul Noble

[ldog]

It usually takes me about a week to figure it all out. That's why I tell DH that we have to take 15 day cruises!;)

[ESLO]

I was wondering am I the only one out there that gets lost on the inside of a ship! Stephanie

Dear caribbeanqueenie,
My Solution to this problem:
Approx. 2-3 months before a cruise I pull out the Cruise Brochure for the Company and/or Ship and review the Deck Plan.

I use the same method that you used studying for tests when you were in school. I would go over each deck and even make a cheat sheet out for the those particular decks. I would take this information onboard with me.
I would do this approx 5 times a week (each day if possible) when I get a chance, the best I could.

Also, it is important to become familiar with all the elevator banks and where they are located and where they would directly lead you. Many will travel thru out the ship from top to bottom, especially those located midship.

You would not believe how you will get so use to the ship before getting on. My wife and I cruise with my parents and my mother can't believe how I could get on a new ship or a ship for the first time and be so familiar.

[jtl513]

You would not believe how you will get so use to the ship before getting on.

We were on 10-night cruises on the Westerdam and the Noordam within 10 months, which I thought would be a great advantage to knowing my way around on the Noordam. However, our cabins were in different locations - one far forward and one far aft, and on different decks. One night I was within a few feet of putting my keycard into the wrong cabin door before I realized it ... and I was cold sober! :D :D

[Tricia724]

Yep....I won't admit to getting lost....but I will admit to frequently heading the wrong way. I think most of it is a lack of concentration. I have a bad habit of not paying attention to my surroundings, but thank goodness for the signs all over the ship. I may be confused.....but at least I still can read!

[caribbeanqueenie]

I guess I should'nt have used the word "Lost". I meant to say all senses are gone. I am always use to traveling and havie a very good sense of direction on land. On the ship its gone. No use studing the ship I have already done that. If I had to take a test right now, I would pass on the Maasdam and the Noordam. Its not knowing where everything is its by aft and front that gets kinda mixed up. My husband will just pull me in the right direction, so I'm not worried just a weird feeling that I was wrong in the direction. We all laugh about it.

Tricia724 - Would 724 be your area code?

BTW I once owned a red volkswagen bug and I parked it at a store and when I came out of the store to get in my car my key just would not open the door. Looking around I realized my red bug was parked next to someones red bug I was trying to get into.:eek:
Stephanie

[Navy_Chief]

Here's an easy way to quickly figure out where you are; all ODD numbers are on the Starboard side (right side) and the EVEN numbers are on the Port side (left side) of the ship. Just look at the stateroom numbers and are they increasing (heading aft / back) or decerasing (heading forward / front)

[CruiserBruce]

to get lost, but I always seem to find food, beverages, and more food!

Bruce

[bankerbabe]

I am one of those lucky souls with absolutely no sense of direction - either on land or on the ship. Unless I am standing on the beach, I have no idea which way is North, South, East or West. I also am terrible with a map and those ship maps do me almost no good. My dad always teases me that if you turned me around three times in the back yard I'd be lost. I'm lucky to find my way home every night after work!

I try not to let my husband out of sight, especially during the first couple of days. Good thing he likes my company :) He has a perfect sense of direction and can usually figure the ship out by the end of the first night. We make a great pair.

[Navy_Chief]

DUPLICATE POST Go to this one: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=8740726&postcount=1

[Navy_Chief]

TRIPLICATE POST Go to this one: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=8740726&postcount=1

[ESLO]

Dear caribbeanqueenie,

I do find that HAL ships are easier to navigate. Being on the Noordam and using the Midship Exterior Elevators was a very good guide for both the elevators and stairday useage. They really got you everywhere.

Just being on the QM2 once last year and now returning on her in April, I got ,my feet wet and will be more familiar with the layout. I was fearful of the size and design at the beginning before boarding, but once on I was flying thru the ship by the 2nd of our 5day cruise. Her size fools you before you get use to the layout of the elevators and stairs. Also a ship with no broken up hallways do help.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Nope

have never gotten lost on any ship.

Guess we cruise too much.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Nope

[Krazy Kruizers]

I think I just answered this one??? (Too busy watching TV.)

[ESLO]

Dear caribbeanqueenie,

I really don't think anyone gets "LOST" on a ship especially at sea, I think we really just lose our sense of direction. Some of those foldup maps are interesting too to figure out.

Once you are onboard at Embarkation till Disembarkation, we either find our way around or just "Ping Pong About" the vessel till we get where we are going.

It wouldn't be fun if we knew where to go right off!

[SmileHMB]

Lost? Twisted and confused? Yes, the more you drink the doors seem to move around. Then they do have those rooms that you can only reach from one side of the ship. I must also say it is great excerise! Stinks though when you feet are sore and you are just dying for your bed!! So I admit been there done that. I just decorate my door really loud and hope someone near the elavator does too, then just follow the crazy doors. :p

[Tricia724]

Tricia724 - Would 724 be your area code?


Actually, it is. Not too imaginative, huh?

[bob brown]

If anyone thinks cruise ships are confusing, just try to find your way around the living quarters on any nuclear aircraft carrier!:eek:

[innlady1]

I was wondering am I the only one out there that gets lost on the inside of a ship!
I never get lost on land. I am the one in the faimily that can get you back on track when lost in your car. Why then do I have a problem with ships?
I go down the wrong hallways back to my room, In the Lido one evening they had the curtins closed and I was so confused, and lost. I just have no sense of direction on the inside of a ship. My family laughs at me cause they have to watch which way I exit the elevators or turn me around when I head down the wrong hall way. Again on land I can get you back to where you want to go without a map. But on a ship, I am no good. Any one else out there that has this problem or is it just me.:confused:
Stephanie

Take heart, Stephanie!

I'm like you...I have a great sense of direction and can find our way anywhere...without a map.

But on the Caribbean Princess last year, I had no clue in which direction I was headed most of the time. It was only a 7 day cruise, and honestly, I was almost as confused on the last day as I was on the first!

So it's definitely not just you! ;)

[hammybee]

Take heart, Stephanie!

I'm like you...I have a great sense of direction and can find our way anywhere...without a map.

But on the Caribbean Princess last year, I had no clue in which direction I was headed most of the time. It was only a 7 day cruise, and honestly, I was almost as confused on the last day as I was on the first!

So it's definitely not just you! ;)

I am the daughter of a taxi driver and practically grew up in the front seat. I can find my way just about anywhere and yet put me on a cruise ship and my radar fails. Like you, I never really figure it out, even after 12-14 days, at sea. I also don't do too well inside big buildings. Years of working in the same office building with opposite elevators and it never failed, once I got out on my floor, I turned in the wrong direction.

DH and DD are directionally challenged and have a hard time distinguishing right from left. They love it when we cruise and my radar goes out. They both do far better than I do once onboard. Why is this?

[Seago2]

Dear caribbeanqueenie,
My Solution to this problem:
Approx. 2-3 months before a cruise I pull out the Cruise Brochure for the Company and/or Ship and review the Deck Plan.

I use the same method that you used studying for tests when you were in school. I would go over each deck and even make a cheat sheet out for the those particular decks. I would take this information onboard with me.
I would do this approx 5 times a week (each day if possible) when I get a chance, the best I could.

Also, it is important to become familiar with all the elevator banks and where they are located and where they would directly lead you. Many will travel thru out the ship from top to bottom, especially those located midship.

You would not believe how you will get so use to the ship before getting on. My wife and I cruise with my parents and my mother can't believe how I could get on a new ship or a ship for the first time and be so familiar.

That is a really, really good idea.

[caribbeanqueenie]

Here's an easy way to quickly figure out where you are; all ODD numbers are on the Starboard side (right side) and the EVEN numbers are on the Port side (left side) of the ship. Just look at the stateroom numbers and are they increasing (heading aft / back) or decerasing (heading forward / front)

Excellent Idea Navy Chief, I will copy this and keep a cheat cheat with me in case I get seperated from husband :confused:.

I am so glad I am not the only one out there with this small problem.

Tricia - I live in area code 724, thats why I asked.

Innlady - Everytime I see your pic you remind me so much of a lovely lady that sat across from me at dinner on the Maasdam last year. You definitaly have a twin out there that enjoys Holland like you.

So If anyone will be on the 3/31 Noordam sailing and you see someone who is being directed to go a different way by her family, Its Me!
Stephanie