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Common cruise myths

Marian Krueger

Considering how few Americans have cruised, I always find the objections or myths about cruising interesting.  As someone who loves cruising, I recommend it as a vacation option to people, even those who often instantly dismiss to the thought of a cruise.  Before you object to a cruise completely, read these common cruise myths below.

  1. It’s too expensive: You might be surprised at the actual cost of cruising.  When you consider that your cruise fare includes your accommodations, food, and entertainment, it is not only affordable, but also cost effective.  Priced against an all-inclusive resort, cruises are an excellent overall value and besides, you end up in a different location when you wake up in the morning.  You can’t say that about a resort!
  2. Only old people cruise: This is easily the biggest misconception about cruising.  While older people may like to cruise, guess what? So do younger people.  There are several factors to consider when choosing a cruise such as time of year, itinerary, length of cruise, and of course, cruise line.  While some cruise lines may have an older clientele, every single cruise is unique because the guests are different on every cruise.  Your best bet is to research the cruise lines and find one that is a good fit for you in every way before you board the ship.  That way there are no surprises waiting for you.
  3. There’ll be too many people drinking on the ship: Again, with a little research you’ll discover which cruise lines appeal to what audience.  While some cruise lines advertise themselves as party ships, others don’t.  If you don’t want to be surrounded by what might otherwise be described as a frat party gone bad, choose a cruise line and cruise ship with activities on board that offer more than drinking by the pool.
  4. Carnival FreedomThere won’t be enough to do/I’ll get bored: Some people enjoy a cruise vacation where all they have to do is get up and go lay by the pool all day.  If this isn’t you, fear not.  Many of the major cruise lines offer enrichment programs of some kind during a cruise.  Whether it’s a lecture about history, art, or music or even a computer class, you won’t have to worry about your brain turning to mush while you cruise.
  5. I’ll gain weight: Rid your mind of cruises that offer endless buffets and nonstop eating.  While buffets do still exist on cruises, it doesn’t mean you have to eat there.  In addition to dining in the main dining room or even room service, most cruise ships also offer alternative specialty dining options.  You’ll always find healthier options noted on the menus as well.  You can always try eating healthy all day and then maybe picking one meal to splurge on and if you do, you definitely won’t find yourself on that slippery slope of gaining weight.  Sandwich in a visit to the gym and you’ve ensured a healthy and less stressful vacation for yourself.
  6. It’s not safe: Despite what you may have heard in the news, cruising is safe.  While norovirus has occurred on cruise ships, it also occurs on dry land as well.  People are not regularly falling off cruise ships at alarming numbers and the number of accidents on board in the past ten years is actually quite small.  Lastly, the number of ships with mechanical issues or failure or worse has been so few that the issues that have occurred don’t fairly represent the cruise industry as a while.  While there have been situations like these on cruise ships, they aren’t big enough to warrant enough concern for you to logically discount cruising as a vacation option.

Now that you’ve seen a different side to these common cruise myths, do you think you might take a cruise?  Why or why not?