Is cruising right for me?

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Cruising, at least the idea of cruising, tends to be a polarizing subject. I can’t tell you how many conversations I have had on this topic and people either love them (because they’ve been there and know how amazing it is) or hate the idea of them (because they can’t bear the thought of being in the middle of the ocean and the prospect of motion sickness). For what it is worth, here is my 2 cents on cruising.

I started cruising at the age of 16. My grandparents chose to take our entire family on the Enchantment of the Seas for a seven day vacation of family togetherness. I was absolutely terrified. I was torn between two “worst case scenarios” that looked on one side like the Titanic and on the other, me hovering close to the nearest restroom because of motion sickness. If you know me at all, nausea is one of my worst nightmares and to be avoided at all costs. The time for the trip finally arrived and I spent my time going from dinosaur chicken nuggets at the evening meal (because those obviously can’t make you sick) to laying in our room watching movies (another totally safe option). Half way through the trip, I realized that I probably wasn’t going to die or vomit and by the time the trip was over, I realized that all of my worrying had been in vain and I had just wasted an incredible opportunity.

Somewhere around 15 cruises later, I can tell you that I LOVE cruising. Here are a few reasons why…

For the money, it is easily one of the most affordable vacations for the things you get to do. Your room, food, and an amazing list of activities are all included in your cruise fare.
Unpack once, see amazing things. It’s the hotel room that travels. Each day you wake up to see something new while still maintaining your home base.
You are taken care of like you are royalty. From your room steward to your waiters, the service is exceptional and you will come home wondering how you ever lived without these people in your life.
For me, one of the greatest things about cruising is that you get to completely unplug from the world. That’s not to say that you have to if you still want access to normal life, but if you want to get away, this is a true get away.
Your day is literally meal > kill time until the next meal > meal > find something to do until it’s snack time > snack time > get ready for a meal > meal > enjoy some relaxation before another snack > snack > go to bed > begin again tomorrow. Zero complaints there.
It’s like a floating city. This is an advantage on multiple levels. One – it’s huge which means that while you can feel the boat moving, it’s usually more of a gently swaying and two – there are an incredible amount of activities to fill your time (or not if you’d rather relax).
It’s family friendly. With activities for everyone, this is a great family trip. You can spend as much time together as you’d like or go your separate ways and know that at the end of the day, you can still look forward to an amazing meal together before turning in for the night.

Any time that I hear concerns about cruising, they usually fall into one of two camps.

Motion sickness. I know it exists and can make you absolutely miserable. Remember that bit from when I was 16 and scared half to death? In all of my time on the water, it’s never been an issue for me. We do have people in our cruising group that do feel the affects of motion sickness, but they love it so much, they keep cruising anyways. If you are worried about it, pack some precautionary measures, or the ship’s store will have plenty if you need some in a pinch.
It’s too people-y. Yep. There are people there. And there are times that it will feel very people-y (especially as you are preparing to board the ship for the first time). As you settle into your new home for the week, everyone else will too and you can spend as much time around people as you’d like, or there are always ways to get away and have some quiet (coming from the world’s #1 introvert).
Yes, I said two camps, but I meant 3. Fear of the water. If you would, please refer to #6 on the positives list again. You are in the middle of the ocean, but you are on a floating hotel. The water will win you over.

As you prepare for your next trip, keep cruising in mind. It may not be right for you, but you’ll never know until you give it a try.