I feel I have to defend cruise ships a bit, as a good vacation option. We admittedly haven't been on the latest generation of mega-ships, but I think most of my observations will apply.
There's really something for everyone on a cruise ship, and overall the price is pretty good for a vacation where you wake up in a new place every day, or every few days.
My own tastes run contrary to the masses, so I have an advantage. During the day, the hordes are jostling for space on the sun decks and around the pools, working on their skin cancer. The interior spaces (all air-conditioned) are deserted. At night, the lemmings move to the casinos and bars, while the decks are clear for stargazing.
As for embarking and disembarking, it's no worse than going to the airport. Admittedly, that's not a good thing, just something to be endured. To minimize the aggravation, make sure you're never in a hurry. Arrive the night before and stay at a hotel near the port, preferably with a shuttle. Likewise, plan to leave town hours, if not a day, after the scheduled disembarkation. Stay in your cabin, or favorite bar, until the crowd thins.