While so many aspects of a cruise are all that they’re hyped up to be, some are not. Opinions vary widely, and everyone has different priorities when it comes to their cruise vacation. But some things are regarded as being more overrated than others by many cruisers. Here are 15 overrated cruise experiences — based on our opinion and the opinions of other cruise fans.

1. The Casino

Think that casinos are better visited on land? You’re not the only one. In my opinion, spending time in the casino is one of the most overrated cruise experiences there is. Yes, you’re on vacation and yes, there are fun casino events and games you can play with your friends.

However, you’re on the ocean! It’s hard to even tell you’re on a ship with beautiful sea views if you’re in a casino filled with flashing lights but no windows. Save your casino time for land and sit out on deck enjoying the sunshine and sea breeze on your cruise instead.

2. Sea Days

This is a hot take, and one that many cruisers are very divided on: sea days. Some say that sea days are overrated, as you spend an entire day (or multiple days) at a time on the ship eating the same food and doing the same activities. Of course, the time it takes for the ship to get old depends heavily on how big the ship is and how much it has to do, as well as how many sea days your cruise actually includes.

Cruisers that consider sea days overrated are probably taking the cruise primarily for the ports, so that’s where the attention and excitement lies. While I don’t personally agree with this cruising mindset, I do understand it.

3. Formal Night

Ah, formal night. The evening where guests dress in the fanciest clothes they brought and enjoy an extra elegant meal in the main dining room or a specialty restaurant… at least most guests. Some people think that formal nights are completely overrated and unnecessary to the cruise experience. If you’re one of those people, you’ve got plenty of company.

While I find it fun to wear an extra fancy dress and observe others glittering around me in their cruise best, I can understand the lack of desire to dress to the nines while on vacation. If you’re not into formal night, consider sailing with a line that doesn’t even do them at all, such as Oceania or Viking.

4. Drink Packages

For many cruisers, the drink package is a total waste of money and one of the most overrated cruise experiences simply because they don’t drink alcohol (or enough alcohol).

It’s true — if you don’t drink alcohol (or much alcohol) and aren’t big into other types of specialty beverages like mocktails or specialty coffees, the main drink package isn’t going to be for you. This is because they are priced to be most cost effective for people who are likely to drink multiple alcoholic beverages in a day, plus some other types of for-fee drinks as well.

If you drink soda but don’t drink alcohol, see whether your cruise line has a soda package and consider that instead. Otherwise, it’s best to buy any upcharge beverages a la carte because you’re likely to save money overall.

5. Sail Away Party

Read a cruise blog post or talk to friends that have been on a cruise, and chances are they’ll tell you not to miss the sail away party. This special event happens as the ship is departing its homeport, kicking off the official start of the cruise. Music and dancing are a given, and the entertainment staff may host crowd-participation games during the party as well.

It’s a great way to mark the start of the sailing, but some people think it’s overrated. It’s true — there are lots of ways to have a great sail away that don’t involve the sail away party itself. Plus, depending on the crowd, the sail away party may be more mild (or too wild) for some cruisers’ tastes. Just spend the sail away doing what most appeals to you — it’s your vacation, after all!

6. Ports of Call

Above we talked about how some people consider sea days an overrated cruise experience. Now, we’re talking about the other side of that coin — ports! For many people, the main destination for their vacation is the ship itself. From the dining and activities to the entertainment and service, the ship really can be an all-encompassing vacation. In fact, there are cruises to nowhere in some parts of the world, where the ship goes out to sea for a few days and then comes back — with zero port calls.

Yet, some people also consider ports overrated because many of the most popular cruise destinations are very touristy in the port area and they like a more cultural and authentic experience. The great news is that unlike those who don’t care for sea days, cruisers who want more time on the ship have the option to just stay on the ship when it docks… for the entire cruise if they so desire.

7. Duty-Free Shopping

Duty-free shopping (shopping without taxes) both on the ship and in port is a huge draw for some and a total pass for others. On one hand, it really is possible to get good deals on things like perfume, jewelry, cigars, and bottles of liquor. On the other hand, the list price on many items is marked up on the ship and in touristy port areas. So even though you’re not paying tax, you still might be getting a bad deal.

If you’re interested in purchasing something duty-free that you find during your vacation, my advice is to go online and look at how much it costs from other stores/websites. Then make an informed decision from there.

8. Photo Packages

When we asked our Facebook fans what their most overrated cruise experiences were, one very popular answer we got was photo packages. I have to strongly agree. In this digital age where nearly all of us have a great camera in our pockets at nearly all times, photo packages just aren’t worth the money. They’re pretty expensive for the amount of photos you get, and — this is just my opinion — the photos aren’t the style that many cruisers would want anyway.

I much prefer the more casual photos I take with my phone to the overly posed and artificially-lighted photos from the ship’s photographers. Is there a time and place for them? Yes. They can be great for a special event on board like a wedding, or for a more fancy formal night shot. But even then, you can buy photos individually. Otherwise, stick with your own phone and camera — chances are they’ll do just fine.

9. Cruise Line Private Destinations

Cruise lines’ private destinations — including their private islands — can be a great extension of the ship in many ways. Most include a barbecue buffet-style lunch, a number of activities and amenities, and beaches for passengers to enjoy. On most lines, the beverage packages on the ship also extend to these destinations.

Many cruisers consider private cruise line destinations to be a great and safe opportunity to relax ashore and spend a day at the beach. Those that don’t like the beach, though, might not be as satisfied. The same goes for those who prefer historical tours and immersive cultural experiences during their port days. It’s understandable, then, that cruise line private destinations can certainly be overrated for these travelers.

10. Port Shopping Talks

If you’ve ever looked at the daily schedule on a cruise, you’ve seen time slots dedicated to port shopping seminars. You can get some useful information, like what stores you’ll find, what they carry, and what souvenirs are best to look out for in a particular destination. However, these talks are essentially advertisements for certain stores in port that have a partnership with the cruise line to promote them.

Yes, you can get coupons, which is nice. However, port shopping talks are a big pass for me (and many other cruisers). I don’t know anyone who wants to waste their precious vacation time sitting through one big advertisement.

11. Specialty Restaurants

Though specialty restaurants are wildly popular with many cruisers, some consider them to be one of the most overrated cruise experiences. They argue that if food in the main dining room and buffet is included, among other restaurants, why should they pay extra to dine somewhere else? This is a valid point, but I can see both sides.

Much of the time, the included food on a cruise is more than enough for me. But specialty restaurants can be fun because they usually focus on a specific type of cuisine, and often the quality of the ingredients and the experience are higher. Whether specialty restaurants are worth the cost just depends on what you’re looking to get out of your vacation.

12. Art Auctions

Another answer that many of our readers gave when asked about their top overrated cruise experiences was the art auction. On most mainstream cruise lines, an art auction takes place through the on board art gallery. They often incentivize passengers to attend by offering a free art print and glass of champagne.

However, for the most part we don’t recommend purchasing any art on a cruise ship. Many times the pieces are replicas that have been made to look original, or are sold as prints that you can get much cheaper on land. Save the money (and hassle of shipping) and buy a print back home if you fall in love with it.

13. Big-Ticket Attractions

Many modern cruise ships debut with wild, unique attractions that make them especially appealing to thrill-seekers. These include things like Carnival’s BOLT roller coaster, NCL’s go-kart track, and Royal Caribbean’s 10-story slide. While these can be main drivers for some to pick certain ships, others think they’re very overrated cruise experiences. Plus, many of these attractions cost extra money to use.

Whether or not they’re important to you wholly depends on what type of experience you’re looking to have on your vacation.

14. Hot Tubs

When I first saw people suggesting that hot tubs on a cruise ship were overrated, I was surprised. However, after thinking about it I see their point. When you read that a cruise ship has a dozen hot tubs, your mind probably goes to a relaxing image where you’re sitting in a hot tub on a quiet deck in the evening looking out onto the ocean.

Yet, this is often not the reality. Instead, you’re crammed into a small hot tub with eight other people who are all sitting around awkwardly not knowing what to say. Or worse, every hot tub you went to was full of people and you couldn’t even find one that had open space.

Hot tubs are a hot commodity (pun intended) on cruise ships, so I often don’t even try to go for one because there’s a small chance I’ll be able to find space to enjoy it.

15. Early Embarkation

Whether it’s because you just got lucky with an early time slot or have a special perk of being able to board the ship early, most of us like to get on the ship as fast as possible on cruise boarding day. This can be really nice because it allows you to get on the ship with few crowds. You also get to explore before most people have boarded. You also get to start eating and drinking quicker!

But there are downsides. First, the earlier you board means the earlier you have to wake up. Boarding early can also be a hassle regarding hand luggage, because that needs to stay with you until cabins open up — usually around 1 or 1:30 pm. For me, early embarkation can definitely be overrated. Boarding around lunchtime or just after is a great alternative.

Comments

Do you agree with our list of the most overrated cruise experiences? Do you have anything else to add? Drop us an anchor below to share what aspects of cruising you think aren’t worth the hype.