Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Norovirus can make for a relaxing time sitting in the bathroom. Lots of time to reflect.

Yeah, because Norovirus discriminates and you will never risk exposure at airports, airline lounges, restaurants, coffee shops…etc.

ICYMI: norovirus ripped through the Northeast in recent months.

I know three families whose spring break vacations were interrupted by norovirus. None were cruising. One got it at a fancy ski resort.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'll add that I don't get the argument that you aren't really seeing your stops. There are very few cruise ports in the Caribbean or Bahamas that I feel the need to visit for more than a day.

I love cruises, but the truth is that visiting a place for a week or two is very different from visiting for a few hours.

No, you definitely are not absorbing and fully experiencing the local flavor of the stops from a cruise. You’re getting a teeny tiny curated sample, nothing like the real thing. And there is nothing wrong with that, but you need to call it what it is.

Not true.

We’ve made friends with locals we first met as drivers or charter captains who we regularly use when on their island. We end up on beaches that are empty or might have a handful of locals or expats. They take us to their friends’ bars/restaurants/bakeries. These people are FB friends who keep in touch with us.

We’ve never done a cruise excursion or group tour. It’s just us hanging out with a local for the entire day. I’ve learned so much by chatting with them about politics, immigration, crime, etc.

Don’t assume you can’t have an “authentic” experience while in port. You can.

And just because you spend a week at the Ritz Carlton or an Airbnb doesn’t mean you are having a more “authentic” experience.

I’ve visited dozens of Caribbean islands for weeks at a time. I’ve also visited them (and others) as a cruiser (multiple times). It’s all good…and neither better or more meaningful.

If I had to pick, I’d say cruising is more fun with kids. Nobody gets bored.

Anonymous wrote:Norovirus can make for a relaxing time sitting in the bathroom. Lots of time to reflect.

Yeah, because Norovirus discriminates and you will never risk exposure at airports, airline lounges, restaurants, coffee shops…etc.

Anonymous wrote:I find it relaxing bc nothing is required of me - no meal planning/prep/clean up, built in entertainment galore, food galore, mixed drinks to try-out rhymatic waves, places I've never been nor could I plan/afford on my own, excursions vetted/planned, etc.

I like all-inclusives, whether via cruise or island resort abd we save/budget all year for the premium and convenience of it.

People outsource things all the time for ease. For us, we outsource vacation.
Ymmv.

+1

I love that everything is taken care of. I have no responsibility for logistics, food, gear, clothing, entertainment, the list goes on. It's a bona fide vacation for me.

I did not like the one I went on. The one great part was the food, not cooking was amazing, scones and clotted cream and jam every day, excellent restaurants. I do not like sharing a pool with so many people, and constantly walking up and down and from one end to the other. I also felt a little claustrophobic being stuck on board.

They are great for a certain type of vacation, especially when you are with people who have different preferred levels of activity on vacation, like a multigenerational family trip.

I like not having to make any real decisions and not having to lug stuff around once I settle in. I love the ocean, but hate having sand everywhere in a condo/hotel room and find “relaxing” on a breach stressful after a few hours. It’s fun for me to mix up a day of chilling by the pool or on a balcony with trivia or a silly scavenger hunt.

Mid-sized ships are definitely better. The huge ones may be great for some activities, but they get really crowded! I wouldn’t mind trying one out though, just to see what it’s like.

Like all vacations, they aren’t for everyone. But at this point in my life, I enjoy them.

Anonymous wrote:Just got off a cruise in Greece/Turkey. We are frequent travelers and enjoy cruises because they are incredibly easy and allow for a variety of activities (something to please everyone) plus they allow us to see a wide variety of places and experience new things. Coming out of cruises we almost always find a few places we’d happily go back to for a longer visit and others where a few hours feels sufficient for our interests.

We are a well off family who takes luxury vacations and often find some of our favorites have been cruises.

Please stop saying you are frequent travelers because you go on cruises. That’s like saying you’re athletic because you play mini golf.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Norovirus can make for a relaxing time sitting in the bathroom. Lots of time to reflect.

+1,000. Cruise ship people are nasty.

If cruise ship people are “nasty,” what are people who call others names? You don’t have to love cruises. I’ve only been on one myself, so I’m not a die-hard cruise person, but it takes a “special” kind of person to troll on a message board and say mean things about people.

PP Is not calling people names, just speaking truth.

That video is exactly what I love about cruises. Just getting away from the crowds and looking into the vast horizon. (And seeing some of the most gorgeous sunsets ever). I would not go on cruises if I couldn’t get a balcony room.

Also: valet parking at the port is amazing. And getting cabs is never an issue on smaller or midsize ships.

We avoid the newest mega ships because they are a nightmare for folks who hate crowds and lines.

Anonymous wrote:Cruises are such a weird mix of totally relaxing and totally stress inducing.

They're totally relaxing when you're on your balcony sipping wine that somebody brought you for "free." They're totally relaxing when the biggest decision you have to make is eat in the main dining room or get room service.

They're maddening when you have to wait in line to board, wait in line to get off, wait in line for a cab from the port, wait in line for the poolside burger grill, etc., etc. They're maddening when you only get a few hours in the actual interesting places and have to worry about the ship leaving you behind if your cab gets stuck in traffic or dive trip runs long.

All in all I'd say the relaxing slightly outweighs the stress, but not enough to make it anywhere near the top of my list for vacations. I'll go if my family is going and wants me to come, but that's about it.

Pro tips:

1. Certain lines make boarding less crowded and super easy. We literally walked through security and breezed through check in and boarded almost immediately. We were able to drop off our luggage in our cabin immediately.

2. Disney is a mess. I suggest boarding later in the morning rather than first thing to avoid the lines.

3. It’s easy to find bars and restaurants without lines—especially on smaller or midsize ships.

4. We always have plenty of time in port. Do you sleep in or something?

Cruises are such a weird mix of totally relaxing and totally stress inducing.

They're totally relaxing when you're on your balcony sipping wine that somebody brought you for "free." They're totally relaxing when the biggest decision you have to make is eat in the main dining room or get room service.

They're maddening when you have to wait in line to board, wait in line to get off, wait in line for a cab from the port, wait in line for the poolside burger grill, etc., etc. They're maddening when you only get a few hours in the actual interesting places and have to worry about the ship leaving you behind if your cab gets stuck in traffic or dive trip runs long.

All in all I'd say the relaxing slightly outweighs the stress, but not enough to make it anywhere near the top of my list for vacations. I'll go if my family is going and wants me to come, but that's about it.

Anonymous wrote:I'll add that I don't get the argument that you aren't really seeing your stops. There are very few cruise ports in the Caribbean or Bahamas that I feel the need to visit for more than a day.

I love cruises, but the truth is that visiting a place for a week or two is very different from visiting for a few hours.

No, you definitely are not absorbing and fully experiencing the local flavor of the stops from a cruise. You’re getting a teeny tiny curated sample, nothing like the real thing. And there is nothing wrong with that, but you need to call it what it is.

Just got off a cruise in Greece/Turkey. We are frequent travelers and enjoy cruises because they are incredibly easy and allow for a variety of activities (something to please everyone) plus they allow us to see a wide variety of places and experience new things. Coming out of cruises we almost always find a few places we’d happily go back to for a longer visit and others where a few hours feels sufficient for our interests.

We are a well off family who takes luxury vacations and often find some of our favorites have been cruises.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'll add that I don't get the argument that you aren't really seeing your stops. There are very few cruise ports in the Caribbean or Bahamas that I feel the need to visit for more than a day.

That’s just because you are simple minded and unimaginative. And cruises go far beyond the Caribbean. Do you really think eight hours in a lot of European ports is a proper visit?! What a joke.

You’re a real peach! I have done a European cruise and bookend it with extended visits in other cities, and choose follow-up land trips based on stops we particularly liked. How many cruises have you been on? Or is the above your close-minded opinion?

+1

Most people spend a week in Italy before boarding a cruise that heads to Greece and then spend a week in Greece. It’s a fabulous way to spend 3 or 4 weeks.

Who goes away for 3 or 4 weeks?

People who go on Mediterranean cruises.

ICYMI: people who cruise travel a lot…far more than the average dcumer.

Ha, no!