Wondering if cruises are really worth the hype? Whether you’re a first-time traveler or an experienced cruiser, we’re breaking down the pros and cons of cruise vacations—so you can decide if it’s the right fit for your travel style, budget, and stress tolerance.
Dreaming of a great time along the ocean waves—but wait, is a cruise worth it? If you are imagining a getaway with your transportation being on a big ship in the ocean, then let’s talk about whether or not a cruise is a good value for you.
As experienced cruisers (we have our fave!) we are sharing the pros and cons of putting your hard-earned money toward a cruise vacation.
It’s true that cruises make for a great vacation idea, especially when you’re hoping to skip the entire planning process. However, just like anything else, cruises, too, have their pros and cons.
Is a Cruise Worth It?
Whether it is your first time considering a cruise, or if you are an experienced cruiser and looking at options, we’ll help shed some light! Cruises are a ton of fun when done the right way and with the right cruise line. Experiencing the high seas via a ship or mega-yacht is a great mode of travel.
Follow us through this blog post as we talk all about cruising, the cruise fare, and making the most of your time onboard. So, by the end, you can decide whether or not it’s the right fit for you.
Pros of Cruising
If you’ve been daydreaming about a cruise, it’s pretty justified. With all its cool perks (which we’ll share below), a cruise can make for a fun trip idea and can be a great value for travel!
Convenient to Book
Ever been put off by the daily spending when on vacation? This can make your trip overwhelming. But we’re hoping to relax, right? Well, at least on the ideal trip. And that’s where a cruise can help.
Cruises bundle all your meals, accommodation, and entertainment into a single price. As a rough estimate, you can expect to pay between $250 and $1000 for a seven-day cruise. There are always optional add-ons, such as drinks, if you didn’t include a drink package when available. This upfront extra cost can be a budgeting advantage.
There are also many cruise deals available all year round, especially when you book early. Cruise agents are a great way to find deals and book with ease.
So Much Variety
Cruise ships are truly floating resorts. They’re jam-packed with activities; Broadway-caliber shows, Drag shows, Cirque du Soleil-esque affairs, fun tastings, and wine workshops.
If you are on one of the amusement-type ships, there are waterslides, rock-climbing walls, and so on. Most ships have casinos if that is your jam. There’s something for everyone on board. A lot of people answer the question, “Is a cruise worth it?” as a resounding yes due to the things to do on the ship!
Shore Excursions
The first time we went jet-skiing was on an island while cruising. Same for stand-up paddleboarding. Shore excursions are offered on all major cruise lines. This is a great option if you don’t want to try to find the most trustworthy service offering. You are safe in the ship’s hands.
Also, if the shore excursion runs late getting you back to the ship, you are covered. They have a tie-in to communication with the ship, so they will wait for you. Note- this is only the case when you book your excursion with your cruise ship. Trust us, you don’t want to be that person running to the ship screaming, “Waaaiiit!” as everyone laughs at you from the balcony. Not a good look!
Great for Family/Group Travel
Because cruises offer so much variety—it can be an easy choice when looking for a trip that caters to every individual’s unique travel style. You enjoy relaxing by the pool, your mom loves the entertainment by comedians on board, and your best friend enjoys shopping till she drops… that cruise will give y’all a taste of everything!
Romantic Couple Getaway
Cruises are also amazing for couples. We love a cruise because it’s just us, in the middle of the ocean, doing what we love, traveling. Sure, most ships have great wifi and sometimes cell capabilities, but it is a great excuse to tell everyone you will be off the grid for a week!
Sampling Destinations
One of the best things is that cruises whisk you away to multiple destinations—all in a single trip (paid once). You can explore new cultures, soak up the sun at exotic beaches, and experience a taste of different countries, all without repacking your bags. We love this aspect of it. We have been to islands via first cruise, then return to explore in depth over a few days.
Perfect Solo Adventure
Cruise lines like Virgin Voyages cater to solo cruisers as well. If you haven’t considered solo travel, you should. It is a great mental health getaway- a retreat of sorts. You can spend as much time on your own adventures, or you can find a group of other solo travelers and have a good time that way.
Sea Days
We love sea days on a cruise! Sea days are the days when the cruise ship does not have a port of call. We know some people who are looking for a short cruise with only days at sea. You can do this on some smaller sailings, but we think that the sea days allow for a forced chill. Meaning, there are no ports to feel some pressure to go and explore. Longer cruises almost always have sea days because of the distance it takes to get from one port to another.
With this being said, there is a slight negative if you are not in a certain climate that you enjoy. For example, we went on an Alaskan cruise and there were some at-sea days that were gloomy, and not enough going on aboard the ship. You can find out more about that in our Holland America Alaska Cruise Review.
Cons of Cruising
Despite all the pros, a cruise can have its cons, too. You should consider these if you are wondering if cruising is a good idea for your next vacation.
Less Time at Ports
If you like to enjoy more than 8-10 hours at a destination, a cruise may not be a suitable option. Cruises offer limited time at ports (especially considering you should have ample time to get back on board), which means you may not get the chance to fully enjoy local cultures.
Feeling at Sea
A cruise may feel restrictive. The pro of having everything pre-planned takes away your independence to wander out into destinations and explore them at your own will. Also, if you or a loved one experiences sea sickness, you want to choose a larger ship (as motion sickness can be less on bigger ships). However, even then, the weather can change quickly bringing rough seas. You may feel the rocking more than you expected.
We do love our Dramamine, though. I (shannon) get a ton of motion sickness, but when I use the non-drowsy Dramamine, I am good to go. Not a commercial, just telling you the deal.
Crowds and Costs
A cruise can easily get crowded (especially during the peak season). So, be prepared to share that boat with hundreds or thousands of fellow passengers. Also, keep in mind that excursions are part of the fun when disembarking at a port—but they can cost a lot. (However, booking an excursion isn’t mandatory).
The best cruise lines don’t make you feel like you are cattle being herded. Some need to work on that process a bit.
We should also add that with this con, one of the main reasons we do not like cruises is the amount of kids. We don’t have to worry about that with Virgin Voyages. If you want a kid-friendly cruise, just don’t go that route. If you are like us and love a kid-free zone, head to Virgin Voyages and book your adults-only cruise!
Additional Cost
If you are not a planner, nor are prepared, you may be surprised by an extra charge depending on the cruise line you sail with. For several cruise lines, tips, alcoholic beverages, room service, and sometimes even soft drinks will be an extra cost. With Virgin Voyages, there are no drink packages and alcoholic drinks are an additional cost. However, the flip side is that they offer sailor loot you can earn or buy in packages. That loot can be used for spa treatments, onboard duty-free shops, and those boat drinks you are craving!
Is a Cruise Worth It for YOU?
We love cruising as a way to create travel memories. And when it comes to Virgin Voyages, we 100% recommend the trip to be worth it. Their experience is what I call the dream luxury cruise vacation! And the good news is it’s kids only. No kids on the ship! Did we mention there are no children?!
When choosing a cruise for yourself, you want to ask yourself your expectations from your trip. Do you want a planned itinerary or the freedom to independently wander?
If you are in a group, do you have to do the same thing everyone else is? The answer is no, by the way. Are you okay with a crowded ship? Once you know which factors you prioritize from the pros and cons—you’ll have your answer to ‘Is a cruise worth it?’ right there!
FAQs | Frequently Asked Questions
We say, yes! We have had all types of cabins and staterooms on cruises and we have found that we spend a lot of time on our balcony. There is something about being in the middle of the ocean in the middle of the night and walking onto your balcony. You suddenly feel very small in the beauty of the ocean.
With Virgin Voyages, all of the restaurants are included. There is no main dining room. We love not having a schedule or set plans. That being said, on Celebrity Cruises, we paid extra for a couple of the specialty restaurants and enjoyed it. We also loved it because it was different from the dining room crowd which felt very controlled.
We don’t think it is unless you live near a departing port. When you get settled into enjoying the cruise, you are disembarking and leaving again. The whole airport stress isn’t worth it for us to take a short cruise like that. If you don’t mind the travel stress, go for it!
