The pros and cons of cruise ship trips in retirement

Key points:

• In 2022, the number of ocean cruise passengers still fell short of pre-pandemic numbers — due, in part, to the obvious fear of boarding a buoyant petri dish as a holiday
• Cruises can be vibrant and communal places to enjoy your retirement, in lieu of being alone and confused travelling to a sprawling and unfamiliar city
• You are a captive consumer on a cruise ship, meaning that you are bound to pay higher prices for goods and services, without limited opportunity to seek cost-effective options

This edition of Your Retirement Living is likely to solve debates between retired couples seeking a holiday and debating whether to go by boat, train, car or plane. In this retirement guide, you’ll have the chance to read up on the case for cruisin’ on an ocean voyage and the pitfalls to avoid before bidding life on land a bon voyage!

Prior to getting into the nitty gritty of pros and cons, here are some quick facts about your potential plot to pack for a cruise:

• A survey from UK cruise agency Bon Voyage found the average cruise passenger gains approximately 450 grams of weight per day
• Some people have retired on cruise ships, such as Mama Lee Wachstetter who wrote about her experience in her book: I May be Homeless, but You Should See my Yacht
• In January of 2014, a norovirus outbreak aboard Princess Cruises’ Caribbean Princess sickened 181 passengers and 11 crew members — just imagine sharing the one-bedroom, one-bathroom cabin with your significant other

Why you should take a cruise

The food

There’s a reason why passengers pack on pounds and amass some added mass when they take to the high seas on holiday. Most luxury cruise lines offer packages that include the price of food — either in part or in full, which is accessible by simply wandering by when you feel like it.

Depending on each company, the times, table availability and added cost of food or drink may run you a few extra dollars, however the general premise of walking downstairs to an opulent restaurant or casual diner to pick anything off of the menu… Well, it’s easy to understand the allure of excess.

If you are organising a cruise through a travel agent, it may help to get their input on dining options and package availability — particularly if you have a culinary preference. Carnival Cruise Line boasts delectable Chinese and Mexican cuisine at the onboard ‘Chibang’ restaurant, whereas Cunard Line offers a refined and elegant approach to fine dining through the Queens Grill, for instance.

The sights

Staring out as the sun rises over the ocean is something people rarely get the chance to do when working full-time and living in suburbia, so the chance to spend nights beneath the stars shimmering across the ocean… I can sea why you’d be starstruck.

Additionally, luxury lines make exquisite cruise ships which are feats of engineering, artistry and architecture. Polished railing, ornate door handles and pristine carpeting are just one part of the experience, as staff wait on passengers while dressed to the nines in their uniforms. The lustre of ocean life just doesn’t get any better, unless themed nights — galas, balls, entertainment and dedicated cruise-wide parties — are raging on.

The lack of planning

You may have to travel to a travel agent and make your way to a docking station, but beyond that, the simplicity of a cruise ship sells itself as a viable holiday alternative.

Knowing that everything you need is within walking distance — your ‘hotel room’ is effectively in the same place as your romantic restaurant reservation, your shopping spree spot and your adjoining cocktail bar.

The hassle of trying to navigate the hustle and bustle of an unfamiliar destination is gone from the second you set your bags down and familiarise yourself with the safety directions.

Why you should not take a cruise

Here are some uncomfortable statistics to stash in the dark recesses of your mind the next time you think about the wind by the sea, pushing you on your way to a seven-day cruise with each subsequent gust:

• Around one in 10 cruise ship passengers acquired a gastrointestinal illness between 2008 – 2014
• Expect to pay approximately one to three dollars per minute for unreliable WiFi service
• Expect to spend nearly a third of your holiday budget on amenities and extremities, based on cashflow reports from Royal Caribbean — with cashless payment blurring the line between cost-tracking
• Despite the exorbitant price point for passengers to buy alcohol, purchase goods and experience ‘exclusive’ aspects of each ship — the average annual salary for Carnival, Royal Caribbean or Norwegian Cruise is between $16,000 to $20,000 USD

Knowing what you know now, will you set sail for the high seas or check which airlines will help you take to the sky in style? For more information about travelling in retirement, stay up to date through Your Retirement Living on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.