Summer is here and many families here in Florida are using the season to escape for a vacation on one of the many cruise ships that find port here. The popular misconception about cruises of the past is that they were reserved only for the “newly-wed and nearly dead”, but this couldn’t be farther from the truth, at least of the modernized diesel-powered cruises of today. Indeed, we’ve now entered a new era of cruising. With larger cruise ships, higher occupancy rates, and more competitive pricing, cruises have actually managed to become the fastest-growing segment of the travel market in the past several years and there seems to be no sign of their popularity waning any time soon.
That said, despite their growing popularity, the general public still seem to have reservations about cruises that keep them from making reservations for a cruise. You may have heard some stories in the news about mishaps upon cruise ships over the past few years, but the more popular cruising becomes and the more ships there are out on the sea regularly, the more you’re going to hear about them for better or worse. For every one cruise that experiences a blunder, hundreds more complete their journeys without a hitch. Don’t get discouraged by the first negative thing you’ve heard – cruising is now more comfortable and affordable than ever. Let RPM Diesel put your mind at ease by dispelling some of these inaccurate myths about cruises.
Cruises Are Only For Cold Weather
Cruise ships actually operate year round, never without a full load of excited passengers. While many people do prefer to take their cruises in the cold Winter months, many families choose to embark during the summer instead when children are out of school and their parents can take vacation days off from work. Not all cruises operate year-round, but no matter the season there will always be several options for you and your family to consider.
Cruises Are Crowded With Old People
Again, cruises of the past have had the reputation applied to them of being overly crowded, and not with what you’d call the younger generation. Indeed, while the older set of retirees do have the money and the time to travel for extended periods, that doesn’t mean that they’re the only ones who can afford it. And while many cruise ships do go out of their way to cater to older people, there is so much more to modern cruises ships than organized bingo and shuffleboard. More people in their 20s to 40s are taking cruises than ever, so much so that many cruise ships now offer events and activities specifically aimed atyounger people. Private bars, child care for young couples, trendy restaurants, and even full service spas are now common on most cruises, so you’ll have plenty to do regardless of your age.
When it comes to available space, most cruises have also made leaps and bounds. Older ships often had constrained and poorly designed layouts, so spaces in which large groups tended to congregate, such as the buffets and entertainment performances would become quite cramped. Fortunately, more modern ships have addressed these issues. Not only are they larger in general with more deck space, allowing for more passenger accommodations and space to roam freely, but their modernized designs are often specifically created to alleviate crowding and allow for easier flow of foot traffic.
Cruises Are Dangerous
By now we’ve all heard the horror stories – Rough seas, power outages, fires, collisions, passengers falling overboard, and disease. Rarely do we see a cruise ship on the news without some horrific headline scrolling underneath it. But again, “if it bleeds, it leads”, so you’re far more likely to hear about the negative aspects of cruise ships as more and more of them take to the high seas than you would about the positive aspects. Just like airplanes, we’re always hearing about the failings of cruise ships when they’re statistically one of the safest methods of travel. Not only does every cruise ship set sail with a highly trained team of professional engineers and mechanics, but the US Coast Guard also performs inspections of all ships sailing from US ports on a quarterly basis to ensure that they’re safe for all aboard.
This ensures that all of the safety equipment is up to date and that emergency procedures are always being followed. It’s probably fair to say that most passengers aren’t too worried about plowing into a rogue iceberg these days, but more than one potential passenger is likely worried about the possible outbreak of illness aboard their ship. Incidents of illness aboard cruises are always rigorously tracked by health officials, which is why you hear about them so much in the media even though most of the illnesses in question originate on land. Also, every cruise is staffed with a team of doctors and nurses to aid passengers should they become sick or otherwise injured during the cruise. Generally, ill passaengers are often quarantined until their symptoms subside to avoid the spread of germs. Cruise ships are no dirtier than anywhere else, it is just their confined nature that puts these notions in our minds as travelers. That said, the best way to avoid getting sick on a cruise ship is the same way to avoid getting sick anywhere – practicing good hygiene and using common sense. But it doesn’t hurt to bring some hand sainitizer along, just in case.
Check back with us at RPM Diesel as we continue to debunk more cruise ship myths!
