When I first started traveling, a majority of my trips consisted of bus tours, all-inclusive resorts, or cruise vacations. In this blog post, I wanted to talk about the pros and cons of going on cruise vacations as this year I’ve been on my 11th cruise! A majority of my cruise vacations were with my family and extended family and I was able to visit about two dozen countries in the Caribbean, Europe, and the United Kingdom. The cruise lines I’ve been on are Carnival, Holland America, Princess Cruises, and Royal Caribbean. My favorite so far has been Royal Caribbean because of the activities, entertainment, and food but I do want to try Celebrity Cruises and Disney Cruise Line in the future.
As I got more experienced with traveling, especially without family, I veered towards planning my trips and doing every single part of the travel process on my own. Although after traveling for many years now, I do not prefer to travel on a cruise unless I’m looking to introduce this type of travel to my husband or go on a specific cruise line I want to cross off my bucket list. However, cruise vacations are not something I would discount for a traveler especially if you’ve never been on one. So here are all the benefits and possible drawbacks of going on cruise vacations to help you decide if this is the type of travel you want.
If you’re unsure of the type of vacation you’re looking for, here are 30 Different Types of Travel Styles for your reference. And if you’re going on a cruise, you’ll likely be traveling with others so here’s How To Organize A Successful Group Vacation.
Pros Of Cruise Vacations
1 – Good Value For The Money
If you do the calculations, cruise vacations are a pretty good value for the money considering you get accommodations, all-you-can-eat for your meals including snacks, entertainment throughout the day, access to the pools, gym, and other amenities including mini golf, rock climbing, water slides and more depending on the cruise ship you’re on and you’re almost at a new city or even country every day. I’ve seen cruises at under $180 USD for 3 days and if you add taxes, fees, and tips, you’re still only paying between $60-80 USD per day starting. (Just keep in mind that this amount does not include the flight to the location of the port where you get on the cruise ship.) Overall, these types of vacations can also really help with your travel planning process and even budgeting.
2 – Indulge In Unlimited Food
Like I mentioned above, you get good value for your money especially if you eat a lot like my family and I do. You get all three meals plus snack bars around the ship that could include an ice cream bar, a burger joint, cafés, or even high tea. My favorite is definitely dinner time when you get a fine dining menu that changes daily with some everyday staples to choose from. And you can order as much as you want!
My cousins and I would order at least 3 appetizers (sometimes even all of them on the menu), plus 2 or 3 main courses (could be steak, pasta, lobster tails, etc.), and a couple of desserts – and then we’d go back to ordering more appetizers. I had to share a table on a cruise one time and there was a man who looked like Santa Claus who sat across from me during dinner and he told me he was gaining weight watching me eat. Yes, we ate A LOT, but unfortunately, my metabolism has slowed down so I’m unable to go crazy on food like I did before! In my opinion, the best part about cruise vacations is how much you can eat and the ability to try so many different dishes without paying an extravagant amount of money.
3 – Non-Stop Entertainment
Going on cruise vacations is all about keeping the guests entertained, so you will get a daily itinerary broken down to the hour of all the different activities you can join if you feel like it. They can be anything from dance and exercise classes to movie showings, time at the casino, and live entertainment which can consist of magic shows, musicals, or even ice performances, games, karaoke time, and much more! On some cruises, you may get a day or two at sea all day and these activities will certainly keep you entertained and busy.
4 – Even Your Kids Will Be Occupied
If you are going on a cruise vacation with your family, you can still get some kid-free time. Depending on the cruise line and the specific ship, most of them should have facilities or some program designed for the younger passengers such as Kids’ Clubs. This is where they will supervise your kids and provide activities and entertainment for them while you can get some me-time in. Some cruises will also offer babysitting services.
5 – Enjoy Scenic Views
If you’re a thalassophile (ocean or sea lover) like me, you’ll love the constant views of the water. Even though you can get plenty of water views in the dining rooms and on the different decks of the ship, if you’re going on a cruise vacation for more than a week, I suggest getting an oceanview or balcony room. That way you can get fresh air and private water views as well as feel less claustrophobic in your room, especially for those days at sea. And when the ship is getting close to land or docking, you can see the coastal landscapes or the city from the top.
Not to mention, you’ll get to view the beautiful sunsets, sunrises, and the stars in the middle of the ocean. And it gets pretty pitch black out there so you can see them perfectly! Sunsets sunrises and stars since you’re in the middle of the ocean it gets pretty pitch dark out there!
6 – Ultimate Relaxation
Because almost everything is taken care of on cruise vacations, you can achieve ultimate relaxation. You can indulge at the spa with treatments, massages, and hair appointments or unwind by the pool. There are even adult-only areas where passengers can rest in quietness on loungers, hammocks, or sunbeds. Plus, not having to cook, clean, or make up your room seems pretty relaxing to me!
7 – You Get To Visit More Places With No Hassle
The point of cruises is so that you can visit more destinations in one trip and during the time frame you want. Plus there’s the convenience of having no hassle of taking public transportation, a train, or a plane to your next location. Most people would visit one or two locations during their vacations, but going on cruise vacations allows you to visit dozens of countries depending on the duration of the cruise you select. Even a one-week cruise can take you to several countries so you can see and do more with your limited time.
8 – You Only Unpack Once
Speaking of convenience and no hassle, once you’ve settled into your cabin, you can leave everything there. You don’t need to constantly pack and unpack for your next destination which makes your entire experience much more convenient. Your stateroom really becomes your home for the length of your trip, and you have housekeepers and cabin stewards to clean up your room multiple times a day if needed.
9 – Minimal Planning Needed
Because cruise vacations already have a daily itinerary set for you including the destinations you’ll be visiting, minimal planning is involved. That’s why these types of vacations are also great for those who aren’t avid travelers, are in the older age group, or just want a generally stress-free trip. The only thing you need to coordinate is your flight to the city where the ship departs (I highly advise staying at least a day before in that location so you avoid any flight delays that can cause you to miss your cruise) and decide if you want to go on any excursions at the port of calls (which are provided by the cruise line or you can choose to book with an external company).
10 – Unique Excursion Opportunities
Since cruise vacations are already so structured, of course, the cruise line will provide you with unique excursion opportunities that are customized to the location or the cruise line itself if you so choose. Shore excursions allow you to explore each location a little more in-depth with a partnered guide. This also guarantees that the ship will not depart without you if you’re running late. Depending on the cruise line and the itinerary of that particular cruise ship, you may also be able to visit locations that no one else can due to the cruise line owning a certain island in that country for example.
11 – Ability To Disconnect
It’s so hard to disconnect these days when we’re bombarded with technology, but going on a cruise vacation gives you the ability to disconnect since Wi-Fi is generally not free. And when you’re in the middle of the ocean, even if you have data on your devices, it doesn’t always work, especially on those at-sea days. If you’re really looking for truly relaxation and are on do-not-disturb mode, cruise vacations give you exactly that. If you do want to purchase Wi-Fi, I will say that it’s not cheap. I’ve seen it for about $25 USD per day which really isn’t worth it to me and you must be really obsessed if you can’t have just one day without data (as I’ve seen with my cousin) or have something critical that you need to take care of to purchase it – but to each their own!
12 – Option To Explore More Or Take It Slow
The good thing about cruise vacations is that you can go at your own pace at any time. Whether you want to do everything set out for you on the daily itinerary aboard the ship or to plan out your short itinerary ahead of time to do as much as possible because of the limited time there. There is no pressure whatsoever and it’s pretty safe that even if your travel group wants to split up and do what they feel, you know you can meet them at a later time. With the new app capabilities on cruise ships, you can even track where each member of your travel group is on the ship if you need to find someone.
13 – Accessibility-Friendly
Going on a cruise is a great option for those with disabilities or limited mobility and even for those who are young and healthy. Cruise lines have made significant efforts to adapt their ships to be accessible to all passengers, regardless of their physical abilities, by way of ramps, elevators, and accessible cabins. If you do have a disability, be sure to communicate it to the cruise line before and during your booking so any necessary arrangements can be made. Cruise workers will also assist passengers with disabilities and give them priority boarding and even accessible transportation and excursions when you’re on land.
14 – If You Like To Socialize, There Is Plenty of Opportunity
Cruise vacations are in a very social environment with plenty of opportunities to meet new people organically or at meet and greets for certain interest groups. And from my experience, cruise workers love meeting and talking to guests and they will start to recognize you during your cruise as you will bump into them often. As big as a cruise ship looks, they begin to feel quite small over the days so you will see familiar faces.
15 – Duty-Free Shopping On Board
Not only is there non-stop entertainment, there are also opportunities for shopping too – and tax-free at that. This includes jewelry and watches, tobacco and alcohol, clothing, electronics, beauty and luxury goods, and artisanal products. The availability and options vary on the cruise ships and you can occasionally find additional sales towards the end of the trip as well. During the first couple of cruises, I went on, it was all exciting to me so I made some watch and cosmetics purchases, but after that, I barely stepped foot into the shops again unless only to browse when I’m bored.
Cons Of A Cruise Vacation
1 – The Embarkation And Disembarkation Process
The embarkation and disembarkation process may be a little annoying on a cruise as there is limited space and there can be lines to get in and out of the ship when it’s docked. When you first board the cruise, you will also go through long security lines, customs, and a check-in process and depending on the time you get there, it can be either quick or very long, so make sure you don’t board the last possible minute.
2 – It Gets Repetitive
Even after the first couple of days, you’ll know the cruise ship like the back of your hand and the layouts are pretty much the same throughout each ship and cruise line. So if you want to do and see more, you may feel a little limited because after a couple of days, the ship may start to feel a bit small. Imagine if you start going on even more cruises! But I guess if you like familiarity and a routine, this will be very good for you.
3 – Additional Onboard Expenses
There may be additional onboard expenses that you may not expect. My last cruise before this recent one in Japan was in 2015, which was about 8 years ago, and I found that they now charge for items that used to be free. Such as having chocolate milk or juice at dinner isn’t covered anymore unless you have a package, but sometimes the waiters are nice and will give it to you for free. Alcoholic drinks are also not included unless you have a package, so that means that if you like to have your drinks, this can increase your expenditures.
If you don’t read the fine print, you will also get charged a daily tip that will be spread across everyone working on the trip. So depending on how long your cruise is, this expense can increase quite a bit as well. Other onboard expenses can be the Internet if that’s something you need to have or other shopping purchases.
4 – Only Certain Amounts Or Types Of Alcohol Can Be Brought On Board
There are strict policies on alcohol when you’re on cruise vacations so be sure to read up on them before you board your cruise. The policies can vary from cruise to cruise but obviously these rules are there so that they can make money on alcohol consumption. Most of the cruise lines don’t allow passengers to bring their own alcohol on the ship during embarkation. Some however will allow you to bring a limited amount of wine or champagne but it’s possible they can charge a corkage fee.
However, I purchased a bunch of specialty sake from Nagano, Japan to bring home and forgot about this policy, but I checked in my luggage before boarding the cruise and I received it at my stateroom with no problems thankfully. However, another person I was traveling with got her luggage held but ended up receiving it after some inquiries with nothing taken away. You can also purchase alcohol at your port-of-calls which I have done in the past and it was not taken away from me when I boarded the ship again but there is a possibility if you have too many bottles or one that exceeds a certain size, it’s possible that the ship’s staff can hold it until the end of the cruise.
4 – Some Areas Can Get Crowded
Because there could be several thousands of people on a cruise ship, some areas can get pretty crowded at times. Gyms are pretty small and during peak times, they can get full of people and you won’t be able to find a machine to use. Sometimes it’s also difficult to find a spot at lunch time especially during those days at sea. With the many activities that happen on a cruise ship, if you’re not early, you may not got a spot either. I also noticed that the elderly crowd will go to places way in advance and take all the best spots so if it’s important to you to get a good spot in the theater or to participate in activities, arrive at least 10 to 15 minutes early.
5 – Limited Time At Ports
One of the reasons why I don’t prefer cruise vacations anymore is that it gives you limited time at ports which really restricts how much you can explore at the location. You’re also set to arrive very early in the morning a majority of the time which sometimes means nothing is opened until a few hours later and you lose a good few hours of your time at the port of call.
6 – Not All Ports Are Walkable
Although rare, sometimes the port is so far from the city that even if you walk out, there’s literally nothing to do and you’re forced to have booked an excursion beforehand or pay very handsomely for a taxi to take you somewhere. This is rare, but it just reminded me that it could happen as I experienced this at the Miyazaki port of call in Japan and I basically wasted a day and had to treat it like a day at sea (also we received a tsunami warning). Although I did research beforehand and planned a whole day’s itinerary, it was just really difficult to get out of the port without transportation to get to the next spot.
Remember to check the itinerary of the cruise vacation you’re planning to book before you commit!
7 – Seasickness Is A Possibility
Luckily I’ve never had seasickness, but if you’re prone to motion sickness there are medications and patches you should pack with you before getting on your cruise vacation. I have seen many people having patches on their arms to help with this for Caribbean and European cruises too. Sometimes the sea can get quite rough and you can really feel it going back and forth. It’s nice when sleeping and it’s a light rocking, but sometimes it can be really extreme all night like it was in Japan so I didn’t sleep very well. There was also a time when I was in Italy and we were departing from the port that day and getting through a very tight canal that the ship rocked so much the water came spilling onto the balcony and during dinner time, a lot of the dishes crashed to the floor.
8 – Thinness Of Cabin Walls
The downside to cruise cabins is that you can hear your next-door neighbor and if you’re a light sleeper and your neighbor talks really loud like mine did, it gets quite annoying when they’re talking from 6 AM until after 11 PM at night and you can lose sleep from it. You can also hear kids running up and down the corridor or workers talking outside the stateroom as well.
9 – Dependency On Weather
Depending on weather conditions and if it storms, it can affect your cruise experience, lead to an itinerary change, and possibly even put a damper on your plans if you have excursions. My scuba diving excursion got canceled one time in the Grand Caymans due to a storm and we had to miss the port completely. The weather can also cause the ship to be very rocky or just really difficult to explore once you’re on land. This only happened a couple of times on the cruises I went on but it’s something to consider.
10 – Limited Local Cuisine
Although you may be visiting different countries, the cuisine on board the ship is generally pretty similar every time with a touch of local dining options which doesn’t completely reflect the authenticity of that destination’s culture. A majority of the options are very American and it makes sense because these cruise lines are mostly American-owned. That’s why, it’s important to try the local foods once you reach your port of calls to get your authentic food experience!
11– Limited Night Life Options
If you love the night life and are a late sleeper, your options are just the club on board the ship or possibly the casino. But it’s necessary to know that the club is quite empty especially on a cruise where you have an older crowd and you’d likely end up dancing alone. Most activities end by 11PM or midnight so unless you want to stroll around the ship several times, there’s not too much to do unless you’re traveling with a group and you spend time with each other watching movies in your cabin, getting snacks, or just having a drink at the bar for the night.
12 – Hygiene And Health Concerns
As we all know, hygiene and health can be a huge concern especially when it comes to the pandemic. Because you’re all in close quarters, it’s easy to spread illnesses on the trip. Even something as small as a cold, it’s easy to spread between two people sharing a stateroom also. There is a doctor’s clinic on board, but there’s only so much they can do. Remember to always pack your own medicine just in case!
To help you plan your next vacation, read here for more Travel Tips!