Cruises are a bit like marmite, you either love them or hate them. There seems to be no in-between, you are a cruise person or you are not.
Even just discussing a cruise holiday can be quite divisive. I’ve often found when mentioning I’m going on a cruise the comeback can be a bit negative. Oh, I could never do that, too crowded, who wants to be stuck with all those people etc are familiar refrains.
However, this is often said by people who have never cruised. The very idea of cruising just puts them off.
While running through some of the benefits of a cruise holiday with a friend recently it got me thinking I should probably note down the pros and cons of cruising.
Can you tell I’m having trouble convincing my friends it is a great way to travel and see the world?
Of course, like everything, there is a flip side. While there are many advantages of cruises there are jut as many disadvantages. So for a balanced post, I have included some of those as well.
Read on for some of the pros and cons of a cruise to help you decide if it is the type of holiday for you.
Cruise pros: Why go on a cruise holiday?
There are a wide variety of pros to a cruising holiday. From being able to see many places easily to being an easy way to travel.
Here are some of the benefits of going on a cruise.
You wake up in a new destination each morning
Imagine opening your curtains every morning only to discover you are in a new place. That’s pretty much cruising.
It is a great way to see the world. Waking up in a new port each day is an exciting way to travel. There is no time to get itchy feet.
You can see a lot, even if you only have a week or two of holiday time.
One of the best things about a cruise is that even if you have limited holiday time you can still visit a lot of destinations.
Most cruises will have at least three or four ports on the itinerary. This could be within the same country or different countries.
On a Norwegian Fjords cruise I took, there were four ports of call. Something I probably could not have managed to do if I was travelling independently for a week.
The great thing about cruising makes it very easy to see the world even if you don’t have much time to travel.
There will be an itinerary for you
With so many different itineraries available you’d have to be incredibly fussy not to find one that will interest you.
Want to see glaciers? Head to Alaska. Want to catch some sun? Try The Mediterranean. Fancy island hopping? Why not try a Caribbean Cruise. Is spectacular scenery your thing? The Norwegian Fjords are for you.
The options are almost endless.
You can visit places you might not have thought of
On most cruise itineraries there will probably be a place or two that you hadn’t ever thought of visiting. So, it is a good opportunity to discover new destinations.
Go with an open mind & who knows. You might find an expected new favourite place.
You can visit destinations that might be difficult to reach independently
Some destinations can be a little tricky to visit independently. This could be because they are a challenge to reach or maybe your personal circumstances make things a little difficult.
Just like cruising, independent travel isn’t for everyone. Being on a cruise takes a lot of the hassle out of travelling. You just embark and then the ship does all the work. You don’t need to worry about how to get to the destination, or how to get around once you are there and or find accommodation.
It is all done for you.
All you need to do is disembark the ship and start exploring.
You can get a taste of a place before returning for a longer visit.
While you are usually only in port for a day, or maybe two of you have an overnight stay, it is a great way to sample a place.
If you like it and would like to explore further you can return under your own steam and spend as long as you’d like there knowing you like the place.
On the flip side if you are not keen on a port you know not to return there on a longer visit. So that will potentially save you some time & money in the future.
They are very easy to organise and book
Once you know what you are doing, booking a cruise is very easy and generally hassle-free.
I find the hardest part is choosing the itinerary. There are so many great options.
Once you know where you’d like to go, all you need to do is to pick a cruise line and type of cabin and away you go.
You can book directly with cruise lines, via a travel agent or through a cruise specialist. Each way has its own pros and cons but all are very easy.
They can be budget-friendly and very good value for money
When I first started cruising I was surprised at what good value they can be.
Whether you are looking for something affordable or want to splash out, there will be a cruise line that suits your budget.
Your cruise fare includes accommodation, food and entertainment so the bulk of the expense is covered within the base cost.
A recent cruise I took cost me around £91 per night. When you think that covers accommodation, all food and many entertainment options it seems an absolute steal.
While a few cruise lines include soft drinks in their fare, you usually have to pay for these and any alcoholic drinks. You can do this via a drinks package or by paying as you go per drink. Either way, you can easily keep on top of what you spend.
Some cruise lines offer deals where a third and sometimes a fourth person can travel with you at a reduced cost. There are often offers for children too.
For solo travellers, there can be some great deals when they drop the solo supplement. The cruise I mentioned a few paragraphs ago was one where the solo supplement had been removed. So it was even more of a bargain.
They make a great family holiday
Cruises are very family-friendly. As well as the good value for money reason the fact that everything is organised and within easy reach makes a cruise a good option for families or large groups.
Many of the larger cruise ships are designed with families in mind and have a wide range of activities for all ages.
Most ships will have a swimming pool but some of the more family-focused ones will also include water slides, rope courses and a kids club.
For the adults, there will be spas, hot tubs and plenty of places to relax.
One other plus is that you can book adjoining cabins if you are travelling with others. You can also ask for the partition between balconies to be removed as well, giving you all a larger space.
They are good for solo travellers
You might find this hard to believe given that solo travellers often get whacked over the head with solo supplements but hear me out.
When you cruise you know you won’t be alone. You’ll always be able to find some company
It is usually very easy to make new friends on a cruise. Lots of cruise lines hold solo meet-ups onboard so you can connect with others in a similar position.
You can also take part in a wide range of activities on board & meet other cruise passengers with similar interests.
Even if you don’t want to get involved there is a little comfort in knowing you are not completely alone.
If it is your first time travelling solo, it is a good way to try it out and build a bit of confidence.
You only need to unpack once
This surely has to be one of the best pros of going on a cruise. You only have to pack once.
I’ve done my fair share of backpacking and short trips that included lots of destinations. Living out of a suitcase never gets any less annoying.
Step up cruising. Once you unpack that’s it until it’s time to pack to return home. No matter how many destinations you visit, you don’t need to unpack or repack.
There is so much to do on most ships you will never be bored
One of the reasons some of my friends are not keen on a cruise is that they think they’ll get bored.
Er, what? Bored on a cruise ship? Not a chance.
Whether you want to find a quiet spot to relax or like to be entertained, you’ll find something for you.
Looking for a chilled-out holiday, head to the sun loungers on the deck, swimming pools, hot tubs, spas and cocktail bars.
Want to be more active? Try out the gym, running track or join in with sports on board.
Want to be entertained? Book a theatre show, catch some live music, take part in a trivia quiz or dance the night way in a clubhouse.
On all the cruises I have taken so far, there was no time to be bored. That includes one cruise where we were stuck in port for three days due to bad weather.
If anything there are so many onboard activities and different things to do you’ll usually end up wishing you were staying on for a few more days.
They are very relaxing
Cruises really are a stress-free way to travel. A lot of the heavy lifting will be done for you. With a lot of the hassle taken out of travel, it means you can kick back & relax.
You don’t have to worry about transport issues, finding your accommodation when you arrive or wondering where to eat.
As soon as you board it is all taken care of. Pretty much everything you need is in one place.
All that is left for you to do is to enjoy your holiday.
The food is amazing
Whether you are a foodie or not you are in for a treat on a cruise ship holiday.
The quality & standard of food served on cruise ships are generally a very high standard. Both in the main dining rooms and the speciality restaurants.
There is also plenty of it. Like never ending.
Whether you like casual dining or something more formal you will be spoilt for choice on most cruise lines. In fact, you’ll probably find it hard to try all the options unless you are on a long cruise.
There is a very high standard of entertainment on board
There is no shortage of entertainment onboard cruise ships.
Many have lots of live music venues, from deck parties to piano bars to clubhouses where you can dance the night away.
If you like theatre shows you won’t be disappointed either. Productions on cruise ships are usually of a Broadway or West End standard.
Most shows are performed two or three times during the evening so you’ll have plenty of time to have dinner or drinks and still catch a show.
During the day you’ll often find trivia quizzes, enrichment talks, destination talks and sporting activities to keep you occupied.
They are a great way to meet new people and make friends
I’ve found cruising a great way to meet people and make some new friends.
Travelling with likeminded people does seem to make it a little bit easier to strike up a conversation with someone
The vast majority of people I’ve met on cruises are very approachable and friendly. In fact, I’ve made a couple of very good friends.
Even if you don’t end up becoming friends with people you meet onboard, just having a chat at a bar or over a coffee is a nice way to pass some time.
If you have a health condition, you can be reassured there is help nearby
Cruise ships have medical centres on both with experienced doctors & nurses on board.
While they are not hospitals they can help with things like seasickness, upset stomachs and minor injuries. The staff are also trained in emergency medicine.
I’ve been recovering from a serious illness recently and while I was not anticipating that I would need any medical help during my cruises, I did find it a bit of comfort and reassurance that there was somewhere to go if I needed some advice.
There is a cruise line for everyone (you just have to find it)
One of the things that surprised me when I first started cruising was just how many different types of cruise lines there were.
Whether you have a small or large budget, want something lively or prefer something more refined, there will be a cruise line to suit you.
Having tried four cruise companies so far, I am convinced there is a cruise line for everyone. You just need to find it.
It may take a few attempts but if you are not keen after your first cruise. Try another line. You might be surprised.
Cruise cons: what are the disadvantages of cruises?
As with everything, there is always an alternative view and cruising is no exception. There are certainly a few disadvantages of a cruise too.
Here are some of the cons of going on a cruise.
You have no flexibility on the destinations visited.
Cruise Itineraries are generally fixed. You can’t decide to go somewhere on a whim. You are stuck with the itinerary you have booked.
Itineraries can change or ports cancelled
While cruise lines do their best to stick to their itineraries unforeseen circumstances can arise.
These could be operational reasons. For example, I booked a cruise that visited Geiranger but was changed to Hellesylt before we sailed.
Or weather conditions could mean it is not safe to attempt to dock in a port. So you might have a sea day, alternative port or even be stuck in a port.
On one of my cruises, we ended up being stuck in one port for two days and another for three thanks to the weather. It didn’t end up being much of a cruise in the end but better safe than sorry.
You don’t get much time in each destination
Perhaps one of the downsides of a cruise is that you get very little time in a destination. Usually a day or maybe two if you have overnight in port.
So if you like to explore a place in depth a cruise is probably not the best option for you.
Some destinations might feel a bit touristy
A cruise ship in port can be big business for the local economy. With thousands of potential customers visiting it’s no surprise places will want to take advantage of this.
The area immediately around the port may feel a bit touristy as businesses try to get your custom.
You may not experience much local culture
With limited time in port, you’ll probably just have time to see the main sights in most places. This means it can be difficult to experience some of the local culture.
Visiting cruise ships don’t always help local economies as much as you think they might
You’d think with a couple of thousand people descending on a place it would bring some often-needed tourist revenue in. However, this is not always the case.
Many cruise passengers will use the ship’s facilities and take a packed lunch on shore rather than use local cafes or restaurants. Or they may book an excursion via the cruise company rather than a local operator.
You will be sharing with thousands of people
Unless you travel on an ultra-luxury cruise line you will likely be travelling with a couple of thousand other people.
Even mid-size cruise ships have a capacity of around two to three thousand. The mega ships can carry as many as five to six thousand.
So, you should be prepared for it to be busy at times in the restaurants when disembarking in port and on sea days.
If you get seasick (or are not a fan of rough seas) it might not be for you.
This is probably quite an obvious disadvantage of cruise ships but if you suffer from seasickness you may want to think twice about a cruise
Of course, there are things you can do to mitigate this. Such as staying in part of the ship with the least movement.
Most of the ships I have cruised on, hardly feel like they are moving so so it may not be as bad as you might fear. Perhaps a sampler cruise of a couple of nights would be a good idea to test the water (so to speak) before booking a longer cruise.
You may end up spending more than you thought you would
While cruise fares are often good value, you do have to look carefully at what is included. It can be very easy to end up spending more than you anticipated.
Not everything is free on a cruise and some of the base fares may not be all-inclusive. For example speciality restaurants often cost extra
So, when setting a budget for your cruise be aware that you may incur further costs once onboard.
Shore excursions can be expensive
While it doesn’t cost anything to leave the ship and explore the immediate area around the port, it is likely at some point you’ll want to do a shore excursion.
In some ports, an excursion is the best (and sometimes only) way to see the attractions of a destination. They are also a stress free way to explore as it is all done for you. Just turn up at your excursion time and off you go.
However, the costs of these excursions can quickly add up. Especially if you are traveling with your family or a large group.
Booking with local operators can sometimes be cheaper than booking with your cruise line but you run the risk of the ship leaving without you if you are delayed getting back.
If you are on a long cruise, things may get a bit repetitive
The length of a cruise can vary from a few days to a few months. Even longer if you are on a world cruise.
If you are on board for a while, you may find things like the food options and entertainment gets a little bit repetitive.
In a way, it’s a nice problem to have. You are on a cruise after all but something to keep in mind if the durations of your cruise is a few weeks or longer.
They are not good if you are trying to maintain or lose weight
Whether you are on a long or short cruise, there will be a lot of temptation on board. So if you are keeping an eye on your weight, it might be a bit challenging.
There is no shortage of food, from breakfast all the way through to late-night buffets. Add in ice cream parlours, snack bars and coffee shops, and you’ll see how easy it is to overeat and put on weight.
You can help mitigate this by keeping active, watching portion sizes, and not eating everything. But don’t forget you are on holiday so you deserve the odd treat!
Wifi is usually a bit hit-and-miss (and expensive)
In today’s connected world, wifi is pretty important for most people.
However, as you might expect when out at sea, the wifi can be a bit hit-and-miss onboard.
Many ships offer internet packages, either included in your fare or as an additional charge. You can usually purchase by the day or for the duration of the cruise. They can be quite expensive though.
I try to have a break when on board and maybe just buy for the odd sea day. When in port, depending on your mobile phone deal, you can connect to the local network.
It’s a good excuse to have a break from being always available….
Cruises are very addictive
Quite possibly the biggest con of a cruise is that they are very addictive
One is never enough….
Once you’ve cruised once it won’t be long before you are booking your next cruise!
The last word on the pros and cons of cruising
A cruise holiday isn’t for everyone. However, weighing up the pros and cons of cruise ships, will help you decide if it is the type of holiday for you.
Like most things though, you never know until you give a try.
Why not take a short cruise to see what you think before committing to a longer holiday?
You might just be surprised at how much you enjoy cruises.
You may also like
- Cruising the Norwegian Fjords on Iona
- What to pack in your cruise carry-on bag
- Tips for a smooth embarkation day