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I am sure that many sailors will tell you that a "Med Cruise" is not a pleasure trip either. Particularly in a Cruiser.

There's several definitions to that word. The more utilitarian one is "to travel about slowly, looking for customers or for something demanding attention". That's the definition that applies here. James Cook cruised the polynesian island; Columbus cruised the Atlantic, etc. A cruise can be for exploration or for aquiring scientific data. As a scientinst for 30 years, I can tell you that is how a marine research effort from a vessel is often described - a research cruise. And yes, it isn't the Love Boat - bad food, terrible hours, too hot or too cold, diesel fumes, etc.