Semih
Travel editor at Reisedrop · 2026-09-15
«A cruise? No thanks, I’m not 70.» We’ve heard that line so often over the past few months that we decided to look at it properly. And the truth is this: a few prejudices are outdated, a few are nonsense – and one or two are actually true. Here’s the honesty check, without the glossy brochure.
Myth 1: «Cruises are only for pensioners»
That used to be true. On modern ships from MSC, AIDA or Royal Caribbean, the average age depends on the route but usually sits somewhere between the late 30s and mid-40s – and during school holidays it drops well below that. There are ships with surf simulators, go-kart tracks and rooftop bars. But yes: on a 14-night transatlantic in November, at 35 you’ll probably be one of the youngest people on board. The route decides, not the ship.
Myth 2: «Surely that’s unaffordable»
A 7-night Mediterranean cruise in an inside cabin is available in the low season from a low three-figure amount per person – including full board and entertainment. Compare that with seven hotel nights with breakfast, dinner in restaurants and transfers between four cities. But, honestly, drinks packages, service charges and excursions come on top. If you don’t work out the total budget beforehand, you may get a surprise on board. That’s exactly why we break it down transparently at Reisedrop.
Myth 3: «You barely see anything ashore»
Partly true. Eight hours ashore in Barcelona is no substitute for a city break. But the perspective is different: a cruise is the tasting, not the full menu. In one week you see five places and afterwards you know exactly where you want to come back for two weeks. And some moments only exist from the ship – the approach into the Geirangerfjord, for example, is something you won’t see from any hotel balcony in the world.
Myth 4: «Cruises are environmental villains»
This is the chapter for total honesty: yes, cruises have a big footprint, and there’s no point pretending otherwise. The industry is moving – new ships run on LNG or use shore power in port, and MSC and others are investing billions in more efficient fleets. If you want to choose more consciously, go for a newer ship, a shorter journey there and back (think: train to Genoa instead of a flight to the Caribbean), and book shore excursions with local providers. It isn’t perfect. But it should at least be transparent.
Myth 5: «You’re trapped on board»
Modern ships are floating small towns with 15+ decks, jogging tracks, theatres, spas and more restaurants than you could test in a week. Very few people feel claustrophobic – if anything, it’s the opposite: most only find their favourite corner on the second-to-last day. If you still need more open space, choose a smaller ship with a stronger outdoor focus or a route with plenty of sea days on the balcony.
Myth 6: «The food is mass catering»
At the buffet at 19:00? It can happen. But the main restaurants cook à la carte, and the speciality restaurants on newer ships can easily hold their own against good city hotels – steakhouse, sushi, teppanyaki. Our honest tip: plan one or two speciality evenings and enjoy the rest in the main restaurant. The buffet is there for a quick lunch after a day ashore, not for dinner.
Myth 7: «Booking is complicated»
In the past: brochure, travel agency, three appointments. Today, you compare cruise lines, routes and cabin types online – and that’s exactly why, as a Swiss cruise specialist, we built our comparison pages: all the major cruise lines shown side by side, neutrally, prices in CHF, and travel from Switzerland already factored in. You need five decisions: cruising area, cruise line, cabin, travel arrangements, book. Nothing more.
Conclusion: trying it beats prejudice
One serving of sea, please – that’s really all it takes. Of the seven myths, two partly stand up to an honest test (shore visits are short, and the footprint is real). The rest comes from a time when ships had shuffleboard decks instead of go-kart tracks. Our advice: a short taster cruise in the low season, inside cabin, no huge expectations. Most people come back for another round.
Compare cruises with the Swiss specialist
Fancy exactly this? Zazou, our travel assistant, puts flights, hotels and a route together in seconds - and tells you honestly when it gets cheaper.
Plan this trip with Zazou