There is a risk in every adventure you choose – everything from a partner to a cruise. I love the way that when the final mooring line is detached – and the ship heads off – so do the demands of everyday life. Some would say I can sit on a balcony and watch the sea for hours – looking at nothing.

You can take your family to the four points of the globe and introduce them to the world at a reasonable cost via cruising – we did. If you buy a suite, major cruise companies like Royal Caribbean often have a kid’s sail-free deal. I hate hiring a car and driving in Europe – you need a holiday when you get home. On a cruise, you unpack and relax.

However, you need to know the sea answers to no one – the weather can turn nasty and suddenly, the dream holiday can tarnish – at times badly. My mate Peter Needham and I once boarded a Sitmar cruise in Brisbane heading to Pacific ports before ending up in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. We sailed straight into a cyclone, and no port would accept us until we got to New Zealand.

From serene sea views to stormy surprises.

Needham was so ill they made up a bed for him on the deck – his window was plastic unfurled to the rails. That is an extremely bad example of what nature is capable of – I would have to say nothing like that has happened to me since. We are on Viking Venus on our way home to London after chasing the northern lights into the Arctic Circle. The weather has been terrible for the last few days – all the Amsterdam tours have been cancelled. We will arrive about noon tomorrow instead of tonight.

The cornerstone of our itinerary to see the Northern Lights was a husky ride out of Alta at night—great timing to see the lights. However, it was cancelled at the last moment because of flooding due to the early thawing of snow. That’s cruising for you.

I am currently typing this report from the forward lounge on Viking – looking out at the still-angry sea. Thankfully, I don’t suffer from seasickness – but I sympathise with those who do. I am highlighting factors you need to consider when your agent says – How about a cruise?

POSTSCRIPT: I wrote this yesterday. This morning, we were told all passengers would enjoy a free tour of Amsterdam because of the cancellations, but by mid-morning, this program had also been cancelled and replaced with a free tour of the Dutch countryside. Everyone has to be back by 5 pm, and passengers are still walking off at 3.30 pm. It’s not worth the trip to the coach. We stayed onboard.

Written by: Ian McIntosh

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