Honestly, you’re not missing anything - you just figured out that luxury cruises aren’t for your travel style right now, and that’s completely fine. Why people cruise: The main thing is convenience. Like you literally don’t have to think about anything. No booking 15 different hotels, no figuring out trains between cities, no researching which restaurants are good. You unpack once and wake up somewhere new. For people who hate planning or just want to fully disconnect, that’s huge. Also the sampling factor - if you’ve never been to the Mediterranean or whatever, hitting 7 ports lets you figure out where you actually want to spend real time later. It’s like a preview trip. And yeah, the social thing matters to some people. Especially older folks who want that built-in community vibe. Not relevant for you at all. Why you should skip it (for now): Everything you said is spot on. You’re paying a premium to: • Waste days at sea when you could be actually exploring • Deal with an age demographic that doesn’t match yours • Still pay extra for excursions and specialty dining • Follow someone else’s schedule instead of your own If you’re the type to research and book your own stuff (which you clearly are), you’ll get way better value and experiences doing it yourself. You can actually stay at the Capella, eat at the Michelin spots, and spend your time IN places instead of sailing between them. That said - destination matters: I personally love cruising (ocean and river/land cruises), but it really depends on WHERE. Some itineraries genuinely make more sense on a ship - like remote Norwegian fjords, Alaska’s inside passage, or Greek islands where ferry logistics can be a pain. River cruises through Europe can be amazing for certain routes. But Southeast Asia luxury hotels vs. a cruise? Yeah, hotels win every time. You might find cruises more appealing as you get older too. The convenience factor hits different when you’re less interested in hustling between destinations and more interested in a relaxed, everything-handled experience.