We've all dreamed of going on a cruise at least once. An incredible poolside where you can swim and soak in the sun, stunning views of the sea at all times, and exotic destinations are luxuries bound to make your trip memorable. We imagine ourselves enjoying a stress-free lifestyle that'll help us relax while spending quality time with our loved ones. However, reality rarely matches up to our expectations and wishes. Travel agents only tell you positive things about the cruise trip you want to book, but they don't always spill the whole truth. Here's a compilation of photographs shared by former passengers and staff members that show us another side of cruise ships, the one brochures never tell you about.
1. Boarding the Ship – Expectations
Thanks to Hollywood movies and television series, we think that cruise ships look a lot more glamorous than they actually are. Even the boarding process seems simple. It seems like you reach the dock, go up a staircase, and board the ship, all in a few minutes. There’s no need to stand in endless queues or go through tedious check-in procedures. Your holiday starts right when you reach the departure deck.
That’s why we put on our favorite clothes and expect to take an incredible photo in front of the ship before our trip begins, like the woman in the picture.
2. Boarding the Ship – Reality
Boarding a luxurious cruise ship isn’t what our creative minds envision. More often than not, cruise ships offer a rather bland boarding experience. The whole boarding process can take a lot of time. You’ll probably spend a few hours passing through security checkpoints and waiting in line to board the cruise. So, it’s imperative to pack sunscreen in your bag in case you need to wait out in the blazing sun.
Most of the time, we forget that cruise ships host hundreds of people, so the process will undoubtedly be long. Packing some patience along with your favorite clothes is vital.
3. The Poolside – Expectations
For many cruise ship passengers, one of the best parts of the trip is enjoying the poolside. There’s no better way to spend a day at sea than sprawled on a lounge chair by the pool with a cocktail in one hand and a book in the other. The glossy brochures sell the poolside experience as a peaceful one, where you can enjoy some alone time in the company of the sound of the waves.
Sunbathing and swimming sound like the perfect way to spend your holiday on a cruise ship, but you aren’t the only one who wishes to stay by the pool the whole day.
4. The Poolside – Reality
Although pools can be so incredible that they surpass our expectations, they aren't ready to accommodate all the passengers on the ship. Common areas, such as the poolside, are often packed with people. Everybody wants to enjoy their holiday trip as well. So, you'll have to get used to sharing the cruise attractions with the rest of the passengers. Who knows, perhaps you end up making new friends that will make your trip more memorable.
There’s no doubt that the poolside in the picture is impressive. Still, it’s impossible to enjoy a relaxing experience like the one brochures expect you to have in an area so crowded.
5. The Hot Tub – Expectations
Apart from the beautiful pools, most cruise ships have luxurious hot tubs. They always catch our attention and make us dream of unwinding in them without anyone else around. We envision a private moment where we can enjoy a good reading, with the vast ocean roaring behind us. We’d then take a picture of ourselves enjoying a luxurious holiday and share it on social media to make our followers jealous.
Travel agents always ensure that your stay on the cruise will be intimate and unique. If that’s true, no one should bother you while you stay in the hot tub, right?
6. The Hot Tub – Reality
We regret to inform you that privacy is something that cruises rarely provide. Just like the pool and any other common area, you can be sure that the hot tub will be packed all day. You’ll rarely be able to enjoy some time alone there. Strangers won’t hesitate to join you if you’re the only one in the tub. And, more often than not, they won’t even ask for permission.
If you want to soak in the hot tub for a while, you must get ready to share it with talkative older people, noisy children, and couples who won’t stop smooching.
7. The Rooms – Expectations
Thanks to Hollywood movies, our creative imaginations picture cruise rooms as top-of-the-line hotel rooms. Like many hotels, cruise lines sell a dizzying array of cabin types. Although we rarely understand the difference between them, we can't help but expect a certain degree of luxury. It's a cruise ship, after all. Rooms must have at least plenty of storage space, a king-sized bed, a fancy TV, and a breathtaking ocean view.
When we go on vacation, we must be comfortable so we can relax. However, not all cruise lines offer rooms with the high-end facilities we need to enjoy our stay on the cruise.
8. The Rooms – Reality
Contrary to what most passengers expect, cruise ship rooms are significantly smaller than hotel rooms. Storage space is minimal, too, and not all cabins have windows with a beautiful ocean view. Unlike at a hotel, it’s complicated to switch rooms once on board. If you have a problem or find out that your cabin isn’t to your liking, you’ll have to bear with it for the rest of your vacation.
On cruise ships, extensive cabins with ocean views are for those who can afford them. If you can’t, you’ll have to be content with a picture of a beach hanging on the wall.
9. The Live Shows – Expectations
When we book a cruise trip, travel agents always promise us that there’ll be many attractions on the ship. After dinner, we’re supposed to enjoy different kinds of live entertainment, such as music concerts, magic spectacles, and comedy shows. We know that we won’t be seeing the most famous artists on board; that’d be too expensive, and most cruise lines can’t afford it. Still, we expect something decent and exciting.
In this picture, we can see a Rascal Flatts performance on a cruise ship, with a delighted crowd cheering. Who wouldn’t love to see a band like that on their vacation?
10. The Live Shows – Reality
Live shows depend entirely on the type of cruise trip you take. However, live shows will rarely be memorable for the right reasons. Most of the time, you’ll be listening to an amateur artist doing their best to win some money on what looks like a karaoke night. Don’t rely on the entertainment onboard to be the most astounding aspect of the cruise ship because you’ll be utterly disappointed.
Before booking a cruise, it’s good to check what truly lies behind the advertised idea of “live shows.” That way, you can plan something different for your nights if the itinerary doesn't look appealing.
11. The Casino – Expectations
Regardless of which cruise we’re going on, we expect the casino to offer all we could find on a trip to Las Vegas. It’s always fun to dress up and spend an evening gambling and having some drinks instead of watching a lousy live show. In our imaginations, we’ll find plenty of entertainment in the casino: numerous slot machine options, table games such as blackjack and poker, and some roulette tables.
Moreover, we expect the cruise line to reward us, passengers, with free drinks and meals for the time we spend in the onboard casino. We deserve it, after all.
12. The Casino – Reality
Unluckily, the casino almost always turns out to be a disappointment, just like anything else on the cruise ship. On most ships, the casino area is much more modest than expected because of the restricted space on board. This means there’s little to no room for plenty of games. Besides, most cruise ships close their casinos around 2 or 3 a.m., so there’s no way you can stay there all night.
So, you won’t find waiters offering you drinks, table games, or roulette tables. You’ll have to be contented with a small variety of slot machines in a dim room that smells like cigarettes.
13. The Ship – Expectations
When we book a cruise trip, we expect the ship to be elegant. In our imaginations, we’ll be offered exquisite cuisine prepared a la minute and accompanied by pours of fine wines. During the day, we’ll relax in wonderfully intimate onboard lounges. Then, at night, we’ll go to bed and rest our heads on a luxury mattress topped with fine linens. That’s what cruise trips look like on TV, in fact.
Nevertheless, we should never forget that what we see on TV is mere fiction. It doesn’t accurately depict life on a cruise ship, so we should lower our expectations to avoid disappointment.
14. The Ship – Reality
Most cruise ships won’t look as glamorous as advertisements suggest. Unless you pick a costly cruise line to travel with, you won’t be snacking on caviar or popping champagne every day. The common areas will be crowded, and you’ll only find privacy in your cruise cabin. The ship may even look old and rusty, making it less attractive than it was in the brochure you received when you booked the trip.
In our opinion, photographs in the ads are to blame for our disappointment. They’re often taken when the ship is new, so it won’t look the same when you see it in real life.
15. The Age Range – Expectations
There’s a widespread belief that cruises are the perfect getaway for friends. It’s also said that they’re an ideal spot to make new and interesting acquaintances or even find love. Brochures show us young adults making the most of their vacation, enjoying the sun, and having fun while drinking delicious cocktails by the pool. It’s only natural, then, that we expect to find dozens of individuals our age on board.
We want to have a good time, and young people are the best at it. We go on vacation to party, not to put up with elders who want to spoil the fun.
16. The Age Range – Reality
Travel agents say cruising is a great vacation option for all ages. However, you’ll find that ships are filled with older people most of the time. They might be charming and wise, but they’re no fun to hang out with. They occupy the hot tub, play shuffleboard on the deck, eat dinner at 4 p.m., and talk about their grandchildren all day. Is there anything less exciting than the life of a retiree?
Perhaps cruise ships aren’t attractive for young adults because they’re too expensive. We’d love to enjoy an impressive journey across the ocean, but not many of us can afford it.
17. The Dining Room – Expectations
Since we think cruise ships resemble luxurious hotels, we expect the dining room to be very spacious and have a fancy chandelier hanging from the ceiling. We also imagine that there’ll be a famous chef preparing every meal. Even if no one tells us what we’re going to eat during the trip, we’re sure that the dining restaurant will offer versatile menus that cater to various tastes and preferences.
There’s no doubt that having unlimited choices for breakfast, lunch, and dinner is the best part of a vacation. Since everything is included in your cruise fare, you can eat all you want.
18. The Dining Room – Reality
In reality, the dining room is nothing like an elegant restaurant. The traditional cruise dining experience means you eat at the same time, at the same table, with the same people and same servers every single night. More often than not, there aren’t many options on the menu, and the food isn’t that tasty, either. It looks better than it tastes, just like the meals you can find in a high school cafeteria.
The dining experience depends a lot on the cruise line you selected. Some offer a premium service, but it comes with a premium price tag that not everyone can afford.
19. The Weather – Expectations
When we go on a cruise trip, we always hope for good weather to accompany our vacation: clear blue skies, moderately warm temperatures, gentle breezes, and certainly no rain in the forecast. Most of the time, we’ll be on the ship’s deck swimming, sunbathing, or simply taking a drink by the pool. A cruise is close to worthless without good weather. What can you do apart from praying for the bad weather to leave?
No one goes on a cruise trip to watch live shows or spend time in the casino. The biggest attraction is outside, at the poolside, and we all know it.
20. The Weather – Reality
Like any vehicle that sails the high seas, cruises are at the mercy of the weather. Cruise lines know it and try to place their ships in destinations where the weather is less likely to affect the itinerary, but humans can’t control everything. From rain and high winds to fog and low or high waters, there are many ways bad weather can ruin our plans or even our whole trip.
We can't control Mother Nature. Our holidays don't concern her much. All we can do is wait for the sky to clear up while passing the time doing some tedious indoor activity.
21. Onboard Activities – Expectations
Contrary to what most people think, cruise trips aren’t all about swimming and sunbathing. Part of the allure of this kind of vacation is the array of onboard entertainment options. Supposedly, we can find plenty of amenities that’ll keep us amused if we don’t want to stay at the poolside. For example, some cruises have cinemas or theaters. At the same time, some have water skiing and indoor skydiving facilities.
Since there’s a lot of competitiveness in the cruise industry, they have to offer innovative activities to attract travelers. So, it’s only natural that we expect onboard activities to be a pleasant surprise.
22. Onboard Activities – Reality
There’s no denying that cruise ships offer exciting onboard activities. However, these activities can be expensive, so you may not be able to enjoy them unless you have enough money to spend. And even if you do, they’re often booked before you even get the chance to think about it. Thankfully, some activities are not as popular as surfing or indoor skydiving that you can enjoy, such as watermelon carving.
Although these fruit creatures look charismatic, the activity itself doesn’t sound very exciting. Still, it’s better than staying in your room or waiting for an hour to get in the hot tub.
23. The Spa – Expectations
Nothing says “getaway” like a fabulous spa. We travel to leave our difficulties behind and forget the work stress we suffer daily. So, we expect our cruise ship to offer the same services that land-based spas provide: facials, wraps, body scrubs, massages, steamy saunas, thalassotherapy pools, and maybe salon and barber services. Cruise spas are so popular among passengers that appointments to enjoy them often fill up on embarkation day.
We can’t blame people for booking spa sessions right after they board the cruise. The spa ambiance alone is enough to put a person in vacation mode, something we desperately need when we start our trip.
24. The Spa – Reality
Disappointment surrounds most cruise facilities, and the spa is no exception. The spa service isn’t included in your fare on most cruise trips, so you have to pay extra for a massage appointment. What makes them even worse is how dirty they are. Spas don’t get any ventilation, and the rooms get humid thanks to the sauna steam. Instead of helping you feel relaxed, this common area can only make you feel tenser.
The picture shows an onboard spa we wouldn’t want to visit. The ambiance is dark and gloomy, and the lounges look uncomfortable. Can’t someone light an aromatic candle to make it look more welcoming?
25. The Souvenirs – Expectations
Souvenirs are a massive part of the tourism industry and an excellent way to include our friends and family in the travel experience. When we go on a cruise trip, we expect to find gift shops at every stop the ship makes with many classy, one-of-a-kind items to impress our loved ones. Although souvenirs may end up gathering dust in a cupboard, we want to gift something unique and meaningful.
We know that bringing souvenirs is a social convention, but it’s one we enjoy complying with. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing someone we love smile when we give them a special gift.
26. The Souvenirs – Reality
Once again, our expectations are too high, and we can’t help but feel disappointed when we’re faced with reality. The gift stores most people encounter during their cruise trip leave a lot to be desired. The ship takes us to places where we can only find classic clothing stands on the street with ordinary souvenir t-shirts and dull dresses no one wants to wear, like the one we see in the picture.
Although items in these touristic traps are overpriced, we can't go home empty-handed. So, we buy pricey souvenirs and feel bitter about it. Let's hope we're at least supporting the local economy with our purchase.
27. Ocean Sightseeing – Expectations
Some cruise brochures convince us that we’ll be able to catch a glimpse of wildlife as we sail in the ocean. While there are no guarantees about what you may see, we trust that we’ll be able to see whales or dolphins during the trip. There’s something magical about spotting marine life, so we spend a lot of time on the deck waiting for some wild animal to appear and surprise us.
Although we may decide to vacation on a cruise to enjoy the poolside or reach new destinations, having an unexpected encounter with a marine animal is something everyone would consider a reward.
28. Ocean Sightseeing – Reality
We all wish to see fascinating sea creatures during our cruise trip. However, the truth is that these encounters are rare, so you shouldn’t get your hopes up. Instead of catching a glimpse of a dolphin as it arcs gracefully through the waves, you’ll get to witness miles and miles of endless ocean, with nothing to break the monotony. Perhaps, you’ll enjoy a lovely sunset if the weather’s good, but that’s pretty much it.
Don’t get us wrong; the ocean is impressive in its own way. Still, after days of seeing no land and no animals, it’s easy to get bored of the landscape.
29. The Beaches – Expectations
When we think of the perfect beach, we picture a seashore with white sand and a tranquil turquoise sea. We also imagine ourselves sitting under a tall palm tree while wearing sunglasses and holding a cocktail in one hand. Is there anything more pleasant than that? We expect our cruise ship to take us to a tropical paradise where we can spend our whole afternoon, but it isn’t that simple.
Passengers have tight time restrictions. The seashore may be incredible, but it’ doesn't mean a thing if you can’t spend more than two or three hours relaxing on the beach.
30. The Beaches – Reality
The image of a serene beach is the first thing that comes to our minds when thinking of cruise trips. However, “serene” isn’t exactly how we’d describe the ship’s stops. Even if the seashore is genuinely as marvelous as it looks in the brochure, it’s hard to appreciate it with a herd of people ruining the scene. Just like us, all cruise passengers want to enjoy the beach and relax.
As we can see, tourist beaches lack the tranquility travel agents and brochures promise us. We might sound anti-social, but it would be amazing to be able to book a trip just for ourselves.
31. The Seasickness – Expectations
Sailing the high seas can be refreshing for many. That’s what we’re told when we book a cruise trip. However, there’s a not-so-pleasant aspect of being on board that cruise advertisements never show you: the possibility of getting seasick. Although it doesn’t happen to everybody, it’s pretty common. The rocking movement of a ship can cause you headaches, nausea, and even vomiting during the first twelve hours of your trip.
If you do get seasick, take comfort in the fact that recovery is only a matter of time for most people. All you need is to stay hydrated and be patient.
32. The Seasickness – Reality
We say that you can recover from seasickness with patience, but that isn’t the case for everyone. The endless rocking motion of the cruise can be too much for some and end up ruining their vacation. There are some medications you can take to reduce the symptoms of motion sickness, but sometimes they don’t work. In the most severe cases, the poor passenger experiences headaches and nausea throughout the whole trip.
The worst of all is that there’s no way you can be ready to combat seasickness. You never know how your body will react to the constant movement of the ship.
33. The Titanic Moment – Expectations
Whether you like Titanic or not, there's no denying that the film is one of the most acclaimed movies of all time. Titanic has an iconic scene where the protagonists pose on the ship's bow. Any couple on a cruise trip probably fantasizes about recreating this incredible moment together. It must be very romantic to have your partner hold you as you watch the sunset and feel the wind blowing in your hair.
We wouldn’t blame people for booking cruises just to get an opportunity to recreate this romantic scene. It’d be even better if a photographer captured the moment and let you have the picture framed.
34. The Titanic Moment – Reality
Although couples would love to recreate such an iconic scene on board, it’s almost impossible to do so. No matter how solid a relationship is or how keen each partner is to perform their unique versions of Jack and Rose, ships simply aren’t designed like the Titanic anymore. Besides, hearing people laughing in the background and the music from the bar can quickly ruin the romantic atmosphere.
The woman in the picture is trying to recreate the Titanic scene, but she has no partner to pose with. The photo doesn’t look that epic, but at least she seems to be having fun.
35. The Crew – Expectations
Living on a cruise sounds luxurious between the unlimited buffet, exotic destinations, and entertainment around the clock. That’s why we expect the crew to be glamorous and elegant. We don’t think much about the way they live on the ship because we believe their only purpose is to serve us, the passengers. Most of us assume that being a steward must be pretty enjoyable work and never consider the disadvantages of the position.
The crew can appreciate the tours, see beautiful views, explore different countries and enjoy live shows without paying a single dollar. What’s not to love about a job like that?
36. The Crew – Reality
Unfortunately, the crew doesn’t get the same treatment as passengers. Their lifestyle isn’t fancy at all. Their living quarters are smaller than the passenger cabins and don’t have windows. Their bathrooms are tiny, too. Stewards can barely brush their teeth without bumping into the toilet or the shower. On top of that, they spend the whole day working, so they rarely have time to enjoy the cruise’s activities and destinations.
While passengers unwind by the pool, stewards serve drinks, scrub floors, and keep the massive ship and its facilities running. The job doesn’t look that fancy from this perspective, right?
37. The Pirates – Expectations
After seeing Pirates of the Caribbean, we can’t rule out the possibility of encountering an impressive pirate ship on the high seas. The movie has given us a glimpse into the life of pirates, and, thanks to it, we developed some sympathy toward them. While you look at the ocean from the deck, it’s inevitable not to imagine how incredible it’d be to come across someone as charming as Jack Sparrow.
We don’t think we’ll find pirates on our cruise trip, so this isn’t precisely an expectation. Still, we can’t help but secretly dream of becoming part of the Black Pearl crew.
38. The Pirates – Reality
Hollywood loves to show romanticized versions of the world that don’t quite match reality. Although pirates exist, they’re nothing like Jack Sparrow and certainly don’t live exotic lives. Real pirates don’t have the resources to own an impressive ship nor have sassy parrots as companions. They don’t go out on thrilling adventures on the seven seas seeking buried treasure chests, either. They’re dangerous people drawn to this lifestyle out of desperation.
There’s nothing romantic about pirates. They’re considered thieves who search for ships to loot. So coming across a boat full of them while you’re on a cruise trip wouldn’t be a pleasant experience.
39. The Romance – Expectations
Cruises have long been associated with honeymoons and romance in general. The sole idea of escaping your daily responsibilities with your special someone is enough to breathe life into the couple’s relationship. Brochures and travel agents always tell you that you’ll have all the privacy you need on the ship. You’ll be able to watch the sunset upon the ocean, go on dates every night, and enjoy romantic shore excursions almost daily.
The chance to unwind together on a cruise trip seems like the best possible romantic getaway. However, is it possible to find privacy on a ship with more than a hundred passengers?
40. The Romance – Reality
We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but there’s no way you can find privacy on a cruise. The ship’s common areas are constantly crowded, so it’s hard to spend an intimate moment with your significant other. You won’t be able to dip in the hot tub without sharing it with strangers, and you certainly won’t be able to appreciate the sunset without noise from the bar in the background.
The best way to find privacy on a cruise trip is to sign up for an activity no one cares about, such as a dance class or a watermelon carving contest.
41. The Bathroom – Expectations
We all want to roam the seven seas in style, so it’s only natural that we expect to have a restroom fit for a king in our cruise cabin. We imagine we’ll be able to relax in a private hot tub while we look at the ocean and hold a fancy cocktail in one of our hands. There’s no need to share the whirlpool bath with strangers with a bathroom like that.
If you want to enjoy a restroom like the one in the picture, you’ll likely need to upgrade to a suite cabin. It may be expensive, but it’s worth the extra cost.
42. The Bathroom – Reality
We don’t know why we expect cruise restrooms to be spacious if cabins aren’t spacious either. More often than not, bathrooms are too cramped, and there’s little to no space for toiletries. We can fantasize about having a private hot tub and a fantastic view of the ocean because that won’t happen unless we pay extra. We’ll be lucky to get a decent shower and a tiny portal window.
It isn’t easy to do everything you need to do in such a tiny bathroom. There’s hardly any space to turn around. At least it has everything you need to maintain good personal hygiene.
43. The Destinations – Expectations
Ships are designed to keep passengers entertained while they’re on board. However, the best part of going on a cruise trip is visiting hard-to-reach destinations you’ve never heard of before. Travel agents convince us that cruises are an excellent and stress-free way of exploring the world and getting to know unique places. They show us incredible pictures of tropical beaches that instantly catch our attention, so we won’t hesitate to book a trip.
Cruising helps travelers visit a few places in little time. It’s supposed to let us experience exotic destinations we’ve only seen in our dreams. Nevertheless, photographs may lie, and we can end up disappointed.
44. The Destinations – Reality
In reality, some destinations might not be what we expect. Although the pictures in brochures may look incredible, travel agencies only show us what we want to see because they need us to book trips. Apart from that, it's important to remember that there's little to no time to explore each destination. You'll indeed get to see many locations, but you won't have enough time to appreciate them fully.
The best way to avoid being disappointed afterward is to research the places you’ll visit with the cruise trip you want to book. Reading comments from people who already took the trip may help, too.
45. The Drinks – Expectations
Our cruise experience wouldn’t be complete without a wide variety of exotic drinks. We expect cruise bars to be open at all times and prepare glamorous refreshing beverages for all tastes. We hope the drinks are served in decorated tall glasses and brought to us by a well-dressed waiter as we sunbathe by the pool. We won’t be satisfied with less. After all, that’s the way movies picture relaxed people on cruises.
We also picture a private bar in our cabins. If we had one, we’d be able to drink whenever we wanted while avoiding the long queues at the cruise bar.
46. The Drinks – Reality
As much as we’d hope to have an incredible bartending service on board, cruise bars can’t compete with trendy land-based establishments. They don’t offer much drink variety, and it’s hard to convince a bartender to prepare you an elaborate cocktail off-menu. Besides, there’s no way we can drink in the daytime because onboard bars open at night. It seems like relaxing at the poolside with an exotic drink in one hand is an impossible mission.
What makes the situation even worse is that we can’t buy alcohol outside the ship and bring it to our cabin. A few beers and some not-so-impressive cocktails should do the trick, then.
47. The Tours – Expectations
Although onboard facilities can be enjoyable, the tours cruises offer are the best attraction of the trip. All cruise lines offer shore excursions, which are guided walking or bus tours that allow you to experience local history, culture, cuisine, and activities such as snorkeling and shopping. Others are transportations to nearby cities or beaches where you can do what you please until the time to return to the ship comes.
If you don’t feel like going on a cruise tour, you also can disembark and explore each port on your own or simply book a tour through an independent company.
48. The Tours – Reality
In advertisements, cruise tours look incredible. However, that isn’t always the case. Ship passengers are transported to cities and beaches in coaches that are too crowded to be comfortable. If you want to skip excursions and explore the destination on your own, you’re responsible for your own safety. That means you have to get back to the ship on time. Otherwise, you’ll be left behind, and no one will look for you.
Although excursions might not be as fantastic as they seem in the brochures, they take you to new exciting places every day. You genuinely get to know more about the world thanks to them.
49. The Age Range #2 – Expectations
As we’ve said before, we always expect to find people our age when going on a cruise trip. Whether we’re on the ship to make friends or not, we hope to enjoy a relaxing time onboard. We don’t want to be bothered by crying babies or grumpy grandparents. We just want to unwind from our routines. The perfect vacation plan is to take a drink, enjoy the poolside and get to know new locations.
However, it’s impossible not to come across families with young children or retired adults roaming the ship. It’s something we have to put up with if we want to enjoy our vacation.
50. The Age Range #2 – Reality
When we talked about older people, we said they have the annoying habit of occupying the best spots on the deck because they wake up early. But do you know what’s worse than that? Kids are running across the ship and screaming at each other all day. It seems like children never run out of energy when they’re on holiday. We wonder how parents manage to tolerate those noisy little people.
Don’t get us wrong; we understand that families with young children need some rest, too. We just don’t want them to ruin our luxurious holiday on a cruise. Is that too selfish?
51. The Tender – Expectations
Sometimes, cruise ships face difficulty docking at the destination port because of bad weather or shallow water. When that happens, they need to transport the passengers in smaller boats called tenders to follow their tight itinerary. In our imaginations, these small vessels are private, fancy speedboats that the cruise line gives every traveler to drive themselves to the shore. In short, we picture the whole thing as a scene from Bay Watch.
Everyone dreams of riding a boat under the warm sun and disembarking at the shore with style. However, tendering is far from being an exciting experience. It’s quite tedious, in fact.
52. The Tender – Reality
It’d be great if cruises gave speedboats to all their passengers. The tendering experience would be incredible if they did so. However, riding a tender is much more boring than we imagine. Tenders can operate one at a time, so you have to wait in line to ride on them. They’re always overcrowded and hot. Although they have windows, no one opens them because passengers don’t want to get water splashed on their faces.
If you’re prone to seasickness, a short trip in the tender will leave you incredibly nauseous. You’ll have to make an effort to avoid throwing up until you reach the shore.
53. Children Using the Pool as Their Second Bathroom
Whether we like it or not, most cruise lines are family-friendly and welcome children on board. Kids can be noisy, but that isn’t the worst of our problems. They have the habit of using the pool as a second bathroom, which is disgusting. We don’t understand why those cheeky little things don’t get out of the pool when they need to use the toilet. Perhaps they’re too lazy to do it.
To fight this annoying habit, pool caretakers clean up the pools by putting chlorine in the water. Still, someone should teach kids to go to the actual toilet instead of using the pool as one.
54. Enjoying the Ocean
We know that there might be many disappointing things in taking a cruise trip. However, there’s one part of a cruise trip that never fails to meet our expectations—enjoying the salty smell of the ocean and the gentle breeze blowing in our hair. It helps us forget about the awful cruise experience in general. We remember the real reason we decided to board the ship in the first place: feeling a connection with the sea.
Like the woman in the image, we want to lean against a handrail and feel the wind caress our faces. And have someone take a good picture of it, of course.
55. Cruise Ships Are Still Great for Relaxing
We’re pretty sure that going on cruise trips isn’t what Hollywood makes us think it’d be. However, they offer a unique form of vacation. They allow you to take a journey through exotic destinations you wouldn’t be able to reach otherwise. Excursions are undoubtedly incredible, but that isn’t all they’ve got to offer. Cruise lines provide a wide variety of onboard activities that’ll keep you entertained during your stay on the ship.
The problem isn’t the cruises themselves but our unrealistic expectations. If we change our perspective, there’s no doubt that we’ll be able to relax and have a great time on a cruise trip.