First impressions at sea…Cruise Ship Surprises

It's great to read your thoughts and impressions of your cruise as we seem to share travel philosophies. Although I've traveled long-term and on 5 different continents, I've never taken a cruise!

I have avoided cruises for many reasons, but largely because of the environmental impact of cruise ships, and also the effects cruise ships have on local ports.

I'm pretty militant about not cruising, though. When I spent a week in the Galapagos Islands with my extended family and wife in 2007, we actually didn't meet any other travelers on our home base island NOT taking a cruise (we did do one 8-hour day trip on a boat). We had a much different, and, I think, MUCH more rewarding experience because we didn't cruise in the Galapagos.

Your post is the first I've read that would make me reconsider my anti-cruise stance! Though $8 for a beer would make me reconsider that reconsideration! ;-)

I agree cruises can be cheap, but, just like cheap food, there are big consequences to that cheapness.