To wonder why everyone raves about cruises?

I couldn't think of anything worse than being stuck on a ship if you want to get somewhere just fly there rather than take two weeks to get there

you say you’ve done everything have you done Azamara? Smaller ships, excellent food, no dressing up for dinner, all inclusive including drinks.

Yes let's 🙄 Last time I looked,this was a forum for people to talk about their options 🤦‍♂️

A cruise never appealed to us but my daughter really wanted to do a Disney cruise so we thought we'd try it once.

We've done two now, both Disney and both out in Florida/ in the Caribbean.

We like Disney so the theming and shows are a bonus for us. We loved just being really looked after by our room host and servers at dinner (at Disney there is no booking restaurants, they do rotational dining). Disney's two island's are both lovely. We've done some great excursions at the various ports we have visited.

The first cruise was in October so my daughter didn't make a lot of friends but the second cruise was in the summer and she made a huge group of friends so we hardly saw her. We were sat with another family at dinner who had a daughter the same age as ours and got on with them brilliantly.

No more cruise plans in the pipeline as although we enjoyed them, we do prefer staying somewhere for a bit longer. We would do another though.

And there are smaller ships. Not all cruise ships are like those horrendous floating office blocks.

Ok, no one do a cruise then. Let’s write them all off!

Why would you resurrect an old thread on a subject you hate? How did you find it?

ETA: Sorry just realised it wasn’t you who resurrected it. Apologies.

Never appealed to me. Why would you travel around the world and literally have just a few hours at each stop? No time to do anything 🤷‍♀️

Neighbours went on a Carribbean cruise recently. They were very bored and came down with sickness and diarrhea 3 days in. Sounds delightful. "Never again" she said.

Sounds like you have picked the wrong type of cruise for you. Have you tried Hurtigruten up the Norwegian coast? All locally produced food. No mass catering or dressing for dinner.

We also went on an exceptional cruise with Regent Seven Seas to Singapore and Brunei.

I think cruises are a bit marmite. You're either a fan of them or you're not, and neither position is wrong.

I always thought of them as something for retired people until I went on one with DH and my young DDs and unexpectedly loved it. The kids club was excellent so DH and I could go for a meal or a drink just the two of us which we never get to do at home as we have no family support. The food was fantastic and I loved just looking out to sea and getting a taste of different locations. But life is hectic for us and from a holiday we are looking for a total break with no rushing around.

I can totally see why they aren't for everyone though and that is fine. Personally I find our other holidays (camping or self catering) a total faff and not a break for us at all. But needs must, we can't afford an annual cruise unfortunately! My brother goes camping multiple times a year and loves it. Each to their own.

I hate them. Have been on everything from Celebrity (club 18/30) to Regent (age group 60+) As soon as you find a destination you love, it’s quick we’ll miss the boat! The food is abysmal mass catering and I just find the whole thing depressing. Silversea had one good restaurant and Regent excellent service but they make you dress up for dinner and I don’t like to be told how to dress on holiday.

When our kids were teens cruises suited us as they could just do their own thing, socialise and meet up for dinner. A couple of high end hotel chains are now introducing smaller boats- Ritz Carlton and Four Seasons. Food is a big part of a holiday for me personally and the big boats with the mass catering just isn’t for me.

I can see why retired people like it though

@Appletinii I am retired and it doesn't appeal at all!
That was a nice thing to do though, for your Mum.

OMG MSC Yacht club is divine. I loved it with all my heart. I’d gone in non-YC before and it’s like night and day. Which ship are you on? The older yacht clubs are better apparently. (We did preziosa)

I get it too. PiL used to cruise before they got too frail, because FIL had limited mobility, and they were always trying to persuade us to go with them, but it’s my idea of pure hell.

I tried it once. RC, found it to be like a floating all inclusive hotel. Stuck on board, rushed visits when in port. Never again

MSC aren't the best cruise line for food, though their fresh pasta dishes are usually excellent. I recommend people to try Celebrity, Azamara, or really go for it with Regent, Silversea and other 6 star lines.

What restaurants were there?

3 more days. I mean it’s fine but just not my bag. I get why the retired love them though. Lots of mums and daughters on this ship

I am finding cruise food much worse than the only AI I have been to.

That was kind and daughterly of you. How much longer?

Having followed this thread, I booked one for my mother and I and I am on it now. It’s definitely not for me.

We booked Yacht club with MSC which is very premium so butlers , separate sun beds etc and separate restaurant and bar if you wish.

But the whole concept is just not me but I also don’t like an all inclusive either.

What I can’t get over is the quality of the food. It makes sense that catering for 3000 people can’t mean delivery of quality food but I think people who rave about the food are just raving about the quantity and availability,

I can see why retired people like it though , and also those who like all inclusive.

Of course it will feel busier on high summer sea days. You can do cruises with no sea days.Or kids. Or do speciality dining that has more intimate dining.
Cruises like hotels aren't all the same.

A close family remember went on a cruise over summer. They said it was packed! Sea days and meal times were overcrowded. They enjoyed the excursions and exploring the different countries but said they wouldn’t do it again.

Ive been on 2, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Off on another one next week and have 3 booked for next year!

They have rapidly become a firm favourite in our family and are nothing like I imagined.

it’s like a hotel and you rarely feel movement. So much to do and loads to keep kids entertained. Food is brilliant in my experience. And love waking up in a different place each port day.

A cruise, in other words?