Hello everybody! I feel like there are two types of people when it comes to cruising. You either hate it or love it. There is no in between. If you are wondering if a cruise is right for you, well you’ve come to the right place. People have a lot of questions when it comes to cruising. Is it worth it? How long are you on a boat? Will I get sea sick? What about breaking down in the middle of the ocean? What if there is a big storm? Ok, maybe I should stop because I may have just scared some people out of it already. Well, I’m going to shed some light on cruises for you! Let’s look at some of the pros and cons of cruises to see if they are right for you. My husband and I love cruises, for the record!! We have gone on probably 8 or so of them. Our very first trip together was a cruise and we were hooked after that.
Let’s start by looking at the cons, that way we can end on a good note.
- You are stuck on a boat for a length of time. Yes, you are on a boat for a length of time depending on how long your cruise is. There are all different cruises ranging from 3-245 days. Yes, you saw that right, a 245 day cruise!!! Of course, you get off on your stops, though it is not mandatory to get off if you don’t want to. You can stay on the boat and enjoy the almost empty ship.
- You might get sick. We have all heard the horror stories about outbreaks on cruises. Of course, I guess this could happen anywhere. Also, there is sea sickness to think about. Are you prone to getting sea sick or get motion sickness?
- You might get stranded at sea. Though unlikely, this has happened. You will eventually make it back to port, but it’s the people freaking out that you have to worry about.
- It is not all-inclusive. This is something to think about. Before you leave, your entire cruise is paid for, including food and most beverages. This does not include alcohol, excursions, or specialty restaurants on board like a steak house. Also, there are some activities that you have to pay for on board such as going to the spa or the casino.
- You don’t get a lot of time to see a location. Once docked, you usually spend anywhere from 7-10 hours at the destination. Then, it’s back on board!
Now, here are some pros.
- You get to explore multiple destinations in one trip. Instead of booking a trip where you go to one single place and stay, with a cruise you get to see several places with just one trip. The more days your cruise is, usually the more stops there are as well. You can see what places you really like, then plan your next vacation there!
- If you have a big family, it is probably the cheapest vacation. Cruises are pretty reasonably priced, and you will see a lot of family vacations on cruises and family reunions. Even if you’re just going with you and your significant other, for the money you can hardly beat a cruise.
- You get a lot for your money. You do get a lot for what you pay for on a cruise. All meals are included, along with most of the activities and entertainment. In fact, you can take a cruise and not spend any extra money at all if you choose.
- The boat is a floating city so there are plenty of options onboard. They have an entire itinerary planned every day you are on the cruise. There is usually something for everybody. They have trivia, games, karaoke, a casino, shopping, a spa, and much more.
- It’s a virtually stress free vacation. There is not a lot of planning to a cruise once you book. Just board the boat, relax, and enjoy yourself! You are pampered from the time you step foot on the boat until the time you leave.
Ok so now that I have listed some of the pros and cons, do you think you would enjoy cruising? It is not for everybody. You may think you might enjoy cruising, and then take a cruise and decide nope its not for you! Or you may not think you are a cruise person and take one, and decide you love it! The only way to know for sure is to go!!