In my experience, you either love or hate cruising.  There’s so much to do, on and off the ship, but in a staged and confined environment.  You can cross multiple places off your bucket list and have good fun with no worries in the world.  However, you have a limited time in each destination and there isn’t a real opportunity to experience the true culture of the place you’re visiting.  Since there are pros and cons to choosing to go on a cruise or not, you have to decide what is most important to you.

CRUISE

YOU CAN VISIT MULTIPLE PLACES

This is probably the biggest pro for going on a cruise.  Not all cruises go to multiple destinations, but the ones that do give you an opportunity to get a taste of each city or country.

THE FOOD

Cruises are known for their amazing food. There are usually many types of cuisine and options for you to choose from for each meal.  Just be sure not to overdo it!

LOTS OF AMENITIES 

The beauty of cruising is that everything’s already done for you.  You want to go jet skiing? Go see the activities desk.  You feel like playing blackjack? Go to the casino.  You feel like lounging poolside with a cocktail?  Go to the pool deck.  There is literally something for everyone on a cruise.  And you’re able to enjoy all the amenities while sailing to your next destination.

THE PEOPLE

There are usually people from all walks of life on cruises.  If you’re in a couple or with a group of friends, expand the party and meet new people!  You never know, they may become friends and you can cruise the world together again.

NOT TO CRUISE

CAN BE EXPENSIVE

While the cost of your cruise has already been paid, you still have to pay for the little extras, which most of the time includes drinks.  These little costs can add up, whereas if you were go to an all-inclusive resort, you already know that most costs are included.

NOT MUCH TIME TO EXPLORE THE DESTINATION

Depending on the length of your cruise, you may not have that long to explore the city or country.  For example, a 4 or 5 day cruise going to 3 destinations, will only allow you to be in each destination from about 7 am to 5 pm.  Not a long time, right?  As I mentioned before, cruises are good for getting a taste of the port, but if you like to explore place in-depth, don’t look for that on a cruise.

MOTION SICKNESS

Not everyone gets motion sickness, but if you do, going on a cruise may not be the best vacation option for you.  You’ll spend most of your time in your room or in the infirmary.  There are medications you can bring with you to ease the sickness, but only risk it if you’re not risk averse.

LIMITED SPACE

No matter if you get a cabin or a suite with a balcony, there is still limited space on cruise ships.  If you’re claustrophobic, I’d think twice before booking.

As you can see, there are benefits to going on a cruise but they’re definitely not for everyone.  My advice would be to go on a 3-5 day cruise to for a trial run.  If you find that it was an enjoyable experience, you may have found a new way to vacation!

Photo Credit: Ashlee Tuck