We all know one.
Maybe it’s your spouse. Or maybe it’s a family member. Or maybe it’s friends you’ve wanted to cruise with for a fun vacation. The bottom line is we all know someone who has needed a little “convincing” to take a cruise.
If we’re honest, cruising isn’t for everyone. We understand that. But we liken it to visiting Las Vegas. Personally we aren’t big Vegas fans. However, if you go there for a few days and can’t find a way to have fun, then that’s on you.
It’s the same principle on a cruise ship. With so much to offer, if someone doesn’t have fun on at least a short cruise, that’s their fault.
But for some people, begging and pleading simply doesn’t work. For those more difficult cases, here are some suggestions on how you can get them to finally book that cruise and realize what they’ve been missing. These suggestions are based on some of the most common reasons we’ve heard for people not wanting to take a cruise…
“I don’t want to be herded around like cattle.”
Cruise ships are big. Real big. Some of the largest can hold nearly 8,000 passengers, while it’s common for most ships to hold around 3,000-4,000 passengers. No matter how you slice it, that sounds like a lot for any single ship.
However, most non-cruisers don’t realize how vast the ships really are. They can be up to 1,200 feet long and have 20 decks (sometimes more). In other words, yes there are a lot of people, but there is also a lot of space. There may be crowded areas, but the idea that you’ll be shoulder to shoulder the entire trip is just wrong.
Going on a cruise is no more crowded than going to Las Vegas and staying at a large resort. Meanwhile, with the ships being so big, there are always quiet, peaceful places you can find that are out of the way.
“I don’t have a passport.”
We get it. Getting a passport is expensive and time consuming. If you don’t have one, getting one is added time and expense.
But if you are an American sailing from the United States, then odds are that you don’t need a passport. Cruises that depart and return to the same U.S. port are called “closed-loop” cruises. In these cases, passengers need only a birth certificate and government-issued ID (driver’s license) to return to the port.
It’s still a good idea to get a passport anyway as it’s the easiest way to travel internationally. Not having one, however, is no excuse not to take a cruise.
“I’m not going to Mexico (or insert any country). It’s dangerous!”
Many spots in the Caribbean, Mexico, and The Bahamas have higher crime rates than many spots in the United States. That’s true.
However, the headlines may overblow how bad things are — especially when traveling on a cruise. Cruises are a lifeblood of tourist dollars to spots with ports. That means the government goes to great lengths to ensure that things are safe for tourists and cruise lines.
Meanwhile, the tourist areas frequented by cruise passengers are typically some of the safest spots in the country.
So yes, wear flashy jewelry an throw around cash while off the beaten path and you might find trouble. But stick to the touristy areas and you’re fine.
“I don’t like being on a schedule.”
If you’ve taken a cruise, you know that one of the biggest misconceptions is that you’re always on a schedule. In reality, there’s only one timeline to meet — be back on the ship by the all aboard time when going out into port. Everything else you do is completely up to you.
Sure, things are scheduled throughout the day, but you don’t have to go to them. If you want to spend all day at the pool, you can do that. If you want to eat at 10 o’clock at night, you can find plenty to eat. If you want to just hang out on your balcony sipping margaritas, then by all means enjoy your vacation.
There’s a schedule of activities, but not a schedule of your activities.
“I get seasick. I’m not going.”
One of the biggest fears when taking a cruise is that you’ll get seasick. And yes, it does happen. However, it’s a lot less common than you’d think.
First, cruise lines do their best to avoid stormy weather. They know that guests don’t like to feel the ship rock and roll. In cases where you can’t be avoided, you should know that modern cruise ships are surprisingly stable. Features of the ship, such as underwater fins, help to minimize the rocking. As well, seasickness pills, patches, and remedies are widely available and a smart item to pack.
If someone gets serious motion sickness, then a cruise likely isn’t for them. However, anyone who thinks that the ship will be constantly rocking is wrong. Most times you can’t even feel the ocean at all.
“I don’t want to eat the same thing for a week straight.”
Let’s be honest. Even if you dined at a restaurant you love, you likely wouldn’t want to eat it for every single meal. Any food gets tiresome when you eat it again and again.
Cruise ships know this and keep it in mind. That’s why the ships have tons of eating options to help people get some variety. For example, modern ships offer upwards of 20 different places to eat, including everything from a burger joint to a high-end steakhouse.
In addition, a number of cruise lines partner with world-renowned chefs to create menus for their guests.
Eating is one of the biggest draws to to cruising. The cruise lines do everything they can to make sure you are well-fed no matter how long your cruise.
“You only get a few hours in port. No thanks!”
Limited time in port might be one of the biggest complaints in cruises. It’s true that most ships allow just about eight hours in port before heading back to sea.
If this is a sticking point with someone that keeps them from taking a cruise, there are a few options you can use to calm their complaint. First, one reason many people love cruising is that it gives them a chance to visit several different ports in one vacation, without even having to pack and unpack suitcases over and over again. This is also nice because it gives you the chance to experience different ports to see where you’d really like to visit again.
Find a port you like on a cruise? Then you can always return on another trip for a traditional vacation. In this way, cruises are like a sampler of ports.
As well, many cruise lines are now offering overnight stops in some ports. This allows not only more time in port, but a chance to experience a city’s nightlife and evening dining.
