Fourteen cruise myths to avoid now when planning and booking your cruise


Cruise myths have prevented many who might enjoy a cruise from trying cruising and have caused others to make poor choices about their cruise.


Regent Seven Seas Voyager at Tallin, Estonia. Copyright © 2018 NSL Photography. All Rights Reserved.I have an upcoming winter cruise reservation to a beautiful warm weather destination area to get a break from the gray skies and the cold of winter. I’ve cruised many times before and find that it can be a wonderful way to travel. It can get me to destinations hard to enjoy via other travel modes.

Making my reservation started me thinking about all the misconceptions that too many have about cruising and cruise myths that persist to this day. I have 14 cruise myths that you should know about if you’re considering cruising for the first time or are a cruise novice.

No — norovirus doesn’t plague every cruise.

Myth 1 Norovirus outbreaks occur on most every cruise:
Noroviruses, which cause gastroenteritis, generally attack people where large groups of individuals are in close proximity. On cruise ships last year, for example, there were 13 norovirus outbreaks among the 31.7 million passengers who cruised, sickening 1,697 passengers and crew. That equals fewer than 0.006 percent of cruise passengers. Despite those stats, everyone on cruises should practice proper hand hygiene to prevent contracting norovirus.

Myth 2 The cruise contract’s fine print isn’t important:
There’s critical information about your cruise in the fine print of your cruise contract. Among the issues fine print clauses describe are when the cruise line can deny you boarding or remove you from the cruise, the cruise line’s right to change your itinerary, even dropping the one port of call that caused you to purchase the cruise, plus your travel documents’ responsibility.

Get refunds in cash when airlines cancel your flightCruise ship crews know when you skip the muster drill and that may send you home before your cruise begins.

Myth 3 You can skip the cruise line’s muster drill:
With the COVID pandemic over, physical muster drills and safety briefings, generally held before your cruise leaves its port of embarkation, are back. They’re replacing their video counterpart used during the pandemic. The drill and briefing may be a pain in the neck, but skipping them may get you kicked off your cruise before it starts, with no refund whatsoever.

Myth 4 Most cruisers get seasick:
Few cruisers get seasick on modern cruise ships. The ships have stabilizers to smooth their ride on the waves. At times, however, ships encounter high winds and stormy seas, or travel through well known rough seas such as the dreaded Drake Passage on the way to Antarctica. To be prepared, particularly if you’re prone to motion sickness, check with your physician for anti-nausea medications.

In case of emergency, I never take a cruise that starts, ends or stops at a foreign nation’s port without my passport.

Myth 5 You don’t need a passport to cruise:
While there are cruises for which passengers won’t need a passport, you’ll need a passport for most cruises throughout the world. For example, cruises that leave from or end in a foreign port need a passport. I recommend that every cruiser on every cruise that starts, ends or visits a foreign port have their passport with them. In case of an emergency, you’ll need it to fly home from a foreign nation.

Myth 6 There’s nothing to do between ports of call on cruise ships:
Each cruiser can define their own cruise activity level. Cruise passengers can be busy every second or lounge all day. Some cruisers are so busy with ship’s activities that they never even get off their ship until the cruise is over.

Myth 7 You have to eat dinner at a set time the cruise line chooses:
On a few small ocean-going and river cruise ships the traditional format of seatings for cruises at specific times continues. On the vast majority of ocean-going cruise ships, even smaller ones, not only is there significant dining time flexibility in the traditional main dining room and a choice of table partners, there are generally other dining options in one or more other dining venues.

The best cruise deals are the ones that give you the most value for the cruise of your choice with the cabin and other options you want.

Myth 8 The best cruise deals are last-minute:
While there are last-minute cruise deals, as cruise lines attempt to fill unsold space, the deals will rarely include the better or well located cabins. They’re typically sold out by then. Pre/post cruise hotels are also often sold-out for last minute bookings. I look for “early bird” fares, from a year to six months in advance. I may not save quite as much as in a last-minute deal, but I’ll be able to have many more choices of cabin, excursions and pre/post cruise opportunities, at an excellent price.

Myth 9 If you’re caught smoking, you’ll merely incur a small charge:
If you’re caught breaking the smoking rules in a cruise ship cabin or elsewhere on a ship these days, you’ll likely incur a cleaning fee of $200–$250 and probably be removed from the ship at your expense with no refund of any kind.

Myth 10 There’s a severe dress code in force 24/7:
There are usually some dress code requirements in the main dining room and some limitations elsewhere, including where a bathing suit or gym clothing is appropriate or clothing in the evening. In recent years, shipboard dress has become quite casual. On a luxury cruise line I take periodically, I can eat at any of the ship’s restaurants in a nice shirt, slacks and shoes.

If you don’t want to cruise on a ship with lots of children, you merely need to book your cruise using commonsense.

Myth 11 Cruise ships are filled with kids:
Sometimes cruise ships are filled with kids, but if you prefer few, if any children on your cruise, it’s easy to arrange. Children are more likely to be on shorter, less expensive cruises, especially during the summer and holidays. If you book your cruise while kids are in school, on a luxury cruise line, or to an exotic locale, you’ll likely find few children on your cruise.

Myth 12 You can’t experience a destination’s culture from a cruise:
It’s just not so, but you do have to choose your shore excursions carefully. Skip the long bus rides to tacky tourist traps which always seem to include shopping. Instead, look to visit off-the-beaten-path locations, local markets, or participate in culturally immersive activities and take meals in local establishments instead of the ship.

Myth 13 Cellphone companies forgive large bills if you forget to have a maritime plan:
Cellular carriers will not forgive an outsized monthly invoice due to maritime or international cellphone use without purchasing a plan for such use. If your phone can use WiFi for calls, text and data, that can help you keep your cost low according to Internet charges from the cruise ship.

Cruise ships don’t wait for stragglers. They sail promptly due to tides, other factors and to ensure they arrive at their next stop on-time.

Myth 14 Cruise ships will wait for you before sailing:
Join UsIf you’re on your own walking in a port and lose track of time or on an excursion not contracted through the cruise ship and arrive late at the dock, you’ll likely find your ship has sailed. Ships don’t wait for late passengers. I’ve seen passengers left at the dock frantically waving for the ship to return. At that point, you need to arrange to meet the ship at its next port of call. You’ll be on your own to pay for transportation, hotel and meals. There won’t be a refund either.

Don’t get caught in any of these myths. Don’t let them hold you back from deciding to cruise or cause you serious problems during your cruise. Bon Voyage.

(Image: Regent Seven Seas Voyager at Tallin, Estonia. Copyright © 2018 NSL Photography. All Rights Reserved.)


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