To ask if you’ve been on a cruise and hated it- why?

[BoomTish]

It feels like everyone I know who has cruised has loved it and they’re always telling me how great it is.

I’ve always thought it’s not for me. DH and I are mid 30s/early 40s, no kids, decent holiday budget and annual leave allowances. However, I hate flying. We’ve travelled a lot but haven’t done as much over the past few years and have stuck closer to home or opted for destinations that are short flights or accessible by ferry.

A local travel agency is advertising a cruise to somewhere that interests me so I’ve been thinking about it but I just don’t know if we’re cruise people. I don’t like regiment and prefer a holiday where we can set our own itinerary. Also, I’m quite shy so would hate to have to sit with strangers for meals.

On the flip side, I’m wondering if I’m ruling out a way of holidaying that would be perfect for us, but letting my own preconceptions get in the way. I’ve had so many people tell me they love it, but they tend to be people who like resort/all inclusive holidays anyway, whereas I like having more variety.

So, if you’ve been cruising and didn’t love it, why?

Disney's the only line I'd never cruise on. Disney's my idea of hell but no casinos or smoking areas on their ships and all those little kids. And they used to be dry as well!

I like Disney because of no casinos and smoking only in two places :) But I do stick to the adult only areas most of the time including the two adult bars

Nope, just too many little kids and all those people walking round dressed like Disney characters. NFW. I like a party atmosphere on cruises. Prefer RC myself but have also enjoyed NCL, Celebrity and MSC (quite European in flavour, of course). Our kids are older, though, and pretty much take off on their own these days (teenagers and one tween) onboard the ship.

That's why cruising can suit anybody. We all like different things.

@pelirocco123 I agree the risk is definitely small, but it's put me off---- hearing it from people who actually work in the industry and on ships.
Plus I get sea sick

@Keener
"It just sounds like going on holiday to a hotel you can only leave after a lot of queueing and for fairly short periods."

THIS ^^

My current view of cruising is that they are modern day galley slave vessels that visit the shipyards of the world for 12 hours at a time and you just drink and feed your face all the time

I can’t say I’ve seen people drinking and feeding their face all the time. And the ship docking from on board is an absolute fabulous thing to see. I love getting up early to watch the procedure and I’m not alone in that.

The staff are on piss poor pay and you are expected to leave them big fat tips so that they can keep their families back home in the Philippines

I have 5 Filipinos working in my house so I’m well aware of just what is done with salaries and how much it costs to do it.

Every one needs a big fat tip

Not so.

You have drinks packages as buying individual drinks is scandalously expensive

I’ve never had a drinks package though in the MSC yacht club your drinks are included but once out of the yacht club and in the main part of the shop you buy your drinks. The cost has never put me off.

Once you leave the port you are at the mercy of the cruise company whos job it is to extract money from you

I can’t say that’s my experience.

You visit various dockyards many of which are remote from anything of interest and so you end up booking excursions.

Not true. Many ports are only a short walk from museums full of countless works of art and other very interesting things to see and do. Also, an awful lot of people getting off the ship are independent travelers who don’t book excursions.

Tell me im wrong

What a strange thing to say.

Depends on the cruise. Very different going on a cruise of the caribbean to going a cruise in china. Some ships charge pub prices for drinks, some are very expensive. Some allow you to take your own alcohol on to drink in your room/balcony, some don't. And some people don't drink alcohol at all.

Arnoldthecat I agree with some of what you say, especially about extortionate drinks and the expectation of extra tips. But on the subject of "poor pay" don't forget that's from a western perspective, and that what seems low to us might not seem that way to someone from a developing country

This would explain why they don't employ many westerners at crew level - but it also explains why there's fierce competition for the jobs elsewhere

Oh, and while I've always been very lucky with my table companions, if anyone gets stuck with less than charming company on fixed dining ... tell the maitre d' and ask for a move

These guys are professionals and genuinely want guests to enjoy their experience (even if only to make sure of their tips!!), so it would be an unusual one who wouldn't help wherever they could