To wonder why everyone raves about cruises?

[malificent7]

It has never appealed until recently. I thought it sounded like you are trapped to an itinery, on a long , boring journey woth only a day in each place and no space from fellow passengers but everyone I know seems to love them...i am seriously tempted.
So what is so good about a cruise and has anyone actually hated them?
Is the food as good as everyone says and is it relaxing? Apparently you don't get sea sick...is this true?

Nope they do not become part of the history of these ports because you say so. They are an unsightly and ugly invaders

So what if they are, in your opinion, unsightly and ugly? It doesn't stop them becoming part of a port's history, just because they don't look pretty.

I find it difficult to converse with somebody who can assign a label other than 'ugly' to those blocks of metal. Are you saying that you can't converse with someone who doesn't have the same opinion as you? Isn't that what a good debate is all about?

A cruise ship would qualify along thelines as being ugly. Do you find 1960s tower blocks beautiful or are you so invested in cruising that you just will compromise in order to say anything? Are you directing this question to me? Where did I ever say that I thought cruise ships (or tower blocks!) are beautiful. I didn't. But I can accept that some people find them to be so. And they can still be part of our history. As are 1960s tower blocks. History doesn't have to be beautiful.

The sad thing is, noone seeing the world from a hulking great cruise ship is seeing that place at its best.

You can't enjoy the peaceful majesty of the fjords from a giant tower block chugging it's way along them.

You can't enjoy the tranquility and beauty of Fowey when you are towering over the town and the streets are filled with the same faces you just been on a ship with.

It's such an odd way to see the world. Unless I was disabled or very elderly I cannot imagine choosing to travel that way

@Marinade this is a thread about cruises. If you find it difficult, why are you choosing to converse with people who enjoy them and do not find them ugly?

I live in a place that gets cruise ship visits. I can assure you most of the locals are not happy.

I enjoy the Mediterranean as it's sheltered compared to the Atlantic. The ships are big so you don't feel the movement much unless it's stormy.

The bit I like is the ease. It's like having a beautiful Hotel floating to destination after destination. It's just so easy to take it all in without feeling travel weary.

Yes you only get a day, but you get to know where you are stopping and trip advisor is your friend. It's very easy to see quite a lot in a day without doing excursions arranged by the ship which are costly.

We are keen cruisers. The destinations are just meant to be a taste so you can revisit for longer if you enjoyed it.

I'd rather stick pins in my eyes than go on a cruise.

How cruise ships became a catastrophe for the planet – video | Shipping emissions | The Guardian

The stats here are absolutely eye-popping. 1/4 of all the world's ocean rubbish!? Cruise ships are very very few in number and cater to a miniscule % of the world's population. This is absolutely disproportionate.

The industry needs to clean up its act, fast. And cruising needs to be considered an acceptable option only for those whose disabilities prevent them from traveling easily in other ways. "I have kids and traveling with kids is stressful" is a poor excuse. I've travelled with kids and have mostly used public transport, even, rather than short-hop flights or cars. You need plan your journeys properly and take things for them to do on the train or coach.

I live in an area popular with tourists and love it, but cruise ships would be a step too far. They enter places en masse and flood them. They have a low spend per person, in part because of those enormous breakfasts and dinners, meaning people are far less likely to order a full meal and drinks at lunchtime, and because once the cruise ship has been paid for people are reluctant to spend money on other things. A high % of people also book ship-operated excursions when on shore out of convenience, so all the money's staying with the ship.

Can you imagine being told who you have to sit with at your dinner table every night whilst you're on holiday!

That doesn’t happen. You don’t have to sit with anyone.

That article is about the world’s biggest ships that carry thousands. The ones we go on carry about 600.

“Ship operated excursions” still use local coaches, local guides, local restaurants if there is a meal included on the excursions. And pay entrance fees to local attractions.

We always have lunch off the ship if we are in port and not doing an excursion.

Fair enough. It's good if there are ways to manage sea travel that are more responsible, as this can be a good accessible option for some travelers.

The sad thing is, noone seeing the world from a hulking great cruise ship is seeing that place at its best.

I disagree.

Sailing up and down the Fjords allows you to see the wonderful landscape and waterfalls.

The views in Glacier Bay are only really accessible by boat (small or large). Being on a ship silently pirouetting in front of a glacier is an experience not to be missed.

Transiting the Panama Canal has amazing views of how the locks work and of the rainforest. Remember container ships use the Canal as well and are huge.

I can see small towns are different and agree with ports that limit the number/frequency of cruise ships.

It would be boring if we all liked the same things. Some of us like cruise ships others don’t. I’ve done land based self drive tours which I loved but I also love cruise holidays too.

This is a myth, you can have a table just for your party size 1,2, 4 etc.

Had amazing views of the Christ the Redeemer statue when sailing into Rio. And sailing into/out of New York is pretty spectacular.

To be fair I don't want to go a cruise with the miseries and know alls on here. So thank you for going with elsewhere.

"Locals" aren't happy in tourist resorts when there are a lot of AI hotels - where tourists barely leave the hotel and don't use local bars, restaurants, cafes, taxis, etc.

The reality is that tourism is a double edged sword in lots of places. The places need tourism to spend the money for the benefit of the local economy, but too much tourism causes strain on local amenities such as housing for locals.

At least cruise ship tourism doesn't impact on local housing problems as the cruise passengers aren't staying in properties rented out under Air BNB or bought as holiday lets.

Oh I wasn't meaning that the best way to see the fjords isn't from the water, just that it's far far more magical from a small sailing boat

On the other hand air b and b's etc don't belch out cast plumes of pollutants....

The in-laws are utterly utterly obsessed with cruises. We have been roped along on two P&O cruises with them (big birthday celebrations which they have generously paid for). I can appreciate they are the sort of holiday which could suit older people or those who are less mobile. The range of facilities on-board are better than your standard all-inclusive, but without the hassle of planes and transfers etc (unless a fly cruise).

We found the experience quite stifling e.g. be back to the ship at this time (or it leaves you), eat at this time, put your luggage out at this time. Being in port for such a short period of time was also incredibly frustrating. Literally only about 4 hours in some cases. We spent most of the time in queues to attractions, or heading back to the ship (to allow good time for delays).

Food was sub-par (compared to our expectations following all the rave reviews) and probably equivalent to "vintage inn" pub quality food. It all seemed to be meat and two veg options, apart from the speciality restaurants. The buffet was very repetitive and although looked huge, was just repeated across multiple stations. It was standard "all inclusive" quality (with a heavy emphasis on roast dinners) and nothing special. Both me and DH felt very uncomfortable with how the staff are paid and treated. 99% of the staff (apart from the entertainment staff) were from India, Philippines, Sri Lanka etc and we felt they were probably not being treated very well compared to other staff members. It had a bit of a Downton Abbey (but less cheery) vibe which we found very very uncomfortable.

We also found the "sea days" very boring and although it looked like a plethora of activities were scheduled, many of them were thinly veiled sales pitches e.g. "explore skin care with x products" or "explore jewellery with x products". We spent time reading, walking round the ship, watching movies or planning our next meal. We were on a cold north sea cruise, so swimming in the pools or sunbathing wasn't that appealing. The spa looked lovely, but very expensive.

So yeah, we will probably get roped along again...it is difficult to say no when it is for big occassions and someone is generously paying. We enjoy spending time with family etc, but we found ourselves a bit flummoxed as to what the fuss is about.

Not all cruise lines are the same. We've done the PO& O. The line we go with now is bottom end of luxury, buffets are excellent, as are speciality dining options, entertainment is low key but high quality (no theatre or casino on board, just cabaret lounge, nightclub and piano bar)?, ship is in port for at least a day and occasionally overnight.

When the locals do not want them the cruise ships are nothing more than an unwelcome imposition on the ports they enter: hence they do not become part of the fabric of the port however many times you like to say it.

And my point is I cannot converse with someone who seems unable to acknowlege that these ships are ugly because they are so intent on making a point. It says to me that their level of discernment and judgement is so far apart from my own that I do not want to continue the discussion with them. I can choose who I enter into discourse with on this thread.

I fully acknowledge that some of the bigger shops are hideous and I wouldn't want to go on them. But they aren't all like that, which some haters don't seem to want to acknowledge either.

Being rammed into a boat with other people listening to 'low key' cabaret whilst talking about their cruise package, the variety and quality of the buffet, and the plethora of destinations they have 'cruised into' sounds like a snore fest.

And 'haters' - are you 12? 😆

You have no idea what you are talking about. You sound 12 yourself.

Says the person who refers to people with differing opinions as 'haters'. Even my 14 year old has dropped this phrase.

The endless descriptions of your cruise experiences and the horrible ship you posted as some sort of shining emblem of luxury cruising tells me a lot.