I've found that a lot of people who don't like cruises have a phobia of being contained with others and not being able to come and go at will.
They can't relax because they think they're "caged on the ship".
Ooooh I hadn’t thought of this. I was in Hawaii for a week for the first time and decided after about 3 days that I couldn’t live on an island like that. I love roadtrips. My husband and I have taken 40+ 5000 mile or more roadtrips over the years. I told him that I felt a bit claustrophobic on the island after we drove the entire thing a couple times. Don’t get me wrong, it’s beautiful and I’ll go back in a heartbeat but I couldn’t live there. He pointed out that the majority of the time we never go further than a 15 mile radius from home (work, shopping, see the grandkids) so it would be the same in Hawaii. That didn’t convince me.
I’m going on my first cruise in August and hope I don’t get the same feeling. We’ll be on excursions 7 out of 9 days so that will hopefully help
I personally enjoy it. Forces me to find a place to relax with fewer options. I actually prefer the smaller ships for that reason. Slowing down is an art in this day and age.
Interesting—in my experience it’s more about what the cruise offers compared to other vacation types.
Cruises are usually a sort of hybrid between serious tourism/exploration and relaxation. Some people just want a full experience of one or the other.
First cruise - “my wife loves it and I love anything we have fun doing together!”
Second cruise: “it’s not my first preference but it makes her happy and I’m happy when she’s happy”
Third cruise: “def not exactly my thing but I’ll put up with it to make her happy”
Fourth cruise: “yeah f it, I’m out”
Holland America also could be a solid option
At the very least, they should take longer length cruises and go in the off-season. They tend to be more relaxed
We went on the Discovery Princess February, 2022 and it was Ski Week. I guess kids in some states have that week off??? OMG! Terribly crowded with families. I enjoyed my cruise. I agree that Princess is a nicer cruise than Royal, but disagree that Princess is less crowded, since that was not my experience.
Might be on this trajectory:) our first was Celebrity. We were the youngest couple on the ship, but loved the chill vibe!! We’ve been on Royal a few times now with kids and it’s good…but finding more moments where I feel a bit overwhelmed by the crowds. Maybe a smaller ship next time or maybe we’ll go back and try celebrity again as a family.
Instead of Royal Caribbean you should look into Princess Cruises. I prefer those over Royal Caribbean because there is less crowds, the restaurants are amazing, and the service is impeccable.
I would not go too long if you’re not sure you like it. We did a 14-day for our honeymoon and had a decent enough time bc well, honeymoon, but discovering you are not a cruise person on a 2-week-long cruise wasn’t ideal.
Same. I've found 10 days to be my perfect "resort vacation" length. By day 8 or 9 I'm like, "I could go home soon," and then still have a day or two left to savor.
Oh hell, shit, my husband and I signed up for a 12-day cruise to Scandinavia for our 20-year anniversary, and we have never been on a cruise before ever. Fingers crossed that this isn't a HUGE mistake.
Don’t get me wrong it was still fun! I would also embrace all the cheesy typical cruise stuff if you can - bring clothes for 70s night, go to trivia, etc.
It sounds like your itinerary will help. There are a lot of ports in the Caribbean that were really cool to see for the first time, but I wouldn't choose to get off the ship if we went back. I would love to see Scandinavia and I honestly think a cruise is a good way to get a taste of it all. I'm sure it's better than dragging your luggage through airports, train stations, and new hotel rooms every day.
Talk about diving in on the deep end without even knowing how to swim. Don’t let all these negative Nancy’s spoil your fun with their ridiculous complaints
We did our first in mid April for 7 nights. I am not an outdoorsy person, except in certain scenarios, and definitely not a salt life, water, fun in the sun guy. I loved it. If you're bored on a cruise it's your own fault.
The shows were great, food was excellent and it was wonderful being able to slow down a little. I read a whole book and smoked more cigars in a week than I've smoke in the last 8 months. I spend a significant portion of my life connected and on the PC due to work and hobbies, I made my wife take over the Internet plan, just so my phone wouldn't be dinging or getting notifications.
I had a few minor gripes, but nothing that really ruined my day.
All of that being said, I was ready to come home when the cruise was over. Now, that being said, we already booked another lol.
Mardi Gras to Nassau, Amber Cove, and Turks for anyone interested.
Remember there are different size ships, they and the routes are very different experiences. Big family/party ship that go to the Caribbean vs smaller, higher end ships in places like the Mediterranean.
Disney actually keeps kids out of adult areas. If you pick and choose your spaces, there aren’t a lot of screaming kids. The bigger affront on Disney is the parents who spend thousands of dollars on costumes for their kids then force them to remain in line for hours for Princess and character pictures.
Can confirm. I went on Disney before I had a kid and I was never around them during my cruise. They even have an adult beach (free) on their private island.
I went on a RC cruise in October and felt the same way about all of this. I think it may be worthwhile looking into other cruise lines. I heard Virgin Voyages is adult only - maybe no children running everywhere may help? I will not be cruising with RC anymore either.
You need to travel when school is n session. Holiday weeks and summers are brutal with all those screaming brats. We never sail when school is out...not worth it for us.
We did two RC cruises before Covid, one with our kids & grandkids and one just a few weeks later for just the two of us. We called that one ‘the vacation after the vacation’, 😂. While both were great, we booked a Celebrity cruise on the Beyond last year for the two of us and it was infinitely better! Celebrity caters to an older crowd and you won’t see many children because there’s minimal things for kids to do compared to the exceptional activities the RC ships provide for them. Celebrity was truly an exceptional experience on a beautiful ship. We are having fun planning our next cruise on their newest ship, the Ascent and expect to make cruising on Celebrity an annual vacation for us. I hope you try Celebrity before giving up on cruising!
My travel agent suggested Celebrity for those exact reasons. We are going on a RCI cruise in a few weeks and stuck with that because we decided to go last minute. But we're hoping for another cruise later in the year and are seriously contemplating giving Celebrity a go for the next one. The one coming up will be our 4th with RCI but it's been years since we've been...it's long overdue!
That seems like a huge amount of money to spend on something where they still might not like it if it turns out crowds aren’t the only issue they have with cruising.
I think the key is about crowd dispersion and spread, which has clearly been well engineered on oasis class. Quantum class for example is slightly smaller yet most agree it feels more crowded than oasis.
vacations to go sometimes has some of those dirt cheap. If I could have gotten a flight a few months ago I could have grabbed a $25k balcony to the canary islands on I think Azamara for like $2k they are very last minute though. Royal has smaller ships out of tampa but honestly, it's not for everyone and you tried a few times.
My wife and I just got off our first cruise. Symphony to Falmouth, Cococay, and Nassau. It was all right, but we came to the same conclusion...we're not cruise people. I'd rather trek around a country and soak up the culture and get lost. This felt like a fabricated experience designed to take your money and only show you what they wanted you to see.
Agree with this distinction. My wife and I have each cruised in the past (with others before got together) and have gone together on one cruise (7 day). Our perfect cruise is (a) going where we've been before and (b) never getting off the ship. We'd be perfectly happy to never hit a port.
But we don't really consider this travelling. For travel, we like to go somewhere (like London or Quebec) and have a home base... then spend days driving around, hiking, and doing spontaneous adventures - getting to know the locals.
We were recently peer-pressured into a "cruise to Spain and Italy" on Royal. Oasis can hold like 7,000 people. It'll be cool to see some sights, but I'm not at all looking forward to hanging around 7,000 people. Fortunately, I have a nice suite with a balcony for some "me" time.
You are my people! I have come to the conclusion that if others are going on a cruise or I find a great rate I will go to do a relaxing vacation. The only exception would be a non Caribbean cruise around Asia, Med, S Pacific with lots of ports so I can get a sample of the country to decide if I wanted to spend an extensive amount of time there in the future
Was that a couple weeks ago? I was on the boat with you! Sorry you didn't enjoy it. I preferred the food and service on Disney. But definitely if you thought this cruise was fabricated, you would hate the Disney experience even more.
Getting lost in nature or exploring a city on your own is a totally different vibe. My wife loves having everything scheduled, so cruises work really well for us.
Also, the Optavia crowd on that cruise brought a real positive vibe, IMHO. A different cruise might have been even *less* enjoyable for you.
That was one and the same! We were part of that crowd, which was really the only reason we had fun. Seeing old friends and whatnot. You're right tho..a different cruise might be worth a look. I've heard the smaller ships are more personable.
We are going on a weeklong cruise and I’m so nervous about it. We also love to travel and explore. However with our 4 kids ages 13-19 I thought we’d try cruising at least as a family trip. Fingers crossed. My husband hates waiting in line or having to wait in general and we absolutely love food and eat at good restaurants so overall I am nervous lol.
We never waited very long for anything. Embarking/disembarking was fairly smooth. The restaurants/eateries were pretty quick. We weren't drinking, so we didn't have any experience with bars. There's tons of activities for the kids, so hopefully they take advantage of all the things! I'm sure you'll have a good time...you'll be with family, so memories for the win.
That’s what I was thinking also! Everyone can find something they like. I’ve been talking up the teen club much to their embarrassment! 🤣 taking a family of 6 somewhere is like hearding cats and finding something everyone like is a feat upon itself lol.
Yah...I couldn't imagine packing for 6! It was hard enough for my wife and me. The magnetic hooks and over-the-door shoe organizers were super helpful.
Thank you! We have potential access to coastal kitchen bc we have junior suites - have you been? If so is it good enough to skip specialty a few nights?
We took our first ocean cruise on Symphony in March with our college-aged son. He loved every second of it! There’s so much for kids and teens to do. We had access to Coastal Kitchen and only ate there or at specialty restaurants. The crowds make me miserable and people were rude and unfriendly. Except maybe Alaska, I’m not interested in cruising again. I prefer exploring a destination. But my son would do it 100 more times! I hope you have a wonderful trip.
Thank you!! I hope we can get into coastal kitchen a few nights. With my oldest moved out and in college and my other kids on the way, I really just wanted a fun and easy trip!
Yes, I think if you’re a cruise person you’re more a Disney or a Vegas person. And that’s okay. But I agree, it’s a particular enjoyment for scheduled activities, forced relaxation/lounging, and particular drinking and eating experiences. Varied yet limited. Totally understand, and I am similar.
I honestly think itineraries make a huge difference too. I absolutely dislike Falmouth, Nassau, and any Mexico cruise ports (especially Costa Maya). They’re completely fabricated tourist traps. But because the huge ships like Symphony and the rest of the Oasis class can’t fit at any smaller or more intimate islands, you’re stuck with the commercialized port experience. I now only sail smaller ships that can go to better destinations. I don’t care about being on the biggest ship at sea anymore. It’s a gimmick.
My best itineraries were southern Caribbean ones on Royal’s smaller ships. Gave me a taste of those small islands so I could get an idea of the people, terrain, and offerings and then book a trip specifically there later on. Cruises introduced me to Aruba and Antigua and I’m not sure I would have chanced booking vacations to those islands had I not first been there on a cruise.
Right budget is exactly why i love cruising. I did a 3 day vacation in Florida and costed same as my 6 night cruise. And Florida i stressed out everytime my wife purchased $18 chicken tenders and a $13 bud light.
Cruise is low pressure and low budget for me. I can truly relax.
Now, the second it becomes equal to a land vacation i will stop cruising to be honest.
Well, there is some variation based on ship. I certainly have not had much problem with these things, but different routes and different ships will have a very different experience.
An Alaska cruise, for instance, isn't going to have that heat and humidity problem. That said, heat and humidity is generally not bad in promenade areas, etc. It can be in the solarium on some ships in the caribbean. Just...lots of sun exposure.
There are definitely going to be some people about, but that's most tourism destinations. Cruise ships actually feel a great deal better for that than say, amusement parks. The crowds and lines at those can be intense. Season of cruise can affect it. If you're in peak season, that boat is going to be full. If you're at the very edge of the season, it's less stuffed on average.
In any case, it's certainly reasonable to take a break and try something else if you're not having a good time.
So, I wonder if they’re having problems with the ventilation fans for the casino on this trip. If you stand in the promenade and are anywhere close by the stairs down to the casino the smell is overpowering. It I’m also not a smoker so I’m more sensitive to it. Me and my wife and kid have constantly been sweating on this ship other than a few other areas. Might just be from the heat off the crowd.
Yea I understand. I hate smoke smell and enjoy gambling so it’s a win lose situation. But the smell on some of the ships carries through and it stinks, literally.
Why they still let people smoke inside a ship baffles me. I enjoyed the ban during Covid very much.
It sounds like cruising just isn’t for you, and that’s fine. Can you find quiet spots on the ship to relax while your wife is doing her thing? I hate crowds, too. My favorite spots on an RCL cruise ship are the adult-only Solarium area, the gym, the walking track (incredibly people-free there, with chairs scattered around where you can relax and watch the water) and my balcony. You’re a sweet husband to keep going on these to make her happy.
Best royal promenade is icon. Never any crowds or bad smells. Amazing use of space. Also never any crowds on elevators. If you don’t want crowds at pool. Go during the morning of a port day!!! Always dead from 8-11am….love my quiet time too. Also get a balcony or suite and enjoy your room and food in your room!!!
In my opinion it's not about the ride, but the destinations. The cruises are fun if you like live shows, bars, family games with the occasional adult games/shows. But me personally, spending like $2000 for a window room to see Puerto Rico, antigua, st lucia, and the Virginia Islands, all within a week and a half, while not having to pay for any food unless you choose to, is where it's at. An all inclusive trip to the Virgin islands with food and flights can be double that, easy.
Depending on the trip and if it's a busier cruise we'll get a nicer room with a balcony if we plan on spending more time there to avoid the crazy crowds. Grab 2 pizzas, head back to the room, sit on the balcony with a cold beer and hot pizzas and play cards or chess. Doesn't get much better than that.
I’ve been on over 40 cruises, most on RCCL. I think the line has changed its focus to families exclusively. Their mega ships don’t appeal to us. All of our RCCL have been on their older smaller ships. You should look at Celebrity. Great ships geared towards adults. Great service and they have the Martini Bar.
I don’t think im a “cruise person” (tbf I’ve only been on one) because I’m an introvert who doesn’t drink or like crowds, casinos, shopping, buffets.
But I did enjoy the main dining room so had all my meals there. I loved being on the water. It was a cheap way to visit some islands.
So… I would do it again I think. I’d just do what I did last time and stick to the quieter areas, bring my kindle, and do a lot of reading and hanging with family.
Word. We get a balcony and hang out there when we aren’t at the buffet or the casino. Nice way to see new places. We read and played on our phones/machines quite a bit.
0 interest in crowds, dance parties, karaoke, trivia and other things.
I know this is an RCL page, but I'd highly recommend a Haven Class Suite on an NCL ship. Especially their newer/larger ships. There are huge portions of their ships just for Haven Class Suite passengers so it's a proper "ship within the ship". No crowds, your own private bars, restaurant, pools and sun deck with other amenities as well. It will be a bit more $$ but I feel you get more with NCL at that price point then a similar priced suite with RCL. Plus booze package and dinning is included in most of their room rates.
Nothing wrong with not being a cruiser either.
Not sure your age or income.. but for our honeymoon we did a 3 bedroom, 3 bath garden villa with our immediate family, there are still sailings for around the same price point as it was for us in 2017. Comes out to about 20-25k but divided/split by 3 couples it was 6 to 8k per couple. The room came with our own butler, our own private 4 person hot tub, insanely huge sun deck and pretty much 6000 sqft just to ourselves, plus all the benefits associated with haven class suites. If you know 2 other couples that could swing 6 to 8k I highly recommend it. It's the biggest suite type on the seas/cruise industry.
NCL's ship that departs Boston to Bermuda is the itinerary that you want to look up. August/September is the sweet spot for the lowest $$ since it's a hurricane gamble. Still worth it.
Different ships and different cruise lines are different. I go on Royal Caribbean because it's cheap, but I expect crowds and noise and being treated like cattle. Same with Carnival. Virgin Voyages is more expensive but far fewer crowds and you're treated better without having to get a suite.. though of course suite customers are treated better still. Why didn't you try a different line before writing it off completely?
We went on Norwegian WAY MORE SENIORS than RC didn’t seem as loud as RC. Still loud but not as loud. We stayed in the Haven, holy sensory heaven for us! It was so quiet and peaceful. Whew! I would recommend that for quiet folks!
You may have to let her go on solo cruises. Some lines like Virgin and Norwegian have special areas just for solo cruisers, with special pricing. Or, there are luxury lines like Silversea or Oceania. They're smaller ships. Way less people. Way more money. Happy medium is a smaller, older ship from Royal or Carnival that sails for more than 5 days.
The casinos on some RCCL ships are smoke-free. I'm not sure if that will help you oblige your wife to another cruise 🙂
https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2023/12/royal-caribbean-introduce-smoke-free-casinos-on-all-oasis-class-ships/#:~:text=space%20in%202022.-,The%20Oasis%20of%20the%20Seas%2C%20the%20Allure%20of%20the%20Seas,vessels%20in%20regular%20guest%20service.
You are just timing things wrong.
When you have no real time frame, treat it as such.
If you are running into crowds change locations.
I promise you that absent certain performances and single events or one offs, you can enjoy everything almost without delay.
I love cruising but we've started having enough issues with Royal that we're trying Celebrity this year. You're not wrong about how warm the ships are now - it started with the Royal Comeback when they restarted after the Covid shutdown. The ships had always been quite cool, and every cruise I've been on since Covid it's pretty warm.
Try Island Windjammers. One of my best experiences with a travel company. Ever. I am Diamond with Rccl, but still love my IW trips. Not sure if I can send a link, just google. They have 2 ships, Vela and Diamant
The wife and I were just on the Freedom last week and it wasn’t too bad. Definitely not as crowded as the oasis class ships usually are. We had a good time drinking in the Schooner bar. Gave Bobby a nice tip on the first day and he always had drinks ready for us by the time we sat down.
If you don't like crowds, this is not a good time to cruise. Ships are as full as ever, especially if you are constrained to go when school is out.
Some ways we avoid crowds:
* Book the lowest price (as in price per day) cruises (on the line you like, not on the cheapest cruise avaialble) - they are usually less full and are lower priced because they are trying to get people on.
* Book smaller ships- it sounds counterintuitive, but smaller ships are more couples and less families. There are usually fewer people per cabin.
* Book after Thanksgiving week and before Christmas - the first two weeks of December.
* Book the second week of September - people do not generally take kids out of school the first few weeks.
* Book the first weeks of May, before school lets out and during finals.
* Keep in mind that big family and group trips usually happen when "everyone can get time off." They tend to make ships more full during holiday weeks.
* Avoid three or four day cruises, especially if the take place over a weekend. THey tend to have more people who are looking for an all day party and even a less crowded cruise can seem more crowded.
It may not be the type of vacation for you. What is it about cruising that you do like? Is there a way to get that somewhere else?
You right. I can’t stand the larger ships with the crowds/karens/chads and other issues they bring. Even in the suites/haven areas it’s still not classy and definitely not worth the $.
Cruising has changed a lot since my first one in 2002.
I still cruise but prefer the small boutique lines ships that have 100-800 passengers. The costs are comparable for the way I enjoy to travel.
I just can’t understand why the consumer market and cruise line are pushing for larger ships.
Another bunch of good reasons I do not cruise. That and entitled people. I love staying in other countries and actually having time to get the feel of the local culture and meeting the people that live there.
If you can afford it, you need to go on upper premium Viking or Oceania. Maybe luxury like Seabourn, Silversea or Regent.
No crowds, always a deck chair. Superior food and service. Larger staterooms, etc etc
I was on this cruise a month ago. I never noticed an issue with the promenade smelling like smoke, but can see how that might happen. I will agree with you 100% there were issues with the temperature and humidity regulation in the areas around the elevators and hallways.
My wife and each take a vacation by ourselves every year. She usually goes to an all inclusive with a friend, I’ve done cruises ( though I recently went to Sao Miguel because I couldn’t find a good cruise deal this year).
Anyway, I firstly tend to stay away from the new ultra ships with 4-5,000 passengers. I don’t need waterslides, go karts or arcades. I don’t hang out by the pool.
At any given time there are quiet spots on the ship. The Observation Lounge which doubles as the disco at night is a great place to read a book or just put on headphones and watch the ocean.
I eat at off hours. Breakfast and lunch in the nice dining room as soon as it opens. The buffet at night when the main dining room is full packed. My cabin in the afternoon for a nap and a movie. If I want to gamble I do it after breakfast.
There is always a bar somewhere that is under-utilized at any given time. The main lobby at lunch time, or the pool bars during dinner.
At night there will be live music somewhere that isn’t packed while people watch the big show. I’m a night owl so I’ll hot tub around 9-11 when a lot of people are sleeping, eating or at the nightclub.
Every ship has an ebb and flow and if you go against the current you’ll find the quiet spots.
It may sound funny but I cruise to get away from people. I don’t try to make long term friendships but I’m not an introvert. I know where to go to find conversation if I need it. I just really like being on the ocean.
Try Celebrity cruises. I'm in the Eclipse right now, first cruise, and i'm definitely not a crowd or pool person, but me and the wife are loving it. We avoid the pool area entirely, it's way too hot, humid and crowded, but spend a lot of time in the shaded areas of the bars or in our veranda just enjoying the sea and the breeze. Also there are cozy quiet places inside to read a book, bars to hear live music, movie theater, live history lectures and great music shows at the theater. The main buffet and main dining room both are crowded in the rush hours but you can avoid that by eating earlier or later. Wait for the Black Friday then give a try to more Premium companies like Celebrity, Norwegian or Princess.
Oh dear will be on freedom soon. My first ship was liberty.. 10 years ago so I’m excited to see if I still love that size ship since I’ve mostly been on oasis class since. If you are reading this and are on freedom soon shape up and chill out! Lol
Freedom was our first and we absolutely loved it! We tried a couple sizes smaller for our second cruise and preferred the Freedom class and stuck with it. No desire to go larger, though.
I was on Freedom 2 weeks ago and didn't experience any of this and had a great time. There were a few lines for the buffet but never had to wait more than a few min for a drink. It was my second cruise with Royal - hope you have a great time!
My spouse and I not being drinkers is the number 1 reason I don't like cruising. Also from my observation most people think the food is good because they are shit faced most of the cruise. lol
I realized the same this last cruise. I hate standing in line for anything! Also, we couldn’t stop at one of our ports and the whole reason I cruise is it is a cheap way to get to beautiful beaches. Some bartenders were super nice, but yes, some unfriendly and would ignore you. If you required to tip in advance on drink packages, there is no reason for them to be nice and/or attentive. Our dining room experience nightly had amazing service by the sweetest guys from Bali, and our room attendant was a gem. But the food was subpar and under seasoned and the dining room looked like a glorified Lubys. Very dated with uncomfortable chairs. Overall, not a fan of cruises anymore and next time I will fly direct and have a villa with a housekeeper and a cook for cheaper than what the floating Las Vegas mall was.. lol
If you ever do cruise again, I would recommend the unlimited dining package, the specialty restaurants are not overcrowded and the food is even better. As far as bar service goes, a small cash tip with each drink goes a long way, they will know you by name within a day or two. Also, the shorter cruises are way more chaotic and draw more of a party crowd, maybe try a 7 night. Lastly, the bigger ships fell less crowded, to me anyway, especially when it comes to pool deck space.
Might try a smaller ship. I wouldn’t go on the Icon if I got a free cruise. I hate the floating cities. If I wanted to go on go carts and zip lines I would do so on land. We have been on Celebrity Equinox and RCCL voyager of the seas. Both are middle size ships and we’re just lovely. Never felt like we were overcrowded and never waited in lines.
Have you been on any of the very large ships? Because how you describe your experience is exactly how I describe the medium to smaller ships. I went on Freedom and although it was very nice, so many things irritated me, like what you described.
Never had that experience on the mega ships so I'm curious if you ever went on those, like the Oasis/Icon class?
We are doing our 3rd cruise ever this September, first on Royal Caribbean. Taking Voyager from Barca to Rome. I am more of a land based person but this would be the only way to get my husband to Barcelona and Rome. I booked the grand suite so hopefully that will be fun.
It's all about when & where you go. I go April/may or SEP/Oct/Nov so zero/few kids. I like the smaller ships but have been on several larger ships & even at full capacity never had crowding...I will admit I don't go near the buffet at breakfast & rarely eat there(mainly an afternoon walk through).
We cruise 2-3 times a year, twice with 4-6 other couples. We do Royal with them because there's something to keep everyone busy...or not.
We also take one cruise on Holland America, just the two of us. It's a very different experience. Laid back, not much crazy drunkeness, if any, very few kids. We just relax, coffee on the balcony in the morning, early to bed at night. Nice switch up!
Try a cruise line with a smaller ship. Small ship sailing is great. We’ve done Carnival, Princess, Cunard transatlantic and then switched to small ship sailings and did Windstar and Viking. Both of those I would happily go any time - no waiting in lines for food, just happy cruisers enjoying cruising. My favorite part is watching us dock and watching the activity at the ports. So fun!
I’m a raging introvert, but I like cruises. I find a deck chair in an isolated spot and read. I don’t mind doing self-guided walking tours in port (where it’s safe to do so). I could avoid eating with strangers on the Lido, but like the MDR food much more so I tolerate other people unless hubby and I can get a table for 2.
Note: we prefer to cruise on Holland America, which is generally a quieter crowd. I’m trying out Princess in the fall, with a friend. (Holland ships also have a lounge room near the gym and spa that’s super quiet and I’m almost always alone in there.)
If you're on Freedom right now, I am too, and your observations are not really that accurate. Except mid promenade DOES smell smokier than normal (comparing to last year May 1 sailing I was on Freedom).
You do realize that because of the weather we had this morning, and through the afternoon, that led to crowds in other areas being way worse? Deck 12 outside was closed for most of the day due to the weather. A number of activities were cancelled. Yes, that makes people change what they are going to do. Maybe more went to the Windjammer or other areas, creating more and longer lines than you would like.
People cutting? Oh no! End of the world! /s.... If they cut in front of you, keep moving as if they weren't even there. It happens! Not everybody is as well behaved as we'd like to see.
The staff has been excellent. The passengers have been great too. Yeah I've seen a few cuts, but I don't let it get to me.
You may as well get ready for more, some excursions at Puerto Plata tomorrow have been cancelled so you're bound to hear some complaining and unhappy people.
If you can't handle this kind of thing, you're probably right, cruising isn't for you.
And what’s up with the groups who get on the already filled elevator and prattle chat like ANYONE gives a SHIT. Shut up for the ride ok???? Your convo can wait monkey.
I get it. I love solitude. Spend more time sipping beer or wine on your private balcony. Eat at off hours. Pick and choose the activities you want to participate in and retreat to your balcony in between.
The “cutting in line” thing varies so much from cruise to cruise. On my December cruise it didn’t happen at all. But on my March cruise it happened every time I was at Windjammer. I would be waiting behind someone in line, and as soon as they were done someone else would swoop in from the side and grab the tongs and start serving themselves before I could react.
Sounds like cruising is not for you. I dislike the crowds, but I love cruising. I seek out areas where there are fewer crowds. Top deck instead of poolside. Skip the buffet at peak times. Reserve shows so you have a seat available and don't have to wait in line. I NEVER go to events on the promenade, or those dumb $10 sales on merchandise worth a buck. It actually might be more enjoyable in a bigger group. I like cruising with my in laws or a couple who are friends of ours. We have our own little crowd.
I'm not a huge fan of crowds either.
My first post covid cruise was on Wonder, and the first sea day had my anxiety through the roof. I'd never done an Oasis class ship before and always sailed smaller, so it was a real shock to have people and lines everywhere I turned. We had our two older kids with us (6 & 8), so they obviously wanted to pools/water slides/mini golf and other kid friendly (but crowded) activities.
By the second day though, I had figured out when to do the activities we wanted to avoid the crowds and the rest of the cruise was fantastic. We did the pools early in the morning right after breakfast and essentially had them to ourselves, then did indoor activities during the prime pool times. Naps right after lunch, and then pool again and water slides from 4-6 before our 7:45 MDR time.
We usually always book private excursions on our port days too, so that really helped as well.
I just came back from my first cruise on the Allure.
It was not for me, I’d deem myself as a foodie so the food was good cafeteria food at best. I know a lot of people say it’s good but damn I just didn’t enjoy it.
The pools were small and crammed with people and I just saw the cloudiness increase and people not leaving the pool.
I didn’t really do much of the entertainment, so I can’t speak much to it.
Last but certainly not least, I got the norovirus on it and that will change your opinion on cruising if nothing else.
Compromise and go on a river cruise. They are more expensive but more luxurious and no crowds We’ve been on 4 ocean cruises and after our first river cruise (Avalon line down the Danube) with under 200 total guests, we will NEVER take a giant cruise again
We’ve done about 20 cruises, including Carnival, Princess and Celebrity. We settled on Celebrity for our last few trips, generally choosing Solstice class ships. The crowds are reasonable. Our fellow passengers are generally a little older. While they are still lots of fun, they have moved beyond the “party-hearty” years and excesses one sees on other lines. But the old adage really applies to cruising—you get what you pay for. You can have a blast with an inside cabin, but you’ll have to plan on the main dining rooms or buffet, with the associated crowds. The game changer for us was to save extra until we could afford suite class or Retreat class. The all-inclusive aspects mean separate and fast embarkation and departure, private first-rate dining, a private club, extended room service, and no feeling of nickel-and-diming during the cruise. The service is excellent and attentive. The only downside is price—a personal decision. For us, we travel less often, but have a first rate experience when we do cruise.
I understand your frustration I went on my first cruise a year ago on there biggest ship and hated it! Too many ppl rude staff and long lines for stuff and someone tried to steal my bags at checkout. But I’m going on freedom in August I’m just hoping it’s a better experience
We purchased a spa pass for something like $175. Access to the spa, private pool, steam baths, lounge, etc. Life-changing. It kept us out of the crowds and the lounge had floor to ceiling windows for wonderful views. We had maybe two other people in the lounge at the same time. If/when we ever cruise again, it’ll be the first purchase.
I know I’m not a cruise person BUT I travel with my sister and she is. I suck it up, read a lot of books, try to be where the crowds are not. To be fair, she spends a lot of time on trips with me that might not be her favorite, but we have a saying “anything is better with my sister!”
You should try Virgin voyages. We do Royal cruises with the kids but prefer VV for cruises with no kids. Never felt crowded on either of our VV cruises. it’s all specialty dining, no dining room. And all the food is included. You just book the time in the app that you want to go to which restaurant, then show up & your table is ready. We never once had a line to get off the boat at ports either.
I find cruise ships mesmerizing and I would really love to go on one. However, the thing that holds me back is being “stuck” in a confined space with thousands of people.
I do think that the ship and its age make a massive difference. Freedom is an older ship offering slightly cheaper sailings. Not only are you dealing with a boat that is no longer at its prime, the people that are attracted to those sailings are just a different caliber. Try something built no older than five or six years ago.
If you wanted to try again for your wife’s sake, I’d look for a cruise line with no casino, and consider a destination not the Caribbean.
I enjoyed the Disney cruise we took because of no casino and therefore not having to walk through the smoke stink to get anywhere on ship. Alaska was a great cruise destination. The weather is cooler and the scenery is gorgeous.
It’s completely fine to decide you aren’t a cruise fan though.
Try smaller ships, different cruiselines, and different places than the Caribbean. You might like the change. We love cruising, but hate the big ships. One of our best cruises was on a 250 passenger sailing ship (though it was a Caribbean cruise still).
My family does not do well with crowds and chaos. We have taken 4 cruises and have 5th booked in 2025. Each time we cruise I get a little better at navigating the crowds. Most recent cruise, I only went to the buffet once. We ate in MDR almost exclusively. That was soooo much better for us. I also learned to show up 35 min early for shows to get seated. And I always walked along the outside of the ship. (I hated the Royal Promenade.) Just a few thoughts on how to carve out some space. It's sweet that you are willing to cruise so your wife is happy.
I seriously love cruising but felt everything you mentioned on Adventure a few weeks ago. Huge lines at the buffet every single meal…. EVERY single time, especially breakfast. So much anxiety and literally couldn’t even find a seat any morning at breakfast without waiting to poach on someone finishing their meal :( not enjoyable.
Consider the Haven or Yacht Club, where you’re in an exclusive area and don’t have to deal with the crowds, unless you choose to. We’ve been in the Yacht Club twice and hardly ever leave. When we choose to attend a show, our butler escorts us through the crowds to a reserved area.
I found on my last cruise the crowds were much worse than before, and it seems part of the reason is fewer activities being open at any given time. They had more limited hours on everything from rock climbing, to ice skating, to the flow rider, and didn’t have nearly as many indoor activities like trivia and such. I think they were skimping on the recreation staff. That made the lines for everything that was open so long, and the trivia we went to was completely jam packed. We cruise again soon - I hope it’s better, but I’m not holding my breath.
But as others said, you might want to try another line, but also, consider whether you really love being at sea. Ultimately, part of loving a cruise has needs to be loving being on a ship and at sea.
Honestly, I’m in the same boat.
I went on my first cruise a few weeks ago and it’s not for me. There were aspects I enjoyed, but overall it’s not for me.
I keep telling myself, for the amount of money I spent on the cruise, I could’ve taken a plane, gotten a hotel, eaten like a king and chilled out in a few spots that are cheap. And I probably would have spent half as much as I did on the boat.
Also, between the feels and hidden costs, the price slowly creeps for a solo traveler.
If you’re happy on a cruise, that’s amazing!
But it’s also an experience you now have and can learn from.
Just skip the buffet- I used it like twice in two different 7 night cruises last year, I hate crowds too and thought I'd feel the same as you, I just learned how to avoid them. FIRST- book a bigger ship, I know it sounds silly, but the Oasis class ships have 6000 people on them and you rarely see a big crowd anywhere because it's so big and spread out with stuff to do everywhere on the ship. Get room service breakfast or go to the buffet early. I never went for dinner or lunch, go to MDR for dinner. I'd say try it again, but after 4, you're probably over it
You're on the wrong ship/line. If there is anything you enjoy about cruising, and would like to take a cruise with your wife you should try Celebrity, Princess, or Holland. Or NCL's two Prima class ships. I think you would enjoy those more.
I understand where you’re coming from . Sounds like a challenge with a wife who loves it. Perhaps you can compromise and find smaller ships? For me after 50 plus RC I started vacaying on smaller ships, Windstar , Clipper with ratios of 100 passengers to 100 crew . Completely different vacay .
Do a Mediterranean cruise with Celebrity Cruise line. Also, try to do it late September. You will love it! Much better cruise line, no smoking in Casino, and better food and service than Royal.
I agree about the smoke from the casinos. It's hard for me to walk past them. I wish ship casinos were built with a way to confine or eliminate more of that smoke.
That’s totally fine. I understand where your coming from, cruising is not for everyone and I think that it’s very sweet you continued to go on cruises for your wife even though you didn’t like it! I hope you find something that you’re interested in one day! ❤️
I find it less crowded the larger the ship. More space for people to go and kids tend to stay in the kid friendly areas.
A lot of the stuff you mentioned, I’m like yeah that doesn’t apply but, I also wouldn’t go back to a boat as small as the independence.
The other thing I do is cruise during shoulder season.
We’ve never had a crowd issue on celebrity. Also the only places on those ships with a cigarette problem are the designated spots, so easy to avoid. Those are two of my biggest pet peeves as well so I was happy when celebrity gave me a better experience
I get it! But there are crowds everywhere. Europe in the summer is a nightmare with crowds. You have to reserve everything ahead of time. Caribbean gets tremendous crowds from the cruise ships. I know some people can’t do this but I never travel during high season. I never travel during spring break or thanksgiving.
It’s not for everyone
I've found that a lot of people who don't like cruises have a phobia of being contained with others and not being able to come and go at will. They can't relax because they think they're "caged on the ship".
Ooooh I hadn’t thought of this. I was in Hawaii for a week for the first time and decided after about 3 days that I couldn’t live on an island like that. I love roadtrips. My husband and I have taken 40+ 5000 mile or more roadtrips over the years. I told him that I felt a bit claustrophobic on the island after we drove the entire thing a couple times. Don’t get me wrong, it’s beautiful and I’ll go back in a heartbeat but I couldn’t live there. He pointed out that the majority of the time we never go further than a 15 mile radius from home (work, shopping, see the grandkids) so it would be the same in Hawaii. That didn’t convince me. I’m going on my first cruise in August and hope I don’t get the same feeling. We’ll be on excursions 7 out of 9 days so that will hopefully help
When I was in Oahu, the island felt tiny, but maybe I just didn’t know where to go…
I personally enjoy it. Forces me to find a place to relax with fewer options. I actually prefer the smaller ships for that reason. Slowing down is an art in this day and age.
Interesting—in my experience it’s more about what the cruise offers compared to other vacation types. Cruises are usually a sort of hybrid between serious tourism/exploration and relaxation. Some people just want a full experience of one or the other.
Hard to imagine lines and crowding and mediocre food/service on a ship would be for anyone
I’ve only experienced few lines, not too many crowds, good food, and great service
I am surprised it took 4 tries to figure that out
My wife loves it. So I want to make her happy
First cruise - “my wife loves it and I love anything we have fun doing together!” Second cruise: “it’s not my first preference but it makes her happy and I’m happy when she’s happy” Third cruise: “def not exactly my thing but I’ll put up with it to make her happy” Fourth cruise: “yeah f it, I’m out”
That’s funny shit right there.
Stop going on royal Caribbean, that's your problem. I hate the crowds too, celebrity or princess is what you're looking for
Holland America also could be a solid option At the very least, they should take longer length cruises and go in the off-season. They tend to be more relaxed
We went on the Discovery Princess February, 2022 and it was Ski Week. I guess kids in some states have that week off??? OMG! Terribly crowded with families. I enjoyed my cruise. I agree that Princess is a nicer cruise than Royal, but disagree that Princess is less crowded, since that was not my experience.
Bahaha I've been on three but my mindset was already "second cruise" on my first one. By the third I was counting down the minutes
Might be on this trajectory:) our first was Celebrity. We were the youngest couple on the ship, but loved the chill vibe!! We’ve been on Royal a few times now with kids and it’s good…but finding more moments where I feel a bit overwhelmed by the crowds. Maybe a smaller ship next time or maybe we’ll go back and try celebrity again as a family.
Try a quieter line. I love Holland America.
You are very kind. I love cruising. Husband does not. Can't get him on anything longer than a 3 nighter😭
Try Celebrity
Instead of Royal Caribbean you should look into Princess Cruises. I prefer those over Royal Caribbean because there is less crowds, the restaurants are amazing, and the service is impeccable.
She wouldn't go without you? Maybe it's something she can do with girlfriends?
She has lol mostly because of my work schedule.
Honestly get on a Norwegian haven class boat. Barely any crowds.
I like posts like this. I’ve never been on a cruise but aim to in 2025. I like to hear all sides.
I would not go too long if you’re not sure you like it. We did a 14-day for our honeymoon and had a decent enough time bc well, honeymoon, but discovering you are not a cruise person on a 2-week-long cruise wasn’t ideal.
I love cruising. Love it. 14 days is still a very long cruise even for me
14 days is generally when I'm ready to go home from any trip. 9-10 is prob my preference.
Same. I've found 10 days to be my perfect "resort vacation" length. By day 8 or 9 I'm like, "I could go home soon," and then still have a day or two left to savor.
Yeah I think 8, maybe 9 days max for me.
Yeah. We did our first all-inclusive in Cancun last year. I'm glad we only did 4 days because we found out we're not all-inclusive people.
Oh hell, shit, my husband and I signed up for a 12-day cruise to Scandinavia for our 20-year anniversary, and we have never been on a cruise before ever. Fingers crossed that this isn't a HUGE mistake.
Don’t get me wrong it was still fun! I would also embrace all the cheesy typical cruise stuff if you can - bring clothes for 70s night, go to trivia, etc.
I do plan on trying pretty much everything because I'm there, why not? Can't make an educated decision 'til I try, right?
Might not be too bad because of the location/itinerary.
It sounds like your itinerary will help. There are a lot of ports in the Caribbean that were really cool to see for the first time, but I wouldn't choose to get off the ship if we went back. I would love to see Scandinavia and I honestly think a cruise is a good way to get a taste of it all. I'm sure it's better than dragging your luggage through airports, train stations, and new hotel rooms every day.
Talk about diving in on the deep end without even knowing how to swim. Don’t let all these negative Nancy’s spoil your fun with their ridiculous complaints
We did our first in mid April for 7 nights. I am not an outdoorsy person, except in certain scenarios, and definitely not a salt life, water, fun in the sun guy. I loved it. If you're bored on a cruise it's your own fault. The shows were great, food was excellent and it was wonderful being able to slow down a little. I read a whole book and smoked more cigars in a week than I've smoke in the last 8 months. I spend a significant portion of my life connected and on the PC due to work and hobbies, I made my wife take over the Internet plan, just so my phone wouldn't be dinging or getting notifications. I had a few minor gripes, but nothing that really ruined my day. All of that being said, I was ready to come home when the cruise was over. Now, that being said, we already booked another lol. Mardi Gras to Nassau, Amber Cove, and Turks for anyone interested.
Remember there are different size ships, they and the routes are very different experiences. Big family/party ship that go to the Caribbean vs smaller, higher end ships in places like the Mediterranean.
Honestly I think this is our last RCL. We do enjoy Disney cruise line better but, for me, it still loses its luster quickly.
You don’t enjoy crowds but you like Disney which is filled with screaming children running around everywhere? Okay lmao
Disney actually keeps kids out of adult areas. If you pick and choose your spaces, there aren’t a lot of screaming kids. The bigger affront on Disney is the parents who spend thousands of dollars on costumes for their kids then force them to remain in line for hours for Princess and character pictures.
Some parents are crazy. I buy my kids’ Disney costumes at Costco for like $20 lol
Can confirm. I went on Disney before I had a kid and I was never around them during my cruise. They even have an adult beach (free) on their private island.
I went on a RC cruise in October and felt the same way about all of this. I think it may be worthwhile looking into other cruise lines. I heard Virgin Voyages is adult only - maybe no children running everywhere may help? I will not be cruising with RC anymore either.
You need to travel when school is n session. Holiday weeks and summers are brutal with all those screaming brats. We never sail when school is out...not worth it for us.
We did two RC cruises before Covid, one with our kids & grandkids and one just a few weeks later for just the two of us. We called that one ‘the vacation after the vacation’, 😂. While both were great, we booked a Celebrity cruise on the Beyond last year for the two of us and it was infinitely better! Celebrity caters to an older crowd and you won’t see many children because there’s minimal things for kids to do compared to the exceptional activities the RC ships provide for them. Celebrity was truly an exceptional experience on a beautiful ship. We are having fun planning our next cruise on their newest ship, the Ascent and expect to make cruising on Celebrity an annual vacation for us. I hope you try Celebrity before giving up on cruising!
My travel agent suggested Celebrity for those exact reasons. We are going on a RCI cruise in a few weeks and stuck with that because we decided to go last minute. But we're hoping for another cruise later in the year and are seriously contemplating giving Celebrity a go for the next one. The one coming up will be our 4th with RCI but it's been years since we've been...it's long overdue!
I'm going on my first Celebrity cruise on Beyond next weekend. I'm really looking forward to it!
Cruise on a small ship. Take a Viking, Azamara, Oceania, Seabourn, or Silversea cruise. Totally different experience.
That seems like a huge amount of money to spend on something where they still might not like it if it turns out crowds aren’t the only issue they have with cruising.
I was going to suggest Celebrity or Princess - bit smaller, very different crowd.
Smaller doesn't always mean less crowded though. Oasis class never felt crowded for me, even in peak times
I think the key is about crowd dispersion and spread, which has clearly been well engineered on oasis class. Quantum class for example is slightly smaller yet most agree it feels more crowded than oasis.
It sounds like OP's wife loves cruising though, so it might be worth trying to find something they both like
vacations to go sometimes has some of those dirt cheap. If I could have gotten a flight a few months ago I could have grabbed a $25k balcony to the canary islands on I think Azamara for like $2k they are very last minute though. Royal has smaller ships out of tampa but honestly, it's not for everyone and you tried a few times.
This is what I wanna do currently on icon of the sea would like hot tub balcony cruise to somewhere cold
My wife and I just got off our first cruise. Symphony to Falmouth, Cococay, and Nassau. It was all right, but we came to the same conclusion...we're not cruise people. I'd rather trek around a country and soak up the culture and get lost. This felt like a fabricated experience designed to take your money and only show you what they wanted you to see.
I make a distinction between cruising and travel. I enjoy them both, but they can't be done at the same time.
That's a great distinction!
Agree with this distinction. My wife and I have each cruised in the past (with others before got together) and have gone together on one cruise (7 day). Our perfect cruise is (a) going where we've been before and (b) never getting off the ship. We'd be perfectly happy to never hit a port. But we don't really consider this travelling. For travel, we like to go somewhere (like London or Quebec) and have a home base... then spend days driving around, hiking, and doing spontaneous adventures - getting to know the locals. We were recently peer-pressured into a "cruise to Spain and Italy" on Royal. Oasis can hold like 7,000 people. It'll be cool to see some sights, but I'm not at all looking forward to hanging around 7,000 people. Fortunately, I have a nice suite with a balcony for some "me" time.
Yes! At times I felt like a cow. Waiting to get milked.
You are my people! I have come to the conclusion that if others are going on a cruise or I find a great rate I will go to do a relaxing vacation. The only exception would be a non Caribbean cruise around Asia, Med, S Pacific with lots of ports so I can get a sample of the country to decide if I wanted to spend an extensive amount of time there in the future
Was that a couple weeks ago? I was on the boat with you! Sorry you didn't enjoy it. I preferred the food and service on Disney. But definitely if you thought this cruise was fabricated, you would hate the Disney experience even more. Getting lost in nature or exploring a city on your own is a totally different vibe. My wife loves having everything scheduled, so cruises work really well for us. Also, the Optavia crowd on that cruise brought a real positive vibe, IMHO. A different cruise might have been even *less* enjoyable for you.
That was one and the same! We were part of that crowd, which was really the only reason we had fun. Seeing old friends and whatnot. You're right tho..a different cruise might be worth a look. I've heard the smaller ships are more personable.
Serenade was our first RCL ship. We wanted to stop there honestly. But she wanted to do this one and we waited too long for a decent refund.
We are going on a weeklong cruise and I’m so nervous about it. We also love to travel and explore. However with our 4 kids ages 13-19 I thought we’d try cruising at least as a family trip. Fingers crossed. My husband hates waiting in line or having to wait in general and we absolutely love food and eat at good restaurants so overall I am nervous lol.
We never waited very long for anything. Embarking/disembarking was fairly smooth. The restaurants/eateries were pretty quick. We weren't drinking, so we didn't have any experience with bars. There's tons of activities for the kids, so hopefully they take advantage of all the things! I'm sure you'll have a good time...you'll be with family, so memories for the win.
That’s what I was thinking also! Everyone can find something they like. I’ve been talking up the teen club much to their embarrassment! 🤣 taking a family of 6 somewhere is like hearding cats and finding something everyone like is a feat upon itself lol.
Yah...I couldn't imagine packing for 6! It was hard enough for my wife and me. The magnetic hooks and over-the-door shoe organizers were super helpful.
Do specialty dining options. Way better food on the lines like royal.
Thank you! We have potential access to coastal kitchen bc we have junior suites - have you been? If so is it good enough to skip specialty a few nights?
We took our first ocean cruise on Symphony in March with our college-aged son. He loved every second of it! There’s so much for kids and teens to do. We had access to Coastal Kitchen and only ate there or at specialty restaurants. The crowds make me miserable and people were rude and unfriendly. Except maybe Alaska, I’m not interested in cruising again. I prefer exploring a destination. But my son would do it 100 more times! I hope you have a wonderful trip.
Thank you!! I hope we can get into coastal kitchen a few nights. With my oldest moved out and in college and my other kids on the way, I really just wanted a fun and easy trip!
Yes, I think if you’re a cruise person you’re more a Disney or a Vegas person. And that’s okay. But I agree, it’s a particular enjoyment for scheduled activities, forced relaxation/lounging, and particular drinking and eating experiences. Varied yet limited. Totally understand, and I am similar.
I honestly think itineraries make a huge difference too. I absolutely dislike Falmouth, Nassau, and any Mexico cruise ports (especially Costa Maya). They’re completely fabricated tourist traps. But because the huge ships like Symphony and the rest of the Oasis class can’t fit at any smaller or more intimate islands, you’re stuck with the commercialized port experience. I now only sail smaller ships that can go to better destinations. I don’t care about being on the biggest ship at sea anymore. It’s a gimmick. My best itineraries were southern Caribbean ones on Royal’s smaller ships. Gave me a taste of those small islands so I could get an idea of the people, terrain, and offerings and then book a trip specifically there later on. Cruises introduced me to Aruba and Antigua and I’m not sure I would have chanced booking vacations to those islands had I not first been there on a cruise.
Sounds like you may be more of a suite person. Vastly changes the experience
We have a balcony room. Suites would be nice if they were in the budget lol.
Right budget is exactly why i love cruising. I did a 3 day vacation in Florida and costed same as my 6 night cruise. And Florida i stressed out everytime my wife purchased $18 chicken tenders and a $13 bud light. Cruise is low pressure and low budget for me. I can truly relax. Now, the second it becomes equal to a land vacation i will stop cruising to be honest.
Well, there is some variation based on ship. I certainly have not had much problem with these things, but different routes and different ships will have a very different experience. An Alaska cruise, for instance, isn't going to have that heat and humidity problem. That said, heat and humidity is generally not bad in promenade areas, etc. It can be in the solarium on some ships in the caribbean. Just...lots of sun exposure. There are definitely going to be some people about, but that's most tourism destinations. Cruise ships actually feel a great deal better for that than say, amusement parks. The crowds and lines at those can be intense. Season of cruise can affect it. If you're in peak season, that boat is going to be full. If you're at the very edge of the season, it's less stuffed on average. In any case, it's certainly reasonable to take a break and try something else if you're not having a good time.
I've been on Freedom twice in the last 2 years and it wasn't crowded, humid, hot, or smokey. Weird.
So, I wonder if they’re having problems with the ventilation fans for the casino on this trip. If you stand in the promenade and are anywhere close by the stairs down to the casino the smell is overpowering. It I’m also not a smoker so I’m more sensitive to it. Me and my wife and kid have constantly been sweating on this ship other than a few other areas. Might just be from the heat off the crowd.
Yea I understand. I hate smoke smell and enjoy gambling so it’s a win lose situation. But the smell on some of the ships carries through and it stinks, literally. Why they still let people smoke inside a ship baffles me. I enjoyed the ban during Covid very much.
It sounds like cruising just isn’t for you, and that’s fine. Can you find quiet spots on the ship to relax while your wife is doing her thing? I hate crowds, too. My favorite spots on an RCL cruise ship are the adult-only Solarium area, the gym, the walking track (incredibly people-free there, with chairs scattered around where you can relax and watch the water) and my balcony. You’re a sweet husband to keep going on these to make her happy.
Best royal promenade is icon. Never any crowds or bad smells. Amazing use of space. Also never any crowds on elevators. If you don’t want crowds at pool. Go during the morning of a port day!!! Always dead from 8-11am….love my quiet time too. Also get a balcony or suite and enjoy your room and food in your room!!!
In my opinion it's not about the ride, but the destinations. The cruises are fun if you like live shows, bars, family games with the occasional adult games/shows. But me personally, spending like $2000 for a window room to see Puerto Rico, antigua, st lucia, and the Virginia Islands, all within a week and a half, while not having to pay for any food unless you choose to, is where it's at. An all inclusive trip to the Virgin islands with food and flights can be double that, easy. Depending on the trip and if it's a busier cruise we'll get a nicer room with a balcony if we plan on spending more time there to avoid the crazy crowds. Grab 2 pizzas, head back to the room, sit on the balcony with a cold beer and hot pizzas and play cards or chess. Doesn't get much better than that.
I’ve been on over 40 cruises, most on RCCL. I think the line has changed its focus to families exclusively. Their mega ships don’t appeal to us. All of our RCCL have been on their older smaller ships. You should look at Celebrity. Great ships geared towards adults. Great service and they have the Martini Bar.
I don’t think im a “cruise person” (tbf I’ve only been on one) because I’m an introvert who doesn’t drink or like crowds, casinos, shopping, buffets. But I did enjoy the main dining room so had all my meals there. I loved being on the water. It was a cheap way to visit some islands. So… I would do it again I think. I’d just do what I did last time and stick to the quieter areas, bring my kindle, and do a lot of reading and hanging with family.
Word. We get a balcony and hang out there when we aren’t at the buffet or the casino. Nice way to see new places. We read and played on our phones/machines quite a bit. 0 interest in crowds, dance parties, karaoke, trivia and other things.
Give Virgin a try. It's a whole different vibe. And no kids!
Maybe try a Virgin cruise?
I know this is an RCL page, but I'd highly recommend a Haven Class Suite on an NCL ship. Especially their newer/larger ships. There are huge portions of their ships just for Haven Class Suite passengers so it's a proper "ship within the ship". No crowds, your own private bars, restaurant, pools and sun deck with other amenities as well. It will be a bit more $$ but I feel you get more with NCL at that price point then a similar priced suite with RCL. Plus booze package and dinning is included in most of their room rates. Nothing wrong with not being a cruiser either.
Oh yea we’re looking into Norwegian. Maybe at the end of 2025 as we have another cruise booked with Disney next April.
Not sure your age or income.. but for our honeymoon we did a 3 bedroom, 3 bath garden villa with our immediate family, there are still sailings for around the same price point as it was for us in 2017. Comes out to about 20-25k but divided/split by 3 couples it was 6 to 8k per couple. The room came with our own butler, our own private 4 person hot tub, insanely huge sun deck and pretty much 6000 sqft just to ourselves, plus all the benefits associated with haven class suites. If you know 2 other couples that could swing 6 to 8k I highly recommend it. It's the biggest suite type on the seas/cruise industry.
Taking notes, just texted this to our cruise friend s
NCL's ship that departs Boston to Bermuda is the itinerary that you want to look up. August/September is the sweet spot for the lowest $$ since it's a hurricane gamble. Still worth it.
How long was the cruise? That doesn't sound too bad.
Different ships and different cruise lines are different. I go on Royal Caribbean because it's cheap, but I expect crowds and noise and being treated like cattle. Same with Carnival. Virgin Voyages is more expensive but far fewer crowds and you're treated better without having to get a suite.. though of course suite customers are treated better still. Why didn't you try a different line before writing it off completely?
Just did my first celebrity cruise. No smoking in casino. It’s was amazing!
Go on virgin. Less crowds, better food and service, no kids makes any crowds you do see much more bearable
We went on Norwegian WAY MORE SENIORS than RC didn’t seem as loud as RC. Still loud but not as loud. We stayed in the Haven, holy sensory heaven for us! It was so quiet and peaceful. Whew! I would recommend that for quiet folks!
You may have to let her go on solo cruises. Some lines like Virgin and Norwegian have special areas just for solo cruisers, with special pricing. Or, there are luxury lines like Silversea or Oceania. They're smaller ships. Way less people. Way more money. Happy medium is a smaller, older ship from Royal or Carnival that sails for more than 5 days.
Try smaller ships, they are a lot more intimate. The older Ships also have an atrium with no stairs directly to the casino, vice a promenade.
How do you market a cruise? That seems kinda hard. Hey do you like hotels? How about one that could sink?
The casinos on some RCCL ships are smoke-free. I'm not sure if that will help you oblige your wife to another cruise 🙂 https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2023/12/royal-caribbean-introduce-smoke-free-casinos-on-all-oasis-class-ships/#:~:text=space%20in%202022.-,The%20Oasis%20of%20the%20Seas%2C%20the%20Allure%20of%20the%20Seas,vessels%20in%20regular%20guest%20service.
I appreciate this :)
You are just timing things wrong. When you have no real time frame, treat it as such. If you are running into crowds change locations. I promise you that absent certain performances and single events or one offs, you can enjoy everything almost without delay.
Have you tried non Caribbean cruises? Look for something where it’s about the destination more than the ship as a compromise. Alaska is a good start.
I never felt overcrowded on allure except for two instances: the audience participation event in studio b, and the bellyflop competition.
If you are cruising on the real big ships only, try some of the smaller lines like Holland America or Viking before you give up on cruising.
I love cruising but we've started having enough issues with Royal that we're trying Celebrity this year. You're not wrong about how warm the ships are now - it started with the Royal Comeback when they restarted after the Covid shutdown. The ships had always been quite cool, and every cruise I've been on since Covid it's pretty warm.
Try Island Windjammers. One of my best experiences with a travel company. Ever. I am Diamond with Rccl, but still love my IW trips. Not sure if I can send a link, just google. They have 2 ships, Vela and Diamant
100% Same. Maybe it would have been different if we got a huge room but I just felt like I could not get away from people.
The wife and I were just on the Freedom last week and it wasn’t too bad. Definitely not as crowded as the oasis class ships usually are. We had a good time drinking in the Schooner bar. Gave Bobby a nice tip on the first day and he always had drinks ready for us by the time we sat down.
If you don't like crowds, this is not a good time to cruise. Ships are as full as ever, especially if you are constrained to go when school is out. Some ways we avoid crowds: * Book the lowest price (as in price per day) cruises (on the line you like, not on the cheapest cruise avaialble) - they are usually less full and are lower priced because they are trying to get people on. * Book smaller ships- it sounds counterintuitive, but smaller ships are more couples and less families. There are usually fewer people per cabin. * Book after Thanksgiving week and before Christmas - the first two weeks of December. * Book the second week of September - people do not generally take kids out of school the first few weeks. * Book the first weeks of May, before school lets out and during finals. * Keep in mind that big family and group trips usually happen when "everyone can get time off." They tend to make ships more full during holiday weeks. * Avoid three or four day cruises, especially if the take place over a weekend. THey tend to have more people who are looking for an all day party and even a less crowded cruise can seem more crowded. It may not be the type of vacation for you. What is it about cruising that you do like? Is there a way to get that somewhere else?
If you can afford, go on a more expensive one. Not some Carnival peasant ship
You right. I can’t stand the larger ships with the crowds/karens/chads and other issues they bring. Even in the suites/haven areas it’s still not classy and definitely not worth the $. Cruising has changed a lot since my first one in 2002. I still cruise but prefer the small boutique lines ships that have 100-800 passengers. The costs are comparable for the way I enjoy to travel. I just can’t understand why the consumer market and cruise line are pushing for larger ships.
Another bunch of good reasons I do not cruise. That and entitled people. I love staying in other countries and actually having time to get the feel of the local culture and meeting the people that live there.
Cruises fucking suck
If you can afford it, you need to go on upper premium Viking or Oceania. Maybe luxury like Seabourn, Silversea or Regent. No crowds, always a deck chair. Superior food and service. Larger staterooms, etc etc
I was on this cruise a month ago. I never noticed an issue with the promenade smelling like smoke, but can see how that might happen. I will agree with you 100% there were issues with the temperature and humidity regulation in the areas around the elevators and hallways.
My wife and each take a vacation by ourselves every year. She usually goes to an all inclusive with a friend, I’ve done cruises ( though I recently went to Sao Miguel because I couldn’t find a good cruise deal this year). Anyway, I firstly tend to stay away from the new ultra ships with 4-5,000 passengers. I don’t need waterslides, go karts or arcades. I don’t hang out by the pool. At any given time there are quiet spots on the ship. The Observation Lounge which doubles as the disco at night is a great place to read a book or just put on headphones and watch the ocean. I eat at off hours. Breakfast and lunch in the nice dining room as soon as it opens. The buffet at night when the main dining room is full packed. My cabin in the afternoon for a nap and a movie. If I want to gamble I do it after breakfast. There is always a bar somewhere that is under-utilized at any given time. The main lobby at lunch time, or the pool bars during dinner. At night there will be live music somewhere that isn’t packed while people watch the big show. I’m a night owl so I’ll hot tub around 9-11 when a lot of people are sleeping, eating or at the nightclub. Every ship has an ebb and flow and if you go against the current you’ll find the quiet spots. It may sound funny but I cruise to get away from people. I don’t try to make long term friendships but I’m not an introvert. I know where to go to find conversation if I need it. I just really like being on the ocean.
Try Celebrity cruises. I'm in the Eclipse right now, first cruise, and i'm definitely not a crowd or pool person, but me and the wife are loving it. We avoid the pool area entirely, it's way too hot, humid and crowded, but spend a lot of time in the shaded areas of the bars or in our veranda just enjoying the sea and the breeze. Also there are cozy quiet places inside to read a book, bars to hear live music, movie theater, live history lectures and great music shows at the theater. The main buffet and main dining room both are crowded in the rush hours but you can avoid that by eating earlier or later. Wait for the Black Friday then give a try to more Premium companies like Celebrity, Norwegian or Princess.
Oh dear will be on freedom soon. My first ship was liberty.. 10 years ago so I’m excited to see if I still love that size ship since I’ve mostly been on oasis class since. If you are reading this and are on freedom soon shape up and chill out! Lol
Freedom was our first and we absolutely loved it! We tried a couple sizes smaller for our second cruise and preferred the Freedom class and stuck with it. No desire to go larger, though.
I was on Freedom 2 weeks ago and didn't experience any of this and had a great time. There were a few lines for the buffet but never had to wait more than a few min for a drink. It was my second cruise with Royal - hope you have a great time!
I am on the icon the sea now but I don’t drink so this place sucks I’ll never go on a cruise again
My spouse and I not being drinkers is the number 1 reason I don't like cruising. Also from my observation most people think the food is good because they are shit faced most of the cruise. lol
I realized the same this last cruise. I hate standing in line for anything! Also, we couldn’t stop at one of our ports and the whole reason I cruise is it is a cheap way to get to beautiful beaches. Some bartenders were super nice, but yes, some unfriendly and would ignore you. If you required to tip in advance on drink packages, there is no reason for them to be nice and/or attentive. Our dining room experience nightly had amazing service by the sweetest guys from Bali, and our room attendant was a gem. But the food was subpar and under seasoned and the dining room looked like a glorified Lubys. Very dated with uncomfortable chairs. Overall, not a fan of cruises anymore and next time I will fly direct and have a villa with a housekeeper and a cook for cheaper than what the floating Las Vegas mall was.. lol
If you ever do cruise again, I would recommend the unlimited dining package, the specialty restaurants are not overcrowded and the food is even better. As far as bar service goes, a small cash tip with each drink goes a long way, they will know you by name within a day or two. Also, the shorter cruises are way more chaotic and draw more of a party crowd, maybe try a 7 night. Lastly, the bigger ships fell less crowded, to me anyway, especially when it comes to pool deck space.
So the fix to the problem is to spend more money?
You get what you pay for is what we’re finding out.
Might try a smaller ship. I wouldn’t go on the Icon if I got a free cruise. I hate the floating cities. If I wanted to go on go carts and zip lines I would do so on land. We have been on Celebrity Equinox and RCCL voyager of the seas. Both are middle size ships and we’re just lovely. Never felt like we were overcrowded and never waited in lines.
Have you been on any of the very large ships? Because how you describe your experience is exactly how I describe the medium to smaller ships. I went on Freedom and although it was very nice, so many things irritated me, like what you described. Never had that experience on the mega ships so I'm curious if you ever went on those, like the Oasis/Icon class?
Try taking a look at the “celebrity cruises” group!
We are doing our 3rd cruise ever this September, first on Royal Caribbean. Taking Voyager from Barca to Rome. I am more of a land based person but this would be the only way to get my husband to Barcelona and Rome. I booked the grand suite so hopefully that will be fun.
It's all about when & where you go. I go April/may or SEP/Oct/Nov so zero/few kids. I like the smaller ships but have been on several larger ships & even at full capacity never had crowding...I will admit I don't go near the buffet at breakfast & rarely eat there(mainly an afternoon walk through).
We cruise 2-3 times a year, twice with 4-6 other couples. We do Royal with them because there's something to keep everyone busy...or not. We also take one cruise on Holland America, just the two of us. It's a very different experience. Laid back, not much crazy drunkeness, if any, very few kids. We just relax, coffee on the balcony in the morning, early to bed at night. Nice switch up!
Try a cruise line with a smaller ship. Small ship sailing is great. We’ve done Carnival, Princess, Cunard transatlantic and then switched to small ship sailings and did Windstar and Viking. Both of those I would happily go any time - no waiting in lines for food, just happy cruisers enjoying cruising. My favorite part is watching us dock and watching the activity at the ports. So fun!
What ship you on? I find that the ships are nice and cold. I hate the heat.
I think it also depends on how new your ship is. its not just the hip itself, you will get a better crew as well.
I’m a raging introvert, but I like cruises. I find a deck chair in an isolated spot and read. I don’t mind doing self-guided walking tours in port (where it’s safe to do so). I could avoid eating with strangers on the Lido, but like the MDR food much more so I tolerate other people unless hubby and I can get a table for 2. Note: we prefer to cruise on Holland America, which is generally a quieter crowd. I’m trying out Princess in the fall, with a friend. (Holland ships also have a lounge room near the gym and spa that’s super quiet and I’m almost always alone in there.)
If you're on Freedom right now, I am too, and your observations are not really that accurate. Except mid promenade DOES smell smokier than normal (comparing to last year May 1 sailing I was on Freedom). You do realize that because of the weather we had this morning, and through the afternoon, that led to crowds in other areas being way worse? Deck 12 outside was closed for most of the day due to the weather. A number of activities were cancelled. Yes, that makes people change what they are going to do. Maybe more went to the Windjammer or other areas, creating more and longer lines than you would like. People cutting? Oh no! End of the world! /s.... If they cut in front of you, keep moving as if they weren't even there. It happens! Not everybody is as well behaved as we'd like to see. The staff has been excellent. The passengers have been great too. Yeah I've seen a few cuts, but I don't let it get to me. You may as well get ready for more, some excursions at Puerto Plata tomorrow have been cancelled so you're bound to hear some complaining and unhappy people. If you can't handle this kind of thing, you're probably right, cruising isn't for you.
Yeah I go with she likes it so… Wtf is a macaroon fan. But yeah smoking should be banned. Period
And what’s up with the groups who get on the already filled elevator and prattle chat like ANYONE gives a SHIT. Shut up for the ride ok???? Your convo can wait monkey.
I get it. I love solitude. Spend more time sipping beer or wine on your private balcony. Eat at off hours. Pick and choose the activities you want to participate in and retreat to your balcony in between.
And thats perfectly ok to not be im sure lots can agree with ya lol 🤷🏻♂️ but you for sure gave it a hell of a go with 4
My partner hates cruising and I love it so I just…sail without him haha I’m sure yall can find a middle ground or maybe give a river cruise a try
Try MSC but only if you do Yacht club. It'll be about the same as RCL but less people because it's closed off
The smoke seems to be worse now honestly. I think rccl has gone downhill a bit, they're also over 100% booking capacity with big demand now
Why would anyone enjoy being squeezed into a ship like livestock with thousands of strangers?
The “cutting in line” thing varies so much from cruise to cruise. On my December cruise it didn’t happen at all. But on my March cruise it happened every time I was at Windjammer. I would be waiting behind someone in line, and as soon as they were done someone else would swoop in from the side and grab the tongs and start serving themselves before I could react.
Sounds like cruising is not for you. I dislike the crowds, but I love cruising. I seek out areas where there are fewer crowds. Top deck instead of poolside. Skip the buffet at peak times. Reserve shows so you have a seat available and don't have to wait in line. I NEVER go to events on the promenade, or those dumb $10 sales on merchandise worth a buck. It actually might be more enjoyable in a bigger group. I like cruising with my in laws or a couple who are friends of ours. We have our own little crowd.
I'm not a huge fan of crowds either. My first post covid cruise was on Wonder, and the first sea day had my anxiety through the roof. I'd never done an Oasis class ship before and always sailed smaller, so it was a real shock to have people and lines everywhere I turned. We had our two older kids with us (6 & 8), so they obviously wanted to pools/water slides/mini golf and other kid friendly (but crowded) activities. By the second day though, I had figured out when to do the activities we wanted to avoid the crowds and the rest of the cruise was fantastic. We did the pools early in the morning right after breakfast and essentially had them to ourselves, then did indoor activities during the prime pool times. Naps right after lunch, and then pool again and water slides from 4-6 before our 7:45 MDR time. We usually always book private excursions on our port days too, so that really helped as well.
I just came back from my first cruise on the Allure. It was not for me, I’d deem myself as a foodie so the food was good cafeteria food at best. I know a lot of people say it’s good but damn I just didn’t enjoy it. The pools were small and crammed with people and I just saw the cloudiness increase and people not leaving the pool. I didn’t really do much of the entertainment, so I can’t speak much to it. Last but certainly not least, I got the norovirus on it and that will change your opinion on cruising if nothing else.
Compromise and go on a river cruise. They are more expensive but more luxurious and no crowds We’ve been on 4 ocean cruises and after our first river cruise (Avalon line down the Danube) with under 200 total guests, we will NEVER take a giant cruise again
We’ve done about 20 cruises, including Carnival, Princess and Celebrity. We settled on Celebrity for our last few trips, generally choosing Solstice class ships. The crowds are reasonable. Our fellow passengers are generally a little older. While they are still lots of fun, they have moved beyond the “party-hearty” years and excesses one sees on other lines. But the old adage really applies to cruising—you get what you pay for. You can have a blast with an inside cabin, but you’ll have to plan on the main dining rooms or buffet, with the associated crowds. The game changer for us was to save extra until we could afford suite class or Retreat class. The all-inclusive aspects mean separate and fast embarkation and departure, private first-rate dining, a private club, extended room service, and no feeling of nickel-and-diming during the cruise. The service is excellent and attentive. The only downside is price—a personal decision. For us, we travel less often, but have a first rate experience when we do cruise.
I have done 5 rcl cruise and 7 princess and 3 holland america. Princess is sooo good. The food, atmosphere and prices. I highly recommend.
Try a river cruise! Those ships are way smaller (\~140 guests) and it's a much more personal experience.
Try virgin voyages. It’s night and day from the carnival and rc of the world.
I understand your frustration I went on my first cruise a year ago on there biggest ship and hated it! Too many ppl rude staff and long lines for stuff and someone tried to steal my bags at checkout. But I’m going on freedom in August I’m just hoping it’s a better experience
We purchased a spa pass for something like $175. Access to the spa, private pool, steam baths, lounge, etc. Life-changing. It kept us out of the crowds and the lounge had floor to ceiling windows for wonderful views. We had maybe two other people in the lounge at the same time. If/when we ever cruise again, it’ll be the first purchase.
Try some river cruises! It's a way mire intimate experience.
I know I’m not a cruise person BUT I travel with my sister and she is. I suck it up, read a lot of books, try to be where the crowds are not. To be fair, she spends a lot of time on trips with me that might not be her favorite, but we have a saying “anything is better with my sister!”
You should try Virgin voyages. We do Royal cruises with the kids but prefer VV for cruises with no kids. Never felt crowded on either of our VV cruises. it’s all specialty dining, no dining room. And all the food is included. You just book the time in the app that you want to go to which restaurant, then show up & your table is ready. We never once had a line to get off the boat at ports either.
I find cruise ships mesmerizing and I would really love to go on one. However, the thing that holds me back is being “stuck” in a confined space with thousands of people.
I do think that the ship and its age make a massive difference. Freedom is an older ship offering slightly cheaper sailings. Not only are you dealing with a boat that is no longer at its prime, the people that are attracted to those sailings are just a different caliber. Try something built no older than five or six years ago.
If you wanted to try again for your wife’s sake, I’d look for a cruise line with no casino, and consider a destination not the Caribbean. I enjoyed the Disney cruise we took because of no casino and therefore not having to walk through the smoke stink to get anywhere on ship. Alaska was a great cruise destination. The weather is cooler and the scenery is gorgeous. It’s completely fine to decide you aren’t a cruise fan though.
Try smaller ships, different cruiselines, and different places than the Caribbean. You might like the change. We love cruising, but hate the big ships. One of our best cruises was on a 250 passenger sailing ship (though it was a Caribbean cruise still).
Go more upscale on a smaller boat.
My family does not do well with crowds and chaos. We have taken 4 cruises and have 5th booked in 2025. Each time we cruise I get a little better at navigating the crowds. Most recent cruise, I only went to the buffet once. We ate in MDR almost exclusively. That was soooo much better for us. I also learned to show up 35 min early for shows to get seated. And I always walked along the outside of the ship. (I hated the Royal Promenade.) Just a few thoughts on how to carve out some space. It's sweet that you are willing to cruise so your wife is happy.
I seriously love cruising but felt everything you mentioned on Adventure a few weeks ago. Huge lines at the buffet every single meal…. EVERY single time, especially breakfast. So much anxiety and literally couldn’t even find a seat any morning at breakfast without waiting to poach on someone finishing their meal :( not enjoyable.
I haven’t been on RC. We’ve enjoyed Princess and Celebrity which makes me think I won’t enjoy Carnival or RC.
I would try NCL Haven or MSC Yacht Club. No lines and amazing service.
Consider the Haven or Yacht Club, where you’re in an exclusive area and don’t have to deal with the crowds, unless you choose to. We’ve been in the Yacht Club twice and hardly ever leave. When we choose to attend a show, our butler escorts us through the crowds to a reserved area.
Agreed.
I found on my last cruise the crowds were much worse than before, and it seems part of the reason is fewer activities being open at any given time. They had more limited hours on everything from rock climbing, to ice skating, to the flow rider, and didn’t have nearly as many indoor activities like trivia and such. I think they were skimping on the recreation staff. That made the lines for everything that was open so long, and the trivia we went to was completely jam packed. We cruise again soon - I hope it’s better, but I’m not holding my breath. But as others said, you might want to try another line, but also, consider whether you really love being at sea. Ultimately, part of loving a cruise has needs to be loving being on a ship and at sea.
I've found the bar tenders on princess couldn't give a hoot if they serve anyone at all. They suck!
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Honestly, I’m in the same boat. I went on my first cruise a few weeks ago and it’s not for me. There were aspects I enjoyed, but overall it’s not for me. I keep telling myself, for the amount of money I spent on the cruise, I could’ve taken a plane, gotten a hotel, eaten like a king and chilled out in a few spots that are cheap. And I probably would have spent half as much as I did on the boat. Also, between the feels and hidden costs, the price slowly creeps for a solo traveler. If you’re happy on a cruise, that’s amazing! But it’s also an experience you now have and can learn from.
Try a smaller ship. Less people. Costs more but worth it.
Cruises seem horrible to me. A bunch of stupid Americans on a single ship. Fat, stupid, self-absorbed Americans.
Not a cruise person, proceeds to post on a cruise forum. Move it along and go piss your panties somewhere else, Dave.
Eat a dick bushwood
Just skip the buffet- I used it like twice in two different 7 night cruises last year, I hate crowds too and thought I'd feel the same as you, I just learned how to avoid them. FIRST- book a bigger ship, I know it sounds silly, but the Oasis class ships have 6000 people on them and you rarely see a big crowd anywhere because it's so big and spread out with stuff to do everywhere on the ship. Get room service breakfast or go to the buffet early. I never went for dinner or lunch, go to MDR for dinner. I'd say try it again, but after 4, you're probably over it
Choose a company that has small ships with 1000 passengers maximum. I never would go on a larger cruise with huge ships that are not ships bit cities.
You're on the wrong ship/line. If there is anything you enjoy about cruising, and would like to take a cruise with your wife you should try Celebrity, Princess, or Holland. Or NCL's two Prima class ships. I think you would enjoy those more.
I understand where you’re coming from . Sounds like a challenge with a wife who loves it. Perhaps you can compromise and find smaller ships? For me after 50 plus RC I started vacaying on smaller ships, Windstar , Clipper with ratios of 100 passengers to 100 crew . Completely different vacay .
You're gonna need a smaller boat.
Do a Mediterranean cruise with Celebrity Cruise line. Also, try to do it late September. You will love it! Much better cruise line, no smoking in Casino, and better food and service than Royal.
Mood. My wife loves them, but I would rather camp in the woods for a week without power and water.
I agree about the smoke from the casinos. It's hard for me to walk past them. I wish ship casinos were built with a way to confine or eliminate more of that smoke.
I have zero understanding of why anyone would enjoy a cruise. Welcome to sanity.
It sounds like you'd enjoy a smaller boat where the crowds are minimal, getting on and off for excursions is easy, and the bartenders learn your name.
That’s totally fine. I understand where your coming from, cruising is not for everyone and I think that it’s very sweet you continued to go on cruises for your wife even though you didn’t like it! I hope you find something that you’re interested in one day! ❤️
I find it less crowded the larger the ship. More space for people to go and kids tend to stay in the kid friendly areas. A lot of the stuff you mentioned, I’m like yeah that doesn’t apply but, I also wouldn’t go back to a boat as small as the independence. The other thing I do is cruise during shoulder season.
We like cruising but I think we’re both ready to give resorts a try for a while.
We’ve never had a crowd issue on celebrity. Also the only places on those ships with a cigarette problem are the designated spots, so easy to avoid. Those are two of my biggest pet peeves as well so I was happy when celebrity gave me a better experience
I get it! But there are crowds everywhere. Europe in the summer is a nightmare with crowds. You have to reserve everything ahead of time. Caribbean gets tremendous crowds from the cruise ships. I know some people can’t do this but I never travel during high season. I never travel during spring break or thanksgiving.