Famed cruise critic Rex Huppke has spoken, and readers have clapped back. Mostly.

In a recent column by our own anti-cruise-ader, Rex asked folks a simple question: Why, amid all the germs, crowds and general trappedness, do folks still cruise? And love it?

From the recent deaths suspected to be from hantavirus aboard a cruise ship sailing the Atlantic Ocean to the many bouts of COVID-19 outbreaks in recent years, cruises aren't doing much to beat those petri-dish charges, but devoted cruisers persist. According to the Cruise Lines International Association, the industry annually welcomes more than 35 million ocean-going passengers who clearly see past the risks.

So we asked you, our readers: What do you love about cruises, or why have you avoided them?

Below are some of the responses you shared. For more opportunities to weigh in at usatoday.com/forum, leave us a voicemail at (202) 655-3923 or drop us a note at forum@usatoday.com.

The positives outweigh the negatives – even COVID

Cruising is the ultimate getaway from real life. You don't have to worry about anything. You can drink without having to worry about driving. There are more dining options than you could possibly cover. There's........

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