Current Events > What's the point of going on a cruise?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Prices always seem ridiculous. Like, I could get a room for the weekend, go to a theme park, and catch a show for cheaper on land. Why would I want to be stuck on a ship and pay more?

fr? theyre actually pretty cheap when u factor in room&board, at least last i checked. i dont like cruises but its extremely easy to see why some ppl wanna get away. get a fresh change of scenery, get meals and drinks taken care of, get to exist in their own little world for a week while also getting to soak in the sights and experiences

Because they're actually kinda cheap for what you can get out of em. Or at least they used to be

So, now I'm finding some for pretty cheap. Last spring I was looking, and they were all a few thousand.

Theres a strong appeal if you like all-inclusives.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]


Depending on the cruise, this doesnt have to be the case.

It's the same as just staying at a regular hotel room, with increased chance of catching viruses and drowning.

Glob posted...

Depending on the cruise, this doesnt have to be the case.

Correct. My mom and sister went on one to the Bahamas and stopped off in a couple places for like 10 hours each time

Id go on Penelope cruise

The prices are pretty good if you avoid the Disney ones, aren't a drinker, and book it a year in advance.

Personally I would pay more for WiFi and a balcony room.

I'm not a cruise person but there's some appeal to being able to just make one decision and have the rest of your vacation "planned out" for you.

I never understood the point of a cruise, and never went on one, until we had a baby.

Before Covid, my wife and I would go on one 2-week international vacation a year, which cost around $10k-$15k. Between 2020 to 2022, we didn't go anywhere because of Covid... and 2022, my wife was pregnant, so we just did domestic trips. We're now itching to actually go somewhere further, but with a 15-month old, this seems impossible without everyone having a shitty time. Enter: Cruises.

We booked an 8-day cruise that goes to the Bahamas, and we booked a 2-floor loft suite for ~$14k total (with shore excursions) through Royal Caribbean. The 2-floor is critical, so that we can have our 15-month old in a crib on a whole different floor so we can continue to do our stuff when she's asleep (which was cheaper than a 2-bedroom 1-floor suite). This comes with a literal full-time butler that follows you around (royal genie), who will take care of our every need (from setting up dining in our own suite with waiter service and watching our child at night when daycare is closed while we go out do stuff, to something as small as cutting elevator lines), and our 15-month old will be in the "adventure ocean" daycare. During shore excursions, we just booked private areas in beach-fronts vs. what we would typically do on our vacations (hiking and touring), since we have a 15-month old with us.

While this is extravagant (since when people think of cruises, they think of cheap fun), this was the only way for us to relax and have our child with us, vs. traditional family vacations.

Drinking and fucking.

And for family cruises, the family aspect is to distract kids while their parents drink and fuck.

Get drunk on the high seas duh

seeing places in short time.

For familys theyre usually a lot more kid friendly since you can just dump your kid off in a daycare and enjoy your day.

everything you need and want can be found on the ship and once youre on board much of its free so they are a lot cheaper from that perspective. And land incursions are a thing if you want to go off
board and explore.

I havent gone on a cruise yet but Ive been researching it and very likely will next year.

To have fun and see new places.

IdiotMachine posted...

We booked an 8-day cruise that goes to the Bahamas, and we booked a 2-floor loft suite for ~$14k total

Lmao imagine building a pile of fourteen thousand dollars and then throwing a hand grenade at it.

I don't think these count, but my step dad once took us to Catalina Island, which didn't take very long and it was pretty fun.

I got to go whale watching once off Dana Point Harbor. Didn't see any whales unfortunately, but we had a good time anyway.

Took a boat trip around Lake Tahoe which was relaxing, and that lake is so pretty.

I'd never go on a ship or boat for more then a couple of hours tops.

Cruises are fun until theres a ship-wide listeria breakout.

Gobstoppers12 posted...

Lmao imagine building a pile of fourteen thousand dollars and then throwing a hand grenade at it.

Eh. Only choice from NJ port, since were not flying to FL or some other random state with a 15 month old.

The point is coming together as a species and furthering the evolution of bacteria in a floating Petri dish sharing it with each and every friendly town they call port at.

Gobstoppers12 posted...

Lmao imagine building a pile of fourteen thousand dollars and then throwing a hand grenade at it.

People who have more money available tend to spend more on luxuries. Its not that shocking. For some, thats a couple of months of take home wages.

Glob posted...

People who have more money available tend to spend more on luxuries. Its not that shocking. For some, thats a couple of months of take home wages.

Still seems like a hell of a way to burn $14k, even if you have it to spare. Hard to imagine eight days on a ship with some amenities and fancy dinners could ever be worth that much. It's just so temporary.

I don't mean to try to attack someone for how they like to spend their time/money, it's just shocking to me that people throw so much money into vacations.

I guess I never bought into the propaganda spread by travel agencies that say "the trip only lasts 8 days, but the memories last a lifetime ;D "

Gobstoppers12 posted...

Still seems like a hell of a way to burn $14k, even if you have it to spare. Hard to imagine eight days on a ship with some amenities and fancy dinners could ever be worth that much. It's just so temporary.

I don't mean to try to attack someone for how they like to spend their time/money, it's just shocking to me that people throw so much money into vacations.

I guess I never bought into the propaganda spread by travel agencies that say "the trip only lasts 8 days, but the memories last a lifetime ;D "

It all depends on what you value. Im not sure exactly what I spent on holidays last year, but it was definitely my biggest expenditure.

Gobstoppers12 posted...

Still seems like a hell of a way to burn $14k, even if you have it to spare. Hard to imagine eight days on a ship with some amenities and fancy dinners could ever be worth that much. It's just so temporary.

I don't mean to try to attack someone for how they like to spend their time/money, it's just shocking to me that people throw so much money into vacations.

I guess I never bought into the propaganda spread by travel agencies that say "the trip only lasts 8 days, but the memories last a lifetime ;D "

Did you even read the rest of my post.

Its a floating hotel room. You can visit a bunch of different places and kind of sample what you like and what you don't without getting trapped there without having to make a billion different arrangements.

Glob posted...

It all depends on what you value. Im not sure exactly what I spent on holidays last year, but it was definitely my biggest expenditure.

Yeah, that's what I mean, I'm not trying to shame anybody for how they choose to spend their money. I just don't get it. I truly don't see the appeal of spending over ten thousand dollars just to go to a different place and spend time with my friends/family when I could have just as much fun/just as many memories doing things locally with the same people for like 1/100th the price lol

Travel marketing never affected me in the slightest.

IdiotMachine posted...

Did you even read the rest of my post.

Yes. There's nothing on Earth that only lasts 8 days which I would find to be worth $14,000 no matter how luxurious it is lol

Gobstoppers12 posted...

Yeah, that's what I mean, I'm not trying to shame anybody for how they choose to spend their money. I just don't get it. I truly don't see the appeal of spending over ten thousand dollars just to go to a different place and spend time with my friends/family when I could have just as much fun/just as many memories doing things locally with the same people for like 1/100th the price lol

Travel marketing never affected me in the slightest.

I mean, you are a Trumper. I doubt you'll ever leave America or understand travel, I don't see any point in anyone explaining it to you or anything cultural really.

Gobstoppers12 posted...

Yes. There's nothing on Earth that only lasts 8 days which I would find to be worth $14,000 no matter how luxurious it is lol

I dont think you understand what having a toddler is like.

Well, the appeal is you pay however much money, and you get to spend the week on a floating resort. They have entertainment, food, gambling, buffets, pools, and food. And you don't have to *go* any where. I like visiting different cities and trying out new places, but there is so much driving. Being able to just chill and waltz up to a place sounds much more relaxing.

Blue_Target posted...

prices are pretty good if you avoid the Disney ones, aren't a drinker, and book it a year in advance.

I was looking up cruises a bit ago. This one (may apply to more) you get unlimited alcoholic drinks for 80 bucks a day. That adds up quick if it's a 5-day cruise...I don't know if I would enjoy drinking 400 bucks worth of booze in 5 days.

CoyoteTheGreat posted...

I mean, you are a Trumper

Used to be, anyway. Also, weird avenue of attack.

"You're a conservative so of course you don't like to travel or go on vacations."

Bruh if conservatives didn't like to go on vacations there wouldn't have been 10 travel agency/resort commercials per show on Fox News while I was watching it lol

Cruises are awful, but the appeal is that they are definitely cheap for what you get

keep in mind all food is included and that includes dinner which is typically sit-down all you can eat with things like steak and lobster

IdiotMachine posted...

I dont think you understand what having a toddler is like.

You don't have to go on a cruise and spend $14,000 to hire a babysitter lol

My family used to go on a lot of cruises when I was younger. They are certainly not for everybody, and not something I've felt the urge to do as an adult. However, I think there is a strong case to be made for taking at least one Caribbean or Greek cruise, so that you can get a sense of several islands on the same trip. Then, if you learn that you really liked one of them, you can spend more time just there, at a later date.

Gobstoppers12 posted...

Yeah, that's what I mean, I'm not trying to shame anybody for how they choose to spend their money. I just don't get it. I truly don't see the appeal of spending over ten thousand dollars just to go to a different place and spend time with my friends/family when I could have just as much fun/just as many memories doing things locally with the same people for like 1/100th the price lol

Travel marketing never affected me in the slightest.

I wouldnt say its travel marketing that makes me want to travel constantly. Its travel itself. I love it.

Gobstoppers12 posted...

You don't have to go on a cruise and spend $14,000 to hire a babysitter lol

We get it, you cant afford it.

Gobstoppers12 posted...

Yeah, that's what I mean, I'm not trying to shame anybody for how they choose to spend their money. I just don't get it. I truly don't see the appeal of spending over ten thousand dollars just to go to a different place and spend time with my friends/family when I could have just as much fun/just as many memories doing things locally with the same people for like 1/100th the price lol

Travel marketing never affected me in the slightest.

CEman doesnt see the appeal of going to a place lol

IdiotMachine posted...

We get it, you cant afford it.

If I had $100,000,000 I wouldn't spend $14,000 on an 8-day vacation. It's wasteful no matter how much is in the bank.

Again, this is only my opinion. I'm willing to keep discussing it, but I don't want anybody to think I'm attacking them personally. People tend to take things personally around here. Some of them even get so offended that they start attacking me for no reason lol.

food on boat cruises when out on the sea the food from what i heard is terrible, you might as well bring your own food

last time i heard, alot of people that were "sick" with covid were left stranded on a cruise for days during the Covid days

plus Somali pirates or any pirates will come for you and kidnap you etc.

So just stay home and be safe anyway

TheGoldenEel posted...

CEman doesnt see the appeal of going to a place lol

Seriously though. I've gone to places. I've seen the grand canyon, I've been to Disney Land, stayed in fancy hotels in big cities (usually for weddings), etc.

I don't see how any of it is worth spending thousands of dollars for a week-long existence in a place that's slightly different from home.

I legitimately don't understand people who travel as a "hobby." It's just so odd from my perspective.

Gobstoppers12 posted...

Seriously though. I've gone to places. I've seen the grand canyon, I've been to Disney Land, stayed in fancy hotels in big cities (usually for weddings), etc.

I don't see how any of it is worth spending thousands of dollars for a week-long existence in a place that's slightly different from home.

I legitimately don't understand people who travel as a "hobby." It's just so odd from my perspective.

sounds like you are speaking from the perspective of not having the money to blow on all that stuff

we are not at spend $14k on a vacation level yet but my wife and I both got big raises this year and on our most recent vacation the attitude has shifted from save money where possible towards spend whatever it takes to have the vacation we want

and as an aside, kids are not a burden on vacation. Part of them growing up is experiencing new things and places, and its different but still a lot of fun to be on vacation with them. One week later my toddler is still walking around the house saying seashells from our trip to the ocean. traveling can even bring joy to little ones

TheGoldenEel posted...

sounds like you are speaking from the perspective of not having the money to blow on all that stuff

we are not at spend $14k on a vacation level yet but my wife and I both got big raises this year and on our most recent vacation the attitude has shifted from save money where possible towards spend whatever it takes to have the vacation we want

and as an aside, kids are not a burden on vacation. Part of them growing up is experiencing new things and places, and its different but still a lot of fun to be on vacation with them. One week later my toddler is still walking around the house saying seashells from our trip to the ocean. traveling can even bring joy to little ones

Agreed. My wife and I started from save money on travel, and went low key on our first international vacation (around $6k for 2 weeks at Greece, staying at like $30/night places!) almost a decade ago. In 2019, just prior to the pandemic, we went to Japan but stayed in 4-5 star hotels and spent around $20k for 2 weeks; it was a much more enjoyable trip.

And we traveled to Boston, MA, Williamsburg, VA, Virginia Beach, VA, Six Flags NJ, and Cedar Point OH over the past two years, and agreed traveling with a toddler is not that BAD, but it is not relaxing!

Gobstoppers12 posted...

Still seems like a hell of a way to burn $14k, even if you have it to spare. Hard to imagine eight days on a ship with some amenities and fancy dinners could ever be worth that much. It's just so temporary.

I don't mean to try to attack someone for how they like to spend their time/money, it's just shocking to me that people throw so much money into vacations.

I guess I never bought into the propaganda spread by travel agencies that say "the trip only lasts 8 days, but the memories last a lifetime ;D "

Same here. My vacations even as a kid were never all that glamorous so the idea of spending a big chunk of cash on one seems crazy to me

TheGoldenEel posted...

traveling can even bring joy to little ones

Sure, and like I said, I'm not trying to deflate anybody's enjoyment of their own time and money. I continue to stress the fact that I personally don't like traveling or spending money on vacation amenities. It's just so temporary; if the idea is to collect memories and have new experiences, there are way cheaper ways to have a good time in my opinion.

I went to California when I was in 5th grade and we visited a beach, and I got a little plastic box full of tiny seashells for like $3. I still have them, and I enjoy having them, but bruh they cost $3 and the flight/hotel were like a few hundred bucks at the time.

No part of me can imagine any vacation or temporary amenity that adds up to be worth $14,000 even if you're rich. Like, would I spend $500 to use a solid gold toilet one time just to say that I've done it? Fuck no, that's a huge waste of money.

I believe in either saving money or spending it on tangible things. I have some very, very rich family members who don't over-spend on vacation. In fact, most of their "vacations" are mission trips and modest visits to exotic places that only cost a couple of thousand at the most.

I literally cannot imagine a trip for two people and a baby over the course of 8 days that adds up to being worth $14,000. Even with daycare services, "free" food, and a personal butler that sounds like an enormous amount of money.

Gobstoppers12 posted...

Sure, and like I said, I'm not trying to deflate anybody's enjoyment of their own time and money. I continue to stress the fact that I personally don't like traveling or spending money on vacation amenities. It's just so temporary; if the idea is to collect memories and have new experiences, there are way cheaper ways to have a good time in my opinion.

I went to California when I was in 5th grade and we visited a beach, and I got a little plastic box full of tiny seashells for like $3. I still have them, and I enjoy having them, but bruh they cost $3 and the flight/hotel were like a few hundred bucks at the time.

No part of me can imagine any vacation or temporary amenity that adds up to be worth $14,000 even if you're rich. Like, would I spend $500 to use a solid gold toilet one time just to say that I've done it? Fuck no, that's a huge waste of money.

I believe in either saving money or spending it on tangible things. I have some very, very rich family members who don't over-spend on vacation. In fact, most of their "vacations" are mission trips and modest visits to exotic places that only cost a couple of thousand at the most.

I literally cannot imagine a trip for two people and a baby over the course of 8 days that adds up to being worth $14,000. Even with daycare services, "free" food, and a personal butler that sounds like an enormous amount of money.

Interesting I personally dont care about spending money on tangible stuff unless its necessary. For example, we dont go buy $100 jeans; $15 Costco jeans is good enough.

Gobstoppers12 posted...

Used to be, anyway. Also, weird avenue of attack.

"You're a conservative so of course you don't like to travel or go on vacations."

Bruh if conservatives didn't like to go on vacations there wouldn't have been 10 travel agency/resort commercials per show on Fox News while I was watching it lol

I never said "You are a conservative", I said you are a Trumper, which is a specific genre of conservative. And lets face it, "I completely don't understand the point of traveling" is exactly the kind of thing anyone would expect a Trumper specifically to say. Like, you can deny it all you want or say "I'm not like that anymore", but your posts here kind of prove otherwise. This is exactly the kind of stuff someone would expect a Trumper to say.

Like, its one thing for someone to say, "I personally find travel inconvenient and don't like it", and that's fine, but its another for someone to just completely not understand the concept of it or why anyone would do it.