Really did not enjoy cruising.

[Anonymous]

We are just completing a seven night cruise on celebrity with kids ages 7,4,1. We had two spacious rooms. And yet, I’ve had one of my least relaxing vacations ever.

I spent most of the vacation chasing around my toddler. Chasing a toddler around is awful on any vacation, but seemed especially difficult on a multi generational cruise where there were tons of long meals and excursions geared towards adults.

Then there were the cruise specific things:

1) I disliked crowded ports, and even when we planned excursions like a resort pass, packing up everything for a few hours at a hotel was an annoying waste of time
2) everything on a ship is crowded. I hate being confined to a space with so many people.
3) too much access to food. I was stressed and bored, so I overate and feel gross.
4) so much rocking. It has made sleeping unpleasant.
5) so many transitions throughout the day. Meals, get off the ship, get to ports/excursions, get back in the ship, activities on the ship.

We’ve cruised in the past and I’ve always somewhat enjoyed it. The cruise ship itself is nice and the food is good, but I truly just did not enjoy this experience and have no desire to cruise again.

Was it all a matter of having our toddler with us, or what?

We went to Baha Mar a few months ago and found that format to be much easier with the kids.

[Anonymous]

I've been on 3 cruises.

I don't like limited time in port. Sea time is mostly a waste for me because l don't like sunning.

Your problem was likely tied to the toddler. Ship decks aren't safe for little kids.

[Anonymous]

Toddler. Or more precisely, the adult to toddler ratio on that particular cruise line.

Also, totally fine if cruising isn't your thing.

[Anonymous]

OK?

You went on vacation with a toddler, and it wasn’t relaxing? WOW, great thread!

And I say this as someone who has been on exactly one cruise, and wouldn’t go on another one.

[Anonymous]

If you have enjoyed cruising before, I'm guessing you just didn't enjoy it with your 1 year old. Wait until that kid is 3 and then try it again. It is also okay to not be into cruising.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Toddler. Or more precisely, the adult to toddler ratio on that particular cruise line.

Also, totally fine if cruising isn't your thing.

And to follow up - I like cruises instead of all inclusives because I (psychologically) feel more trapped in a gated community than in a moving ship. And I like the rocking of the ship and ocean views.

[Anonymous]

David Foster Wallace once wrote an essay called "A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again" about a week long cruise. Tina Fey has a chapter in her book of essays with the same title about a similar experience. A lot of people dislike cruises, even without small kids!

I think cruises are a vacation designed for older people who want to relax, see some sights, but not have to plan too much or do too much walking. It's a way to do a multi-city or even multi-country vacation without much effort. Also I think the Caribbean cruises are generally considered not great and most people would do better just staying at a beach resort somewhere in the Caribbean or Mexico. Especially if you have young kids because the resort contains them well and most family resorts have kids clubs for older kids and babysitting services for younger kids.

The cruises I've heard of being "worth it" (all by older couples who don't have young kids:

1) Alaska
2) Panama Canal
3) Greek Isles
4) European river cruises

Many of these don't even allow kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:David Foster Wallace once wrote an essay called "A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again" about a week long cruise. Tina Fey has a chapter in her book of essays with the same title about a similar experience. A lot of people dislike cruises, even without small kids!

I think cruises are a vacation designed for older people who want to relax, see some sights, but not have to plan too much or do too much walking. It's a way to do a multi-city or even multi-country vacation without much effort. Also I think the Caribbean cruises are generally considered not great and most people would do better just staying at a beach resort somewhere in the Caribbean or Mexico. Especially if you have young kids because the resort contains them well and most family resorts have kids clubs for older kids and babysitting services for younger kids.

The cruises I've heard of being "worth it" (all by older couples who don't have young kids:

1) Alaska
2) Panama Canal
3) Greek Isles
4) European river cruises

Many of these don't even allow kids.

Op here. I was thinking along similar lines. My husband enjoys cruising and I said I could maybe be convinced to do a European cruise with older kids. But as far as a beach vacation goes, I’d rather be at a resort or rent an apartment. I’d maybe consider a short Disney cruise when all three of our kids are able to appreciate it. But a cruise with a toddler was really much more unpleasant than either of us anticipated.

[Anonymous]

I mean, any vacation with a toddler involves chasing them around.

Pro tip: take turns chasing the toddler so each parent gets a break. And if you have grandparents on the trip, get them to take a shift.

Anyway, it does get better.

Re: Cruising (in general) - The smaller the ship, the less crowded.

[Anonymous]

We took our toddler on a Disney cruise and had the time of our lives. My favorite part was us all dancing in one of the lounges.

You went on the wrong line with a toddler

[Anonymous]

toddler on a cruise doesn’t sound fun personally

[Anonymous]

Trips with 1 year olds and 4 year olds aren’t vacations. Maybe you hate cruising and maybe you don’t, but you were set up to fail.

[Anonymous]

Also Celebrity is for old people who already like cruising, not for young families. Disney would have been much better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also Celebrity is for old people who already like cruising, not for young families. Disney would have been much better.

This.

My kids call Celebrity the “fancy Grandpa cruise.”

My youngest was just over 2 when we took our first cruise—Disney. It was a lot of fun.

[Anonymous]

Celebrity, Oceania, Holland America and Princess appeal to retirees. They aren't for families with toddlers.