To wonder why everyone raves about cruises?

I didn’t mean to direct the comment at you - just making the point that what some folks love, others hate. I don’t know why cruises attract so much hostility, often from folks who have never been on one.

We enjoyed the music in the evening - overnight stop in Venice …

Sea days are great if you love being on ships! Lots to do, a nice breeze and no wasps.
Every day you wake up somewhere else. Wonderful.

I was sceptical about a cruise, but we recently did a Virgin Voyages one. It was amazing. You get all the restaurants included for free, all are differently themed, my faves were an incredible Italian, a steak and seafood one and a Korean one... at the Korean you do drinking games with your table, which turned out to be good fun.

The ents were incredible, and loads of gym classes/fitness/dance included as well. We went to interesting ports, oh and the bonus is no kids! Great value for money when we worked it all out.

You don't get very long in each port so you see bugger all really and the ports are far away from everything interesting.

Not true of all cruise ships. The monster floating holiday camp resort ones maybe. The smaller ones can get to smaller more out of the way places where you can just get off the ship - or at least catch a tender launch - and go for a walk and get lunch somewhere. Sometimes overnights in port.

I've never cruised but would love to try it. Lots of good info here.

@ThePrologue a weekend 'taster' cruise is nothing like a seven night cruise. Much more of a booze cruise.

The Hurtigruten ones have a knitting corner where you just pick up the needles and yarn and knit a square that they later make into blankets.

There were no water slides, swimming pools etc (one jacuzzi). They did have a talk every night, on......Nordic stuff. You don't have to go. They will keep us up as we crossed into the Arctic circle. And if the northern lights appeared.

Outings if you want them. In most places you can walk to the town though (but it's pretty icy further north so you might prefer not to). I did a couple.

I went half board, so breakfast and dinner but not lunch. So I ate on shore or bought a sarnie in the onboard cafe.

A question about river cruises (especially if anyone has done them in Germany) : is the water choppy? Is motion sickness a problem for those who are more sensitive? I love Germany and the cruises look amazing but I also get sick crossing a puddle...

Yes. Basically all of this. An orgy of mindless consumption.

And I'd add, stopping off at places for a day on a cruise helped me know which places I'd go back to for a longer visit. Would never have thought of Puerto Rico but it's one of my favourite Caribbean islands now.

Who was it with?

Love them with a capital L. Took my kids as teens and now as adults they still cruise independently or with me if we can make our schedules align.

Before you consider cruising (or any type of holiday really) you need to work out what type of holiday maker you are as it will inform what type of cruise or even if a cruise is your thing.

I have a very full on job. Cruising for me is switching off. I prefer longer itineraries with multiple consecutive sea days as bobbing in the water with a book or staring out to sea works for me. I usually pick Carribbean in the UK winter. Guaranteed hot weather, minimal school children and prepares me for the super busy period that comes up at work. I rarely do European cruises as like a previous poster said, a fair few European ports are not close to where you'd want to be and I don't want to worry about shuttle buses to get back on time. I also do a lot of land based trips in Europe. Most Caribbean ports have the ships dock right downtown.

Food again is subjective, how is it you like to eat? I go to sit the down restaurant for breakfast and dinner. I don't like buffets and try to avoid them most places. For lunch I go to a casual dining venue.

I'm not particularly interested in the shows so they don't factor in my decision making. Some cruise lines have a good reputation for entertainment so if that's important research well.

I cannot deny the environmental impact especially as I fly to my cruise. Ship oil is dirty. I try and pick ships that run on liquified natural gas as appear to have less emissions.

If you are someone who absolutely hates running to someone else's schedule then I would avoid a cruise. I'd also recommend never to do a 2/3 day cruise as they can often be booze cruises with the accompanying poor behaviour.

I went on a couple and genuinely found them ghastly. Like a nightmare resort you can't leave. People stuffing their faces 24/7. The whole pretending it's posh when it so definitely isn't.

Absolutely not my thing! I got persuaded to try a second time on a more expensive ship but it was just as grim and tbh I could never switch off from thinking about the absolutely enormous environmental implications

I would never dream of going on an AI holiday so not sure why you are directing this at me. I have visited Venice, we stayed for four nights in the early 2000s. The cruise ships were an absolute eyesore and the cruise passengers were not welcomed at all. Best way of absorbing the beauty of a place like Venice is have the time and space to explore it and see the light change during the day into night. I have very very fond memories of Venice it is stunning. There is absolutely no way that a one day visit in a cruise is comparable or sufficient to take on board its uniqueness. Will never forget the string quartets playing in St Marks square in the evening...

The idea of sea days sounds hideous to me. Horses for courses.

I think I'll try one soon. I can't say whether I'd like or hate it if I haven't tried it! I'm interested in the Norwegian Fjiords so if anyone has been, maybe they'd like to share their experience and cruise line.

I'd go all out and get a balcony, although I think the fjiords ships are smaller so may not have them. I'd cope though if the overall experience was good.

(apologies if this information was given already, I confess not to have RTFT.)

Def not my experience.

Not 00's on sun beds either, lol, but there are def enough to go round and you don't have a bun fight over them either!

I own timeshare and have been to some of the best resorts in the world, but I'd choose cruising every day of the week.

Well, I've just come back from a cruise. Nothing wrong with the cruise, but there are different size cruise ships, and one I did some years ago was about 1400 passengers, whereas this one was 2400 passengers; a bit large in my view.
The advantage is that you are at different ports, with no unpacking/packing to do.
Personally, I dislike the manufactured 'entertainment', and would rather have found a quiet place to read a book, etc.
There were a couple of days at sea, and this is why they have 'activities', such as craft/art classes, exercise classes, games etc; (all of which I dislike).
I was on the cruise for the places I was going to; however, they also had a pool, spa, gym, jogging track, etc
My regret is that with more research I could have made better use of the time in the various ports.
My advice - do your research first; There is absolutely no need to book an excursion at every stop. If the cruise does not inform you in advance about how long you will be in the port, it is possible to look up the port on the internet, and find this out. (but remember the ship will not wait for you if you are late, whereas they will, if on an official ship excursion)
I am not in a hurry to book another cruise.
I probably found it a bit overwhelming.
Also, anything that says a 'dress up' evening is a No No from me. I'm on holiday not the Met Gala, etc. (But there was always somewhere else to eat, if desired).

When you have these sights you don’t want to be spending much time in your cabin.

If you get travel sick avoid cruises across areas of the world where two seas join. The article circle had 20ft dips/waves when we did the Iceland cruise from the UK. We were fine, but loads of people weren't. Lower decks are best if you feel sea sick too.

I love cruising. You meet (mainly) great people, entertainment is good, food is fine. Stopping at a new place almost everyday is fabulous.

I'm just about to do a back to back cruise - Italy, Turkey Greece for 10 days, then repositioning from Italy to Tampa florid with Portuguese stops and Bahamas in between.

If you have a few sea days together, that's fine too because the entertainment is great. Honestly cruising is the only holiday for me now! Complete relaxation ;)

Yeah, well you paid for the more expensive one. But even so, it still seems pretty ordinary to me.

It was fine, no issue with it. I loved looking out of my window when I woke up (I got a free upgrade but still not one of the posh cabins, just a proper window).

My next cruise I've paid for a balcony. And we might get an upgrade due to being related to an employee.

I've been on two cruises, both on the P&0 Arvia ship and loved it. I think experiences can massively vary and over what you seek from a holiday and how it goes generally. Mine were in the Caribbean which were probably smoother waters than other places at the time I went. I did feel some dis orientation the first night but otherwise was fine over it. There's often a problem with sun beds but there's areas you can pay for to make it easier. I was anxious before going on one but ended up loving it. I love the fact everything is under one roof over a lot of choice over restaurants and evening venues so not having to think of where to go out to or taxi's home, I love getting to visit different places. You're not tied to one holiday say, and bother over a hotel and area not being what you expected. It's a different view all the time. I like the sense of community in a way, the little things like the captain announcements that we're all safely back on board and now onto the next place. It's hard to put into words just I love it :-)

I have been on two cruises.

Food, hygiene standards and entertainment was all good, enjoyed trying classes, DH and I ended up doing ballroom dancing lessons as we tried it on the cruise. DS was 16 and then 18 and came along for both. He loved the gym and food. When he can afford it he wants to go on one with his GF who likes the sound of it. The majority of my holidays have been hiking or museums and art galleries so this was different. We all enjoyed it, DH was especially suspicious. He backpacked round the world for almost 2 years but was converted.

Good to hear that on the whole people appreciate the entertainment. DS started on cruise ships last year as a " muso" and its bloody hard work. He does several sets a night,plus rehearsals and like many others,is given shitty accommodation and restricted from certain areas.
However,he is meeting loads of new people and seeing new places so a great experience for him. Be nice to the " ents" ..they are talented folks putting in long hours.

I've done loads of cruises and the good one a the best holiday ever and the crap ones make you want to disembowel yourself in a desert with a spoon.

Still I love cruises and becoming more selective.

I admit I'm too claustrophobic for that. I'd need a balcony and space tbh

Our cabin was really comfortable - lovely bed. Kept watching the snow coming down whilst lying in bed!