To wonder why everyone raves about cruises?

I've never been but it sounds like too many people, too much noise and stressful. I don't think I could cope with the stress of having to be back at a certain time particularly if you are really enjoying a sight. Holidays for me mean open ended days.

We met some Americans in Greece and despite paying for and queuing to see the beautiful ruins they didn't see them because they had to be back in time. The lady said she couldn't wait to go home.

My bf's been on a couple and he's paid extra for food. I imagined it to be quite swish but the reality is noise and slot machines.

Tourists in local accommodation ( rather than hotels) is a massive problem. From Cornwall to Barcelona.

They absolutely do eat, drink and buy stuff locally. As I said they are day trippers and places that offer what they need can make a fortune.
My grandad made enough to send my dad to private school offering pony rides on the beach in the 1950’s. I was amazed in many French ports you cannot buy a toy for a child but you can buy weird tablecloths in the tourist market.

On the other hand, popular port cities don’t need 15,000 people descending ( 3 cruise ships worth ) all at once, so I can see why Barcelona and Venice get hacked off,

The local ports/regions determine how much they want cruise ships. They adjust their port fees accordingly, and create restrictions or incentives.

A major city, such as Rome or Barcelona, will barely notice cruise ships among their general tourist populations. For smaller places, such as Sibernik, it will be a major boost to their economy, even if a cruise ship is in only once or twice a week. Businesses sell their produce to the ships.

For restaurants, they get a boost to their lunchtime trade, so might need to adjust what and when they offer to capitalise on this.

Excursions use local coaches and tour guides.

Souvenir sellers have an instant market for their tat.

I agree,I’ve been to Stockholm, DH had to go for work and I tagged along. It’s not somewhere I would want to go for a city break though. Copenhagen/Helsinki possibly.

I haven’t cruised with P&O.for about 15 years and hopefully never will again - but I do remember that it was very much expected to tip your cabin steward. Which I don’t mind doing,just as I’d leave a tip for the room cleaners after a hotel stay. I don’t think “tips included” includes cabin staff, more bar staff etc.

Very, very few people would stay for a week or two in typical stop-off places like Copenhagen or Stockholm nor Helsinki. These places would have far fewer visitors if the cruise ships didn't stop. Yes, "some" people would spend a week or two, but most simply won't go at all, or would go for a weekend city break at most.

They don't stop other people staying for longer in the holiday accommodation, other people eating in restaurants, etc.

We have only done cruises with small numbers. . Less than 600 passengers arriving in Singapore is nothing.

But considerably less than if you’d been land-based tourists who’d come to stay in the area for a week or two, staying in local accommodation, eating all your meals or buying all your food locally, and doing your sightseeing over a longer period. A massive influx of tourists who flood the place for eight hours isn’t that economically generative. Plus some cruisers don’t get off the boat, which sits in port generating pollution.

On a local economy given the tensions about housing in some places perhaps people arriving spending and leaving can help more than hinder.

I couldn’t be doing with these 5k+ capacity cruise ships. They are far too big. Seen them on holiday on boat trips and docked in Funchal, Dubrovnik. If you are spending a day in a place where cruise ships dock and have flexibility to when you go, check online the ships at the dock each day. It makes such a difference.

My parents do river cruises. Due to the physical nature of rivers, the boats are c150 capacity. Plus as towns were created due to the rivers, they can get off the boat and straight to the attractions. Whereas some destinations on larger cruise ships, have to take 00s of coaches to the place. By the time you get there, it’s time to board the coach back to the ship.

River cruises are more expensive but you get a larger cabin. So you can relax better

When we did a cruise in Norway and another in the Far East, we ate in local restaurants during the days in port. The local economy benefited from our spending.

Is that true? Excursions are organised including food / wine or tourist events.

Tips are included on P&O, they make of very clear no tipping is required

If only, @Negroany
I've only been on them once - never again - and the constant hovering of the room service stewards in the last 24 hours would suggest otherwise

My main gripe, though, was that with the passenger being 90% British the standards were chosen accordingly. If it had been even half US guests they'd have had a riot on their hands

How do you get REALLY cheap deals?

Also if you go on cruise critic and search for your roll call then there maybe others on there that are happy to share excursions. We rarely do ship ones unless timings are tight. Save a great deal and you can tailor it well.

If you look on the destination boards of CC there will be recommendations for tour guides as well. Also tours by locals is really good as they have a dedicated search for ship excursions.

Regarding mobility issues, if you travel from Southampton for example, you can take your own mobility scooter on board with P and O. We were on a cruise last week and we were talking to a lady who needed a wheelchair. If you fly- cruise, you can't take you scooter on the plane because of the battery but you can hire a scooter for on the boat, but she said this was very expensive. Also, you need to tell the travel agent/ cruise company that you have mobility issues ASAP, as depending on your level of need, an evacuation chair needs to be booked in your name, just in case, and there are a limited number.
We've done 2 cruises with P and O, fabulous food, both in the buffet and restaurants, lovely staff, trips are expensive but if you book with P and O they won't leave without you!
We did "Rome in a day" and had about 8 hours there, admittedly not enough time to do everything but it gave us a taster of what we'd like to do if we had more time, so we're thinking about going for a long weekend. We walked 12 miles that day, so if you've got mobility issues a coach/ taxi trip might be better for you.

We've booked another one for 2027!

The cruise line I cruise with, Azamara, organise concerts for passengers in some ports or invite local performers on to the ship to perform. The concerts are free for passengers but obviously the performers are paid.

there will be passengers that disembark, wander round then back on the ship but also plenty who spend.

For anyone going to the Caribbean there is the excellent ‘you save they benefit’ Facebook group. They organise excursions with local operators, cutting out the cruise lines as middleman, so directly benefit local taxi drivers, guides, venues etc.

They use local transport for excursions, which will often include lunch at a local restaurant, provide employment for local guides, take on supplies from local suppliers.

I've been on one, when a teen, with my family. Unfortunately I was seasick the whole time and slept while my family enjoyed the on-ship entertainment. As soon as we entered the port I'd wake up feeling fine!

Yes, which is the negative. Cruisers aren’t staying in local accommodation, eating in local restaurants, and aren’t staying more than a day. They add very little to the local economy.

Yes I totally get that. I now holiday a few times every year and plan to live in a port town I “discovered” on a cruise.
But.. passengers get off at 10am and are gone by 8pm. They don’t Airbnb the place to death or buy up second homes , they do buy souvenirs, snacks and transport. They are day trippers.

I have 3 friends who use wheelchairs, all of whom have travelled independently on cruises. They all said how incredibly helpful staff were and that it's ideal for them, as you can do as much or as little as you like, pop back to your cabin for a rest if you need to, or there are talks, films and live entertainment. Some of the shore trips should be accessible as well. Do your research, don't go for the "party" type cruises, but Fred Olsen and P&O were recommended. Also they all recommended getting a door-to-port taxi there and back, so you're not struggling with luggage etc.

Yes this is all about cruises from the users’ pov but I bet those who live or even holiday at resort-stops hate cruises. Swarms of people all being disgorged at once 😁