Why do you choose to cruise?

[cw2go]

I am curious, (In no way do I mean this snarky or sarcastically)

 

Lately, I've read so many negatives and less than stellar opinions of onboard service, experiences and quality of cruising that I'm honestly asking those of you who sail frequently, what keeps bringing you back?

 

I often see complaints from long time cruisers and of those many still have upcoming sailings in their signature. I also see this is common with Celebrity. (from chair hogs to web site issues and everything in between) So for you, what outweighs these grumbles and keeps you cruising rather than jumping ship? :ship:

 

Thanks in advance,

Patty

[SRF]

Some people are happiest when they are grumbling.

 

If these things really upset them that much, they would stop cruising and stop hanging out on cruise forums.

 

:D

[dcinns]

I love it because I guess I see way more good than bad. I still find the service very good for the most part and love having a floating hotel to visit different places with! I think it's still a good value compared to other vacations as well!

 

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[CanadaRob]

Whether I sail in an inside cabin or suite, always feel looked after and attended too.

[lbjen]

Most of the issues that people have don’t affect me - we don’t drink so I don’t care about drink packages, we like a hard bed, we don’t visit the pool on sea days or spend time in the solarium. Even service isn’t a big deal to us, especially how many towel animals we get! And we don’t splash a ton of cash on our cruises either, I think that does change how much value you feel you are getting when you have spent a massive amount of money.

[Bessybear]

What a great thread - I never have been on a cruise I didn’t like. I love to cruise with family and friends and always have a great time - with so much to do - I love shows and comedians and going out to dinner every night. I love just sailing and looking at the ocean while holding hands with hubby of 50 years. Game shows, karaoke, bingo, casino all without needing transportation. Waking up in a different port and exploring or snorkeling. Hanging out at the pool for an hour or two and drinking one of those frozen drinks...I could go on and on. If I could cruise a couple times a year I would do it in a heartbeat. Just being on this board and reading reviews puts a smile on my face

[OCruisers]

All too often people only post of their bad experiences. :(

[Summergirl*14]

My husband, always a value seeker, has researched many other vacations, including all inclusive and seems to arrive at the same conclusion...a cruise is the best value. We love the main dining room. It's like eating out every night. Also, we enjoy all the entertainment, which is no extra charge. Yes, chair hogs annoy me, but I don't get involved in those threads since I know there will always be inconsiderate, selfish people. The kind, considerate people far outweigh the negative. We own a timeshare, which we use,also. But no one makes our beds, gives us towel animals, cooks our meals or provides free entertainment there. Plus, I LOVE the water...swimming, snorkeling, sailing or just gazing out from our balcony.

 

 

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[topnole]

B/c it is an easy vacation. Planning is minimal and packing is pretty easy. Compare this to other types of international travel where so much planning and time is required to cover all your bases.

 

We do more types of travel than just cruising but low stress is a big reason when we cruise. Most importantly I love being on the ocean. There is something about it. Combine this with food choices galore, drinks, and lots of included entertainment and that is a recipe for “count me in”.

[mrs_fitz]

I've been cruising since elementary school and it's been my family's vacation of choice ever since. Then my husband got hooked and he loves it. I had a really bad dining experience - got kicked off traditional dining somehow and found out when I got my seapass, forced to MTD x2 nights with no reservation then accommodated, and the report that was sent to corporate was a lie - and I honestly never wanted to cruise again I was SO frustrated. But, since my husband loved it that much, I tried on the Harmony and all was redeemed. People can make mountains out of mole hills. We like going to different places over the course of one vacation. We always ate in the MDR and now that we're onto suites, we love CK. We go to shows every night and have enjoyed them.

[RCLcruiser2012]

One word.... ADDICTING! It's the thrill of getting away on a floating hotel, meeting new people, and seeing beautiful places. Has the food gone down hill. YES. Are there chair hogs, YES. Etc.... But I guess if the cruise lines don't see a decrease on profit are they truly going to change?!? NO.

[RN4Nsy]

I love unpacking once. I love the sound and sight of the sea. (I live in landlocked Missouri) I enjoy all the activities that are offered or taking a nap. There are always going to be a few hiccups along the way. Meeting new people. Where else can you start a conversation by saying "Where are you from" and inviting people to share a table. I feel spoiled on board.

 

My 18th Cruise is this fall!

 

Myra

[Friend100]

This is cruise critic. People here are more critical on their cruise requirement than 90% of most other not-so-critical cruisers or vacationers.

 

I choose cruising because ... I like it.

[Eslader]

Lately, I've read so many negatives and less than stellar opinions of onboard service, experiences and quality of cruising that I'm honestly asking those of you who sail frequently, what keeps bringing you back?

 

I have yet to experience problems of the severity claimed in the posts you reference. If I did, I probably would stop cruising -- or at least stop cruising with the line that was screwing up so badly.

 

 

My experience with cruising thus far has been staff which is exceedingly pleasant and (at least on the surface) eager to do anything they can to make my vacation great. The ships have been well designed (well... Except for the artwork in the stairwells of Liberty.. Some really creepy/weird stuff tucked back there ;) ) and clean and in good working order. The food (with the exception of the pizza) is generally good to very good, and more often than I would have expected great to outstanding.

 

 

I'm not saying that the problems others have experienced are invented out of wholecloth (alright, the one about the dirty tables in Windjammer was pretty asinine), but I look at the overall picture; to give an example separate from this forum, if someone gets all their knowledge of cruising from CNN, we all pay thousands of dollars to get on ships and then get stranded at sea surrounded by puddles of sewage and we all come down with norovirus.

 

 

But if you look at it from a statistical point of view, things like that happen on a tiny percentage of cruises. It is vanishingly unlikely that it will happen to you.

 

 

Similarly regarding the horror stories on here, even if all of them are 100% legitimate, those posts are a small percentage of the total posts here, and the population of Cruise Critic itself is a small fraction of the number of people who go on cruises. So a small percentage of a small percentage of people might be unhappy about their cruise, which means the rest of us are very unlikely to find similar issues to upset us. In short, you're overwhelmingly likely to enjoy yourself on a cruise, especially if you recognize that it's a cruise on a mass-market ship with thousands of other people, and not an exclusive sailing on a private yacht with a 2:1 crew/passenger ratio.

 

 

Cruising means a week of complete abdication of responsibility beyond breathing and washing my hands. That's pretty nice when I spend the rest of the year being responsible for work, family, home, yard, car repair, etc.

Edited March 29, 2018 by Eslader
Because the dumb software doesn't understand that using ratios does not mean I want to put a smiley face there. ;)

[leisuretraveler223]

Why do I cruise?

 

I cruise because it's easy. I cruise because it's relaxing. I cruise because I like the "Escape" I feel every time we pull out of port. I cruise because I know I can drink without worrying about having to get anywhere, be it driving or even navigating an unfamiliar city by foot, public transit or uber. I cruise because I know I can always find plenty of decent food either included or at a reasonable price.

 

I DON'T cruise to discover new cultures or experiences. If I want to immerse myself in the islands, it takes more than eight hours. All Caribbean ports of call are pretty much the same- crappy jewelry stores run by the very cruise line you are traveling, an entirely predictable Carlos & Charlies/ Margaritaville/ Senor Frogs, souvenir shops full of trinkets and booze I can buy at home, and obligatory excursions to overcrowded beaches or mediocre snorkeling.

 

Same can be said for European ports. If I want to experience these ports of call, I sure as heck don't want to end it with a ho hum meal on board as we sail away from a destination with world class cuisine.

 

I DON'T cruise to experience high end dining. Be it the MDR, or specialty restaurants, the best food on board is a mediocre version of something I can get on land (although the price is hard to beat).

 

I DON'T cruise to experience world class entertainment. Yeah, I like the live music in the lounges, but if I want to see a watered down version of a Broadway musical that's already toured my city three times, I- I don't.

 

So don't get me wrong, I love cruising. But it is what it is, and I'm okay with that. I know my "bartender" actually knows nothing about spirits and how they go together. I know the hospitality staff has had no formal education in hospitality, but simply has been apprenticed and can only do a very limited number of things. I know the cruise director is primarily obligated to make people who somehow can't do it on their own feel entertained and amused- because when they feel that way, they spend more money.

 

In short, I know that this is in no way ambitious travel. It's the leisure equivalent of junk food or reading a trashy novel. There is very little redeeming quality, but I enjoy it for what it is.

[George C]

We love cruising, have seen loads of changes since the 1970's some good some bad. I like having everything close, restaurants, pools, bars , cabarets, Broadway plays etc, really feel at home on a cruise after doing over 60. Also pack and unpack once and visiting many places

[kalliekae]

To us, cruising is far more fun than a land vacation. With a land vacation, you are in the same place day after day. On a cruise, I unpack once and wake up in a different port each day or enjoy a sea day. I love the ocean and enjoy sitting on the balcony and watching the waves. On the big ships, there is always plenty to do so one is never bored. I feel pampered on board and hate to see the last day of the cruise because then it's back to the old routine. I agree that things have changed since we started cruising in 1995, but I still think it is the best value for a vacation and we go every year. We hope to retire to FL and cruise much more in the coming years.

[Ladysilver]

Cruising is like dreaming and being fully awake. :hearteyes:

[dani negreanu]

After thoroughly travelling by land for our first 60 years, we decided it's time to leave the "driving" to someone else:D:D

Also, we came to the conclusion that we're not going to see everything in depth, so cruising is providing us to at least a taste of some far away places.

[CruiseGal999]

Good question. My first cruise was 1982 and I was HOOKED.

 

2012 NCL Cruise to Alaska ... was a really bad cruise. Weather was awful. Cruise ship tours were SO overpriced & seaplane flight - pilot got plane up in the air, approached the island, said "No Way" and landed the plane. We sat in the office waiting for everyone else on our bus to get back from their full flight. Only a $50/per person refund! For getting nothing.

 

My last cruise was to Cuba May 2017. Definitely destination driven. Good thing, way too expensive & food was HORRIBLE. Cuba fabulous.

 

My other cruises have been great. I just love being on a cruise ship going to any destination. Yes, it's a Love Boat brainwash thing.

 

I told myself my next cruise was going to be on one of the mega ships. I searched & priced mega ship cruises. LOL ...

I am now booked on a Princess cruise on one of their smaller ships. Maybe a mega ship ... someday.

[ptod]

I cruise because I can't swim that far....

[topnole]

Why do I cruise?

 

I cruise because it's easy. I cruise because it's relaxing. I cruise because I like the "Escape" I feel every time we pull out of port. I cruise because I know I can drink without worrying about having to get anywhere, be it driving or even navigating an unfamiliar city by foot, public transit or uber. I cruise because I know I can always find plenty of decent food either included or at a reasonable price.

 

I DON'T cruise to discover new cultures or experiences. If I want to immerse myself in the islands, it takes more than eight hours. All Caribbean ports of call are pretty much the same- crappy jewelry stores run by the very cruise line you are traveling, an entirely predictable Carlos & Charlies/ Margaritaville/ Senor Frogs, souvenir shops full of trinkets and booze I can buy at home, and obligatory excursions to overcrowded beaches or mediocre snorkeling.

 

Same can be said for European ports. If I want to experience these ports of call, I sure as heck don't want to end it with a ho hum meal on board as we sail away from a destination with world class cuisine.

 

I DON'T cruise to experience high end dining. Be it the MDR, or specialty restaurants, the best food on board is a mediocre version of something I can get on land (although the price is hard to beat).

 

I DON'T cruise to experience world class entertainment. Yeah, I like the live music in the lounges, but if I want to see a watered down version of a Broadway musical that's already toured my city three times, I- I don't.

 

So don't get me wrong, I love cruising. But it is what it is, and I'm okay with that. I know my "bartender" actually knows nothing about spirits and how they go together. I know the hospitality staff has had no formal education in hospitality, but simply has been apprenticed and can only do a very limited number of things. I know the cruise director is primarily obligated to make people who somehow can't do it on their own feel entertained and amused- because when they feel that way, they spend more money.

 

In short, I know that this is in no way ambitious travel. It's the leisure equivalent of junk food or reading a trashy novel. There is very little redeeming quality, but I enjoy it for what it is.

 

Spot on.

[nashirak]

I pretty much concur with what everyone else has said. My wife and I have never had a bad cruise. There will be always be those who can find fault in ANY situation. Keep in mind those people are in the vast minority. Granted vacation disasters do happen: bad weather (which can spoil a land vacation just as easily), the really rare breakdown (carnival had a rough couple years there).

 

I see it as a week (or more) where my wife and I don’t have to cook, clean, plan meals, or anything of that sort. Everything is just done for you. We don’t sweat little hiccups no matter what type of vacation it is.

 

 

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[alex_drew]

I’ve been cruising for 25 years. Has there been a decrease in quality of food over the years? Yes. Has there been an overall decrease in service? Yes. Things have changed somewhat from 25 years ago, and not everything is “perfect” but cruising will always be my vacation of choice.

 

Do I enjoy going on vacation and staying at a nice hotel while exploring a new city? Yes, but then I have to go out for most meals and entertainment. It will be more expensive than cruising. Do I enjoy renting an ocean-front house for a week at the beach? Yes, but then I have to haul all of our linens, food and anything else that the rental may not have AND I have to cook!

 

Cruising is the most relaxing vacation ever! Maybe I’ve been lucky, but I can’t recall on any line that I’ve cruised (RCCL, Celebrity, HAL, Princess, Carnival) ever having a bad meal or ever having anything but pleasant staff. Yes, some waitstaff or room stewards are better than others, but honestly, I have never had an unpleasant experience with any staff on a ship; they tend to go out of their way to please. Love cruising! :)

[bonsai3s]

Cruising means a week of complete abdication of responsibility beyond breathing and washing my hands. That's pretty nice when I spend the rest of the year being responsible for work, family, home, yard, car repair, etc.

--------------------------------------------------------------

 

Oh so true...agree. Going "braindead" when cruising is so refreshing and relaxing...everything's there for you.

Love that:

...we don't have to cook or wash dishes,

...our cabin's being cleaned constantly,

...we can do as little as we want or as much as we want,

...there's trivia (the only time we try not be braindead :D),

...the sound and smell of the ocean,

...we can meet people from all over the world,

...we can see new ports/towns/cities and only have to unpack once,

...even after all these years, we still find new things to do, new things to eat, new places to visit, and the cruise industry re-inventing itself.

...there's a gym/fitness center onboard,

...there are ships we can sail on that can be enjoyed by everyone...grandchildren, children, teens, young adults, and adults.

Lastly, love that most ships will do their best to accommodate those who are disabled.

And yes, it's an addiction...but a good addiction. :)

 

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