Why Cruise?

[cdamion]

It's not as stupid a question as the title may imply.

 

I am wondering why folks like to cruise. I love to travel and until recently have always liked the idea of going somewhere and exploring more than the idea of being on a cruise ship only experiencing ports for a day or less. For example, this summer we are headed to Honduras where we will see much of the country, including several days in Roatan, which is more than we would ever see and experience if it were just a port call on a cruise.

 

I have just booked my first cruise as a present for my 40th birthday next year and it is largely to get a taste of what a cruise is like. For me, the cruise itself is largely the destination, with the bonus of seeing a couple of places I've never been to (its only a 4 day cruise).

 

If I like it and book longer cruises in the future, the ports will be an important factor, but the cruise line and ship will be equally important in deciding on a cruise.

 

So the question is, why do you guys cruise? Is it destinations? Is it the ships? The food?

[arlodog]

Why people cruise is a very broad question! We cruise because there is always something for everyone to do and the whole family loves it. We did our first cruise because we were looking at renting a cabin and the prices had gone up so much that we were able to book a last minute cruise deal for not much more than it would have been for a week at the lake.

We fell in love with cruising and have been on 4 more--continuing to plan more! Our kids (now 20 and 21) love to go with us and we enjoy the family time since everyone is so busy now-- while still having time to do what each person wants.

Port days are our favorite--we go out and explore all the sights we can or just kick back and relax at the beach. We like that we get a taste of each island--some we want to go back to and others we would be happy to not see again.

[Grandpaul]

For us it's several things. One is, there is nothing we do that is more relaxing than cruising. Sitting in our lounges watching the ocean go by is almost hypnotic. We get away from the real world which everyone should do occasionally. Just turning off the TV and not having to answer the phone is a plus. To us, watching a group of younger people working hard makes us feel good about the younger generation. And these people work hard. We enjoy the casino action also. Having different types of music for our listening pleasure adds to the enjoyment. Being surrounded by other passengers that are also in a real good mood is certainly not your average situation. What we get for our money also seems well worth it. I'm sure I could come up with more reasons to like cruising. The hard part would be to come up with excuses not to like it.

[paul929207]

No question, everyone is different. We enjoy traveling without having to check in and out of hotels evey couple of days. When we spend a day traveling, it is on a cruise ship that offers many activities, not a bus with cramped seats.

[flamomo]

It's the total experience. Think of it as staying in a very nice hotel that transports you to new places, and makes stops so you can get off and sightsee. Included with your stay are your meals and entertainment, you only have to unpack once, and you have options for where you can dine without taking a taxi or driving to a restaurant. It's your opportunity to be pampered and waited on.

Some cruisers choose by ship and/or cruise line, some by itinerary, and most, I think, a combination of the two.

[terkatz56]

I love the sea days, how relaxing. It is nice to unpack once and wake up to a new place every morning. And yes the food and royal service is a bonus. I say...try it, you'll like it. Happy Travels.

[Scooter-n-GB]

A deep love of the ocean, and a fairly recent realization that I should have been a merchant marine. :)

[mr green]

Cruising tends to be addictive, its a different way to see the world. A TA once said 'Cruise once, and you will probably cruise again'. I guess its true.

Briefly, depending on the cruise, you see far more places than you could if you travelled by any other method. You get pampered, fed, and entertained, and best of all, you only unpack once.

Enjoy.:)

One last thing, you meet some very nice people while cruising, AND also on Cruise Critic.

 

john

[grandmato4]

The reasons you gave for cruising fit us well as the cruise itself is the destination with the great bonus of getting to experience for a few hours ports we've never been to before and sometimes revisit other ports that we've enjoyed spending a day at before. And if we don't wish to visit any of the ports we have don't have to and still can spend the day enjoying what the cruiseship has to offer.

 

For us, when we're looking for pure relaxation and getting away from everyday life there is nothing that compares to a cruise.

[Andee]

We think of the ship as a floating hotel, and like being able to see multiple detinations without having to figure out how to get from one place to another, where to stay, etc. That being said, there are certainly some cruise lines we've liked more than others, although we've only tried four, so we're not experts.

[Travelcat2]

I think it depends on the cruise line. When you can book a cruise -- pay the fare and have EVERYTHING included (airfare, transportation to and from the ship, food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, excursions, tips, etc.) why would you not want to cruise?????

[Happy ks]

Well, for us it definitely isn't the food! We've cruised 7 different lines and have yet to find the food on any line any better than banquet food. However, we do like to go to dinner and be waited on ;):)

 

We cruise for destination as well as just to relax. We've been able to see more of Alaska, Hawaii and just last year Italy than we would be able to on a land trip of the same amount of time.

 

We've cruised locally a number of times, the Port of Los Angeles is only an hour away so we've taken advantage of weekend cruising...just to relax, we don't even get off the ship.

 

Not to say the places we've visited on a cruise wouldn't be worth a land trip, most certainly it would. But for a first look a cruise is a great way to sample an area without having all the travel hassles. Unpack once and it's done, the only down side is only one day in most ports of call.

 

We just got back from a whirlwind long weekend in San Francisco and my husband is already saying he can't wait to cruise again!

[uppitycats]

For us, cruising is a way we both can enjoy our vacation -- my husband doesn't have to worry about loading my wheelchair in/out of a car, either ours or a "strange rental". We don't have to be worried about finding a handicap accessible hotel room. We don't have to mess with mapping our route to find accessible restrooms or restaurants.

 

We arrive at the cruise ship, and assuming we have booked a handicap accessible cabin...we unpack, and there we are. I can care for myself while my husband goes off to various port activities, we both can see a bit of the world we'd not consider driving to (like to Alaska), and we're pampered for the week.

 

We're doing a land vacation this year...and I am sorry. I'd much rather be cruising.

[printingchick]

Some reasons we cruise:

• Economical. After a cruise to St. Thomas, during which we visited and fell in love with St. John, we wanted to return for a week-long stay. We couldn't afford it. A one week cruise is generally far more affordable than a one-week land-based vacation.
  
• The Royal Treatment. Excuse the pun, since we're on the RCCL website, but cruise ship staff will treat you like a celebrity. They will add "Miss" or "Mr" in front of your name and bend over backward to try to improve your vacation experience. A person could get really spoiled!
  
• Muliple ports of call. It's interesting to visit more than one location - sometimes very different locations - on the same vacation, only having to unpack once! Imagine visiting Roatan, Honduras, Cozumel, Mexico and Belize, all during the same vacation. Very different places. All within days of each other. It's exciting.
  
• The ocean. There's something addictive about being out there at sea!
  
• The entertainment. Shows, games contests, parades, night clubs, parties...and it's all included!
  
• Making new friends. You're traveling with the same people your entire vacation. Unlike a resort, where people arrive and depart on different schedules, you will be with the same 2,000-3,000 people for your entire vacation. And while that may seem too overwhelming a number to encourage friendships, you'll find you keep running into the same people day after day. And those people are the ones who like the same things you do. (That's why you keep running into each other!) I have stayed in touch with cruise friends for years after the cruise ended.
  
• It's addictive! You'll just have to trust me on that one. Over my cruise life, I've introduced seven people to cruising. Only ONE said she wouldn't take a second cruise. All the others have cruised or will be cruising again. I'm dragging along three more newbies on my 2010 cruise.
  

[tmitchell82]

Like others have said, it is like being in a hotel that transports you to different places. I enjoy seeing multiple new places on one vacation. Get onboard, unpack for the week and you are good to go. All your food is right there and there is plenty of entertainment. One day you can hang out at a beach, the next you can be zip lining in the jungle.

[UlvaZell]

Your first cruise will answer your question much better than I...

[agabbymama]

But be careful OP, don't book a cruise to a port you absolutely want to go to, and would be terribly disappointed or disgruntled if you don't make it there.

 

I cruise for itinerary, not the ship at all, the ship is only my hotel and mode of transportation.

 

Unfortunately the cruiselines "cruise contract" states "...cruiseline can alter itinerary for weather, mechanical reasons, or for ANY REASON WHATSOEVER..."

 

I've been very lucky in 7 cruises, only missed one port (Mykonos) due to high winds, and the Captain feeling it unsafe to dock. We were reimbursed $25 port fees, but the fact that I chose this cruise to go to Italy and the Greek Isles, was a big disappointment to miss it.

 

I searched, but can't find it now, a few years there was a cruise RCCI (I think) that was supposed to go to the Caribbean, but due to hurricane acitivity, it became a New England/Canada cruise, and the folks were told before boarding, if you don't go, you lose your money. People weren't happy and did file a class action suit in New Jersey. Not sure how it settled, or if it settled, but it just shows the cruiselines can and do change itineraries.

 

I hope you enjoy your cruise!

[Kristi Williamson]

As a family of six, we've found that there's no way we could see the places that we've seen on a land based vacation. It simply wouldn't be possible monetarily.

 

We love that the kids have an opportunity to "play", sight-see, experience new places and new cultures in a way that shows them the world is a HUGE place, but still keeps them safe until they are ready to venture out on their own.

 

We enjoy the ship itself, also. Sitting on that balcony in the morning with my DH, enjoying coffee and watching the ocean roll by...there's really just nothing like it. See...

 

 

 

While service on land is often good, more often than not on a ship, it's GREAT. And as a mom of four kids, this is MY time to get waited on. I don't have to make the bed, or clean the room. I don't have to clear the dishes or worry if one of the kids don't like what they ordered. On a ship, they can always request to try something else and one of us will finish off the other one! LOL

 

I guess to sum it up...cruises work for us right now. I'm sure as our kids get older and we have more time, and money!, we'll take time to visit places for longer periods of time, but for right now, waking up with our kids in a new place each day is awesome. :)

 

Not to mention, when Mom and Dad want "private" time, we can get it on a ship, whereas on a land based vacation we'd constantly be chasing the kids or entertaining them. It's nice, for about 4 hours each sea day, to send the kids to play with their buddies in camp, and Mommy and Daddy get to hold hands while lying by the pool with a DOD, or playing bingo, or whatever.... Everyone is happy, safe and utterly at peace. Can't beat it!!

[RICKnVICK]

There are so many reasons why my entire family and all of our friends love to cruise! For myself, it is definitely being on the ship and on the water! There is nothing better in my opinion. I love being up on the top deck just watching the water go by! We have met so many great people on past cruises and on cruise critic as well! I think after your first cruise you will be hooked! I know I am! Have fun!

[cruiserbryce]

cruises are just very relaxing to us...we get a great value out of it and its a little like a sampler. Some of the paces I could go back to for a week and stay, some a day is about enough:D

[Taxguy77]

cdamion;

Cruising is fun, only one unpacking for the time, some places you might like to see but not spend days, the smell of salt air.......

To REALLY see a place, go and spend a week or more.

We enjoy both and love sea days!

If you ever go anywhere else after visiting Roatan, enjoy both types of trips. :)

[gipper77]

Adventure, curiosity about meeting people in different countries, no phones, no work, no house cleaning just being catered to and being made to feel important. Love the Love Boat!!:)

[Cruise Junky]

We cruise for a couple of reasons...they can be very relaxing (notice I said can be ;) ) you get to see a lot of different countries/cities in a short period of time. It's an easy vacation in that they do most of the work for you, they get you there, you just have to walk off in the port. The can also be a very economical vacation. We were absolutely decided that we were doing a land trip in 2010..and then found the Star's transatlantic... huge balcony, 18 days, portugal, spain, france, england, brussels, holland, denmark, sweden and norway for $1,700 pp...with 350 OBC. I can't touch that on a land trip. We still do plenty of land trips, but always keep out eye out for cruise deals.

[jocap]

cdamion- you say you like to travel. Look on your cruise as a taster for later land travel. For instance, I'd no reason to visit the greek island of Santorini, but after a taster of only a few hours, we knew where our next l.b. holiday was going to be. Similarily, I've just been on an eastern Med cruise with lots of people from the US who didn't know the first thing about Malta, but after one day there they were planning a longer stay. Some ports won't be your scene-at others you'll want to jump ship!-jocap.

[ATL2LAS]

When I left the Navy in 96 I swore I would never set foot on another ship again. Little did I know how much I missed the water. The sound of the ship in the middle of the night plowing through the water is a magical sound. The stars are never more clearly seen than at sea. It reminds you how great the natural world is around you. Use the cruise as a time to get back together with yourself and your family. There will be at least one sea day where you can spend genuine quality time together. Leave work on the pier. Eat, drink, enjoy.