Need your help with choosing cruise

[AT8500]

Hi,

My gf (wife to be) and I are planing to go on cruise as my honeymoon trip sometimes later this year, but I have no idea or any experience with cruises so please point me in right direction what would be best to choose. I will ask few questions but you can add whatever you think is important to know.

 

Some initial information. I will probably get married in September or October so I would like to go on cruise sometimes in that period (September - December).

 

It will be honeymoon but we will probably choose inside cabin because we are not picky and think that our money should spend on other things. After all we will probably only just sleep in cabin and not spending all day in it (or we will :p)

 

I found two options that looks interesting to us:

1. http://www.msccruisesusa.com/us_en/Cruise-Departures/Cruise-Itinerary-MSC-Fantasia-Rates.aspx?cruise_id=FA20141123CVVCVV&ship_code=FA

 

or

 

2. http://www.msccruises.com/gl_en/Cruise-Departures/Cruise-Details-MSC-Sinfonia.aspx?cruise_id=SI20141127GOAGOA&ship_code=SI

 

Note: links are just to show us cruise plan, and not specifically dates of cruise

 

Now questions:

1) Which of those two cruises would you choose to go (if we know that we will go in winter time, go on honeymoon, etc...)?

 

2) It will be winter or late autumn so which of those two cruises is better in that period to go. Obviously there will be no swimming in outside pools but I is OK.What about other things we will miss or get in that period?

 

3)When is best time to book? As early as possible (now) or to wait till last moments (few days before cruise start)?

 

4) Any other suggestions? We are looking to cruise in Europe, and 10-11 days long...

[papcx]

Hi AT.

 

Welcome to the world of cruising, I'm sure you'll be hooked.

 

Firstly, I assume your looking at other cruises and cruise lines. I also assume (from the links) that your from the good olde US of A.

 

MSC are somewhat different in style to other cruise lines and some Americans don't like them for that reason. Some people say their bad, but their just different.

 

In terms of the 2 cruises you highlighted, only you can decide, but I would add that the Fantasia is a newer, bigger 4000+ passenger ship with lots of bells and whistles.

 

The Sinfona is older and smaller (1500 passengers I think) with fewer imeanaties (sp) but MSC look after their ships so she'll be in good shape. A smaller ship can also mean a more intimate cruise with other passengers.

 

Good luck in choosing.

[Skier52]

looking at the two itineraries I would go for the Eastern med cruise primarily because it incudes Istanbul and with an over night stay there wil be plenty of time to see the many sights that are a must.

In addition stops at Valetta, A beautiful city; Messina ( for Taormina and/or Mt Etna).

 

 

 

 

 

The other itinerary has Barcelona ( but only for 5 hrs , which is far too short) as the big must see city. Casablanca ws a major disappointment for me and Tenerife and Malaga are just ordinary ports of call. i've not been to Funchal so can't comment.

 

 

 

Both have Civitiveccia on the itinerary but on the Western Med route you would have to add a day or two at one end to have a chance of seeing anything of Rome.

 

Of the two ships there will be quite a difference in the size of on interior cabin

 

Fantasia should be 180 sq. ft. and Sinfonia 140 sq. ft.

 

For a 10 day cruise I would much rather have the larger ship

 

Here is a suggestion as an alternative

 

 

I'd add on a least one night in Venice at the beginning of the cruise

 

This itinerary includes Civitiveccia, Valletta, Mesina as well as the must do Dubrovnik but does miss Istanbul and is on the Fantasia 2/Nov/14

 

For a honeymoon I'd splash out and go in the yacht club (which is all inclusive in the YC area, so that needs to be allowed for in your calculations) and be thoroughly pampered and not crushed in with the general masses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pete

Edited May 8, 2014 by Skier52

[AT8500]

Hi,

 

@ papcx

 

Thank you for you answer. I am not from USA, I am from Europe but just used USA MSC web site to show you routes (link that I originaly used is in my native language - Croatian, so I didn't want to confuse you with it, so I just found one link with same rout but in english).

 

But one think that I never consider is size of ship. I was primary focused on itineraries but now I see what is important too ;)

 

@Skier52

Thank you for your answer to.

My wife-to-be is big fan of Istanbul and that is primary why I included the second option in our plans. But now that we know that bigger and newer ship is on that rout too, it is just one more +.

 

Your suggestion is good but it doesn't include Istanbul and I have house in Dubrovnik (or to be precise near Dubrovnik) so it is my every year summer vacation and I would like Dubrovnik just as my starting point but not as one of my favorite cities to visit (as I visit it every year for more than one time heheh).

 

So maybe other routs with Istanbul you could suggest?

[Skipper Tim]

Now questions:

1) Which of those two cruises would you choose to go (if we know that we will go in winter time, go on honeymoon, etc...)?

 

I have been on both classes of ship and Papcx is right but I would always choose the smaller ship for the more intimate experience. You will get to know fellow guests faster and the staff will give a more personal and personalised level of service. Smaller cruise ships are the new luxury!

 

2) It will be winter or late autumn so which of those two cruises is better in that period to go. Obviously there will be no swimming in outside pools but I is OK.What about other things we will miss or get in that period?

The Med cools down slowly. Late Autumn is however preferable to Winter. Out of the two itineraries, I would choose the Eastern one but then I would always choose East rather than West because the Eastern Med has been home to most of our great civilizations and there is so much to see of them. It depends what your interests are - read up on the ports and local attractions.

 

3)When is best time to book? As early as possible (now) or to wait till last moments (few days before cruise start)?

 

If you are flexible on itinerary, cabin type and date, then always wait until the last moment to get the lowest prices. A good time to start looking is within 10 weeks before prospective cruises as this is when the final balances are due and those nationalities who can cancel without penalty lose that right at the date. Any 'extra' bookings will therefore become available.

 

4) Any other suggestions? We are looking to cruise in Europe, and 10-11 days long...

 

A good combination with an inside cabin is an all-inclusive drinks package. All public areas of the ship have bars and if you are not concerned about the cost of every drink you literally can have whatever you want, whenever you want. I term it 'freedom of the ship'.

 

I used my inside cabin, just as you say, for sleeping in, changing and washing. The rest of the time I was out and about. The one time I had a balcony, I felt guilty about hardly using it. However, if you want time to yourselves away from the crowds, you may appreciate a balcony cabin.

 

If an inside 'guarantee' category becomes available to book, I would always take this rather than a specific inside cabin as there will be a chance of a free upgrade. Also the newer the ship, the higher the proportion of balcony cabins it will have and hence the higher the chance of a lower category guarantee booking being upgraded to one of them.

 

I am sure you will enjoy it. Everyone enjoys their first cruise.

Edited May 8, 2014 by Skipper Tim

[Skier52]

Hi,

 

@ papcx

 

Thank you for you answer. I am not from USA, I am from Europe but just used USA MSC web site to show you routes (link that I originaly used is in my native language - Croatian, so I didn't want to confuse you with it, so I just found one link with same rout but in english).

 

But one think that I never consider is size of ship. I was primary focused on itineraries but now I see what is important too ;)

 

@Skier52

Thank you for your answer to.

My wife-to-be is big fan of Istanbul and that is primary why I included the second option in our plans. But now that we know that bigger and newer ship is on that rout too, it is just one more +.

 

Your suggestion is good but it doesn't include Istanbul and I have house in Dubrovnik (or to be precise near Dubrovnik) so it is my every year summer vacation and I would like Dubrovnik just as my starting point but not as one of my favorite cities to visit (as I visit it every year for more than one time heheh).

 

So maybe other routs with Istanbul you could suggest?

Istanbul is included on the Preziosa E.med cruise, but it is only 7 nights with a limited time in Istanbul

 

However MSC have this itinerary on their web site but i'm not sure it will actualy run because of the problems in Crimea/Ukraine. this is sheduled to be on one of the middle sized MSC ships; Orchestra on 22/Sep/14

 

 

 

 

Here is another interesting itinerary but unfortunately does not include Istanbul but does go to The Holy Land

 

 

 

 

There are other cruiselines that run E.med cruises; RCI and NCL for a start.

I've been on both (RCI 5 times) and NCL (2 cruises back to back) and would say they are both worth a think-about but may be pricier than MSC

 

 

Pete

[AT8500]

After some of your tips now I have more clear idea what I want but still not sure hehehe. For example just now I see difference between Fantasia and Sinfonia (difference in size and content in it).

 

I can understand why smaller ship could be more luxurious but as this is my first cruise I (or better say we) would like to experience it in all its best. So i guess that bigger and newer ship should provide that? Right?

 

Now if we choose Fantasia, I see that it automatically exclude Istanbul and leave us with west med. I see that most of you are preferring east destinations, so is this itinerary that goes west and little bit to Africa that bad?

I know that everyone of us have its own tastes and for example I find Dubrovnik nothing special, but it is often top destinations in cruise itinerary. But this is connected with that I was in Dubrovnik 1000 times and that I live in that part of world, so it is same to me as Split, Zagreb, Sarajevo,... nothing special...

 

This is just example and I am not saying that I will not like to visit some old towns such as Dubrovnik and with rich history but somewhere else.

 

When we speaks of this I still don't have clear picture of what is bad and what is good itinerary. For example and as someone else stated before, it is no good at all if I want to visit Barcelona so much but we spend there only few hours which probably is not enough to go far from ship.

 

When you go to cruise do you choose your cruise mainly by ship or by itinerary of ship. Probably mix of both but what is more important?

 

P.S.

Sorry for my posts where I don't exactly know what I want but I hope that with your help I can make best choice.

Edited May 9, 2014 by AT8500

[Skipper Tim]

After some of your tips now I have more clear idea what I want but still not sure hehehe. For example just now I see difference between Fantasia and Sinfonia (difference in size and content in it).

 

I can understand why smaller ship could be more luxurious but as this is my first cruise I (or better say we) would like to experience it in all its best. So i guess that bigger and newer ship should provide that? Right?

 

Now if we choose Fantasia, I see that it automatically exclude Istanbul and leave us with west med. I see that most of you are preferring east destinations, so is this itinerary that goes west and little bit to Africa that bad?

I know that everyone of us have its own tastes and for example I find Dubrovnik nothing special, but it is often top destinations in cruise itinerary. But this is connected with that I was in Dubrovnik 1000 times and that I live in that part of world, so it is same to me as Split, Zagreb, Sarajevo,... nothing special...

 

This is just example and I am not saying that I will not like to visit some old towns such as Dubrovnik and with rich history but somewhere else.

 

When we speaks of this I still don't have clear picture of what is bad and what is good itinerary. For example and as someone else stated before, it is no good at all if I want to visit Barcelona so much but we spend there only few hours which probably is not enough to go far from ship.

 

When you go to cruise do you choose your cruise mainly by ship or by itinerary of ship. Probably mix of both but what is more important?

 

P.S.

Sorry for my posts where I don't exactly know what I want but I hope that with your help I can make best choice.

 

We are all different and choose cruises by many factors including the style of the cruise line, the size of the ship, itinerary, time of year, likely demographics of those aboard, fare, costs of extras, transport costs etc. etc. etc.

 

To me, the precise itinerary is usually over-played. There is barely time in any port of call to scratch the surface of a place. It may just be long enough to help you decide whether you would like to return one day. My feeling also is that is you do the ship's organised tours, you remain within the bubble of the ship and don't even get to scratch the surface of the real local culture.

 

Many ports of call, perhaps most, are put in itineraries based on the likely tour sales the line can make from that port, e.g. if they are near but not at major tourist-draws such as, in Greece, Katakolon for Olympia, Piraeus for Athens and Iraklion for Knossos, not because the port itself is wonderful.

 

I see a cruise ship is first and foremost a 'floating hotel plus'. The plus being the occasional flashes of different scenery and cultures. So study cruise lines, their ships, accommodation, likely demographies and weather, the fares and extra costs and then give a little thought to the itinerary - maybe there is somewhere on the list you particularly would like to visit, even if it is only briefly to see if you would like to return one day and see it properly.

 

I am sure others would disagree with me.....

Edited May 9, 2014 by Skipper Tim

[Skier52]

After some of your tips now I have more clear idea what I want but still not sure hehehe. For example just now I see difference between Fantasia and Sinfonia (difference in size and content in it).

 

I can understand why smaller ship could be more luxurious but as this is my first cruise I (or better say we) would like to experience it in all its best. So i guess that bigger and newer ship should provide that? Right?

 

Now if we choose Fantasia, I see that it automatically exclude Istanbul and leave us with west med. I see that most of you are preferring east destinations, so is this itinerary that goes west and little bit to Africa that bad?

I know that everyone of us have its own tastes and for example I find Dubrovnik nothing special, but it is often top destinations in cruise itinerary. But this is connected with that I was in Dubrovnik 1000 times and that I live in that part of world, so it is same to me as Split, Zagreb, Sarajevo,... nothing special...

 

This is just example and I am not saying that I will not like to visit some old towns such as Dubrovnik and with rich history but somewhere else.

 

When we speaks of this I still don't have clear picture of what is bad and what is good itinerary. For example and as someone else stated before, it is no good at all if I want to visit Barcelona so much but we spend there only few hours which probably is not enough to go far from ship.

 

When you go to cruise do you choose your cruise mainly by ship or by itinerary of ship. Probably mix of both but what is more important?

 

P.S.

Sorry for my posts where I don't exactly know what I want but I hope that with your help I can make best choice.

Bigger and newer ships often means less space per passenger on the open decks hence the large number of balconies on them, or in reverse because of the large number of balconies there is less open deck per passenger.

 

There are basicaly 3 types of cruise

A) port intensive:- a new port everyday

B) more relaxed cruises with some days at sea

C) repositioning cruises which tend to be longer (14+ days) with most of the cruise spent at sea, they are often priced very cheaply as they have to move the ship and they are trying to fill it with people who might spend some money on the ship. eg casino, speciality dining, as there are few excursions to sell.

 

Personally I like to have at least one new port to visit, but I do take into consideration the ship and have done repeat cruises on 4 ships.

But the big one for me is value for money so total cost is a big factor. Often the cruise fare is only about 50% of the total spend.

Make sure you include Drinks, gratuities, parking, airfares, excursions , presents, plus the odd photo, visit to the casino, speciality dining and lots of other things the cruiseline dream up to extract money from you.

 

Don't forget some cabins come with perks. eg Yacht Club all drinks and mini bar are included ( from a comprehensive list which doesn't include premium brands.)

 

Other considerations are timing eg in/out of school holidays, which affects price and the number of screaming kids on board ; timing also affects weather , temperature, and if the resorts are open or closed.

 

So you need to decide exactly what you want,before you book, but at least you're asking the right questions.

 

Pete

Edited May 9, 2014 by Skier52

[AmoMondo]

Of the 2igineraries you posted I'd prefer the eastern one also. One advantage of the Fantasia is she has a retractable cover in one of the pool areas so in cool weather it. An still be used.

 

The Fantasia is undoubtedly a stunningly, beautiful ship with lots of different bars and lounges to go to. I just found Hera bit too big for my taste.

[AT8500]

Thank you all for your answers ;)

 

I am still learning and discoverying new things about crouises such as ALLEGRISSIMO package. So is this good or bad idea to take? What is price of drinks on ship when you pay for it? I am beer drinker, and my gf is poor alcohol drinker so she will probably not drink any (so just juices, water, etc...). I am mainly beer drinker and I would 99% of time beer or water (I don't like juices), except for those occasions where wine or other drinks would be more appropriate.

 

So we will not try to drink all drinks that we can and would probably consume drinks in some normal way and in normal amount...

 

For two of us, ALLEGRISSIMO would be additional 506€ (because I see that all passengers that travel together must buy package - it is logical because everyone would buy just one and whole family would use it :)). So how intensive should be drinking on board to drink 506€ by two people (if they are not drinking most expensive drinks) and is this package good value if we use it in way that I described above. :confused:

Edited May 12, 2014 by AT8500

[Skier52]

Thank you all for your answers ;)

 

I am still learning and discoverying new things about crouises such as ALLEGRISSIMO package. So is this good or bad idea to take? What is price of drinks on ship when you pay for it? I am beer drinker, and my gf is poor alcohol drinker so she will probably not drink any (so just juices, water, etc...). I am mainly beer drinker and I would 99% of time beer or water (I don't like juices), except for those occasions where wine or other drinks would be more appropriate.

 

So we will not try to drink all drinks that we can and would probably consume drinks in some normal way and in normal amount...

 

For two of us, ALLEGRISSIMO would be additional 506€ (because I see that all passengers that travel together must buy package - it is logical because everyone would buy just one and whole family would use it :)). So how intensive should be drinking on board to drink 506€ by two people (if they are not drinking most expensive drinks) and is this package good value if we use it in way that I described above. :confused:

Here is a link to the BAR list for Divina in Oct 2012, Remember the drinks or groups of drinks WITH a red * next to them are not included on the Alligressimo package,

Don't forget the package includes coffees and icecream.

 

 

In addition if you buy individual drinks they have a 15% service charge (SC)added on.

 

 

 

beers , draught only on alligresimo, are 40cl for €4.90 + 15% (€5.64) so 4 beers a day means you are in profit.

 

water is €2.30 for 1Lt (€2.65 with service charge)

fruit juice is €2.50 - 2.70 per glass + SC

coffee is €1.30 - 2.50 + SC and ice cream ( real italian ice-cream) is ~ 2.00 + SC.

 

 

So 2 waters (1 to take ashore , 1 to have with dinner) + 4 fruit juices + 2 coffee and an ice cream puts your partner into profit.

 

Bare in mind these prices are 2 years old .

 

It doesn't take much to get good value out of the package and even better if you drink wine with your evening meal

 

 

Bar menu link...............https://onedrive.live.com/?cid=1cdc327c72a4c6d9#cid=1CDC327C72A4C6D9&id=1CDC327C72A4C6D9%211189&v=3

 

Hope this helps

 

There is also the Alligressimo Premium which is a lot more expensive and would probably not suit you,

 

Pete

[MotownVoice]

I personally would never take another late year cruise in the southern Mediterranean again after my little brush with disaster.

 

The Med is well known for its languid conditions but I've seen first hand what she can do in late fall early winter. We were aboard the Brilliance of the Seas when she began to heel as we approached Alexandria. Now a weathered sailor will tell you that no matter how far over that vessel listed we could never have gone into the drink. But when it's you staring straight down at the sea with your feet on the balcony doorwall, and the ocean just feet below your feet it doesn't matter what "could" happen. It's scary.

 

We had 80 mph winds and swells 60 feet or higher as we made our way from Rhodes. We should have known this would have been a nasty week when we first flew into Barcelona. Flights were being delayed hours and days as a storm swept southward dropping snow in areas that normally never see such things. And the closer we got to Egypt the worse it got. Apparently we were forced to full stop because of some traffic clutter. That's when the stabalizers began to fail and we started to list. The heeling continued for what was probably only 5 minutes, but felt like an hour. And although we got an extra day in breath takingly beautiful Malta, we never even got to see Egypt, which was the highlight of the itinerary.

 

I will never take that part of the world for granted again.

 

Heck, you can't really rely on much of anything being the same anymore. But that's just a sore sport with me.

 

If I had a chunk of money to cruise that time of the year I'd go someplace nice and warm. Like S America.

Edited May 12, 2014 by MotownVoice

[AT8500]

Here is a link to the BAR list for Divina in Oct 2012, Remember the drinks or groups of drinks WITH a red * next to them are not included on the Alligressimo package,

Don't forget the package includes coffees and icecream.

 

 

In addition if you buy individual drinks they have a 15% service charge (SC)added on.

 

 

 

beers , draught only on alligresimo, are 40cl for €4.90 + 15% (€5.64) so 4 beers a day means you are in profit.

 

water is €2.30 for 1Lt (€2.65 with service charge)

fruit juice is €2.50 - 2.70 per glass + SC

coffee is €1.30 - 2.50 + SC and ice cream ( real italian ice-cream) is ~ 2.00 + SC.

 

 

So 2 waters (1 to take ashore , 1 to have with dinner) + 4 fruit juices + 2 coffee and an ice cream puts your partner into profit.

 

Bare in mind these prices are 2 years old .

 

It doesn't take much to get good value out of the package and even better if you drink wine with your evening meal

 

 

Bar menu link...............https://onedrive.live.com/?cid=1cdc327c72a4c6d9#cid=1CDC327C72A4C6D9&id=1CDC327C72A4C6D9%211189&v=3

 

Hope this helps

 

There is also the Alligressimo Premium which is a lot more expensive and would probably not suit you,

 

Pete

 

Yup, it is now more than obvious all advantages of ALLEGRISSIMO ;) Tnx for clearing it to me

 

 

I personally would never take another late year cruise in the southern Mediterranean again after my little brush with disaster.

 

The Med is well known for its languid conditions but I've seen first hand what she can do in late fall early winter. We were aboard the Brilliance of the Seas when she began to heel as we approached Alexandria. Now a weathered sailor will tell you that no matter how far over that vessel listed we could never have gone into the drink. But when it's you staring straight down at the sea with your feet on the balcony doorwall, and the ocean just feet below your feet it doesn't matter what "could" happen. It's scary.

 

We had 80 mph winds and swells 60 feet or higher as we made our way from Rhodes. We should have known this would have been a nasty week when we first flew into Barcelona. Flights were being delayed hours and days as a storm swept southward dropping snow in areas that normally never see such things. And the closer we got to Egypt the worse it got. Apparently we were forced to full stop because of some traffic clutter. That's when the stabalizers began to fail and we started to list. The heeling continued for what was probably only 5 minutes, but felt like an hour. And although we got an extra day in breath takingly beautiful Malta, we never even got to see Egypt, which was the highlight of the itinerary.

 

I will never take that part of the world for granted again.

 

Heck, you can't really rely on much of anything being the same anymore. But that's just a sore sport with me.

 

If I had a chunk of money to cruise that time of the year I'd go someplace nice and warm. Like S America.

 

How bad weather influence on life on ship? Are all bars, shops, place for fun and other things working normally so you don't have to sit in your room and wait for bad weather to pass?

If everything is working and only problem is motion of the ship while hits waves, then it is OK with me.

There is no doubt that it is not perfect but I am not afraid at all that something could happen to those modern ships, except some inconvenience because of ship going left-right.

 

What others thinks about this? Is it common to have problems with that late year cruises? One think that I find as advance on those late year cruises is that it is not too hot and not too cold for walking and visiting excursions.

Edited May 13, 2014 by AT8500

[Skipper Tim]

I personally would never take another late year cruise in the southern Mediterranean again after my little brush with disaster.

 

The Med is well known for its languid conditions but I've seen first hand what she can do in late fall early winter. We were aboard the Brilliance of the Seas when she began to heel as we approached Alexandria. Now a weathered sailor will tell you that no matter how far over that vessel listed we could never have gone into the drink. But when it's you staring straight down at the sea with your feet on the balcony doorwall, and the ocean just feet below your feet it doesn't matter what "could" happen. It's scary.

 

We had 80 mph winds and swells 60 feet or higher as we made our way from Rhodes. We should have known this would have been a nasty week when we first flew into Barcelona. Flights were being delayed hours and days as a storm swept southward dropping snow in areas that normally never see such things. And the closer we got to Egypt the worse it got. Apparently we were forced to full stop because of some traffic clutter. That's when the stabalizers began to fail and we started to list. The heeling continued for what was probably only 5 minutes, but felt like an hour. And although we got an extra day in breath takingly beautiful Malta, we never even got to see Egypt, which was the highlight of the itinerary.

 

I will never take that part of the world for granted again.

 

Heck, you can't really rely on much of anything being the same anymore. But that's just a sore sport with me.

 

If I had a chunk of money to cruise that time of the year I'd go someplace nice and warm. Like S America.

 

You should never take the sea for granted. You can have rough seas and high winds on any open water, any time of year. Do not associate rough weather with the (local) winter! Experience can often be very misleading at sea. There is the hurricane season in the Caribbean and the fierce Meltemi that blows across the Aegean in Summer but most weather systems around the World are season-independant. They just happen.

[AmoMondo]

Yup, it is now more than obvious all advantages of ALLEGRISSIMO ;) Tnx for clearing it to me

 

 

 

 

How bad weather influence on life on ship? Are all bars, shops, place for fun and other things working normally so you don't have to sit in your room and wait for bad weather to pass?

If everything is working and only problem is motion of the ship while hits waves, then it is OK with me.

There is no doubt that it is not perfect but I am not afraid at all that something could happen to those modern ships, except some inconvenience because of ship going left-right.

 

What others thinks about this? Is it common to have problems with that late year cruises? One think that I find as advance on those late year cruises is that it is not too hot and not too cold for walking and visiting excursions.

 

Well the worst weather I've ever encountered on a cruise was late December in the med. We were not at risk but it was fairly unpleasant. The evening show got cancelled as it was too dangerous for the performers. You were not permitted out on open decks (only an idiot would have wanted to go out in that anyway). Bars and restaurants were open but a fair number of passengers had taken to their beds feeling unwell for a few hours. Depends how suspect isle you are to motion sickness particularly with the dual movement of the ship rolling from side to side and heaving up and down. The higher up you are and the closer to the front of the ship you are, the worse it gets. I also had to abandon a massage in the spa, started feeling queasy but the poor little Balinese girls was even worse than me. Walking along corridors and managing stairs is a bit of a challenge.

 

Anytime I've experienced rough or really rough seas, it has never been for the entire cruise, maybe just a day or two and even within that time perhaps only unpleasantly bad for a couple of hours.

 

That said I'd not do a Med cruise by choice in December to February. Weather too cold and the days too short. I much prefer May, June and September, avoiding the heat and school holidays in July and August.