Does anyone else dislike cruises? Pics added

So we are home from our first cruise & I can honestly say I didn't enjoy it.
Let me start off by saying that it was a 'low budget cruise' in comparison to what is out there because it was planned as a family reunion by my cousin. We had our kids plus my MIL & 70+ members of my family. The destinations were not places that I would have picked. Nassau Bahama's was a true disappointment-we were completly baggered by hair braiders, taxi drivers, street vendors, pot dealers-you could not take two steps without being asked to buy something, we saw several pickpockets in action. Paradise Island was very pretty & we had planned to spend the day at Atlantis until we found out that it was cost us $370 for 6 of us to use their water slide & pool. CocoCay is a private Island & it was nice & clean. Key West was nice but hot & we had the kids & our Mom's so we just walked around. The service on the cruise was excellent, the ship was really beautiful & clean, but we hated being corralled around like cattle. Most of the excursions were ridiculously priced for what they offered. The food was good & plentiful, but I was really grossed out by the number of truly obese people that ordered several entrees for dinner & then they could barely walk but took heaping plates back to their rooms. The shows were mediocre & the night life was pretty lame(mostly because three quarters of the guests were stuffing their faces at the midnight buffet).
I guess we are not the cruising type-I'm so thankful that I have a few days to rest before I go back to work. We stayed in Florida & visited BIL's & families before the cruise which was a lot of fun. Aunt Flo decided to join me on the the first day of the cruise, I'm sure that didn't help my attitude! Between my mother & my MIL I was ready to jump overboard!!!!
Rich went online last night & booked our anniversary trip for TWO to Sandals in Jamaica-I think we just need to get away alone!
Does anybody else not like cruising?

Re: Does anyone else dislike cruises?

I have never been on a cruise...b/c they have not really intrigued me...I love walking around and getting culture from different place...having the different cuisine....and I like being on my own schedule...


BUT...DH wants to go on 2 cruises that I would like as well..

1. Alaska
2. golf cruise (every day or two you go to port to play golf)

Re: Does anyone else dislike cruises?

Here are a few pics(notice my short hair!)







with our head waiter(he was awesome)


our reunion picture

Re: Does anyone else dislike cruises?

Sorry you did not enjoy yourself. I LOVED my cruise. I think a lot had to do with you being with family. It is hard traveling with family.
Hope you have a great time in Jamaica.

Re: Does anyone else dislike cruises? Pics added

OMG I love cruising...I'm sorry to hear that you didn't enjoy yourself. Maybe it was because you were with family....out of all the cruises my husband and I went on the one we had the least amount of fun on was the one that we went on with family. It was annoying to always try to plan to do things together and then have to wait around for others. The times we have gone by ourselves we had a blast. What cruise line did you go on?

Re: Does anyone else dislike cruises?

I am not a big fan of cruises since the last one we went on my luggage didnt arrive until three days into the cruise and yes, I had EVERYTHING in one bag!

Re: Does anyone else dislike cruises?

Was that the Adventure of the Seas cruise? I went on the Southern Caribbean cruise last month with my hubby. We loved it! Sorry to hear you disliked it.

Re: Does anyone else dislike cruises?

What a great idea for a family reunion though. I am sorry you didn't have a good time on the cruise.

I've never been on one and I don't think I could ever get the nerve to go on one. I get extremely seasick, and just looking at the water lapping on shore gets me nauseous!! People say these big cruise liners are different, but I don't trust them. They're just not for me!!

Have fun on your trip for two!!

Re: Does anyone else dislike cruises? Pics added

Sorry you didn't have a good time. i personally love to cruise, but your pictures are beautiful!

Re: Does anyone else dislike cruises? Pics added

Your new hairdo looks fabulous! Sorry you didn't enjoy the trip, but I can't say I blame you - I wouldn't find a cruise enjoyable with 70 relatives, either But, I already know that cruising is not for me - even though I've never been - I am just not a 'seafaring' type of person.

At least you have your anniversary trip to look forward to!

Re: Does anyone else dislike cruises? Pics added

Im sorry to hear you didnt have the greatest time! I also think it was because you were with such a large group. I think anything over 4 people can be too much sometimes

Hubby and I LOVVVEEEE cruising. We've been on 3 cruises, and plan to go on many many more! We've convinced several couples to also go, and theyre addicted too

I also disliked Nassau Bahamas (Waste of time, and just as you described).

I wish those of you that say its not for you, would give it a try. Being on a ship is the most amazing feeling !

Nice pics!

Edited to add: Just curious- I think family reunions are such a nice thing to do. But on a ship, were you ALL ever really able to be in one place at one time? Did you get a chance to mingle with a good portion of your family? You must have needed a list with everyone's room #'s That really is nice that your family is close like that.

Re: Does anyone else dislike cruises? Pics added

Sorry you didn't enjoy I also love to cruise. I do agree with everyone about the family thing Which Sandal's did you book? Your hair looks great

Re: Does anyone else dislike cruises? Pics added

Thanks everyone-I guess it was just the family thing that made it hard. I don't know what I expected from the cruise but it just seemed lame. We usually upgrade or stay in more luxurious accomodations & this time we didn't so maybe that was it.
I'm loving my short hair, I can't believe I let it get so long!
Anna-we all ate dinner at the same time & same area of the dining room. We knew where some relatives cabins were-we had three in a row w/ our kids & MIL. We had a few times when we met in the conference room & then went to take a picture together or go do something. We had four generations there so we weren't all interested in doing the same things. My family is really entertaining-just being around them is fun.
Stacey-we booked Sandals Montego bay-we love it there!

Re: Does anyone else dislike cruises? Pics added

Sorry you didn't enjoy the cruise. What cruise line did you go on? I personally enjoy cruising but it does really depend on what cruise line and your accomodations etc. I think being with 70 people could be quite trying and I could just imagine the crowds at the pool lol! But your trip for TWO to Sandals sounds like a great makeup vacation.

Re: Does anyone else dislike cruises? Pics added

I'm soory you didn't enjoy your vacation, but I'm glad you had the opportunity to enjoy some time with your family.

I have to say I've never been on a cruise, and the thought of being on one doesn't appeal to me at all.
After going on an all-inclusive HM, I feel even more strongly that I wouldn't enjoy a cruise, because I like a lot of freedom and spontaneity on vacation, and being limited to a ship or resort kind of limits that.

Re: Does anyone else dislike cruises? Pics added

Kelly your pics are nice & your hair looks wonderful, I miss you!

Re: Does anyone else dislike cruises? Pics added

I'm sorry you didn't have fun, but you've got some great pics!

I have taken that cruise two times- one time for a family reunion and the other for fun- I don't like them either- I just don't like cruises.. I'm really not into the whole 'mass marketed' vacation thing.. eating dinner with a gazillion people, etc.

Maybe if it was back and the day, people had manners, etc... but again- vacationing with middle America- not my idea of fun .

I feel your pain- but the pictures look great.

Re: Does anyone else dislike cruises? Pics added

Kel ... I'm sorry that you didn't have the greatest time on the boat. I went on a cruise once and we had a great time ... I was with 10 people in my family ... so not that big of a reunion.

I would like to take a cruise to Alaska ... Rob has never been on one, so who knows if he'll enjoy it. I did read an article today that scared me away from cruises for a while tho'.

Newsday article

BTW ... I love your hair and I like seeing you around the boards some more!!!

Re: Does anyone else dislike cruises? Pics added

I have to say that I never thought I wanted to go on a cruise. But we went on one for our 1 year annivesary last year and had a great time.

We were lucky -- not too many kids on board b/c it was September and for the most part everyone was really nice -- we ate with the same group every night and it was a wonderful bunch of people. We did our own thing on the islands and truly enjoyed it. Our ship was really nice, clean and the service was great.

I would go again but I'd be afraid to try another cruiseline just because our experience was so good.

I've heard lots of bad stories too though -- so I think it depends what cruise line, when you go, who you go with, etc.