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“No One Is Telling You The Truth”: Woman Shares Why No One Should Go On Cruises
Interview With Author
Cruises are advertised as adventurous, relaxing vacations at sea that anyone can enjoy regardless of their age and what they’re looking for in a trip. You can visit multiple countries in a short amount of time, you’ll have all of your meals included in the cost of the cruise, and you’ll never have to worry about rental cars or shuffling through the airport. As long as you’re okay being confined in a small space like a hamster, bon voyage!
Cruises definitely aren’t for everyone, and that’s why travel content creator Samantha Tatro is exposing the truth about what the experience of setting sail on a cruise is really like. Below, you’ll find a video that Samantha recently shared detailing why her first cruise was also her last, as well as conversations with Samantha and Leah Walker, former travel journalist at Leah Travels.
More info: TikTok | Instagram | Blog
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Cruise ships are an extremely popular mode of traveling
Image credits: Andrea Piacquadio (not the actual photo)
But after spending two weeks at sea, this travel content creator decided to expose the worst aspects of going on a cruise
Image credits: @undiscoveredpathhome
“No one is telling you the truth about cruises and I can’t stand by anymore and just watch these happy cruise videos without saying anything so here are the terrible parts of cruises that no one really talks about.
As someone who spent two weeks on a cruise boat in Australia, I’m starting off with the most controversial take. Before I got on a cruise boat everyone told me the food was going to be amazing fine dining.”
Image credits: @undiscoveredpathhome
“To that I just have one thing to say, which is lies – this is high school cafeteria food at best and it was awful. I think it’s genuinely made for like the simplest of taste buds.”
Image credits: @undiscoveredpathhome
“Second, ostensibly when a cruise stops at a port you’re gonna wanna get off, do an excursion, do some sightseeing. The pricing of these excursions is outrageous. We easily spent like $200 per person on an excursion it lasted half a day, and I just kept thinking if I was on land I could rent like my own private boat for the day.”
Image credits: @undiscoveredpathhome
“Look, these are cruise boats and they are massive. The environmental impact is simply unforgivable. If you even care one Iota about the planet, you would knock it on one of these ships. I think it says a lot about an industry that if you completely removed, it it would just immediately improve our carbon footprint. I said I wouldn’t knock it till I tried it but I tried it, and I’m never doing it again for the environmental reason alone.”
Image credits: @undiscoveredpathhome
“Next, if you get seasick you are going to need seasickness meds. I don’t care what anyone says – you will get seasick.”
Image credits: @undiscoveredpathhome
“Last but not least, getting around a cruise ship is literally hell – there is an insane amount of walking and if you’re gonna take the elevator you better be prepared to wait. And that’s part 1 of all the things I wish I’d known before I got on a cruise ship.”
Image credits: @undiscoveredpathhome
You can hear Samantha’s full explanation right here
@undiscoveredpathhome ❌NO MORE CRUISE SHIPS❌ And I’m sorry but you truly can’t convince me otherwise 🤷♀️ #cruiseship#cruisetok#cruiseshiplife#cruising♬ vibey birds of a feather – Jordan Greenwald
“I personally will never go on a cruise again due to the environmental factors and labor issues”
To find out more about Samantha’s experience on a cruise, we reached out to her via email. Samantha is a travel blogger, lifelong expat and journalist based in Prague, and she was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda about how she ended up on a cruise ship in the first place.
“My husband and I live in the Czech Republic, and our family lives in the US. We are always looking for ways to combine our travel and seeing our family. My husband’s family LOVES to cruise, and for their 10th wedding anniversary, they invited us to join them on a Princess Cruise through Australia,” the content creator explained. “I personally have never wanted to go on a cruise, as I had a feeling it probably wasn’t my cup of tea – but I didn’t want to knock it until I tried it.”
Going into the cruise, Samantha says her expectations were pretty low. “Because I knew the cruise would involve half the time on the ship (we had 6 days at sea if I remember correctly). As a foodie and passionate home cook too, I just didn’t think cruise food would live up to the hype,” she noted. “When my husband and I travel, we love to spend lots of time getting to know a certain place and try to travel adventurously, and I didn’t think cruising would be the best fit for me.”
Image credits: GEORGE DESIPRIS (not the actual photo)
It wasn’t all bad though. “The best thing about our cruise was the time we got to spend with family. We were able to see my husband’s family for lots of quality time,” Samantha shared. “In addition, the specialty restaurants where you have to pay extra (at least the steakhouse) wasn’t awful. I enjoyed all the stops, too, but I just wish we could have more time in each city. Having 7 or 8 hours at each port is simply not enough time to truly see each place.”
We were also curious what type of traveling the content creator would recommend as an alternative for people who actually do enjoy cruises. “I think it depends a lot on the type of travel people value and the experiences they value. There are lots of relaxing all-inclusive options or lovely hotels in adventurous areas for people seeking out alternatives,” she noted. “Our cruise was so expensive, and I often thought we could have had a really luxurious time on land for the same price – or less.”
“I’m happy if people enjoy cruises, but I’d really recommend people consider the environmental impact of cruising and the labor issues around cruising, too. There are so many other ways to travel that don’t have such terrible side effects,” the traveler added. “Cruising is a very specific type of experience, and I know many people love it for what it is – and I don’t think the intended audience for cruises wants anything to change. I personally will never go on a cruise again due to the environmental factors and labor issues.”
Cruises can create up to 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions every day
Image credits: Mehmet Mert Mutlu (not the actual photo)
Many people around the world seem to disagree with Samantha’s take on cruises, because millions of people set sail every year. According to Statista, 31.7 million passengers will hop on cruise ships this year, and that number is only expected to increase over the next few years. In fact, by 2027, cruises are projected to take 39.4 million passengers out to sea.
So what is it about these ships that passengers love? The Telegraph reports that cruises are particularly popular among Americans because they’re often affordable, they allow travelers to be “country collectors” without having to pack up and change accommodation multiple times, and they provide “hand-holding” for travelers who aren’t as comfortable navigating foreign countries.
However, there are certainly downsides to cruises as well. As Samantha pointed out, these massive ships certainly aren’t doing the environment any favors. In fact, Greenly reports that going on a cruise is even worse than flying, as these ships emit between 700 to 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions every day. Meanwhile, there are over 450 cruise ships that could be out on the water at any given time.
Plus, CO2 emissions aren’t the only problem cruises create. They use an incredible amount of fuel and energy. Housekeeping for the rooms alone means that washing machines and dryers are constantly running on board, and passenger activities often use lots of energy as well. Then, there’s the issue of food waste. Many cruises offer all-inclusive buffets, which means leftover food is constantly being tossed out. And because of how isolated cruise ships are, this food can’t even be donated to homeless shelters or those in need.
“Some cruises can be nice, but they are generally designed for the masses, not the individual”
Image credits: Diego F. Parra (not the actual photo)
We were also lucky enough to get in touch with Leah Walker, CEO and Co-Founder of Garnier Creations and former travel journalist at Leah Travels, to hear why she’s not a fan of cruises either.
“I do not care for cruises because of the lack of control and freedom, inability to be spontaneous and explorative, and lack of cultural depth,” Leah shared. “I enjoy meticulously choosing every aspect of my trip. Yes, some cruises can be nice, but they are generally designed for the masses, not the individual.”
However, Leah does recognize that some people love cruises because they take much of the stress out of a vacation, especially for the novice traveler. “Cruises are also a good option for people with limited mobility or are in declining health. Fortunately, I am not in any of those categories,” she noted.
We were also curious to know if there’s anything cruise liners could do to change Leah’s mind. “I’ve been on five cruises, both ocean and river. I don’t think I’ll ever go on one of the stereotypical giant ocean cruise ships again,” she shared.
But Leah says she hasn’t completely sworn off all cruises. “I’d try something like a Four Seasons or Ritz-Carlton Yacht or take a small ship to Antarctica.”
Finally, we wanted to know what kind of traveling Leah loves the most. “I prefer solo travel, so for me, cruising feels like a floating cattle car,” she told Bored Panda. “I travel to enrich my interests and preferences, rather than choosing from a menu of experiences designed for the masses.”
“I like being on my own schedule rather than the one slipped under my door each night. For me, a loose travel itinerary is ideal, with plenty of room for flexibility,” the travel expert added.
We would love to hear your thoughts on Samantha’s video down below, pandas. Have you ever been on a cruise? Feel free to share, and then you can read another Bored Panda article discussing cruises right here!
Viewers had mixed opinions on Samantha’s video, as some agreed and others professed their love for cruises
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What do you think ?
General Anaesthesia 1 year ago
Worst of all, "...there is an insane amount of walking...". God forbid you could lose a little weight, or anything else healthy should happen on a cruise.
Auntriarch 1 year ago
I was so bored I actually relished the amount of walking
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Katharina Sei. 1 year ago
I think you can not mention the negative environmental impact of cruise ships enough.
Jrog 1 year ago (edited)
1) Mile for mile cruise ships have the higher carbon footprint of any transportation method. 250 g of CO2 pax/km vs 246 g for a short haul flight or 148 g for long-haul, or twice the average car. To compare, high speed trains is 4g pax/km 2) 210-220 cruise ships operate in Europe. Barcelona port hosts on average two cruise ships at any time. Those two ships alone emit as much CO2 as all the cars in the city, and more sulphur dioxide than *all the cars in all of Spain*. 3) Cruise ship passengers produce a lot of waste, EIGHT TIMES the amount produced by the average household per pax, while doubling the energy and water usage. 4) All but 2 of the 10 most polluted ports in Europe are cruise ships hubs. The other two are two major cargo ports, way larger than the others. Venice reduced pollution by 80% banning cruise ships entering the city. 5) On a single day a cruise ship pollutes as much as *32 YEARS* of the average car commuter
Load More Replies...
Moosy Girl 1 year ago
How can you look at a ship like that and NOT realise there’s gonna be a lot of walking??
Cerise Hood 1 year ago
Probably get downvoted for this, but she is complaining about a cruise, a cruise that she is on and taking a vacation. The money thing is bs, if it were that important to her she wouldn't even be on a cruise.
Mia Black 1 year ago
I'm on her side. It's so absurdly bad for our environment. The building, the travel, the leakages, the depositions of waste on high sea....I was only on a two day ferry ride and it was already boring despite it being a cruise ferry. You are stuck on this hotel - shopping mall mix, most of the time only the the inside or plain sea and you have to spend money for nearly anything besides sitting somewhere (for what you paid with your ticket). Sitting somewhere while polluting on an excessive level....I don't like it. I'd rather make a small river cruise (they are at least possible with electro power instead of fossil) and see more than just water, walls and waste
Andrew Arons 1 year ago
Don't forget it also takes around 3 hours to just get aboard the ship, and then another 3 hours just to disembark.
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Ellen Townsend 1 year ago
The cruise line and ship make a huge difference. Going on a jumbo sized ship will give the experience OP described. A cheap cruise can be a crappy vacation. My parents started us on our very first cruise with a smaller luxury line and we have never regretted it! We still go with that group whenever possible for the locations we want. In the case of a cruise money talks.
dollh h 1 year ago
Agreed. Judging the entire industry based on one of those super sized floating mall/casinos is pretty silly. There are much smaller crafts, less people, but much more expensive. Plus, her statement that "everyone gets seasick" is just silly. Besides, you can bring the meds with you, they're OTC and legal.
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Schmebulock 1 year ago
This lady does not know what she is talking about and should not be a "travel content creator". 1. No one who has been on a cruise will tell you the food is great unless you go on one of the better lines where it is. 2. Excursions, like everything, can be expensive, but I don't know anywhere you can rent a private boat for the day for $200. 3. Most people do not get seasick on a cruise. 4. If you take a minute to learn the layout of the ship it's way less walking. I can only judge by what I see on the post, but I'm betting she is lazy. 6. The only thing she got right and what seems like her true reason for the post is that cruises are bad for the environment.
hhh cubed 1 year ago
Yep, a ridiculous post from somebody on their first cruise and who clearly made a bad choice with the cruise line they chose. I do get motion sick, have now been on 2 cruises and neither time did I get even a little bit motion sick. The food was waaay way better than I anticipated on the first cruise and even better (more fine dining experiences) on the 2nd one. Complimentary coffee, fresh fruit, croissants, yoghurt etc in my room every morning for first breakfast, yes please! I loved all the walking, avoided the elevators and preferred taking the stairs. Nobody is required to go on all or *any* of the excursions. I liked staying on the ship when in port for half of the stops and because I opted for a cabin with a window the first time and balcony the 2nd time, I spent time in my room to avoid the crowds as much as possible. The whole point for me and I am sure I am not alone was to have the experience of being on the water on a large ship with (almost) all the amenities of home.
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Game Guy 1 year ago
"No one who cares about the environment would ever get on a cruise ship," she says from the deck of a cruise ship. Seriously? I've been on a number of cruises, never seen food like that unless I'm wandering around at 3am and drop in to the all-night cafe, and even then it's looked a lot better than that. A $200/person shore excursion is pretty expensive. Usually that's something like a day spa, a charter boat trip or something like that. Tours start around $20 and might get to over $100 if it's something big and/or far away. The cruise I have booked now has a half-day Mayan ruins tour for less than $80 per. Hell, there's a submarine tour, on a real sub, not one of those glass-bottom semisubmersibles, for $100 per. You can find excursions for $200, but they're usually at overpriced venues. You can also book the tours yourself instead of through the cruise line for a big savings, but unlike ship-booked tours, the ship won't wait for you if the tour operator gets you back late.
SewingStaffy 1 year ago
I went on a cruise around the Caribbean when I was a teenager with my parents. Loved every second. I got seasick, didn't care. The food was amazing, very diverse as well. It's a holiday we still talk about now. We did choose one of the smaller ships, I'd go again in a heartbeat.
Aurora 1 year ago
As a scuba diver, seeing the utter destruction left in the wake of these ships is more than enough reason for me to wish they'd stop existing. The fjord I live by is officially dead because cruise ships whirl up the bottom every time they sail through, preventing anything from growing.
General Anaesthesia 1 year ago
Worst of all, "...there is an insane amount of walking...". God forbid you could lose a little weight, or anything else healthy should happen on a cruise.
Auntriarch 1 year ago
I was so bored I actually relished the amount of walking
Load More Replies... Katharina Sei. 1 year ago
I think you can not mention the negative environmental impact of cruise ships enough.
Jrog 1 year ago (edited)
1) Mile for mile cruise ships have the higher carbon footprint of any transportation method. 250 g of CO2 pax/km vs 246 g for a short haul flight or 148 g for long-haul, or twice the average car. To compare, high speed trains is 4g pax/km 2) 210-220 cruise ships operate in Europe. Barcelona port hosts on average two cruise ships at any time. Those two ships alone emit as much CO2 as all the cars in the city, and more sulphur dioxide than *all the cars in all of Spain*. 3) Cruise ship passengers produce a lot of waste, EIGHT TIMES the amount produced by the average household per pax, while doubling the energy and water usage. 4) All but 2 of the 10 most polluted ports in Europe are cruise ships hubs. The other two are two major cargo ports, way larger than the others. Venice reduced pollution by 80% banning cruise ships entering the city. 5) On a single day a cruise ship pollutes as much as *32 YEARS* of the average car commuter
Load More Replies... Moosy Girl 1 year ago
How can you look at a ship like that and NOT realise there’s gonna be a lot of walking??
Cerise Hood 1 year ago
Probably get downvoted for this, but she is complaining about a cruise, a cruise that she is on and taking a vacation. The money thing is bs, if it were that important to her she wouldn't even be on a cruise.
Mia Black 1 year ago
I'm on her side. It's so absurdly bad for our environment. The building, the travel, the leakages, the depositions of waste on high sea....I was only on a two day ferry ride and it was already boring despite it being a cruise ferry. You are stuck on this hotel - shopping mall mix, most of the time only the the inside or plain sea and you have to spend money for nearly anything besides sitting somewhere (for what you paid with your ticket). Sitting somewhere while polluting on an excessive level....I don't like it. I'd rather make a small river cruise (they are at least possible with electro power instead of fossil) and see more than just water, walls and waste
Andrew Arons 1 year ago
Don't forget it also takes around 3 hours to just get aboard the ship, and then another 3 hours just to disembark.
Load More Replies... Ellen Townsend 1 year ago
The cruise line and ship make a huge difference. Going on a jumbo sized ship will give the experience OP described. A cheap cruise can be a crappy vacation. My parents started us on our very first cruise with a smaller luxury line and we have never regretted it! We still go with that group whenever possible for the locations we want. In the case of a cruise money talks.
dollh h 1 year ago
Agreed. Judging the entire industry based on one of those super sized floating mall/casinos is pretty silly. There are much smaller crafts, less people, but much more expensive. Plus, her statement that "everyone gets seasick" is just silly. Besides, you can bring the meds with you, they're OTC and legal.
Load More Replies... Schmebulock 1 year ago
This lady does not know what she is talking about and should not be a "travel content creator". 1. No one who has been on a cruise will tell you the food is great unless you go on one of the better lines where it is. 2. Excursions, like everything, can be expensive, but I don't know anywhere you can rent a private boat for the day for $200. 3. Most people do not get seasick on a cruise. 4. If you take a minute to learn the layout of the ship it's way less walking. I can only judge by what I see on the post, but I'm betting she is lazy. 6. The only thing she got right and what seems like her true reason for the post is that cruises are bad for the environment.
hhh cubed 1 year ago
Yep, a ridiculous post from somebody on their first cruise and who clearly made a bad choice with the cruise line they chose. I do get motion sick, have now been on 2 cruises and neither time did I get even a little bit motion sick. The food was waaay way better than I anticipated on the first cruise and even better (more fine dining experiences) on the 2nd one. Complimentary coffee, fresh fruit, croissants, yoghurt etc in my room every morning for first breakfast, yes please! I loved all the walking, avoided the elevators and preferred taking the stairs. Nobody is required to go on all or *any* of the excursions. I liked staying on the ship when in port for half of the stops and because I opted for a cabin with a window the first time and balcony the 2nd time, I spent time in my room to avoid the crowds as much as possible. The whole point for me and I am sure I am not alone was to have the experience of being on the water on a large ship with (almost) all the amenities of home.
Load More Replies... Game Guy 1 year ago
"No one who cares about the environment would ever get on a cruise ship," she says from the deck of a cruise ship. Seriously? I've been on a number of cruises, never seen food like that unless I'm wandering around at 3am and drop in to the all-night cafe, and even then it's looked a lot better than that. A $200/person shore excursion is pretty expensive. Usually that's something like a day spa, a charter boat trip or something like that. Tours start around $20 and might get to over $100 if it's something big and/or far away. The cruise I have booked now has a half-day Mayan ruins tour for less than $80 per. Hell, there's a submarine tour, on a real sub, not one of those glass-bottom semisubmersibles, for $100 per. You can find excursions for $200, but they're usually at overpriced venues. You can also book the tours yourself instead of through the cruise line for a big savings, but unlike ship-booked tours, the ship won't wait for you if the tour operator gets you back late.
SewingStaffy 1 year ago
I went on a cruise around the Caribbean when I was a teenager with my parents. Loved every second. I got seasick, didn't care. The food was amazing, very diverse as well. It's a holiday we still talk about now. We did choose one of the smaller ships, I'd go again in a heartbeat.
Aurora 1 year ago
As a scuba diver, seeing the utter destruction left in the wake of these ships is more than enough reason for me to wish they'd stop existing. The fjord I live by is officially dead because cruise ships whirl up the bottom every time they sail through, preventing anything from growing.
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