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There’s no such thing as a bad cruise, right? Well, after being on over 50 cruises, I can honestly say there are some I would be happy to skip in the future, and some I would never book again under any circumstances.
This is not just based on my own travels over the past few years. I’ve been a cruise travel consultant for about 20 years, so I’ve seen a pattern of customer love and disappointment. These are the cruises I personally avoid, and the reasons you might want to think twice before booking them.
1. Bermuda Short Cruise
Honestly, Bermuda is one of my favorite cruise destinations. We’ve sailed there nine times and I think it’s one of the most underrated trips because most ships stay overnight so the ship basically becomes your hotel while you explore the island.
So when I found out about a 4-day Carnival cruise from New York with a day trip to Bermuda, I thought it sounded perfect. Throw in a little pink sand for a quick escape. What could go wrong?
This is something we didn’t take into account. On a 4 day cruise, time in Bermuda is very short. We had to be back on the boat by 3pm which meant no access to our usual favorite beach. We had a meal, walked around for a while, and that was it. In 4 days, our actual stay on the island was only about 8 hours. The rest of the day is a day at sea.
When we got home we didn’t feel satisfied. If you are considering a Bermuda cruise, I really recommend you consider a longer cruise Bermuda 2 to 3 days To actually explore. There is a lot to see, from horseshoe bay beach arrive Royal Naval Dockyardand you simply can’t fit it on a short cruise.
2. Bermuda Cruise in Winter or Early Spring
When it comes to Bermuda, there’s another place to avoid. Booking a Bermuda cruise in the winter, early spring, or late fall may mean that your itinerary doesn’t actually take you to Bermuda at all.
Bermuda cruises often change course when the weather and ocean don’t cooperate. When this happens, the ship usually heads to Canada and New England. Most recently, a couple went on a 5-day Virgin Voyages cruise to Bermuda in April. Instead of reaching pink sand beaches, they ended up in Saint John, New Brunswick.
Now, New Brunswick is a beautiful place, but when you’re packing your bags and heading to the beach in April, it’s not where you want to be. If you decide to go to Bermuda, stick to the warmer months climate reliable Ships are also much less likely to be diverted.
3. 3-day cruise
This might surprise you because I’ve actually done a few three-day cruises. The most recent one was Celebrity Silhouette about a year ago, which we really loved. The itinerary was great, stopping in Key West and Nassau, we rented a golf cart in Key West and had a great day.
But here’s the thing. It really didn’t feel like a Celebrity Cruise. Compared to Edge-class ships or even Celebrity Summit, The atmosphere of a three-day cruise Completely different. Lots of bachelorette, bachelorette and weekend party goers.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but the food, service, and overall atmosphere felt almost like a different offering than the typical longer celebrity cruises. If you want a complete premium experience, Longer cruises are usually a better option. Short weekend cruises tend to attract a party crowd, which can really shape your experience whether you want it to or not.
4. Winter Mediterranean Cruise
This is personal and I admit I have turned down brand opportunities to do this. Mediterranean or European cruises in the winter are not for me.
Some cruise lines, including MSC, do sail in the Mediterranean during the cooler months, and if you’re European and the Mediterranean is on your doorstep, this might be perfect for you. But from a North American perspective, traveling to Europe still feels like a bucket list moment for me.
I want warm weather. Not necessarily hot, but warm enough to sit outside, wander through historical monuments without a winter jacket, and enjoy long evenings in cafes. if you are Plan a Mediterranean Cruisemy honest advice is to know what kind of weather you really like. Shoulder season in late spring and early fall can be lovely, but Packing for a Winter Mediterranean Cruise is a very different exercise.
5. Winter cruises departing from New York or New Jersey
Living in Montreal, I see this question all the time. Cruise travelers in the eastern United States and northeastern Canada often look for cruises that they can drive to so they can skip the expense and hassle of flying. That’s why a 7- to 12-day winter cruise to the Caribbean from New York or New Jersey looks so tempting.
What’s the gain? The first or last day or two were very cold. Sometimes it snows on the day of departure. Yes, you will eventually reach the Caribbean and enjoy the warm weather, especially on a long cruise. But winter seas can also be rougher on this route.
In fact, I’ve spoken to captains who told me this is one of their least favorite routes to sail. If you’re planning a winter cruise from a Northeastern port, just know what you’re getting into.
6. End of Season Alaska Cruise
Like every cruise destination, Alaska has its peak and shoulder seasons. The end of the season brings some real drawbacks, but they are often glossed over.
Here’s what tends to happen as the Alaska cruise season comes to an end:
- The weather is getting colder and rainfall has increased significantly
- Seasonal workers are starting to go home, which means fewer staff at attractions
- Fewer tour options, more flight cancellations due to weather
- Wishlist experiences like helicopters and seaplanes are often canceled
Cruise ships sailing late in the season often mention that some restaurants and shops have closed and the overall energy of port towns feels a little flat. Let’s be honest, when you see those thumbnails on YouTube of cold, rainy, miserable Alaskan cruises, it’s almost always while they’re sailing.
If you are heading north for the first time Best Months to Visit Alaska Usually June, July and early August. avoid Common Alaska Cruise Mistakes Starting with choosing the right time of year, there are many Alaska Cruise Tips Worth knowing before booking.
7. Cruise from smaller, less popular ports
At the risk of upsetting some cruisers, this is another situation I would avoid. I’m talking about ports like Jacksonville, Baltimore and Philadelphia.
There’s nothing wrong with these cities and it’s convenient if you live nearby. The problem is that smaller, less popular ports often don’t have access to newer, better ships. So when the price gets your attention and you book without checking out the ship, you might end up with something older that doesn’t represent the cruise line’s best.
If this is your first time cruising, this might really change your impression of the brand. Be sure to research the specific ship, not just the price and port, before booking.
8. Residential Cruises
I love cruising, but living on a cruise ship full time? Not for me.
It’s awesome that some people really enjoy this lifestyle and share it online. However, over time, I noticed that the novelty of their stories tended to wear off. Six months later, a year later, a year and a half later, many of them seem to be feeling the shift.
Traveling around the world sounds incredible and I can definitely see myself doing one (or part of it) at some stage. Making a cruise ship my actual home is another. I love my dog, I’m going to miss my parents, and I’m really going to miss the rhythm of family life.
As much as I love cruise life and letting others take care of housework and meal planning, I’m still a homebody. Part of the freedom of vacation is coming home for the holidays.
9. Relocation or transatlantic cruise
The last one is confessional. About three years ago I made a video saying I would never do Relocation or transatlantic cruise. I’m solving this problem.
My original concerns remain. On a typical 12 to 16 day repositioning voyage, you may only have 3 to 6 ports for 5 or 6 consecutive sea days at a time. To me, the port to sea day ratio feels too skewed towards sea days. I like having land to look forward to.
But I’ve talked to a lot of cruisers who really enjoy repositioning sailing, including friends who do it twice a year now and are trying to convince us to go along. A member of our Facebook group recently shared that the slower pace, gradual time changes, and opportunity to spend more time on a great boat are exactly the reasons they keep going back. Many in our cruise community say this is the best value cruise they have ever found, with prices often comparable to a 7-day Caribbean cruise.
I’m curious if Includes repositioned back-to-back cruises Probably the sweetest place for me. If you’ve already done this, I’d love to hear your thoughts and which boat you would recommend.
final thoughts
Some of these cruises aren’t right for me, but they might be a great fit for you. That’s the beauty of cruising. There are so many changes that for one person sailing is a dream and for others it is a disappointment.
The bigger lesson is to know what you want to get out of your cruise vacation, and then carefully research the ship, season, and itinerary. If you end up on the wrong cruise, the bargains aren’t cheap, and there are plenty of them Warning signs to watch out for Before you book. pair it with some Cruises worth avoiding for other reasonsyou’ll be well on your way to booking a hotel you really like.
Now I’d love to hear from you. Which cruise would you avoid? Is there a cruise ship on this list that you would actually defend? Please tell me in the comments.