Mrs. Sip and I are seasoned cruise travellers. Over our many voyages, I’ve noticed many pros and cons for this style of travelling. If you’re considering whether cruising is for you, perhaps my notes in this expanded article will help in your decision. Let’s start with some reasons why hitting the water is the way to go:
Can unpack for duration of trip
Living out of a suitcase can really suck. On a cruise, you can fully unpack and settle into your digs, as your ship moves you along the route. The first thing Mrs. Sip does every time our luggage arrives at our room – sometimes to an annoying degree – is unpack everything. This helps her feel the vacation has truly begun.
Ship takes you to all stops
Aboard a cruise, you never have to worry about how you’re getting to your next destination. The crew takes care of this for you. No concerns about driving in unfamiliar territory or racing to meet connections. Instead, you just float along at the ship’s pace.
Sample the world
Cruises can be great for those that want to hit as many places as possible, in a limited amount of time. Many of our cruises have hit multiple countries in a short span. Sure, you only get to do one tour/activity or see a couple landmarks when on a port day, but for many stops, that’s all you really need.
Large selection of media to watch
In recent years, cruise ships have really upped their in-room entertainment options. When Mrs. Sip and I first started cruising, you had to time when you’d watch a movie or TV show, as they were played on a schedule and the selection to enjoy was limited. Today, you can watch a wide on-demand catalogue. This has been even more helpful with young kids, as time spent in the room increases with them.
Entertainment
The entertainment offered on ships is quite good, from song and dance shows, to comedians and everything in between. Shows typically run twice a night, so you can work around any dinner plans you may have. There’s also a variety of other activities to get into, including trivia challenges, game shows, karaoke and much more.
Kid’s Club
The Sipplings are now both of the age where we can drop them off at the Kid’s Club and enjoy some adult freedom. Sure, the pager they give you is a constant reminder that the good times can’t last forever and you’ll eventually have to pick your progeny up, but for the time they’re having fun with those their age, you are also doing the same.
Someone is always cleaning up after you/cooking for you
As the chief chef and housekeeper of the Sip Headquarters, I truly appreciate that on a cruise, someone is always cooking for and cleaning up after me. Sure, I’m still in charge of putting together spreads of food for my picky kids and tidying up after them in most circumstances, but every little bit helps to give me some breaks.
I should also mention a perk such as unlimited cookies, given it’s well-documented that the Sip Advisor is a cookie monster. Also, the motion on the ocean can be fun in many ways! As much as I love cruising, often citing it as my preferred mode of travel, there are some drawbacks that must be noted. Here are some of the things the Sip Advisor often gripes about while onboard a vessel:
Cramped quarters
Most of the rooms we’ve had have been tight for just myself and Mrs. Sip. Add in the Sipplings and all the cargo that comes with them and it can be a little overwhelming. On one of our trips, I hit my knee in the same spot multiple times. Now that the kids have grown out of strollers and pack n’ plays, perhaps some space will open up, but they are also growing, so that room will be absorbed quickly.
Tendering
How cruise lines haven’t found a way to improve this method of connecting ships to the land is beyond me. First, you face long waits to even get aboard a shuttle. Next, you wait for what seems like an eternity for it to finally depart, often exposed to stifling heat. By the time you get to your destination, you’re likely already quite annoyed and perhaps suffering from heat stroke. Getting back to the ship is just as bad, as long lines often form at the equally unshaded terminal.
Have to pay for drinks
I’ve come to prefer the all-inclusive style of travelling in this regard, where I don’t have to worry about bar bills. Mrs. Sip and I have perfected some tricks to lower our tab at the end of each voyage, but you still have to enjoy yourself when at sea. Finding the right balance is achievable, but it may take some playing around with.
Limited time at stops
On the flip side of getting a taste of many stops on one holiday, is the fact that your time in those stops is often truncated. Mrs. Sip often compares cruising to ordering an appetizer platter, where you get to sample a number of things, but you don’t get a full meal. Some port stops we’ve experienced have been as short as four hours. We’ve theorized that if you really like the taste you tried, you can always return for a feast at a later time, however, this is unachievable for some and even we haven’t returned to places we hoped to explore more.
Long walks to get things
These ships are massive and moving about them can sometimes feel like an endless journey. For example, I’m in charge of getting the Sip Family water at the end of each night and depending on where our cabin is located, the trek may take me a fair amount of time. We’ve also struggled on more recent cruises, depending on the distance between our room and where the Kid’s Club is.
Other passengers
Your fellow travellers on a cruise are likely to be of an older vintage. This can be good and bad, depending on your travel circumstances. On our most recent cruises, many travellers seemed to enjoy our children, likening them to their own grandkids. But, there was the occasional passenger, who didn’t enjoy the high energy of Boy and Girl Sip or other youngsters aboard the ship.
Uninspired menus
At the start of each voyage, it’s exciting to have all these culinary options up for offer. A few days in, you start to grow tired of the rotation of dishes and seeing the same items on the dining menu or at the buffet. I’d prefer a little more experimentation with food offered, but the ship is doing it’s best to appeal to as large a portion of passengers possible.
Wardrobe changes
Between sleeping, meals, pool time, activities and hitting the gym (LOL), you will often go through a number of clothing changes each day, constantly having to return to your room to look the part for your next endeavour. I counted one time and had worn six different outfits during a day (sleepwear, swimsuit, gym gear, casual clothes, formal wear, warmer casual clothes).
Schedule juggling
A cruise is meant to bring about rest and relaxation, but Mrs. Sip likes to cram in every activity possible. This often causes us to be running from dinner to trivia or a show because the woman has never been great about time coordination. My anxiety grows as she goes through the next day’s schedule and talks about all the points of interest we should hit.
Love & Hate: The Isaac
- 2 oz White Rum
- 1 oz Pomegranate Liqueur
- Top with Club Soda
- Splash of Lime Juice
- Garnish with a Maraschino Cherry
This cocktail is made in honour of the bartender on The Love Boat. The show was filmed on Princess Cruise ships, thus is served aboard the line, although it’s now a hidden drink, but still available for those in the know. I subbed Pomegranate Liqueur for Pomegranate Syrup.
Sip Advisor 