10 Reasons You Should Cruise

You may be saying to yourself, “What’s so great about a cruise?”  Well, let me give you ten reasons to consider trying one.  If you’re leery, start out with a short cruise, but don’t blame me if you get hooked and want longer and longer ones.  It happened to me, I am now officially addicted to cruising and I hate getting off the ship when the cruise is over.

Reason number one

My favorite reason to cruise is the relaxation and peace that I find on a cruise.  To me there is nothing like sitting on my balcony and watching the ocean to help me totally relax.  Or I can go and sit on the adults only deck and just read a book and unwind.  Sometimes I’ll just walk around the Muster Deck where it’s usually pretty quiet and listen to the sound of the waves.  It’s amazing the perspective that you can find in the middle of the big blue ocean, where you realize just how small you really are in this world.

Reason number two

If you don’t like to or can’t fly, and you’re within driving distance of a port, you can get on a ship and into your cabin, unpack everything you brought for the duration of your cruise, stow your luggage under the bed, and then just enjoy cruising without the annoyance of driving to see different places. It’s so convenient.  We don’t fly because of my husband’s ear condition, and cruising is my only way to see other parts of the world.  Without it I’d have no adventure in my life.  I crave seeing the world, but I’d just as soon get a break from driving.

Reason number three

Almost everything is included in your cruise vacation cost.  You get your cabin, your food, and your entertainment all for one price.  Of course you can spend extra on specialty dining, drinks, excursions, etc., but you don’t have to if you don’t want to.

If you figure out what it would cost you to drive or fly, pay for your hotels, pay for your meals, and then pay for entertainment, you’ll see that cruising can be a real bargain, depending on the cruise line and ship.  And you’re going to find that the food is delicious. Sure the cabins are small, but the ship is huge.  Get out of your cabin and explore!

Reason number four

The entertainment is great.  We’ve seen everything from singers to Broadway shows on ships.  And it’s included in your price.  You can sit in the atrium and listen to the singers or the DJ, or you can play Bingo or Trivia.  Comedians are another staple of cruising, and of course they’re always funny.  Sometimes you can see a ventriloquist or a magician, depending on the cruise. We saw a ventriloquist on our last cruise that we recognized from television, you just never know who is going to be entertaining you.

And there are always headliner shows nightly, that’s where we saw Cats. Or sit on deck at night and watch a movie while enjoying some popcorn.  Enjoy your dinner and then go see a show, and after that you don’t even have to drive home.  Go to the casino or take a moonlit walk under the stars. Or party! It’s so easy.

Reason number five

You can meet so many new people from all over the world if you want to.  Take some time to get to know your room stewards, waiters, etc.  They all have interesting stories to tell.

We have met some remarkable young men and women who are working and sacrificing to support their families in their native country. The pay isn’t great for them so they depend on tips, but without the ships jobs, their families would have it even worse.  They are good people and remarkably cheerful for the hours they have to put in.  I do admire them.

And we’ve made new friends while cruising that we’ve cruised with again. I ran into an old friend from my younger days.  My husband even met a second cousin that he never knew even though they lived in the same neighborhood.  You just never know who you’re going to see. It’s such a small world.

Reason number six

You can visit new places that you’ve never visited before, and more than one place in one cruise.  There’s nothing like taking an excursion on a Caribbean Island to do something that you’ve never done before. It’s quite an adventure.

Or you can shop till you drop in the local stores and pick up things you don’t see at home and find a bargain while you’re at it.  Do your research before you go and find something to do that you’ve never done before.  Get out of your comfort zone a bit.  How many chances do you have to do that?

Reason number seven

The ships are beautiful.  Explore them and find all the hidden little surprises in them.  My favorite so far has been Oasis of the Seas.  There are hidden sculptures all around the ship.  It’s like a scavenger hunt trying to find them.  Or walk down the cabin hallways and see the artwork.  Look up at the lighting fixtures and sculptures.  Even the outside of the ship is often a work of art.

Reason number eight

You’re going to see some beautiful beaches where you can swim, snorkel, relax, explore and get all of the sun that you want.  There is nothing like a Caribbean Beach.  Go to Maho Beach in St. Maarten and watch the planes come in right on top of your head.  You’ll feel like you can reach up and touch them.

Or go to Coki Beach in St. Thomas and snorkel close to shore.  You can feed the fish dog biscuits or cereal and they’ll swim right up to you.  Then a lot of the ships have their own private beaches with play areas for the kids.  And someone else will do the driving.

Reason number nine

Got kids?  Guess what?  The ship will take care of them for you.  There are activities for kids of all ages.  They even have a nursery and you can purchase babysitting services if you want to have an evening to yourselves.  And the kids will have fun too!

And finally, reason number ten!

On top of all of that, you can party all you want, drink as much as you want, and you don’t have to drive home afterwards and risk a DUI. All you have to do is get yourself to your room. Just don’t do something stupid like sitting on the railings of your balcony or the ship.  You want to get home in one piece, not be eaten by the sharks below.  And it does happen.  You may want to have a designated walker with you.

There are ten reasons for you to try cruising.  There are myriads more, but if this doesn’t wet your whistle, then nothing will.  Have fun!