6 Cruises To Now Steer Clear Of (Even If Looks Good In The Brochures !)

Editorial Summary

Gary Bembridge provides advice on six specific types of cruise experiences that travelers should avoid to ensure a high quality vacation. He first warns against booking ships that are just returning to service after being laid up, noting that crews may be out of practice and new protocols can cause hiccups. He also advises skipping maiden voyages because shakedown cruises typically occur first, and maiden voyages often involve shipyard workers or unfinalized entertainment. Similarly, he suggests avoiding cruises immediately following a dry dock due to potential noise and unfinished upgrades, as well as the final cruise before a dry dock when venues may be closed for removal. Regarding seasonality, he recommends avoiding the Mediterranean during the peak summer months to escape heat and crowds, suggesting shoulder months instead. He also cautions against short two or three night taster cruises, arguing they are too brief to experience a large ship and often attract a non-representative party crowd. Finally, he warns against themed cruises run by third parties, which can result in certain ship facilities being closed to general passengers. He suggests using search engines to check if a specific sailing is part of a themed event.

Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.