I’ll admit that I don’t cruise as frequently as I would like to, but that makes the cruise anticipation just that much greater!
When it comes to any type of travel, I prepare much earlier than is probably socially acceptable. On my last cruise in May, I consulted with NextCruise to book a European sailing on the Odyssey of the Seas for May 2023, a full year away.
As soon as we got back from that trip, I hit the ground running planning our 3-day pre-cruise stay in Rome. How many times has that itinerary changed since then? A lot. And it’ll continue to be modified until we leave!
There’s no greater feeling than when the cruise countdown officially hits single digits and the embarkation jitters intensify. Here are the top ten things I look forward to every time I cruise.
Unlimited Food
Look, I really, really hate cooking, but as a graduate student living on a budget in New York City, I have to cook. I’ll usually wait until my fridge is empty and I’m living on scraps before I make the trip to Trader Joe’s and lug groceries back to my apartment.
When I’m on a cruise, not only do I not have to worry about making a mess in my kitchen, but I also don’t have to worry about sitting on Resy waiting for a weekend reservation to appear. With fixed dining, I don’t even have to worry about making reservations for the main dining room!
Even if I don't want to indulge in a three course meal every single night, there are still so many options throughout the day to keep me satisfied. And the best part? I never have to step foot in the buffet.
My favorite lunch onboard Oasis Class ships is Park Central. I love being able to craft my own salad, and, in my opinion, the ingredients are much fresher than those in the Windjammer.
Sailaway
I love the feeling of stepping foot on a cruise ship and being full of energy ready to explore! It's nice to have time to acclimate before hitting the seas.
Even if I don't attend the main sailaway party, I enjoy grabbing a cocktail or glass of champagne and finding a comfortable place to sit on the top deck. It's fun watching people, who appear as small as ants, wave goodbye as the vacation begins. The view of land becomes smaller and smaller before there's nothing but ocean!
Change of scenery
My next cruise is a 3-night sailing on the Liberty of the Seas at the end of January. Needless to say, I’m excited to trade in my beanie and winter coat for a tropical cocktail and sundress. Even though it’s just a short weekend trip, the change of scenery will be much needed!
Whenever I cruise, I try and make sure that my itinerary includes at least one port that I have never been to. I have yet to visit Perfect Day at CocoCay (the last time I was there was actually in 2010 while on the Freedom of the Seas), and I’m looking forward to checking out the Coco Beach Club!
Entertainment
As great as it is to lounge by the pool all day with a book in hand, I always look forward to the nightly entertainment! With shows that are unique to nearly every ship, there's something new to check out on each trip!
It's no secret that I love Broadway style musicals, but cruises offer so much more than that; I love being able to choose from aerial acrobatic performances, comedy and game shows, themed parties, and live music!
Ocean views
Skyline views have a special place in my heart, but I think ocean sunsets might be my favorite view of all-time. Sure, you can experience beautiful ocean views at the beach, but nothing compares to watching the fiery orange sun sink behind the horizon while at sea.
The deep blue waters are even mesmerizing during the day, especially the different hues of blue in the aft's wake. You can even kickstart your day by grabbing a cup of coffee and watching the sunrise!
Gambling in the casino
This one is relatively new for me-- the first time I gambled in a casino was in Las Vegas on my 22nd birthday, and I won over $500 playing Roulette!
I definitely felt pressure to gamble while in Las Vegas, so I find casinos on cruises to be a good in-between for me. I'm able to gamble as much (or as little) as I choose. A huge bonus is not having to walk through the casino to get to the stateroom! In theory, I could spend an entire week on a cruise and not step foot inside the casino once!
On my last cruise, I set aside a certain amount of money I felt comfortable losing, and while I didn't win anything, I had a lot of fun trying out different slot machines and hitting up the Roulette table! I'm looking forward to testing my luck again in January.
The crew members
The crew members are part of what makes cruising so unique. I don't think I've ever had a poor customer service experience while onboard. They'll go out of their way to make sure you have a memorable trip!
If you're kind, you might be surprised at the relationships you build. While sailing on the Allure of the Seas in May, my group had the most incredible server in the Main Dining Room. One night, he even surprised us with menu items that weren't listed!
Opportunity to step outside of your comfort zone
I am a huge fan of unlimited drink packages because of the convenience. Plus, they allow me to try drinks that I otherwise would not even consider.
Even if you don't get a beverage package, you can step outside of your comfort zone in other ways while on a cruise! If, for instance, there's an item on the menu you are uncertain about, you can order it in addition to something else that you know you'll like!
When I was on the Allure of the Seas, someone in our travel party tried escargot for the first time. He loved it so much that we called him "snail boy" for the rest of the trip!
Towel animals
No matter how old I get, I will always look forward to coming back to my stateroom and finding a towel animal!
You can tell the cabin stewards have fun with them, too. They'll go the extra mile and often personalize the animals with accessories, such as sunglasses or baseball caps, that guests leave lying around their room.
Spending time with loved ones
My family lives in North Carolina and Texas, so I am grateful when our schedules align and we're able to travel together. We're able to spend much needed quality time with each other, while also being able to enjoy activities on our own-- there's enough to appease everyone!
During the day, I'll relax by the pool with a good book or wait in line for actives like the zip line or FlowRider, and my dad can be found running on the treadmill in the gym or taking a nap in a shaded area of the sundeck. In the evening, we are foodies and love getting together for a good meal and a few drinks.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
