Why Cruise?

[Vampiress88]

I cruise for the price and the ease

 

i get sea sick so that’s not great. But I also can’t stay in one place, unless it’s Florida cos then im

doing the parks. A week in Tenerife for me I wlild

hate and I think hubby would agree. 
 

i do moan, I am a moaner so will find things all the time to have a good wings about. I can only compare p&o to msc and we are more on the p&o side. This is due to wanting to sail from England and not have to get on a plane really first. So there don’t seem to be many companies I can go with. Both royal Caribbean and Disney from Southampton price us out cos I think well

i could have two p&o cruises for the price of Disney and then the money wins. 
 

Itineraries do sway us a little but we generally just get off and have a wander so not a massive amount. 
 

we have 4 cruises booked. Two this year and two next year with p&o. The prices are just too tempting 

[snaefell]

We are all different & things change,both in & out of our own little worlds!

We married in 1974(OMG big 50 next year!),cruising was a glamorous game,we were full of energy & adventure,I had an overwhelming desire to explore the whole of the USA & so Road Trips over there dominated our first 30 years,with smaller more local trips in between,flying was the only way to go,it would take too long to get to the USA by ship,work schedules made that a no go.

My Wife worked for an hotel chain so we could get hotels really cheap.

When the finance crash happened around 2007/2008 the price of flying to the States doubled,we must have been getting old too as we both felt like we had had enough of airports & flying,since then we have either cruised or travelled by Ferry,one exception was a trip to Canada,wonderful but an overnight return flight full of screaming kids meant no sleep & further enforced our hatred of flying,the real death knell was our last cruise out East in October 2019,2 return flights of over 8 hours each from Singapore via Abhu Dabi on quite the most uncomfortable aircraft seats we have ever experienced had us in pain for weeks!

Now both retired we have the time to play with,we are off on a Med cruise on Arcadia next month,my Wife is of a mind that she doesn't want any more long haul flights,I am of a mind that after the Med cruise there isn't really anywhere else I would want to Cruise to from the UK,there are other cruises I really fancy but they involve long haul flights,how persuasive can I be,watch this space!

[FamilyCruiserUK]

For us the biggest thing is how safe it is for our daughter. A reaort in spain or other holiday destinations id constantly be watching out for her. Where as on a cruise she can go to the pool and yes i will keep an eye out it just feels soo much more safer then land based. Esp when your walking around the streets. Granted we keep her very close on port visits but on board she can be free. 

Also the food for us is good. I enjoy having choice and the daughter also loves trying new things. 

Although saying that we are saving up for disney world 🤔

[snaefell]

The subject of food reminds me of our last cruise,it was preceded by a 3 night hotel stay in Beijing along with complaints about the food....It was Chinese,or more importantly not what people were used to,RCI regulars were keen to assure us that the food on board would be fantastic...It wasn't!

[Yorkypete]

As the OP I also have to ask why many, if not most ,people are obsessed with food and drink? When they go ashore it is 'nice meal and drinks ' at such and such a place. You have food on board so why eat more during the day? I am 6' tall, well built with being a former rugby player and I simply could not eat the amount most people seem to consume. As to drinking...well it seems a major British pastime. Can anyone spend a day without being in or at a bar, whether on land or at sea?We have cruised to see different places and eat nice meals on board (without having to cook and wash up) not spending time in bars and restaurants..Cruising must be boring if you have to spend every evening in one of the bars.

[windra06]

16 minutes ago, Yorkypete said:

As the OP I also have to ask why many, if not most ,people are obsessed with food and drink? When they go ashore it is 'nice meal and drinks ' at such and such a place. You have food on board so why eat more during the day? I am 6' tall, well built with being a former rugby player and I simply could not eat the amount most people seem to consume. As to drinking...well it seems a major British pastime. Can anyone spend a day without being in or at a bar, whether on land or at sea?We have cruised to see different places and eat nice meals on board (without having to cook and wash up) not spending time in bars and restaurants..Cruising must be boring if you have to spend every evening in one of the bars.

I wonder this too, the biggest draw of a cruise over a land based trip is not being tied to one location and getting to see lots of different places all at once.

 

We struggle being cooped up in a hotel, we don't enjoy sitting around on beaches or bars...if we did we would just fly to a resort.

 

When visiting non English speaking regions, being able to just book an organised excursion and get out exploring is fantastic.

 

Having said that we do enjoy our food but would usually have a big breakfast on board and just skip lunch or have a small street food snack.

[FamilyCruiserUK]

54 minutes ago, Yorkypete said:

As the OP I also have to ask why many, if not most ,people are obsessed with food and drink? When they go ashore it is 'nice meal and drinks ' at such and such a place. You have food on board so why eat more during the day? I am 6' tall, well built with being a former rugby player and I simply could not eat the amount most people seem to consume. As to drinking...well it seems a major British pastime. Can anyone spend a day without being in or at a bar, whether on land or at sea?We have cruised to see different places and eat nice meals on board (without having to cook and wash up) not spending time in bars and restaurants..Cruising must be boring if you have to spend every evening in one of the bars.

I totally agree with you, we never eat off the ship except for the odd ice cream. So much food onboard. As for drinking, wife and i dont drink, been there done that and still have a great time. The only thing i would like more of on cruises is different entertainment. Less singing and more variety shows. Maybe its just the cruises we have been on recently or the availability of acts. But got to do better then tribute singers......IMO.

Edited April 14, 2023 by FamilyCruiserUK

[Megabear2]

1 hour ago, Yorkypete said:

As the OP I also have to ask why many, if not most ,people are obsessed with food and drink? When they go ashore it is 'nice meal and drinks ' at such and such a place. You have food on board so why eat more during the day? I am 6' tall, well built with being a former rugby player and I simply could not eat the amount most people seem to consume. As to drinking...well it seems a major British pastime. Can anyone spend a day without being in or at a bar, whether on land or at sea?We have cruised to see different places and eat nice meals on board (without having to cook and wash up) not spending time in bars and restaurants..Cruising must be boring if you have to spend every evening in one of the bars.

I often take excursions with food included such as those in the Caribbean or Italy where you visit someone's home or have a meal cooked by a chef.  Consequently I don't eat onboard on my return as I've had my main meal elsewhere. My main meal on the ship unless it's a special event (something like the old dinner with Strictly stars or having a celebrity chef cook for me) is breakfast.  However if I'm on Cunard the dining is the big event for me and I work my day around my dinner. Different ships call for different arrangements- we had a free dining package on Celebrity Edge last year and it was superb.

 

My drinks bill is paltry when I travel alone although if I'm with family or friends then a trip to the bar may occur more often and certainly the odd cocktail in the afternoon may happen on a seaday.

 

Having said that I do like to sit at a seafront cafe with a coffee or an icecream and have spent ages in places like Sorrento just people watching whilst drinking a cappuccino with an almond biscuit.

 

 

[carlanthony24]

So you’re saying you don’t go every evening to a bar. We have main meal then go to the Glass House for instance chill and play cards till it’s time to see the show. After the show we go back play cards and then head up to the cabin and chill on the balcony.

[terrierjohn]

3 hours ago, Yorkypete said:

As the OP I also have to ask why many, if not most ,people are obsessed with food and drink? When they go ashore it is 'nice meal and drinks ' at such and such a place. You have food on board so why eat more during the day? I am 6' tall, well built with being a former rugby player and I simply could not eat the amount most people seem to consume. As to drinking...well it seems a major British pastime. Can anyone spend a day without being in or at a bar, whether on land or at sea?We have cruised to see different places and eat nice meals on board (without having to cook and wash up) not spending time in bars and restaurants..Cruising must be boring if you have to spend every evening in one of the bars.

Whilst we very rarely have a meal ashore, we do often have a coffee, or beer if it's very hot, and maybe a cake at a sidewalk cafe. However I do understand why some people like to sample the local fare, quite often because they want to benefit the local economy, and I imagine they will possibly skip lunch or dinner as a result.

[Interestedcruisefan]

3 minutes ago, terrierjohn said:

Whilst we very rarely have a meal ashore, we do often have a coffee, or beer if it's very hot, and maybe a cake at a sidewalk cafe. However I do understand why some people like to sample the local fare, quite often because they want to benefit the local economy, and I imagine they will possibly skip lunch or dinner as a result.

No

 

I can find room for meals off the ship without needing to skip meals on the ship!

 

Lol

 

On a Caribbean cruise port day it's great to have a lunch in a beach bar and a few drinks

 

On the ship. Just like trying different restaurants we like to try cocktails in different bars with different atmospheres. Some with live music. Some without. Some inside the ship and some outside.

 

As well as going to at least one show

 

This is why we spend so little time in our cabin

 

Too many places to try

 

I see keel and cow gets a few mentions. What's the appeal?

 

Just looked like a place in the atrium given a name to make it different to other parts of the atrium?

 

Is the food good in there?

[snaefell]

1 hour ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

No

 

I can find room for meals off the ship without needing to skip meals on the ship!

 

Lol

 

On a Caribbean cruise port day it's great to have a lunch in a beach bar and a few drinks

 

On the ship. Just like trying different restaurants we like to try cocktails in different bars with different atmospheres. Some with live music. Some without. Some inside the ship and some outside.

 

As well as going to at least one show

 

This is why we spend so little time in our cabin

 

Too many places to try

 

I see keel and cow gets a few mentions. What's the appeal?

 

Just looked like a place in the atrium given a name to make it different to other parts of the atrium?

 

Is the food good in there?

I agree about the appearance of the Keel & Cow in videos,the food looks good in the same videos.

We will eat ashore if we are comfy where we are,sometimes we have been in too nice a place to move!

[daiB]

3 hours ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

No

 

I can find room for meals off the ship without needing to skip meals on the ship!

 

Lol

 

On a Caribbean cruise port day it's great to have a lunch in a beach bar and a few drinks

 

On the ship. Just like trying different restaurants we like to try cocktails in different bars with different atmospheres. Some with live music. Some without. Some inside the ship and some outside.

 

As well as going to at least one show

 

This is why we spend so little time in our cabin

 

Too many places to try

 

I see keel and cow gets a few mentions. What's the appeal?

 

Just looked like a place in the atrium given a name to make it different to other parts of the atrium?

 

Is the food good in there?

As for the Keel and Cow, the food is excellent the steak I had was spot on. However you do get a lot to eat my wife had the chicken which turned out to be a whole chicken. It is also an excellent place for breakfast. Served to you in a very relaxing place to eat, which sounds odd as it is part of the atrium.

 

We are also ones who eat off the ship and do more and more as we find places we like in ports we visit on a regular basis. Unlike you however we would miss meals on the ship if we know we are eating on shore.

[P&O SUE]

I’m just jealous of you all who are bored of the same old ports! I’ve never been on a Med cruise and can’t see when I will be able to go on one at the moment after having three cancelled due to you know what.

 

As for eating ashore, why shouldn’t people if they want to? That’s why some places don’t want cruise ships because many people don’t spend anything in the ports.

 

I don’t eat huge meals though, if we have a decent lunch in port we’ll only eat something small back on the ship.

[Angel57]

36 minutes ago, P&O SUE said:

I’m just jealous of you all who are bored of the same old ports! I’ve never been on a Med cruise and can’t see when I will be able to go on one at the moment after having three cancelled due to you know what.

 

As for eating ashore, why shouldn’t people if they want to? That’s why some places don’t want cruise ships because many people don’t spend anything in the ports.

 

I don’t eat huge meals though, if we have a decent lunch in port we’ll only eat something small back on the ship.

I agree Sue. We are all very very lucky to be able to cruise and I always appreciate that when on board.

I love to have a wander ashore and then stop for a coffee or a glass of wine with some tapas or snacks and watch the world go by - and if I’m sat in sunshine it’s even better!

I really hope you will be able to be back on a cruise ship soon…..😘

[Jennizor]

1 hour ago, P&O SUE said:

I’m just jealous of you all who are bored of the same old ports! I’ve never been on a Med cruise and can’t see when I will be able to go on one at the moment after having three cancelled due to you know what.

 

As for eating ashore, why shouldn’t people if they want to? That’s why some places don’t want cruise ships because many people don’t spend anything in the ports.

 

I don’t eat huge meals though, if we have a decent lunch in port we’ll only eat something small back on the ship.

I also agree with you Sue. We have done quite a few repeat port visits and mostly still enjoy them. We have a lazy breakfast then go ashore when we want (we don’t do many excursions as we have been on most before). We have a leisurely stroll around the port, look at the shops and occasionally buy something. We then try to find a bar with a view and people watch having a couple of drinks. Only occasionally do we have lunch in port. We are not big eaters these days and are quite happy with a salad in one of the MDRs. It wouldn’t do if we were all the same would it?

[Britboys]

Always like to have some sort of refreshment ashore and it depends on how much there is to see and do at the port. If I'm spending all day ashore then I'll have lunch. If less than all day, a snack of some sort. I just think it is nice to sample something local and contribute to the economy, especially in smaller, less prosperous ports. I'll tailor breakfast around that. If my cruise last summer is anything to go by, there is no worry of my mdr dinner being a gut-busting blow-out...

[Merry25]

On 4/9/2023 at 7:50 AM, Angel57 said:

 

I appreciate I am not the type of passenger P&O is now interested in (single, mid 60s, only a couple of alcoholic drinks a day and no tours purchased this time). A shame, but I certainly had a blast on their ships for 25 years!

Oh well they're not going to like us either, same age, 2 drinks a week is pushing it and I don't think we'll be booking any tours, happy just to wander around a bit on our own. 😁

[Denarius]

Why do I still cruise?

As a single man I find it an excellent way of visiting interesting places, with the security of knowing that your floating hotel is waiting for you after your time ashore. That you will dine in company at dinner rather than alone, and hopefully socialise afterwards. And that unlike a land tour you will not have to pack and unpack in every new location.

Why do I still cruise with P&O?

I don't. After some 30+ cruises with them I have jumped ship. As a solo cruiser I find smaller ships more sociable, and P&O seem to be going for ever bigger ships. And I have been dissappointed by the relentless reduction in standards. I am not saying that I will never sail with them again, but at present have no intention of doing so and for the first time since I took my first P&O cruise I have no further (P&O) cruises booked.

[Presto2]

To be really honest, I am not sure now. (Have reflected a while before replying to this thread)

Our last cruise was on the Celebrity EDGE August 2019 and am not sure that we will find a ship to beat that one. The whole experience was amazing.

Since then the world has had  Covid-19 and we have re discovered a whole new world of stay home vacations at our beautiful static caravan by the sea in Wales and have now just returned from an amazing land holiday in Sorrento. The service and hotel there was faultless and it was good to stay in one place and soak up the atmosphere.

We will be on our first cruise for a long time on Britannia (now our favourite PO ship) in May and then to the Caribbean next year. For some reason I am not feeling that same sense of excitement for the one in May as I used to have. The Caribbean is a bucket list one for me so can't wait to see these places.

Not sure why, but am hoping that Britannia proves me wrong as I think our cruising days may be behind us .... 

(I may read this one day and laugh!!!!)

[Camberley]

So many reasons for us, but mainly the total simplicity of seeing a variety of places without having to faff around getting yourself to each place by other means. And just a day in a port is often ideal as a taster for potential non-cruise holiday destinations for a later time.

 

Plus the cost is very good. I’m fine with P&O being a budget, non-luxury brand and even though this showed a LOT more last week on Iona than even our cruise late last year, you get what you pay for - but it was still good value, But you have the power to upscale if/when/where you feel you want to, to focus on things you like and avoid places you do not…..

 

For other experiences: I know some don’t give a hoot about food but it’s a highlight of any holiday for us whether on land or at sea. And despite there being a lot of “food for fuel, not pleasure” on board, there is something for all tastes. And food (esp. a good, leisurely evening meal) really IS an experience for us. Same with the entertainment: there is some really good onboard entertainment (even occasionally pushing a little towards West End or Broadway standard from Headliners, for example) and some ok. But a really good choice.

 

And the joy of a good balcony. We use ours a lot of the time - yes, if we just had an inside cabin we’d rarely be in there (and they are just not for us), but a good, well positioned balcony certainly enhances the overall experience: I’d genuinely rather do fewer cruises but in a sizeable, well chosen balcony/room than more cruises in an inside cabin. And that’s one of the joys of cruising: you can have it how YOU want and do it YOUR way.

Edited April 16, 2023 by Camberley

[Interestedcruisefan]

15 minutes ago, Camberley said:

So many reasons for us, but mainly the total simplicity of seeing a variety of places without having to faff around getting yourself to each place by other means. And just a day in a port is often ideal as a taster for potential non-cruise holiday destinations for a later time.

 

Plus the cost is very good. I’m fine with P&O being a budget, non-luxury brand and even though this showed a LOT more last week on Iona than even our cruise late last year, you get what you pay for - but it was still good value, But you have the power to upscale if/when/where you feel you want to, to focus on things you like and avoid places you do not…..

 

For other experiences: I know some don’t give a hoot about food but it’s a highlight of any holiday for us whether on land or at sea. And despite there being a lot of “food for fuel, not pleasure” on board, there is something for all tastes. And food (esp. a good, leisurely evening meal) really IS an experience for us. Same with the entertainment: there is some really good onboard entertainment (even occasionally pushing a little towards West End or Broadway standard from Headliners, for example) and some ok. But a really good choice.

 

And the joy of a good balcony. We use ours a lot of the time - yes, if we just had an inside cabin we’d rarely be in there (and they are just not for us), but a good, well positioned balcony certainly enhances the overall experience: I’d genuinely rather do fewer cruises but in a sizeable, well chosen balcony/room than more cruises in an inside cabin. And that’s one of the joys of cruising: you can have it how YOU want and do it YOUR way.

Great point above

 

The cruise can be bought at a great value low price

 

Allowing all of us the choice (power) to pay for the extras that mean the most to all of us personally

 

For us thats speciality meals, cocktails and great days out when the ship is in port. Cabin type and location not so important for us. Food, drink and experiences are the things we prefer to spend extra on once onboard and off the ship.

Edited April 16, 2023 by Interestedcruisefan

[Denarius]

14 hours ago, Presto2 said:

To be really honest, I am not sure now. (Have reflected a while before replying to this thread)

Our last cruise was on the Celebrity EDGE August 2019 and am not sure that we will find a ship to beat that one. The whole experience was amazing.

Since then the world has had  Covid-19 and we have re discovered a whole new world of stay home vacations at our beautiful static caravan by the sea in Wales and have now just returned from an amazing land holiday in Sorrento. The service and hotel there was faultless and it was good to stay in one place and soak up the atmosphere.

We will be on our first cruise for a long time on Britannia (now our favourite PO ship) in May and then to the Caribbean next year. For some reason I am not feeling that same sense of excitement for the one in May as I used to have. The Caribbean is a bucket list one for me so can't wait to see these places.

Not sure why, but am hoping that Britannia proves me wrong as I think our cruising days may be behind us .... 

(I may read this one day and laugh!!!!)

I find myself in a similar situation.

I started cruising in the early 1990s with my late partner, initially with Cunard but then predominently with P&O. I carried on after their passing, and over the years ocean cruises became a habit; my total is probably about 50, two thirds of which have been with P&O. Lockdown however, deprived me of my regular cruises and I did not miss them as much as I thought I would. Asking myself why, I realised that as ships had got bigger my enjoyment of sailing on them had reduced; there was no longer the camaraderie you got on a smaller ship. And standards on P&O had gone down to such a extent that it no longer felt like an up market experience. Also, I was running out of new ports to visit. I had got in a rut.

So instead of booking a future ocean cruise with P&O I booked with Saga instead, plus a river cruise with Riviera. I found both to my liking and my love of cruises has been revived. Currently I have more ocean cruises booked with Saga, plus river cruises with Riviera and Saga. OK, it will costs me considerably more than had I continued to sail with P&O but I am fortunate enough to be able to afford it. And as a single man in his mid 70s who has never had children, I see no reason to deprive myself now so that my wider family can inherit a few more pounds on my eventual demise - that is, after the government has taken 40% in Inheritence Tax!

[Interestedcruisefan]

2 minutes ago, Denarius said:

I find myself in a similar situation.

I started cruising in the early 1990s with my late partner, initially with Cunard but then predominently with P&O. I carried on after their passing, and over the years ocean cruises became a habit; my total is probably about 50, two thirds of which have been with P&O. Lockdown however, deprived me of my regular cruises and I did not miss them as much as I thought I would. Asking myself why, I realised that as ships had got bigger my enjoyment of sailing on them had reduced; there was no longer the camaraderie you got on a smaller ship. And standards on P&O had gone down to such a extent that it no longer felt like an up market experience. Also, I was running out of new ports to visit. I had got in a rut.

So instead of booking a future ocean cruise with P&O I booked with Saga instead, plus a river cruise with Riviera. I found both to my liking and my love of cruises has been revived. Currently I have more ocean cruises booked with Saga, plus river cruises with Riviera and Saga. OK, it will costs me considerably more than had I continued to sail with P&O but I am fortunate enough to be able to afford it. And as a single man in his mid 70s who has never had children, I see no reason to deprive myself now so that my wider family can inherit a few more pounds on my eventual demise - that is, after the government has taken 40% in Inheritence Tax!

The river cruises look superb. Understandable that they cost so much more as they are so much more intimate experiences.

 

I don't blame you for trying them if you can afford them. 

 

We will be trying them when the time is right for us as well.

 

We went on a walking tour of the Rhine Valley last year but would see the river cruisers often on our travels

[kruzseeka]

18 hours ago, Merry25 said:

Oh well they're not going to like us either, same age, 2 drinks a week is pushing it and I don't think we'll be booking any tours, happy just to wander around a bit on our own. 😁

I understand the claim re visitors not spending much/anything in port but that is surely compensated for by those who do.....even a coffee and cake/beer/icecream sundae/souvenir - whatever - helps keep some businesses afloat. 

And then there are those who do spend quite a lot - meals/local taxis/local tours/beach furniture/admission fees for sites of interest etc.  

It all adds up and that doesn't take into account what the cruise line contribute through excursions - and berthing fees which are significant.  It all adds to the income and employment potential for ports.  Add we should't ignore the visitor taxes which are becoming more common.  

It's all a matter of choice but blanket statements about cruise passengers not spending a lot on shore is surely compensated for by those who do and the other income streams. 

My guess is that a lot of places would suffer dramatically should cruise ships cease visiting and there would be soon be a reversal of attitudes.  However, keeping visits to reasonable numbers does seem sensible both for the locals and for visitors too.