The Future of Cruising?

I wonder if all those years ago when the very first passenger cruise ship set sail, they had any idea what the future would hold?

SS Strathaird, a P&O cruise ship of the early 20th century

 I know we had a laugh on April fool’s day about the underwater cruises, but realistically what will the future of cruising be?

We may not have been far from the mark?

Will we be sailing on floating islands or under the waves or even up in the sky?

What will be the latest innovation? We already have the North Star and Ripcord by I fly on Quantum of the seas and the sea walk on Princess Cruises.  What will be next?

Will we eventually be cruising on ships so large that they will not actually dock at any ports but just float around with everything you could want in one place?

Will people buy apartments on-board and just hop on and off when they have holiday time?

Or worse still we never leave home as we transport ourselves to faraway places with virtual cruising!

Or are we missing the point. Is bigger better? Is more less?

Surely the whole point of cruising as with any travel is to discover new places, new cultures and meet new people. To experience new sights and sounds, to try new things, eat new food and be adventurous.

I wonder what the likes of Sir Francis Drake and Christopher Columbus would make of today’s society.  These men were true explorers, travelling the seas to destinations unknown not wondering when the quiz is taking place in the green lounge or whether to go to the midnight buffet.

Have cruise companies gone too far with the facilities they provide on-board.  Are they shooting themselves in the foot with regard to shore excursions as people don’t want to leave the ship with everything there is to do on-board.

Maybe it is time to take a step back and look at where they are going not what they provide. People who have spent a full day enjoying the sights or taking part in activities ashore, want to come back, freshen up, get changed and then enjoy a meal and perhaps a drink and sociable company.

With the plethora of things taking place on some ships are we losing the art of socialising?

I suppose there are arguments for and against here and I don’t take sides as each person is an individual and therefore capable of making up their own mind what they want from their cruise experience.

What do you think? I would love to hear your opinions on this matter?