So I saw THIS Atlantic article linked on Bluesky and I found myself conflicted, nodding in agreement with almost everything the author wrote, yet simultaneously thinking he sounded exhausting and pretentious himself.
It made me think though, that while this absolutely jibes with everything I’ve thought after hearing from my acquaintances who have gone on them – and from extrapolating based on my own understanding of their personalities – I’ve never really asked “peers” what they think. Have you been? How was it? Why would you agree to be trapped inside a compacted hotel where you will literally die if you leave at the wrong time?
…also I didn’t think I could post the link in [email protected]
EDIT:
After 44 comments, here’s where we stand:
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28 (including me) responding to the questions
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21 have been, 7 (including me) have not.
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Of the 21, 15 liked it, and 6 didn’t (some answers were a bit ambivalent, so I made a judgment call)
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Of the 7, 5 didn’t think they’d like it and 2 implied they might in very specific circumstances. I guess technically I could make 3, but I don’t really want to “camp” on a personal family history reenactment.
So, of those who have been, the vast majority saw value in it. The people who haven’t been either know themselves or have some serious sour grapes; I choose to believe it’s the former, for completely scientifically objective reasons.
I haven’t, but I’ve stayed at resorts and don’t think that I’d like cruises because of what I do at resorts.
I like to give myself time at each location, getting to know it for several days. I might get to know the ship in that time, but I feel like it is just getting to know the resort instead of the destination. The only caveat to that would be a place like Disney World, which is gigantic.
I’m also interested in things like local culture and food, which isn’t something you are going to get on a cruise ship.
The experience looks to be cheaper, but I’d rather pay to stay on location.
The general plan on a cruise is that the ship docks fairly early and you get off to do the culture and food things, then you have a time to be back, so really you’re only on the ship for evenings and sleeping. You do get occasional ‘at sea’ days where you don’t dock, but it’s unusual for that to be a decent proportion of your trip.
Yeah, but you generally only get one day per port, which I find doesn’t give you too much time to really go around and experience a place.
Oh no, absolutely, it’s a flying visit for sure. I enjoyed my cruise experience because we went to a bunch of places I’d probably never go by myself, I got a snapshot experience of a bunch of coastal towns.