Cruise pros & cons

How to know
if cruises are
your cup of tea

Not everyone likes cruises, but those who do are wild about them. Every year millions do it, and most are repeat customers. I candidly present some pros & cons to help you decide whether you are a cruiser at heart.

First, the cons

Less
exploration time

Most of your vacation time will be aboard the ship. You won't have much time on land to adequately absorb the local culture and everyday life.

Fewer
destination options

With a cruise, you are mainly limited to visiting coastal areas. Cruise ships cannot go inland. Cars, trains and planes can.

Lesser sense
of place

The fact that you are living on the ship instead of in town means you will gain a lesser sense of place. You will have fewer chances to interact with the local people and dine in their restaurants at night.

Now the pros

Value

A cruise is package priced. It includes room, dining, most entertainment, and a slew of extras. Most travelers spend less money on a cruise than they would on a land vacation of equivalent quality.

More relaxing

Cruise-ship life is less of a hassle than land tourism. There are fewer unexpected problems to solve. You don't have to spend long hours traveling between destinations in a cramped vehicle. And, families don't get into each other's hair as often because there are many interesting things for each family member to do.

Pampering

Cruise staffers pamper guests at a higher level than do hotel and other land-tourism personnel.

Food

The offerings may not be grand gourmet, but they are superior to what the typical traveler eats while on a land vacation.

Unpack once

You won't have to keep packing and unpacking as you move from one destination to another.

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©2010 HQP / Hillman Quality Publications