I’m often asked if I would recommend a cruise to other travelers. My answer is YES to anyone who has never been on one before! But I see it as a one-time experience and don’t really have it at the top of my list to do many more after that. Here are my top reasons below:
- Cruises are SUPER convenient. Seriously, everything is right there for you and already included: Constant entertainment, unlimited food 24 hours a day, lodging, and transportation from one location to the next without any worries! How great is it to wake up in a new spot every morning and you didn’t have to worry about any buses/trains/flights/ or rental cars to get there!?
- Cruising is a unique experience. Just being surrounded by water and out at sea is something you definitely don’t experience every day. Not to mention being part of a giant party in the middle of the ocean all the time!
- Cruises are a great option if you’re looking to go on a trip with a ton of your friends! Think about it, when you’re in a large group getting around from one place to the other, deciding where to eat and what to do can all take a TON of time and cause a bit of a headache. But with a cruise there’s no need to worry and you have all your best buds around to hang out with all the time by the pool, at the buffets and at all the shows.
- The downside is a lack of freedom though. There is a certain time the ship arrives in each port and a certain time they leave each evening. That means you’re on a tight schedule of how much time you have in each destination. We did three excursions and they literally took up our entire time in port. I would’ve liked more time to actually explore the country/city that we were stopping in rather than just going to the beach/shopping or on an excursion. As my husband put it, “we got a sample of the Caribbean”.
- You don’t actually get to experience any local culture. Cruising let’s you stop and see lots of cool locations but I really struggle to then say that I’ve actually been to that country. The port area is so geared towards tourists I personally don’t think it counts as “visiting the country”. But that is just my travel style!
Bottom Line: It totally depends on your vacation style for whether or not I’d recommend cruising. If you’re into the relaxing, taking it easy and spending time by the pool/beach, definitely go for it! If you’re into more of seeing the local culture in areas, this is not for you. If you like having freedom to decide how long you spend with all your activities and play it by ear, this is probably not the best one for you. But if you prefer the convenience of having everything already set in place in one central location, then you’ll love it!
Overall everyone should try at least one cruise during their life time!
Fire Round the World 