This is a sponsored post for Marella Cruises.
Cruising is one of those holidays people tend to have strong opinions about, even when they’ve never actually been on one.
Then they finally try one.
Suddenly, they’re waking up somewhere new, ordering another cocktail by the pool and wondering why nobody mentioned that unpacking once is vastly better than dragging a suitcase around five different hotels.
Cruising won’t suit absolutely everyone, but many of its biggest supposed drawbacks are based on outdated ideas or understandable misconceptions…
1. “I’ll Feel Isolated on the Ship”
The idea of spending a day at sea can feel unfamiliar, especially if your usual holidays involve hiring a car and disappearing for the day. A cruise ship is much larger than a hotel, but you’re still out on the water between destinations.
Sea days are often one of the biggest surprises for first-time cruisers. They give you time to explore the ship properly, enjoy the pool, try different restaurants, watch a show or simply sit somewhere quiet with a book. Many experienced cruisers actively look for itineraries with more of them.
You don’t necessarily need to spend much time continuously at sea, either. Some cruise lines build their holidays around flights to destinations such as the Mediterranean, placing you right in the heart of the itinerary. On these port-intensive sailings, you could have the option to step ashore every single day, or close to it.
You may technically be on the same ship all week, but the view outside keeps changing.
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2. “I’ll Get Bored”
Cruise ships might offer bingo and quizzes, but that isn’t the full entertainment programme. Depending on the ship, you could find West End-style productions, live music, comedy, cinema screenings, sports facilities, cooking demonstrations, fitness classes and enough bars to conduct a very thorough research project.
The bigger surprise for many first-time cruisers is that they don’t have time to do everything. Activities overlap, shows compete with dinner and somebody in the group will inevitably suggest going for a drink just as you’re about to head somewhere else.
You can also ignore the daily schedule completely. There is no requirement to join a dance class, enter a trivia competition or make polite conversation around the pool. Doing absolutely nothing is a perfectly legitimate cruise activity.
3. “Cruises Are Only for Older People”
Cruising used to have a much stronger reputation for attracting retired travellers, and some ships and longer itineraries still appeal mainly to an older crowd. But it’s a misconception that every cruise attracts the same type of passenger.
There are ships designed for families, adults, couples, partygoers and travellers who mainly care about the destinations. Short cruises during the school holidays can feel completely different from a two-week sailing outside term time, even with the same cruise line.
Marella Cruises, for example, has both family-friendly and adults-only options. And the adults-only ones attract a range of ages too, not just retirees. That makes choosing the right ship and itinerary much more important than deciding whether cruising as a whole is “too old” for you.
Cruising doesn’t have one typical passenger any more. It has several thousand different ones, occasionally all trying to use the same lift.
4. “Cruise Food Is Just Endless Buffets”
There is usually a buffet, and it can be very useful when you want a quick breakfast or fancy constructing a lunch that makes no culinary sense whatsoever. But it is only one of your options.
Most ships also have main dining rooms with table service, casual cafés and speciality restaurants. Depending on the cruise, dinner might mean steak, sushi, Italian food or a multi-course meal rather than joining a queue with a plate in hand.
Cruise lines have also become much better at catering for dietary requirements, although it is always worth notifying them before you travel. Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and allergy-friendly choices vary between ships, but passengers are no longer expected to survive for a week on side salads and chips.
Many reluctant cruisers board expecting canteen food and leave talking about a particular dessert for several months.
5. “I Don’t Want to Dress Up Every Night”
You don’t have to spend every evening in a tuxedo or cocktail dress. Even on cruise lines that hold formal or dress-to-impress nights, these are generally limited to certain evenings and there are often more relaxed places to eat.
Dress codes also vary considerably. Some passengers love having an excuse to make an effort, while others put on a clean shirt and consider the job done. Both usually manage to enjoy their holiday.
You should still check the guidance for your particular ship because certain restaurants may have rules about shorts, swimwear or flip-flops. However, modern cruising is far more relaxed than its reputation suggests. Nobody is inspecting your outfit at the cabin door before allowing you out for the evening.
6. “I’ll Feel Seasick”
This is a genuine concern rather than an outdated stereotype. Seasickness does happen, and somebody who is particularly sensitive to motion may notice movement even when everyone else is insisting the ship feels perfectly still.
Modern cruise ships use stabilisers to reduce movement, and many people who expect to feel ill are surprised by how little they notice. Choosing a larger ship, booking a cabin low down and towards the middle, and avoiding notoriously rough routes can also help.
Remedies include tablets, patches and acupressure bands, although it is sensible to seek advice from a pharmacist or doctor about what is suitable for you. The onboard medical centre can help if you are struggling too.
Nobody can promise a completely motion-free cruise, but one bumpy ferry crossing in 1998 doesn’t necessarily mean you should permanently forego ships.
7. “There Will Be Too Many People”
Hearing that a ship carries several thousand passengers makes it sound as though everyone spends the week standing together in one enormous room. Fortunately, that is not how ships are designed.
It is also worth looking beyond the word “cruise ship”. A ship carrying around 2,000 passengers can feel very different from one designed for 6,000 or more. Some people love the incredible choice offered by the biggest ships, while others prefer something smaller and easier to navigate.
Passengers are also spread between pools, restaurants, bars, lounges, entertainment venues and the destinations ashore. Certain places become busy at predictable times, particularly the buffet after an excursion and the lifts when a theatre show finishes, but you quickly learn when and where to avoid the crowds.
Many ships have quieter lounges, adults-only areas or decks that never seem to attract as many passengers. Once you find your favourite spot, the ship often begins to feel much smaller and more familiar.
Crowds can still happen, especially when everyone wants breakfast or tries to leave the ship at once. It isn’t a floating private island, but nor does it feel like a week trapped in a festival queue.
8. “The Cabins Are Too Small”
Cruise cabins are compact. There is no point pretending an inside cabin is a sprawling suite simply because somebody has positioned the cushions nicely for the photographs.
However, they are generally designed to use the available space efficiently, with different storage options, wardrobes, drawers and plenty of mirrors. A balcony can make the room feel more open, but many passengers are perfectly happy without one because they use it mainly for sleeping, showering and attempting to remember where they put their cruise card.
It also helps that you only unpack once. Your cabin travels with you, so there is no repacking every couple of days or hauling suitcases between hotels.
If space really matters to you, then there are plenty of options for upgrading on any ship. But honestly, even the smaller inside cabins are big enough for most people.
9. “I Prefer Exploring Places Properly”
A few hours in port is not the same as spending a week immersed in one destination. That criticism is fair, and cruising shouldn’t pretend to replace every other form of travel.
What it does offer is an easy way to experience several places in one holiday. You could visit a historic city one day, spend the next on a beach and wake up beside a completely different island the following morning, all without changing hotels or wrestling your suitcase onto a train.
Port days can be as structured or independent as you want them to be. You can book an organised excursion, arrange a tour with a local operator or simply walk off the ship and explore.
Cruises are also useful for discovering where you would like to return. Not every destination needs a full week, while others earn themselves a much longer visit before you’ve even sailed away.
10. “Cruises Cost More Than They First Appear To”
Sometimes they do. A temptingly low fare can become much less tempting once drinks, gratuities, flights, transfers, WiFi, excursions and speciality meals have been added.
That doesn’t make cruising poor value, but it does mean you need to compare the whole holiday rather than the number in the biggest font. Check exactly what the fare includes, then estimate what you are likely to spend onboard. Somebody who rarely drinks will assess a package very differently from somebody planning to give the cocktail menu a determined effort.
This is an area where Marella Cruises keeps things straightforward. Its cruise holidays include flights, overseas airport transfers, tips and service charges, meals and a wide range of drinks as standard, making the overall cost easier to understand before you book.
There will still be optional extras, such as excursions, a premium drinks package and speciality restaurants. The difference is knowing which parts of the holiday you have already paid for.
Why So Many Sceptics Change Their Minds
Cruising suffers from the fact that it is difficult to understand until you have tried it. Photographs show the pools and restaurants, but they don’t quite capture the convenience of waking up somewhere new or the moment everyone else goes ashore and the ship suddenly feels like your own.
Choosing the right first cruise makes a huge difference. Think about the destinations, duration, ship, pace and type of passengers it is likely to attract rather than simply booking the cheapest option you can find.
You may discover that cruising genuinely isn’t for you. But plenty of people board their first ship armed with a list of reasons they won’t enjoy it, then return home browsing for the next one before they’ve finished unpacking.
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