Are cruises worth it? Here are the pros and cons of cruises 2024

Table Of Content

• Ability to see multiple places
• Alternatives to Consider
• The surprising takeaway from a recent study on the best time to cruise to Alaska
• Do I prefer trips that are heavily planned out in advance or left up to serendipity?
• You’re our first priority.Every time.
• Are Short Cruises Worth it? (Tried and Tested, Pros and Cons)

The world's biggest cruise ships, such as the Oasis-class vessels operated by Royal Caribbean, often sail with more than 6,000 passengers apiece. And that's not including the 2,000 or so crew members that are aboard the biggest cruise vessels. If you book one of these vessels, you could be sharing your vacation with more than 8,000 other people.

Ability to see multiple places

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Another important factor when determining if a cruise is the right fit for your vacation is making sure you pick the right cruise line for the type of experience you want to have. As you can see, there is plenty to do to keep you busy during the day. The good news is, there is just as much to do in the evenings. You’ll find something for everyone, from Broadway-style shows to movies under the stars, and even live music.

Alternatives to Consider

They'll often get to know your favorite drink or dessert and have it ready to go before you even say something. Often, these eateries and the dishes they offer have little to do with the destination to which you're sailing. But they do offer a lot of things that you probably know and love. Once at that next port, you'll get another eight hours to explore before needing to be back on board for the sailing to the next destination.

The surprising takeaway from a recent study on the best time to cruise to Alaska

The more forward planning you do the better the chance that you’ll be able to plan your cruises well and require the minimum amount of time off work. On the 3-night Celebrity cruise I took, I actually decided to book a balcony cabin. I am often in an inside cabin or outside if I am feeling lucky. It isn’t in the cruise line’s interest to have a ship empty for any period, so even if it is just a few days the ship will be filled and an itinerary sold. Packing light is not only a lot easier but it can also save you a lot of money.

If your budget allows, consider springing for an ocean-view cabin or one with a balcony. Small-Ship LuxurySeveral small ships do full world cruises or lengthy Grand Voyages. Silversea combines exotic, off-the-beaten-track destinations and classic favorites with ultra-luxury pampering. Often, distinguished speakers or celebrities are part of the enrichment programs. A bigger ship can offer more options, but it's more limited in its ports.

You Might Get Seasick on a Cruise

You’ll also have access to Wi-Fi, pools, live entertainment and other activities. As you can see, many of the positives of booking a cruise come from convenience. A cruise allows you to pay a single company, after which you’ll be able to enjoy your vacation. However, there are some benefits and assurances that come with booking your excursions through the cruise lines. One of the best things about cruising is that you get to meet new and interesting people. Whether it’s at the pool, at dinner, or around the ship it’s nice to talk with your fellow cruisers.

In some respects, cruises are very similar to group tours on land. You will be traveling for your entire voyage with one (very big) group of people, and you may find yourself in a group setting for some or all of your touring in ports. If you're sailing for a week in the Western Mediterranean, for instance, you'll probably get eight hours in Rome (after docking in the nearby port of Civitavecchia). If you're so blown away by the city that you want to stay over an extra night (and we bet you will be), you're out of luck.

Most cruise lines will provide a kid’s menu in the main dining room. The amount of entertainment onboard does vary by cruise line – but most cruise lines will have pretty busy schedules. The quality of food onboard cruises often far surpasses food that I have had in restaurants on land.

A Carnival cruise is known to be really affordable and fun for a family vacation. There are plenty of activities onboard the ship and tons of kids. Unless you’re doing a cruise with a ton of ports, cruising is a relaxing and stress-free vacation. Caribbean cruises are the best for relaxing and visiting some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. • Get American Express Cruise Privileges Program benefits when you book at least five nights with eligible cruise lines.

Also, check where the ship will dock; while small vessels can pull up close to a city, larger ones often have to seek out industrial ports farther away. This makes independent exploration more difficult and expensive. If you find yourself taking tours in each port because the ship isn't able to dock in the center of town, you'll quickly end up spending a small fortune. However, a surprising number dive straight in and book the full circumnavigation for their first vacation at sea. A better idea might be to spend a week or two cruising in Europe or the Caribbean to see if you like traveling by ship.

We designed these routes to highlight some of this country’s best sites and made a point to take all of the legwork out of planning an excellent vacation to see these wonders. We recently partnered with Stay22 to add interactive maps to each of our destination posts. This will allow you to see a plethora of hotels and vacation rentals all in one responsive map of the area.

With all meals included, you can enjoy good food daily without paying extra – if you choose not to. Granted, you’ll probably want to book a few excursions and maybe plan a dinner in one of the specialty restaurants. Still, when compared to a typical trip with three or four stops (or more), the details are much easier to manage. The itinerary is planned for you, the food is right there and you’ve got plenty of activities to keep everyone happy. When booking your cruise, just choose an itinerary that fits your preference in terms of how many stops it has compared to the number of “at sea” days.

For example, Celebrity Cruises has moved to a more inclusive pricing model to include unlimited drinks and internet. Certain loyalty programs will also include perks for returning cruisers to help mitigate the cost of cruise add-ons. You can also find sailings with overnight stays in certain ports, like Bermuda and the Holy Land. If you're worried about not having enough time, ask your travel agent to help you find sailings with overnight stays. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. Even on the most mass-market, lowest-cost cruises, you'll have a room attendant who is likely to get to know you by name and offer help with anything you need on board.

The ships repeat the same 7-night cruise over and over again for most of the year. For a 3/5 night cruise, it is very easy to cruise with just a small bag, especially since shorter cruises often don’t have formal nights. If you’re used to American cruise lines and are considering a British line or an Italian line a short cruise can be a great way to get a taste of the major differences. If you book a cruise which is 3 nights, particularly if it’s over the weekend there is a chance that you’ll find many birthday parties and people celebrating onboard. One of the main reasons why people look to book short cruises is because they are cheaper than longer cruises. Shop around Wi-Fi packages (if your cruise line includes one) because it takes many, many days to cross the ocean with few port stops.