Have you ever considered a cruise when planning your vacation? There are so many cruise lines. So many ports. So many decisions to make. At times it can all seem very overwhelming. But trust me when I tell you, it is oh, so worth it once you find the right one.
Let me begin by letting you know that I was the person who said “never in my life will I ever go on a cruise. I can’t think of anything worse than being trapped on a ship unable to escape.” Well, as the saying goes “never say never”. I should have known better. Time and experience have a way of changing these pre-determined mindsets.
I recently went on my first cruise and while I was still a little apprehensive about that feeling of being trapped, I was also excited to see what makes cruising such a popular vacation choice.
We are fortunate to live close to a port, so we chose a cruise that didn’t involve any air travel to make this first experience even easier. We took two teenagers with us (our own), and as you are probably well aware, teenagers are very difficult to please. Well, surprisingly enough, they seemed to enjoy the cruise just as much as we did.
In fact, we all loved the trip so much that we were already planning our next one before the first one even ended. Here are the 7 compelling reasons why I now believe that cruising is the ultimate escape:
1. A Cruise is an All-Inclusive Vacation
Well sort of…
I say sort of because unlike your typical all-inclusive vacation, there are lots of additional charges on cruises.
The specialty dining restaurants for example. Although eating in the main dining room is included in your cruise fare, most specialty dining restaurants will set you back an additional $35-$50 per person. While this is still probably cheaper than what you would pay at a comparable restaurant at home, it is something to consider when you have already paid a hefty bill for the price of your cruise. The food in the main dining room, however, is always included and is exceptional.
If you are used to all-inclusive resort vacations, you will be pleasantly surprised by the food on a cruise. There really is no comparison. Cruise dining is fine dining. I am very particular about my food, and every meal I had exceeded my expectations.
As you may have guessed (or heard), drinks are also not included on a cruise. Like not even water! Well, unless you drink tap water. So if you are planning to drink anything other than tap water, coffee/tea, and fruit juices at breakfast, be prepared to pay.
There are a few different tiers of drink packages to choose from ranging from non-alcoholic (about $15-$30 per day) to premium alcohol packages (about $80-$100 per day) and some also include a Wi-Fi package and gratuities, so they are definitely worth considering.
Only you can decide whether it makes sense to purchase an unlimited package or pay for each drink as you go. Personally, I don’t want to feel as though I’m being nickel and dimed while on vacation, so I prefer the idea of an unlimited package. This way I will know up front what my total will be (especially if gratuities are included, which is a bonus) and I can happily order whatever beverage I want, when I want it…no second guessing myself.
2. A Cruise Offers Multiple Destinations
One of the greatest parts of cruise travel is being able to settle into your room, unpack only one time, and experience multiple destinations throughout your vacation.
The scenery around you is constantly changing while you get to stay put. Sign me up! I love to experience as much as possible when I’m travelling, but I hate the idea of packing every day or two and lugging my baggage around in order to do so.
Cruising is the best of both worlds – multiple destinations and one destination at the same time. I can’t think of a better way to see the world.
3. A Cruise Offers Exciting Adventures
There really is something for everyone on a cruise. Whether you are thrill seeker who enjoys death defying activities, or someone who prefers to relax by the pool, you will be able to find an activity that suits your personality both on and off the ship.
Different cruise lines will offer different experiences, so you will want to do your research prior to booking a cruise and make sure you find the one that best suits your personality. A young family may be looking for a ship that has climbing walls, waterslides, and maybe even race cars (yes, there are race cars on ships now), while a retired couple would probably be more interested in a ship with a fabulous spa and some amazing evening shows. Like I said, something for everyone.
The adventures don’t end once the ship docks either. There is an endless amount of excursions available to you at ports of call, not to mention the ability to just walk off the ship and explore these amazing destinations on your own.
4. You Get Top Notch Service on a Cruise
The service you will get on a cruise is parallel to none. The crew makes you feel extra special from the time you are greeted on embarkation day until the final day you disembark. They will address you by your name too. Don’t ask me how they remember, but they do!
I will never forget how one server in the dining room went out of his way to make my 15-year-old son feel special. My quiet son, who always seems to be overlooked when his much more social brother is around, came out of his shell when this man surprised him with an entire second steak meal at dinner one evening. He seemed to just “get” him without ever meeting him. It was an amazing and very special gesture.
The room crew is no less amazing. They seem to know your schedule within minutes of embarkation and manage to have your cabin cleaned twice per day without ever disturbing or inconveniencing you. They are both friendly and helpful, constantly confirming that you have everything you need and making themselves readily available to you 24/7.
5. A Cruise is a Getaway Like No Other
I can’t quite explain it, but once that ship sets sail the feeling is incredible. As you watch the shoreline fade into the distance, you start to feel free. It is the ultimate escape. All of your stress seems to remain on shore and you are able to let go and completely relax. It probably doesn’t hurt that once you are far enough from shore the Wi-Fi gets a little spotty, so you may not be able to connect with the outside world even if you wanted to.
The sail away parties on cruises also help to start that feeling of vacation and liberation from any problems you may have had on shore. It is exhilarating.
And to make things even better, from the time you board the ship, the toughest decision you will have to make is whether to eat in the main dining room, a specialty restaurant, or the buffet on the Lido deck. There are a few other options for dining on most ships, but these are the main ones.
The idea that I will not have to make any big decisions when on vacation is EVERYTHING. There is literally nothing that I need to look after. I can just go with the flow. And just being on the water is beyond calming. It is not at all what I first anticipated. I was so pleasantly surprised by how it made me feel to be onboard.
6. Quality Family Time
The time spent with your family on a cruise is definitely time well-spent. As I have already mentioned, the Wi-Fi may not work that great (if you even decided to purchase it) so you will most likely be able have the undivided attention of your kids, and vice versa. This is priceless time.
I was able to connect with my boys on the ship in ways that we just aren’t able to do when we are at home. There were zero interruptions. Nothing was as important as what was right there in front of us at the time.
Some days we just sat chatting enjoying a drink on the Lido Deck, other days we played table tennis or a board game, and some days we even formed teams and participated in organized game show competitions that were offered. We learned a lot about each other on that trip. Let me tell you that is pure gold.
7. Create Lifelong Memories
No matter what you choose to do while on your cruise, you will make amazing memories that will last a lifetime. As cliché as that sounds, it is true.
Making memories is what life is all about. You won’t be laying around on your deathbed thinking about all the great things you acquired during your life, but you will be thinking about all those memorable moments in time.
Cruising has a way of making every moment onboard memorable. From start to finish, you are well taken care of for your entire vacation, leaving nothing for you to worry about except enjoying yourself.
You will come home looking forward to your next voyage. I now have two more booked. And I can’t wait. My sole regret is that I didn’t try cruising sooner.
