Your criticism basically nailed it and is why I hate cruises. The organised fun isn't just your destinations but your daily activities to an extent as well, hav

Your criticism basically nailed it and is why I hate cruises. The organised fun isn't just your destinations but your daily activities to an extent as well, have to be up by 9AM to get breakfast, earlier if you want to depart the ship, pools close as soon as the sun goes down, adults only bar closes as soon as the sun goes down, only one bar open past 10PM so you basically end up there with everyone else. If it sounds like I'm focusing on the bar it's because there's little else to do. On day trips you're right about being surrounding by locals, my nephew nearly caused a fight between rival groups on a remote PNG island over a $5 wooden trinket. You're generally visiting ports too, which tend not to be the nicest destination and the golden beaches from the brochure will be an additional 2 hour, using up 4 of your 8 hour stop, assuming you're in the first group off. The food and drink prices are quite reasonable in a package (or even cash), it's the casino and shops where they try and get you. Personally when I'm on holidays is when I like to cook anyway because I've got the time, going through a tropical market with fresh produce when you don't have a kitchen is just teasing.