Cruise ships have a bit of a bad reputation – but if you ask around with those people that dislike cruise ships, you’ll almost always notice that they have never actually sailed on one. Let’s take you through the top ten myths about cruising, and see if we can help convince you that they can indeed be a fantastic way to travel.

You Will Catch a Nasty Disease

Well, yes and no. Any time you are around a lot of people in a fairly confined space, you run the risk of catching something. The same applies to a hotel, theme park or your local grocery store. The key to staying healthy is to follow simple precautions. Wash your hands, use the hand sanitizing stations provided and cough and sneeze into your sleeve, not your hands. Stories of entire ships catching a nasty illness always make the news, because bad news sells. In reality, ship wide illnesses are very rare.

You Are Stuck on a Ship with Thousands of People

This is an argument you’ll only hear from someone who has never set foot on a cruise ship. Yes – the idea of 3000 people packed into a metal box may sound like a recipe for crowd horrors. In reality, once everyone is on board, you’ll notice an amazing amount of peace and quiet. The embarkation and disembarkation times are the only periods where you’ll see any real crowds. Obviously, getting in and out of a show, or waiting for dinner may be rather busy, but you’ll experience that on land as well.

The Food is Horrible

Food on a cruise ship is one of the best arguments to take a cruise. You can sail on a 15 day cruise and never see a bad meal. Granted, if you only eat at the buffet or pizza bar, you won’t leave impressed. The main dining room is where the best food is, along with the theme restaurants. Many ships have added a minor cover charge to their upscale restaurant offerings (about $10 per person).

In Bad Weather, You Will Get Sea Sick

This is one of the only entries that is partially true – even though ships are larger than ever, if you are passing through bad weather, you run the risk of becoming sea sick. Even the most seasoned cruiser will feel queasy if the storm is strong enough.
The good news is that most storms pass, and that the captain feels the rocking of the ship as well, and will usually try to plot a course around or away from a storm. Bring some Dramamine with you, or make your way to the ship store for their remedies.

Bedrooms are All Tiny

The size of your stateroom depends how much you were willing to pay for your cruise. If you want to travel on the cheap, you’ll be in an inside room with no windows. If you have a little extra, you will end up in a balcony room. No matter which room you pick, the room will be large enough for the number of people it is allowed to hold. Sure, unless you spring for a suite, you’ll be in a small(ish) room, but still large enough to be comfortable. Best of all, with so much to do on board, your room really won’t be used for anything other than sleep. Most staterooms provide storage space for your bags, a decent size bathroom/shower and a small desk.

Everything on a Cruise Ship Costs Money

Think of a cruise ship like you think of the theme park. The basic rides are all free, but you’ll still be forced to walk through the gift shop when you get off the ride. Cruise lines have lowered their prices substantially in recent years, and obviously need ways to recoup some of their losses. The basics are all free – you won’t have to pay for shows, the pool, and most restaurants or sports activities. However, once you get bored and head to the casino or fitness center, you’ll be asked for your cruise card. It is possible to cruise for a week without spending a penny, but you’ll need to stick to free drinks and the complimentary entertainment.
There are ways to make your trip cheaper – obviously avoiding the casino is one of them. The soda card is another great way to lower your costs – these cards are usually sold on the first day of the voyage, and for a fixed price, you can drink all the soda you want. Of course, if you only drink one glass of soda a day, you won’t be saving much, so do the math before handing over your card. Other things to avoid on the ship:  the photo studio, the art gallery and wine tastings.

Cruise Travel is Making Travelers Dumb

Travel snobs claim cruise travel is making travelers “dumb”. Their argument is that too many people get on a ship, and only get off at highly developed tourist ports. This argument obviously doesn’t make sense – because people have been traveling like this for decades. There has always been a large part of the traveling public that just wants a fully catered and planned vacation. They don’t want to fight for themselves, and just want to relax. In the past, this meant taking a plane to their destination. With a cruise, you get on a boat instead.

At Dinner, You Will be Stuck with People You May Not Like

This used to be true when cruise lines had scheduled seating with no flexibility. Passengers would be seated with the same people for the entire cruise. Most cruise lines have now introduced some form of flexible seating. This allows you to eat during your scheduled time, or to pick a more convenient time (and table).

Cruise Lines are Notorious for “Hard Selling” their Own Shore Tours

When you book your cruise, you’ll be offered a selection of shore tours by the cruise line. These tours are often more expensive than trying to find a similar tour on your own, but the extra cost when picking a cruise line tour can be worth it. For starters, you’ll usually be one of the first groups off the ship. But most importantly, you don’t run the risk of the ship leaving without you. If you take a third party tour and your bus breaks down, the cruise line may leave without you. Cruise line organized tours will always wait for you, and because the cruise line has a relationship with the tour organizer, they can usually arrange for backup transportation or other support.

There is Nothing to Do on a Cruise Ship

This one could be true – if you picked the wrong cruise line (or ship). Each cruise line caters to a different audience. An older traveler may not have much fun on a ship filled with teenagers. And teenagers may not enjoy a ship that caters mainly to older travelers.

The best way to prevent a bad cruise is to research a lot before you leave. Read review sites, chat boards or ask friends who have cruised so you can be sure to pick the line and ship that best matches your needs.