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?

@GreenTeaLikesMe What do you mean by "in trouble" ?

The worse is economic problems meaning we as society can't consume at the levels we have.
Going green means not consuming things at the levels we have.

Jeez
Whatever happened to just going on a fun holiday?

I was recently on a flight with people returning from a cruise to Greenland, Iceland, Faroes... They actually seemed like the sort of people who you would want to be on a ship with. They were mostly retired, but clearly educated, not loud, humorous.

I would be interested in going on a cruise to places like South America, Central America, Bahamas, maybe even parts of Africa, Australia, Oceania. I do not imagine ever travelling specially to the first two places, because of crime fears and an interest only in the "highlights" of each place, rather than every square metre. Can anyone advise what companies I should look into? I also like the idea of ships which run lectures or just have enough space for you to sit somewhere with a book and look out to sea.

I'd recommend Azamara for the kind of cruise you are looking for.

https://www.azamara.com/home

I've done South Africa, NZ and South America with them.

Well this thread descended quickly into ridiculous territory.

But still, I feel intrigued to try a cruise now, they sound fun and like you get a lot for your money. And I had no idea they offered such varied options for entertainment, I previously assumed was all a bit low bar. I feel excited to try one, maybe next year. Thanks for starting the thread OP.

Azamara are saying you get $500 free credit for booking.

Is that a normal sort of offer for a cruise ship?

@DysonSphere Yes.

Unlike other sectors it is usually better to book through a cruise agent rather than the company direct. They have better and exclusive deals on top of what the promotions the cruise line offer. End of the month is a good time to book as they need to make sales targets.
It is never more to book through an agent than directly by the way.
Also if anything goes wrong they sort it out. The cruise line is more worried about an agent not promoting them to its customers than one guest saying they won't ever cruise again etc.

A negative of cruising is that prices are very dynamic. They go down as well as up. Decide on your non variables whether that be ports or ship or dates or price and look around. Never book if its not got some sort of offer!

Great info thanks!

Ocean cruises don't appeal, for one they're incredibly bad for the environment. When we were in Antigua the port often had liners in, they were huge it was like a stadium emptying after a big match.

Also on a boat trip we went past a couple and they were both in dire need of refurbishment, peeling paint, rust etc.
We also ran into trips on beaches and usually the price in beach bars went up when the trip was on and down when they left.

A cruise, in other words?

Ive been on 2, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Off on another one next week and have 3 booked for next year!

They have rapidly become a firm favourite in our family and are nothing like I imagined.

it’s like a hotel and you rarely feel movement. So much to do and loads to keep kids entertained. Food is brilliant in my experience. And love waking up in a different place each port day.

A close family remember went on a cruise over summer. They said it was packed! Sea days and meal times were overcrowded. They enjoyed the excursions and exploring the different countries but said they wouldn’t do it again.

Of course it will feel busier on high summer sea days. You can do cruises with no sea days.Or kids. Or do speciality dining that has more intimate dining.
Cruises like hotels aren't all the same.

Having followed this thread, I booked one for my mother and I and I am on it now. It’s definitely not for me.

We booked Yacht club with MSC which is very premium so butlers , separate sun beds etc and separate restaurant and bar if you wish.

But the whole concept is just not me but I also don’t like an all inclusive either.

What I can’t get over is the quality of the food. It makes sense that catering for 3000 people can’t mean delivery of quality food but I think people who rave about the food are just raving about the quantity and availability,

I can see why retired people like it though , and also those who like all inclusive.

That was kind and daughterly of you. How much longer?

I am finding cruise food much worse than the only AI I have been to.

3 more days. I mean it’s fine but just not my bag. I get why the retired love them though. Lots of mums and daughters on this ship

What restaurants were there?

MSC aren't the best cruise line for food, though their fresh pasta dishes are usually excellent. I recommend people to try Celebrity, Azamara, or really go for it with Regent, Silversea and other 6 star lines.

I tried it once. RC, found it to be like a floating all inclusive hotel. Stuck on board, rushed visits when in port. Never again

I get it too. PiL used to cruise before they got too frail, because FIL had limited mobility, and they were always trying to persuade us to go with them, but it’s my idea of pure hell.

OMG MSC Yacht club is divine. I loved it with all my heart. I’d gone in non-YC before and it’s like night and day. Which ship are you on? The older yacht clubs are better apparently. (We did preziosa)

I can see why retired people like it though

@Appletinii I am retired and it doesn't appeal at all!
That was a nice thing to do though, for your Mum.

I hate them. Have been on everything from Celebrity (club 18/30) to Regent (age group 60+) As soon as you find a destination you love, it’s quick we’ll miss the boat! The food is abysmal mass catering and I just find the whole thing depressing. Silversea had one good restaurant and Regent excellent service but they make you dress up for dinner and I don’t like to be told how to dress on holiday.

When our kids were teens cruises suited us as they could just do their own thing, socialise and meet up for dinner. A couple of high end hotel chains are now introducing smaller boats- Ritz Carlton and Four Seasons. Food is a big part of a holiday for me personally and the big boats with the mass catering just isn’t for me.

I think cruises are a bit marmite. You're either a fan of them or you're not, and neither position is wrong.

I always thought of them as something for retired people until I went on one with DH and my young DDs and unexpectedly loved it. The kids club was excellent so DH and I could go for a meal or a drink just the two of us which we never get to do at home as we have no family support. The food was fantastic and I loved just looking out to sea and getting a taste of different locations. But life is hectic for us and from a holiday we are looking for a total break with no rushing around.

I can totally see why they aren't for everyone though and that is fine. Personally I find our other holidays (camping or self catering) a total faff and not a break for us at all. But needs must, we can't afford an annual cruise unfortunately! My brother goes camping multiple times a year and loves it. Each to their own.