Cruise Myths Debunked: What You Truly Should Know

Do you think you know what cruising is all about, even though you’ve never been on a cruise? There are a lot of various myths and misconceptions surrounding the cruising industry — and if you believe in them all, you might be accidentally preventing yourself from having some truly spectacular cruise vacations.

So, what exactly is the truth? These are the 10 worst cruising myths and what you really need to know.

Myth 1. Cruising is Just for Old People

Sure, there are cruise lines where the average age typically trends upward. These include Viking and Holland America, among others.

These cruise lines are typically on the more expensive side, so they’re not as affordable for younger people or families with children (some might not even allow children), and they might focus on activities (both on-board and in port) that are more geared toward older folks as well. Think on-board lectures and walking tours, rather than dance parties and beach bumming.

However, these cruise lines are hardly representative of the entire industry. Many cruise lines are built with younger cruisers in mind, including children.

Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean, for example, are more affordable than the aforementioned cruise lines, and their ships are packed with amenities and activities for families and kids. They easily attract groups of young, non-family travelers (college age and up) as well, who’re looking for more of a party atmosphere.

There’s even a cruise line dedicated to younger couples and solo travelers, with a no-kids-allowed policy but a bevy of amenities that are pretty blatantly aimed at millennials: Virgin Voyages.

In short, cruising is not just for old people. Whatever your age group, no matter what type of traveler you are, you can find a cruise line for you.

Myth 2. Cruising is Too Expensive

Yes, just as there are cruises for old people, there are cruises that are expensive. Ultra-luxury cruise lines exist and they pull out all the stops to give ultra-discerning travelers everything and anything they could ever want or need.

These cruises come at a big price point, too. As an example, it’s not uncommon to spend over $10,000 for a cruise on luxury cruise line Regent Seven Seas.

However, you don’t need to break the bank to go on an amazing cruise. You can literally find cruises that start at just a few hundred dollars per person. Carnival Cruise Line is one of the most affordable cruise lines in the industry, and you can find Carnival cruises that start at as little as around $300 per person.

And hold up before you think, “Yeah, I’ll only pay a few hundred dollars, but the experience will suck.” That’s not the case at all.

While you might be staying in a smaller room, many of Carnival’s newer ships offer very nice, comfortable interior staterooms, and you still get access to all the complimentary dining and fun activities that your heart could desire.

Myth 3. Cruise Ship Dining is all Stuffy and Formal

When you imagine dining on a cruise ship, you might think of something akin to the dinner scene in Titanic. However, you don’t need to break out your tux and formal gowns for dining on a cruise ship each evening.

The main dining room on a cruise ship is, yes, a little more formal than other places, like the buffet. You’ll get three courses and have dedicated, high-end service throughout the meal. However, the normal dress code for the main dining room is usually pretty relaxed.

For example, Norwegian Cruise Line’s dress code for most restaurants, including the main restaurant, is what’s considered “cruise casual,” which means you can wear summer and casual dresses, skirts, regular or capri pants, shorts, jeans and tops.

The only items you can’t wear in the main dining rooms are tank tops for men, flip flops, baseball caps, visors and jeans that are overly faded, with holes or tears and worn below the hips.

Many cruise lines do have one or two formal evenings in the main dining rooms, per cruise. Carnival, for example, calls these events its Carnival Elegant nights, wherein a slightly elevated dress code is expected for the main dining rooms. Many cruisers find these events to be a fun occasion and excuse to break out their formalwear.

Read Also: How to Truly Enjoy Your Dining on 3 Major Cruise Lines

However, if you don’t really have to get all that dressed up, if you want to attend. A sports coat and slacks are suitable for men; and a blouse and skirt is suitable for women.

That said, you don’t even have to attend these elegant evenings on your cruise at all, if you don’t want to. You can always eat dinner elsewhere, such as at the buffet or at one of the specialty restaurants aboard the ship. There are plenty of casual dining restaurants on each cruise ship, where you’re more than welcome to wear a t-shirt, shorts and sandals.

So, yes, while you can have a more elegant, formal dining experience if you want, that experience is totally optional!

Myth 4. Cruise Ships are Too Crowded

It can be easy to assume that cruise ships are over-crowded. After all, some of the biggest cruise ships in the world, like Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, can hold more than 7,000 passengers! That’s a lot of people!

However, as you’re contemplating how a cruise line goes about fitting 7,000 people on a ship, it’s important to realize just how big these ships are.

Additionally, just because you can find 7,000 people on a ship, that doesn’t mean that most sailings are going to include that many cruisers. Instead, the total number is going to be closer to the ship’s double occupancy (which is, for Icon of the Seas, closer to 5,500 people).

Likewise, the actual design of a newer cruise ship, beyond the size, often takes crowds into consideration. Cruise lines don’t want you to have a horrible time on your cruise.

They want you to come back and buy another cruise, again and again! So, they’re going to design their ships in such a way to minimize crowds and make it possible to find some alone time.

As an example, reports have come in from cruisers on Reddit who’ve sailed on Icon of the Seas, and they’ve reported that they’re “amazed by how little crowds they are!”

Another cruiser on the same thread linked above said, “We’re currently on it and have been happily surprised by how open and airy and often not crowded the promenade is. This ship is wonderful. There are so many pools to choose from and we never had an issue finding space.”

Myth 5. There’s Nothing to Do Aboard the Ship or During Sea Days

Okay, so this cruising myth is the one that may just leave us scratching our heads the most. Nothing to do? On a cruise ship??

While that might be the case, somewhat, on a smaller, older cruise ship (and, even then, not totally, as there’s still often at least one pool, a theater, a handful of restaurants and bars, etc.) on today’s modern ships, you’d be lucky if you get to experience everything there is to do on the cruise ship, before your cruise is over.

Beyond just the wealth of dining and drinking options, most cruise ships today now also feature multiple theaters and entertainment venues, casinos, multiple pools, waterslides, sports courts, spas, fitness centers, arcades, kids clubs, adults-only venues, shopping and more.

On some ships, you’ll also find laser tag, zip lines, ice skating rings, surfing simulators, sky diving simulators, go-karts and more. Really, you’ll have ample fun on a cruise ship, with plenty to do.

Myth 6. There’s Not Enough Time to Explore the Ports

Even with the wealth of fun things to do on a cruise ship, for many cruisers, the highlight of a cruise is stopping at the ports along your itinerary.

But do you really get all that much time in port? Or do you just stop by for a few hours, see the major tourist hubs and then leave?

While it might seem that way in some cases, that’s not really the truth across the board. While, yes, you’ll rarely be overnighting in port, most cruise ships stay in port at least a half-day, if not a full day, between five and nine hours.

That gives you plenty of time to get off the ship and take an excursion, visit a local restaurant for a meal, do some shopping and/or just head to the beach! If you manage your time well, you’ll have enough time in each port, plus time to spare.

Myth 7. I’ll be Seasick the Entire Time

If you frequently suffer from seasickness, that doesn’t mean that you have to forgo cruising for your entire life. Plenty of cruisers who deal with seasickness enjoy cruising. You just have to prepare accordingly.

It all starts with picking the right stateroom. You need a stateroom that is as close to the middle of the ship as possible, where you’ll feel less movement, and a stateroom that ideally has an ocean view or, even better, a balcony. Having a view of the horizon can help with queasiness, as can fresh ocean air.

Additionally, taking anti-motion sickness medication starting a few days ahead of your cruise, and then throughout your cruise, can work wonders.

Myth 8. Cruise Ships are Claustrophobic

Unless you book the tiniest interior stateroom and then proceed to stay there for the entirety of your cruise, you’re not going to feel claustrophobic while you’re on the cruise ship. Again, cruise ships are designed to make the most of their space, so you’ll find lots of large and airy spots.

For example, on many Royal Caribbean ships, interior neighborhoods like Central Park and The Royal Promenade are designed to feel large, open and spacious, with soaring ceilings that stretch multiple decks.

Additionally, most ships feature lots of outdoor space, beyond just the pool deck, with outdoor dining, outdoor bars, outdoor entertainment venues and more.

And if you’re still really worried about feeling claustrophobic in your stateroom, consider booking a room with an exterior wall that lowers, giving you direct access to your balcony and more overall indoor-outdoor living space. This is an option on some Royal Caribbean and Celebrity ships.

Myth 9. Cruise Ships Aren’t Safe

While you may occasionally see stories in the news about cruise ship passengers falling overboard and disappearing, or of cruise ships being filled with ill passengers after a virus outbreak, rest assured that cruising is an extremely safe way to travel. In fact, one estimate is that the odds of dying on a cruise ship are 1 in 6.25 million!

Often, the greatest threat to your safety during a cruise is simply yourself. If you don’t pay attention to safety warnings and break safety rules, like going where you’re not supposed to on the ship or hanging over your balcony railing, you’re more likely to get hurt or worse.

Likewise, if you don’t follow general travel safety best practices, like “don’t go into dark spaces with strangers” or “don’t become so inebriated that you can’t get around on your own,” then you’re more likely to find yourself in sticky situations.

Myth 10. Cruising Requires a Strict Schedule

Really, the only thing that requires you to stick to a strict schedule when cruising? Making sure that you’re back to the ship before it leaves the port. Otherwise, you really don’t have to stick to a strict schedule.

Most cruise lines now allow you to dine when and where you want (though reservations can make things easier, they’re not always required). If you don’t want to dine at the main dining room at set times, every day, you can go somewhere else.

Worth Reading: 8 Things the Cruise Line Isn’t Going to Tell You

You can usually find dining options that are available 24/7, too, such as room service. For the most part, though, you can move about the ship as you please, and fill your day with whatever activities you want!