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?

A cruise is a holiday, not military boot camp. I don’t need to display any level of resilience to be deemed worthy of a week on a floating buffet

I think you’ve misunderstood my post.

So the OP not being keen on a cruise where the ship lost power in seas so rough that several hundred people had to be winched off by helicopter and sustained injuries including broken bones makes her unable to withstand the usual cruise rigours of finding her way to the pool deck and queueing for the buffet? hmm

I think you’ve also misunderstood my post.

As with anything you have to be prepared for that risk of something going wrong. The risk of something as major as has happened on the Viking ship is very small but You need to be prepared that it might that is why one thing all cruise lines (or at least sea ones, I assume river too?) have in common is the compulsory muster drill before they even leave dock.

In fairness, if an awful lot of people are 'misunderstanding your post', Millie, you might want to think about what the common denominator is.

Sorry, Milly.

Don’t do a short cruise. They are cheap and therefore attract the stag and hen parties/ booze cruise crowds.Well that was my P&O experience.

I also found that there are very few black tourists on board. We opted for shared table dining on the first night and had a blast. Really lovely couples. I did feel for our professional black couple who had come from multicultural London to what felt like the whitest of the provinces.

Med cruises are fabulous. Rarely rough seas. Really good way to see the major sites without spending a fortune having a weekend away.

There are very few rules about eating, dinning or tipping. Certainly not regimented. Food is available in some form most of the day and night. You can come and go off the ship as and when you want.

Yes we went on a Christmas Markets cruise last year, and pretty much hated it. The demographic was quite elderly, there was a whiff of British Empire and harking back to a bygone age about it, I was uncomfortable with the fact that all the staff were Philippino, I guessed badly paid as I heard one of them saying he hadn't been able to go back home and visit his infant daughter for 8 months. All the entertainment seemed to be about celebrating Britishness, every evening. I didn't like all the sucking up to the captain business. Loved the Christmas Markets though.
At the end of the trip, it took me about two whole days for my head to stop feeling like it was swaying up and down on a ship!

Too many people, colds/flu/sickness bugs are rife on cruise ships, tiny rooms even if you book a nice one, excursions are expensive, extras on board are not usually included, expensive for what it is.

@cheesypastanow - which line were you on and where to? Your comments weren’t my experience.

It's true that going ex-Southampton can increase the average age onboard, but it took me a while to realise it attracts not just those who don't want to fly but plenty who can't for medical reasons ...

@Parker231 I've never been on one, I work in the tourism industry and it's just gossip that goes round. I'd never go on one. (Plus I know people that work on a big cruise ship & they've said the sickness/hygiene can get really bad).

We’ve been on some amazing cruises - the ship was out of this world and the cabin similar to a nice hotel room. We had a couple of our best holidays on a cruise from Boston to Montreal and Hong Kong to Singapore. I’m not aware of anyone getting ill and the hygiene was excellent - reminders to use hand sanitizer and very through cleaning by the staff - much better than you see in many hotels.

I want to go but the stories and documentaries on the cruise ship serial killer have put me off.

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

We didn’t do much or any queuing - lots of restaurants for dinner, some of which we booked a table and for port days there were numerous exits. A cruise is a ideal way of getting a taster of many different places. We had a cruise stop at Prince Edward Island and have been back there for a holiday. We did the same with Hong Kong. It depends on what you want from a holiday.

Why everyone gets so snappy when someone's experience contradicts theirs I have no idea - quite clearly there are a variety of cruise lines and types of cruises one can attend, and people do very much like different things so will hold different opinions.

It wasn't for me, I hate flying so we thought it would be ideal but I wish I had known more before I had, especially re: sea sickness which I hadn't considered at all. In a way I'd have rather just sucked it up on the plane and not ended up slowly claustrophobic and unwell for a couple of weeks wishing we could just have got off and done our own thing.

We went as a couple in in our 30's and struggled to find people to talk to who were on the same page as us when wedged at dinner etc. There was lots going on on board but somehow none of it appealed really and seemed a bit forced. The excursions were fine but packed and just cursory really, we felt we'd technically been bloody everywhere but had got very little cultural exchange. It's not the kind of travelling we enjoy so I have no idea why we booked it - too focused on the not having to fly, I think. That's not to say it's bad or other types of holiday are 'better'- it just didn't float our boat

Expensive error as well if it's not for you. I think you really do have to shell out for a decent room to get a good experience and they are not cheap!

They are popular with older and disabled people because some can not physically fly due to health conditions, they tend to cater well for wheelchair users or people with mobility problems, and they are easy.

And we had a small inside cabin. It was cheap. And we had a great time. But does depend on why you are cruising. I would hate some cruises.

We have only cruised with Disney. We are going to try another cruise line next year. However we didn't sit with anyone else to dine as we requested out own table. And there was always the buffet diner. We have a balcony so I sit on there to sunbathe although I didn't mind the adult pool area. Nice coffee shop/bar/spa and gym. We went on organised trips and on trips we organised ourselves.Only rules were you had to attend the safety demonstration at your lifeboat station and have your passes to get on and off the ship. My older kids loved it now 14,16, and 27 they want to go next year. We like getting off in different countries and exploring. But relaxing and being fed in between. Dining room rules were no flip flops or shorts on formal night.

We went on one years ago and hated it , I think we were just a bit overwelmed as it was so different.. It was Royal Carribean , and its put me off cruising with them ever again

We have done several since and love them tbh . We like the ' British ' Ships because its what makes us comortable , plus most people find one they like and stick to it
We have only done week long cruises , not sure I would cope with longer and I prefer the med / greek islands
Its not regimented at all , most cruise lines have freedon dining so you can choose when to eat and you dont have to share a table with strangers .....although we like to as you get to chat to loads of very nice people .We use a cruise as a time ti chill out , we go ashore sometimes we do trips , some cruise organised sometimes we organise them or we find an outside bar and people watch or mooch round the shops . Sea days if the weather is good we sit outside , drink , chat , read , sleep .....There are shows and entertainment going on
The cabins are just a place to sleep , just as if you were staying in a hotel , you wouldnt want to stay in them all day

As well as Royal Carribean , we have sailed with P&O and our last 2 cruises have been with Marella , they are cheap and cheerful , But we really enjoyed them . I know people who will spend over £7k per couple for a week in the med , I would rather have 2 cheaper cruises , as you are all going to the same places !
I dont have high expectations , and am therefore always pleasantly surprised , I am not going to let a bit of rust , or wear and tear bother me

@cheesypastanow

How you have negative comments about cruises and have never been on one is beyond me

I have never experienced any illness on a cruise , however cruise ships , just like all inclusive resorts are at risk of sickness bugs taking hold very quickly , which is why they are pretty hot on you declaring anything and they have santising units everywhere . Unfortunately the problem is people with poor hygiene ,
The risk is pretty small when you think how many cruises are going on

I've done 1x 2 week cruise and a short long weekend cruise.

On both the main negatives for me were:

• having to sit at pre-arranged tables with strangers (fine if you get on really well and like that sort of thing but a nightmare if you are placed with people you don't like or just want to eat as a couple). I'm sure there are cruises now where you don't have to do this though.
• Not really getting long enough in any destination to really explore. On both of mine at each destination there was a choice of a pre-arranged day trip (so you could go somewhere further from the port but were stuck to the place/itinerary on offer) or spending the day near the port. Neither really suited me.
• As a pp said, arriving at a location at the same time as hundreds of others from cruise ships so everywhere was crowded
• Not having the option to spend an evening in the place you've visited (as the ship sailed every evening).
• Having limited options for how to spend the evening so if you meet one of 'those' people who irritate you there is no escape!

On the plus side, I visited quite a few places I might not otherwise have thought to visit and have since been back to explore properly.

Biggest down side to my longer cruise was being there with my obnoxious ex- so not a problem for you (hopefully!!!)

I have never been on a cruise but am not totally closed to the possibility. I know plenty of people love it.

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. 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. Every one needs a big fat tip. You have drinks packages as buying individual drinks is scandalously expensive. Once you leave the port you are at the mercy of the cruise company whos job it is to extract money from you. You visit various dockyards many of which are remote from anything of interest and so you end up booking excursions..

Tell me im wrong..

We did our first cruise last year, and although I quite liked it, I am not desperate to book another cruise. (Our cruise was with CMV, booked via Newmarket holidays).
The boat contained around 1200 passengers, and on this occasion, no children. Most people were older, but there were more younger people than I expected.
We had an inside room, but not one of the very cheapest, on the basis that you do not spend much time in your rooms. Our rooms were smallish, but clean and comfortable.
First the initial price excludes any tours, and drinks/gratuities packages.
By this I mean that a daily gratuity was compulsory, and this could (optionally) be combined with varying drinks packages. We checked the drinks options carefully to see which each included, but it is not compulsory to have a drinks package. Different cruise companies may have a different system.
I was worried about being ill (I have heard plenty of stories), but interested to see how seriously the crew took this, and everywhere had these alcohol wash things; I am not sure how effective these are were, but it definitely served as a reminder to constantly make sure we had washed our hands. You are after all, all on board a ship.
It is not necessary to undertake a tour at each port. We did so, because we were newbies, and uncertain how it all worked. However, if you research each port prior to going, you can easily do your own thing.
e.g. In some places, there were coaches to go into town. As long as you are back on board by the time stated, you are OK.
However, by research, I don’t just mean research on each destination, but it is possible to find out in advance just how long your specific cruise is booked into the port. Something I had not realised. (find the page on the actual port authority).
In some instances, we had to be back on board by 2.00 pm, which is not a lot of time to visit the area. Consequently, in some places, it is easier to ‘do your own thing’ than at others.
We did not attend any of the formal nights. There were plenty of other places to eat.
We also avoided all evening entertainment, day time quizzes, dance lessons, or any other ‘entertainment’, as I loathe that sort of thing, except for a couple of daytime lectures, which I found extremely interesting. There was also a small library, some shops, plenty of seating inside and outside, swimming pools, and on one day I booked a massage (extra, of course). Generally, one does not spend much time in the cabin. I don’t think I would like a larger ship, and reading some of the other posts, wonder if a smaller ship would be claustrophobic. This certainly did not feel so.
So, if your main focus is the places one is visiting, then I would consider a cruise as a ‘taster’ for each area, prompting me to return for a longer visit.
But also note how many days you may be at sea. Our cruise of 15 days, had 4 days at sea.