Cruising

[KimberleyClark]

Hi, I’m a cruise fan, just wondering if any other cruise lovers get a reaction when you mention it to friends as though you’d announced you like eating babies? Seriously people are so odd about them!

Not my sort of holiday but each to their own!!! You'd probably hate mine!!!

Yes it’s funny but the strongest negative comments are always from people who have never been on one.
They don’t bother asking you any questions about it, simply tell you how awful they are.

@KimberleyClark

Im looking for tips on cruises - looking to cruise to Norway and want to know about any tricks tips or ideas please - if you want to share

Im aware this is an old post, but realise youre still on here and want to ask someone with knowledge

For example the price of the Cunard cruise looks good - but is everything else top £££ to make up of it, would we be better going on P&O as the drinks etc would be cheaper? I probably wouldn't have more than one glass of wine per day any way

Hi @MikeRafone. Sorry not to have got back touyou sooner. If the price of the Cunard is good, I would go with them. Especially if you don’t drink much. It’s awhile since I’be been with P& O but for overall experience they’re not a patch on Cunard.

Cruise Critic is a great website with discussion forums and peop,e are very helpful there.

https://www.cruisecritic.co.uk

I'd only be interested in small ship cruising. Being stuck on a floating town would be my idea of hell. Not to mention that everywhere puts up its prices when a ship, or ships are in town . That's by experience not hearsay.

I don’t like the huge floating resort with thousands of passengers type of ship. I prefer smaller ones of 6-700 passengers that are more destination focused and are just quieter and more low key.

I think of the big cruise liners as the vultures of the seas. Cause massive disruption to everyone, and the locals don't benefit as much as from normal visitors who use accommodation and eat more than a quick lunch. They are genuinely spoiling a lot of lovely destinations.

Perhaps your friends are concerned about the environmental impact?

Which is reasonable. Cruise ships have a massive environmental impact in the towns they call at. They usually can't/ won't use shorepower, so all the electricity they use is generated on board with dirty diesel, hammering the air quality locally. Large ones can also absolutely swamp small destinations. I also gather that their carbon emissions overall far outweigh even flying.

They are no worse than any AI holiday in this respect when people don’t leave the complex. At least cruise ships book excursions from local operators to local visitor attractions, using local coach firms and local tour guides, which include meals in local restaurants, and take on supplies from local suppliers. To suggest they don’t benefit the local economy at all is nonsensical.

Cruising used to be for rich people but now the liners are full of chavs, scum and common people who 20 years ago would've been on package holidays to Majorca (pronounced with a j natch).

Most mumsnetters like to pay a small mortgage for a National Trust cottage but if forced to go abroad it's to do something like hiking in Albania, trekking the foothills in Nepal or going to museums in Italy but only out of season.

Just returned from a Caribbean cruise on a smallish ship (600 people). (Silversea)
I normally go on very active holidays (skiing/watersports etc) so did wonder how it would be.
I love the sea and it was very wonderful to sit on the balcony reading in the evening/going up new ports every day etc. Fab crew, friendly people, fantastic food.
Will probably go again next year up get done winter sun and planning a river cruise this autumn.

Oh no I don’t think the people I’m talking about give a shit about the environment! They are just snooty about cruising s really naff and that all ships are like floating Butlins, which they really aren’t’.

There isn’t any way of holidaying which isn’t bad for the environment in some way, and cruise lines are working on getting cleaner, greener and more sustainable all the time.

A lot of the people who are really dismissive about cruises have never even set foot on a cruise ship.

For sure, but there are ways of holidaying which have a fraction of the impact of cruises.

Thanks for replying

ive booked with Cunard for. 7 day cruise full board, it’s working out far cheaper than flying for a weekend. I don’t drink a lot, a bottle of wine would last me 5 days - so shall take one bottle and 7 books, a nice evening dress and am looking forward to it

also looking forward to not flying, as the cruise starts & finishes in uk port

I hope you have a fabulous time!

We have never been on a cruise before, but have booked a river cruise for 2026. Interesting to see how it turns out