One Major Downside Of Cruise Vacations You May Not Realize Until You're Out On The Water

Cruise ships have everything, don't they? Cabins and suites. Sun decks and promenade decks. Restaurants, bars, and buffets. Want to buy a souvenir? Catch a Broadway-style show? Play some Texas Hold 'Em? Cruise ships are like a floating resort that's also a shopping mall, casino, and nightlife hotspot. The service is almost always excellent, and tour guides and performers are generally world-class. The largest cruise ships behave like nautical cities; there are many odd things about the Icon of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, such as its record-smashing waterpark and massive greenhouse with 33,000 plants. Even average-sized ships tend to be action-packed, and you couldn't possibly see every attraction in a single voyage. 

But one cruise ship amenity tends to fall short: the swimming pools. You might think that a gigantic oceangoing vessel would be a fantastic place to go swimming. True, you can't lower yourself into the actual ocean, but cruise ships pools must be great, right? Especially when you're sailing though the sunny Caribbean or Mediterranean? Even if they're not perfect, passengers are lucky to even have a body of chlorinated water to splash around in while at sea; how could anyone find fault with such a luxurious place to cool off?

Well, some folks do find fault. For starters, these pools are almost always small. Carrying cubic tons of water is risky for a ship that must remain buoyant, so even the most incredible cruise ship pools are fairly modest. They're generally shallow and short, which means limited diving — or none at all — and frequent crowds. You're never going to swim meaningful laps here; the most you can expect is to cool off, often with lots of company. 

The best way to enjoy a cruise ship pool is to accept its size and function: This is a place to get wet and relax in a glorified tub. To be fair, that's also how most landlubbers use their pools — as places to lounge, float on inflatable donuts, or cool off after a sunning session. It's true that a minority of cruise ships have waterslides and splash pads, but the actual swimming pools remain pretty simple and are easily overrun by children. Many standard cruise pools are booked out for sports and activities (see photo) or aqua fitness classes, which means other passengers may have to wait for free swims. In short, keep your expectations low and, hopefully, you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Timing is also important. Like many popular spots on a cruise ship, the crowds will ebb and flow. Pools are generally closed at night, largely to give lifeguards a break, but you can expect less competition in the early morning. Even at the busiest times, it's rare that a cruise ship pool is so glutted with people that you can't find enough space to put your whole body underwater.

Many passengers will satisfy themselves with the pool's ambiance. They don't need the water itself so much as foldout chairs, elaborate cocktails, and beach-like company. Parents may be satisfied to let their children splash around while they read a paperback, and singles may just enjoy chatting up scantily clad new friends. While you're hanging out, do mind how to stay safe on a cruise ship pool deck.