Is cruising still worth it?

[BOGOman]

100 per day with 2 per room 200.00 and 100.00 for food day, and That's on the low side That's more than any of my 6 cruises. Land vacations are always more. Even having my 28 foot camper, ended up paying over 100.00 a night and having to cook and lots of work. Sold my camper and now enjoy cruising.

 

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This posting hasa gross misrepresentation of the costs of a vacation by car. Unless you're always aiming at big, expensive hotels, good planners can easily hold motel costs to an average of $100 per night, and usually that includes a breakfast. And allowing $50 per day per person for lunch and dinner along the open highway seems very adequate to me when stopping in small towns or along the highway. Let's say the couple drives an average of 500 miles per day in a car that gets 25 mpg, the cost of gas would be no more than $50 per day. Thus a total of $250 to cover the living and travel expenses for two people, or $125 apiece. Getting the daily cost that low for a cruise means living near the cruise port and probably taking Caribbean vacations only. But most cruisers have to travel extensively to get to and from their port of departure and long for other options than Caribbean islands.

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But I agree with you that cruising is much preferable to going anywhere in a 28-foot camper. If, by your own account, a typical trip in one of those gas guzzlers costs you $100 per night, then adding in the cost of gas which would be at least 4x the cost for a car for the same distance or around $200 for a 500 mile per day road trip. And when figuring the cost for insurance, storage, and depreciation for a camper costing at least $100 grand new, I bet the total cost with overhead factored in is as much or more than the cost of cruising anywhere in the world on anything except the highest luxury cruise ships. And with vastly more difficulty and stress. I think the only reason people stay with those things is because they're so heavily invested with them that they're stuck and can't justify any other kind of vacation while they own them. Therefore, going back to the same one or two campgrounds year after year without ever leaving the country or seeing much new. And never having the luxuries of having others else get you around, make your beds, feed you gourmet food, entertain you, etc.

Edited September 4, 2017 by BOGOman

[Kevin7kodak7]

This posting hasa gross misrepresentation of the costs of a vacation by car. Unless you're always aiming at big, expensive hotels, good planners can easily hold motel costs to an average of $100 per night, and usually that includes a breakfast. And allowing $50 per day per person for lunch and dinner along the open highway seems very adequate to me when stopping in small towns or along the highway. Let's say the couple drives an average of 500 miles per day in a car that gets 25 mpg, the cost of gas would be no more than $50 per day. Thus a total of $250 to cover the living and travel expenses for two people, or $125 apiece. Getting the daily cost that low for a cruise means living near the cruise port and probably taking Caribbean vacations only. But most cruisers have to travel extensively to get to and from their port of departure and long for other options than Caribbean islands.

.

But I agree with you that cruising is much preferable to going anywhere in a 28-foot camper. If, by your own account, a typical trip in one of those gas guzzlers costs you $100 per night, then adding in the cost of gas which would be at least 4x the cost for a car for the same distance or around $200 for a 500 mile per day road trip. And when figuring the cost for insurance, storage, and depreciation for a camper costing at least $100 grand new, I bet the total cost with overhead factored in is as much or more than the cost of cruising anywhere in the world on anything except the highest luxury cruise ships. And with vastly more difficulty and stress. I think the only reason people stay with those things is because they're so heavily invested with them that they're stuck and can't justify any other kind of vacation while they own them. Therefore, going back to the same one or two campgrounds year after year without ever leaving the country or seeing much new. And never having the luxuries of having others else get you around, make your beds, feed you gourmet food, entertain you, etc.

We both agree that staying in the same campground get boring after a few years. I was lucky to 2 fronts. Got a great deal on my camper as a friend found a great deal on his newer one and needed the last thousand fast. So I ended up with it for a great price. Lol, never moved it as I didn't have a truck. Plus was in a great area with lots of nice places to see in less than 45 minutes away. Was even able to sell it a few years later and made a few dollars. Unfortunately living in the north east, you can't find many cheap hotels or motels what my wife would stay in, lol. Cruising is the best way to travel and most affordable.

 

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[DrKoob]

This posting hasa gross misrepresentation of the costs of a vacation by car. Unless you're always aiming at big, expensive hotels, good planners can easily hold motel costs to an average of $100 per night, and usually that includes a breakfast. And allowing $50 per day per person for lunch and dinner along the open highway seems very adequate to me when stopping in small towns or along the highway. Let's say the couple drives an average of 500 miles per day in a car that gets 25 mpg, the cost of gas would be no more than $50 per day. Thus a total of $250 to cover the living and travel expenses for two people, or $125 apiece. Getting the daily cost that low for a cruise means living near the cruise port and probably taking Caribbean vacations only. But most cruisers have to travel extensively to get to and from their port of departure and long for other options than Caribbean islands.

 

If you are asking me to replace a cruise, then shouldn't I get to stay in a hotel and eat in a restaurant that are equivalent to my ship? I can't think of any hotel I have stayed in that were equal to a cruise ship that cost me less than $100 a night in years. Especially while driving.

 

I know that would be true here in Seattle. If you want to stay near the city center (like you would if you were moored in a city on a cruise ship) then you would pay at least $175 for a hotel that I would even consider sleeping in and the parking for the car you would drive there in would be a minimum of $35 if not more. I believe this would be true in San Francisco, San Diego, Vancouver BC and pretty much any other city on a coast in the US. And how about my New England cruise next year? Boston's not cheap to stay in or to park in. Same with Québec. I would probably save money on gas because I would want to spend (as I do on a cruise) a lot of time walking a city.

 

And I want to eat in someplace equivalent to the MDR at the minimum. Good luck finding that kind of service and food for under $100 for two just for dinner. Especially with the choices.

 

Don't get me wrong, I like a good road trip as much as the next guy, but I truly believe I spend more money than I do on a cruise.

[bUU]

It does make sense to compare apples to apples.

 

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[Cruise Junky]

100 per day with 2 per room 200.00 and 100.00 for food day, and That's on the low side That's more than any of my 6 cruises. Land vacations are always more. Even having my 28 foot camper, ended up paying over 100.00 a night and having to cook and lots of work. Sold my camper and now enjoy cruising.

 

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Why are you doubling his costs to make your point? The cost of the hotel room wasn't per person. And food doesn't cost $100 in Greece. It's shockingly cheap. Our breakfast was included in May and dinner with wine was around $40 US for the two of us.

[DCLCrazy]

Speaking as a mom of an 8 year old, I find it's the only vacation that I can also relax. If you RV the mom still gets stuck cooking and doing dishes. That's no fun. If you stay on land in a hotel, I find I still have to be my daughter's playmate. Yep. Still on mom duty. But on a cruise, most boats have a children's area and restaurants I don't have to cook or do the dishes in. And I don't even have to make the beds bc there's a room steward! Win-win for the mom! Packing for everyone before we leave is my biggest worry when vacationing on a cruise. :). With all the being said, cruising is the best value for my family so that everyone involved feels like they're taking a break from their own reality.

 

 

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[cweagle]

I for one love the sea. My first cruise was when I was a young boy aboard the Carnival Elation. ( one of my relatives got food poisoning though from either the escargot or strawberry soup. Kept us ALL up until 2 am when he would heave VERY loudly but nothing would come up.) but despite that, I love cruises. Where else do you get to go from place to place, have your bed made up for you several times per day, dine on AWESOME food, and smell the sea air as your ship glides through the water, with her bow slicing through like a steak knife?:D

[VitaminSea53]

I had cruised now and then and liked it fine. But once I was diagnosed with Celiac and had to follow a strict gluten free diet, I came to value cruising SO MUCH. On a cruise, I can spend the day touring through St Petersburg or Rome or wherever and still go 'home' to the ship for delicious SAFE food.

There is no way I would enjoy land travel. Eating in restaurants is always a gamble for me -even in my home town. At least in my home town, my vacation is not ruined - being exposed to gluten ends up with days in pain and hovering near the bathroom..... not what I want to do on vacation.

I am so thankful for the conscientious staff in the kitchens on the cruise lines. They make it possible for me to travel again!

 

 

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[Hamradiocruiser]

I had cruised now and then and liked it fine. But once I was diagnosed with Celiac and had to follow a strict gluten free diet, I came to value cruising SO MUCH. On a cruise, I can spend the day touring through St Petersburg or Rome or wherever and still go 'home' to the ship for delicious SAFE food.

There is no way I would enjoy land travel. Eating in restaurants is always a gamble for me -even in my home town. At least in my home town, my vacation is not ruined - being exposed to gluten ends up with days in pain and hovering near the bathroom..... not what I want to do on vacation.

I am so thankful for the conscientious staff in the kitchens on the cruise lines. They make it possible for me to travel again!

 

 

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We're with you. Although my wife is not Celiac, she is gluten intolerant and we have the same sentiment as you on travel.

 

 

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[cweagle]

I had cruised now and then and liked it fine. But once I was diagnosed with Celiac and had to follow a strict gluten free diet, I came to value cruising SO MUCH. On a cruise, I can spend the day touring through St Petersburg or Rome or wherever and still go 'home' to the ship for delicious SAFE food.

There is no way I would enjoy land travel. Eating in restaurants is always a gamble for me -even in my home town. At least in my home town, my vacation is not ruined - being exposed to gluten ends up with days in pain and hovering near the bathroom..... not what I want to do on vacation.

I am so thankful for the conscientious staff in the kitchens on the cruise lines. They make it possible for me to travel again!

 

 

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I heard how awful Celiac Disease is. It can put people in the bathroom for hours if they eat the wrong thing.

[Woobstr112G]

Is cruising still worth it? For us it is. But it's not the only vacations we take during the year.

 

Same for us as well.....:):):)

 

Bob

[BOGOman]

If you are asking me to replace a cruise, then shouldn't I get to stay in a hotel and eat in a restaurant that are equivalent to my ship? I can't think of any hotel I have stayed in that were equal to a cruise ship that cost me less than $100 a night in years. Especially while driving.

 

I know that would be true here in Seattle. If you want to stay near the city center (like you would if you were moored in a city on a cruise ship) then you would pay at least $175 for a hotel that I would even consider sleeping in and the parking for the car you would drive there in would be a minimum of $35 if not more. I believe this would be true in San Francisco, San Diego, Vancouver BC and pretty much any other city on a coast in the US. And how about my New England cruise next year? Boston's not cheap to stay in or to park in. Same with Québec. I would probably save money on gas because I would want to spend (as I do on a cruise) a lot of time walking a city.

 

And I want to eat in someplace equivalent to the MDR at the minimum. Good luck finding that kind of service and food for under $100 for two just for dinner. Especially with the choices.

 

Don't get me wrong, I like a good road trip as much as the next guy, but I truly believe I spend more money than I do on a cruise.

I wrote about "motel"costs, not "hotel" costs. And I wrote about a "driving" trip, not a trip that consists primarily of living it up in a big city. I'm not quibbling about luxurious living on the ship either (I've done it many times too), only that there is probably no place on earth where such luxury is delivered with such crass marketing. And where convenience (gambling, photos, laundry, drinks+18%) at such high cost. http://www.cruzely.com/bad-bet-how-cruise-ship-casinos-offer-poor-odds-payouts/

[Gwendy]

Worth it? Maybe not financially, but a day at sea looking at the ocean, waking up in a different port without having to pack/unpack, lug my luggage around, meals provided, entertainment. Worth it to me.

[DCLCrazy]

Worth it? Maybe not financially, but a day at sea looking at the ocean, waking up in a different port without having to pack/unpack, lug my luggage around, meals provided, entertainment. Worth it to me.

 

 

 

I would give this 1000 "likes" if I could!

 

 

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[Gwendy]

I would give this 1000 "likes" if I could!

 

 

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Thanks, stay safe and hopefully away from Irma.

[BOGOman]

Thanks everyone for participating. I think this thread has run its course. Many explained why they loved, and continue to love, cruising for its own sake. Also many explained why they think it's a good value in relation to other ways to vacation. However, I'm not sure that we came up with much information about how cruising has changed over the times, for better or worse. So the bottom line I'm seeing is that cruising is good, it will endure for the foreseeable future, and that long-standing cruisers aren't sufficiently put off by changes in cruising that they've sought and found substitutes. ~ Bill

[DrKoob]

Thanks everyone for participating. I think this thread has run its course. Many explained why they loved, and continue to love, cruising for its own sake. Also many explained why they think it's a good value in relation to other ways to vacation. However, I'm not sure that we came up with much information about how cruising has changed over the times, for better or worse. So the bottom line I'm seeing is that cruising is good, it will endure for the foreseeable future, and that long-standing cruisers aren't sufficiently put off by changes in cruising that they've sought and found substitutes. ~ Bill

 

You didn't say you wanted to know how cruising has changed since we started almost 20 years ago. Or if you did, I missed it. I can speak to that.

 

Better than when we started: Not much. I think the ships are nicer, bigger and have more amenities. Once we found Celebrity, we stuck with them due to the service.

 

Worse than when we started:

Service: Service started to suffer when the Solstice class came online. It was like they just tried to staff so many ships with way too few people. We were on Solstice on her 9th voyage visiting San Juan PR when we saw Galaxy sail in for the last time. Her crew got off and moved to Solstice. We love the S class ships but we have never had the kind of service we had on the C and M class at that time. Every member of the crew made us feel like we were family. We used to see crew members from one voyage to another because X was still a small company...not so anymore.

 

Food: Not as good as it used to be across the board.

Buffets: Hate not having trays ;p

Prices: About the same percentage of my annual income so it has kept pace with inflation. In some cases, it is better, in come cases worse.

 

To me the worst thing that has changed is the pandering to younger clientele to the detriment of the more traditional cruisers. I understand they need to do this to continue to grow but I hate seeing the end of things like Formal nights, the damn thump-thump music in the martini bar, the fact that they have made drinks smaller, snacks cheaper (if you sailed with X in 2004 you got HUGE martinis--much bigger than now and breadsticks in the Martini Bar).

 

But I still would rather cruise than land travel and I still find it's a better value.

 

Jim

[babs135]

A bit late into this thread but for what it's worth:

 

We've just had a 2 nights break, bed and breakfast at a 4* hotel. Looking at the bill and working it out per person, per day our upcoming cruise of 29 nights full board is £100 pp CHEAPER and if you add on the 3 nights in a hotel post cruise the cost is £400 pp CHEAPER !!

 

I know which is still worth it for us and BTW the hotel wasn't much to shout about anyway :D

[BOGOman]

I think this thread has pretty much run its course, and thank everyone for participating. It's clear I think that many love cruising for the most obvious reasons: the expanse and mystery of the ocean, the fascinations with ports, the opportunities to make new and sometimes lifelong friends who love many of the same things. Those things may never change, or at least we all hope so.

 

What the topic was intended to do was to explore, with your opinions, whether cruising is a good value for the many attractions that it represents. And those who took up this issue responded primarily by comparing cruising to other forms of vacationing. My take on the comments in that regard is that road travels should not be discounted as valid and enjoyable ways to get away, but there's a strong notion that they're different, not necessarily better or worse.

 

A point that I hoped to get at, and don't think it got as much attention, is whether cruising is as good a value "today" as it once was. I don't think anyone was concerned that cruising has turned strongly into a mass marketed experience. Where once people wore formal clothes and catered to a relatively mature audience, now the target cruisers are families and millenials. Where once people sought an educational experience along with high-class entertainment, now the emphasis seems to be on the number and variety of activities younger people can enjoy on board. And I think it can be said without contradiction that everything that can be marketed, sold, and promoted for payment on board is a growing part of the cruising experience. It's increasingly difficult to get away from the sense that everything you really want to do onboard now carries a hefty price tag. Except, perhaps, for the premium cruise lines, where they tend to charge more up front so that you don't have to pay every time you sit, walk or look for something to do on board.

 

Thanks to the comments of some, I think I now have options that I hadn't considered before. Things like taking ferries as part of the cruising mix, considering upscale cruise lines to avoid the over-hyping and over-marketing on board, and even re-considering the freedoms that come from road trips. And one thing that became clear to me as well: I'll never be taking my vacations in one of those road-hogging traveling houses that can't begin to compete with traveling on the high seas in terms of adventure, entertainment, good food, interesting places to visit, and opportunities to meet new and lifelong friends. ~ Bill