Cruises? Do you love them/ hate them etc ?

Lucca

Pretty sure we had a thread like this quite recently. I’ve been on three. Two with another couple -river cruises so small boat. and one on our own also river but a bit of a night mare as day one you went and sat randomly at a table and then Found you had to stay there for every meal ……and we did not find the other people congenial! (Probably mutual) would never do it again if there wasn’t free seating

We stayed in a hotel like that once! Absolutely nothing in common with the couple and obviously both tried to time things to avoid each other, which didn’t work! Fortunately they left after about five days and their replacement were much more friendly.

I've never been on one and it seems a lot of stress with idiots like this potentially causing trouble.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4c4mamfleWs

There seem to be lots of posts on here from people who have never experienced a cruise.
We’ve been on several cruises, to the Med., Norway and the Canaries. We absolutely love them! It’s great to wake up in a different place every morning. (That’s probably why I also like narrowboat cruising!?) Our favourite cruise was on a P&O medium-sized ship from Southampton (we don’t like flying). We visited Cadiz, Malta, Venice, Slovenia, Dubrovnik, Corfu and Gibraltar in the space of 19 days!
There is no need to join in with any activities on a ship unless you want to; there are plenty of quiet corners for relaxation, e.g. the lounges, the library, the spa, the outside decks. Your own balcony! It’s no different from staying in a hotel. There are different restaurants to choose from, some formal, some informal. If you do want activities, there’s always something happening ; talks on various topics, dance classes, the gym, the spa, the pools, quizzes, flower arranging, destination talks, passenger choirs, etc. I wouldn’t book on one of the huge ships though; smaller is better.
Personally, I can’t think of anything worse than baking myself on a hot, crowded beach. Cruise ships have air con and lovely sea breezes. Cruises are not cheap, but I think they provide much more than a land-based holiday.
We haven’t tried river cruising yet - hoping to when restrictions are lifted.??
My only complaint is that we have to travel from Lancashire down to the south coast for most of the cruise departures; it’s about time that Liverpool became a main cruise terminal, rather than just a day visit for most cruise lines.

Very interesting post this one. I am the queen of the outdoors with camping, caravans, skiing, sailing, hiking, cycling, windsurfing and believe you me I never thought a cruise would be for me. As for the comments to so many people being onboard I have always found a quiet part of the ship to read or sew or play a game with with other half.

After all the active hols and self catering a cruise has been a real treat sometimes and having someone else to do the cooking etc. We have been to Norway a lot and once the boat has docked hiking boots on and up the nearest mountain so still about to enjoy the outdoors.

Felt a cruise has been a treat and done sea cruises and river cruises which are very different.

But of course each to their own as they say.

I’ve never wanted to go on a cruise. We’re not social animals, prefer to please ourselves where we go, what we do and how we dress and don’t want to have to sit with strangers making small talk. Also I’d be very wary of the speed with which any bug can (and does) spread in such an environment let alone Covid. I’m sure they are the perfect holiday for lots of people, just not something either of us wants to do.

I absolutely love the chance to dress up for dinner because that doesn’t happen much here in Australia these days and I do miss it. It also means my husband will wear his evening suit and bow tie and I really fancy him when he is dressed like that ! ?

I've been on one cruise. We went to the Norwegian Fjords with CMV now sadly no longer operating due to the covid pandemic. The ship's capacity 1500 - 1800 or thereabouts.
I would love to do another cruise but not at present. I think I would stick to small ships. I really don't fancy one of the big cruise lines.

I’m in complete agreement with TiggyW. We have been on quite a number of cruises ans would happily go again. We’ve seen many beautiful places both from the sea and the land. We’ve met all sorts of people although I couldn’t say that we have made friends. It’s a flexible type of holiday where you can do everything or nothing. The amenities and service are excellent.
My worst nightmare would be camping or a self catering cottage in the middle of nowhere. I love to visit country places but not stay there. I will never stay anywhere that isn’t as comfortable as my own home. Cruises get a lot of bad press. Yes there have been some issues but they are few and far between which is exactly why they get so much publicity. Don’t knock something you haven’t tried.

None of the cruises, big and small, that we have been on have felt crowded. Those big ships are huge and there are lots of places like libraries etc where you can be on your own. Even your own cabin though I would always get a balcony so we could sit with a glass of wine and nibbles in private. We would organise our own shore excursions though because you get better value and see exactly what you want to see privately.

I prefer river cruise to being on a massive ship. Have done a few river cruises and find them much better not so many people and a lot more informal. No massive dressing up every night , something we don’t enjoy.
Only large ship we have been on was cruise to Thailand Vietnam etc although the countries were lovely to see especially Vietnam didn’t enjoy being on a large ship.
Maybe try a river cruise if your not sure.

Never thought I’d like it but I love them. I prefer our river cruises to those on big ships.
Like the choice of where to sit, so you can choose to meet up with the same people or not, though even on a big cruise, you can ask to change tables.
So relaxing and so much to see.

Don’t knock something you haven’t tried I ve never worn a little black dress or a floaty long one because I know I wouldn’t like them and I know they don’t fit my style so whilst I understand what you mean it’s not as cut and dried as that

I would never be able to afford a cruise and having listened to my friends stories which she thinks are wonderful I would get no joy On one cruise they went through pirate seas and had to put razor wire on board and all queue up in the walk way ‘in case’ … once she went on, a trip where the bus crashed into a wall no one hurt, she went on a saga one and told me about the walking frames lined up outside the dining room and the old man in the next cabin who used to knock for her to help him get dressed !! She goes on her own and thinks these ‘adventures’ are great fun but it would be a nightmare for me
But apart from all that I think you are either a cruise lover or not and that’s ok
I ve holidayed on a narrow boat with family and loved it I just wouldn’t want to be thrown in with lots of people for a month or however long, I d be lost, and being with people in long dresses and dicky bows would be such a nightmare even if I didn’t wear one
Trying a small boat cruise tina would be the best way forward if I was ever thinking of going on a cruise
but I m not so I ll let those that love them have my place

Isn’t it amazing how wide the chasm is between the lovers and haters ?

We all have our likes and dislikes when it comes to holidays, my absolute no no would be a week self catering in the middle of nowhere, with rain. Leaving my own clean well equipped kitchen behind in exchange for a poorly equipped one full of cutlery and cups that others had just used.......yuk. When I go away I want to relax, have my bed made, all meals cooked, choose what I want to eat or drink, visit what I want to see, talk to people, or not.

BlueBelle, it seems the haters haven’t in fact tried them though ?

But I don't need to go bungee jumping to know it's not for me, same way that I know a cruise wouldn't be for me either. If that's what floats your boat (pun fully intended!) then fine, but the OP did ask for opinions either way...

Loved the ones we did quite a few years ago. Always chose smaller ships and spent a week on board followed by a week on shore.

Loved my cruise, 6 years ago now. From Australia to Southampton. Such an amazing experience.

My husband and I started cruising to spend a rather large amount of American dollars won in Las Vegas. He became more and more apprehensive as the weeks ticked away.Once on board we both enjoyed it so much that we managed 16 cruises in 6 years.Our last year of cruising saw us aaway in April we'djust sorted the insurance,May to St Petersburg again,July for my birthday,September for our wedding anniversary and November for his birthday.
They were all very reasonably priced and left me with so many happy memories .
I wouldn't cruise again as a single due to the covid restrictions.
We met lovely people ,saw some wonderful places and enjoyed the entertainment. Our preferred cruise companies were P &O and Cunard .

We went on one cruise, 5 years ago, as my husband had always fancied it, but it was just 6 days to the Norwegian fjords, on a small ship, 800 passengers. I was dreading it, but surprisingly, I enjoyed it, but wouldn`t want to be on one of the floating blocks of flats. Definitely wouldn`t go now, on my own.

We’ve been on two Croation cruises and loved them . There are only 30 ish passengers, very casual dressing and not round the clock food.

I should have said, we went to the posh restaurant on the first night, hated it, we weren`t dressy up types, so for the rest of the time we frequented the self service restaurant, casual clothes, better atmosphere, and still good food. I loved that small ship, but the company has gone out of business, and that ship has gone to be scrapped, sad.

Been on three hubby loves them I’m indifferent. I like to abroad and see the areas I’m staying in. But really they are love,y holidays totally relaxing and lovely food and indulgence.

Almost everyone that has gone on a cruise loves them, and very many of us that haven't say we would not (including me). I suppose we should keep an open mind to new experiences.

I have looked at small cruises like the ones Atqui has experienced. I think this would be my preferred type of cruise.

The idea doesn't appeal to me; particularly the ones where there is a dress code.

I have been persuaded by DH and our close friends to go on my first cruise in August, huge ship round the U.K.
We have a large balcony so I can escape the crowds, but as the ship is operating at less than half capacity it shouldn’t be a problem.
I have a real phobia of being on water which is odd as I love being beside it.