Why haven't more people gone on cruises? (camping, worst, train station)

[JnR]

Even though a cruise isn't the top vacation for me, I would like to do the inland passage cruise in Alaska. I have heard that is spectacular and not somewhere I would drive to and spend a week roaming around. So in that instance a cruise would be quite neat!

[BlueWillowPlate]

Originally Posted by JnR

Even though a cruise isn't the top vacation for me, I would like to do the inland passage cruise in Alaska. I have heard that is spectacular and not somewhere I would drive to and spend a week roaming around. So in that instance a cruise would be quite neat!

Yes, that sounds pretty cool, too. (Especially during a Florida summer!)
Nanannie, the cruise we went on was a family reunion, too, and it really did keep everyone happy. As you say, it kept the peace, because there was something for everyone to do, and it was nice to keep the kids busy, safe and occupied all at once.
Oregonrain, my father in law (rest his soul) was a diabetic, and he was able to accomodate his needs quite well on the cruise.
Now that I've said all this, I realize that I really shouldn't rule out ever doing a cruise again. I hope to be a grandma, some day, and a cruise might be just the thing to bring everyone together.

[Huckleberry3911948]

i used to cruise.
but now i just sit here and type on CD all day.

[brokencrayola]

Originally Posted by questioner2

Yes, more and more people are cruising than ever before but still the majority of people have not gone on a cruise. I wonder why. If you go on a low priced cruise that is on sale you can take a week long vacation for under $800 a week. It includes all the food you can eat that tastes pretty good and some great entertainment and many interesting ports of call.

If you have not been on a cruise, why not?

Moola$$$$ There are 6 of us. We would have to fly to wherever to get on a cruise and it just adds up to more money than we can afford. I would love to take my family on a cruise, especially a Disney Cruise since I have 4 children, but doubtful that will happen.

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by questioner2

Yes, more and more people are cruising than ever before but still the majority of people have not gone on a cruise. I wonder why. If you go on a low priced cruise that is on sale you can take a week long vacation for under $800 a week. It includes all the food you can eat that tastes pretty good and some great entertainment and many interesting ports of call.

If you have not been on a cruise, why not?

While I plan to perhaps go on a cruise once (to file it under "experience"), the whole idea doesn't appeal to me. Food and entertainment on the ship mean nothing to me. The visits of the ports of call are short. You have to be always rushing and be on schedule. If you go on some trip at the port of call or even if you just wander on your own, it's hard to predict how long it's gonna take you to get back to the ship, so that time is about cut in half if you don't wanna miss the boat. Yes, most of the cruise lines appear to have stringent rules. I don't go on vacation so somebody can tell me how to dress if I want to eat... Vacation to me is the time I wanna let my hair down. About the only positive I see is the ability to sample more places at once and make up your mind where you wanna go for a REAL vacation.

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by nitram

It's better than sitting in a rockin chair whittling your life away if you can manage to go. God Bless the old people who worked hard all their life and now have earned a chance to see some parts of the world before they leave us.

Not sure if it's true, but I remember reading that spending time on a cruise ship is less expensive than living in a nursing home... Good grief!

[115db]

Well, personally, I have no desire to. Im either a 'road trip' or a 'Southwest Air' kinda gal.

[nitram]

Originally Posted by JnR

Even though a cruise isn't the top vacation for me, I would like to do the inland passage cruise in Alaska. I have heard that is spectacular and not somewhere I would drive to and spend a week roaming around. So in that instance a cruise would be quite neat!

You'll love the Alaska Inside Passage cruise. They go in some instances to areas where no vehicles can travel.
The only drawback with any Alaska cruise is that it rains quite frequently. It's kinda like a craphoot and there are no refunds. The areas where the ships go get up to 240 inches of rain per year. One week it may rain all week and the next 2 it won't rain. May thru Sept is cruising time, with peak ideal periods being June-July.
We've been twice, the first time it rained everyday and all sightseiing trips were cancelled. The following year we went again and it was perfect weather the whole trip. The people working on the ship told us we were lucky as the week before it rained most of the cruise.
If you do go, be sure to take any of the seaplane or helicopter flights out over the glaciers and other areas of spectacular scenery.

[Lillietta]

Originally Posted by dgz

I enjoy traveling quite a bit, but I've never had any interest in cruises. For many years, I have been trying to get my family, scattered around the U.S. to do a vacation together. Finally, this year, everyone wants to do it... and what do they want to do: a cruise. ugh! So I'll be doing my first (and probably last) one in November in the Carribbean. As I learn more of the details for the upcoming cruise, I feel like my worse suspicions are being confirmed... It sounds like a floating 'shopping mall/casino/amusement park' on water, which has zero appeal to me. It makes a stop each day at a different port, and they have day tours, but these tours seem to go to the same few, heavily touristed destinations. I also found it interesting when reading cruise reviews that a lot of people ate most of their meals on the ship instead of in the cities/towns where they were visiting--and I'm not sure why they would chose this. But I'm going to try to enjoy the cruise and keep an open mind.

The one thing I will say was that the cruise I went on had some of the most deliciously prepared food I have ever eaten, the likes of which I know I will never have again.

[Lillietta]

Originally Posted by cil

Yes, that sounds pretty cool, too. (Especially during a Florida summer!)
Nanannie, the cruise we went on was a family reunion, too, and it really did keep everyone happy. As you say, it kept the peace, because there was something for everyone to do, and it was nice to keep the kids busy, safe and occupied all at once.
Oregonrain, my father in law (rest his soul) was a diabetic, and he was able to accomodate his needs quite well on the cruise.
Now that I've said all this, I realize that I really shouldn't rule out ever doing a cruise again. I hope to be a grandma, some day, and a cruise might be just the thing to bring everyone together.

[b][u][i] I will say cruises are good for family vacations for the sociability and also for elderly people. Perfect for them. If you are used to exploring on your own and in good physical condition, I think a cruise is not a good fit.