Who wouldn’t enjoy a cruise? I’ve never been on one. What didn’t you like?

[Anonymous]

I’m not sure if I get seasick mainly but also I am somewhat introverted and the idea of dining with others at the same table makes me anxious a little. I do have some health complications including MS so emergency medical care does come up for me as something to look into.

What do you enjoy most or dislike?

[Anonymous]

I enjoyed the two that I've been on with my family. Very easy for multigeneration travel.

Dining was actually a good part of it. We've had our own table on one and had to share a table on another. Both were fine. If you pick an earlier dining time it'll be less crowded.

The only drawback is the risk of noravirus.

[Anonymous]

Take the seasickness bracelets and also Dramamine. Plus I bet those are two things they sell on board. If you're unsteady on your feet you'll want a specific type of room and maybe you want handrails in the shower?

[Anonymous]

Ugh, they're crowded and diseased. I would never.

[Anonymous]

A lot of people go just to get drunk the whole time. The cruise seems to make money by selling lots of alcoholic drinks. I’m sure this varies by the type of cruise, but that is one thing that I didn’t enjoy.

Also, the stops are kind of short so you don’t have much time to really see the destinations, the tourist areas.

[Anonymous]

I've never been on a cruise but have read David Foster Wallace's article on cruising enough times that I both feel like I have and have no wish to actually do it.

The original version, Shipping Out, is available at https://harpers.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/HarpersMagazine-1996-01-0007859.pdf

It was published in slightly revised book form as A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Supposedly_Fun_Thing_I%27ll_Never_Do_Again)

[Anonymous]

I appreciate the reasons they are great for multi generational family trips but I would never go on one on my own because I hate crowds.

[Anonymous]

Been on a few smaller (200 people or less) ones. Great for multi generations. Also liked that you can unpack once and go to lots of places. Boat sails overnight so pretty efficient way to see many seaside venues . Places it worked well for us - Italy, turkey and Greece; Galapagos; Antarctica; Norway, Scotland Ireland.

Ones we went on - you coukd sit at your own table if you wanted. Alcohol already included so not an issue.

Not sure if I woukd want a trip where the whole point was just to be on a boat.

[Anonymous]

I've been on several. Honestly, OP, the thing I hate most about cruises is that you are constantly fighting for very small spaces that everyone wants to use.... i.e. the pool is the size of a postage stamp and 2000 people are trying to use it. Same with the buffet. or any of the entertainment items (i.e. water slide or activities).

The food has not been that good on Disney. Better on Celebrity. It's very loud at night b/c I prefer to be in bed by 10pm so that I can get up for my tours at 6 am. But, there's a lot of noise.

Honestly, I've kind of sworn off cruises for now. I'd be better off spending the money to stay on land where I can go to a restuarant that doesn't look too crowded, and have far more choices, and far more square footage of pool space, and more choices for activities that don't require waiting for hours in line.

We did a 10 night cruise of the Mediterranean for a honeymoon years ago. That made sense b/c we were getting to see lots of different countries in a short time and we didn't have to learn the transportation or find a new hotel in each country. So, if efficiency of exploring is your goal, then a cruise can make sense. But otherwise, if you are just looking for a fun vacation, I think the value is not in a cruise. The better value for enjoyment (in my experience) is to stay on land and not deal with the crowds.

[Anonymous]

The norovirus and the mysterious deaths. Oh yeah, and being away from land.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ugh, they're crowded and diseased. I would never.

+1 and the idea of being afloat in the open ocean gives me feelings of claustrophobia.

[Anonymous]

It's not my preferred vacation, but I don't hate them like some do. I've been on two and have a third planned. The thing is, there are different types of cruise lines, patronized by different types of people. Some will be filled with young drunk people, some are geared toward singles, some toward seniors, some towards families. Figure out what you like and only look at those. Do you want to gamble? Really good food? Broadway-caliber entertainment? To stop at a private island? See a bunch of different cities?

[Anonymous]

Well since you asked, I didn't like the food (it was like eating Chiles/Applebees quality), I didn't like how busy the pool area was and overall the whole thing felt cheesy.

[Anonymous]

I like peace, quiet, nature, and really good, fresh food on my vacations.

Cruises offer none of that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I appreciate the reasons they are great for multi generational family trips but I would never go on one on my own because I hate crowds.

+1

To me standard cruise ships, we are talking the huge ones, are just big shopping malls that float. Nothing about that appeals to me. I find those excessive and gross.

Now I would consider one of the smaller cruise ships to say Alaska, Antarctica or a river cruise in Europe.