Are you thinking about going on a cruise but need just a little more convincing? You have come to the right place! Cruising is one of the best ways to not only vacation, but to also see and experience the world. Cruise ships are essentially floating cities with endless activities, food, and entertainment options.
People who think they might not like cruising often cite fear of seasickness and claustrophobia as two major reasons to avoid cruise ships altogether. However, these are just cruising myths.
First, it is very likely you won’t get seasick at all - and if you do, there are easy over-the-counter medications and anti-nausea bands/patches to help. Cruise ships are built to withstand waves and even have stabilizers to make for a smooth voyage.
Second, cruise ships are undeniably huge these days. They are specifically designed to have plenty of open space. A well designed ship will not make you feel crammed or trapped at sea. You can find tons of space onboard that will not feel crowded.
Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class vessels, for instance, feature Central Park and Boardwalk neighborhoods, which are outdoor, open air spaces. They are often less crowded than the Royal Promenade and pool decks.
You will never know what you are missing out on unless you give cruising a try for yourself! You’ll just have to keep hearing from friends and family about how incredible their cruising experiences are until you throw caution to the wind and set sail.
Most first-time cruisers overwhelmingly report they plan to take another cruise in the future (some even book their second before disembarking and receive benefits like lowered deposits and onboard credit!); so, the odds are in your favor that you will not be disappointed in your choice to take a cruise.
Here are 11 reasons to step outside of your comfort zone and give cruising a try.
Seeing Multiple Places
My favorite thing about cruising is how I can easily see multiple destinations in one vacation. Some cruises will take you to 7+ different countries during the voyage.
Waking up in a new port is unmatched by any other vacation in my mind. Having a change of scenery every day means you get to see more than you’d ever see by just visiting one place or staying at an all-inclusive resort. Imagine being able to relax on Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman one day and stand in awe of the Mayan Chichen Itza ruins in the same week!
Also, while you sleep off your adventure, the cruise ship travels to the next port - meaning you can spend more of your vacation time doing the things you love to do. There is no need to worry about how you’ll get to your next destination. Plus, you will not waste a day of vacation in transit. Your vacation is the transit. There are endless things to do onboard the ship on sea days, like trivia, hanging out by the pool, and getting pampered at the spa.
Instead of spending your vacation time figuring out logistics and traveling from place to place, you can kick back, relax, and enjoy a fruity cocktail!
Unpacking Once
One of the worst parts of traveling is hauling around your luggage, especially when you are trying to see various cities or countries. As we just mentioned, you'll get to see multiple destinations during a single vacation when you choose to cruise. Along with this, once you board your cruise ship, you can quickly unpack and get settled into your stateroom.
You will not have to repack your suitcase until the end of the cruise when it is, unfortunately, time to go home. Even while seeing multiple places throughout your cruises’ itinerary, your suitcase stays unpacked and your stateroom serves as a home base.
Unlimited Food
If you are a foodie, then you will undoubtedly fall in love with cruising! From all-day buffets to gourmet meals in the dining room, you certainly will not go hungry when you step onboard your cruise ship.
And I'm not talking about subpar food either; cruise ships have some of the highest quality food around.
Most cruise ships have multiple dining options for you to enjoy throughout the day. A buffet on the ship normally serves 3 meals a day with tons of delicious food options. This is not your typical buffet though - you will find everything from Indian curry to BBQ brisket, smoked salmon, hamburgers, pasta, and tacos. I have never heard anyone complain about unlimited desserts, either.
The main dining room is also available for multi-course meals with exquisite meal options. You can dine here each night with a waitstaff. It is included in the cost of your cruise fare!
As if that's not enough food, you can also find poolside ice cream, promenade snacks, and even late-night pizza parlors on your cruise ship. Speciality dining restaurants also give you the opportunity to really splurge on the highest-quality meal offered onboard in a more intimate setting.
Convenience
Cruise ships are floating resorts with so much to do - from incredible food to try, stunning entertainment to enjoy, and exciting activities around the ship.
Everywhere you turn, there is something fun happening that you can join in on: karaoke at midnight, Broadway shows after dinner, and morning trivia, just to name a few. The biggest mega cruise ships today even have incredible onboard thrills like surf machines, ice skating, golf karts, zip lines, roller coasters, virtual reality arcades, sky diving simulators, and more!
Lucky for you, everything is incredibly convenient on a cruise ship. You can bop back to your stateroom at any time to grab something, change your clothes or just take a well-deserved nap. You are never too far from anything, making it easy to get wherever you need to go.
Something for Everyone
If you are looking for a vacation that has a little bit of everything, cruising is the perfect choice. Those who like to be busy have every opportunity to do so while those who just want to relax and be pampered can enjoy their cruise just as much.
There is so much to do on a cruise ship, making it perfect for those who prefer a high-paced vacation with nonstop activities. On the other hand, those who want to sit poolside all week with a drink in hand can easily do that too. You have nowhere you need to be (unless you get hungry!), so you can truly kick back and relax everyday if you want to.
Cruises truly have something for everyone. Think about activities like wine tasting, cooking classes, adult comedy shows, trivia, waterslides, surf simulators, rollercoasters and splash pads - you name it!
Everyone from grandparents to toddlers can find something to love on a cruise ship, making it the perfect vacation for everyone!
Great for large groups
Cruises are popular vacation choices for large groups, whether that be a multigenerational family trip or class reunion. Since there is something for everyone, there is less bickering that will go on about what to do and when-- everyone can just do what they want!
If half the group wants to go to a comedy show while the other's prefer to test their luck in the casino, that is totally okay! It's easy to meet back up for dinner or a few drinks.
Family Friendly
Just as there’s something for everyone on a cruise ship, you should know that cruising is very family friendly. Some cruise lines cater more to families (like Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line, Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Line), but your kids will definitely fall in love with cruising in the same way you will.
Kids have the opportunity to join the kid or teen clubs onboard and meet other kids in the same age group. These programs are designed to make cruising fun and exciting for everyone from toddlers to teenagers. With events catered specifically to their age group, this can be such a fun socializing opportunity for kids.
As someone who frequented the teen clubs, I can attest that I had the best time at sea making friends; some of these friends I’ve kept in touch with, even 14 years later!
Read more: The 5 best cruises for teens
Affordability
Another reason we love cruising here at Cruise Blog is because it is one of the most affordable vacations you can take. Cruising is consistently cheaper than other vacation options, like all-inclusive resorts, yet you get so much included.
Your money goes a long way on a cruise, as your cruise fare includes lodging, transportation and food for the entire voyage. You can have an incredible vacation without spending a dollar onboard the cruise ship.
Of course, there will always be opportunities to spend additional money when you’re cruising, but those who want to stick to their budget can find it’s pretty all-inclusive once you get onboard.
Some cruise lines, like Celebrity Cruises, Virgin Voyages and Norwegian Cruise Line, even offer cruise fares including internet and beverages packages. This creates a totally all-inclusive experience at sea!
Easy to Plan
Along with being incredibly convenient, cruises are very easy to plan. The cruise lines make online portals where you can access your cruise reservations to book entertainment, dining and activities.
Transportation to and from the cruise port can be arranged through the cruise line or easily online. A travel agent, which doesn’t cost anything extra, can help you finalize any cruising details and make the most of your vacation.
You don’t have to worry about booking and researching hotels (unless you are flying into your cruise port the day before, which you should do), restaurants or rental cars. All you really need to do is pick a cruise line and an itinerary. Show up to the cruise port and you can still have an amazing cruise without prior planning (if that's your vibe-- we do not necessarily suggest this!).
Even when you get onboard, you have so much flexibility for how you want to spend your day. You can spend your days however you want, whether that is exploring the port or enjoying a pool-side cocktail.
You can even opt to stay onboard the entire time and make the most of all the activities when there are fewer people on the ship. It is totally up to you!
Make New Friends
It’s very easy to make friends and socialize when you cruise. Because you will be spending your cruise with the same people onboard, it’s not uncommon to run into the same people over and over again.
With so many fun activities and events taking place throughout the voyage, you will have plenty of opportunities to be social if you want to be.
People on cruises are usually like-minded; not to mention, you’re all experiencing the same things onboard. This cultivates a very friendly environment on cruise ships and almost like a little cruising community.
In fact, I’ve met some lifelong friends on cruise ships! It’s uncommon for us to leave a cruise ship without making a few new friends.
Unique Experiences
Cruising offers plenty of very unique experiences that you simply will not find on land. You can cruise to places you never dreamed of visiting.
For example, most people can’t say they have sailed through the Alaskan Inside Passage or sat on the top deck of a cruise ship while sailing through Norway’s stunning fjords.
When you are on a cruise, it’s also much easier to visit exotic locations. You can spend all day exploring places in Asia or the Middle East while coming back to your comfortable, familiar accommodations each night. There's something to be said about a sense of familiarity when you immerse yourself in a new culture.
You can even book shore excursions through your cruise line to make the most of your limited time in these places.
Essentially, cruising allows you to see some of the coolest and most foreign places in an easy, affordable and convenient way. You can see the world by cruising and experience new cultures and countries in one easy vacation! What could be better than that?
Allie Hubers
Allie Hubers has been cruising since she was a tiny toddler. What started as a yearly vacation with family quickly turned into a passion for travel, cruising and adventure. Allie's been on nearly 30 cruises all over the world. She even studied abroad on Semester at Sea, sailing the world on a ship while taking courses for college and visiting 4 continents.
