So I saw THIS Atlantic article linked on Bluesky and I found myself conflicted, nodding in agreement with almost everything the author wrote, yet simultaneously thinking he sounded exhausting and pretentious himself.
It made me think though, that while this absolutely jibes with everything I’ve thought after hearing from my acquaintances who have gone on them – and from extrapolating based on my own understanding of their personalities – I’ve never really asked “peers” what they think. Have you been? How was it? Why would you agree to be trapped inside a compacted hotel where you will literally die if you leave at the wrong time?
…also I didn’t think I could post the link in [email protected]
EDIT:
After 44 comments, here’s where we stand:
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28 (including me) responding to the questions
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21 have been, 7 (including me) have not.
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Of the 21, 15 liked it, and 6 didn’t (some answers were a bit ambivalent, so I made a judgment call)
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Of the 7, 5 didn’t think they’d like it and 2 implied they might in very specific circumstances. I guess technically I could make 3, but I don’t really want to “camp” on a personal family history reenactment.
So, of those who have been, the vast majority saw value in it. The people who haven’t been either know themselves or have some serious sour grapes; I choose to believe it’s the former, for completely scientifically objective reasons.
I went on a cruise 20 years ago with my family. We drove to New Orleans and stayed a couple days there before boarding the ship and hitting a couple spots in Mexico. Overall, the cruise was fine, but I actually enjoyed our time in New Orleans more. Some notable things from the cruise: -Security at the Mexican ports were packing some heat. I saw security personnel with Uzis and M16s. -The ship had a clothing-optional tanning deck, and I found it equal parts amusing and awkward to be walking with my parents among a bunch of topless/naked people laying around. For context, I was 18 and raised in a conservative christian household, so I hadn’t really been exposed (heh) to that kind of thing before. -The food on the ship was fine. They had a soda fountain and small pizza bar available 24 hrs/day. -A hurricane was entering the gulf towards the end of our cruise, which ruined our snorkeling activity. The waves wouldn’t let us swim very far from the shore. At least we got refunded for that part. -On the way back to NO, we sailed on the outskirts of said hurricane, so the waters were decently rough. Luckily, I don’t get motion sickness, but evidently, just about everyone else did. I got bored sitting in the cabin with my seasick family, so I walked around the ship. It was kinda eerie seeing almost no one else as I was walking around.
I don’t think I would do another cruise, since for that kind of money, I’d rather take a trip that I would enjoy more, not to mention the environmental impact those ships have.