Pros and Cons of Cruise Vacations

Advantages of Cruises for Couples

In my experience when it comes to cruise vacations people seem to either love them or hate them. For my family they have been a vacation option since I was a little girl. My parents are huge cruise lovers and are those people that always seem to have at least 2 booked at any given point in time. But a cruise may not be the right vacation for everyone. So I am sharing my lists of the pros and cons of cruise vacations.

Pros of Cruises: Why we love them

There are a lot of reasons to love a cruise vacation. For us I can boil the list down to 5 key areas but feel free to add more in the comments.

• Multiple Cities/Ports on One Vacation: If you are the type that likes a vacation that hits a lot of different places. Or if you don’t want to just sit at a singular resort than a cruise vacation might be right for you. Depending on length of trip, you are likely going to hit multiple ports and can get a mix of destination types in one trip.

• Unpack Once No Matter the Number of Ports: As someone that likes to mix up a vacation with different activities and destinations, the downside of that is having to pack and unpack and change locations. On a cruise, no matter how many ports you visit your stuff comes with you. So on day 1 you get to unpack and not have to touch a suitcase till it is time to leave.
  

• Cruise Lines/Activities for Any Vibe: With the number of cruise lines out there, you can find the ship that fits your vibe. As a dual income no kids couple, we tend to favor the ships that are aimed more at older cruisers and less the family oriented ships. But that’s just us. If you are looking for a great family vacation there are plenty of ships designed with kids in mind. I have several friends that take family cruises every year and their kids love them! And no matter the ship vibe, there are always activities being offered for all ages and interests.
  
  

• All Inclusive Options: Most cruise lines now offer an all-inclusive option or add-on options to cover things like beverages, wi-fi, tips, etc. This means that once you plan and pay for your trip there may be very little additional dollars needed once actually traveling (although you will have lots of opportunities to spend). We love to have a Wi-Fi package to stay in touch with family and friends (and work) as well as a beverage package. But by working with a travel agent or cruise line agent they can help you plan the right package for your needs and budget. As someone that has done the all-inclusive beach resorts as well, I think you get more for your money on a cruise in many cases.

• Staff and Guest Relationships: Since you are on a floating city for a period of time you have an opportunity to meet lots of people. Both fellow guests and staff become regulars in your day-to-day on a cruise and can really add to your experience. They also will help with any and all specific needs or accommodations. For example, have food allergies? The dinning staff are more than able to accommodate with the right notice.

Con of Cruising: Why it might not be for you

While I am a cruiser for life, I do appreciate it might not be for everyone. And there are some potential downsides, but I would argue many of the cons hold true for any vacation. Let’s look at a few of those:

Motion-sickness: If we are talking cruise vacations, I must address the potential for sea sickness. A couple of things to note here though, one if you don’t get sea sick on a small boat you should be fine on a cruise ship. Unless the weather is really bad, the motion of a large vessel, especially the newer ships, is very limited. There also are plenty of medications and tools that can help alleviate motion sickness.

• Bad Weather Can Make for Rough Seas: As much as cruise lines are always tracking weather they can’t control it. Most cruise lines plan their schedules around the best seasons to be increase the chance of good weather but mother nature does have her own mind. But any vacation runs the risk of having bad weather impact it and on a cruise ship there are lots of indoor activities to be had.

• Limited Time in A Destination: Depending on the itinerary you choose; you may hit some amazing cities and ports but usually only have at most 1 day to explore. That means for some places you won’t get to see and do everything. But it is a good way to figure out places that you would want to spend a whole trip at.

Strict Schedule for Arrivals and Departures: Along the same lines as the limited time at any given destination. There is also the very specific departure and arrivals dates and times. This means it is important to plan your arrival to the departure port well to account for travel delays. The ship won’t typically wait for guests (unless it is a cruise sponsored tour or transfer for a lot of people). And missing the ship can mean a lot of extra money to sort it out.

Final Thoughts on the Pros and Cons of Cruise Vacations

Hubby and I love a cruise for the variety of activities, food and wine, entertainment, and destination options. Plus, we love being near the water so going by boat is huge for us! They also offer a lot of options for groups where one ship can offer enough variety to appeal to large groups of people. You also can do as much or as little as you would like. And can change that level of activity each day if you want.

I know some people have a fear of cruises, especially following the pandemic and the news stories of people being quarantined or sent home. Like all of us, the cruise lines learned a lot from that time and to me, there is no more risk than most other resorts or trips. As someone that has gotten sick just from commuting to work, it is just something to be aware of and take precautions as needed.

But with all that said, I for one cannot recommend cruises enough. And really suggest doing some research into the various lines and options to see if it fits your next vacation needs. You might be pleasantly surprised!