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?

People who have first hand knowledge are surely best to advise?
The Op asked would they enjoy cruising.
Presumably you think your opinion counts as much as people who have actually experienced it but I don’t think that’s reasonable.
Several posters have been on cruises they didn’t like and it’s important the Op can hear them and not those without first hand experience. Although moral and ethical concerns are worth raising everyone has different values.

I love them. We've done an adults only pre DS and then family cruises since and we loved them both.

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

I've never been to Butlins and never ever would. I've certainly read many descriptions of it though (both by people who hated it and people who lived it). I don't understand why you'd think a cruise would be remotely like Butlins .

My experience of cruises is: after a lovely night's sleep, wake up in a fab new location, have a delicious breakfast with a bewildering anount of choices (sitting with your own travel companions - no need to socialise with anyone else). Go and spend the day however you wish in your current location (Rome, Tallin, Copenhagen, whatever). Back on board maybe for a swim in the pool. G&T in the very nice bar, followed by dinner in your choice of restaurants. Hang out on deck with drinks afterwards or maybe watch a film on the outdoor screen (which is the only form of on-board entertainment I'd go to).

It's like a nice hotel at sea, not Butlins at sea. And we didn't even go with top-end companies!

Why are some posters so defensive about cruising? If you like it, go enjoy yourself and don't worry about those of us who think it would be awful.

Because its annoying when people make things up about what they think it would be like and completely ignore all the information from people who have actually been on cruises! Choosing not to go on cruises is fine. Saying "Cruises are x, y or z' when you've never been on one and expecting cruise-goers to just nod along is silly. Especially on a thread where the OP is trying to ascertain whether they'd like one or not!

Enjoy! It's a great experience...my only advice is to pack some items of clothing that are a bit bigger than usual as you may find that you may put on a few pounds with all the lovely food and drinks available throughout your cruise- I'm yet to return from a cruise weighing the same or less!

Where is this mythical Butlins, I need to book
it? Does it move around, is it in Alaska, the Virgin Islands or closer to home?

Had our first cruise with MSC this year. Was not sure what to expect but we did enjoy it. Agree that you don't get enough time in port to really explore a place but it does give sufficient time to decide whether you will want to return. WE loved Stockholm so will definitely go back. We are not into organised entertainment. All our holidays for past 20 years have been self catering, self organised. But there is no pressure to get involved in anything. It is easy to find space around the ship for a quiet drink. The food was good in the restaurants. We found the buffet too busy for us but the food was good there - not motorway service station quality at all! You can opt out completely - we had pizza in our cabin one night as we fancied a chilled evening watching a movie in our PJs. No issue.

Ive booked on a short cruise next month. Im on my own and its my first cruise so Im doing a taster, think I can stand 4 days. Its on an adult only one, (old farts probably like me .) I looked at the Fred Olsen Norway ones and nearly booked but they are 7 days or more so might do that next if I enjoy this one.

Plenty of places where you can book your own tours for much cheaper then the cruise line tours -ie alla tours in St. Petersburg

I just knew someone would mention Alla, who well deserve their excellent reputation - another is the brilliant Cosol Tours in St Lucia, and while the lines get a lot of sales out of suggesting you risk missing the ship with independents, a moment's thought teaches that anyone who stranded their tour guests would quickly be out of business

For whoever mentioned Fred. Olsen (god, that unnecessary full stop irritates me!!), do be aware that it has a more elderly demographic than many.
Once again this is where research is so important, since what suits one may not work for another

Another tip for newbies is to avoid the buffet on embarkation day and go straight to the main dining room for lunch ... so much more relaxing and a greater feeling of "I'm on board at last!!"

@Puzzledandpissedoff It was me who mentioned Fred Olsen! We are 56, does that make us too young? 😂🤞🏻

Well said.

Probably.

I've never sailed with them but I know people that have.

Most of their passengers are over 65 with most in the 75-80 range.

It’s more likely to be a “party” cruise like a cheap long weekend.
I’ve found they attract a different demographic to longer cruises. Still I hope you enjoy it.

I have been on cruises as a child and really enjoyed it. Nowadays I am more environmentally conscious, so I would never set foot of one. It's heartbreaking the destruction they are causing. It's clear most people on this thread doesn't care about the fact that our oceans are dying, but I personally do as much as I can do not speed up the process so that maybe our children can have a better life for slightly longer.

I wouldn’t worry if the ship is full of older people, in my experience they are the most lively and fun the parents with young DC who are knackered and in bed early.

It's great. It's a road trip but you bring your hotel room with you and don't need need to do the driving! Added bonus is they drive it overnight so you wake up in a new place each day (often, check itinerary!) and you get stuffed with great food and you can dance the night away (to justify that food)

Cunard all the way for us, like a bit of glamour

*It’s more likely to be a “party” cruise like a cheap long weekend.

I’ve found they attract a different demographic to longer cruises. Still I hope you enjoy it*
I did a short cruise this year over the May bank holiday, it was first P&O cruise. At first I thought it may be a bit cheap and cheerful but it turned out to be a lovely mini break. I paid to have dinners in different restaurants each night as a treat and did a fabulous trip in sunny Guernsey on an old fashioned bus which included some interesting stops and then an afternoon tea in a beautiful hotel with stunning views. Then after the trip my DH and I took regular bus around the whole island and I acted as tour guide telling him all the facts the actual tour guide had told us earlier. While i was having the cream and scones etc my DH had been on a walking war history tour and then we met up. It was such a fun day.
There were some excellent musicians on board, I particularly enjoyed the guy who sang Billy Joel songs. I went to a few different health seminars, an art auction for the free bubbly and had a couple of naps on the balcony.
The cruise cost £299 each!

Funniest thing I’ve read in a while 😂😂😂😂

Do you mean "our children" as a generalisation, ordo you actually have children? If the latter your post is a little ironic.....

akin to a sojourn on a prison ship, trapped with passengers you can't escape from?

That’s what we think it would be like so we wouldn’t do it. Another thing that puts us off is how evangelical repeat cruisers are. Please go on numerous cruises, enjoy them, have the time of your life but stop trying to convince me I’d love it. I wouldn’t because hell is other people - especially people like you!

As pp have said no one is trying to convince you. We just get fed up of people spouting crap about something they actually know nothing about.

I am very prone to travel sickness (car, buses, boats, planes), but I have never been sick on a cruise ship. I take a tablet before the ship sails and I usually find that by the time it’s worn off, I’m OK

no one is trying to convince you.

They are. All my cruising friends incessantly tell us how wonderful they are and how much we’d enjoy them. No, we wouldn’t. Just shut the fuck up and leave us alone, we like the holidays we have, we don’t want yours!

I meant it in a general way. My children are adults now, and when I went on cruises as a child it was the 80's and nobody talked about the effect it had on the environment. Now that we do know how it impacts our oceans, I couldn't bring myself to do it. That's all I'm saying.