The Pitfalls of Cruise Vacations and Why You Should Reconsider
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The Pitfalls of Cruise Vacations and Why You Should Reconsider
Hello Everyone,
Picture yourself on a floating city, with all the other people, and not being able to get away from this for a long time, nor have your own space. This is the experience of cruising on a cruise ship, which most often does not reflect the promised beauty. Preparing for your holidays, you must remember the drawbacks of cruise travel travel that can influence your enjoyment level, health, and your walking footprint on the sand. In theory, sightseeing vacations are an excellent choice because they involve visiting several places without having to pack and unpack several times. However, deeper inside lies some areas of danger that should also be subject to screening. I want to make a case to you that even though the advertisements look so cool and promising, there is a downside to cruise vacations, and, therefore, a cruise should be considered carefully as a vacation destination.
Environmental and Health Risks
Environmental impact and public health aspects of cruise holidays are the most significant issues associated with them. As presented by Lloret et al. (2021), cruise ships produce a large amount of air, water, and land pollution, which may adversely affect fragile habitats, areas, and species. These ships produce harmful greenhouse gases, discharge untreated wastewater into the sea, and affect the integrity of fragile ecosystems. In addition, according to Li et al. (2021), there are risks of on-board disease outbreaks with COVID-19 shaking up the need for solid risk management policies. The tight space and shared facilities on the cruise ships are perfect for the rapid spread of diseases, thus putting passengers and crew in danger.
Underwhelming Experiences and Limited Choices
Cruise companies glorify an adventurous and exploration world; moreover, their customers’ experience differs from what they promise. According to Surana (2024), cruise itineraries can be repetitive, with a handful of places included, and each stop needs to be longer, hindering the traveler from having an authentic experience. Instead of encountering the local flavor and mode of being, you will likely be directed to shopping ports, where thousands of tourists come to buy souvenirs (Hoarau-Heemstra et al., 2023). Additionally, the food on cruise ships is created to be consumed by large numbers of passengers, thus sacrificing the quality and variety (Surana, 2024). Although there are many restaurants and cafes around, you may be surprised to discover that the food there proves to be dull and lackluster.
Inconveniences and Hidden Costs
Cruise vacations face some unwanted drawbacks as well as unexpected expenses. Surana (2024) brings up the problem of traveling to and from cruise ports and the extra stress of lost or missed connections, usually by flights. This is an additional barrier to relaxation and comfort that cruise lines advertise. Additionally, Butcher (2024) reveals the harsh cancellation policies, which may ultimately result in losing considerable profits. Surana (2024) elaborates that these hidden fees, such as on-board internet charges and expensive beverages, can rapidly increase the cruise vacation cost.
In short, although these cruise trips may look desirable at first glance, they also involve certain drawbacks that must be considered. Ranging from the environmental and health hazards to the surprises, the product is different from the picture promoted by the cruise companies. Contrary to what alluring ads try to make you believe, you may want to think about other means of traveling to find actual travel value, eco-friendliness, and authentic experiences. Through wise choices, we can establish unforgettable experiences without harming ourselves or our beautiful planet.
References
Butcher, A. (2024, January 14). Is the cruise industry ready for the rise in solo travel? Travel. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/cruise-solo-travel-report
Hoarau-Heemstra, H., Wigger, K., Olsen, J., & James, L. (2023). Cruise tourism destinations: Practices, consequences and the road to sustainability. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 30, 100820. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdmm.2023.100820
Li, H., Meng, S., & Tong, H. (2021). How to control cruise ship disease risk? Inspiration from the research literature. Marine Policy, 132, 104652. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2021.104652
Lloret, J., Carreño, A., Carić, H., San, J., & Fleming, L. E. (2021). Environmental and human health impacts of cruise tourism: A review. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 173(112979), 112979. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112979
Surana, S. (2024, February 12). Unsettling Reasons You May Want to Avoid Taking A Cruise. Islands. https://www.islands.com/1499808/reasons-avoid-taking-cruise/