Ah, the art of cruising. People have been seeing the world this way for decades. But, what makes it so special? I have been cruising for years and have been on dozens of trips and ships. While, I’m partial to this mode of travel and can say there are a lot of positives to vacationing like this. I would be remiss to not acknowledge that my opinions are not the same as everyone else’s. As with any type of traveling, it is not also without its negatives. However, I want to showcase the best reasons why a cruise should be your next vacation, so let’s jump right in!
Those pesky domestic duties? Not while you’re cruising!
As my title suggests, I’ve narrowed it down to six reasons why a cruise should be your next vacation. The first reason why it’s an ideal type of holiday is that you don’t have to cook or clean. Let me hear you say it – no cooking and no cleaning! You can literally sit back and relax and not lift a finger. The staff are there to take care of you so you don’t have to worry about anything. After all, what’s a vacation if you’re worrying about where to eat dinner?
Insider tip: You don’t even have to worry about only choosing one appetizer, main course or dessert. If you want to try two desserts, order two desserts. No one will care or judge you. It’s actually encouraged if you can believe that!
They’re EASY
A cruise is, simply put, the easiest type of vacation around. Whether you want to see 4-6 European countries or island hop the Caribbean, cruise ships lay out the itinerary for you. You don’t have to plan where you’re going to sleep or how you’re going to get to your next destination. You’re taken from port to port and helps to provide a stress-free vacation.
Onboard activities
Want to gamble? See live music? Be a kid again and play mini golf or ride down the water slide? YES, all of those activities and more are available for you to do. I loved waking up every day, checking my cruise app and seeing what there was to do that day. I could star which activities I was interested in attending and then I got a reminder 15 minutes before each started. I’m talking comedy shows, champagne art auctions, afternoon tea, dance parties, towel animal demonstrations, fitness classes, shuffleboard, bingo, trivia, basketball – the list goes on and on. There is definitely something for the whole family!
Shore excursions
Leaving the boat to go to shore is exciting! You wake up and you’re in a new destination. Granted, you only have a specific amount of time in each location. But, your cruise ship has taken the time to compile a variety of different activities that will showcase that stop the best. As with the onboard activities, there are many different excursions you can take depending on your location! Hang at the beach, go on a walking tour, zip lining through a jungle, learn how to salsa and make salsa, go snorkeling or diving. Again, there are plenty of options so that you can make the most of your time at each stop of your vacation!
24/7 Ice Cream
Need something to cool you down after being in the hot sun all day? Craving a sweet treat after dinner (or before)? Want a midnight snack? The soft serve ice cream and frozen yogurt machines on the Lido deck (of Carnival cruise ships at least) are literally open 24 hours a day.
New Friends
Picture this – you’re standing in line for a made to order omelette and the lady next to you says something funny and you strike up a conversation with her. You then proceed to see her the rest of the day. You’re seated next to her and her family while drinking afternoon tea, you pass her in the corridor, you see her at the bar later that evening. This is a normal day while cruising; cruise ships are surprisingly small. Making new friends is almost an impossible task to not do. Those new friends have helped me create a lot of memories for myself, which is something I will always cherish. It’s important to have stories to tell and not stuff to show. That is why I believe this is the most important reason out of the six reasons why you should take a cruise as your next vacation!
Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than those you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the wind in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
– H. Jackson Brown Jr.