8 Cruise Myths

8 Cruise Myths!

By Jen Campbell of escape destinations travel

I honestly didn’t know cruises until I first cruised on an “All Girls Cruise” on board Royal Caribbean’s Enchantment of the Seas, with my mom and 2 sisters a few years back.  Many of these misconceptions I thought were true (simply because I didn’t know better) but boy have I proved them wrong now.

I speak to many people about cruising (which I love) and they share why they won’t cruise, so I thought I’d dispel some of these most common cruise misconceptions.

1. It'd be Way Too Claustrophobic-
Today’s ships are amazing and have tons of rooms. They’re like mini floating cities, not like a herd of buffalo being shipped from one activity to the next. While the staterooms can be cozy, if you can afford a suite, they’re fabulous and worth a few extra dollars. They ships have great décor, awesome architecture and lots of space.

2. Boring & Nothing to Do-
Do you like to eat? If so there’s tons of food and great fruity drinks to partake in. There are practically 24/7 buffets and wonderful sit down restaurants and eateries.

Entertainment is a staple on the ships and there’s constantly activities going on, from shows to demonstrations, activities to join, things to do like ice skating at sea, mini golf, pools, boxing, surfing, relaxing poolside, hot tubs, dancing, clubbing, karaoke, bingo, fun meet and greets, cocktail receptions, and the list goes on and on.

3. Too Formal -
Many years ago the cruise attire was more formal, but not anymore. You can wear what you want and choose to not dress up on formal nights, or simply eat in a casual restaurant that evening.  It’s up to you, you can choose! Don’t worry about packing a tux and tie, or prom dress, you can dress up or dress down.

4. I’ll get Seasick-
Hey, we’re not talking the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria!  Many of the latest ships offer stabilizers that will keep the ship running smooth in rougher waters.  They are built to last and keep you  smooth sailing, regardless of the weather. If you’re still concerned, wear the patch (placed behind your ear, which is what I do each trip) or even get over the counter sea sick medicine (bonine) to take if you start to feel badly.

5. It’s Full of Only Old People-
Nah! I have been cruising for years and am in my early 40’s and can tell you the crowd is a good mix of old and young! Some cruise lines cater to the very young crowd, offering big names like Nickelodeon, the Smurfs and of course Disney Cruise Lines! There’s lots of millennial travelers with hip music, shorter theater shows and even mixology bars.  There is something for all ages.

6. I’ll Gain Weight-
Wait a minute, what about self-control! If you’re worried about eating too much food, put the fork down. Only you can control how much you choose to eat. Seriously though, on the ships there are so many healthy options to choose from. Surprisingly, I eat healthier when I am on the ship than when I am land-locked. Don’t get me wrong, there’s steak and lobster and tons of yummy desserts, but also salads that are awesome and lean cuts of meat and fresh fish.

They always have a gym-offered for free, if you feel you MUST workout while on vacation! I prefer to take it easy and enjoy my vacation, so you won’t see me darken the gym doors while on a cruise vacation.

7. It's Too Tight and Regimented-
Think of Norwegian Freestyle Cruising.  You can do what you want when you want to, eat when you want and do whatever you’d like, no schedule is necessary….you can truly relax!

8. It Costs Too Much Money-
This one always gets me!  I thought it was too expensive, but think of all you get for one set price: a room, all you can eat, unlimited entertainment, seeing exotic locations all packaged into one rate. Many years ago (say 20) a short voyage on Monarch of the Seas, would set you back $2300 for two people to set sail on Royal Caribbean’s ship. Right now the comparable ship, Majesty of the Seas would cost you just $280 for nearly the same itinerary.

Think of how much it would cost you to spend a week at the beach in the Caribbean. You’d have to fly there, then shell out for food, lodging, transportation, entertainment, etc. These things can all add up very, very quickly…cruising is the most economical way to go!  If you're budget conscious, you can even have the entire vacation paid off ahead of time (which is how I prefer to vacation)!

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