Cruise lines are making a big mistake

I was sorry to read that cruise ships are going to become even larger than they are already [“Next on the Horizon: the SS Gargantua,” Cruise News, April 24]. After traveling on the old and smaller Rotterdam and the old and smaller Island Princess, we were hooked on cruising.

With the larger ships, you get long lines at embarkation and debarkation. You wait in lines to walk off at some ports, and you need to take a ticket and wait your turn to board a tender at other ports. You often get larger ports (to accommodate the larger ship) that are so far away from the destination city that you have to take a train to get there.

Cruise lines are missing the boat (pardon the pun) by increasing sizes. As baby boomers age and finally have the time and means to travel, they will need ships that are easier to access. Older people find it difficult to walk from the dining rooms at one end of these large ships to the theater at the other end. Yes, there are wheelchairs available, but it means a loss of independence for some people who can still walk, just not that far.

I do understand the economic reasons for the larger ships. Building larger ships holds down the price of cruising, which in turn, makes cruising more affordable for more people.

I just miss the good ol’ days of more friendly and intimate sailing.

Sharon Maguire

Northridge