Cruising: Love it or Hate it?

Do you love to go on cruises? Or do you hate the crowds and the possibility that you'll get stuck in the middle of the ocean? This writer for Yahoo! Travel gives some good reasons to love and hate traveling by cruise ship.

Love: It’s a vacation sampler

You know those appetizer samples you get at finer bars and theme restaurants, where a little of everything on the menu comes on one appetizing plate? Well, cruises are the appetizer samplers of vacations — each port of call gives you a little taste of a tourist destination. If you find one you like, you can take a longer trip there in the future. On a European cruise, Barcelona can be your mozzarella sticks, Naples your potato skins, St. Tropez your onion rings; nibble on them all now, feast on one later.

Hate: The cruise-operated tours

Being tied to a prearranged itinerary for six hours is a special version of hell for me. I did it once, and after several excruciating (and expensive) hours of being trapped on a bus with an operator who would not stop talking, my wife and I were openly contemplating a suicide pact. If you have no choice but to take a group tour for reasons of accessibility or safety, then by all means do it. But if you’re physically able to get around, and if the area you’re visiting supports self-transportation (i.e., it has reliable taxis or nearby car rental agencies, or it’s a port area that you can easily navigate on foot), I recommend going it alone. It’s cheaper and more conducive to mental health.

Love: There’s a bar at every turn

You are never more than a few steps from your next cocktail. Modern-day ships make a ton of money from alcohol sales, so it’s in their interest to make bars as convenient as possible. And they are; cruise ship bars are visible, accessible, and oh so inviting.

Hate: There’s delicious food at every turn

To take a cruise is to be surrounded by temptation with no means of escape. And for those of us who try to be at least somewhat good on vacations, cruises present numerous culinary temptations. You can spend an entire cruise fighting what will eventually be a losing battle to maintain your food discipline.

Love: The workout opportunities

The gyms I see on most cruise ships invariably are nicer, better equipped, and offer more interesting classes than the ones I belong to at home. But there are other areas where you can get your workout on. I’m a big fan of jogging along the tracks that many ships have along their upper decks. And for a little added workout, you can take the stairs between decks instead of elevators.

Hate: The onboard shows

I’m sure the performers are talented. But after a day of running around the port of call, assembling in an auditorium at a given time looks too much like “making plans.” And Vacation Me is allergic to “making plans.”

Love: No pressure

When you’re on a cruise ship, you’re free of that “Isn't there something I should be doing/seeing/experiencing?” vacation pressure that accompanies other trips. When you’re at sea, you’re free to follow your bliss at your own pace, guilt free.

Personally I have only been on one cruise and I didn't think it was all that bad. It was with Carnival and we went to Cozumel and the Yucatan Peninsula. 

Do you love to cruise? 

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST

BLOGLOVIN | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE

Is Cruising Right for You?

I haven't really talked much about cruising on my blog. I have only been on two cruises in my life; one to Mexico and the other was a short trip from Oslo to Kiel, Germany when I was studying abroad. While I did enjoy them both I am having a hard time convincing my husband that it would be fun. I like them because you get a lot of bang for your buck and you only have to unpack once but you get to see multiple cities! Here are some reasons AAA of Texas likes to cruise.

{Crossing under the Øresund Bridge}

Value: For about $100 per person per day your vacation includes transportation, accommodation, meals, on board activities, and entertainment. You can pay extra for special amenities, but you don’t have to. On some luxury lines, items like bar drinks, tips, even shore excursions are included (and reflected in higher fares).

Camaraderie: Mom, Dad, kids, and grandparents can cruise together, each pursuing individual interests during the day, then gathering for dinner and sharing experiences. Singles can meet others in a fun, secure environment, and couples can share quiet evenings on deck. On a cruise, strangers easily become new friends.

{Carnival Cruise to Mexico} 

Safety: From 2002 to 2011, 223 million people (passengers and crew) cruised, according to U.K.-based maritime consulting firm G.P. Wild. During that time, there were 28 deaths attributed to marine accidents, 0.13 deaths per one million people. The 2012 capsizing of Costa Concordia claimed 32 lives, but such incidents, while tragic, are rare. In recent shipboard fire incidents, there were no passenger deaths or serious injuries. Cruise Line International Association, whose members include most major lines, has adopted a passenger’s bill of rights that covers such things as the right to disembark a docked ship if essential provisions can’t be provided.

Convenience: You unpack once; the ship carries you to your destinations. 

Activities: Depending on the ship, you can take classes in cooking, dancing, piano, and computers; you can go rock climbing, surfing, bowling, ice-skating, and even skydiving. Or you can lounge on a deck chair and watch the ocean, relishing the freedom of being cut off from the daily pressures of life back on land. Whenever we cruise, there’s always the feeling that something exciting is about to happen.

You can also check out Selena at Oh, the places you will go she as a lot about cruising the open seas! 

  

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST 

BLOGLOVIN | INSTAGRAM

Travel RoundUp

1. Norwegian Cruise Line’s new ship, The Breakaway, is well underway. Check out the cool picture they posted on their Facebook!

Norwegian Breakaway

2. Flight delay due to lack of XL pajamas in first class….very silly!

3. A stranded jet skier was able to climb over the fence at JFK International Airport, walk across two runways and into the Delta terminal before being noticed and arrested. Come on! He was just trying to get some help!

4. Check out the invisible helmet, an awesome invention these two Swedish girls thought up! Might be a little hot in the warmer climates

5. Ikea is getting into the hotel business! I think I would stay here if I was traveling in Europe, great way to let people test out their furniture too!

6. Singapore airlines was at the Galleria today letting people see their new Business Class seats! If this is Business Class I want to know what First Class looks like! I checked out how much it would cost for Business Class from Houston to Moscow and it was $7,000!!!