đ˘ 13 Cruise Experiences That Some Cruisers Say Are Way Overrated (Agree or Disagree?)
Ahoy, friends!
Weâre not trying to start a cruise fight in the buffet line or lido deck, but some of these popular cruise perks? Yeah⌠not everyone is a fan.
Weâre Adam & Mary from Hollettâs At Sea on YouTube â and while we love cruising, weâve heard more than a few passengers say ânever againâ to these supposedly âmust-haveâ cruise experiences.
Weâre not saying we agree with all of them⌠but weâre throwing them out there for debate. Let us know what you think in the comments â or better yet, watch the full video for the fun breakdown:
đĽ WATCH NOW: 13 Cruise Experiences That Some Cruisers Say Are Overrated
đ§ The (Possibly) Overrated Cruise Experience List
1. Automatic Cabin Upgrades
âFree upgrade!â sounds amazing⌠until you find yourself directly under a basketball court or next to a crew door that slams like thunder every 10 seconds. Surprise! Itâs cardio AND no sleep.
2. Balcony Cabins
Controversial one here. Balconies are nice â but are they double-the-price nice? Some itineraries arenât scenic, and if youâre never in your room, youâre basically upgrading your cruise for the seagulls.
3. Specialty Dining
Weâre not saying itâs not good. Weâre just saying when youâre already in a floating hotel with 3-course meals included, itâs hard to justify $50/person for a steak with a fancier plate.
4. Mega Attractions
Skydiving simulators? Roller coasters? Theyâre fun⌠for about 8 minutes. Then they close due to âweatherâ or a rogue breeze. Meanwhile, they take up half the ship and charge extra.
5. Hot Tubs
Picture this: 4 lukewarm bodies, 12 screaming kids, and one adult who definitely didnât shower first. Thereâs no ârelaxationâ emoji for that.
6. Private Islands
Yes, theyâre beautiful. Yes, we love a good beach. But when the drink package suddenly doesnât work (we see you, RoyalâŚ), and the upsells are hotter than the sand, it can feel a little âresort trapâ-y.
7. Cruise Transfers
Nothing says âvacationâ like paying $40 to be herded onto a bus like cattle. Uber. Lyft. Walk. Just⌠almost anything else.
8. Spa Treatments
Letâs talk about that $250 massage with a complimentary pressure pitch to buy $180 worth of lavender-scented upsell. The free sauna in the locker room? Now thatâs the real luxury.
9. Onboard Shopping
Souvenirs at sea? Sure. But when theyâre the same âgold-by-the-inchâ chains on every ship and none of it reflects the destination â itâs giving âfloating flea marketâ vibe.
10. Cruise Photo Packages
Raise your hand if youâve avoided the photo desk like it was selling time shares. đââď¸
Youâve got a phone. The ship has scenery. Youâre good.
11. Drink Packages
If you have to do math on port days just to justify that $800 drink tab â maybe skip the package and go a la carte.
12. Art Auctions
Come for the champagne⌠stay for the financial regret!
Cruisers say you can usually buy that exact art cheaper on land. But hey, at least you left with a canvas of a dolphin in a sunset.
13. Cruise Casinos
Itâs like Vegas⌠if Vegas had tighter odds, more smoke, and no buffets. That said, some cruisers swear by the comped cruises if you throw enough money at the slots. Weâll stick with trivia.
đŻ Final Thoughts
Letâs be clear â we actually like some of these things! (Balcony breakfast & coffee? Yes please.) But every cruiserâs got their own vibe, and whatâs magic for one might be a total miss for another.
Thatâs the beauty of cruise life â you do you.
đ Watch the full video for more laughs and a deeper dive into each of these âoverratedâ gems:
đĽ Watch on YouTube
đ Free Stuff (Because You’re Not Overrated)
- đŚ FREE Cruise Packing List: Download it here
- đ Ultimate Cruise Guide: Get the guide here â loaded with tips, checklists, and cruise journaling space!
đŹ Sound Off: Whatâs YOUR âOverratedâ Cruise Thing?
Weâre all ears (and sea legs). Drop a comment below or on the video and tell us: What cruise experience just didnât float your boat?
Letâs get spicy. đśď¸