far forward cabins

[DCguys]

I know we talk a lot about seasickness on these boards and that these things are unpredictable (rough seas...), but I'm looking to hear from people about their experiences with far forward cabins.

 

Since I tend towards motion sickness, on our only previous cruise we were super careful to chose a mid-ship stateroom (deck 7 almost exactly mid ship). I took bonine daily and was fine.

 

Now, I have an opportunity to sail for a very low price on a med cruise in June, but my cabin would be the forward most on deck 3. It has a porthole window. I'm really scared that I'll be sick. The ship's theater is in that area and I recall feeling unwell a couple times during shows on our last cruise on this ship's sister.

 

Anyone have stories to share about this kind of cabin placement???

[John Bull]

Cabin sizes & shapes are a lottery in the pointy bit, size of cabin can vary from an adjoining cabin by up to 1/4.

 

Most of the time cruise ships are very stable.

But forward porthole covers may be lowered by crew in moderately rough weather, effectively turning it into an inside cabin (though that's more likely on deck 2)

In rough weather you can get banging (like a loud slap) as the ship rises & falls back into the water, though again more likely on deck 2.

And of course the ship rises & falls so much further at its extremeties.

 

Sorry, but if you suffer from sea-sickness its not a good location.

Unless you feel lucky with the weather - and in June you probably will be.;)

 

BTW if its under the theatre stage area it can be a bit noisy during the day (dance rehearsals etc)

 

JB :)

(expert on cheap cabins :D)

[vivavegas]

Had a forward cabin on the Miracle in December and there was a lot of noise and movement the entire week. If you're prone to motion sickness, I would not recommend forward cabins.

[DCguys]

Is there much difference between super far forward and near the forward elevators (this would be on X Solstice so the forward elevators are about 1/3 in from the bow)????

[Daisyloo]

We had a cabin 4 from the front on our Westerdam cruise in November. I was the only one who had to take Bonine, my husband and boys were fine. But I was the only one taking Bonine on the previous cruise too, and on that we had a cabin exactly midship. So for us it didn't make any difference. :)

[DanJ]

I've been fortunate in not feeling seasick very often. But the one time I did, it was solved by just going outside. I was sitting in a lounge, and I could swear we were hitting 100 foot waves the way I felt. Once I went outside and my mind could see what movement we actually had, the feeling went away. Not to say that's the solution to every, or even most, cases of seasickness, but if I was easily susceptible, I wouldn't pick a cabin in the most motion-prone part of the ship unless I had a balcony.

[Taxguy77]

We had a forward-facing cabinon a 2500 pax ship once:

1. It's a LONG walk to a rear dining room.

2. The first night there was a banging on the door, and 3 officers were scowling at me. It seems light from the window interferes with night vision on the bridge and we had to keep the drapes drawn any time the lights were on. We both hate insides.

3. If you think you might get seasick, you probably will. Some of the problem is in your expectation and the rest is in your ear.

4. We had a fair view during the daytime, but the window was over the head of the bed. View from public areas was much better.

[bbwex]

Look at the ship as a seesaw. If the ship is pitching (bow and stern going up and down) the motion is the greatest at the ends and gets less and less as you move toward the middle (like the balance point of fulcrum of the seesaw). So if the elevators are 1/3 of the way from the bow, you are 2/3 of the way to the center.

[bbwex]

My last post was posted before I realized that it was for the same person who started this thread.

 

I don't want to go into a terribly long discussion of seasickness, so let me just say that I just posted something about the motion in a forward cabin. Being able to see the horizon will reduce seasickness. If you are prone to get seasick (and this usually passes in a day or two at the most), then you should take your Dramamine or Bonine in advance of boarding. Make sure you stay pretty much where you can see the ship's motion until you get your sea legs.

 

You can make this all a bit worse for yourself if you worry about it. Relax a bit, almost everyone gets over their seasickness if a day (two at the most) as I have said, and you will be OK.

 

Eat at normal mealtimes. Don't eat greasy foods, and don't overeat, but eat at normal times. You can also take some ginger (ginger pills, candied ginger, ginger snaps, etc.) as this is clinically proven to reduce motion illness.

[John Bull]

Is there much difference between super far forward and near the forward elevators (this would be on X Solstice so the forward elevators are about 1/3 in from the bow)????

 

 

 

If you check out the deck plan on Solstice - http://travel.travelocity.com/ecruise/ShipDetailsDeck.do;jsessionid=44F3375130D122945DA2B78E3C5D00B5.p0615?shipId=255&deckId=Deck

you'll see that the forward elevators are quite some way from the bow, and in fact there are no cabins at the bow.

Not the ideal location for stability but certainly not problematic - the ship appears designed with that in mind.

 

Now compare that to the forward cabins on the lower decks of an older ship

http://us.voyagesofdiscovery.com/ship.php?ship_id=367&type=34&deck_id=7&deck_type=35

 

So before worrying about my last post, pehaps you should quote which ship you're planning to sail ;)

 

JB :)

[DCguys]

thanks for the second round of answers. Solstice does have far forward cabins on deck 7 and 8. But the ones available to me are on 3 so you're right, it doesn't look that far forward.

 

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/73394071/Celebrity-Solstice-Deck-Plans

 

Thinking of 13 days of seasickness just freaks me out a bit, but I may get a free cruise for me and a guest, and don't want to pass it up if I'll likely be ok (I'm be lecturing).

[John Bull]

thanks for the second round of answers. Solstice does have far forward cabins on deck 7 and 8. But the ones available to me are on 3 so you're right, it doesn't look that far forward.

 

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/73394071/Celebrity-Solstice-Deck-Plans

 

Thinking of 13 days of seasickness just freaks me out a bit, but I may get a free cruise for me and a guest, and don't want to pass it up if I'll likely be ok (I'm be lecturing).

 

I don't see a big problem with that location on Solstice.:)

 

But if you have second-thoughts, you can send your free tickets to me via Cruise Critic ;)

 

JB :)

[EGG]

There is a good chance a more mid ship cabin will become available between now and June. If you book directly with the cruise line you can check once or twice a day for a new open cabin and call immediately to change. If you are booking with a TA make sure the TA is responsive to your calls and they do not charge for changes.

 

Sometimes there is a bigger selection of cabins when you call than what you see on the web site. Some larger TAs hold cabins and then release the cabins after final payment.

 

Another possibility is to take this cabin and watch if prices come down for higher grades. Then pay the extra and upgrade.

 

Or see if guarantee cabins are available. You can't get any more foward and this is what you are trying to avoid. This should save you some money, usually $100 per person. Guarantees are not always available.

[MrsNancyG]

Helpful hint I read in a book written by a cruise doctor. When you're feeling sick, go to the casino. Its the single most stable room on the entire ship. They make sure of that because of the chips involved, they don't want money slipping around.