PROS AND CONS OF CRUISING
Is cruising right for you? It depends on your travel style and travel goals, and your preferences will determine where you land of the spectrum of cruise likability. There are some who swear by cruising and won’t travel any other way. Others vow that they will “never set foot on a floating petri dish.”
I land somewhere in the middle. There are some trips for which cruising is the clear choice. In some cases, another method of travel is more attractive. I’ve outlined a few pros and cons of this major sector of the travel industry so you can decide if cruising really “floats your boat.”
What I Like About Cruising
You can see many places in a short time. Most Americans have 2-3 weeks of paid time off during the year which doesn’t leave much time for an extended trip. If you’re wanting to cover a lot of ground (or water, in this case) in your limited time frame, cruising is the easiest way to visit some of the most famous and interesting cities in the world at a fast pace.
Cruising is like a sampler plate: you get a small taste of a variety of cultures, which is a great way to see if there are any places you want to revisit later for a more in-depth experience.
They are inexpensive. Cruising gives you a lot of bang for your buck. When you consider that the price of your cruise includes lodging, transportation, meals, and entertainment, you really can’t go wrong. Of course, there are other side expenses such as on-shore activities and gratuities, but even then, your price per day is usually lower than that of a non-cruise trip. In my case, since I don’t live near any ports, the price for airfare to the departure port is usually much more expensive than the entire cruise itself.
The food. If you are watching your weight, this one might actually be a con because the food on cruise ships is mega-delicious. Plus, it’s included in the price of your ticket, so you can fill your belly with as many cookies as it will hold. I love the attention to detail, the presentation, and, of course, the flavor and texture of the foods. On my first cruise, I ordered two or three mini cheesecakes via room service each night. YUM.
Each cruise ship has a wide variety of menus to suit any palate. You can opt for a casual dining experience at the buffet or a glitzy-glam night in the formal dining rooms. Some cruise lines have specialty restaurants, too, that serve classic French, hibachi grill, and Texas steakhouse cuisine.
They are easy to plan. Once you find the cruise you want, all you do is click “Book now” and most of the work is done for you. If you aren’t big into trip planning, sit back and let the cruise line do it for you. You don’t have to arrange any transportation from one place to another. You don’t have to research and find a place to sleep every night. You don’t have to look up the best bars or shows or restaurants because they are all right there on the ship. You will have to do a little decision-making about what you want to do off the ship, but otherwise, you’re pretty much set to go from the time you book.
You only have to unpack once. If you’ve ever dragged a suitcase around Europe, you know that packing and unpacking every couple of days is more than slightly inconvenient. On a cruise ship, your stateroom is yours for the entire journey. Upon arrival, sort out your clothes, shoes, toiletries, etc., and let them live in drawers and closets for the duration. Easy peasy.
They are relaxing. Someone else is doing all the driving, or sailing, as the case may be. There is no stress about how you will get yourself to the next city on your itinerary. Also, I find that having a day at sea gives me time to lounge by the pool, visit the spa, or play a round of mini-golf. When I plan an on-land tour, I rarely schedule time to slow down and recharge. Cruising forces me to take a breather periodically throughout the trip.
You’ll never be bored. If you find yourself bored on a cruise ship, it’s your own fault. The travel time in between destinations is yours to fill with a wide variety of activities. Most ships have theatre shows every night along with a library, a shopping mall, a casino, and a pool deck. Some ships have kid-friendly zones with laser tag, arcades, and go-carts. I’ve loved the Royal Caribbean ships that have a simulated surf machine called the Flow-Rider (even though I’m no good at it!). There is truly something for everyone.
The crew. Cruise lines have employees from all over the world. They are so often friendly, efficient, and really good at making your vacation feel effortless. The stateroom attendants are like ninjas; on one cruise, I didn’t even meet mine until the fourth day! He was so good at making up the room and folding those ridiculously cute towel animals, all while remaining unseen.
They are adaptable for any kind of traveler. If you are a move-it move-it kind of person, you can climb the ship’s rock wall or book a daring parasailing shore excursion. If you like things to be a little more subdued, you can take a tour of the ship or join a cultural/historical tour in one of the ports. If you just want to soak in the sun or socialize with new friends, you can even stay onboard the entire time.
What I don’t like about cruising
Rushed time off the ship. Most ships stay in a port for somewhere between 6-8 hours only. That’s not enough time to really dig in and explore a place. You typically get to choose one site or activity, have time for a quick lunch, and it’s back on the ship. I always feel a little sad that I don’t get to see or experience the port cities at night. Some cruise lines have started adding in overnight docking in places like Havana and Okinawa. My experience in these cities was so much richer.
No flexibility. Cruising does not offer you the ability to stretch or modify your itinerary like you would be able to on another type of tour. If you want an extra day in Barcelona, too bad. You’ll just have to make another trip.
Ports will be crowded. Some ports have multiple cruise ships docking at the same time. If each ship has an average of 3,000 guests, and there are four ships in port, that means a swell of 12,000 people is going to invade the city in addition to the locals and workers already there. Shops, sites, and restaurants are sometimes overrun, and organized tours fill up quickly. Just be prepared to maneuver around the busy streets and have longer wait times if you are in a popular port city.
Gratuity amounts are decided by the cruise line. When I first started cruising in 2010, three little envelopes would appear in your stateroom on the last night of the cruise. These envelopes were designated for tips for your stateroom attendant, the head waiter, and your table waiter. I always left my stateroom attendant a generous tip since he/she had gracefully worked around all of my belongings and kept my room so clean and well-stocked. Since I usually ate at the formal dining room one to two times throughout the cruise, I gave tips to the waiters based on how many nights they served me. This seemed to me a great system.
Sometime between then and now, cruise lines implemented automatic tipping which ranges from around $14-$22 per person per day. I don’t even know how it is divvied up or if it even gets to the people for which it is intended. Now, I wholeheartedly believe the workers deserve tips, but I don’t believe it should be equal across the board. If I utilize a service and receive excellent care, I will tip like crazy. But if I don’t even use the dining room onboard, why does some of my money go there?
Many cruise lines have private islands. A new trend has emerged for cruise companies to purchase entire islands and turn them into mega-resorts. While, I admit, these places are a lot of fun to visit, they don’t offer much insight into the local culture. You rarely meet people from the country and are met with what is essentially an amusement park. This might be fine for some vacationers, but I want a little slice of food, architecture, history in tandem with my entertainment.
Some of my pros might actually be cons for you and vice versa, so, again, make your decision about booking a cruise based on your preferences. Happy sailing!