9 Compelling Reasons to Go on a Cruise

Okay, I am going to talk you into booking a cruise. There are many compelling reasons to go on a cruise. I am going to list just some of them.

Excuses, excuses, excuses – there are so many excuses people use that prevent them from going on a cruise. Believe me, I was the queen of them. I finally gave in and went on my first cruise. My only regret – waiting so long to jump on the ship-wagon;-)

If you are contemplating taking a cruise but have not yet committed, read these 9 compelling reasons to take a cruise! Then, get on the horn and book that trip!

1.  Pack once, unpack once and enjoy your time on the ship and in many different ports.
   • No going from hotel to hotel in order to see different places and cultures. No living out of suitcases for your entire trip. Arrive in your ship stateroom, unpack and explore the beautiful ship. Feel comfortable, all week long (or however long your cruise is), sleeping in the same bed each night, with your things right where you left them.
2. Eat whatever you want, whenever you want – without having to prepare or cook.
   • The food on cruise ships is varied, available at all times and is very, very good. You get to choose when and where you eat (if you pick anytime dining).  And how much you eat (multiple entrees are available at every meal). For an additional fee, most ships have specialty restaurants if you want to celebrate a special occasion or just want something different from the main dining experience.
   • Many cruise lines offer free room service. How can you beat that? (tips here are appreciated)
3. No cleaning, making beds, or doing much other than relaxing.
   • Who wants to take the time to clean and make beds (for those of us who actually make our beds each day;-)?  Your room steward takes care of such things, not once a day – but twice a day! This means more time to explore and do the amazing things that are available for you to do on the ship.
4. You get to visit a number of places that you would not be able to see if you vacation in just one place.
   • On a 7-day Caribbean cruise, you usually stop in 4 different cruise ports. You can explore these towns, book amazing excursions, eat locally if you want, and return to your cruise ship each night. Then after a night or two in your comfortable stateroom, you can do it all over again, this time in a different port. You get to pick the itinerary that best suits your travel wants.
5. You are afraid of getting motion sick.
   • This is a real one – I know from experience. I can’t even swing on a swing without feeling ill. I talked to my doctor before my first cruise and he assured me that with the right precautions I would be fine. He gave me a prescription for a Scopolamine patch. And I also took some Dramamine and Bonine along (yes, both – that was my security blanket). The patch was great. I put the first one on three days before we sailed and changed it every three days. Once I did take a Bonine, but in retrospect, I didn’t need it. I felt great the entire trip!
6. You get claustrophobic.
   • Ha! Again, this was one of my main excuses. I. do. not. like. enclosed. places.
   • In reality, most all cruises are on ships so large, you forget your fear. It is hard to describe exactly how large these ships are. On the Regal Princess, the piazza alone is a 3-deck high atrium and the ship is ‎1,083 feet in length. There are open areas everywhere.  I never once felt claustrophobic.
7. A cruise vacation is affordable.
   • Your cruise fare includes accommodations, food, entertainment and transports you from one port to another.
   • You can pick an inside cabin (most affordable), a balcony cabin, a mini-suite, a larger suite, or a luxury suite, depending on your budget. And remember, after you choose your cabin, the other amenities are the same.
   • The entertainment is all-inclusive and is excellent. Most ships will deliver to your cabin a daily bulletin that will have the next days events and offerings explained in detail.
   • There are nightclubs, casinos, quieter bars,  dance lessons,  and Broadway shows.  Also available are cooking demonstrations, fitness centers, multiple pools, musical shows, adult retreats,  and clubs just for kids. Don’t forget educational talks, star gazing,  and more – all included in your fare.
8. You can pick the cruise line and ship that matches your needs.
   • If you like a relaxing vacation, there are ships that cater to that. If you are extremely active, there are ships that have rock climbing walls, elaborate water slides, FlowRider surfing, Pickleball, and mini-golf. There are cruises that cater to families, romantic get-aways, LGBT communities, single travelers, and reunions.
9. Cruise vacations are very easy to plan.
   • You can use a travel agent, although you will most likely be better off with one that specialized in cruises, You can use one of the travel planners that are employees of the cruise line you choose, and you can book it online. I suggest using either a travel agent or a cruise-line planner as you will have many, many questions that they can answer directly.
   • There is a lot, and I mean a lot of information online that you can read about to help you narrow down what kind of cruise would be best for you.

Believe me, a cruise vacation is one that you will not need a vacation to recover from (we have all been on those) – you will just want to book another cruise!

*If you have enjoyed reading these compelling reasons to go on a cruise then you should look at How to Save Money on Your Cruise.