Cruising: A Relaxing Way to Travel

(This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please read our Privacy Policy.)

 Why we love cruising…

Skagway (10)

I’ve talked with numerous people who have either never been on a cruise or sadly don’t ever have the desire to go on a cruise due to the bad publicity cruise companies have received recently in the media. As far as accidents are concerned, you’re certainly more at risk driving or flying to the cruise terminal than you are stepping foot on the cruise ship!

Mykonos (6)

Although there’s a possibility of something going wrong during your time at sea, just as there is every time you get in your car or board a plane, I think everyone should consider taking at least one cruise throughout their lifetime. And I imagine that once you go on your first cruise, you’ll already be thinking about where you want to cruise next before you even get off the ship!

A Variety of Destinations

Honeymoon (128)

We’ve taken one cruise a year since we got married and to date we’ve visited the Caribbean…

Honeymoon (44)

the Mediterranean…

Mykonos (127)

…and most recently, Alaska.

Glacier Bay (147)

Besides having the opportunity to visit some of the most beautiful port cities in the world, allow us to share with you why we love cruising!

IslandPrincess (15)

Unpack Only Once

To begin with, a cruise ship is a moving hotel. You unpack once when you board the ship and don’t have to look at your suitcase again until it’s time to disembark at the end of your journey! After a long, exciting day in port you come back to the same room and let the rhythm of the ocean rock you to sleep.

Venice-Day1 (119)

Awake in a New Destination

Next thing you know, you awake in a new destination that is begging to be explored. While it’s sad to leave a port city after an invigorating day of exploring, I particularly enjoy sail-aways! Looking back at the city, we bid adieu to a day of wonderful memories as we head toward a new and exciting adventure awaiting us in the next port!

Mykonos (36)

Explore On-Shore 

Yes, there is a bit of planning that goes into making sure you have a great time while in port. You can choose to book an excursion through the cruise ship or with a private company. (We tend to stick with smaller group tours.)

Ephesus (288)

You can also choose to rent a car for the day and explore the nearby region, like we did in Skagway, Alaska!

Klondike (56)

Or you can plan absolutely nothing and simply wander the streets (or beach) of the port city.

Honeymoon (45)

Sample Many Destinations

Some people may complain that visiting a given destination on a cruise ship is not nearly enough time to truly explore and experience the vibe and culture of that particular locale. The way we look at it, a cruise itinerary is a great introduction to many places in a short amount of time. You can then decide where you want to go back and explore further!

Tuscany (280)

I LOVED our day in Tuscany! About a year later, we returned to the same region of Italy for a longer visit based on our one day in port!

Exquisite Cuisine

IP_Food (30)

Of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the food as another reason why we love cruising. I wrote an entire post about the incredible edibles we had while onboard the Island Princess! Warning: You may feel hungry after reading this post! The food choices on cruise ships are pretty much always delicious, beautifully presented, and endless! Good luck not gaining a few pounds on your next cruise!

IP_Food (9)

Relax & Unwind

If your cruise has any days at sea built into the itinerary, it’s forced relaxation! Many times when we travel we’re constantly on the go, jumping from one place to the next and exhausting ourselves in the meantime! A day at sea is the perfect time to unwind, lay out by the pool, read a book, search for ocean wildlife, or take advantage of the countless activities on board the cruise ship.

IslandPrincess (71)

And finally, how can you argue with a view like this?!

IslandPrincess (91)

You’re not scrambling to pack your belongings or fighting traffic trying to reach your next destination… you’re simply relaxing as you watch the sun set over the vast and calming ocean.

DSC_8097

Different Kinds of Cruises

The above content was written with ocean liners in mind and up until recently, we had only experienced large commercial cruise lines, such as Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Princess.

Honeymoon (131)E

In September 2015 we were able to cross another item off of our ever-growing bucket list when we embarked on our very first river cruise with Viking River Cruises.

Viking River Cruises

The 15-day Grand European Tour took us to capital cities and small towns in Hungary, Austria, Slovenia, Germany, and the Netherlands. Stay tuned for an informative post where we highlight the differences between ocean cruising and river cruising.

Passau (16)

Just a month after our river cruise, we hopped on-board our smallest cruise vessel yet when we took a 2-night cruise through Ha Long Bay in Vietnam. The ship was small, quaint, and perfect for cruising through the limestone karsts of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Ha Long Bay Cruise (110)

Tips for a Great Cruise:

  • Plan Ahead! Although you may be able to score a deeply discounted cabin the longer you wait, we like to book early and start planning! Know what ports you’ll be visiting and know what you want to see/do in each port. Come up with a plan for the day, so you’re not stressed when you get off the ship.
  • Know Your Ship! We pay careful attention when selecting our cabin. We know we prefer mid-ship and specifically avoid the floor right under the pool deck, casino, or nightclub (on the larger ocean liners).
  • Be Prepared! If you’re prone to seasickness, see your doctor for ‘the patch’; otherwise pack some Dramamine or ginger root pills. We also recommend ear plugs, so you can get a restful night of sleep in the event you may have other passengers who have other plans that evening!
  • Disconnect! If you’re in another country, avoid high roaming charges and turn your cell phone off! Your phone probably won’t work out in the middle of the ocean anyway. Plus, you should be relaxing and leaving your work and worries behind. Internet plans on the cruise ship can be astronomical, so avoid the temptation and disconnect for a few days!
  • Relax & Enjoy!


20 Comments

  1. Great article. You are so right that everyone I speak to is either addicted to cruising or has no desire to go one. I had never contemplated a cruise until a friend invited us to join them… and whilst onboard we were already planning our next. We too have since done a cruise a year and have one booked for next year.

    • It’s certainly a different way of traveling and not how we prefer to travel exclusively, but the many pros of cruising like those mentioned in the article, keep us coming back year after year for another unique adventure!

  2. Don & Sue Burrus

    Nice case for cruising! I was one of those guys that avoided cruising for many of the same reasons you mentioned. Have to say my first cruise to Alaska has changed my mind!

  3. You bring up super valid points about cruising, but it’s not something I’d consider (as a control freak). The hubby’s fam goes on one every year and they are constantly nagging me to join them. I should offer a trade: you come with me via local bus to remote Cambodia, and I’ll take a cruise with you. deal? 😉

  4. I LOVE cruising. It is one of my favorite ways to travel! I’m going on my 6th Caribbean cruise in a couple of months aboard the Caribbean Princess – I know I should go to different destinations, but the allure of a cruise down south during a harsh Canadian winter is too great 🙂 It is also incredibly cheap to go!

    • Cruising is so much fun… and yes, affordable when you consider what you are getting (food, lodging, transportation to the next location, etc.). And if I lived in Canada, I’d be trying to escape the cold too!

  5. Great post! I do love cruising, though Mike has never been too fond of the idea. Though I just showed him the photo of your hotel room and he’s coming around to letting me book us on one 😀 I’m not sure what he thought the rooms were like, but definitely not like that!

  6. Sammi Wanderlustin'

    I did Croatia Sail this summer and that was pretty awesome, but I don’t know if I’d enjoy a big cruise…. my cousin worked on cruise ships for years.

    • I love being on the water no matter the boat! And I would say, you should try a cruise at least once and see what you think! Jealous of your summer- I’d love to sail around Croatia; total bucket list item for us! Also can’t wait to do a river cruise in the near future! So many fun options for traveling by boat!

  7. OK I’m goint to make a confession here … I wouldn’t mind going on a cruise … even though it totally doesn’t match my personality and lifestyle and more important, niche for blogging. But hey, I’d love to be taken care off for once, not having to cook or make my bed and live in luxury for a week or so. So in case any of the cruise companies reads this: email me 🙂

  8. I think it would be a lot of fun to go on a cruise– especially to Alaska. It’s the perfect way more me to explore the state while staying warm 😉

    • Yup! But you have to actually get off the ship to really experience Alaska!! Bundle up and it’s totally worth it! Actually I was in a bathing suit on the deck of the ship during our Alaskan cruise this past summer; it was unusually warm.

  9. I am loving all of these photos. Especially the one with the mountains!
    I’ve always wanted to go on a cruise – I’m slightly scared of being out on the open water though, but I think I would just need to (wo)man up a bit! 😀

  10. Thank you for some nice reasons. I have so far only taken shorter cruises across the Baltic sea. 🙂

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *