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?

Easternstandard- we loved Royal Caribbean when the kids were younger- loads of activities for them and we loved the American slant to the food/entertainment

We also like Princess- they have a system where you can have food/drink delivered to you anywhere on the ship which is amazing after a day hiking mountains in Norway!

Celebrity are a slightly better version of Royal Caribbean and had an amazing cruise visiting the Baltic countries last year.

We’re not a fan of P&O at all, but they’re relatively cheap tho, have lots of sailings from UK and if you like all things British it may suit you.

MSC is very multicultural and has stunning ships, but has more limited included food options- not great unless you love pizza!

Not tried other lines but Emma cruises is the place to go to find out more- she has a YouTube video and website.

From British ports- other lines that go are Disney (££££!!) Cunard ( Quintessential British!) Norwegian ( similar vibe to RC) Fred Olsen (older ships but well liked British food) Ambassador (new company, older ships)

Upper end- Viking, Seabourn, Regeant (all ££££££££!!)

For someone that dislikes cruises yet has been on many.. I feel like no matter where the ports of call are, it feels like the same holiday in the same room so many times. In fact it's come to feel like a floating prison.

People sit in the jacuzzi (a live Petri dish) then get in the lift where they spread what they've picked up.. I am ill on every cruise. Unfortunately my dh loves them. He keeps upping his game and luring me with suites in the quieter section but I hate the whole hierarchy thing. I was told to walk to the front of a very long queue in the heat with elderly people in it and just couldn't.

The only exception is places that wouldn't be accessible.. otherwise give me a nice hotel any day.

They are like small towns so no not crowded. No good for swimming though, pools are always tiny.

It's nice because the travelling is part of the holiday instead of feeling like you're sitting around waiting to get from place to place like any other form of transport.

Didn't get seasick at all, although one of my friends was v sensitive to the movements and couldn't sleep at all for a week.

Only thing I didn't like was the "servants" feel to all the staff, who can't do enough for you and seem happy enough but it does feel very like min wage Downton Abbey, especially uncomfortable because they aren't white and I don't like people waiting on me hand and foot in general, especially as some passengers seem to treat them like shit.

Also environmental issues and wastage of things like food are a big problem.

And the average ages are 60-80, even though Virgin Voyages promotes to a younger age group it's still older people. I'm not really a fan of that to be honest, would rather be on a ship with people more my own age.

I think the answer is 'it depends'. I went down the Nile and it was brilliant - you sit there and they move the scenery! Everyone wants to see the temples so the boat stops, you all get off and go with the guide, then back to civilisation on the boat and minimal hassle.
The other thing about cruises is that you can get pissed enjoy the evening entertainment and just stagger back to your cabin. That was especially good fun on the mini cruises over to Denmark and Sweden.

Cruises are great for kids. The kids clubs are great - and this means it is also a holiday for the parents! They also love swimming and getting out and getting ice cream as much as they want.

We go with princess and get the premier package, feels luxurious to just have champagne whenever i want, order as much food and wine to my room as i want, and to be able to go to amazing restaurants as much as i want and not rack up a huge bill. The entertainment is actually really good.

There’s an also a constant sea view! i love having a coffee on the balcony while the sun rises/sets.

That said, pick your ship. The hidden charges I’ve heard about on many cruises sound really frustrating, and some (such as MSC) sound noisy, crowded and stressful to me but maybe great if you want more of a party atmosphere.

I worked on cruise ships for 10 years throughout my 20’s so I am always going to be a little biased. I have since been back as a passenger with my husband and young child and it was fantastic.
My daughter loved the kids club so we got to enjoy time relaxing in the knowledge she was having fun and being well looked after. There are cinema’s, shops, theatre, bars, a library, spa, pool, slides, on some ships you even have a “go ape” style course or even a surf machine!
the whole idea of a cruise is to get a glimpse of the ports. Are you going to be able to do everything in a day? No of course not but it helps you work out where you may want to return to.
sea days are relaxing as you have nowhere to be. If you don’t want to be around people you can enjoy your balcony or find somewhere quiet onboard (even with 5k people you can always find a quiet area!)

I would say it all depends on your perspective though. If you go already having a preconceived opinion then you will probably find fault. If you go with an open mind you may enjoy it :)

I did a cruise with my teens for the first time last year. We did celebrity which is proper 5 star.

The food is outstanding, I could take or leave the buffet and it got a bit busy but the food was excellent. The actual restaurants were all very good.
it was great for teens because they could make friends, do whatever they want without getting into trouble, it’s extremely strict on alcohol and the simply can’t get hold of it.

There are quiet places to sit as well as busy areas.

service is outstanding

I quite liked getting off st the ports. Granted they’re not there that long but you get a nice day out. We didn’t do any organised tours but planned something to do at each stop. You can’t compare to a city break but it’s a lovely way to relax and also do a bit of sightseeing

n not sure I would do it without kids but it’s the best trip you can do with teens in my opinion

I went on weekend 'taster' cruise. 2 nights.
Longest three weeks of my life.

Don't, don't, don't!!

Yeah mostly nonsense.
-pollution happens with all global travel
-been on about 15 cruises and never been ill once
-destination people roll out the red carpet as people spend money there
-cruise ships are generally not slap bang in the middle although I’ll grant you that they used to cruise “through” Venice but not any more
-most people don’t “eat all day” but there will likely be some people eating as people like to eat at different times
-time might be shortish on shore but that is compensated by being able to see lots of different places. If I really loved a place, I would likely go again on a short break
-15 plus cruises and never been in a storm. Only once had difficult sea conditions and that was around New Zealand where the ocean is extremely deep and there is a lot more swell
-entertainment is great!! Cinema, comedians, musicals, quizzes, dance troupes, guest lectures - always something going on
-virtually impossible to “fall off” unless you purposefully climb up and over the railings
-sinking is extremely unlikely

Our DC also love cruises have been on many from the age of about 5 and up. DD aged 24 and her boyfriend chose a cruise for their summer holiday this year. DS would love to go but is single and all his friends wanted Tenerife!

you might have guessed but we absolutely love cruising and find holidays in one place quite boring.

I have done a lot of travelling and a lot of different types of holidays but had never been on a cruise until 2 years ago. It was the best trip I've ever been on. Been on 2 more since.

Positives

• No flying required for lots of cruises. Checking in for a cruise is so much easier the airport faff. Your holiday starts the second you get onboard.

• Food is top quality. Much better than anything I've had in 5 star all inclusives. They generally cater really well for dietary needs. Lots of options for vegetarian, vegan and special gluten free menus too. If you have special requirements you can discuss the next day's options the night before and they can arrange adaptations to the menu.

• Entertainment. Good range of evening shows if you want to go. If not, there'll be quizzes or pianists etc on in other places on the ship. Also quiet places if you just want a drink and to read.

• Daytime activities. I never found days at sea boring. Lectures, music, dance classes, craft classes, card games, quizzes, table tennis, shuffleboard, ukulele lessons, book clubs. I spent a lot of time very happily staring out to sea and the scenery. Depending on where you're going you might be lucky enough to spot whales or dolphins.

• Destinations. Great way to have a taster of several places. If you love it, go back on a longer trip. Some destinations are easier to seen by cruise, i.e Norway's fjords, Greenland.

• Service. Staff are excellent. Within a few days the bar staff knew our names and could usually guess what we were going to want to drink. Waiting staff and cabin stewards were also very nice. I felt like royalty .

Negatives.

• Rooms. Your cabin will generally be smaller than a room you might get at a hotel but you won't be in it all that much usually.

• Can be confusing to first time cruisers. Each cruise line is different. Some cruise lines don't charge gratuities, some add them on to your onboard bill as an optional charge though it is usually expected you pay them. Some include drinks, some offer drinks packages at an extra charge. Some offer packages that include gratuity and drinks plus other things such as WiFi. There's also a lot of different room types to choose from.

• Dress code. Most cruise lines have some kind of dress code for the main restaurant. Some more strict than others. If you don't want to dress up, there is usually a buffet restaurant you can go to instead and dress casually. You can find info on cruise line website. I don't go glam and I have never felt out of place, even on the fanciest nights.

I've only been on small ships so can't comment on what the big, new ones are like. I would recommend a smaller ship for 1st time cruisers.

Most people I know who have cruises have absolutely loved it and become semi-addicted, or in the odd case, hated it and said never again. I think it depends which cruise line you go for and what kind of holiday you enjoy.

I've done 2 sea cruises, one good, one terrible (Tui/Marella).

I've also done c.15 river cruises - 2 more later this month.
Totally different experience. 2 were disappointing, the rest were great.
Food is better, you're off the boat on an excursion every day, they don't appeal to families with kids (bonus for me).

I imagine the part on the ship would be hell for me. I find the ocean creeps me out anyway. Also any form of ‘organised entertainment’ sends a shiver down my spine.
i have always thought I might try a river cruise one day, especially if there is good scenery to look at whilst moving.

Despite loving cruises…..I wouldn’t necessarily recommend a Tui/Marella cruise for a first time. They are a bit “Butlins at seas” which I personally don’t mind but I imagine others would. We usually do a cheap and cheerful Tui cruise in November or February to break up the winter months and do “proper” cruises the rest of the time ie P&O, Royal Caribbean, Princess, Cunard.

I have. It depends what mobility issues I.e. are you a wheelchair user or just limited how far you can walk? I use a walking stick or Rollator.

Lady GreenKnight and I love cruising and you don’t have to be cheek by jowl with you fellow passengers. Most people are very respectful of your privacy and there is lots going on so you can eat do your own thing. If you have not experienced it you are not in a position to comment. If you have and didn’t like it, then you are entitled to your opinion.

Nope, you would still have to pay me a lot of money to go on a cruise. DH fancied trying one for his 60th but he would have had to go on his own 😊

It's 20 years since I went on a cruise but I loved it. I really enjoyed going to several different countries in a week without all the usual hassles of travelling, and the food was amazing. The entertainment wouldn't really be my bag, but tbf the cast were all very talented. I will definitely do another one when I can afford it.

How’s that cheap? I spend a month in Canaries every year for under 1k including flights (£70 return in March).

Been on several and enjoyed them especially the no fly ones. Don’t need to share tables these days if you don’t want to, opt to eat in restaurants rather than buffet if you prefer. Entertainment is not compulsory! Always found a quiet spot for sunbathing or had a balcony. Staff in hotels are doing it for the money too, not just on cruises. Yes, it’s not the way to do an in-depth trip to a city like Rome but it’s such an easy holiday especially for us oldies.

I’ve recently booked my first ever cruise. Well it’s actually my first abroad holiday ever!

I couldn’t decide where to go on holiday between Croatia and Slovenia and I thought Montenegro looked good too. Then I saw a Marella (Tui) cruise that went to all three as well as Italy.

It was actually after seeing them described as ‘Butlins at sea’ that sealed it for me. We have been to Butlins nearly every year since then DC were little because you can do as much or as little as you like. We figured a cruise would be just like that but with the opportunity to have a taster of these gorgeous countries.
We hope to have more holidays abroad in the future and this gives us a chance to see different places we might want to return to.

I’m really excited even though it’s still 11 months away.

Perfect response.

We paid £5k for a cruise at half term and had the best time (Fjords). IMO a million times better value than sitting in a generic hotel stuffed full of people and eating generic AI food.

But would I judge people who chose that holiday instead of mine? No!

I love cruising go with my parents. We go with marella so everything is included. They have a sit down restaurant for breakfast and evening meal...so no need to got o the buffet. The entertainment is none stop...quiz...crafts....bands...disco...fitness classes.
And on a one week trip they go to 6 ports. With regards to rushing as meantioned it depends how you plan. The point is to see the high lights of the city and return if you miss it. We did rome from the port and just did the colluesum and the fountains. This year athenes I think a day was enough. Normally in port 7-7 so that's plenty of time. Also visited some places would never go otherwise. Corsica I had never heard of people cruise stop.
The only downside I would say is the pool...way too small for all the people and hard to find a sun bed. But if you want this kind of holiday I think a cruise might be a waste.

I can’t really think of anything worse. DH is ex Navy and it would be a busman’s holiday. I think they are marmite… and agree with most of the negative comments above.

Why do you think sea days would be dreadful? I found them a lovely change - long breakfast, a walk around to see what was going on, a game of something on the sports deck, coffee break looking out to sea, relax in a quiet corner with my book before lunch. Then some sunbathing time, cocktail before an afternoon tea. Time for a massage before getting ready for dinner (I hate dressing up so always went casual - not an issue these days). Lovely meal before drinks on the deck (don’t usually go to the entertainment unless it’s something which particularly interests us). I always slept well on sea days.

Gorgeous cabin with balcony looking out to sea.

Fabulous food.

Top notch entertainment.

Interesting ports.

The awesome engineering spectacle of a huge ship.

As relaxing or energetic as you like.

Gorgeous bars.

Fabulous service.

As much luggage as you like and no airport hassle if going from the UK.

Just easy, so easy and so relaxing.

Socialising if you want it.

Can be incredible value for money if you get a good deal.

LOVE LOVE LOVE cruises!