The modern cruise ship techie Internet solution is a starlink mini. The cost of the dish plus service and a middle finger to the cruise ship company that your family dragged you on is worth more than the number of dollars it cost to go on the cruise. (The alternative, having a healthy family dynamic, is a whole other can of worms.)
Oh, the travel router trick. As a techie with too many devices, plus family, you use the travel router to buy the Internet package and then everyone else associates to the travel router and you don’t have to pay for Internet access six different times.
Why do people comment on HN? Different strokes for different folks.
But basically you get to see a bunch of destinations while all your travel is organized for you, you never have to switch rooms and constantly pack/unpack, and the actual travel part is infinitely more comfortable.
A room and sundeck and pool beats a plane seat or train seat any day.
I'm not into cruises myself, but the appeal seems pretty understandable in terms of convenience.
Downside is you don’t see that much - you get 4-6 hours each day in some city and are offered incredibly expensive day tours (kinda worth it because you have so little time).
People who are older or with limited mobility find it far easier to get see multiple destinations without having to unpack/pack, navigate difficult airports, etc. I have been on a few, and while I’m not the biggest fan, they’re not terrible if you are traveling with folks who have mobility issues. I would not go on a cruise after COVID, though.
They’re also far less expensive than many other vacations, especially if you have kids and are considering Disney stuff.
I doubt this is a legitimate question, but I'll bite: It is cheap.
Go price out hotels and food in any major destination for one week. Now go price out a cruise for one week which also includes entertainment and a travel component. Somehow, the cruise is CHEAPER and offers more.
Long hours and low pay - Some workers face shifts of more than 12 hours a day, seven days a week, often without overtime pay.
Wages can be very low, sometimes below $20 per day, though tips can supplement income.
Workers often live in small, shared cabins with limited personal space.
Ships often registered in countries with lax regulations.
No pay between workers contracts
There is a level of convenience that is hard to get elsewhere.
I went on a Disney cruise 2 summers ago. All restaurants were in walking distance. All of deck 5 was dedicated to child care. They took you straight to excursions. Family was close, but not too close.
There were some downsides, too, but let's not focus on those. I think the "king" reason we went is because the grandparents were paying and they wanted everyone to be "there" and not leaving. I think the main reason we aren't going again is cost.
