Really did not enjoy cruising.

[Anonymous]

You picked the wrong cruise line with kids. I swore I'd never go on a cruise and yet took my kids on a Disney cruise which was one of the best vacations I've had as a mom. Why? Because I didn't have to plan anything once we were on the ship. My kids liked the kids and tween clubs, they all liked the shows and characters, and it all felt very safe. Even dinners went well because they bring out the kids meals first. Try a Disney cruise (and I say this as someone who has never and will never take their kids to Disney, way too overwhelming for me).

[Anonymous]

A cruise is a great option for the following types of people:

- elderly
- lazy
- non-curious
- Murica exceptionalism types
- faint hearted
- challenged in one way or many ways

[Anonymous]

Sounds terrible. I don't know why people go on cruises, but the older generation probably liked it.

[Anonymous]

Toddler. Once they can go to the kids club (and love it!) it’s a game changer.

I only go to the dining room and really like it. The waiter knows exactly what we want and brings my kids their favorites immediately

[Anonymous]

I think of cruises like being at the beach. It’s so much better than a beach house with relatives. And no thinking about meals- it’s all provided. It’s not our only trip, but it’s the one we take instead of a beach trip. It could be because I can’t stand beaches around here. OBX and ocean shitty are so awful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1) re: 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 - What ports? Tell me which ports and I’ll tell you better options. We always avoid the crowds, and we never go on group excursions.

2) re: everything on a ship is crowded. I hate being confined to a space with so many people - What ship? Were you on a big ship? The bigger the boat, the bigger the crowds. We prefer the older, smaller ships precisely because we dislike crowds. We’ve never had trouble finding quiet spots on a ship.

3) Re: too much access to food. I was stressed and bored, so I overate and feel gross. - Eh, it happens to the best of us. We avoid the buffet and eat meals in the main dining room where you order off the menu. We also strive to hit our daily steps. Rarely use the elevator; always take the stairs.

4) Re: so much rocking. It has made sleeping unpleasant. - The last two nights on our spring break cruise were rocky. 10-15 ft waves. But that’s unusual.

5) Re: so many transitions throughout the day. Meals, get off the ship, get to ports/excursions, get back in the ship, activities on the ship. - Take control of your schedule. Avoid group excursions and then you aren’t following someone else’s schedule.

PS - I’m surprised anyone enjoys Baha Mar or Atlantis. Both are more crowded than any cruise ship, and both have crowded, crummy beaches imho.

I agree with all of these points but also see why some don’t like cruising and know that 1 year olds are a pain. Cute, but a pain.

Sure, but toddlers are a handful on any vacation. At least on a cruise you can split up and take turns watching the toddler. You can easily nap in the cabin and hang out on the veranda while everyone else can still have fun. You can easily find food at any hour.

We have a handful of kids and have cruised, rented beach houses/condos, traveled to Europe, etc. and cruises are hands down the easiest and most relaxing trips.

I took my 1 year old on a cruise and it was miserable. He only wanted to nap with me and still took 2 naps a day. I was definitely nap trapped all day. At least my parents had an adjoining room and would babysit (I put the kids to bed and they did their own thing in their room. It’s barely babysitting) and we’d go out all night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A cruise is a great option for the following types of people:

- elderly
- lazy
- non-curious
- Murica exceptionalism types
- faint hearted
- challenged in one way or many ways

Careful, Troll…your wild assumptions and sweeping generalizations underscore your ignorant biases.

Nonetheless, I’ll play.

My family is Dcumlandia affluent. Think: advanced degrees, big DC jobs, kids in private schools, etc.

We travel regularly throughout the year (including international travel). And we cruise at least once a year (sometimes more) in addition to land-based vacations. (Interestingly, we’ve never done an AI. Zero interest in staying put at a resort.)

Cruising has gained a lot of popularity post-covid, and we know plenty of similarly situated families who enjoy cruises.

If you’ve never cruised—or if you’ve only cruised (ahem) certain lines (and/or crummy itineraries)—then you really aren’t equipped to weigh in on cruising.

When we cruise, we never do group excursions; rather, we hire a driver or charter a boat for the day. We aren’t surrounded by tourists since we seek off the beaten path places. We always have fun.

People who enjoy cruising tend to be fun. They like to meet new people, so everyone seems very friendly and outgoing. They enjoy live music, dancing, and partying (each cruise line has a different vibe and varying levels of partying). Certain lines cater to retirees, but even that is changing a bit.

I’ve been a beach person my entire life as well as a person who thrives on researching and planning big, multi week vacations. I’ve never had a boring or bad vacation…ever. But I have to say that nothing beats being on the water. The sunrises and sunsets are amazing. And listening to the sea overnight is so soothing.

Since you are criticizing cruisers, I’ll share that I can’t understand people who prefer to sit by a pool (especially when the beach is a stone’s throw away). Talk about lazy and incurious…not to mention the ick factor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A cruise is a great option for the following types of people:

- elderly
- lazy
- non-curious
- Murica exceptionalism types
- faint hearted
- challenged in one way or many ways

Careful, Troll…your wild assumptions and sweeping generalizations underscore your ignorant biases.

Nonetheless, I’ll play.

My family is Dcumlandia affluent. Think: advanced degrees, big DC jobs, kids in private schools, etc.

We travel regularly throughout the year (including international travel). And we cruise at least once a year (sometimes more) in addition to land-based vacations. (Interestingly, we’ve never done an AI. Zero interest in staying put at a resort.)

Cruising has gained a lot of popularity post-covid, and we know plenty of similarly situated families who enjoy cruises.

If you’ve never cruised—or if you’ve only cruised (ahem) certain lines (and/or crummy itineraries)—then you really aren’t equipped to weigh in on cruising.

When we cruise, we never do group excursions; rather, we hire a driver or charter a boat for the day. We aren’t surrounded by tourists since we seek off the beaten path places. We always have fun.

People who enjoy cruising tend to be fun. They like to meet new people, so everyone seems very friendly and outgoing. They enjoy live music, dancing, and partying (each cruise line has a different vibe and varying levels of partying). Certain lines cater to retirees, but even that is changing a bit.

I’ve been a beach person my entire life as well as a person who thrives on researching and planning big, multi week vacations. I’ve never had a boring or bad vacation…ever. But I have to say that nothing beats being on the water. The sunrises and sunsets are amazing. And listening to the sea overnight is so soothing.

Since you are criticizing cruisers, I’ll share that I can’t understand people who prefer to sit by a pool (especially when the beach is a stone’s throw away). Talk about lazy and incurious…not to mention the ick factor.

Most people I know who cruise fall into the above categories. Of course there are exceptions. They are generally lame, not fun at all!

I went on a Royal Caribbean cruise to some pretty decent ports and it was ok, though wouldn't do it again. The food wasn't even that great and everything on the cruise just felt fake. Enjoy all the fat families and salad bar lol

[Anonymous]

I recently went on one and can't decide whether it was a good overall experience or not. The food was excessive. I was concerned what, if any, labor laws were being followed. There was an inability to clear one's own plates; it was all done by staff. Pools were crowded. I did like the ability to get off at a port.

I think I would have been really bored at a gated all-inclusive placee and am not a beach person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think of cruises like being at the beach. It’s so much better than a beach house with relatives. And no thinking about meals- it’s all provided. It’s not our only trip, but it’s the one we take instead of a beach trip. It could be because I can’t stand beaches around here. OBX and ocean shitty are so awful.

+1. Cruises are what we do for extended family vacations. There are 16 of us. A cruise is 1000x better than large beach house in NC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I recently went on one and can't decide whether it was a good overall experience or not. The food was excessive. I was concerned what, if any, labor laws were being followed. There was an inability to clear one's own plates; it was all done by staff. Pools were crowded. I did like the ability to get off at a port.

I think I would have been really bored at a gated all-inclusive placee and am not a beach person.

What do you mean by excessive food? The buffet? You know you aren’t obligated to use the buffet, right? I don’t eat at the buffet. The only time I go in there is to grab fruit or coffee. Our preferred line has healthy food options in a certain area.

The inability to clear your own plates at the buffet is for liability reasons coupled with the practicality of staff knowing where to put things.

PS - Most people avoid the pools at all costs. Gross.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A cruise is a great option for the following types of people:

- elderly
- lazy
- non-curious
- Murica exceptionalism types
- faint hearted
- challenged in one way or many ways

Careful, Troll…your wild assumptions and sweeping generalizations underscore your ignorant biases.

Nonetheless, I’ll play.

My family is Dcumlandia affluent. Think: advanced degrees, big DC jobs, kids in private schools, etc.

We travel regularly throughout the year (including international travel). And we cruise at least once a year (sometimes more) in addition to land-based vacations. (Interestingly, we’ve never done an AI. Zero interest in staying put at a resort.)

Cruising has gained a lot of popularity post-covid, and we know plenty of similarly situated families who enjoy cruises.

If you’ve never cruised—or if you’ve only cruised (ahem) certain lines (and/or crummy itineraries)—then you really aren’t equipped to weigh in on cruising.

When we cruise, we never do group excursions; rather, we hire a driver or charter a boat for the day. We aren’t surrounded by tourists since we seek off the beaten path places. We always have fun.

People who enjoy cruising tend to be fun. They like to meet new people, so everyone seems very friendly and outgoing. They enjoy live music, dancing, and partying (each cruise line has a different vibe and varying levels of partying). Certain lines cater to retirees, but even that is changing a bit.

I’ve been a beach person my entire life as well as a person who thrives on researching and planning big, multi week vacations. I’ve never had a boring or bad vacation…ever. But I have to say that nothing beats being on the water. The sunrises and sunsets are amazing. And listening to the sea overnight is so soothing.

Since you are criticizing cruisers, I’ll share that I can’t understand people who prefer to sit by a pool (especially when the beach is a stone’s throw away). Talk about lazy and incurious…not to mention the ick factor.

Lol. Ok.

[Anonymous]

Some people don’t like cruises. My husband is one of them, we’re in Montreal right now and he prefers it to our last cruise trip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A cruise is a great option for the following types of people:

- elderly
- lazy
- non-curious
- Murica exceptionalism types
- faint hearted
- challenged in one way or many ways

Careful, Troll…your wild assumptions and sweeping generalizations underscore your ignorant biases.

Nonetheless, I’ll play.

My family is Dcumlandia affluent. Think: advanced degrees, big DC jobs, kids in private schools, etc.

We travel regularly throughout the year (including international travel). And we cruise at least once a year (sometimes more) in addition to land-based vacations. (Interestingly, we’ve never done an AI. Zero interest in staying put at a resort.)

Cruising has gained a lot of popularity post-covid, and we know plenty of similarly situated families who enjoy cruises.

If you’ve never cruised—or if you’ve only cruised (ahem) certain lines (and/or crummy itineraries)—then you really aren’t equipped to weigh in on cruising.

When we cruise, we never do group excursions; rather, we hire a driver or charter a boat for the day. We aren’t surrounded by tourists since we seek off the beaten path places. We always have fun.

People who enjoy cruising tend to be fun. They like to meet new people, so everyone seems very friendly and outgoing. They enjoy live music, dancing, and partying (each cruise line has a different vibe and varying levels of partying). Certain lines cater to retirees, but even that is changing a bit.

I’ve been a beach person my entire life as well as a person who thrives on researching and planning big, multi week vacations. I’ve never had a boring or bad vacation…ever. But I have to say that nothing beats being on the water. The sunrises and sunsets are amazing. And listening to the sea overnight is so soothing.

Since you are criticizing cruisers, I’ll share that I can’t understand people who prefer to sit by a pool (especially when the beach is a stone’s throw away). Talk about lazy and incurious…not to mention the ick factor.

Found the “- challenged in one way or many ways” cruiser

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some people don’t like cruises. My husband is one of them, we’re in Montreal right now and he prefers it to our last cruise trip.

There’s a hilarious comic named Matteo Leone or something who says Montreal is Cleveland but with people who speak French ;0)

I love Montreal, but my family considers Canada and most city-based travel “trips” rather than vacations.