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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Do you get jealous of people who go on cruises

849 replies

Sportslady44 · 19/02/2022 16:37

Feeling very envious today. Friend is about to set off on a cruise for 14nights.

Cant stop thinking about it and them.

Can you put me off please?

Tell me some downsides of cruises.

OP posts:
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5
burnoutbabe · 20/02/2022 12:27

@Puzzledandpissedoff

We don’t do ships tours

Very wise, Turningacornernow Wink Why go with a huge group or pay $$$$ for a "small and intimate group tour" when the second is precisely what you can book direct with locals?

My only exception is when the sights are a long way from the ship (Giza, Rome, etc.) and even then you have to hear at dinner about those who've gone it alone and had a much better experience!!

yes Rome was the only place i was prepared to pay for a ships "tour" which actually was a coach to rome, taken around the colliseum and then dropped in centre for a few hours of wandering.

Plenty of horror stories there about delayed trains back to the port. Would't risk it there.

But most other places you can walk back to the port within 30 mins so minimal risk of missing anything.

the tours (organised indepently) in St Petersberg were amazing, we saw so much in 2 days. Was shattered afterwards!

hellcatspangle · 20/02/2022 12:31

@OhWhyNot

Absolutely not

Hotels with clubs in are bad are bad enough but at least you can escape

You do know that the ships dock early in the morning, and the idea is you get off the ship and spend the day exploring? Yes there are odd days at sea, but that's no different to spending a day or two of a hotel holiday at the hotel instead of out and about.
CounsellorTroi · 20/02/2022 12:57

I’d take a cruise any day over an all inclusive compound in Cancun or the Dominican republic.

CrimbleCrumble1 · 20/02/2022 13:01

burnoutbabe that’s the same as me regarding St Petersburg, we used Alla tours and it was incredible. My DC loved it and it’s probably not a place I may not have gone too if it wasn’t part of a cruise. Same as with Istanbul, such an amazing place.

CrimbleCrumble1 · 20/02/2022 13:02

Ignore the double negative.

OhWhyNot · 20/02/2022 13:17

I know but that’s not the whole day and evening

But I don’t want to be surrounded by loads of people or bothered I like to escape online peace and quite very hard when you are on a ship with thousands of others

I have friends who have worked on cruise ships for years and had many opportunities to have a very cheap holiday it just doesn’t appeal

It’s not for me

OhWhyNot · 20/02/2022 13:18

*i like peace and quiet

Chewbecca · 20/02/2022 13:25

St Petersburg is a cruising highlight for us too. We spent 3 days there & arranged a private guide and saw lots of non standard sights. We would likely never have done this if it wasn’t for cruising.

We definitely get peace and quiet on a ship, there are quiet, comfortable corners everywhere to read a book with a cocktail in hand looking at the sea. Heaven. Or your own balcony is always quiet.

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 20/02/2022 13:45

@OhWhyNot

I know but that’s not the whole day and evening

But I don’t want to be surrounded by loads of people or bothered I like to escape online peace and quite very hard when you are on a ship with thousands of others

I have friends who have worked on cruise ships for years and had many opportunities to have a very cheap holiday it just doesn’t appeal

It’s not for me

This is the hardest thing onboard I find. The only place you can really escape is either in a treatment room in the spa, your own cabin or possibly the library...and often these places don't have natural daylight.

For crew we share our cabins, sometimes between 4 people so the chances of privacy/peace and quiet was non-existent.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 20/02/2022 13:45

The tours (organised indepently) in St Petersberg were amazing, we saw so much in 2 days

Alla Tours by any chance? I've used this brilliant company twice now, though I know what you mean about being shattered at the end; the second time I booked their "comfort tour" and frankly it wasn't much different!

CraftyGin · 20/02/2022 15:12

I wonder why many people on cruises are on their 5th, 9th, 16th cruise? There must be some merit.

Kennykenkencat · 20/02/2022 16:14

@Kenworthington

Hell no I am scared of the sea and get seasick ona pedalo (I wish I was joking)
Same here.

I wish I didn’t get sea sick because in my head I see myself sailing a yacht across the ocean but in reality I would be retching over board so much that very little sailing would take place.

burnoutbabe · 20/02/2022 18:30

@Puzzledandpissedoff

The tours (organised indepently) in St Petersberg were amazing, we saw so much in 2 days

Alla Tours by any chance? I've used this brilliant company twice now, though I know what you mean about being shattered at the end; the second time I booked their "comfort tour" and frankly it wasn't much different!

Yep! Alla.

Some brave souls actually arranged to go to the ballet that night- but up at 7 to meet tour guides meant I was in bed by 7 luckily.

Reckon I am cruise 10 soon. Latest one was with virgin cruises which was very different and amazing food. Pity it was just around Portsmouth but that's all was in offer last summer. Everyone fully vaccinated and pre cruise covid testing. Felt safe.

CatJumperTwat · 20/02/2022 18:32

@CounsellorTroi

It’s just that so many people on here have formed an opinion on something they have never done based on myths, misconceptions and snobbery. But you’re right, no skin off my nose.
Why not chew on some broken glass? You can't decide you won't like it until you do it. That's closed minded.
Cameleongirl · 20/02/2022 21:31

Like most things in life, cruises suit some people and not others, I'm not sure it's just snobbery or misconceptions that put people off.

I'm hoping to go on a walking holiday this summer. Some of my friends hate the idea of a walking holiday, even though they've never been on one. It just isn't their idea of fun.

HootOwl · 20/02/2022 22:24

I would hate it I think. On holiday I like to explore at my own pace. I struggle with crowds and noise and timings determined by other people. Holiday is a break from that, usually. I love not having to clock-watch so I can actually relax. I could never decompress in an environment with so many people and so much noise.

I like to see different architecture, historical sites, do road trips to explore remote places, hidden local restaurants. Local food is a huge part of travel for me.

I have been to several remote places by ferry that could only be reached that way, and even then the port areas were the least appealing and interesting. Just the landing point, to then explore the place properly once I'd hired a car and found somewhere less busy to stay.

I want to spend my holidays immersed in the culture and feel of the place I am visiting rather than that be a minor part of it and most of the time be spent with other tourists. Also on these huge ships, most of it is indoor stuff, with only a tiny area being outside proportionate to the number of passengers. The claustrophobia of that I would hate. I like to run on the beach on holiday before breakfast, wherever I am (obviously not for city breaks if no beach but relaxing holidays).

My happy place is on a secluded beach, lazing away the hours with - for once - no pressure to do anything. Tranquility. Feeling the sun on my skin, swimming in the sea. If you end up swimming in the sea on a cruise you are most likely dead. 🤣

People like different things. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I can see how for extroverted people and people who like organised entertainment etc this would be fun. I like peace and quiet and good local food and wine and relaxation, and being able to be spontaneous about what I do without any time pressure. Also many comments here about how you have to get up early to make the most of it - again, the last thing I'd want to do on holiday!!

sashh · 21/02/2022 01:58

@CounsellorTroi

All these people saying they wouldn’t go on a cruise even if it was free or they were paid to - are you really that closed minded? What would you have to lose? I don’t fancy a skiing holiday but would consider giving it a go if it was free.
Water, deep water, I do not like being in water deeper than me. And did I mention water?

I would not be able to sleep, enjoy a meal, enjoy any entertainment because I would be on water.

And 'sea days' whole days without seeing land, and you are on water, deep water. Deeper than a metre, I mean much deeper.

And BTW did I mention water?

buddylicious · 21/02/2022 03:07

I wouldn't want to go on a cruise because I like to take in the culture of the countries I'm in. We eat local food in the restaurants that the locals eat in and endeavour to speak the language etc.

Therefore, you wouldn't get me in a holiday resort aimed at the English either!

avamiah · 21/02/2022 04:02

I went on a 10 night cruise on Crystal Liners from Miami around the Caribbean then back again about 16 years ago and I hated it and would never go on another cruise again.
It was far too long and I have no idea how people do World Cruises as I couldn’t. wait to get off.

Furries · 21/02/2022 04:14

Big fat no from me! Basically cooped up with a load of people I don’t know, organised mealtime’s, forced entertainment and no way to leave. Sounds like hell on earth (water).

TravelDreamLife · 21/02/2022 06:39

-Taking the crowd wherever you go & not being able to visit places without throngs of people.
-Ships are extremely overcrowded.
-Having to be nice to 8 strangers every meal.
-No space/privacy. Tiny unpleasant rooms.
Not being able to avoid annoying passengers who've attached themselves to you as 'friends'.
-Being constantly pressured to buy things - photos, tours, shopping.
-People who take decent spots to sit at 5am & put towels/books on so no one else can use them. All day.

  • Cringe worthy organised activities.
-The group who hogs the spa/pool/seats at every show. -Being confined to your room if you sneeze.
  • No real time in ports to explore.

I did do one cruise. Obviously hated it & have gone back to going where we please. With no crowds!

gingerhills · 21/02/2022 07:49

I can't bear the idea of having no autonomy on holiday. I like to find tiny local restaurants, spend ages at historic sites, not take a pic and jump back on a coach. I want to spend time with my family or local people or visit friends abroad, not mingle with forced jollity while some crew put on cheesy dance shows and sing cover versions of show songs I hated in the first place.

I probably would go on a very short cruise if it was free, but just so I could store up anecdotes of how grim it was to share with the family.

Stuffin · 21/02/2022 07:57

Cruises are easy holidays for us.

No flying as we are near a big cruise port.

We pay for the luxury which means big cabin, own sun loungers. This means no noise or lots of people unless we actively seek it out.

We pay for a table to ourselves.

Can go for food and drink anytime.

No travelling to destinations by flights or driving which can be tiring.

We don't use the main entertainment but do make use of other amenities.

I alternate between cruises, long haul luxury AI and fly drives depending on what I fancy that year.

Fizbosshoes · 21/02/2022 08:24

Things that make me think I wouldn't like a cruise

  • eating out for every meal
  • days at sea = not being able to go "outside"
  • potential for sea-sickness
  • potential for feeling it was crowded unless staying in own cabin.
RufustheFloralmissingreindeer · 21/02/2022 08:31

Pity it was just around Portsmouth but that's all was in offer last summer

I live on the coast….you were ‘outside my house’ for ages 😀

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