6 myths about cruising that are wrong
There are a myriad of myths about cruising out there. Be it from bad experiences or rumors, people have developed their own mindset about cruising.
I never had any qualms about cruising but since we started, we have had a slew of friends and family that have needed convincing to join us. I remember having to convince Terry for our first cruise. It didn't take long but now I can't keep this guy off a cruise ship! We still have some friends and family that give us every excuse under the sun as to why they can't go. Here are some of those reasons and the answers I give in return.
Myth #1...
ships are crowded.
Yes, cruise ships can be crowded. But that is the way they are built. They are traveling, floating small towns varying in size from about 500 people on the luxury yachts to over 5000 people on the super ships. No matter how big the ship though, I never find them to be super crowded. I have always been able to find a quiet spot on any of the decks.
There are moments during cruises however that can trigger claustrophobia. These are embarkation (boarding the ship), the mandatory safety drills, and debarkation (leaving the ship). Feel free to avoid any other events that take place on the ship, if that's not your jam.
Some cruise lines now have specialized services that allow guests to bypass the crazy boarding and unboarding of the ship, private decks, private courtyards, and more. These services can make cruising as private as possible.
Myth #2...
the rooms are tiny.
This is both wrong and true, depending on the cruise line and the ship. But nowadays, cruise lines are doing everything in their power to make their ships feel as big as some hotel resorts. And, that is basically what I equate all the rooms to. There are small hotel rooms with just the basics and there are super elaborate hotel rooms with butlers and private concierges. The same is for cruise ships.
The smallest of interior rooms still have enough space for most people. And to put this into perspective, my family of five shared an interior room when my kids were 9, 12, and 14. It was tight but completely doable. Now, don't get me wrong, suites are awesome. With all their amenities, you can feel like royalty.
So the moral of this story is to book a room as big as what you can afford and as small as you can tolerate.
Myth #3...
I'll get seasick
Not everyone gets sea sick, but for those of us that do, it can ruin a vacation very quickly. Seasickness symptoms can vary from person to person. Symptoms usually include headaches, nausea, and dizziness.
And most people that have never cruised, don't know if they will even succumb to it or not. It is usually hit or miss with me, but my youngest gets sea sick every single trip. My advice is to take the medicine with you just to be on the safe side. There are several different types of medication, from patches to pills. Just know that some of them cause drowsiness.
I say don't let a cruising opportunity pass you by because you are afraid of getting sea sick. There are plenty of experienced cruisers that do get sea sick, but they don't let it stop them from having a good time. Seasickness is something that is totally manageable.
Myth #4...
I hate buffets.
As a chef, I personally have nothing against buffets. But I know several that can't stand the sight of a buffet. Some are germaphobic, some think the food is just bad quality. But that isn't necessarily the case with some cruise ships!
These days, cruise ships are offering some really good food on their buffets. From different cuisines to healthy options, to pasta stations and stir fry stations.
But if going to the buffet is still not appealing to you, there are so many different options available on ships that you would never even need to go to the buffet. There are the main restaurants, specialty restaurants, not to mention room service.
Myth #5...
I don't want to hang out with strangers
Just like I said before on the topic of crowds, you don't have to associate with others on cruise ships, unless you want to. If you don't want to have dinner at a table with others, request a table for just your party. If you don't want to go to the deck parties or games, you don't have to. Just check the daily activity calendar, see what exactly is being offered and decide whether or not you want to participate. It's that easy.
Myth #6...
only in port a few hours, so it's not worth it.
This is so not true. There is so much to do in the time in port. Time in port is usually anywhere between 6 to 9 hours. And some cruise lines are now offering extended port times or even overnights in port.
I like that I don't get to see everything while in port. It gives me a reason to come back! In every port that we have ever gone to, we have been able to do all the excursions or sight seeing that we have wanted to do. All this includes seeing historic sights (we are huge fans of the Mayan culture), eating like a local, or doing something adventurous like hiking in the rain forest, zip lining, or riding horses on the beach.
cruising myths