I have gone on at least 20 cruises. My husband and I are 36 and we used to go on 2 cruises per year as our main vacations all through our 20s and early 30s. We loved them! We would do a Caribbean cruise every year in the winter, and then a more unique type of cruise in the summer or fall (we did Alaska one year, Canada/New England one year, California wine cruise one year, etc.). We love cruises because we love the 24 hour buffets, lounging around all day reading and sunning, and visiting nice beaches. Neither of us has ever gotten seasick and in all the 20 cruises I've done I only got norovirus once (and my husband didn't get it that cruise). I did have a rough time with that but it only lasted 2 days. We always get the cheapest cabin (interior) with no window, which was great because we didn't get up until noon anyways. Now we have kids and we haven't been on a cruise since I was first pregnant.

I had zero interest in going on a cruise (and a lot of judgyness about it) until I went on a Disney cruise for the first time last year -- consider me a convert. I don't think I'll go on any other lines though.

I also get bad motion sickness but bonine/meclizine made it all better without side effect.

I think what I was most surprised by was the glorious free time when the children were in the kids' clubs, combined with the ability to check out different places when we were at port... We did not book excursions, but just checked out the area ourselves in Nassau, for example, which lots of cruisers are afraid of apparently, but it was fun and we got a brief sense of the city (eating local food, hanging out at the public beach).

If you think you're going to be seasick on a Cruise Ship then don't do it. Whatever you do don't try out a short Winter or Spring Break Cruise out of Baltimore, NY or NJ because there is a greater likelihood of rough seas and starting North its going to take some time to get to Bermuda or the Bahamas. Greater chance you won't enjoy it.

Anonymous wrote:Oh and to the people who don't cruise b.c of pollution...is there evidence that they are any worse on the environment than flights or driving? I imagine not. Do you buy carbon exchanges for all your flights?

I think the only truly environmentally friendly travel would be walking or biking then camping. With dumpster diving for your meals.

Do you take all your cruises out of Baltimore?

It's more likely that you fly to the city that the cruise leaves from. Cruising + flying, even better!

I don't get seasick and have absolutely zero interest in regular cruises. Will likely do Alaska, and Antarctica/Galapagos would be of interest. But a regular cruise? Nope. No interest. Maybe if I had all the time and money in the world I would try it, but I don't. I also don't really like Resort vacations. They both sound boring to me and aren't what I, personally, am looking for in a vacation.

As for you OP - in your boat I'd just drop the rope on these conversations. When you give your (understandable) objections that opens a door for folks to engage. Just say 'not interested' and leave it there. Not saying folks will automatically leave you alone, but hopefully it will help, since pushing against your reasons isn't quite as obnoxious as continuing to push the conversational topic all together after being asked to drop it.

With your parents though - maybe suggest they take your kid with them on a cruise while leaving you home? That could be a win-win.

I've been on two cruises and they were just OK. I enjoy going to one place more and exploring that place and getting to know it. I'm just not that into spending several days at sea aboard a ship and just having a few hours in the ports.

I have been on several cruises. Caribbean cruises are a nice easy warm vacation--like going to South Florida or the Bahamas w/a little sightseeing thrown in. We went on a cruise for part of our honeymoon also--we could sleep, eat, have sex, get massages, breakfast in bed, gamble, and sightsee as we saw fit. I found the honeymoon cruise (Europe) and Caribbean cruises quite relaxing and a nice grown-up-adult diversion.

However shoot me before I take my kids on a cruise. That just seems like an absolute nightmare.

I love cruises, they are fun vacations, but they are completely different than traveling to another country. They each have their purpose. I love to do both cruises but also exploring other cultures by visiting countries and staying there.

Also, you make your own fun.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can have a really good time or a really bad time on a cruise. It all comes down to picking the right cruise line, the right ship, the right time of the year and the right intinerary. On The really big new ships you don't feel much movement, if any at all for most people. If you go out of NY, NJ or Baltimore at the wrong time of the year you may regret it. There are tons of repeat cruisers, many are decades under the age of 60. Plenty of small children, toddlers and infants. It's a great way to travel with extended family and be able to not be with them 24 hrs.

? Being stuck in a cabin with my young children sounds awful!!!!!

I am the PP from this post. I agree! But I saw tons of little ones on a cruise I took this Summer with Royal Caribbean. Apparently the kids clubs are really good but I wouldn't know because my kids are older. Someone I met on the cruise would go into port, while DW was in the spa and the kids (4, 5 ) would go to the kids club and everyone was happy. To each his own.

Anonymous wrote:Oh and to the people who don't cruise b.c of pollution...is there evidence that they are any worse on the environment than flights or driving? I imagine not. Do you buy carbon exchanges for all your flights?

I think the only truly environmentally friendly travel would be walking or biking then camping. With dumpster diving for your meals.

Yeah, I don't like cruising at all and won't do them, but I think it's a little much for people who likely fly all over the world for their vacations to be complaining about the environmental impact of cruising.

Oh and to the people who don't cruise b.c of pollution...is there evidence that they are any worse on the environment than flights or driving? I imagine not. Do you buy carbon exchanges for all your flights?

I think the only truly environmentally friendly travel would be walking or biking then camping. With dumpster diving for your meals.