How many people dislike cruising?
 

Just curious, at how many people dislike cruising. Got into a debate today with co-workers about cruising. I seem to be the only one on this planet who dislikes cruises.<BR>Am I?

Did your co-workers hear about the cruise line that came in today with passengers all sick from food poisoning?<BR><BR>I wouldn't get on a cruise ship if you paid me. Aside from the fact that I get sea sick, the idea of being trapped on a ship out in the ocean with the same bunch of people for any length of time, gives me the horrors! Then there is the food food food mentality, which table are you sitting at??? Nope, not for me!

My husband and I both agree with you. <BR>Trapped - like rats.<BR>Pestered to play - gamble.<BR>And some really rough waters.<BR>And very few options.

I love cruising and travel in general. Some people don't like leaving their back yard. To each his own ; )

If I won a FREE cruise on a line like Carnival or Disney or Celebrity, I would not take it. I'd give it to someone else.<BR>If you paid me $50 per day, same thing.<BR>Sorry, my vacation time is valuable and I want great experiences, I want independence, and I want high quality.<BR><BR>Just my 2 cents.

Hi--<BR>Here's my two cents: I don't particularly like cruises--and yes, I've been on them, several in fact. <BR><BR>I've paid to go on 2 and have been able to go free on at least 4 more (my college roommate used to own a cruise-only travel agency and she'd take me along on fam trips) I definately prefer free, but cruising's simply not my thing. I don't like having just a day--or worse several hours--to see a place. It makes me feel too much like a tourist and not a traveller experiencing the place. Even having overnight in a port, isn't enough IMO.<BR><BR>If your the kind of person who likes spending a week at a resort, I think you'd like taking a cruise. I like to go and do when I want--cruising doesn't allow me that freedom. <BR><BR>For some, it's a dream vacation; it's definately not mine.<BR>Debbie

Never again...<BR><BR>Hords leaving, coming, going...<BR>time restraints...<BR>never REALLY getting to SEE an island,<BR>or get to know the locals &amp; the culture...<BR>getting dropped at a port town which is usually the ugliest part of the island...<BR>no culture...<BR><BR>no no not me....<BR><BR>

Not for me either. My first cruise was a big ship, but fortunately only half full so they did one, not two dinner seatings. But I felt like I was being pushed all the time -- ring a bell and line up for the shore excursion. I can't imagine what it would have been like if the ship had been full. We arrived in Caracas and the only way to do anything seemed to be to take the tour -- too difficult to arrange for private transportation into the city. Half the day was spent going out to the middle of nowhere and being held captive in a glass blowing factory that could have been anywhere while they gave a lame demonstration and spent a hour or two trying to sell us glass. Someday I'd like to see Caracas. I agree that one day or less is not enought to see or experience the port cities. <BR><BR>My next cruise was a very small ship and I nearly died of boredom. I don't relax well and that seemed to be what the cruise was for. I wanted to get out and explore places. <BR><BR>And I travel to eat --local specialties, not get back to the ship to depart before dinner and get oversized, overcooked portions of steam table food -- no matter how glamorous they try to make it. Even if the food were fantastic, which I guess it is on some select ships, I'd still rather be eating in local restaurants, not the same ship every night.<BR>Nope, not for me. But it's fine if you enjoy it.

Debbie:<BR><BR>What's a &quot;fam trip&quot;? I've heard this terminology before and the context did not fit a shortened form of &quot;family trip&quot; then or in your post either, so I am curious as to what it is...

fam trip=familiarization trip<BR><BR>they want agents to be familiar with the product (and to like it) so they'll be encouraged to 'push' it.

I have NO DESIRE to take a cruise with my kids &amp; husband or even alone with my husband if we had a sitter. We like flying to our destination &amp; being on land free to come &amp; go and do what we want. I agree with the person who said a few hours on an island is not like visiting that same island and spending a few days. I pass on cruises. I have flown to all-inclusive resorts which we loved and had a great vacation) I told family &amp; friends that it was like a cruise on land - but the difference is we can take buses or taxis and visit sites we want to see.

Cruising is 'travel-lite'.<BR>Less filling, half the taste of real travelling.<BR><BR>I laugh at people who say, &quot;Oh, I've been to Spain and Italy and China...on a cruise&quot;. Those people have no more understanding and feel for those countries than if they'd watched a National Geographic documentary.<BR>Cruises make it just plain impossible to taste another culture.<BR><BR>Plus the cruise lines whore out their own passengers to novelty/trinket shops and other tourist traps because those places pay the cruise lines a huge kickback. The cruise lines don't care about the quality of the guest's land based travel experiences. They just want to make an extra buck.<BR>Amazes me that all those cruise lemmings play into the scheme without even suspecting in most cases.<BR>Insulting IMO.

I love to travel on my own as well as take cruises. What I enjoy most about cruising are the days at sea. It's just a different experience being out at sea, you get the chance to see a lot of wildlife. Watching the sun set into the ocean while you are sipping wine in a hot tub is just wonderful. While taking a cruise you get a chance to see different areas of a region and return to the areas you really enjoyed. We cruised to Mexico and the following year we spent a week in Cabo San Lucas.<BR>I'm sure the cruise experience is different depending on the line you choose. Some lines really pack people on like sardines and I'm sure I wouldn't enjoy that very much. Then you would never get that hot tub to yourself at sunset.

Vacations come in all varieties. It's possible to enjoy more than one sort of experience.<BR><BR>We've been on two cruises, one on a big cruise liner and the other on a freighter. We preferred the freighter, frankly, because of the serenity of days and days at sea, with nothing to do but walk around the ship (container vessel crossing the Pacific) and visit with the officers and crew. The &quot;cruise&quot; trip (Caribbean) was an altogether different sort of vacation - snippets of places, big doses of pool-and-sun lizard days, no pressure, no demands, minimal brain involvement required. I'm not putting that down (in fact, we're off on a second &quot;cruise&quot; next month around Hawaii) - but it's certainly not our &quot;typical&quot; vacation, which has a lot more to do with exploring, culture vulturing, etc., in all sorts of strange places. Even on a cruise, though, you can get to places you wouldn't necessarily see in independent travel (long political chat with taxi driver in Antigua, case in point.)<BR><BR>But for seven or ten days, if you're looking for an opportunity to lie in the sun and decide if it will be the poolside pizza or the overstuffed tux (come on, we all need that sort of a thing once in awhile) then a cruise is an okay delivery system. Sure, there are people who go for the opportunity to overeat or loose money on God's tightest slots, but at least the weather's more pleasant than Vegas.

Truthfully I like a little of both. Independent travel one time, even 2 vacations, then a cruise in between. It doesn't have to be all or nothing 100%. I like to travel and experience different destinations, and if it is for several hours or one day, it is all well and good. I am not sure I would want to pick an Island, and be stuck for 1 week. On a cruise at least, you can see it and decide if it is a place you would want to go for 1 week. I also like the mindless vacation once in awhile, not making any decisions. Not taking money out over and over again. We are going on a cruise in Feb. My husband has not traveled as much as I have, and I would like him to experince different Islands. (newly married). We are going on a Southern Caribbean cruise with only 1 day at Sea. That is what I like, to be kept busy what I don't care for is more than 1 day at Sea. I personally, find the daily classes silly. Exercise, a silly game, or the worst tie contest, or whatever. That part I can skip completely.

I've traveled all over the world on all kinds of vacations - staying in hotels, villas, lodges etc, etc and I've been on 3 cruises. I think they are a great vacation for kids and an extended family reunion. We went on the Disney cruise and 2 Royal caribbeans. It was a great trip for the kids. The kids programs are incredible. They have tremendous facilities where they do science labs, theatre, etc, and my kids were in heaven. They actually cried when we had to leave.<BR><BR>My husband only went on one of these and wouldn't do another. He just hates cruising, but for my mom and my kids, it's wonderful. She's getting older and doesn't like making decisions about where to eat, etc, and she loves seeing her grandchildren so entertained and enjoying themselves.<BR><BR>One of the cruises was to Bermuda, where the ship docks for 4 and a half days. In that case, you really do get a chance to explore the island. We got bus passes and went all over, only returning for dinner. Being a very expensive island, it was a less pricey way to visit Bermuda as well.<BR><BR>For a older people or for kids, I think it's an easy, relaxing and fun vacation.

John, perfectly said - I couldn't agree with you more. You should write more on this board!

I have thought of two really good uses for cruises. Clients of mine go on Harvard Club cruises. They are small and study oriented. They're looking at one next year that does Dresden, Prague, and Berlin among other places. They've done one to Sicily as well. There are lecturers and very detailed small group tours which are really educational and they say top notch travel as well.<BR><BR>Also I know a number of families that get together for holidays on a cruise. Usually the grandparents spring for it with their children and grandchildren coming together from various places around the company. It is an ideal way to spend the holidays together. Something for everyone, and no one gets stuck with the housework or the cooking.

creuser (is that misspelled??)<BR>I fly when I travel. I go to other countries, usually in Europe. <BR>I much prefer getting there as quickly as possible by air. I do not travel with tour groups which is my idea of a &quot;land cruise&quot;. The same people herded around, fed, put back in their pen (hotel). This is what a ships cruise resembles to me.<BR> No need to get defensive, as you said,<BR>To each his own.

Variety is the Spice of Life.<BR>To each his own.<BR>Regarding above mention of &quot;Fam Trip&quot;--I was on a cruise couple of years ago.There was a group of about 50 or so TA's.We sat at a large table with 2 retired couples.Two of the TA's sat with us.They made the &quot;mistake&quot; of telling the table aabout their good fortune to be on a free cruise,although it was &quot;work&quot;.You know inspections etc etc.Well, I thought the 2 retired couples were going to come unglued, THE WHOLE TRIP!!All they talked about was how they paid thousands of $'s for their trip and these guys got it for nothing.My group just laughed and took it in stride.