Massive Cruise ship holidays

[Roiesin57]

Do you enjoy them, or do you refuse to take one due to their impact on the environment?
We have taken one a few years ago and we had a lovely time. Everything about it was gorgeous and I fancy another one; but when I look at photos of them they look quite grotesque when they're docked in these relatively little seaside ports abroad.
Have you given up on foreign holidays because of the impact on the environment? And they're so damn expensive too

I also grew up in a poor family. My parents did their best to always give us a holiday each year. It was cheap and cheerful Butlins or wet camping for many years. I have happy memories of those times, even though looking back it must have felt hard work for my parents.
I'm fortunate to have more money than they did so can afford a wider range of experiences for me and my family. It's very easy to be snooty and look down your nose at the cheaper options but I respect anyone who makes a priority of holidays, experiences and family time regardless of how they do it.

I am moored at Miami as I type about to leave for a cruise. I am doing a back to back one. After last weeks experience I really wish I’d only booked one week … the smog here is unreal. I knew they weren’t environmentally great but I really had no clue quite how bad they are …

Some of the responses on here to others choices of holidays are simply ridiculous, I remember someone told me she would never do a cruise as she didn’t like going in the water! no idea what she meant unless she thought it would end up like the Titanic!
Anyhoo crack on with your camping etc I’m not criticising your choices!
I’m looking forward to being looked after, I’ve nursed and cared for people all my life , still do, and it’s the one time someone else looks after me from the minute I get up till go to my bed at night , no cooking cleaning shopping or caring duties even for a short time is heaven!
I will continue to carry on cruising and wake up to a new country and new adventures!

Makes me chuckle when people post this and I’ve never been on a cruise that costs less than £16,000.

Not sure if anyone has already acknowledged this as I've not read the thread but neither Split nor Dubrovnik have the capacity for ten cruise ships at once.

Nothing to do with the environment, it just looks like hell with added seasickness to me.

Not sure if anyone has already acknowledged this as I've not read the thread but neither Split nor Dubrovnik have the capacity for ten cruise ships at once

I know - poster made that up 🤷‍♀️

I just see those and they scream 'greed' at me. So bad for the environment.

Interesting. Can you tell us which ship?

@Marchintospring Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas

@Poshjock sounds wonderful.

@MrsPetty Thank you. I have heard that about some ships although it’s never been something I noticed on the couple of ( different) cruise lines I’ve been on. I’m sorry it’s spoiling your holiday.
Can you take pictures and complain to customer services. Could you get a cabin near the front?

1,300 for 4 persons with drinks for 7 nights is incredible value!

We enjoy travelling on cruises. Try Regent Seven Seas or Oceania. Not large ships, passenger to crew ratio very good. As far removed from Butlins-what strange pre conceptions some people have- as it’s possible to get. Lots of space, large staterooms. Fabulous dining. Lots of thought to the environmental impact, in many small ways.

@Marchintospring we’re just leaving the port. It’s clear air at sea … it’s not just this cruise ship. It’s all of them combined. And the airport. And traffic. It’s not just the pollution … it’s a long time since I took a cruise and this was just a reminder of why that is. My husband and I made a pact when we reached Miami from London that aside from flying home we won’t be taking any more transatlantic flights.

Before our first cruise we didn't really fancy the thought of being 'stuck' on a floating hotel. We went because a family member begged us to go with them. We were converted. Especially if you sail from the uk (rather than fly-cruise). It's so relaxing & you can do as much or as little as you please. Plenty of space to sit with a book. Visit the gym, cinema, coffee shops, restaurants. We have been as a family with small children & with their partners too. Cabins are much more comfortable these days. Cost is reasonable considering all food & entertainment is included. Only ever been with P&O so can't comment on other companies. Best ship we've been on was Britannia.

I will add that we get off at each port & take local taxis to see the town/local attractions & have a nice lunch in a local restaurant. We tend to go over Christmas/new year so we buy Christmas presents from the places we visit.

@MrsPetty Ah ok sorry, I see what you mean. I know some ships do get a bit of soot at the back.
I’m sure the next form of transport will be along soon though. Like the horse and cart became obsolete so will fossil fuel powered things.

Been on a number of cruises over the past 10 years and whilst there are aspects of cruising that I'm not overly keen on ie the crowded ships on at sea days, greedy people who take up two sunbeds when there is a shortage I have visited some amazing places I would have found difficult to visit without going via cruise ship.

I didnt say they were both huge , but even the small one is still too big!

Feels like 90%+ of the cruise haters on this thread have never been on a cruise and have made uneducated and sometimes bizarre assumptions… don’t really get it.

Like everything, of course it’s not for everyone but we went on our first cruise last summer and absolutely loved it - on Marella so mid-size. It was amazing for kids (aged 7-12), the older ones could have so much freedom on the ship and made brilliant friends. The very nature of stopping and exploring ports meant we had a lovely balance of spending time all together in port but letting them do their own things with friends on the ship.

Food was fantastic, much better than expected, so many restaurants, drinks were included as standard and entertainment was literally close to West End quality. The views from the ship were insane, balcony was private and roomy, it felt so peaceful seeing all that blue sea and nothing else. Visiting several different countries was amazing - we were in the Colosseum, up the Leaning Tower of Pisa and in the Sagrada Familia within days of each other without having to pack a bag and haul children and belongings onto planes and trains in sweltering heat.

We fly cruise these days. The flights would be going anyway. And we can combine the cruise (small ship 600-700 passengers) with a city break at either or both ends,anywhere in the world. I always found disembarking at Southampton a bit shit so grey and usually raining. When in port and no excursions planned we always make a point of getting off the ship and finding somewhere to have lunch and a glass of wine, look for markets, bookshops etc. We don’t have children, why should we give up our holidays for the sake of those who have chosen to procreate, which is the worst thing you can do for the environment. I find people who lecture other people about their holiday choices because “what about the world MY children will inherit” a bit sanctimonious. At least our carbon footprint will end when we die.

I’ve found the comments from the holier than thou we are proper travellers, people who cruise are just tourists brigade hilarious.

It's funny how those who've never been on a cruise love to slag them off. Until you've experienced it you aren't entitled to an opinion.

I go on holiday 2x every year , one abroad one here in uk, but i wouldn't go on a cruise, i went on P&O The pride of Bilbao i think it was called many years ago, never again!

Well, folk are entitled to an opinion on whether or not it's for them, but I agree it's odd to read all the comments about "what they're like" from those who've clearly never been on one