"To Cruise Or Not To Cruise"
by Lisa Spoden
by Lisa Spoden
Tareq and I spend over half of the year on board ships around the world cruising with Connoisseur Traveler® and Hotels at Sea®. We have been met with disbelief that we could stay on ships that much, but most of the time it comes from non-cruisers. We have friends who just don’t get the awesomeness of cruising. So let’s respond to their concerns.
Actually cruise travel offers THE best value for your money. All rooms, meals, basic beverages, entertainment and tips are included in one pre-determined price. Many cruises work out to much less than $100 per night. That is difficult to do on any other travel budget.
I want to go directly to locations that interest me, not make quick stops Some people want to stay in one place or visit several places for a few nights each. It makes sense to want to move at your own pace. To me, though, a vacation to several places means pack, unpack, pack, unpack. Ugh! With cruising you unpack once and the ship takes you to new places all the time!
Cruisers know that visiting ports is a great way to find where you’d like to return for a land-based vacation. Or maybe you choose a particular itinerary just to see or do something new and exciting. It’s important to note that most itineraries include long day stays and many now even have overnight stays in port to maximize an immersive experience.
I remember when I was an early cruiser, feeling ready to barf all day long. It was my first cruise, we had storms and it was a very small ship. About half way through the trip thankfully I got my sea legs.
With a doctor’s approval, a non-drowsy medication might alleviate the symptoms of seasickness, feeling woozy or off-balance. Ginger and Sea Bands can also do the trick.
But the newer ships and especially the bigger ships have stabilizers which set the ship so that you hardly ever feel even a sway. It really is amazing. This is becoming a non-issue.
It’s no fun to start a vacation worried that you might get sick. Maybe try a short jaunt to the Bahamas or Cuba to test the waters.
The ship’s doors really do unlock in every port and everyone can go ashore to do whatever with whomever. There are people whom you will only see once on the cruise and some that you will never run into on the larger ones. They really are like floating cities and there are libraries, casinos, shops, and lots of places to get away by yourself.
Almost every cruise line now has what is the equivalent of Free Style Dining on Norwegian or My Time Dining on Royal Caribbean. This is where you pick the time, place, people and even the table for your dining experience. There are also specialty restaurants where for a small fee you get to choose from a gourmet menu in a 5 star equivalent restaurant. There is also the option of getting dinner or lunch ashore. Or maybe even try room service. While food is a major component of a cruise, it’s usually not the only reason why people choose to cruise. You can place as much or as little emphasis on dining as you’d like.
Believe me, things have gotten relaxed in the dress category on most cruise lines. Most are casual. There may be a night or two where “formal” is suggested but it is only if you are eating in the main or specialty dining areas. If you want to stay in shorts the entire time there are areas of the ship where you can dine just fine.
Balcony stateroom to the rescue; or at least a stateroom near to a door to an outside deck.
With as many things to do on the ship as there are from Broadway caliber shows to art auctions, game shows, individual and team sports events, gym for workouts, fun classes, and other events 24/7, there is little time that you will even want to stay in your room!
- Aren’t cruises expensive?
Actually cruise travel offers THE best value for your money. All rooms, meals, basic beverages, entertainment and tips are included in one pre-determined price. Many cruises work out to much less than $100 per night. That is difficult to do on any other travel budget.
I want to go directly to locations that interest me, not make quick stops Some people want to stay in one place or visit several places for a few nights each. It makes sense to want to move at your own pace. To me, though, a vacation to several places means pack, unpack, pack, unpack. Ugh! With cruising you unpack once and the ship takes you to new places all the time!
Cruisers know that visiting ports is a great way to find where you’d like to return for a land-based vacation. Or maybe you choose a particular itinerary just to see or do something new and exciting. It’s important to note that most itineraries include long day stays and many now even have overnight stays in port to maximize an immersive experience.
- I have a tendency to get seasick. I’m worried about being sick on the cruise.
I remember when I was an early cruiser, feeling ready to barf all day long. It was my first cruise, we had storms and it was a very small ship. About half way through the trip thankfully I got my sea legs.
With a doctor’s approval, a non-drowsy medication might alleviate the symptoms of seasickness, feeling woozy or off-balance. Ginger and Sea Bands can also do the trick.
But the newer ships and especially the bigger ships have stabilizers which set the ship so that you hardly ever feel even a sway. It really is amazing. This is becoming a non-issue.
It’s no fun to start a vacation worried that you might get sick. Maybe try a short jaunt to the Bahamas or Cuba to test the waters.
- I don’t like the idea of being locked up with the same people every day.
The ship’s doors really do unlock in every port and everyone can go ashore to do whatever with whomever. There are people whom you will only see once on the cruise and some that you will never run into on the larger ones. They really are like floating cities and there are libraries, casinos, shops, and lots of places to get away by yourself.
- Cruises are too food-centric. Also, I am told you sit with the same people all the time.
Almost every cruise line now has what is the equivalent of Free Style Dining on Norwegian or My Time Dining on Royal Caribbean. This is where you pick the time, place, people and even the table for your dining experience. There are also specialty restaurants where for a small fee you get to choose from a gourmet menu in a 5 star equivalent restaurant. There is also the option of getting dinner or lunch ashore. Or maybe even try room service. While food is a major component of a cruise, it’s usually not the only reason why people choose to cruise. You can place as much or as little emphasis on dining as you’d like.
- I don’t want to have to get dressed up for dinner every night!
Believe me, things have gotten relaxed in the dress category on most cruise lines. Most are casual. There may be a night or two where “formal” is suggested but it is only if you are eating in the main or specialty dining areas. If you want to stay in shorts the entire time there are areas of the ship where you can dine just fine.
- I can maybe see claustrophobia being an issue.
Balcony stateroom to the rescue; or at least a stateroom near to a door to an outside deck.
With as many things to do on the ship as there are from Broadway caliber shows to art auctions, game shows, individual and team sports events, gym for workouts, fun classes, and other events 24/7, there is little time that you will even want to stay in your room!
There's nothing like a great vacation at sea!
Lisa Spoden is co-owner of Hotels at Sea www.hotelsatsea.com and Connoisseur Traveler www.connoisseurtraveler.com
~Copa