Preconceived notions about cruising – true or false?
Many people think cruising is just for old people, couples in love, honeymoon or families with kids. More precisely, it is said cruising is for ”newly wed and nearly dead.”
I am not really sure if I thought so too. I guess I just was not 100% sure about going on a cruise myself, 28 years old, single, with no kids and usually a solo female traveler.
But still, one of my wildest dreams I just had to fulfill was going on a cruise. No doubt about it.
So then when I was chosen as one of the three official bloggers of the Maiden Voyage of the MSC Preziosa cruise around the Mediterranean, I was the happiest person on Earth.
But I was ready to face the preconceived notions about cruising and prove they are just simply wrong. I am one of those people who can get bored super easily, a lot easier than ”normal” people and those who know me well, might nod and laugh right now.
So if I could personally find enough things to do on board MSC Preziosa and still enjoy myself, than what the majority of people think about cruising is simply NOT true.
And there I was, spending a week on board this new 333 m long and 38 m wide flagship decorated with thousands of Swarowski crystals, uncountable number of mirrors, interesting statues and mostly violet colour.
Cruise industry forms nowadays just 3% of all traveling and after spending just a few days on board MSC Preziosa I have to admit I do not understand why.
MSC Preziosa ship
I came across these questions, the preconceived notions about cruising and here are my answers:
1. Will you ever get bored on board a cruise?
Hell no! After years of traveling I can be pretty quick when exploring places but even after 6 days on board MSC Preziosa, I still did not manage to do and see everything I would like to. I could easily spend another week or even two there to get to know the ship well. There’s something to do in every corner.
in the 4D cinema on board MSC Preziosa
2. Is cruising expensive?
Hm yes and no. I am more of a luxury traveler and couldn’t do it without my high-tech peace and quiet, but always manage not to spend too much when traveling. There’s always a way. The cruise holidays come with accommodation, some meals and drinks, night entertainment, pools, kids program and obviously transportation from port to port. Some cruises include also the flights (MSC does). Trust me, you could never spend the same amount of money paying for the same quality like on board a cruise. So in this sense cruising is not expensive. But if you are a budget traveler, a backpacker who prefers to camp or sleep in a park/on the beach to save every penny, then the answer is yes it is.
Remember, a lot of things come included in the cruise price, such as this theatre performance.
watching the performance on board MSC Preziosa with my friend
3. Is it really only for older people and married with kids?
No. There are theme cruises for students, or party cruises, or even any other cruise is the best place for young people who like fun. No matter if you are alone or in a group. There’s pools, hot tubs, disco, different restaurants, table tennis, 4D cinema, formula trainer, shopping, pampering in spa, casino and much more you can do on board. And then all the excursions in different ports.
I mean if you can see abs like these on board a cruise, how could cruising be only for old people? :)
the Ukrainian acrobats after their performance on MSC Preziosa
4. Will you put on weight on board a cruise?
Most probably yes. I think many people will. The huge majority will. We are just too greedy and when we see so much food in the buffet where you can spend half of the day stuffing your mouth until you cannot get out of the chair, trust me, that’s exactly what you will do. But there are also so many healthy options, salads and fruit that you don’t have to. As I am working on staying fit when traveling, cruising was an experiment to see if it is possible not to put on weight.
5. Will you get seasick?
No. Most of the time you don’t even feel the cruise is moving that much. Usually it is juts a very slight motions or you can feel your bed is kind of rocking. Rarely, and we did have one day like that, the sea was rough, it was super windy outside and the full moon added to it I think too, it can get a bit difficult to walk. The night it was like that on MSC Preziosa I felt like drunk and had a slight headache but just for a while. No throwing up for the majority of us. Small boats are much worse than a big cruise when it comes to seasickness.
My first time on a cruise was a press trip organized by the MSC cruises. I will never be able to thank them enough for such an incredible experience on MSC Preziosa Maiden Voyage! All the opinions in this post are strictly my own.
Shikha (whywasteannualleave)
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I’ve never been on a cruise before so it’s good to see that some of the pre-conceptions I had about it before aren’t true – maybe it’s time to give it a go!
Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
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Oh yeah, go on a cruise holidays and see by yourself ;)
Vid | Bruised Passports
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We couldn’t have agreed more, Alex. Cruising, in our opinion, is the best way to indulge in luxury without spending exorbitant amounts :) And we love the feeling of waking up in a new city every day. The food – Oh my, the food. So difficult to resist, isn’t it? :) We wrote a very similar post on cruising to convince our readers that a cruise is just not for the old:
https://www.bruisedpassports.com/wheres/cruises-for-young-adventure-seekers
Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
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Comment@ flip:
Would be cool around the SE Asia I think. Hope you will be able to make it true :)
flip
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I have never been to a luxury cruise ship yet but a couple of years ago, me and my friend were planning to try the one that sails in Southeast Asia but it didn’t push thru. Still on my bucket list though. :-) Safe Travels Alex.
Crazy sexy fun traveler
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Comment@ TammyOnTheMove:
I don’t like dressing up either but was surprised it was not that bad and formal at all. Any dress could make it :)
TammyOnTheMove
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I can’t make up my mind about cruises. I think I’d prefer the ones for young people, because the one for older people seem a bit pretentious. I hate the fact you have to dress up for dinner for example. But it is certainly a great way to see the world.