Cruises are advertised as adventurous, relaxing vacations at sea that anyone can enjoy regardless of their age and what they’re looking for in a trip. You can visit multiple countries in a short amount of time, you’ll have all of your meals included in the cost of the cruise, and you’ll never have to worry about rental cars or shuffling through the airport. As long as you’re okay being confined in a small space like a hamster, bon voyage!
Cruises definitely aren’t for everyone, and that’s why travel content creator Samantha Tatro is exposing the truth about what the experience of setting sail on a cruise is really like. Below, you’ll find a video that Samantha recently shared detailing why her first cruise was also her last, as well as a conversation with Leah Walker, former travel journalist at Leah Travels.
More info: Instagram | Undiscovered Path Home
Cruise ships are an extremely popular mode of traveling
Image credits: Andrea Piacquadio (not the actual photo)
But after spending two weeks at sea, this travel content creator decided to expose the worst aspects of going on a cruise
Image credits: @undiscoveredpathhome
“No one is telling you the truth about cruises and I can’t stand by anymore and just watch these happy cruise videos without saying anything so here are the terrible parts of cruises that no one really talks about.
As someone who spent two weeks on a cruise boat in Australia, I’m starting off with the most controversial take. Before I got on a cruise boat everyone told me the food was going to be amazing fine dining.”
Image credits: @undiscoveredpathhome
“To that I just have one thing to say, which is lies – this is high school cafeteria food at best and it was awful. I think it’s genuinely made for like the simplest of taste buds.”
Image credits: @undiscoveredpathhome
“Second, ostensibly when a cruise stops at a port you’re gonna wanna get off, do an excursion, do some sightseeing. The pricing of these excursions is outrageous. We easily spent like $200 per person on an excursion it lasted half a day, and I just kept thinking if I was on land I could rent like my own private boat for the day.”
Image credits: @undiscoveredpathhome
“Look, these are cruise boats and they are massive. The environmental impact is simply unforgivable. If you even care one Iota about the planet, you would knock it on one of these ships. I think it says a lot about an industry that if you completely removed, it it would just immediately improve our carbon footprint. I said I wouldn’t knock it till I tried it but I tried it, and I’m never doing it again for the environmental reason alone.”
Image credits: @undiscoveredpathhome
“Next, if you get seasick you are going to need seasickness meds. I don’t care what anyone says – you will get seasick.”
Image credits: @undiscoveredpathhome
“Last but not least, getting around a cruise ship is literally hell – there is an insane amount of walking and if you’re gonna take the elevator you better be prepared to wait. And that’s part 1 of all the things I wish I’d known before I got on a cruise ship.”
Image credits: @undiscoveredpathhome
You can hear Samantha’s full explanation right here
@undiscoveredpathhome ❌NO MORE CRUISE SHIPS❌ And I’m sorry but you truly can’t convince me otherwise 🤷♀️ #cruiseship #cruisetok #cruiseshiplife #cruising ♬ vibey birds of a feather – Jordan Greenwald
Over 31 million people will set sea on cruises this year
Image credits: GEORGE DESIPRIS (not the actual photo)
Many people around the world seem to disagree with Samantha’s take on cruises, because millions of people set sail every year. According to Statista, 31.7 million passengers will hop on cruise ships this year, and that number is only expected to increase over the next few years. In fact, by 2027, cruises are projected to take 39.4 million passengers out to sea.
A 2024 report from Cruise Lines International Association found that 12% of cruise goers set sea twice a year. And a whopping 82% of those who have been on a cruise ship before say they’ll go again in the future.
So what is it about these ships that passengers love? The Telegraph reports that cruises are particularly popular among Americans because they’re often affordable, they allow travelers to be “country collectors” without having to pack up and change accommodation multiple times, and they provide “hand-holding” for travelers who aren’t as comfortable navigating foreign countries.
However, there are certainly downsides to cruises as well. As Samantha pointed out in her video, these massive ships certainly aren’t doing the environment any favors. In fact, Greenly reports that going on a cruise is even worse than flying, as these ships emit between 700 to 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions every day. Meanwhile, there are over 450 cruise ships that could be out on the water at any given time.
“Some cruises can be nice, but they are generally designed for the masses, not the individual”
Image credits: Mehmet Mert Mutlu (not the actual photo)
Plus, CO2 emissions aren’t the only problem cruises create. They use an incredible amount of fuel and energy. Housekeeping for the rooms alone means that washing machines and dryers are constantly running on board, and passenger activities often use lots of energy as well.
Then, there’s the issue of food waste. Many cruises offer all-inclusive buffets, which means leftover food is constantly being tossed out. And because of how isolated cruise ships are, this food can’t even be donated to homeless shelters or those in need.
If cruise liners were actually interested in reducing their environmental impact, Greenly recommends focusing on vegan and vegetarian dining options, working hard to reduce waste and installing solar panels on the ship. But unfortunately, most don’t seem to have any plans to become green any time soon.
To learn more about why cruises aren’t the best way to travel, we got in touch with Leah Walker, CEO and Co-Founder of Garnier Creations and former travel journalist at Leah Travels. The travel expert was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda and explain why she’s not a fan of cruises.
“I do not care for cruises because of the lack of control and freedom, inability to be spontaneous and explorative, and lack of cultural depth,” Leah shared. “I enjoy meticulously choosing every aspect of my trip. Yes, some cruises can be nice, but they are generally designed for the masses, not the individual.”
“Cruising feels like a floating cattle car”
Image credits: Diego F. Parra (not the actual photo)
However, Leah does recognize that some people love cruises because they take much of the stress out of a vacation, especially for the novice traveler. “Cruises are also a good option for people with limited mobility or are in declining health. Fortunately, I am not in any of those categories,” she noted.
We were also curious to know if there’s anything cruise liners could do to change Leah’s mind. “I’ve been on five cruises, both ocean and river. I don’t think I’ll ever go on one of the stereotypical giant ocean cruise ships again,” she shared.
But Leah says she hasn’t completely sworn off all cruises. “I’d try something like a Four Seasons or Ritz-Carlton Yacht or take a small ship to Antarctica.”
Finally, we wanted to know what kind of traveling Leah loves the most. “I prefer solo travel, so for me, cruising feels like a floating cattle car,” she told Bored Panda. “I travel to enrich my interests and preferences, rather than choosing from a menu of experiences designed for the masses.”
“I like being on my own schedule rather than the one slipped under my door each night. For me, a loose travel itinerary is ideal, with plenty of room for flexibility,” the travel expert added.
We would love to hear your thoughts on Samantha’s video down below, pandas. Have you ever been on a cruise? Feel free to share, and then you can read another Bored Panda article discussing cruises right here!
Viewers had mixed opinions on Samantha’s video, as some agreed and others professed their love for cruises
The post Woman Shares Why Cruise Ships Are The Worst, Tells Others To Never Go On One first appeared on Bored Panda.
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