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AIBU?

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Original poster

To not like ocean cruises

161 replies

Moanranger · 07/05/2016 22:49

Well, I have spent some considerable time hearing people rave about cruises, lots of rather braggy Facebook posts, etc. I never saw the point. The antithesis of how I like to travel - simply & really dig down & get to know people & places. So Iwas finally persuaded to go on a short, bargain cruise -3 days, £80 going from Dover to Copenhagen to Rostock.
Well, it wasn't as bad as Ithought it would be - the ship absorbed the many passengers pretty well; I couldn't fault the service or quality, but I don't get it, really. I was quite bored, and the shore stops are too short to get any meaningful insight into local culture. I suppose if you like cheesy entertainment, Bingo, gambling, serious over-eating & a very artificial atmosphere, it's heaven.
Doubtless I will be flamed.

OP posts:
NickiFury · 10/05/2016 14:46

Does that make me a travel snob?

Yes and not as well informed as you think you are.

bibliomania · 10/05/2016 15:05

Red, fair enough to be concerned about environmental issues, but that's a pretty sweeping generalisation about the ignorance of cruise ship tourists. I'll be visiting Venice and Greece - I've already spent 5 months in Venice and it will be my fourth trip to Greece, so I don't think I'll be lacking all idea where I am. And it's all euros...

Although I have to admit that the prospect of being "disrespectful to other tourists" amused me. I'll try to remember to acknowledge their superiority when I encounter them.

The80sweregreat · 10/05/2016 16:32

We took our sons on a cruise one year ( youngest was only 17) and they loved it. I did enjoy it and Norway was stunning ( it was only a week and we did a few of the trips) but I am not in a hurry to do another one really.
The service was good, the food was very nice and we enjoyed the quiz nights and having a laugh rather than the show tune evenings, but , in the more formal dining area, there was a fake air about its, so we ditched 'captain's night' and just ate in the less formal buffet place where it was lovely and quiet ( because everyone else were in tuxedos and evening gear pretending it wasn't a Thomson one I think!) not sure why I am not in a hurry to go back. the trips were pricey ( but we knew this before we booked) and only half a day. still, it was an experience and no flying as it left from Newcastle, but a lot don't so having to fly then get on a ship would not appeal to me really as that seems a lot of faffing about. I do get what you mean though op. It did have a holiday camp vibe at times, which we didn't mind for a week but I can imagine it would wind some folk up a bit! ( sons loved the games they had and the entertainment, but its not for everyone and my sis in law turned her nose up when I said we did the quizzes every night. lol

ismellSwell · 10/05/2016 16:49

Cruises are for the Newly Wed and Nearly Dead.
Grin

The80sweregreat · 10/05/2016 16:58

ismell, we didn't tell many people we were going on one. once they found out I had comments such as this and one friend said ' your too young , it will be all old people and coffin dodgers!' but not in a nice way! lol. I laughed it off but they do appear to have a 'reputation'.

Doilooklikeatourist · 10/05/2016 20:10

Went on a 2 week Med cruise for my 50th ,
We had a table for 4 , DH , me and the 2 teens
Best
Holiday
Ever

expatinscotland · 10/05/2016 20:14

Oh, good! I love cruise haters. More for us then!

TotalConfucius · 10/05/2016 20:33

We went on an Alaska cruise. It was frantically busy, stops every day, excursions all over, so it's probably not typical. Also, although there was one formal night, really because it was Alaska you were judged formal if you wore clean thermals.
I don't think I'd get on with a slower paced relaxing cruise.

Also, we may be banned. We went on a rather obscure excursion in Haines and were 15 mins late back (it was an official excursion organised by Princess). When we walked up the gangplank everyone was hanging over the deck and their balconies cheering!

HormonalHeap · 10/05/2016 20:43

Cruising's quite good for when you want to take your teens away but don't know where. They join you for dinner but then meet up with all the other teens on boat so they're not bored. Also they can eat throughout the day when/what they like so there really isn't anything to argue about.

quarkandmarmite · 10/05/2016 20:55

We cruised before the kids came along. We loved it. The ships (Princess) absorbed the passengers really well. Never really queued anywhere and if we did it was less than 5 minutes. Everything a hotel has, the ship had. Rooms were smaller (and MOST had portholes or balconies - you get what you pay for) but let's face it, you go there to sleep and change! Loads of little spaces to sit and read a book in peace and quiet and as much food as you like (and reasonable drink packages). SMart and casual nights - no pressure to dress up though. Menus were varied and choice of flexi dining or fixed dining. Loved arriving at 7am at a port (we did the Caribbean several times) and leaving at 6pm/7pm (except Grenada for some reason) and we got to see a lot of the island and do stuff we wouldn't normally do. Our activities ranged from visiting a plantation and island tour visiting towns and getting a flavour of Caribbean life, to river-tubing and kayaking.

I think you get what you make of it. It is, like someone said, like marmite - love it or hate it. But if anyone is wondering if cruising is for them, I would advise on a 7-day cruise NOT a 3-day cruise which is like a glorified ferry trip and visits places that don't have a lot to offer.

We'll be back to cruising once the kids are older. Many cruises do cater for children but we want to wait until they are old enough to join us on the adventures that we like to experience and also at a time when they will enjoy the formal dining and entertaining as well as being able to 'go off and socialise with other children of a similar age' and when we have enough money

upaladderagain · 10/05/2016 21:26

DH and I never fancied the cruise thing, but last year we did one to the Baltic. We visited various capital cities, and St. Petersburg, which is a real pita to arrange outside of this sort of tour. The visits themselves were great: there's no way we could visit Estonia, Finland, Sweden etc separately, but we will definately be going back to Stockholm when we can.
The 2 days sailing back to London were tedious though, and we have no plans to do another cruise until we are well into our dotage and unable to travel independently.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 10/05/2016 21:39

I love cruise haters. More for us then!

Got it in one Wink Grin

Quark I'm also with you about avoiding the 3 night thrashes around the channel, not so much because of the destinations as the fact that, depending on the line, they can attract a lot of stag/hen parties. Nothing wrong with that per se, but IME it can lead to a lot of moaning from folk who've believed into the images in the ads and expect something different

Puzzledandpissedoff · 10/05/2016 21:40

Bought into, not believed ... Blush

Madbengalmum · 10/05/2016 21:51

I am very amused at the number of individuals who assume all lines are the same.
And that you have to dine with others at set times, endure entertainments and play bingo!

Like most things in life, you get what you pay for. I could would sooner never travel than go on a large cruise ship, it truly is my idea of hell. Dining at set times with complete strangers etc.

When people go on about how awful cruising is, I am truly greatful that they think that and that they do not have the inclination, knowledge or wherewithal to prevent me from booking a suite on my favorite lines!

Whatthefoxgoingon · 10/05/2016 22:14

I've bungee jumped, sky dived, avid skier, avid diver, been all over South America, Petra, Australian outback, Rockies, India, Cambodia, Yemen, Botswana, orient express to Venice etc. I'm in my forties.

I don't find cruises boring at all and enjoy them just as much as being on a small boat in a croc infested river. I love to travel and I think it's snobbish and narrow minded to pooh pooh cruises.

expatinscotland · 10/05/2016 22:45

What , ssshhhh! I've been all over the world, too. I didn't like the thought of a cruise, but then I went on one Grin. Like I said, more for us.

KeyserSophie · 11/05/2016 04:02

My parents did a walking cruise on quite a small ship that sounded amazing - the ship went to a new place overnight and then you got off and could do these beautiful coastal walks during the day (or sometimes they had a coach to take you inland, but still gave you a lot of time to walk).

LunaLoveg00d · 11/05/2016 07:07

No it's not my cup of tea either. My inlaws love the Caribbean cruises of the type that "if it's Monday it must be Jamaica". They love the having to change into posh clothes like dinner jacket and formal frock for dinner every night and don't even mind being put on a table for meals at the beginning of the week with a group of other people and being stuck with them.

I like my luxury on holiday - all inclusive is heaven. But I prefer to do things at my own pace and not be told when to eat/sightsee. I can't see how cruising is particularly child friendly either.

DMjournosrscum · 11/05/2016 07:34

Cruises are a fantastic way to travel with young children if you pick the right cruise. There are great crèches and kids clubs, our last cruise had a great play area ith slides, Wendy houses etc and a fantastic splash pad/pools. But you are never more than 5 min away from them if they go to the crèche/kids club and you go out for a meal/casino/champagne bar. We went off on our own at every stop and explored. Our son asks on almost a weekly basis when we are going again. The secret is to pick a ship and itinary which suits you

expatinscotland · 11/05/2016 08:00

'But I prefer to do things at my own pace and not be told when to eat/sightsee. I can't see how cruising is particularly child friendly either.'

They don't. You can do whatever you want on most lines, you don't even have to get off the boat if you don't want to. Food is available 24/7. You can have room service at any time and never go to a buffet or dining room if you chose. And yy, mine love the kids clubs and activities.

But hey, more for us.

vjg13 · 11/05/2016 08:10

Genuine questions, how does it work when you arrive in a new country when getting off, is it like airport passport control?

Also when you get off by tender, is there a lot of lining up and waiting?

expatinscotland · 11/05/2016 08:28

A bit, yeah, vj, but the queue isn't so bad. Tender ports, it depends, on some lines you can get a ticket the night before. My son has ASD and wakes up very early. This is advantageous at tender ports. Not sure how it works if you're doing an excursion as I haven't done one from a tender port.

Of course, if it's a cruise expedition and you get back late they hold off leaving port.

DMjournosrscum · 11/05/2016 08:50

Only been round the Caribbean but they literally swipe you off the boat at each port and you have to go through security to get back on. The do an airport like checkin when you first get on the boat and assume there is some sort of arrangement with ports of call that this is effective for all the countries you call at. Then immigration type check in to get back into US

expatinscotland · 11/05/2016 08:57

IIRC, in Mexico you had to do the passport+sea pass thing.

budgiegirl · 11/05/2016 09:57

I like my luxury on holiday - all inclusive is heaven. But I prefer to do things at my own pace and not be told when to eat/sightsee. I can't see how cruising is particularly child friendly either

It's really a case of picking the right cruise for your family. We're just back from a cruise round the Caribbean as a family of 5 on one of the 'big' ships. My DH and I had cruised before, but not with the kids (two teens and a 10 year old), so we did wonder how they would like it.

They had an absolute blast. There were slides, a sports court (basketball and football), trampolining, high ropes course, mini golf, swimming pool, treasure hunts, films, table tennis, giant chess, deck shuffleboard. They didn't stop all holiday. And they never even made it to the kids clubs.

Food was great for both kids and adults, buffet style, pub style, or more formal restaurants, you ate when you wanted and with who you wanted.

If you like a real taste of luxury, you could upgrade to a suite complete with a exclusive swimming pool, gym, restaurant and bar, and a butler! (we didn't, it was quite expensive and we didn't think we'd make good use of it as there was so much else going on.

Of course sightseeing must be done on certain days, but that really isn't a problem for us. You can choose from organised boat tours, arrange your own tour, or just do your own thing. You can come and go as you please, getting on and off the ship as many times as you like while it's in port. And it's quite wonderful waking up to look out at a new view each day.