Cruise addicts: Who are these people?

I'm planning to do the Trans-Atlantic voyage on the QM2 sometime in the next year. I'll be going solo since DW is "done with cruising" what with Covid and Norovirus. The level of service on ships seems to have slipped and we actually liked having dinner at the same table with the same people every day. Those days are gone.

I read somewhere that a lot of people cruise all winter since the overall cost is nearly equal to what a VRBO would be for a few months once you include meals. They get off the ship when it disembarks, do laundry, and get right back on. I'd be broke from gaming after a couple weeks.

 

I'd be broke from not showing up for work for months....

 

If all you do is the Caribbean, that's probably accurate. However, there are cruises of all sizes and shapes in every part of the world - there is plenty of adventure out there. My favorite cruise to date was the Mekong river cruise, just 18 cabins on the river cruise ship. Truly amazing. (I do NOT like big ships. Anything over 2000 is huge to me and I don't like more than 1000 - my last cruise was on Oceania marina, 1250 pax, too many people for me. I do like some of the amenities, but Seabourn had better cabins (for me) on a smaller ship.

Lots and lots of options. Have no clue what casinos would pay for - I don't gamble enough and to date I've only heard of using casino cruise vouchers in the Caribbean, not anything I've ever cared to look into.

 

Also, the meals can be pretty freaking awesome. Too many people tend to just stick to the buffets (I remember having to do that when we went as a kid, because my father absolutely refused to have something scheduled or "risk" being seated with other people), but I remember when I went during law school, it was fantastic, well-plated, unlimited food in the main dining room. Also, much as with Vegas, tipping is sometimes a bit of a lost art (anything beyond the mandatory gratuity, that is), so slipping your waiter a $20 on the first night means all the lobster tails you want on the third night, not to mention them remembering exactly what your drink is and your preferences are.

 

I'm sensing my thread title is being interpreted by some as disparaging to those who enjoy cruising. That was not my intent at all. Just amazed that people are able to afford and take so many cruises in a short time span.

Thanks for all the info so far!

 

Fair point.

 

AGREE WITH THIS 100%. Excellent place to learn cruising details.

Vegas and Gambling in General is right here at VegasMessageBoard
Flying and various point programs at FlyerTalk.com
And all stuff cruising at CruiseCritic.com

 

Whaddya know - all my faves, depending on what I'm doing ;-) I think I joined CC in 2006 and FT in 2009 maybe?

 

There is a good chance some of those people you overheard are "professional" cruisers-e.g. travel agents, you-tube vlogers, travel writers etc.

So many people can work remotely now as well, so as long as there is internet access and the employers/customers are satisfied, why not go for it.

 

My parents loved to cruise and my in-laws are addicted, as they are to casinos. I've never been. I will at least once. My wife has and says it was OK but she sees no real need to do sign up again with so many other places/things/experiences out there. She will accompany me, of course, when the time comes.

Not good, not bad, just different strokes.

 

If the plan is one and done, consider an Alaskan cruise-a very unique way to see the nature/glaciers

 

My plan, exactly.

 

Do all cruise ships have casinos?

I imagine the slots are tighter than even the Vegas Strip.

 

The only cruise line that I know for sure doesn't is Disney (they only have Bingo)

 

We took our first ever cruise via MyVegas also in Jan. We fell in love with cruising right away. I was very surprised that I enjoyed it as much as I did. Up until now our other travel for leisure was via all inclusives. Dollars and cents wise we believe what we got out of the cruise far exceeded the all inclusive experience for us. We actually booked a second cruise in Sept.

We gamble (obviously) onboard and already achieved prime status and have qualified for our yearly 'free' cruise.

 

I've actually really, really wanted to do this for a while now. The Caribbean trips are cool and cheap, but I've spent a lot of time in that area over the course of my life, and I have very little interest in doing the dock area in Cancun or the cruise line private islands (protip, by the way: if you're doing a cruise, always try to find private alternatives to the shore excursions). But something like Alaska or Europe could be pretty awesome.

 

Small ships do not all have casinos. I've sailed on many that do not have casinos. And I don't gamble when they do.

 

My freakin in laws. They are always on a cruise. But they are rich snobby people.

 

You’d be surprised who has money and who doesn’t..
Also, a lot of cruisers, like someone else said, are travel agents (Aka: “business expense”)
We try to go on four (7-day) per year.
we’ve gambled our NUTS off on cruises and never got better then 50% off a future cruise.

 

Alaskan cruises do cost more, but well worth it. Balcony room is the way to go, more so than Caribbean.