I just want a CRUISE ship. That’s it. Nothing more and nothing less, and I know thousands of people who want the exact same thing!

I have blogged about this before, but it’s time to rant again….sorry!

Modern times bring modern things and although these state-of-the-art (in every single sense of the very word) vessels are popping up more and more (and they are pretty amazing!), I wish that just one cruise line would build a SHIP instead of an adrenaline filled floating crazy house. I’m not hating on the features and facilities, not in the slightest – I loved so many aspects of Norwegian Getaway, and Carnival Vista looks absolutely incredible– but it would be nice to think that those of us who would prefer something more traditional might have some hope of getting it one day!

Everything is going bigger and more extravagant and lovers of ships along the lines of MSC Opera, Ventura, Emerald Princess, Oceana and even the lovely little Braemar, are being well and truly left behind. Those ships that offer a bit of everything without going overboard – pardon the pun – on eye-watering features that come with the additional cost of a small country. I know Ventura and Emerald Princess are big, but they are far from over the top.

The luxury cruise lines do offer some of us more options when it comes to a classic-modern cruise experience, which is great, but we can’t all afford to re-mortgage our homes, or risk getting caught selling our Grandparents on eBay in order to go on a cruise for a week. We need something that is affordable for everyone.

I look at the open decks on some of today’s ships and wonder where one can actually just sit and do nothing. If ships have to be built with facilities that eat up 99.99% of the open deck space, can we not have at least one section that is nothing more than a few loungers with no noise, and one that we don’t have to pay for the privilege of using!?

I think that is why I love P&O Cruises so much, there is no shortage of deck space and there are so many quiet areas where you can have five minutes peace away from the hustle and bustle. Take Ventura for example, during the summer months her mid-ship section becomes the soul of the ship. There are kids playing, shouting and screaming, adults taking part in pool games, music bleating out for most of the day, and the occasional BBQ. The atmosphere is fun and carefree, everyone is having a good time and I love this, but I also like having the option to leave it all behind. My days onboard are mostly spent on Deck 17 aft, where the noise from the ships wake is the only sound you hear – quite literally – but should I wish for more, then all I have to do is take a short stroll forward and I find myself right back in the heart of it all. I really can have the best of both worlds. I also think that is why I fell for MSC Cruises, because I felt the exact same way during my time aboard MSC Opera. I could have noise and everything else or I could have peace and quiet.

I know Ventura and her facilities are very, very different from the likes of Norwegian Getaway, but surely there is always room for compromise regardless of the vessel? They are big enough after all!

Anyway, that’s my rant over for the day, you can go about your business as usual now! 😉

Author: Danielle