What could be done to improve your next cruise?

Yes, reprimand accepted Patrick. I hope others can tell you what it’s actually like out there.

Which? isn’t having much luck with this Conversation so far. At a time when most people are more interested in reporting their mobile phone signal problems this one is still stuck in port and the dyspeptic regulars are looking for something to gripe/write about.

Having done plenty of both, we don’t see much difference between a cruise and a resort holiday in a good hotel, except the range of places visited is greater on a cruise which means that unpacking once but seeing a lot more is an advantage.

There is a limit to what you can do on a port call except tick off another destination and see some popular sights, whereas on a fortnight’s resort holiday there is much more opportunity to get to know the area, travel out to other places, and sample other establishments, but neither can compare with city holidays in my opinion. For those who just want the sun and sea air and the ‘all inclusive’ style of holiday a cruise and a resort holiday are quite comparable. Some people on cruises never leave the ship – or just walk round the docks – so that they can have their four meals a day, have a pampering session, sit or lie around and just relax; some put all their energy into the evenings or just watch the world go by.

You get good lectures and experiences on some cruises that you would never get in a hotel and there is a wide range of [expensive] excursions at every port which can be quite enjoyable, but a lot of it is just “filling time”. Taking your own boat or yacht to different places can be more exciting but you are stuck with your own company, it involves more work, and is more like a caravan or canal barge holiday than anything else – I am glad I did those things but they were for younger times.

Twenty years ago cruises were still largely traditional, quite formal, and rather pretentious. The construction of much bigger vessels changed everything [except with Cunard] but not always for the better. Bigger ships meant bigger crowds and more pressure on the staff and facilities. We found that our natural comfortable limit was a passenger capacity of 1,500-2,000. Much more than most resort hotels so more uniform and anonymous, but able to put on a much wider range of experiences and variety of through-the-day entertainment [and generally of higher quality], but small enough to have a warm and friendly atmosphere. Our preference was for grown-ups only cruises but whenever there were young children and teenagers on board they didn’t seem to be a problem and there were plenty of activities for them in their own zones. We never went on any of the bigger cruise ships that are more like floating blocks of flats and pleasure beach affairs. We always had a suite with our own balcony so that we could just have time to ourselves. We often had breakfast in our room to avoid the “canteen experience” in the morning.

It is now five years since we went on a cruise because, like many aspects of life, it lost its appeal. We have never been ones for ticking boxes and having a bucket list so there are no unfulfilled dreams but, more by accident than design, we have been on some incredible and memorable holidays aboard ships and have few regrets. If anything has made us fed up, to a large extent it’s the other people; on a big ship there are too many of them, and on a small ship there are too few and you can get stuck with some pretty lack-lustre or boring types [he says snobbishly].

The growth of fly-cruises has made a big difference and greatly reduced the boring-days-at-sea problem. It used to take four days of sailing to get into the Mediterranean but now you can join the ship in Barcelona or Venice or other ports and have more time in the sun and enjoy the delights of southern Europe, the middle east and north Africa. Dressing up for dinner is no longer obligatory as there is a good choice of dining options on most ships and even on sea days when the dress code is ‘formal’ it is not so rigid as it used to be. On most ships there is now a more relaxed approach to dining so you can choose your own time every day, don’t have to sit at the same table every night or even have to eat in the same restaurant, and [most importantly] you don’t have to be stuck with the same people throughout the cruise. Compulsory gratuity deductions are no longer universal and with many cruise lines it is simple to opt out.

On modern ships, the motion of the ocean is almost imperceptible and speeds are often low as the distances to the next port are often not great so an overnight passage is quite calm. The only time we experienced really rough seas was when going round Cape Horn but that was to be expected and part of the thrill of the voyage – and it was compensated for by five magical days of extremely calm cruising in Antactica at no more than 5 knots [for environmental protection reasons].

So there you have it. I think there is something for everyone with cruises but I can understand people’s reservations although on balance I don’t see them as much different to other relaxation holidays. If you want adventure, excitement, cultural immersion, and freedom to go where and whenever you want, a cruise is not for you.

We have never been on a river cruise. Does anyone have any experience they could impart? Our feeling is that they could be a bit claustrophobic and restrictive.

In our experience you need to book early to get the best accommodation according to your budget; that can be more important than the price.

Many “British” ships also sail from Mediterranean and other ports without the distractions mentioned by Patrick. By “British” I mean ships that cater principally for UK residents even if they have foreign ownership or registration. American cruise ships are similar and do many things the “British” way.

Many thanks to all who have contributed to this edifying Conversation.
You’ve confirmed my worst fears.

Regarding Cruises my wife and I love them and have been on over a dozen to a different parts of the world every time, They are expensive and will add many extras to your bill if you are not careful, we very rarely book organised trips and get off the boat and explore using local transport or walking, people worry about rough seas and being ill on board but in all our cruises the worst weather we have experienced has been in the Med. and the English Channel, We have crossed the Atlantic several times and it has always been like a mill pond so perhaps we have been lucky, There is no doubt that travel broadens the mind and alters your view on life as we have no conception how other people live until you meet them and see the other side of the coin, the ships can vary a great deal even when run by the same company and so can the food but overall anyone can find something to eat and allergies, vegetarian and vegan food are catered for provided that you let them know and the entertainment surely must suit all as there are, Films, Shows, talks and plenty of books to read and if you are very active all ships have pools, exercise tracks and gyms and some even have climbing walls and ice rinks so how you could be bored on a ship is beyond me.
For us a cruise is the only way to go but it can be a hassle if you have to fly out to pick up the ship at a distant port as you have the luggage weight restriction for the plane but the ship has a laundry and take easycare clothing that will wash and dry easily as some parts of the world the humidity is so high that you change clothes several limes a day – anyway happy cruising and enjoy the experience.