To Cruise or Not to Cruise, That is the Question

posted in: Accommodations, Travel, Travel Tips | 8

Thinking about taking a cruise? Let us enlighten you with all the pros and cons there are to jumping on a big ocean greyhound.

What are your thoughts about cruising:

  • Romantic or Repulsive?
  • Effortless or Complicated?
  • Pleasant or Tiresome?

Cruising is just one form of transportation available when traveling. Other considerations include bus tours, train hopping and personal vehicles. Each one offering a unique way of travel and speaks to us differently based on our specific needs and wants of a vacation.

Here are the pros and cons to help you decide if cruising is the right way for you to travel.

Dessert Buffet on the Cruise

Pros of Cruising

Eating like Royalty – The quality of food on the high-end cruise lines outperforms most restaurants we frequent on vacation. Steak? Lobster? Sure, why not.

The Quantity & Availability of Food – Copious amounts of food are available ALL the time. If you have one grazer and one glutton in the family, it works out great.

Introduction to New Places – A cruise is a great way to get an introduction to new places and will help you decide if you would ever want to go back for a longer period.

Unpacking Only Once – The ship works as a floating hotel allowing you to only unpack one time. Having all of your clothes in one place the entire trip has its benefits.

 

Alaska Fiord

Group travel – Cruises are a smart option for group travel. No matter what people do during the day, everyone can get together for dinner and talk about their adventures. It’s easy to feel connected since everyone is in one place.

Entertainment – They offer various activities for all ages on the boat including bingo, cooking competitions, classes, and theater. There’s always something going on.

Views from the Ship – The high vantage point of the ship and the ability to sail through narrow passageways can provide some of the best panoramic views.

 

 

Celebrity Constellation

Cons of Cruising

Motion Sickness – My number one reason not to cruise is seasickness. Unfortunately, I am in the category of people who get sick on boats. It’s not all the time, but when it strikes it’s not fun.

Short Length of Time at Stops – It’s not a big deal when you have only eight hours at a city you don’t really feel partial to, but when you find that town that you absolutely love, it is SO disappointing to feel rushed to see it all.

Mortgaging your House for Wi-Fi – Wi-Fi is not cheap on the ship and connectivity at most ports is slow.

 

Busy Cruise Ship

 

Getting Ill  – By day three the buffet area seems more like an infirmary with a symphony of sneezing, coughing and nose-blowing sounding through the air. The Norovirus stomach bug is another concern that has struck entire cruise ships.

Claustrophobic Rooms – The inside and oceanview cabin’s are extremely small; a little claustrophobic some might say.

Amount of People – The days at sea, on a busy ship, are crowded with guests. It can be hard to get a seat in your favorite spot whether that is near the pool or at the bar.

There are many pros and cons to cruising, whether or not it is a good fit for you is for you to decide.

 

Have you ever been on a cruise? Did you like it?

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Pros and Cons of Cruising

Follow Angela:

Angela E. is a travel writer from the Chicagoland area who has visited all 50 states in the US and has traveled extensively around the world. She is passionate about exploring the great outdoors and hiking in particular. Her love for nature has taken her to some of the most beautiful locations on the planet. She has written extensively about her travels on her own website, Dang Travelers, and has been published in collaboration with other travel websites and multiple visitor bureaus around the country.

8 Responses

  1. Chris travels

    I love cruises for all the reasons you mentioned. I think people who enjoy traveling should definately try one as it definately is its own unique experience and perfect for a larger group of family or friends. I might have titled this post “When to cruise and when not to cruise”. 🙂

    • Dang Travelers

      It is definitely an experience like no other. That would have been a great title Chris!

  2. LisaLDN

    I went on a Disney Cruise to the Bahamas last year, and had an amazing time! It took a few hours to get our sea legs, haha, but after that it was a breeze! Amazing food, great entertainment, relaxation – I absolutely loved it!

    • Dang Travelers

      Glad to hear it. We haven’t done a Disney cruise yet, but heard they are a good time.

    • Dang Travelers

      Thanks Natalie! It really just depends on what you are looking for. We don’t necessarily love to cruise, but the last one we took was great since it was a group of 12 of us! The Dubrovnik & Santorini posts were based on two of the stops we had on that trip. Thanks for reading!

  3. tony baker

    tony and karin. our first cruise was in 2015 to alaska with holland america it was awesome. great food and entertainment highly recomended.

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