Anyone not like cruising?

[hubofhockey]

Not that we don't like cruising, but we've done it as often as we have because my parents love it, and it has been an opportunity to vacation w/them and our kids.

 

More recently, and again this summer, cruising has been a compromise w/our kids. At their ages, a vacation in Europe is more enjoyable for them on a cruise ship.

 

My wife and I are actually looking forward to our next big trip that doesn't involve a cruise ship.

 

Sent from my LG-D850 using Tapatalk

 

I don't understand the need to be on a cruise ship for every vacation. You miss so much because some cities are best experienced with multiple days and also at night. Cruise vacations can be limiting. I hate to say this, but I do get bored at night on cruises. We are taking our kids (now older teens) to London and Paris this summer. We'll do some bike tours and enjoy being out at night. We love cruises, but I would grow to hate them if that's all I did with my limited vacation time.

[Cruisinwithagoodbook]

Here's what I have gathered about people who don't like cruising:

 

- they have never actually gone on a cruise but make assumptions that are based on past experiences like "I went on a small fishing boat and got sea sick"...

Speaking of assumptions... I'm sure you don't mean to be offensive, but this post is a bit insulting to those of us who might not be completely enamored with cruising.

 

I have been on one Viking River Cruise (it was good) and one Carnival Ocean cruise to the Caribbean (awful, so thankfully only three days). I do get sea sick, but did not on the ocean cruise. On the river cruise I experienced a few moments of woozyness when I'd look at shore, but nothing I needed medicine for if I'd just look away. I've gotten VERY seasick on small boats in the past, so I plan for that.

 

- they are ex-husbands or wives

Nope. I've been married 27 years to the same man.

 

- they are people who don't like to socialize

You might have me on this one. I'd say I enjoy socializing with small groups of people who are nice and calm. I didn't not enjoy the large groups of rowdy kids and teens who congregated in the pool area and common areas of the Carnival Cruise ship we were on... and it was particularly irritating to me that we had to go through those crowds to get to our room several times. At some times of day it was worse than others, but I just don't like crowds period. So that was not pleasant.

 

You'll probably tell me that I could have picked a room elsewhere (true, but it was a last minute gift cruise, and my first, so I let the cruise decide), and that I could have picked a different cruise (also true, but I was excited about seeing Chichen Itza, so I thought this would be a good opportunity).

 

- they are people who are generally negative in most aspects of life and make up excuses for not liking cruising (too many photographers, cabins are too small, etc.

LOL I'm not a negative person by nature. I'm generally happy go lucky. I didn't worry over photographers, small cabins, or even the noise. If it's negative to not like crowds, I'll own that. :)

 

- they are people who have a favorite vacation style and aren't at all adventurous or accommodating to their spouse (only go fishing, only go to this one resort, etc.)

We travel everywhere, and usually try everything at least once... although my back is beginning to tell me to stop trying certain things.

 

What I love about vacationing is seeing things (history, art, and architecture particularly) and experiencing a different culture. This is the part of cruising that doesn't seem the best match for me.

 

Snowskier, you are not alone. We are heading to Antarctica next year and are planning on an African safari in 2017.

 

My husband and I have been on two cruises with Azamara. We loved the small ship, the wonderful crew and the great food. We did not love the short times in ports (and we did have some overnights) and we did not like coming back to 'our North American home' every night.

That's it EXACTLY!! On our Viking River Cruise I felt a little bit more immersed in the culture because the crew was European and shared their experiences, plus they brought people on board for demonstrations and things to help you know more about the culture, so that was good... but still, every time we had to get back on that ship I felt a sense of sadness that we weren't getting to spend the night in the town and get to be with the people there.

 

We love independent travel and have decided that, except for expedition type cruises or short scenic boat trips, we will not cruise again until we are older and cannot get around well enough on our own.

We have a cruise to the Mediterranean planned (which is why I'm on CC) but this might end up being our plan as well. I can see us taking a cruise to Alaska, maybe, but I can't see doing a lot of touring this way, especially over and over again. I'd be crazed by the monotony of a long cruise, I think. I'd much rather spend my time seeing new things. (We never go the same place twice on vacation, except to Disney World, and that only once every 5-6 years.)

 

We do not like all inclusive resorts for similar reasons. We like to experience foreign cultures.

Yes. This.

 

We are retired and do not need the stress relief of a vacation where you are waited on constantly.

I don't work, so maybe that's part of it, but my husband doesn't seem to need the constant entertainment and service so many here love.

 

Cruising is easier than the kind of travel we do. There is something to be said for having the same bed every night and not having to pack and unpack so frequently but it is not the best way to experience this huge, world of ours in all its variety.

That's it. Yes it's easier to unpack once and it's easier to travel this way when seeing Islands (which is why we picked it for the Greek Isles) but it's not the best way to really feel that you know a country.

 

When we did our little Caribbean Cruise, I was so sad when we had to leave Chichen Itza after two hours. I could have stayed there all day. It was fascinating... but the beach was part of the itinerary, so we left and sat on the beach watching the waves. That's nice, but not nearly as interesting as the history and culture we had left behind.

 

 

I agree with the many here who have said there's no one right vacation...and not enjoying cruising particularly doesn't make me a bad person... it just makes me different. I have different priorities.

 

I may change my mind in the future, but I doubt it. I hope to always enjoy culture and history more than being pampered... but we'll see. Maybe when I'm really old and unable to walk I'll love staying on the ship and just watching the waves.

[hubofhockey]

Snowskier, you are not alone. We are heading to Antarctica next year and are planning on an African safari in 2017.

 

My husband and I have been on two cruises with Azamara. We loved the small ship, the wonderful crew and the great food. We did not love the short times in ports (and we did have some overnights) and we did not like coming back to 'our North American home' every night.

 

We love independent travel and have decided that, except for expedition type cruises or short scenic boat trips, we will not cruise again until we are older and cannot get around well enough on our own.

 

We do not like all inclusive resorts for similar reasons. We like to experience foreign cultures.

 

We are retired and do not need the stress relief of a vacation where you are waited on constantly.

 

Cruising is easier than the kind of travel we do. There is something to be said for having the same bed every night and not having to pack and unpack so frequently but it is not the best way to experience this huge, world of ours in all its variety.

 

It may not be the best way to experience foreign cultures, but it does offer you an opportunity to get small tastes of foreign cultures. In some situations, cruising is optimal. There are some ports and some cities where I would say that it's the most practical way to enjoy those cities. I'd start with St Petersburg and add every country or city that I want to see for a day, but would not consider for much longer. In other ports, that taste will lead to longer stays in places we seem to like. That would be places in Italy such as Positano and other places such as Copenhagen, Amsterdam, and Edinburugh, which are easier to get to. In fact, later on, we might begin or end a cruise with those original embarkation or disembarkation ports and spend a few days there.

[Dr Buzzard]

Count us among the people who have cruised and disliked it ..... we've been lurking here for a while, and finally felt compelled to comment when I saw this topic.

 

We were pestered for years by 1 family member to try cruising, as she and her family cruise every year, and were insistent that everyone else in the extended family "just had to love cruising" as she and her immediate family do.

 

Well..... unknown to that family member, we decided to try a cruise this year, just to see if it was in fact worthwhile. We took a cruise on a somewhat larger ship (not one of the mega ships of RCCL). While we could see how some people would like cruises...we are ane not those people..... "one and done" as they say.

 

What we did not like:

 

1.) We had a balcony room, but it was still too small for our taste

2.) You can certainly run into boorish people anywhere, but there was preponderence on this cruise

2.) The food? Aside from some of the specialty dining, it was no better than Chili's or Applebee's - those places are fine, but "it ain't fine dining for sure"

4.) Crowds - sorry everyone, I keep reading that you can find some solitude on a ship regardless of the size, but it didn't happen for us....the only solitude was if we stayed on the ship during an excursion day

5.) And lastly.... the oft-mentioned short time in port...way too short for our taste

 

We are well-traveled folks, having been to Europe and S. America multiple times, as well as all over the USA. We are not "sticks-in-the-mud", and went on the trip with great anticipation of having a good time..... it was a "slightly OK time" ....not miserable at all, but not an experience we want to try again.

 

I have been lurking her, just to see if we were completely out of line with our opinion. It's good to see that some others don't care for cruising either (I guess roughly 80% of the US population falls in this group?) :)

 

Just one more general comment.... I also have read many posts where people talk about friends, family & co-workers who bash cruising all the time without having tried it. While I never intend to "bash" cruising, this had been my experience before we cruised:

 

Co-Worker: "We just got back from a cruise"

Me: "That sounds nice"

Co-Worker: "Have you been on a cruise?"

Me: "No, we never had any interest"

Co-Worker: " Well why not???? Cruising is great, I've never met anyone who displiked cruising, you have to try it. Why haven't you tried it??"

 

Etc..... My point being that cruisers don't need to be evangelists for the cruise industry...people like me will try IF we want. If they bash you for cruisinmg, just walk away.... :)

[DirtyDawg]

Count us among the people who have cruised and disliked it ..... we've been lurking here for a while, and finally felt compelled to comment when I saw this topic.

 

We were pestered for years by 1 family member to try cruising, as she and her family cruise every year, and were insistent that everyone else in the extended family "just had to love cruising" as she and her immediate family do.

 

Well..... unknown to that family member, we decided to try a cruise this year, just to see if it was in fact worthwhile. We took a cruise on a somewhat larger ship (not one of the mega ships of RCCL). While we could see how some people would like cruises...we are ane not those people..... "one and done" as they say.

 

What we did not like:

 

1.) We had a balcony room, but it was still too small for our taste

2.) You can certainly run into boorish people anywhere, but there was preponderence on this cruise

2.) The food? Aside from some of the specialty dining, it was no better than Chili's or Applebee's - those places are fine, but "it ain't fine dining for sure"

4.) Crowds - sorry everyone, I keep reading that you can find some solitude on a ship regardless of the size, but it didn't happen for us....the only solitude was if we stayed on the ship during an excursion day

5.) And lastly.... the oft-mentioned short time in port...way too short for our taste

 

We are well-traveled folks, having been to Europe and S. America multiple times, as well as all over the USA. We are not "sticks-in-the-mud", and went on the trip with great anticipation of having a good time..... it was a "slightly OK time" ....not miserable at all, but not an experience we want to try again.

 

I have been lurking her, just to see if we were completely out of line with our opinion. It's good to see that some others don't care for cruising either (I guess roughly 80% of the US population falls in this group?) :)

 

Just one more general comment.... I also have read many posts where people talk about friends, family & co-workers who bash cruising all the time without having tried it. While I never intend to "bash" cruising, this had been my experience before we cruised:

 

Co-Worker: "We just got back from a cruise"

Me: "That sounds nice"

Co-Worker: "Have you been on a cruise?"

Me: "No, we never had any interest"

Co-Worker: " Well why not???? Cruising is great, I've never met anyone who displiked cruising, you have to try it. Why haven't you tried it??"

 

Etc..... My point being that cruisers don't need to be evangelists for the cruise industry...people like me will try IF we want. If they bash you for cruisinmg, just walk away.... :)

 

Well said. I love your line about cruisers don't need to be evangelists for the cruise industry. You'll find lots of those around who think you are a heretic if you don't love cruising as much as they do.:D

Edited May 26, 2015 by DirtyDawg

[Floridiana]

DH and I have cruised about 17 times and still only like cruises that go to places we can't see on a land tour. For us it's all about the itinerary and we combine cruises with land tours. The land tours are always more interesting. Most of the time, we arrange them on our own. We have only done 2 completely guided tours in countries where we can't read or understand anything.

 

My neighbors cruise for the sake of cruising, entertainment, no cooking, no cleaning, trivia, dancing, playing cards etc.

[hfj17002]

Thanks for the replies. I'm interested to see what my family of 4 will decide after our cruise. I have a feeling my wife will be just ok with it & I'll like it. My kids will like it as long as they don't get seasick.:)

[Putterdude]

Yes, there definitely people out there who don't care for cruising. In fact we have two sets of friends, one did a Panama full transit relocation from Vancouver in the fall and the other friends did the reverse this spring; both came of the ships saying never again. In both cases these are high energy people who probably find the ship confining and I suspect neither of them like ice cream either.

[Velvetwater]

I suppose another thing about how much you like cruising is how agreeable and flexible you are with holidays in general...

 

I just love getting away! I adore all types of holiday including camping, coach holidays to the continent, fly beach holidays, cruises (favourite), windy beach holidays in the UK, city breaks, exotic longer holidays abroad...I've done them all and enjoyed them all.

 

Cruises are great because I love seeing different places and I have to see the ocean at least once a year...they also give you value for your holiday time as when you are travelling to a destination you are having fun while doing it. Food in port stills give me good eats even if ship food isn't wowing me.

[divot33]

We've only done one cruise - and are leaving for our second one in 3 days.

 

The one we did wasn't my ideal vacation, but I didn't hate it. A few of my issues:

• I wasn't sea "sick", but I was sea "don't feel great" at night when the ship picked up speed. I am taking the Scop patches this time to try to counteract that
  
• I'm not much of a beach, pool, or laying out in the sun type of person
  
• I'm also not much of a social person
  
• I don't drink, so any mixology classes or bars don't interest me
  
• I don't gamble, so the casinos aren't a draw
  
• I tend to like what many would think is an 'un-relaxing' vacation. I like having a packed schedule.
  
• Overall, based on the previous 5 bullets, I was pretty bored while on the ship
  

 

I'd never suggest that what I like, everyone else should like. Or what I don't like, no one else should like.

 

My wife likes cruising much more than I do. I like it but don't love it. I much prefer a land based vacation. On a cruise port stop where I spend maybe 7-8 hours, I don't really feel like I have been there. I would rather spend a week on an island than a few hours.

 

Something about cruising is different, the room is smaller, the food doesn't taste like food I would eat at a restaurant on land. Everything has a different feel. I much prefer a land trip. She likes cruising. To each their own. We usually pair a land based trip with a cruise. Sometimes a week on land followed by a seven night cruise. We are both happy then.

 

This sounds like us. My GF loved the cruise and has wanted to go back. She's into relaxing much more than I am.

 

My friends went on a cruise last fall. They hated it. They are in their late fifties/early 60's. They took a short cruise just to see if they would like it. They only liked the day off the boat. They were bored. They are both retired and spend every day working in the yard, around the house, volunteering, washing their cars, etc... They hardly ever relax and just didn't enjoy it. They didn't like the food. My friend is a "southern cook" and really didn't enjoy their meals. They said all they really liked was the breakfasts in the MDR. My husband and I enjoy the sea days and the ability to unwind, nap, read and people watch. I guess to each his own!

 

My parents are going with us on this cruise and it is their first. They are extremely active, like your friends, and I do worry that they will be bored - but they are excited to try it.

 

My ex hated cruises because he said they were too boring. He didn't like to do "group activities", he didn't want to go to shows, and he didn't want to read by a pool. So for him, "nothing to do" except in port.

 

Thankfully my husband is an adult and can find ways to amuse himself even if he doesn't like the planned activities and enjoys the main goal of the cruise - relaxing and spending time together.

 

Oh boy, that first paragraph sounds a lot like me. I can't speak for your ex, but I think I am adult enough to know what I like and don't like. There are a lot of activities on the ship, but most just don't appeal to me.

 

I see that as good news for everyone else - I won't take up a spot in a Mixology class, so, more spaces are left for you. ;)

[Amandah1987]

My partner refuses to go on a cruise.

But it's just him being silly. He won't go on a plane either.

His reasonings?

Planes crash, and boats sink.

Safe to say I'm taking our daughter on our first cruise, for ten days. Without him :)

I put off having another child to go on this cruise with my daughter before she starts school (she will be 3 at the time we go) . Hoping we don't get addicted like everyone says, and jeopardise any chance of her having a sibling lol

[Beachdude]

I haven't read all the replies, but I think after 25 or so cruises, Sally and I are about cruised out. We have one with our adult kids next Thanksgiving, but after that I'm not sure. Sally has planned and canceled three for next April.

 

Sally is a CPA, so we typically cruise twice a year after her to high season. But we started cruising when it was more about and experience of elegance, good food, and enjoyable company. Now cruising is more about getting a floating hotel room with little amenities, not so good food and vacationers who want to be left alone. That is fine, changes happen. Lately we have been finding ourselves enjoying land vacations with tropical views and no schedule to follow. I know we could pay double or triple for the old traditional elegant cruise, but Hawaii is a lot cheaper.

 

Burt

[cbr663]

We like cruising, but I have to admit that cruising is starting to lose its shine. Cabins are small with fewer amenities, service is sometimes poor or at best, perfunctory, food quality is not so good and less time in ports leave you feeling very unsatisfied.

 

We have tried different cruise lines and so far, the experience is much the same. There are only a couple more destinations that we really want to try so we are keeping our fingers crossed that things will be better.

[Cruisin' Chick]

I've met people who didn't like their one cruise. To each his own, right? You can't get me to go camping. My hubby was looking at all-inclusives last week (he just put in for retirement so he's thinking about trips), and realized it won't be for us.

[GUT2407]

I know people who don't lke crusing.

 

But when I sit down and talk to them about 80+% of the tme, they just haven't tried the line that'd be right for them.

 

One friend of ours tried Cunard, hated it, but since gave Silverseas a go and are now never home, with about 6 booked.\

 

Horses for courses.

[cruznjan]

The people who have told me they don't like cruising have never been on one. They're afraid of being out on the ocean.

[vivian02]

I had a boss around ten years ago who's wife booked them a first time cruise on a Norwegian ship which I had cruise on for our first cruise. My boss at the time was a stern, hard noised management type that was very controlling and looked down on his employees. When he got back from the cruise he told me he would never cruise again. Apparently once he boarded ship he realized he had no control of the ship and its personnel. Better yet once the ship left port he spent the next two days sick as a dog at the base of their bathroom toilet. Once the ship got back into port somewhere in the Caribbean he felt so much better and regained his confidence as a true hardworking manager. Once they left port and sailed back to Florida his confidence failed and he then spent another two days next to the toilet. I guess in all respects I felt sorry for the guy. He wasn't the worst boss I ever had but I sure could wish this on my last boss just before I retired. Cruising isn't for everyone. Thank goodness my wife enjoys cruising or this would be a boring retirement. Tim

[hfj17002]

Thanks for all the replies. My family & I just took our first cruise a few weeks ago. I have to say I liked it, but didn't love it. We found sea days to be boring during the day. The shows & activities didn't start until after 3, but mainly after dinner. So, the pools & lido deck were always packed during the day. The other thing we didn't like was not enough time on the islands. Really only about 5-6 hrs after you account for getting on & off the ship & traveling to where you want to go. I'll probably try another without my kids in the future & maybe a different cruise line. I do appreciate all the info I've learned from this site, it helped a lot.

[Antonintassie]

We have done two cruises and frankly we are not looking to do another unless the cruise industry picks up its service standards significantly .Both our cruises were in high end suites and overall land based product is more refined and better value for money. The new mega ships are cheap mass market product designed as a revenue centre and do not cater for destination travellers .

I think the cruise industry has become apathetic due to high demand ,not unlike the budget airline expansion. It works for awhile but people will still pay for a better experience and ultimately the start looking elsewhere.

[GUT2407]

We have done two cruises and frankly we are not looking to do another unless the cruise industry picks up its service standards significantly .Both our cruises were in high end suites and overall land based product is more refined and better value for money. The new mega ships are cheap mass market product designed as a revenue centre and do not cater for destination travellers .

I think the cruise industry has become apathetic due to high demand ,not unlike the budget airline expansion. It works for awhile but people will still pay for a better experience and ultimately the start looking elsewhere.

 

 

Perhaps you need to try Silverseas or similar.

[GUT2407]

DW said

 

"What I find really strange is that anyone who doesn't like cruising bothers to join CC let alone post there"

[hfj17002]

DW said

 

"What I find really strange is that anyone who doesn't like cruising bothers to join CC let alone post there"

 

I didn't say that I didn't like it, just didn't love it like so many ppl here. I'm posting now to help ppl with questions based on my cruise, the way ppl helped me. I'm slowly fading though, lol. I'll peek in every now & then because I like seeing ppl's vacation pics & reviews. I enjoyed chatting with many of ya'll.

[TravelinGert]

Hello, joined this forum a few months ago & taking my 1st cruise in June on the Freedom. I see how much ppl love cruising & how ppl become addicted after their 1st cruise. My question is, Do you know anybody that didn't like cruising & why? I'm sure there are ppl out there, I just haven't met them or read about them. Thanks!

 

My mother-in-law had never experienced motion sickness until the family took a Disney cruise in the mid-eighties. For this reason, she says she would not like to take another ocean cruise. She's planning to take a river cruise next year, though, because she never experienced any sickness while on the family's large boat either before or after the ocean cruise. I guess you could say she doesn't dislike cruising, but does dislike feeling sea sick. Seems like everyone I know otherwise who ever took a cruise can't wait to get on another. :)

[marco]

Yep...my sister's in-laws. They went on one a few years ago and HATED it!!!!!! They thought the cabin was way too small, didn't like queuing when getting on/off in ports, didn't think there was enough time in ports, excursions were too expensive for the quality of what they got, and on sea days unless you liked to sit around the pool, they thought there was nothing to do.

[BullDawg91]

I find the people I talk to who don't like cruising either:

 

Haven't cruised before, but just KNOW they won't like it,

 

Or

 

Cruised on a cheap short cruise on an old ship where their room was a broom closet.

 

I haven't met any who have tried more than one and still didn't like it.