To cruise or not to cruise

[Summerslam]

Would you? Assuming you had the money and could afford it, does the idea of floating around the Mediterranean or Caribbean, for a week or two, appeal?

I've heard so many differing opinions. Personally, I think I'd like it. Just me and DH, on an adults only cruise.

What do you you think? Relaxing holiday visiting different places with no effort? Or akin to a sojourn on a prison ship, trapped with passengers you can't escape from?

It depends what kind of holidays you usually go on/enjoy.

If you normally go for a 2 week AI somewhere, but like to pop out from the resort and see a bit more of the place, then maybe it might be for you.

If you normally go for a multi-centre fly-drive in nice hotels, you might also like it.

But if you DIY everything, using SC or B&B accommodation, don't necessarily have your full 2 weeks planned out before you go (ie - you decide what to do/see when you get there, based on the weather/picking up hints from the locals etc) then maybe not.

For me, one of the biggest things about being on holiday is enjoying the local food/drink. Evening meals out are the thing I look forward to the most. And whilst I realise that most cruise ships have multiple restaurants, it's just not the same as being in a little bisto/taverna/cafe/trattoria etc and then finding a bar/gelateria and having a stroll around whatever town you're in after dinner. I'd also find it MASSIVELY stressful having to clock-watch to make sure you're back at the boat after a day out before it leaves. I'd end up either not going too far or not using any public transport, or allowing way too much contingency - all of which would affect my enjoyment considerably.

Having said all of that, my friend's parents have just done a cruise on the Hurtigruten in Norway, and that looked amazing. But it didn't look like a cruise (from their pictures) - more like a means of transport than a holiday base.

I love sight seeing but I also love relaxing, so a cruise is a perfect holiday for me. I went on a couple years ago and loved them, didn't bother with any onboard activities (apart from eating), i dont really enjoy cabaret style shows or musicsls but i have to say that the evening entertainment is generally of a very good standard. For me it's a lovely, relaxing, hassle free way of seeing the world.

We have had some fabulous cruises. Never felt trapped seeing the same people. In fact we have often had conversations with other passengers and then never seen them again. As a PP had said we often wonder where everyone is.

Yes I got norovirus on one cruise but there again I also got it while staying in an hotel.

Sister was very keen to try a cruise after she heard about ours. Her husband was dead against it as he didn't want to be "crammed in like sardines". Sis finally persuaded him to go and if he didn't like it they would never go again. I think he thought it was going to be like an up-market cross channel ferry.

They have just booked their 12th cruise!

I love them.

If you're not sure, book one that stops in a different port each day rather than one that has 6/7 days in a row at sea.

It does appeal but I’m scared I would accidentally throw myself overboard. Can’t bear to research family cruises for this reason 😄

Wow thank you for all the responses. What are the best cruise companies to be looking at? Apart from a Nile Cruise, a Rhine river cruise and weekend cruising the Norwegian Fjiords. we have never done a sea cruise as a main holiday. Adding a balcony seems to double the price. Are all cruises all inclusive? What about tips?

Virgin is known as a bit of a party line, and short cruises are known to attract hen and stag parties due to their length.

Unless you love that sort of atmosphere a short virgin voyage might not be for you.

Done a few cruises, all on ships with mainly around the 1500-2000 passengers Inc crew so mainly the smaller one's.
As a person that goes on holiday to visit the areas surroundings as opposed to laying on the beach/around pool they were perfect for me.
Waking up in a different country every day instead having days where you'd do most of the attractions within a few days of arriving at your destination was what drew me to going on cruises.
I also liked the fact that you could dress up and have dinner service if you fancied it or just go to the buffet and have meals there.
Would definitely choose an adults only if you can.

On a side note some companies have an expected amount that you tip daily per person which can soon add up.
I know a couple that always went to reception on arrival and ask to have this removed from their card, rightly so.
I always left a tip in my room on departure day.

I’ve holidayed in some lovely places which are on the cruise circuit. Without exception those places have been significantly less lovely on the days the cruises were docked. Therefore the people on the cruise are not seeing all those lovely places at their best. And that’s quite apart from actually being on the ship. So no to cruises. Yacht charters and gulets however…..

It depends on the cruise line. Some do all inclusive (of tips) like p&o and others will do all inclusive that includes tips drinks and WiFi if you pay the right fare (like princess).

We have done 7 cruises and absolutely love them. We have done Royal Carribean, Princess, P&O and Cunard. They each have plus and minuses for us and it depends on who is going, if you have kids and what you are looking for from a cruise.

I really don’t fancy it. Is not like Butlins at sea?!

My favourite holidays. If you pick the right ship it's never claustrophobic. We have been on loafs and on various ships. Even without the kids we wouldn't do adults only, we did once and the average age is very high. On the more family ships it's a much younger group of people on board. We have always seen all ages of people on board, loads in their twenties upwards. The DCs have loved them at all ages also. Definitely more freedom for them than on land holidays.

Its tight to remove tips. What about all the other staff who have served you on your holiday. They won't get any tips from one left in the room! From the cleaners, laundry, chefs etc .... they have all made your holiday experience. Your room attendant wouldn't be able to give you such good service if they didn't have clean towels and bedding etc.....

I never see the argument to remove them. Just add the cost of tips to the price of your holiday. So holiday is 1000 tips 200 so your holiday is 1200. If you can't afford that go for a cheaper cruise!

Some cruise lines include tips in the price.

No! Depends on what cruise line you book with but I have never ever felt its like Butlins. I find them the most relaxing holiday and can just sit and chill as much as you want or go and do activities if you want.

It's amazing !!! Best holiday ever

I can see the appeal and especially if I could go by myself it might be quite nice.

however my dh would absolutely loathe it so I think getting us on a boat is very unlikely

a cruise is my personal nightmare but I get why others might enjoy! I like having my own time to explore places and spend my money there, I think it benefits local economy more.

Best holiday ever. Consider a company like Celebrity that is high quality, mostly aimed at adults and includes tips and drinks in price.

we have done about 14 cruises including two in last three months and tend to choose Royal caribbean as it suits our young families better. But kid- free I would do celebrity.

My friend used
to work for them-
it’s basically a posh ferry that goes up and down the Norwegian fjords.
so people get on and get off everywhere.
not quite the same and probably doesn’t have quite the same standard of catering and entertainment etc

It doesn’t appeal to me personally, but I would 100% take my kiddo on one. She’d love the activities and entertainment en route and I’d like the catering, not having to drive and different places to see. (If there weren’t hoardes if other people on the things, I’d be more enthusiastic. I prefer a quieter life)

I've been on 2. A Baltic one on our honeymoon 20 years ago and a Mediterranean one 3 years ago with in-laws (they paid!) and our dc (11 and 14 at the time). I really enjoyed both, but tbh if it were just me and dh with no dc to take into account and we were wanting to spend cruise prices, I'd rather go and stay in a hotel in a country / region I'd never been to and spend more time exploring it.

The cruise with the family was fantastic though - it was a great way for the dc to experience new places and we all loved being on the ship together too. We're thinking of doing another one next year.

The Baltic one was great too - the places were all lovely but I didn't feel like I got enough time in any of them. It was the most relaxing holiday I've ever been on, and was a very old demographic - we (age 32) were literally the youngest people on the ship. The Med one was younger couples and families.

Cruise ships use local transport for excursions, local tour guides, visit local attractions and often include meals in local restaurants. And when in port you can go off exploring on your own and put money into the local economy that way.

foe.org/cruise-report-card/

Comparing mile to mile, the carbon footprint of a cruise is worse than an airplane. This even factors in the damage from emissions at higher altitude from flying.

Many people have the false assumption that cruising is greener than flying. While both emit pollution into the atmosphere, cruise ships are far worse. Per passenger, per mile, a cruise emits almost double the carbon dioxide.

Cruise ship emissions are also harmful to marine environments and its inhabitants. Cruise ships are notorious for utilizing the cheapest fuel on the market. They then use scrubbers to “clean” their smokestacks, and the pollutants are dumped directly into the ocean — warming the seas and poisoning marine wildlife.