Do you ever feel uncomfortable about going on a cruise?

[Corvette Girl]

Nope. Never felt guilty about going on a cruise. We work hard, pay our obscene taxes, so what we do with our money is our business.

[cruisin crazy in Michigan]

Sometimes its almost embarassing to mention we're going on another cruise. I think people just don't know how inexpensive cruising can be compared to other vacations.

[marco]

It's all priorites. We don't get a new car every couple of years, we don't go out to dinner twice a week, we don't have 4 cell phones, we don't have evry consiveable option on cable (in fact, we don't have cable). When we do cruise, we don't book the penthouse suite, we don't drop $500 a night in the casino, and we don't buy a couple of $68 bottles of wine a night.

[ehfl]

I don't feel this way. The staff are working there, because they want to, and because they make more money than they would in their own countries. A big portion of their tips (their main source of income) are sent home to support their families. Without my tips, their families would really be struggling. I feel good about giving them extra in tips.

 

I appreciate their hard work...I'm courteous to them and respect the hard work they do....and I tip them well.

[CarnivalGirl3]

I deal with the 'it must be nice' comments.

 

we work hard. we play hard. i'm not going to to feel guilty because i have the money to go on a cruise, just same why I don't feel guilty about having a house or a car or nice things.

[Denny01]

A lot of us are saying that we don't feel guilty because we deserve it – we worked hard and so on. All true.

 

But the OP isn't saying she feels guilty over not deserving it, but because of other people's reactions or what 'situations' we all see in third-world ports. I think CommodorDave had the best response to that and hit it out of the park, so I'm going to repeat his from a few days ago just because I think it needs repeating. We all 'deserve' what we have – that isn't the point. It's how we take advantage of our good fortune and how we treat others while we enjoy our good fortune. Our cruising we all 'deserve' would all come to an abrupt end with one illness that put is in trouble, physically and especially financially.

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

CommodoeDave:

 

I only feel guilty when the cruise is over because I don't want to leave the ship!

 

But seriously, we all make choices in life about how we want to spend our money, and make sacrifices to afford it. I believe that travel is a smart financial decision, and is also a great privilege, so I try to adhere to some basic rules so that I always feel good about travel/cruising:

 

1) I know that not everyone can afford a vacation, so I try not to say too much about my upcoming cruise unless people ask about it and are genuinely interested.

 

2) I treat the ship's staff with kindness and respect, and let them know how much I appreciate their hard work with my attitude and tips.

 

3) I try to be respectful of the culture, people and values of the countries I visit by learning about them before I travel there.

 

4) I share as much as I can about my travel experiences with people who ask about it so that I can help them get more out of their own travel experiences. And I ask them to share their experiences with me.

 

When you meet so many wonderful people and learn so much about the world, it's hard to feel guilty for too long.

[CarnivalGirl3]

A lot of us are saying that we don't feel guilty because we deserve it – we worked hard and so on. All true.

 

But the OP isn't saying she feels guilty over not deserving it, but because of other people's reactions or what 'situations' we all see in third-world ports. g.

 

my answer is still no. i don't feel uncorfortable because of other people's reactions or because of other situations in other ports.

 

this is my life, i'm going to enjoy it.

 

yeah, i have friends who aren't working, or co-workers who don't have the money, that's not going to prevent me from enjoy what I do have.

[relaxandenjoy]

I think guilt is a waste of time. Live your life for you, according to who you are and to your values. If you are a good person, you give back when the opportunity presents itself, you use your gifts wisely, and you respect others there is no reason to feel guilt. Even if you've done something to feel guilty about, acknowledge it, identify how you would handle it differently next time, and move on. One of my favorite quotes is:

 

"What you think of me is none of my business."

[finucane]

Not yet, definitely not!

My wife and I have paid our dues in more ways than I can mention so cruising is the icing on the cake for us, everyone has something.

 

"Guilt" just is not in my vocabulary, we are always very happy for others to hear of their good fortunes in life be it family, cars, houses, travel or whatever. Isn't that what we all have worked hard for?

 

I see so many people just squander their time and money on nothing, absolutely nothing in my opinion, then they wonder why they don't have a pot to pi$$ in!:eek: Those are usually the ones that want me to feel guilty for enjoying the fruits of our labor?

Not!

 

Cruise on people and enjoy every split second of it...:cool:

[ducklovemama]

i mean, because its such a luxury vacation, with all these ppl waiting on you, and just its reputation. Do you feel wary about tellin freinds you're going on one, and even on the cruise, do u not enjoy it to the fullest because you feel somehow strange?

 

This is what happens to me.

 

Plz give any view u have, even tips for me not to feel like this, etc

 

 

 

heck no !!!!!

[PhoenixCruiser]

Years ago cruising might have been a luxury vacation, not so much these days...

 

###

[MICHLEV1974]

I'll admit that sometimes I do feel a little guilty. I'm retired now and my memory is fading...but then it comes back, back to the days when I couldn't afford a cruise or didn't have the time, when I was working and stayed up until midnight doing paperwork, the days when I had people screaming at me for some trivial matter...and then I raise my Drink of the day with the little umbrella and say "I Deserve This!"

 

Perfectly put! I don't feel guilty either. If someone tries to downplay or slight my vacation, I just move on. There is no need to share my thoughts further. However, if you do find another cruise addict, look out, we could talk for hours and hours....It is addicting!

 

Hello, my name is Michelle, I am a single mom with an 11 yr old son and we are both addicted. Sign us up for the meetings.:D

[rian90]

Personally, I don't see cruise ships as luxury trips unless you are on a luxury line. They can be luxurious, but not just for the rich and famous. :) Most ships cater to the mainstream middle class set and most of my middle class friends have been on a cruise at least once in their lifetimes.

 

In fact, its cheaper for our family to go on a cruise than stay in a nice hotel and eat out every night! Our cruise on the Navigator of the Seas was quite a bargain for our family of five.

[cb at sea]

If folks DIDN'T cruise, then there would be ALOT of other folks out of work.

 

As far as "being waited on"....I enjoy that!

[Cuizer2]

I mean, because its such a luxury vacation, with all these ppl waiting on you, and just its reputation. Do you feel wary about tellin freinds you're going on one, and even on the cruise, do u not enjoy it to the fullest because you feel somehow strange?

 

This is what happens to me.

 

plz give any view u have, even tips for me not to feel like this, etc

 

No, I have no problem saying I am going on a cruise nor actually being on one. However, I would suggest that if you don't feel comfortable that perhaps cruising is not for you. Why take a vacation that you don't feel comfortable taking?

[cruiselover57]

I mean, because its such a luxury vacation, with all these ppl waiting on you, and just its reputation. Do you feel wary about tellin freinds you're going on one, and even on the cruise, do u not enjoy it to the fullest because you feel somehow strange?

 

This is what happens to me.

 

plz give any view u have, even tips for me not to feel like this, etc

 

Never never! I work hard just like others and feel I deserve whatever vacation I plan on taking. Our hard-earned money pays to be treated in such a fashion so for maybe 2 weeks out of the year, I feel I've earned that pampering! LOL

[printingchick]

I actually had to think about this question and return to it. And no, I don't feel badly about it at all. In fact, just the opposite.

 

For one thing, while it may seem luxurious, a cruise vacation is an amazing value. After falling in love with one of the ports on a southern Caribbean cruise, we looked into a land-based vacation, spending a block of time on our favorite island. It was cost prohibitive. By the time we figured in transportation, hotel, food, etc., we ended up opting for another cruise instead.

 

I'm a single mom. My kids are mostly grown (youngest is 16), and I don't do a lot to spoil myself throughout the year. I cut my own lawn, shovel my own snow, cut my own hair, and live on my one and only income. A cruise each year is the treat I give to myself. I feel like I've earned it and I enjoy being treated - for that one week - like those people who live in a higher income bracket.

 

The celebrity treatment may be the absolute BEST part of cruising. The other 51 weeks a year, no one ever calls me "Miss Printingchick". No one asks me several times a day what they could do to make my day better. No one makes my bed, cooks my food, brings me fresh towels every day or wakes me up in the morning with a tray of fresh coffee.

 

And looking out my window at the blue Caribbean water every morning doesn't hurt either!!!

[finucane]

I actually had to think about this question and return to it. And no, I don't feel badly about it at all. In fact, just the opposite.

 

For one thing, while it may seem luxurious, a cruise vacation is an amazing value. After falling in love with one of the ports on a southern Caribbean cruise, we looked into a land-based vacation, spending a block of time on our favorite island. It was cost prohibitive. By the time we figured in transportation, hotel, food, etc., we ended up opting for another cruise instead.

 

I'm a single mom. My kids are mostly grown (youngest is 16), and I don't do a lot to spoil myself throughout the year. I cut my own lawn, shovel my own snow, cut my own hair, and live on my one and only income. A cruise each year is the treat I give to myself. I feel like I've earned it and I enjoy being treated - for that one week - like those people who live in a higher income bracket.

 

The celebrity treatment may be the absolute BEST part of cruising. The other 51 weeks a year, no one ever calls me "Miss Printingchick". No one asks me several times a day what they could do to make my day better. No one makes my bed, cooks my food, brings me fresh towels every day or wakes me up in the morning with a tray of fresh coffee.

 

And looking out my window at the blue Caribbean water every morning doesn't hurt either!!!

 

Rock on PC!;):D:cool:

[airlink diva]

I'm a blue collar worker who just an normal person. I have a big weakness for cruising. I normally do one cruise a year (next year I'm doing two!!). I tell anyone that I work hard (I've worked out in the heat during the height of summer and on cold, rainy, near freezing days). What gets me through the day is my cruises.

I have others that ask how do you afford it?? I brown bag my lunch, I don't really shop alot and each paycheck I pay towards a cruise like a bill.

Cruising is very reasonable!! I use to love going to a hotel on the Oregon coast to spend a week. When I look at the cost to rent a car,fuel it,hotel, food (even with breakfast free at the hotel) and other misc items, the cost of a cruise is alot cheaper.

Also while 30 or 40 years ago cruising was most likey viewed as a high end deal, today the average joe can afford at least a short weekend cruise.

 

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

Now playing: Bob James - Make It More Blue

via FoxyTunes

 

The celebrity treatment may be the absolute BEST part of cruising. The other 51 weeks a year, no one ever calls me "Miss Printingchick". No one asks me several times a day what they could do to make my day better. No one makes my bed, cooks my food, brings me fresh towels every day or wakes me up in the morning with a tray of fresh coffee. I so agree with this also!!!

[paul929207]

I see no reason to feel guilty about cruising. Those people waiting on us are doing it so they can feed their families. If I stay home how will that help them?

[DoggieDash84]

I mean, because its such a luxury vacation, with all these ppl waiting on you, and just its reputation. Do you feel wary about tellin freinds you're going on one, and even on the cruise, do u not enjoy it to the fullest because you feel somehow strange?

 

This is what happens to me.

 

plz give any view u have, even tips for me not to feel like this, etc

 

I don't know about the cruises that you take, but I never really think of mine as being a luxury vaca. I think of it as getting a great deal! I mean, given all of the activities, food, and service included, I almost feel bad that I'm not paying more! (well, sorta ;)). Even so, it's all about the way that you save money, and whatnot. I would imagine just about anyone could afford to go on a cruise if they save up. Now, how long they have to save up is a different story, but still. Heck, even if I worked at McDonalds, which I used to do, I could still afford to go on a cruise!

[diviney87]

Well said! I don't feel guilty about any of my vacations I take. I work hard for the money I save to go on vacations. I work tons of overtime and save it all.

 

People always wonder how I can afford to vacation all the time, but never see the way I am able to do it. I don't do much of anything else. LOL

They all shop, shop, shop for the newest clothes, shoes, movies, DVD's, CD's, eat out all the time etc... Plus, they use a vacation day here and there. Which then adds up and they don't have enough days to go anywhere.

 

My saying is... If you work hard, you get to play hard... guilt free!

 

Enjoy and enjoy the future cruises too! I know I will.

 

Roadtripster - I totally agree with you...I work hard and I player harder. I need vacations here and there....to make it worth my hard work money!

[bbwex]

Some of our friends take vacations and play golf, and belong to golf and country clubs. Others take vacations multiple times during the year. I don't feel a need to explain ourselves to anyone. Besides, unless they know what ship and what cabin you were in, they have no idea how much or how little you spent. We are going to Alaska in June and on our ship we could spend as little as $899 for the week. That's a whole $128 per day per person. You could spend a lot more than that at some hotel somewhere.

 

I suppose you could brag about it, and that might put some people off, but DW and I don't talk much to others about our upcoming trips and don't tell much afterwards unless they ask. "It was great, we had a great time" and that's it unless they want to know more.

 

As people have said, it's your life, and only you can live it. If you do what other people tell you to do, you are living their life not yours. Enjoy doing things, and know that some friends will never do those things and never experience some of the things you will. It's their loss.

[paul929207]

If anyone tries to pull the poor people can't afford a cruise bit, ask them if they have a car. Remind them that poor people do not.

[Arwenmark]

My next cruise is costing me $1000 for two people for a week of food, lodging, and transportation and I get to sit on my balcony and watch the ocean. That last bit is the only Luxury to me.

Cruising is a very Common, type of vacation. While there are Luxury cruises out there most cruisers are not taking Luxury cruises.