Is cruising tacky?

[Anonymous]

You can do a trip your kids will love that doesn’t involve buying into an industry that is exploitative and environmentally harmful on a level few other industries can match.

[Anonymous]

Bourbon Street is tacky ... but when I was in New Orleans, I checked it out. I say go on the cruise and have a great time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain why it's tacky and why some people hate it? I've never been to one and have no idea what it's like. It seems like a stress free vacation.

Here's why I hate cruises:

- They are HORRIBLE for the environment, on a level most other vacations cannot match. A cruise ship's daily emissions into the ocean are equivalent to a million cars per day.

- Many times they're centered around unlimited eating, gambling ... basically crass consumption while you sit on this thing that is pumping chemicals into the ocean.'

- The stops are often so short that you just get off with throngs of people, go shop at tourist traps (which are usually detrimental to the local economy) and you get back on the ship.

I recognize all vacations take some toll on the environment, but the impact of cruises is way worse than most other vacation options.

Not to mention you're SOL if (as has happened) the ship breaks down somehow. You're stuck on the thing.

OK poor person who can’t afford one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We went on Disney Cruise with my kids then ages almost 2, almost 5, and 7 in Dec. 2016. We had a good time.
I just booked our second cruise on Royal Caribbean for spring break 2021 - when the kids will be 11, 9, and 6 at the time of travel.

They still talk about the Disney Cruise and I think they’ll have fun on this next cruise. In general, I think you can make almost anything including the beach educational but I am having a little bit of trouble making the cruise not just total entertainment only, haha!! The specific cruise we’re going on, will stop at Labadee (beach day for us), Jamaica (likely beach day for us, but I am considering Blue Hole excursion which would be different / nature exploration but I think we are less likely to do this), and Cozumel (where maybe we will do an excursion to Punta Sur Eco beach park instead of just a regular beach club and get a little more nature type stuff). I feel like the Cruise uniquely doesn’t allow too much time for culture or nature - though if that’s how you want to focus your excursions you could do that. For my group I think that would involve too much travel on the excursions. For example, if we went to a beach resort for a week in Mexico, I think I could fit in a visit to Chichen Itza and other cultural or nature things in addition to relaxing at the beach / pool, but for me, most of these type of things seem too far to travel for one day cruise stop. Maybe I am doing it wrong, idk!!

Overall my husband and I have fun when our kids are entertained and happy. I don’t care what other people think about my vacation though. If they think it’s tacky, ok good for you.

You will have a great time. The kids will love it.

[Anonymous]

The difference between a cheap drunk cruise and a nice high end cruise are significant. If you want to relax and like being on a ship it’s great. A floating resort. But if you want to hike the empty mountains and swim on a lonely beach that’s not going to happen. However cruises are also overall cheaper than putting all that together especially with kids. That’s why 20 million people chose it as a vacation.

[Anonymous]

You can pry my Disney Cruises from my cold dead hands. I don’t care if you think they are tacky. Leaving on one for spring break and cannot wait!

[Anonymous]

Cruises are wonderful. Nothing like sailing on the ocean. Watching the water is so peaceful. It is a unique experience. I love cruising.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain why it's tacky and why some people hate it? I've never been to one and have no idea what it's like. It seems like a stress free vacation.

Here's why I hate cruises:

- They are HORRIBLE for the environment, on a level most other vacations cannot match. A cruise ship's daily emissions into the ocean are equivalent to a million cars per day.

- Many times they're centered around unlimited eating, gambling ... basically crass consumption while you sit on this thing that is pumping chemicals into the ocean.'

- The stops are often so short that you just get off with throngs of people, go shop at tourist traps (which are usually detrimental to the local economy) and you get back on the ship.

I recognize all vacations take some toll on the environment, but the impact of cruises is way worse than most other vacation options.

Not to mention you're SOL if (as has happened) the ship breaks down somehow. You're stuck on the thing.

OK poor person who can’t afford one.

Can't afford a cruise? People go on cruises because they're cheap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain why it's tacky and why some people hate it? I've never been to one and have no idea what it's like. It seems like a stress free vacation.

Here's why I hate cruises:

- They are HORRIBLE for the environment, on a level most other vacations cannot match. A cruise ship's daily emissions into the ocean are equivalent to a million cars per day.

- Many times they're centered around unlimited eating, gambling ... basically crass consumption while you sit on this thing that is pumping chemicals into the ocean.'

- The stops are often so short that you just get off with throngs of people, go shop at tourist traps (which are usually detrimental to the local economy) and you get back on the ship.

I recognize all vacations take some toll on the environment, but the impact of cruises is way worse than most other vacation options.

Not to mention you're SOL if (as has happened) the ship breaks down somehow. You're stuck on the thing.

OK poor person who can’t afford one.

Can't afford a cruise? People go on cruises because they're cheap.

LOL exactly.

[Anonymous]

Super tacky and super fun

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain why it's tacky and why some people hate it? I've never been to one and have no idea what it's like. It seems like a stress free vacation.

Here's why I hate cruises:

- They are HORRIBLE for the environment, on a level most other vacations cannot match. A cruise ship's daily emissions into the ocean are equivalent to a million cars per day.

- Many times they're centered around unlimited eating, gambling ... basically crass consumption while you sit on this thing that is pumping chemicals into the ocean.'

- The stops are often so short that you just get off with throngs of people, go shop at tourist traps (which are usually detrimental to the local economy) and you get back on the ship.

I recognize all vacations take some toll on the environment, but the impact of cruises is way worse than most other vacation options.

Not to mention you're SOL if (as has happened) the ship breaks down somehow. You're stuck on the thing.

OK poor person who can’t afford one.

Can't afford a cruise? People go on cruises because they're cheap.

LOL exactly.

Just curious what you think a 7 night Disney Cruise costs the week before Easter for a family of 4?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here! I’m not worried people will think we are tacky. Our friends wouldn’t think that. We are all in the same place in life where we have little kids and the trips are centered around them if they are going.

To the weird PP .. we speak a few languages and have lived abroad and traveled to most continents, I am pretty sure we quality as “cultured” by the definition of it alone. A cruise doesn’t change that.

I’m mostly wondering if it’s going to feel really tacky, crowded, low quality and be a bad experience since we haven’t been before. I know for a fact my young children would love the experience of it but it’s also a pretty expensive trip. We could do a lot of different exciting options with the budget for a family of four to go on one. What appeals to me is that everything is geared towards children without the lines and hustle of a Disney trip. My kids have traveled quite a bit but they are typical kids with a lot of energy that need to be busy and entertained.

I’ve heard mass market cruises (Royal Caribbean, Carnival, etc) described as “domestic wine and cheese,” which I’d say is about right. It’s the vacation equivalent of PF Chang’s or Cheesecake Factory. If you go in with reasonable expectations, you’ll have fun. Expect to be comfortable but not catered to, expect enjoyable food but not Michelin quality, visually appealing facilities but not Architectural Digest.

From reading reviews, I get the impression Disney is at the top of the mid-tier, but still could be called tacky by some. No first hand experience on Disney though.

I’m not too snobby to admit I’ve had some very pleasant meals at the Cheesecake Factory, and I’m not above cruising. It’s surely not mind-expanding adventure and exploration, but that’s not always what you want. You’ll have fun and the kids will LOVE it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain why it's tacky and why some people hate it? I've never been to one and have no idea what it's like. It seems like a stress free vacation.

Here's why I hate cruises:

- They are HORRIBLE for the environment, on a level most other vacations cannot match. A cruise ship's daily emissions into the ocean are equivalent to a million cars per day.

- Many times they're centered around unlimited eating, gambling ... basically crass consumption while you sit on this thing that is pumping chemicals into the ocean.'

- The stops are often so short that you just get off with throngs of people, go shop at tourist traps (which are usually detrimental to the local economy) and you get back on the ship.

I recognize all vacations take some toll on the environment, but the impact of cruises is way worse than most other vacation options.

Not to mention you're SOL if (as has happened) the ship breaks down somehow. You're stuck on the thing.

OK poor person who can’t afford one.

Can't afford a cruise? People go on cruises because they're cheap.

LOL exactly.

Just curious what you think a 7 night Disney Cruise costs the week before Easter for a family of 4?

Trust me — affordability isn’t the reason we don’t go on cruises.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain why it's tacky and why some people hate it? I've never been to one and have no idea what it's like. It seems like a stress free vacation.

Here's why I hate cruises:

- They are HORRIBLE for the environment, on a level most other vacations cannot match. A cruise ship's daily emissions into the ocean are equivalent to a million cars per day.

- Many times they're centered around unlimited eating, gambling ... basically crass consumption while you sit on this thing that is pumping chemicals into the ocean.'

- The stops are often so short that you just get off with throngs of people, go shop at tourist traps (which are usually detrimental to the local economy) and you get back on the ship.

I recognize all vacations take some toll on the environment, but the impact of cruises is way worse than most other vacation options.

Not to mention you're SOL if (as has happened) the ship breaks down somehow. You're stuck on the thing.

OK poor person who can’t afford one.

Can't afford a cruise? People go on cruises because they're cheap.

LOL exactly.

Just curious what you think a 7 night Disney Cruise costs the week before Easter for a family of 4?

It’s not exactly a secret — I just looked it up and it starts at $8K. We could absolutely afford that but would never do it.

[Anonymous]

We went on two cruises when the kids were smaller. It was basically the perfect vacation. We made the decision after an exhausting and challenging trip to the French countryside, after which a friend's words were echoing in my ears... "relaxing! No hauling luggage! Kid's club! They cater to the kids' every need during family dinners so you can actually relax." In defeat, I booked it.

OMG. It was a dream. I had time to sit on my balcony, ALONE, drink a glass of wine, and read while occasionally glancing up at the unending wxpanse of ocean. The kids adored it, and it was the perfect mix of family time and time for my husband and I to relax while the kids went to supervised activities. We went to beaches at each port stop.

Was it tacky? Certainly aspects of it were tacky, corny, and occasionally declasse. Did I care? Absolutely not. I was an exhausted mom with little kids and it was perfect.