Unpopular Opinion - Cruises are Cookie Cutter Vacations
This is a writing sample from Scripted writer Natalie Cadena
Ok, I admit, I have never actually been on a cruise before. The closest I've come was a half-day riverboat trip on the Rhein River in Germany, which was perfectly nice until we entered a lock that required turning the boat sideways, and resulted in me feeling seasick for the first time in my life. I had never been seasick, and haven't since, so go figure, but the day did end in the most memorable strawberry ice cream I have ever tasted. I digress…and without having experienced a real cruise, stick by my statement that cruises are cookie-cutter vacations. Now, there is nothing wrong with cookie-cutter vacations. I am planning the Harry Potter experience at Universal Orlando for me and my kids in March and every bit of that is planned and scripted. However, it is also serving to satisfy our love for the Wizarding World and if they did a Harry Potter cruise, I'd be the first to sign up. But generally, when I travel to a destination, I want to experience it like a local. I don't want the manufactured fun and shiny trinkets, I genuinely want to experience the place itself. The culture, the food, the experience of shopping at the local market and not the fancied up markets that the cruise lines direct tourists toward. But that's not even in my top five reasons for not wanting to cruise. I will list those here: 1. I'd feel like I am in a Petrie dish. I'm not a full-on germaphobe, but I do cringe at the thought of being on a boat, albeit a large one, with thousands of other people, sharing recycled air and buffet-style meals. My feelings are reinforced every time I hear on the news that another cruise ship is extending its stay at sea due to a listeria or flu outbreak. 2. I hate large crowds. I have witnessed firsthand the lines for travelers getting off and on their ships. No thanks. 3. I hate not having the flexibility to change my plans. As mentioned before, I LOVE to immerse myself in the local culture, and while I expect the day trips offered by cruise ships are fun, I want the freedom to divert my plan in the middle of it and find that hole-in-the-wall diner Andrew Zimmern recommended as a local favorite. 4. I hate the strict timelines. Nothing makes me cringe more than lying on the beach in Trunk Bay and hearing that god-awful fog horn. But that's when you know the beach is about to empty because the cruisers have to return home. All at the same time. The locals and frequent visitors of destinations that host cruise ships learn the ships' schedules and try to stay away from those areas at all costs. Refer to #2 above. 5. I would miss planning my vacation. Ok, so I admit, this might be unique to me, but when I travel, I like to make it personal. The history of where I am going is important to me and I relish the research. For example, I visited Lavenham in the UK based on my love for Harry Potter, but as a WWII buff, the most meaningful part of that trip was visiting the town historical museum and learning there was a St. Louis, Missouri based fighter wing stationed there during the war, which connected me to my home as I was living in Missouri at the time, and I am a former military spouse. I realize that I am in the minority of travelers and that cruising is a very popular and likely a very fun and satisfying way to travel. In fact, my parents, who typically share my affinity for authentic experiences when traveling, went on their first cruise a few years ago and loved it! They have been on two cruises since and are planning another one for next year. I am just not sure I am ready to take the leap yet. But I am nothing if not an adventurer, and to be the traveler I claim to be, I feel obligated to try it all. So, I am planning my first cruise. It will not be in a warm, tropical environment, but rather in icy Alaska where germs are less likely to take hold. Stay tuned for my take on that experience…
Written by:
My experience spans three continents and almost thirty years. My story telling draws from a childhood in the rural south, almost twenty years as a military family moving around the globe, thirteen years as an education professional, a mom, a daughter, a sister, aunt, niece, grand daughter, wife, divorcee, single female professional, volunteer, child advocate, etc. Having been immersed into multiple cultures around the world, I have the ability to understand and speak to a diverse audience. I will put myself in your client's shoes to send the message you need them to hear.
