lucky03

Cruises seem quite economical for a family especially since your lodging is taken care of and you can eat to your hearts content. But are there any negatives? Are there some people who would not enjoy a cruise, who would be unhappy, especially on a longer cruise?

BeachBoi

Personally, IMHO, I dont see how anyone would not enjoy a cruise.But to answer your question,No a cruise is not for everyone.Some people find it confining.Some people find the entertainment less than entertaining.And some think the food is the caliber of a cafeteria in the hood.I will not do more nor less than 7 days.I dont venture out of the Carnival/Princess/RoyalCarribbean bounds.I am nearly always with friends my own age and in pursuit of the same interests.

gotribe

I know one person who wouldn't like a cruise - my ex-husband. He wouldn't pay extra for a larger cabin, but then would go stir crazy within the confines of the standard ones. He is anti-social and would hate having to share a dinner table with several people every night. Even if we did the optional dining and ate alone, you're still crowded in with people at times like shows, etc. He would hate it.

JimM

For some people, a few hours in a port just isn't enough. They want time to explore and get to know the area. For example, a week in Maui is barely enough to get to know the island. On the other hnad, a cruise to Alaska gives you a varied view in a week...far more comfortably and economically than other modes of transportation.

annk

I am one of those that would not be happy with a cruise that's longer than a week or days at sea. I'm sensitive to motion and after about 3 days, I feel rolling all the time up to 2 weeks after the cruise. It's especially annoying in confined areas and does put a damper on cruising. I just returned from a Baltic cruise, seas were calm as can be and I still felt rolling. Because of this cruising is not my preferred mode of travel.

Frank

annk: We use to feel rolling for days after comming back from a cruise, but that hasn't been a problem with the new "superliners" like the NCL Dawn or the Carnival Victory and Destiny. I'm curious which ship you sailed on in the Baltic. Try one of the 90,000+ ton ships built in the last 5 years I think you will be pleasantly suprised.

abram

When I'm on a cruise, it always strikes me that there are lots of different vacations going on.

Some people are up at 6 to exercise, and some don't know where the gym is.

Some are in the disco until 3, and some don't know where the disco is.

Some can't wait until the casino opens, and some don't know where the casino is.

Some love the nightly shoes, and some don't know where the theater is.

Some never get off the ship, some take as many shore excusrions as possible, and some head off on their own.

Some eat every meal in the fancy dining room, some love room service, and some prefer the casual buffet.

Some think at sea days are the best, and some select an itinerary with as few at sea days as possible.

Some participate in every activity, and some love to curl up in a pretty space to people watch or read.

There's something for almost everyone, and it's not hard to find something you like.

triathlete

Abram:

Great post! I've always felt that way, but you summed it up so very well. In fact, on the last two cruises I did, on the short one I was one of the people in the disco 'till 3:00AM, on the long one I was the guy working out twice a day--and I enjoyed both vacations equally.

One comment I have to add to this thread, is that while cruise vacations aren't for everyone, most of the people who say they aren't for them have never cruised, and just don't know what they're missing...

Cheers!

annk

Hi Frank. Yes, maybe I should try an even larger ship next time. Just recently sailed on Radisson's Sea Seas Voyager, a new ship with stabilizers capacity 700 passengers. My previous 2 ships held 500 & 320 passengers.

jette

Tri..., I think you missed the boat on your assumption. I'm one of the "cruising is NOT for me types" but I came to that conclusion after I spent 7 frustrating days on a pretty nice ship. I know plenty of folks who've never cruised because the whole idea does not appeal to them. Knowing what I know now, they would hate every minute of a cruise because most of their preconceptions are pretty close to accurate.
Lucky03, the short answer is that thankfully, cruising is not for everyone. Can you imagine a world where everyone has the same idea of a great vacation? I prefer my vacations in peace and quiet and I'm thrilled I can find places where this is still an option.

triathlete

Jette:

I wasn't trying to say that cruising is for everyone--it's not. I was just trying to say that there's a large knowledge gap between people who have never cruised and those who have, and many of the objections to cruising are based on not really understanding what it's all about.

Certainly if you've tried it and don't like it, that does not apply to you.

Cheers!

Misha

I always assumed I was not a cruise person and kinda felt superior to people who said they loved cruises. I thought they were not creative about travel, or that one would be forced to participate in group activities, there would be a high cornball factor, that cruisers would be old fuddy duddies or rednecks...etc. On a whim I went on a Princess cruise with a friend last Spring (Caribbean) and found that I am a cruise person! It was so much better than I expected in terms of variety of things to do, privacy if you want it, fun with other people if you want it, food offerings, activities, comfort, and CLASS. It is the only vacation for me from now on! As my friend and I say when we take a trip now for whatever reason -- pleasure or business -- "This is SO not a cruise!"

BudgetQueen

I've been on 30 cruises with #31 next week, but I go far less now than I used to in favor of more land touring. I am bored on Caribbean sailings and only go with very deep discounts. I fly directly to Grand Cayman every year to spend several DAYS at my favorite port. I do sail Alaska mostly every year- but even that is slacking off, as I want more time interior and winter travel. SO to answer your question- there are plenty of travel options- choose what is right for you.

DonnaKe

Yes, yes it is

Patty

The nice thing is there are so many different types of cruises available. I've taken about 12+ ocean cruises, mostly on large mainstream lines (Princess, NCL, Celebrity, etc.) and at this point, find myself kind of bored with these types of cruises. Unless I find a fascinating itinerary or impossible to resist deal, I don't see myself taking another one of these in the near future. However, I'll be taking my first river cruise through Germany and Austria later this year. That's something that started to sound more interesting to me and seems quite different from the ocean cruises I've taken. One of these days I'd really like to try one of the smaller ocean-going yachts like SeaDream. So if you get tired of one type of cruise, you can move on to another