Would we like a cruise???

[Givenup2026]

I’m currently in bed with a never ending flu/cold while my husband is skiing in Switzerland… Anyway! We’ve been thinking of going on a cruise but we’re unsure for different reasons (my husband thinks it might make him feel a bit claustrophobic) whereas I don’t like tributes bands nor musicals…. So we think we might end up getting bored or with cabin fever.

We also have a 6yo, so it has to be kid friendly.

So given that’s the case, do you think we’d enjoy it? And any you would recommend?
Ty!

I guess the AIBU is pondering going when we’re both hesitating.

The entertainment on board is fantastic we had a world famous magician and various shows you would happily pay money to see. Definitely not butlins level

On our last cruise (MSC) the entertainment was awesome, not the Butlins experience I feared. We also had a famous magician, a singer who’d been an X-factor finalist, and the most amazing Three Tenors (not the actual Three Tenors, but something similar). And the best Michael Jackson tribute I’d ever seen.

As you say, you’ve never been on a cruise. So maybe that’s why your description of a cruise sounds more like a cross-channel ferry experience.

Disney cruises are incredible. I did an Ocean Village as a teenager and MSC at 18. I’ve never thought myself as a cruise person since. I prefer flying into one airport and out of another with a backpack and little plans

However I did a Disney cruise with an 8yo last year and it was only the Southampton mini one, yet I felt like I was walking on air after. The food is top quality, service amazing (waiters rotate restaurants with you nightly), good way to meet characters but also not in your face, shows are really good quality and the kids clubs/activities phenomenal. You can do as much or as little as you like, it’s listed in an app. The only downside are the pools, too small for so many kids. Although it’s rumoured the wish is coming to Europe for dry dock so will spend the summer here in 2027 and there is more on there

I’m currently toying with a Royal Caribbean. One of their bigger ones that does the Bahamas is in dry dock and is doing a short med season before heading back. Thinking whether to do the May half term but not sure if it will be too big for me to enjoy

The top deck food on Disney is quick eats like the park however the breakfast and lunch buffet is a higher quality. You can also visit the à la carte restaurants for these meals

The rotational dining is top quality. The first night I had Chateaubriand and it was delicious from there on in.

All if these things sounds absolutely awful to me. I would pay significant money to not watch any of them. (Unless the magician is the Great Suprendo).

As I said horses for courses and I’m sure people think a ‘singer from x factor’ is amazing but it sounds like the turns at a Working Men’s Club.

I know quite a lot of people who go on cruises, not one has ever said they didn't enjoy it or would never go again.

One friend only goes Cunard, they have bags of money so not sure if price has something to do with it.

100% this. We did lots of cruises when our DC were young - from ages 5 - 15. They love cruises and have continued to cruise as adults.

Cruises now are less formal and restrictive (with regards to dining) than they used to be. You don’t need to eat at the same time every night or sit with strangers. There are lots of different places to eat from the buffet to the pizza/pasta/burger/fish n chips type places.

Entertainment including quizzes, shows, movies, comedians, big/small bands, casino. Or just sitting somewhere nice and listening to the ocean.

I’ve done at least 15 cruises on the big, small and Tui Marella all inclusive. Wouldn’t recommend Tui as a first timer as they can be a bit Butlins at sea/lairy owing to the AI “free” booze. Ditto the mahooosive ships which to me just feel too big - can’t think of the word but I prefer a medium sized ship.

I’ve already got 3 booked for this year - Europe, Asia and Norwegian Fjiords - so I admit I’m biased. Currently on a wee break in Malaga and desperately wishing we were on one of the cruise ships leaving the port!!

Having lived in Australia for 3 years, the people you describe remind me of the majority of ‘stralions I met lol!

I’ve cruised out of Sydney and it is one of my favourite sail-sail aways ever. That was Royal Caribbean and the only folk we saw on board who were loud and obnoxious were the acca-dacca Ozzie families. Said the same when we went to a resort in Bali funnily enough.

Wow. That budget is a whole different ball game. Forget P&O RCI, Costa etc.

You want Exploration, Regent Seven Seas, Silversea etc. a completely different category.

I loving all the cruise experts who have never been on one.

So we looked at Explora, my husband is slightly MORE convinced. However, his biggest issue is that there doesn’t seem much to outdoors. He still feels he’ll feel claustrophobic.

He still feels he’ll feel claustrophobic

My DH felt like this before we had tried cruising. I booked a holiday for his 'big' birthday, as a suprise, and included a 3 day taster cruise as part of the trip. He loved it, and is now firmly hooked on cruising, having done at least 20 since then.

It's hard to feel claustrophobic when sitting on a balcony, sipping a drink, watching the sunset over the open sea. Or walking around the top deck in the evening breeze.

If he really feels he'll be claustrophobic (I'm almost certain he won't!), try a cruise with plenty of ports of call.

He just says that all activities are basically indoors and doesn’t see the point of it.

we also saw the entertainment on the Explora and it REALLY sucked and the talks didn’t look interesting at all whatsoever.

everything else was basically what we want.

Last one we went on there was an astronomer giving talks about the James Webb telescope. He also did a star gazing night on deck. There was also a brilliant Argentinian jazz pianist and a very good lounge band.

It sounds like my idea of Hell.

I’m covered in Tattoos and still wouldn’t go on another Tui or P&O!

We had park rangers come on board and give talks about the landscape and wildlife as we very slowly cruised through Glacier Bay, Alaska. It was one of my all time holiday highlights and it was such a cool experience to
walk around with our binoculars on and the rangers pointing out different points of interest.
I spent a lot of morning in the spa which had 270 degree views thinking to myself this really is an incredible experience.

He just says that all activities are basically indoors and doesn’t see the point of it

Perhaps cruising is not for you after all. You (or your DH) seem to be putting so many obstacles in the way that you might as well just stick to what you know.
If all you want from a holiday is a high-end hotel, with activities laid on, and days spent by the pool, then perhaps a cruise is not the way to go.

If you want all of the above, but with the option of visits to different places, then a cruise would suit you. But if all the activities that you are used to are pool-based, then it probably won't happen on a cruise. Many will still offer outdoor entertainment, such as music by the pool, pickle ball tournaments, mini golf, table tennis, basketball etc - although of course this varies ship to ship.

we also saw the entertainment on the Explora and it REALLY sucked and the talks didn’t look interesting at all whatsoever

What sort of entertainment do you get at your hotels that you like to stay at? I'm struggling to believe that, on the whole, cruise ship entertainment is sub-par to hotel entertainment,

I guess that’s the thing…

We don’t really partake in any activities beyond the bingo/ quiz night.

the evening entertainment is sometimes nonexistent (which I’m totally fine with), sometimes there’s a fire show (which I normally skip).

I really dislike cover bands, so in the evenings we either go to the karaoke (because I’m a big karaoke person) or the jazz/chill lounge.

So no, we never do the yoga, spinning in the pool, or any of those group activities.

I would totally go to string quartet, a piano recital, or even opera arias.

You are very unlikely to find a cruise that has string quartet, piano recital, opera arias that is also kid friendly.

You are very unlikely to find a cruise that has string quartet, piano recital, opera arias that is also kid friendly

This.

We don’t really partake in any activities beyond the bingo/ quiz night

I'm a bit confused, if you are not really bothered about activities/entertainment on holiday, why are you suddenly bothered about it on a cruise? You'll find trivia quizzes on almost all ships, but all entertainment is optional - you don't have to go to watch tribute bands, or theatre shows if you don't want to. You'll always find a bar to sit of an evening with some music playing somewhere - often jazz or Latin, or similar - although sometimes it does depend on the band/entertainers that they have on for that particular cruise. And of course, the smaller the ship, the fewer choices there are. But I believe Explora do have karaoke evenings, so you can get your fix there!

We tend to go on the bigger ships, but don't go to much of the evening entertainment, we usually find a bar with some music to sit in and play cards! After a full day in port, it's often all we want to do.

Because we thought that’s one of their biggest selling points, but probably that’s our bad and having the wrong expectations.

Tbh I don’t think I’ve ever gone to a karaoke event on a ship. Occasionally bingo if unexpected sea say. But usually on the balcony with my kindle. Or just listening to some music in the bar watching others dance (limited mobility). And always the lectures. My favourite bit of a cruise.

Because we thought that’s one of their biggest selling points, but probably that’s our bad and having the wrong expectations

For some people, it is. For some people, it's the food, or the ports of call, or the spa, or the relaxation. To be fair, cruises do generally have something for everyone, but it can be sometimes difficult to find the cruise line that suits you.

For me and DH, it's NCL, due to its relaxed atmosphere, value for money, choice of things to do, no need to share tables and have dinner when I want. I like some of the entertainment, but not all, but there's always a choice of things to do - including nothing if that's what you want. But I appreciate that it's probably not the cruise line for you- unless possibly you pay for a Haven room - these come with their own restaurant, bar, pool, butler etc.

You might be overthinking it - I'm very prone to this, and have a tendency to go round in circles when planning holidays. Ultimately, you get what you pay for, and the only way to find out if you will enjoy it is to bite the bullet and try it !

For me as well as relaxed atmosphere, drinks inclusive it’s the itineraries. Can’t imagine going on a cruise and not caring where it was going. We like Azamara because of this. Really good itineraries. They are smaller ships (about 700 passengers) and can visit more out of the way places rather than big container ports. They also have pre boarding and post cruise packages if you wish and sometimes an extra night in port at the beginning and end.