Going On a Cruise For The First Time? Don’t Let These Myths Hold You Back

Dress c/o Unique Vintage | Red Heart Bag c/o Review Australia | White Pumps | Straw Hat With Bow c/o Review Australia

MYTH 1: Cruising is Too Expensive

I had to list this one first, because right now, Princess Cruises is offering an amazing cruise deal:

Don’t miss out on the Best. Sale. Ever. For the first time ever, Princess Cruises is offering guests a fare that includes drinks, Wi-Fi, and gratuities when they book a cruise or cruise tour. Book today!

Here’s the truth about the cost of cruising: if you compare it to what it would cost you to travel to each of the destinations on your own, you are actually saving money by going on a cruise. Not to mention the food and entertainment that’s included (read onto the next cruise myth for details).

The key to saving money on a cruise is to book during a sale or to book for a future cruise destination while on your current cruise. Princess Cruises almost always has deals and specials for certain destinations on their site. You just have to subscribe to their emails or mailing list to stay up to date.

MYTH 2: All of Your Meals and Food Will Cost Extra

Most of the food on a cruise ship is included with the price of the cruise. There are, of course, specialty restaurants that you can eat at for an additional fee. But the main dining rooms, buffet and some other freebies like burgers and pizza are free.

On the Sky Princess, for example, the buffet and three dining rooms, which offer a new menu each night, are included with all cruise packages. You can also eat at the new specialty restaurant, Alfredo’s, in the Sky Princess for free. Then, there’s the usual included food at Slice Pizza and Swirls ice cream on the pool deck.

You can even order 24 hour room service on Princess Cruises, included with your cruise package.

Floral Long Sleeve Dress c/o Red Dress Boutique

CRUISE MYTH 3: There’s No Privacy/Intimacy on a Cruise Ship

This is one of the myths I fell prey to. Cole actually asked me to consider a cruise for our honeymoon. I don’t think the word “No!” has ever come out of my mouth quicker.

But now I totally regret saying that. It is absolutely possible to have many private/intimate moments as a couple on a cruise ship. And it would have been an incredible option for our honeymoon.

For one, when you’re standing on your balcony looking at the ocean or beautiful scenery like Glacier Bay in Alaska, you feel totally alone. Sure, there might be hundreds of other people on their balconies too, but you can’t see them. And the noise of the ship drowns out their voices too.

Cruise ships are so big, you’ll often find moments and spaces of solitude. You just have to know where to look and know what time to avoid the crowds.

For example, one of the nights on our Mediterranean cruise, Cole and I decided to skip our fancy meal. Instead, we went to the top of the ship to watch Movies Under The Stars and ate burgers and pizza while watching a movie. There was hardly anyone else up there with us.

MYTH 4: There’s No Healthy Dining Options on a Cruise Ship

This myth actually comes directly from a message I received after sharing the sushi we were eating onboard the Sky Princess. Side note – it was absolutely amazing!

Someone replied to my instagram story, saying “Wow that looks amazing! I didn’t know cruises had any healthy food options.”

Princess Cruises actually offers so many healthy and fresh food options on their cruises. The Ocean Terrace Sushi Bar is a new feature on the Sky Princess and quickly became a favorite of ours.

But if fresh sushi and sashimi isn’t your thing, you can actually find healthy options at all of the dining rooms and specialty restaurants on Princess cruise ships.

You can even find healthy options at the buffet on Princess cruises. At the Horizon Court buffet, you’ll find a fresh salad bar, fresh fruits, sandwiches and wraps and so much more, daily.

White Embroidered Maxi Dress c/o Tiare Hawaii

CRUISE MYTH 5: You’ll Gain Weight On a Cruise

Here’s the truth: if you plan to spend every day on the ship eating five meals a day at the buffet, topped off with ice cream or gelato, you will probably gain weight.

But if you’re cruising so you can actually experience the destinations you’re going to, it will be pretty hard to gain weight. And here’s why…

I’ve been on an Eastern Caribbean cruise, a Western Caribbean cruise, an Alaskan cruise and now, a Mediterranean cruise. Cole and I like to travel so we can see and experiences other destinations and culture around the world. So we would never consider not getting off the boat at a port.

At every cruise port we’ve been to, they all had one thing in common. They involved a lot of walking and/or activity.

Not to mention the fact that most cruise ships are HUGE. On our Alaska cruise, we challenged ourselves to take the stairs to our rooms each time. Needless to say, I was hurting by the end of that cruise. But I didn’t gain any weight!

So even if you don’t decide to go the gym on your cruise ship every day, going on a cruise doesn’t mean you’ll gain weight.

MYTH 6: You’ll Get Seasick

I’ve only gotten seasick on a cruise once. It was my first night ever cruising when there was a huge storm we were going through in the bay of Alaska.

Now that I’ve been on a few cruises, I know the only day I’m likely to feel nauseous (if at all) is the first day. So, I always take Bonine that night and it’s worked like a charm! Bonine is non-drowsy medicine that helps with nausea. On Princess Cruises, they even sell in on the ships!

Once the first day passes, most people “get their sea legs” and the gentle rocking of the ship is hard to even notice.

Floral Long Sleeve Dress c/o Red Dress Boutique

MYTH 7: Having One Day at Port Isn’t Enough

There’s actually so much you can see and do in one day at a destination. The great thing about Princess Cruises is that they offer excursion options that will allow you to see most of the highlights in just one day. These are usually called their “Best of [Insert Destination]” excursions and will often take advantage of the full time that your ship is docked in port.

For example, we chose to do the “Best of Montenegro” excursion at our port of call in Kotor, Montenegro on our 7-day Mediterranean cruise. In just one day, we toured the medieval city of Kotor, then took a bus to the enchanting nearby town of Perast. From there, we hopped on a short ferry to see Our Lady of The Rock, the beautiful church that graces a man-made island. We finished the day with a local lunch and exploring around Perast.

In just five and a half hours, we were able to see the highlights of Montenegro. We even had time to shop and explore Kotor on our own before getting back on the ship.

Lemon Print Dress c/o Unique Vintage

MYTH 8: You’re Only in Port For a Few Hours

You’re also in port for longer than you think. In fact, we’ve never been docked at a port for just a few hours.

The Sky Princess docked in Naples, Italy from 7am-7pm, for example. And the excursion we chose took up nearly all of that time.

Since the beautiful island of Capri is just a 45 minute ferry away from Naples, we chose an excursion that took us to the famous island. There were many excursion options from Naples that included time in Capri, but we chose one that would allow us to have the full day in Capri. And we’re SO glad we did!

We ended up having seven hours in Capri, so we felt like we truly got a full preview of the island, even though it wasn’t even where our ship docked.

Princess Cruises even has late night port of calls on some cruises. The 7-Day Mediterranean cruise we were on also had the option to book the next week for a 14-Day Mediterranean cruise. While Cole and I got off the ship at our final destination in Barcelona, the passengers staying the additional week had a late night port of call in Barcelona at 10pm.

In total, the Sky Princess was docked in Barcelona from 5am-10pm. That’s 17 HOURS that passengers had to explore the amazing city of Barcelona. I think it’s safe to say that you can find plenty to do in that amount of time.

MYTH 9: You Won’t Get to Experience the Culture When You Travel

Looking for a more intimate, cultural experience on your day in port? Princess Cruises offers many “Off The Beaten Path” excursions with smaller groups that allow you to explore away from the tourist traps and main attractions.

The excursion we chose during our day on the island of Corfu, Greece was a great example of this. We started off by visiting a small, local vineyard where we tasted wine and olive oil still made the traditional way (by stomping the grapes with their feet!)

From there, we headed up the mountains, winding past forests of olive trees and cypresses to the Monastery of Paleokastritsa, a Byzatine monastery with breathtaking views of the island and the ocean. At the monastery, we lit candles and said blessings for our loved ones and bought olive oil and other souvenirs made by the nuns.

Although we were only in Corfu for one day, I truly felt as though our experience immersed us in the unique culture of Corfu.

MYTH 10: The Cabins Are Too Small

This cruise myth is another I also believed before going on my first cruise. We’ve always stayed in a standard balcony room on our Princess Cruises, and there’s a lot more space than you would think.

Each standard cabin has everything you’d need. There’s a bed, which can be configured as a queen or two twins. Then there’s a desk, a small table which contains the mini fridge, and a large shelving cabinet in the closet. And there’s extra storage built in everywhere, from drawers to shelves.

On the Sky Princess, they even have built-in usb’s on the nightstands. Plus, large flat screen tv’s that are flush mounted to the wall so they don’t take up any extra cabin space.

You’ll also be surprised at how much your balcony makes the space feel even bigger. When you’ve got views of endless ocean right outside your balcony door, it’s hard to feel like you’re cramped or in a small space.

MYTH 11: You Can’t Pack All The Things You Want

The closets in all Princess Cruises cabins are HUGE. I’m that girl who brings two suitcases on a cruise ship (it’s kind of for my job…don’t judge!) On our first cruise, I was pleasantly surprised to find that all of my clothes could be easily hung, folded and stored in the large closets and shelving spaces offered on the ship.

What’s even better? You can easily request extra hangers for your room right from your OceanMedallion app!

If you don’t want to pack heavily for your 7 day or 14 day cruise, simply use the ship’s laundry service. You can also save money by washing your clothes on your own in the Princess Cruises laundry rooms, located on every floor.

MYTH 12: Cruises Are For (Fill in The Blank) People

I’ll admit it: I used to think that cruises were for older people and/or families with children. But that couldn’t be further from the truth!

If it seems that there are only older people on the ship, it’s because they’ve had enough experience and wisdom to know that cruising is by far the easiest and most convenient way to travel.

Besides being the most convenient and fun way to travel to multiple destinations, the wonderful thing about cruises is that there is something for everyone to do. And cuisines to fit everyone’s palate.

MYTH 13: There’s Nothing To Do on a Cruise Ship

READ: Top 8 Things To Do On a Cruise Ship

This cruise myth couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, there’s so much to do on a cruise ship, it’s hard to get it all in on one cruise.

On Princess Cruise, for example, in the day time, you can hang out at one of the pools, enjoy a relaxing massage at the Lotus Spa, go shopping at the many shops on board or play a game with the family.

At night, there’s live shows in the Princess Theatre, and live entertainment like comedians and live music. Plus, there’s movies under the stars each night featuring movies that haven’t been released from theaters.

Just pick a spot, any spot on the ship, and you’ll find there’s something to do.

MYTH 14: You Can’t Truly Relax

There’s no vacation that’s more relaxing than a cruise. Think about it…you’re on a floating hotel that whisks you away to your next destination while you sleep.

Plus, you’re sailing the ocean and seeing some of the most beautiful views in the world, right from the deck or your balcony. What could be more relaxing than that?

MYTH 15: The Ports Are Too Crowded

If crowds are what’s deterring you from booking a cruise, then consider booking one closer to off-season. You’ll save money and avoid big crowds. Win-win!

Our 7-day Mediterranean cruise was in late October, which is right at the end of season for the Mediterranean ports we visited. Not only was the weather absolutely incredible, but there weren’t crowds anywhere.

For example, we flew into Venice, Italy for the start of our Mediterranean cruise, which is a huge tourist destination. Some of the most crowded spots are the Grand Canal and Saint Marks Square. But we were easily able to get a spot for lunch right on the Grand Canale without a wait.

Even if you do book a cruise in the middle of the busy travel season, there are lots of ways to avoid the crowds. Which brings me to my next common cruise myth.

MYTH 16: Cruise Ships Only Go to Major Ports

It’s true that there will probably be some major ports of call on your cruise itinerary, but you’ll be surprised at the less known places you may stop. Kotor, Montenegro was the perfect example of this on our Mediterranean cruise.

Prior to our cruise, Cole and I hardly knew anything about the country of Montenegro.

One of the other things Cole and I love about cruising is that it can give you ideas for destinations you’d like to come back and spend a full vacation on.

That’s especially true in areas that are so dense with incredible cities to explore, like the Mediterranean.

Since neither of us had traveled to Europe prior to our Mediterranean cruise, picking one destination to spend a vacation at would have been so overwhelming. But after getting to explore so many places during our cruise, there were a couple of places we have a short list of the places we want to spend a full vacation at. And the destinations we chose actually surprised us!

Take Montenegro, for example. We knew absolutely nothing about this small country, but after visiting, we fell in LOVE with its beauty and charm. We both decided it’s a place we would love to go back and visit.

MYTH 17: You’ll Get Sick of the Food

With so much variety, it’s pretty hard to get sick of the food on a ship. If you’re a traveler who loves food, you’ll probably be eating most of your meals in the day time in the ports. So it’s really just dinner and breakfast you’ll be eating on the ship.

Princess Cruises rotates the menu each and every night in their main dining rooms so you always have new options to choose from. Plus, the specialty restaurant options offer up a change of scenery and menu.

MYTH 18: The Food Isn’t Fresh

I can’t speak to all cruises, but I can definitely say that the food on Princess Cruises is fresh. I know that because for every cruise I’ve been on, the menu has been different according to the food sources that are available locally. And it’s tasted different too!

In Alaska, for example, we had fresh Alaskan King crab and salmon.

MYTH 19: Sleeping Isn’t Comfortable on a Cruise Ship

MYTH 20: If You Forget Something at Home, You’re SOL

Forget something at home? No problem! Most cruise ships actually have a shop on board dedicated mostly to just that problem. From medicine to memory cards, Cole and I always have to pick up necessities on board.

The Princess Cruises Medallion App actually makes it even easier to order these necessities. You can request lots of common necessities to be delivered right to your room from the app on your phone.

MYTH 21: You’ll Be Disconnected From Your Friends & Family

Thanks to the incredible new MedallionNet wifi, you can stay connected your to friends and family throughout the entire duration of your cruise.

Cole and I were able to Facetime Everly nearly every day of our cruise. We could see her sweet face as clear as day every time. And she could see ours! She would even turn the phone around throughout our conversations to see if we were really there.

Whether you need to stay connected with social media, with family and friends, catch up with work, or stay up to date on your favorite Netflix show, you can do it all with MedallionNet.

MYTH 22: You Can’t Watch News or Live TV

I was also surprised to find that you can keep up with the news and events on cruise ships. Princess Cruises even allows you to watch a multitude of news stations right from your cabin, so you can keep up with what’s going on in the world.

Even better?! You can stream your favorite Netflix and Amazon shows right from your device with MedallionNet.

Plus, Princess Cruises offers some of the latest movie releases to watch whenever you’d like in your cabin.

MYTH 23: You’ll Get a Contagious Illness

This cruise myth is definitely one that many people are afraid of. With ships being able to hold so many people, are you more likely to get sick?

Not necessarily. Of course, you can get sick in any traveling environment, but Princess Cruises takes extra steps to make sure their guests are healthy. Plus, they have medical staff and tools on board every ship.

They even request that everyone wash their hands at the sinks located in the front and back of the buffet, every time you walk through.

Cole and I were just passing through the Horizon Buffet area when we were asked to wash our hands by a crew member. It made us glad to know that crew members were taking passenger health and wellness so seriously.

MYTH 24: Cruising Isn’t Safe

Cruising is actually extremely safe. In fact, statistically, cruising is one of the safest forms of travel.

On a few of our cruises, Cole and I have gotten to experience the bridge tour to see the ship’s command center and meet the captain + crew.

It’s always amazing to learn about the years of training each of these crew members must go through. We also get a behind the scenes look at the technology that helps navigate the ship and ensures passenger safety.

MYTH 25: You Might Miss The Boat

This is not very likely to happen. In fact, Princess Cruises guarantees that if you book an excursion through them, the ship will always wait for you if your excursion brings you back late.

So unless you’re planning to do some lengthy excursion that you found on your own, you won’t have to worry about being left behind.