Do you ever feel uncomfortable about going on a cruise?

[neverthought]

I should add....on our first cruise we had a bit of an uncomfortable and hesitant feeling with all the attention and service given by the crew. However it was a feeling we out grew Fast! Enjoy it all:)

Neverthought

[mr green]

With our one or two cruises per year, we feel like pikers, we have started a lot of our friends cruising, and they go all out.

 

john

[CFD130]

I am a funeral director and I feel guilty until I think back on all of the people I have buried who "WHERE GOING TO GO ON A CRUISE OR A VACATION AS SOON AS WE CAN AFFORD IT OR AFTER WE RETIRE" and never did. For that reason I will take all of the ribbing and kidding about going on vacation all of the time-Oh well my wife and I have many great great travel memories and I will continue to look for great deals on cruises and vacations and will take as many as the budget will allow. And maybe at my funeral they will put pictures on me on the beach in the Carribean or standing on a glacier in Alaska

No regrets here

[CowPrincess]

I have a friend who makes triple what I do, and she can never "afford" to do anything. We work, save, scrimp, eat in (the last time we went to a fast food restaurant was AT LEAST 2 years ago), don't replace our existing still-working stuff with the newest and greatest. We are making vacations a priority. No, I don't feel guilty. I wouldn't necessarily tell someone who is about to lose their job or their home about our last or next cruise, but I certainly don't mind telling people who have different priorities.

[LoisGriffin1]

I have been told off for taking vacations. The person is in her mid-twenties and thought I was being extremely selfish for travelling. She believed that me and dh should be having babies not spending money on ourselves (my love of travelling is not the reason I choose not to have children).

 

Her family choose to eat out pretty all the time and then complain about having no money. We work hard for our vacations and give up a lot of luxuries to be able to afford to do it. I hate being made to feel guilty.

[flyingboy]

I sometimes feel weird telling friends and family that we're taking another cruise cuz I think they have the misconception that cruises are for fat, old people that sit around on deck chairs in moo-moos, sipping pink squirrels and then proceed like cattle onto a bus for excusrsions:plol!

 

Nothing, of course, could be further from the truth but there is a bit of snobbery-reverse, in this case, with people that I know that think cruising isn't really travelling and oh, isn't it horrible to eat dinner with strangers every night and spend such a short time in port! Sheesh!

 

Well, I like cruising, my husband looooves it and it's a great way to spend a vacation. By contrast, my co-workers think I'm made of money to be able to cruise to the Med.every other year-there is some speculation going on there but I don't mind that much:rolleyes:

[STARFISH*4]

nope...hubby works hard and DESERVEs his vacation and he LOVEs to CRUISE so thats what we do when we can....i am DELIGHTED to let people know i am going on a CRUISE and dont feel guilty....its a VACATION...just a bit different...a FLOATING VACATION.......years ago i never thought we would do this...CRUISE but once we started it was hard not to keep going when we can...where we can!!!! UNCOMFORTABLE......noooooo not in the least...we feel LUCKY!!!

[LovesToTravel47]

My money = my life the way I want to live it vacations included.

 

Well said!

[Texaswinediva]

I don't feel guilty one bit!

Since I work hard, my house is paid for and my car is paid for,

I deserve to spent a little on myself.

One never knows if tomorrow will come.

Enjoy your life while you can!!

[RetireeWannabee]

I have been told off for taking vacations. The person is in her mid-twenties and thought I was being extremely selfish for travelling. She believed that me and dh should be having babies not spending money on ourselves (my love of travelling is not the reason I choose not to have children).

 

Her family choose to eat out pretty all the time and then complain about having no money. We work hard for our vacations and give up a lot of luxuries to be able to afford to do it. I hate being made to feel guilty.

WHOA!!! Being childless by choice myself, I would not have taken that crap very diplomatically.

 

might I surmise this is an "ex-friend"?

[cruiselvr04]

Its not too well received at work. People think I'm extravagant for trying to cruise twice a year. I work overtime to pay for them, they never come out of our regular budget. If they are not paid for we don't go. We need to fix up the house but I want to have some fun instead. We both work hard, still putting one through college and are paying off loans for the others. Its time for us. My folks never did all the things they talked about doing and now my Dad is gone and moms health is not great. So I down play it at work, bring in pics but don't talk about it much otherwise. I do try to be sensitive to family and friends who really can't afford to cruise or take vacations. I also try to be kind and thankful to those who serve us onboard in words and tipping. If we did not go they wouldn't have jobs either. Once I'm on the ship I am guilt free because it's paid for and I'm on vacation!!!

[LoisGriffin1]

WHOA!!! Being childless by choice myself, I would not have taken that crap very diplomatically.

 

might I surmise this is an "ex-friend"?

 

I wish. Its a family friend so I cannot just ditch her. Instead I am civil but thats it.

 

It was so hard not to tell her a few things but couldn't stoop to her level.

[Denny01]

There are two ways of looking at this:

The 'guilt' or being uncomfortable being treated so well by working crewmembers and seeing the poor living conditions in some ports.

- If you treat the staff with courtesy and respect they deserve as being hard-working people helping you enjoy your experience, then that is all that is needed, plus maybe some nice tips!

- If you do the same ashore and keep the experience in perspective that always helps. We were in a port that had a kiosk collecting funds for a local school. Many cruisers stopped and gave donations, or bought things just to help. One retired teacher got their info so she can have her school send them the school's used textbooks.

The ‘guilt’ of talking about a vacation you enjoyed with fiends/workmates. If there are reactions, it’s their issue. Not yours. They spend their funds as they wish and we do as we wish. One set of associates, after we'd told them about our cruise (a short reference by the way), told us how much they 'enjoyed' watching all the fat old people getting off a ship while they got more out of the local area by staying there for a while. Not exactly nice people. Helped me identify who are people to know and stay away from. Not that they didn't like cruising but because of their judgmental attitude and insensitivity of saying that right after we talked about loving cruising. Again, their issue, not mine.

Denny

[commodoredave]

I only feel guilty when the cruise is over because I don't want to leave the ship!:D

 

But seriously, we all make choices in life about how we want to spend our money, and make sacrifices to afford it. I believe that travel is a smart financial decision, and is also a great privilege, so I try to adhere to some basic rules so that I always feel good about travel/cruising:

 

1) I know that not everyone can afford a vacation, so I try not to say too much about my upcoming cruise unless people ask about it and are genuinely interested.

 

2) I treat the ship's staff with kindness and respect, and let them know how much I appreciate their hard work with my attitude and tips.

 

3) I try to be respectful of the culture, people and values of the countries I visit by learning about them before I travel there.

 

4) I share as much as I can about my travel experiences with people who ask about it so that I can help them get more out of their own travel experiences. And I ask them to share their experiences with me.

 

When you meet so many wonderful people and learn so much about the world, it's hard to feel guilty for too long.

[momofmeg]

I sometimes feel "guilty" when I tell others that we're going on a cruise, especially if I know they are having a hard time financially. However, like the others said, we budget for our cruise and don't do a lot of spending otherwise. In addition, it is the easiest way for me to take a vacation since I have health problems. So, yes, I feel a little "guilty" saying we're going on a cruise but not enough to make me even think twice about going.

 

Depends on who is having a hard time financially. I have friends that trade their cars in every 2 years-even though the last couple of times- they owed more than the trade in value-they would then tack the difference owed on to the new loan. Now they have car loans that could be house loans-they are so high. Nope, I don't feel sorry for them. I drive a 7 year old Camry. Hubby drives a 3 year old Camry. We do this becuase we like to take nice vacations, and as long as we have something dependable to drive, we are content.

 

Now, people that are struggling, and can not afford to because of this horrible economy and not bad decisions-yes, I do feel sorry for them.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

I had nothing now i have? why not spend it

[eetonaee]

I drive a 7 year old Camry. Hubby drives a 3 year old Camry. We do this becuase we like to take nice vacations, and as long as we have something dependable to drive, we are content.

 

quote]

 

I got you topped - I drive a 12 year old Camry -the thing just won't die, but I know if I had to start making monthly payments on a new one we'd have to cut back on cruising.

 

I felt intimidated like the OP before our first cruise but I have no problem going on our 10th in November.

 

I play a little game with friends by at first boasting about how we are going on 'another cruise' but then I will admit to them how I am able to find bargains and because my DW and I are satisfied with inside rooms we really don't pay a lot. We even drive 3 hours to another airport to save money on air travel.

 

Cruising is a tremendous value and the only way many of us will be exposed to so many different countries and cultures.

[ladycaveat]

In a nut shell . . . never. I work to cruise and give up so many weekend jaunts to spend a week cruising. People at work tease me by telling everyone that if they want to know anything about what taking a cruise is like . . . "just ask Tammy . . . she the "Cruising Queen." Actually, I can't tell you how many of my fellow attorneys have tried a cruise after we've talked and they are now sold on it. One of our deputies just returned from his fifth cruise in six years! He said his wife loved the video of my swimming with the dolphins years ago . . . and now that's become her passion. :p

[RetireeWannabee]

It was so hard not to tell her a few things but couldn't stoop to her level.

Good for you! The high road is almost always the better option.

 

Plenty of people have tried to tell me who I am, but that just shows that they don't know me at all. As said many times in this thread: "Their Problem"

 

Cheers to you!

[kerri1jill]

The way I see it and tell others, it is one of the most economical vacations a person could take. Once you pay for your flight and cruise, you really don't have to spend another dime if you don't go to the casino, buy any alcoholic drinks, or buy presents and stuff for other people. So the cost of the cruise plus the flight equals about what you would pay going anywhere else for that amount of time.

[OceanJeanie]

I'll admit that sometimes I do feel a little guilty. I'm retired now and my memory is fading...but then it comes back, back to the days when I couldn't afford a cruise or didn't have the time, when I was working and stayed up until midnight doing paperwork, the days when I had people screaming at me for some trivial matter...and then I raise my Drink of the day with the little umbrella and say "I Deserve This!"

[G'ma]

I'll admit that sometimes I do feel a little guilty. I'm retired now and my memory is fading...but then it comes back, back to the days when I couldn't afford a cruise or didn't have the time, when I was working and stayed up until midnight doing paperwork, the days when I had people screaming at me for some trivial matter...and then I raise my Drink of the day with the little umbrella and say "I Deserve This!"

 

GREAT!!!!

 

I raised 2 great kids, partially raised 2 stepkids, semi-raised 2 great (well, almost great) husbands, worked all my life, kept a 9 room house, ran a business and cooked from scratch.

 

My kids went off to start their lives (successfully) and I divested myself of #2 hubby and started to live MY life. And, I love it. Especially now being retired...every minute of every day is mine and mine alone...I shall do what I wish thank you.....:p

[TrentS]

I mean, because its such a luxury vacation, with all these ppl waiting on you, and just its reputation. Do you feel wary about tellin freinds you're going on one, and even on the cruise, do u not enjoy it to the fullest because you feel somehow strange?

 

This is what happens to me.

 

plz give any view u have, even tips for me not to feel like this, etc

 

HUH? Are you for real??? :confused:

 

I can't even comprehend feeling guilty for something I WORKED FOR AND I PAID FOR!

[momofmeg]

I drive a 7 year old Camry. Hubby drives a 3 year old Camry. We do this becuase we like to take nice vacations, and as long as we have something dependable to drive, we are content.

 

quote]

 

I got you topped - I drive a 12 year old Camry -the thing just won't die, but I know if I had to start making monthly payments on a new one we'd have to cut back on cruising.

 

I felt intimidated like the OP before our first cruise but I have no problem going on our 10th in November.

 

I play a little game with friends by at first boasting about how we are going on 'another cruise' but then I will admit to them how I am able to find bargains and because my DW and I are satisfied with inside rooms we really don't pay a lot. We even drive 3 hours to another airport to save money on air travel.

 

Cruising is a tremendous value and the only way many of us will be exposed to so many different countries and cultures.

 

I have a friend, in her mid 30's that bought a Toyota Corolla, brand new in her early 20's. She still drove that car up until 2 years ago, when she was creamed (not her fault) in a car accident. She was not hurt but her corolla was totaled. She replaced it with a used Camry a couple of years old-what she hated was the car payments-as the Corolla was so old-it had little value, except to her-but it had been paid for nearly a decade when she was creamed.

 

BTW, this gal loves to cruise also-she likes the RCI whopper ships. But, as she says, since she has car payments-she can't cruise as often as she did. She says she has a 3 year loan-so she has about a year now- to that final payment, and then she says she will be once again be cruising more often!

[Guest TropicOne]

No, why should I :confused: