Cruising has become incredibly popular over the years, and for good reason. Cruising is an amazing way to travel and vacation.
However, as the industry has evolved, some aspects of the cruise experience have left travelers feeling frustrated. I recently asked members of our Life Well Cruised Facebook community: “If you had to be picky, what are some things that might ruin your cruise?”
Here are the top 10 concerns that came up from their responses.
10 Things That Are Ruining Cruise Travel
1. Bad Weather and Natural Disasters
Nothing can put a damper on your cruise quite like bad weather. Cruising during hurricane season can be particularly challenging, and even just dealing with rain for an entire cruise can really affect your vacation mood.
I’ve experienced a few rainy cruises myself, and it definitely changes the whole dynamic of your trip. You find yourself spending more time indoors, and those beautiful deck days you were looking forward to just don’t happen.
Natural disasters like hurricanes are obviously a much bigger concern, but even extended periods of rain can leave you feeling like you didn’t get the cruise experience you paid for.
2. Too Many Upsells and Upcharges
Especially for long-time cruisers with mainstream cruise lines, the increase in potential extras has become quite noticeable. While I don’t mind purchasing extras before my cruise, I actually enjoy different bundles and will buy shore excursions, what really bothers me is the constant selling during your vacation.
Picture this: you’re sitting down for a nice dinner, and crew members come around trying to sell you specialty restaurant reservations for another night or spa packages. I personally think that when you’re enjoying a meal, that should be off-limits for sales pitches.
The constant upselling can make you feel like you’re not getting the full experience you already paid for.
3. Bad Passenger Behavior
Here’s the thing – it’s often not the cruise itself that’s bad, but sometimes it’s the other passengers you’re sailing with. While cruisers are generally some of the nicest people you’ll meet, people are still people, and some behaviors can really impact your vacation.
Common issues include passengers who are too intoxicated, people being rude to crew members, chair hogs who save spots all day, passengers smoking in non-smoking areas, people being very loud on balconies, and unsupervised children running around.
There were so many comments about different bad passenger behaviors that it really made me think about how sometimes it’s not the cruise that’s actually bad, but the other passengers you’re sailing with.
4. Price Increases
Let’s be honest – nobody likes price increases. Many people started cruising because they offered such great value for money. When costs increase significantly, cruises become less appealing and accessible for many travelers.
What I’ve noticed is that paying a lot for a cruise still bothers me less than paying a lot for a hotel, where you get so little in return. The value proposition of cruising, even with price increases, often still beats land-based vacations when you consider everything that’s included.
Still, understanding what’s included in your cruise price and what’s not can help you budget more effectively.
5. Cost-Cutting Measures
While cost-cutting has decreased somewhat recently, coming out of the pandemic, we saw several changes that affected the cruise experience. Many cruise lines reduced housekeeping from twice a day to once a day, which was a significant change for families.
I really appreciate twice-a-day housekeeping, especially when traveling with kids in one cabin. Having the beds tucked away during the day and enjoying turndown service felt like a touch of luxury.
Other changes include the elimination of complimentary lobster nights on most cruise lines and various behind-the-scenes cost-cutting measures that, while less noticeable, can impact the overall experience when taken too far.
6. Overcrowded Ports
Many cruise enthusiasts love their ships but find themselves dreading overcrowded ports. When multiple large ships arrive at the same destination on the same day, popular attractions and beaches can become overwhelming.
During a recent Virgin Voyages cruise, many ports had only one or two ships, and the experience was much more pleasant. Even in typically touristy areas, things felt more manageable. I think it could be a win-win situation when cruise lines explore new destinations and when ports limit the number of daily visitors.
7. Bigger and Bigger Ships
The trend toward larger ships is a divisive issue in the cruise community. Royal Caribbean continues to build massive ships, and MSC recently announced they’re planning to build an even bigger ship than Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas.
While these ships offer incredible entertainment, a wide variety of dining options, and amenities that many people absolutely love, others feel they’ve become too much like floating cities. The question becomes: how big can these ships get?
As long as people continue to book and enjoy them, there probably isn’t a limit; however, it’s definitely changing the nature of cruising for some individuals.
8. Too Much Technology
Some cruisers really miss the days when you could turn off your phone and truly unplug during your vacation. While you can still choose to disconnect, it’s become much more challenging with cruise line apps, QR codes everywhere, and life generally being more connected than it used to be.
There’s definitely nostalgia for the simpler days of cruising when technology wasn’t such an integral part of the experience. The constant connectivity can make it harder to achieve that vacation mindset of truly getting away from it all.
9. Changes to Loyalty Programs
This has become a hot topic recently, especially with Carnival Cruise Line’s changes to their loyalty program. When I originally asked the Facebook question a couple of weeks ago, this topic didn’t even come up, but when I later asked our community about loyalty and what it means to them, this definitely became a major concern.
I understand why changes might be necessary as more people reach higher loyalty levels, but I also get why loyal customers feel frustrated. When you’ve built up loyalty over years of cruising, significant program changes can feel like the cruise line isn’t being loyal to you in return. The good news is that I’ve seen cruise line executives actually listening to feedback and responding to concerns, which is encouraging.
Some positive aspects might include earning points for onboard spending, similar to hotel loyalty programs. If you’re going to book specialty restaurants or shore excursions anyway, earning extra points isn’t necessarily bad. However, many loyal cruisers with high status levels feel these changes diminish the value of their loyalty.
10. The Change of Pace in General
Sometimes it’s not any one specific thing, but just the overall pace of change in the cruise industry that concerns passengers. From hidden costs to modified itineraries to different service levels, the cruise experience continues to evolve.
Long-time cruisers especially notice these changes because they remember “how things used to be.” While some changes are improvements, others feel like steps backward. The key is finding cruise lines and ships that align with your preferences and expectations.
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Final Thoughts on Things That Are Ruining Cruise Travel
Here’s the encouraging part: when I asked our Facebook community about these concerns, a lot of people said the same thing: “You know what, despite everything, even my little nitpicks, the glass is half full. If I’m on a cruise, there’s no need to complain.”
This perspective really resonates with me. While it’s worth discussing these issues because they affect our vacation experiences, the fact remains that cruising still offers incredible value, convenience, and enjoyment. The key is being an informed cruiser who knows what to expect and chooses cruise lines, ships, and itineraries that match your preferences.
Whether you’re facing cruise planning challenges or simply want to optimize your experience, understanding these potential issues can help you make informed decisions and set realistic expectations.
What matters most is that you’re prepared, flexible, and ready to make the most of your cruise vacation – because at the end of the day, you’re still on a ship exploring amazing destinations, and that’s pretty wonderful.
What’s your favorite change cruise lines have implemented in recent years? Please let me know in the comments below.
