Going on a cruise sounds like an ideal vacation for a romantic getaway or some quality time with the family. Between the luxurious pools and facilities, the varied activities, the breathtaking views, the tours and the sandy beaches, the attractions are endless, which makes it a trip anyone can enjoy. Of course, this is what we expect, and unfortunately, reality doesn’t always meet our expectations. These photos are here to show us what cruise ships are really like from the passengers’ point of view.
Boarding the ship – expectations
Hollywood movies always make everything look glamorous, including the most un-glamorous of events, like boarding a plane or a ship. They cut out the part where we have to wait in endlessly long lines, go through infinite checking points, and then wait another couple of hours for the boarding to begin. They make it look so easy on TV.

So we prepare for the big day, we pack our best clothes and we head out early because we just can’t wait to start our vacation. On our way there, we already plan the picture we’re going to take in front of the ship (if it’s not on Instagram, did it even happen?) and we’re excited about the smallest things – until we get to the ship.
Boarding the ship – reality
In reality, boarding a cruise ship isn’t all that glamorous. Your boarding would be under the blue sky and caressing sunlight only if you’re lucky; often, boarding takes place inside a terminal station, much like boarding a plane, and in other cases, the line is just so excruciatingly long, the sun no longer seems caressing, but burning and irritating. By the time you’d get to the ship, taking a photo would be the last thing on your mind.

Boarding the ship isn’t what we imagine it would be, because in our imagination, we never consider all the other passengers. Luxurious cruise ships can often host hundreds of people, which means long lines.