Post-Cruise depression (+3 coping tips)

This article will discuss what Post-cruise depression is, how it can affect people that are considered cruise addicts, and what are ways people can cope with it.

What is Post-cruise depression? 

Post-cruise depression is that sadness you can experience when you come home from a cruise. As you go on a cruise trip everything is exciting. Getting into that ship for the first day may seem like entering a parallel universe. 

Everything is so different from what you have seen before. The towel animals, the pools, drinks, and the whole atmosphere of it, can make you feel right at home, even if it feels so different.

So when you anchor back home, it can feel as if nothing is as exciting as that period. This is extremely common for people that often go on cruises. It can make you want to go on another cruise the next day. Along with that, some symptoms of it can start to show even before you arrive home.

You can be in denial when it is the last day of your cruise and may want to avoid doing things like packing until it is no longer possible. It can also make you try to find ways to stay on the boat, at least for another week.

Having your last breakfast on the boat can have mixed feelings. And as you leave the boat, you may start to resent the passengers that are hopping in at that point. When you get back home, readjusting to your chores can be difficult, not having your bed made every day can be a huge disappointment.

Not having other benefits as you had on the boat, like having to plan and cook your dinner makes you miss the cruising life even more. And over the next weeks going to malls or restaurants may not seem as pleasurable as it was before the cruise.

The notion of not being able to try things, or having to pay for everything, differently from the cruise, can make you upset. So all of the restaurants don’t ever measure up to the dining places on the ship.

Although Post-cruise depression is not a clinical condition, it is not something to be ignored. It can take some time for you to adjust to your real life. When you are on a cruise it can feel like an idyllic world, and going back to your real life, with frustrations, deadlines, bills to pay can feel somewhat overwhelming.

But in some people that have a higher tendency of developing depression, or are going through it, those feelings can be more intense. So if you ever notice that your Post-cruise depression is too intense, or has been going on for more than a couple of weeks, you might want to get in touch with a mental health professional.

But in common circumstances, there are some ways you can cope with Post-cruise depression. Let’s discuss what they are.

How can I cope with Post-cruise depression? 

If you are experiencing Post-cruise depression, here are some ways you can cope with it. 

Share with people that can relate 

If you have friends that are used to going on cruises they may just get how you feel. You could schedule a meeting with them to talk about your previous experiences. It can be comforting to hear how people are going through the same thing as you.

Get online

There are many online groups and forums about cruises. You can join one of them to share your pictures and thoughts about cruise trips. There are going to be many threads and inquiries about ships, and you can participate in them. 

Use your souvenirs 

You may have brought many souvenirs from your cruise, so you can use the shot glasses or something like that and make a cruise party in your place. You can do some drinks like the ones you had on the cruise, such as a mojito.

You can also do little snacks like the ones from the cruise, and make up a playlist with music that reminds you of your time on the ship.

Find another one

It can seem too obvious to say to you to just book another cruise, but having another cruise booked will give you something to look forward to. It will also be somewhere you can put your energy. 

You can look for a different cruise, to someplace you have never considered. You can look for a different cruise line or different experiences, so if you only went on big ones, you can try a more intimate one, and vice versa.

Get inspired by watching movies 

There is a lot of entertainment based on cruises. You can look for a movie or show that circles around the theme.

Look at your memories 

As you were on the cruise you may have a lot of pictures from it. You can create artwork with it, and put some of them around your house. This will help you reminisce about it as you pass through them.

Make the boat life part of your home life

You can make parts of your house have a cruise theme decor. It can be filled with paintings or accessories that remind you of cruise life. Or it can be that you create a space for all of the souvenirs you bring from your cruise, like decorative plates, magnets, sculptures, and so on.

The important thing when thinking about Post-cruise depression is to understand that it is a fleeting sensation, and by keeping that cruising feeling alive in your everyday life, you can get a sense that going back to routine is not that bad. But again, keep an eye out if it doesn’t get better after a few weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): What is Post-cruise depression? 

Is it common for cruise ships to sink? 

Going on a cruise is perfectly safe. It is a great opportunity to relax. And although some situations can happen during a cruise, such as colliding with an object, as it has happened to the Titanic, or the weather, intense winds, or huge waves.

But those on themselves can’t cause the ship to go down alone. And over the years, the cruise industry has made many adjustments to make it extremely safe. The last cruise ship that went down was the Costa Concordia in 2012. 

It happened because the ship hit a rock that was submerged. But since the 1980s only 16 ships have gone down, showing how safe cruise ships can be.

What are things we don’t know exist on ships? 

A cruise ship has many facilities, and things so people can spend that long period on board. But there are some you may have never imagined. For example, every ship has a jail in it. 

If you get in some minor trouble during your cruise, you may just be talked to, in other cases, you may be locked in your cabin with security by your door. But if you commit a more serious offense, you can be sent to the ship jail.

Ships also have a morgue, that is because there can be some natural deaths during the trip, and they need to have the structure to handle it. Ships also have a woodshop, so if they have any trouble with the leg of a chair, for example, they can make another one to replace it.

Inside the cruise ship, there is also a print shop. In those they can make the newsletter, the daily planners, flyers, and notes are produced. There is also an I-95 Artery, which allows the crew member to have access to different areas. 

Every ship also has the officer’s bar or crew bar. In those areas, the crew members that are on their time off, mingle and have fun. In those bars, drinks are usually cheaper, and they have their music and activities.

What foods should I avoid on cruises?

Going on a cruise can show you a lot of new foods, you may have a huge menu around you, but since being on the ship can mess with your digestive system, there are some things you may want to avoid.

You may want to avoid eating too much desert during the day. If you eat too much sugar, you will want to eat a lot more. Get one plate at a time as well, you don’t want to eat it all at once. Also, be careful if people are picking up food and putting it back, this can lead to cross-contamination.

Be careful with stale pizza, and the scrambled eggs that have been sitting there for a while. Go to the omelet stations to get it fresher. The same is true about sushi, if they are not fresh, you should better avoid it. 

How can I avoid Norovirus on a cruise? 

Norovirus is a form of a virus that can affect the gastrointestinal system. It leads to gastroenteritis, which can irritate your stomach and intestines, causing vomit and diarrhea. This can happen anywhere, but there are some things you can do to avoid it. 

To prevent you from getting Norovirus you may want to wash your hands as often as you can. Along with the cruise ship, you can find a lot of hand sanitizing stations as well. You can pay attention and avoid touching things others have been touching as well to prevent you from getting sick.

You should also make sure your food is protected. Because on cruises food is often served on the buffet if people are coughing or using their hands to get food on the buffet you should notify the staff immediately, so they can change the food.

Along with that, to prevent yourself from getting ill, you may want to keep your immune system strong. Eat well, stay hydrated, and be careful with your alcohol intake.

What is situational depression?

Situational depression is caused by a change in a person’s life. It can be that they lost someone they loved, were fired or even came back from a cruise. It is a condition that happens when people need to adjust to their new reality.

It can make them feel sad, or like they lost the purpose or focus of their lives. In that period, the world can seem empty, until you get a new sense of life and purpose. Situational depression can go on for a few weeks, or even a few months.

Conclusion

This article showed what Post-cruise depression is. Along with that, the article explained what may cause it, and how people can cope with experiencing Post-cruise depression.

If you have any questions or comments about this article, feel free to write them in the section below.

References

Post-Cruise Depression: How it Affects a Cruise Addict

https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1655