Can the Cruise Industry survive ?

[Seevee]

I really hope the industry survives, just don't need a big failure that will affect so many folks.


I'm not a cruiser at all. Did one, never again. Don't like being captive on someone elses boat when I have zero choices and crowded in with thousands of other people. Don't like crowds and meals prepared for the masses absolutely suck.



Why the hell would anyone with their own boat want to go on a cruise?

[CaptTom]

Originally Posted by Seevee

I'm not a cruiser at all. Did one, never again. Don't like being captive on someone elses boat when I have zero choices and crowded in with thousands of other people. Don't like crowds and meals prepared for the masses absolutely suck.

I haven't been on a cruise ship in a while, but I have a different perspective. You certainly have choices on a cruise ship. It's only crowded if you like to frequent the "popular" places, like the pool deck in the daytime, or the bars and casinos at night. We like to be on deck under the stars at night, and down below or ashore during the day. We hate crowds too.

For me, any meals I don't have to cook are good. If your standards are higher, there are other options on these ships.

Originally Posted by Seevee

Why the hell would anyone with their own boat want to go on a cruise?

For a change. It's like asking why anyone who owns a house would go to a resort hotel.

[smitty477]

Originally Posted by Seevee

I really hope the industry survives, just don't need a big failure that will affect so many folks.


I'm not a cruiser at all. Did one, never again. Don't like being captive on someone elses boat when I have zero choices and crowded in with thousands of other people. Don't like crowds and meals prepared for the masses absolutely suck.



Why the hell would anyone with their own boat want to go on a cruise?

"Why the hell would anyone with their own boat want to go on a cruise?"
I can think of a few....
- when visiting places that are 100's or 1,000's of miles away
- when traveling with extended family and friends
- when going to places that the 'little' boat might not be safe/preferred

[Benthic2]

Originally Posted by Seevee

Why the hell would anyone with their own boat want to go on a cruise?

Entertainment Density.

Where else can you have a movie theater, a live comic, a live band with singers and dancers, a casino, a driving range, skeet shooting, multiple pools and more within 800 feet of you. Add in unlimited food, no dishes to wash, someone to make your bed and the chance to see some foreign ports and its hard to beat a cruise for entertainment options per dollar.

You can always minimize the crowds and costs by going in the off season when ships are generally only half full, and prices are considerably lower.

[Hippocampus]

Believe the idea of travel is to not bring your house and culture with you. At present if you take a Caribbean cruise you might as well go to Vegas , Miami Beach or Disney. Even if not by personal yacht but a hotel, resort or B&B there’s a chance you will contribute to local businesses and might even interact with local people in their not your culture. The tourist traps sell Knick knacks made in south east Asia or China not locally. The alcohol comes from international firms. Cruise ship people eat on the ship when possible not local non chain restaurants. Tours go through the cruise ship company and even most transportation. As a cruiser have talked to local car and taxi folks. Even they don’t like cruise ships. Going on a cruise ship is like putting on a virtual reality headset with the added risk of infection and pleasure of contributing to a ecological disaster. So yes I don’t like cruise ships. Also not too keen on a fair number of charter boat companies and charterers.

[rslifkin]

Originally Posted by Hippocampus

Believe the idea of travel is to not bring your house and culture with you. At present if you take a Caribbean cruise you might as well go to Vegas , Miami Beach or Disney. Even if not by personal yacht but a hotel, resort or B&B there’s a chance you will contribute to local businesses and might even interact with local people in their not your culture. The tourist traps sell Knick knacks made in south east Asia or China not locally. The alcohol comes from international firms. Cruise ship people eat on the ship when possible not local non chain restaurants. Tours go through the cruise ship company and even most transportation. As a cruiser have talked to local car and taxi folks. Even they don’t like cruise ships. Going on a cruise ship is like putting on a virtual reality headset with the added risk of infection and pleasure of contributing to a ecological disaster. So yes I don’t like cruise ships. Also not too keen on a fair number of charter boat companies and charterers.

Agreed. I can think of a lot better ways to spend money on a vacation than a week on a large ship where they're trying to make it as much like I'm not on a boat as possible (save for the view outside).

[smitty477]

Originally Posted by Hippocampus

Believe the idea of travel is to not bring your house and culture with you. At present if you take a Caribbean cruise you might as well go to Vegas , Miami Beach or Disney. Even if not by personal yacht but a hotel, resort or B&B there’s a chance you will contribute to local businesses and might even interact with local people in their not your culture. The tourist traps sell Knick knacks made in south east Asia or China not locally. The alcohol comes from international firms. Cruise ship people eat on the ship when possible not local non chain restaurants. Tours go through the cruise ship company and even most transportation. As a cruiser have talked to local car and taxi folks. Even they don’t like cruise ships. Going on a cruise ship is like putting on a virtual reality headset with the added risk of infection and pleasure of contributing to a ecological disaster. So yes I don’t like cruise ships. Also not too keen on a fair number of charter boat companies and charterers.

Which cruise or cruises made you feel like this?

[koliver]

It is all in how you define cruising.
If it includes all the things specified above, which you will find in all of the giant cruise ships, then there is little to recommend it to many of this audience.
Personally, I am with those who say "you won't catch me on a cruise ship".

OTOH, we enjoy cruise ships that have restricted themselves to the things we enjoy. Where there are no: Huge numbers of passengers, Casinos, Ship photographers, smoking, passengers under 18. And where you have the choice to prepay (included in your initial price) for: drinks, most shore excursions, tipping. That way surprises are few.

[backinblue]

Never been on a big cruise ship and likely never will, just doesn't appeal to me. I did just return from a small boat "adventure cruise" with Uncruise.com in SE AK. So the question of why go on a cruise if you own a boat, it was to experience places that I couldn't on my own boat. Food was better than expected and the whole experience was very boat and nature centric. I know that's not at all the case on a huge ship. But I don't fault people who want to spend their vacation that way. The experience is not that unlike going to a big hotel or resort somewhere.

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
We went on a 5 day Yangtze River cruise. Experience and scenery was outstanding BUT the menu was European/North American and sucked, big time. Lasagna for dinner???? In the heart of China? Locked through at the Three Gorges Dam-WOW! Still worth it IMO.

[HTurner]

If your going to cruise... at least do something different:


https://www.starclippers.com/us-dom/


https://www.seafarercruises.com/cruises/tall-ships/

[CaptTom]

Originally Posted by Hippocampus

Believe the idea of travel is to not bring your house and culture with you...

This is a good point. I always try to wander away from the crowds, and mostly avoid the packaged "shore excursions" unless it's something very specific I want to do or see.


Far better to walk away from the pier until there are no other passengers around, then start exploring. Sometimes you can hail a local cab right from the cruise ship terminal and get a personalized tour. And of course if you're going to eat ashore, make sure it's a place the locals go to, not some place the cruise line partners with.


I live in a tourist town. I have very little interest in seeing the same thing when I go somewhere else.

[AlaskaProf]

Originally Posted by HTurner

If your going to cruise... at least do something different:

Huh...now that you mention it, there is a cruise ship I can recommend.

All inclusive...no casino.

[slowgoesit]

Or this:


https://www.freightercruises.com/passenger_stories.php


This is something I've always been interested in. Scot

[AlaskaProf]

Originally Posted by slowgoesit

or this:


https://www.freightercruises.com/passenger_stories.php


this is something i've always been interested in. Scot

btdt

[AlaskaProf]

I think this is a pretty good summary of the state of affairs.

[Art]

End of August... We're going on a 10 day cruise in Alaska. First one for us... maybe the last!!?? Linda set it up; I just listened and quietly succumbed. We are going with friends. And, the booking agent [whose been doing this for a long time] is in our social group aboard. Guess she feels this is the best bang for the buck. She ought to know...We shall see!

[backinblue]

Originally Posted by Art

End of August... We're going on a 10 day cruise in Alaska. First one for us... maybe the last!!?? Linda set it up; I just listened and quietly succumbed. We are going with friends. And, the booking agent [whose been doing this for a long time] is in our social group aboard. Guess she feels this is the best bang for the buck. She ought to know...We shall see!

I suppose a big cruise ship Art? What part of AK? I just returned from a very small boat cruise out of Juneau. Happy to share my experiences and advice if it's relevant to your upcoming trip. Don't feel bad, embrace it and enjoy it!

[Art]

Originally Posted by backinblue

I suppose a big cruise ship Art? What part of AK? I just returned from a very small boat cruise out of Juneau. Happy to share my experiences and advice if it's relevant to your upcoming trip. Don't feel bad, embrace it and enjoy it!

Thanks for input. Big boat from what I understand. Itinerary is as per Linda's choice. My biz lap top is coming with. I've much biz going on now and well past that period. Sure that I will enjoy it... overall. May post outcome after cruise. May not!

[backinblue]

My laptop always comes with me. Gives me something to do for a couple hours in the early morning while she's sleeping in. If you care to post something about your itinerary, myself and others more knowledgable than me here may have a few tips for you. Anyway, have a good trip and let us know how it goes, and of course pics are always good.