First cruise experience not all it was cracked up to be.?

Question

Just got back from my first cruise. I was a little disappointed. I mean, it was fun and all but not as "great" as everyone said it would be. I did not find the food was "out of this world," I thought that the shows were okay but not outstanding, I felt pressured everywhere I went to buy drinks, I felt like I was avoiding drunks most of the time and I felt pressured to buy stuff that was not included in the original price. The service was okay, but nothing seemed to go above and beyond. I did very much enjoy the ports and the music, and the cabin was okay (had a balcony room) But I'm not sure if I will cruise again maybe its just not for me? Has anyone else had an experience like this? ( I will also add that I have traveled quite extensively but just never on a cruise)

Answer 1

My guess is that you didn't use an agent that took time to get to know your expectations and didn't give you the service you deserved by not giving you much advance information on what to expect aboard the ship.  My best guess is that the line you went on begins with a C.  I have been on over 20 cruises and yes, I have been on 2 cruises that had I not had other cruise experience, would have turned me off

from cruising.  I would suggest that since you did enjoy the ports and the music, book at least one more cruise.  Next time book with a cruise specialist, not a travel agent.  There are several excellent cruise specialist agency listings everywhere under a separate category of cruises as well as in the travel agency listings.  The cruise experience is usually what you expected, not what you got.

Sally B

Answer 2

Yes.  Just got back from a cruise around the Greek islands.  The islands themselves were fabulous and my husband and I will definitely go back to Greece in years to come...however, we will probably not go on a cruise ship again.  Our ship was old, small and our room painfully small.  We are not smokers and it was obvious the room had been smoked in and wasn't very clean.   The food was mediocre at best - and there was nothing to do aboard the boat.  It was merely a vessel transporting us to our destinations.  On some of the days, the crew was actually painting areas!  Overall, I would much rather travel by land then by sea!!

Answer 3

I've been on several cruise, and have never had the experiances you described.

Sounds to me like you picked the wrong ship and, perhaps, the wrong itinerary.

Carnival & Royal Caribbean both have top-notch dining, at least in the main dining room, and never "pressure" you to buy a drink.

If you are lounging by the pool, some one will come up and ask if you would like a drink, but that's their job.

Once you say no, they will respect that, most of the drink attendants seem to have very good memories for faces.

As to the drunks, again, neither my wife nor myself ever were bothered by a single one, and yes, my wife would be considered "attractive" by most people, and she went about by herself on mamy occasions.

I would strongly encourage you to try again, I would recommend an Eastern or Southern Caribbean route.

You can research the various cruise lines online, that may prove to be very helpful.

BTW, I book all my own vactions directly, online, and all a travel agent will do is charge more money for the same information you have literally right at your fingertips.

Answer 4

At least you didn't get raped. I saw a report recently on cruises and there's a huge number of rape cases, and many don't go reported as the cruise companies buy the victims off with gifts and free holidays.

Answer 5

Yeah I experienced the same thing. I went on my 1st cruise a few years ago, Carnival Destiny. The service was bad, the food was average to below average. The ship was very outdated and did not have a lot of activities, and everything was geared around you spending money. After that I was very reluctant to do another cruise, but I intend to give it another try, just not with carnival. My friends coerced me into trying again, so i have a royal caribbean cruise planned for this month. In doing research I've heard nothing but good things. Plus the ship has a ice skating rink and a movie theater. I am actually excited and intend to keep an open mind. Cruising isn't for everyone, but don't stop because of one bad cruise. Try a different cruise line, I think the service and amenities are what makes some lines better than others.

Answer 6

I guess it depends on what cruise line you took.  I went on a Carnival cruise many years ago...at the time it was a lot of fun.  But recently I've heard that Carnival is not all that great...there are other cruise lines that are much better (Celebrity, Royal Carribean, Norwegian).  I would love to go on another cruise, but I probably won't try Carnival again.

Answer 7

Yes, our first cruise last year (with Celebrity which supposedly has a good reputation) was not at all good

The agent we booked through went bust, but because we'd paid the deposit and could prove it Celebrity honoured the booking - but their administration left much to be desired and they didn't respond to letters - we moved and I informed them of the change of address but they ignored it - it was only by chance I found they were still addressing things to our old address

We got the tickets and information a matter of days before sailing, and it was only then we found out about the tipping policy - being a Brit where tipping is optional we were totally unprepared for the extortionate level of tipping expected

The cabin staff were ingratiating and devastated when they didn't get the level of tip they expected - but we're pensioners and just couldn't afford it and hadn't budgetted for it

I felt the whole time that the cruise line and their staff were treating us like cash cows ready to be milked

The dining room experience was miserable - we were placed with two rather racist couples and on the second night their comments to my (non-white) partner were beyond belief - so we opted right out of the dining room and went to the casual dining instead - also the speed of service in the main dining room was pathetic

The shore excursions were extortionate and not at all value for money so, again, we opted out of most of them

We enjoyed seeing the destinations (which mostly we did independently) and the comfort of seeing so many places we'd always wanted to see without having to sleep in different beds each night

There's no way I'd book one of the big commercial cruise lines ever again - although we are thinking of a specialist cruise, either to the north of Norway, north Greenland or Antarctica

Answer 8

Yes..you are right. Cruising is NOT for everyone. I book cruises all day long and get plenty of good and bad feedback.

I'm a beach person and love to park myself on the white sands of the beach...if that is what you like then maybe a cruise was not for you...

Answer 9

My sister and niece went on a cruise and said they'd never do it again.  They did not enjoy it.

Answer 10

Yes!  I have.  I went on a Celebrity cruise.  The cabin was supposed to be one of the best on board.  We had a  balcony, but the cabin itself is ridiculously tiny.  We found sneakers (evidently left by the last guests) under the bed, along with a dirty jacket.  The carpet was old, dirty and threadbare.  As you said, we were constantly asked to buy drinks, which were not included ( not even sodas!).  Days at sea are long and boring.  Disembarking and then embarking again at ports was chaotic and we had long lines getting off each time, because we always had to show our I.D. to prove we were registered on the ship.

Anyway,  I wouldn't go  on a cruise again.