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 !news@lemmy.world

EDIT:

After 44 comments, here’s where we stand:

  • 28 (including me) responding to the questions

  • 21 have been, 7 (including me) have not.

  • Of the 21, 15 liked it, and 6 didn’t (some answers were a bit ambivalent, so I made a judgment call)

  • 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.

  • Devi@kbin.social
    2·
    7 months ago

    I worked on a Royal Carribean ship once. It was cool, I worked late so got off every day at dock and got public transport to the nearest town then had a walk round or visited a small free museum then I had a nice meal and a beer before going back to work.

    For the ship I was on it mostly stayed in port for the full day, return times were like 4 or 5, for me getting off is important, but for many people on the ship (which it sounds like this guy hung around with) the ship IS the destination and they spend all day in the pool, in the restaurants, it sounded mind numbing to me! I think those people are quite culty, a lot of them are on their 100th+ cruise and if you do talk to them they only really talk about cruises. We were docked at a port next to another Royal ship once and this couple were telling me that they were on that one the week after for a full atlantic cruise which doesn’t dock at all, then onto the carribean after, I have no idea if they had a home.

    I will say though, American cruisers are a different breed to European, they wear customised shirts and decorate their doors, we don’t do that here, or didn’t when I was there.