Top 5 Reasons You Really Should Try A Cruise

1. ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Five Star Luxury For Less

Cruises have always been considered a luxury holiday, often thought of as out of reach for most of us. However, did you know, in reality, contemporary cruising compares favourably with all-inclusive resort holidays in terms of pricing, but offer far more in terms of luxury.

With fine dining, wide choice of bars and restaurants, spas, and a level of service you would only expect to find in 5 Star hotels as standard, cruises offer a far more indulgent holiday for a similar price. Look out for offers including all-inclusive drinks packages, gratuities and on-board-credit for even more value-for-money.

2.Ever-changing Scenery

Wake up to a different view each morning! You could be overlooking a city on one day, a beach another or have magnificent ocean view stretching to the horizon.

Imagine eating breakfast with Venice as a backdrop! Or sunset drinks as you sail away from a tropical caribbean island. Or maybe eating a delicious lunch while you watch cavorting dolphins swimming alongside.

My own favourite view is a very simple one - and guaranteed wherever you are in the world - and that is staring out from the back of the ship (aft) across the wake. The colours are beautiful - different shades of blue crested with white - and it is also quite mesmerising.

Lose yourself - Wake up to a holiday at sea!

A cruise allows you a taste of many different places and cultures on one trip. You may even get inspired to return to explore a destination in more depth on a future visit.

3.Fabulous Dining

On a cruise fine dining is included at no extra cost.

For us, this is one of the key attractions of a cruise. Apart from the much-hyped amount of food, (yes it’s true - you can eat 24 hours a day), it’s the quality and variety that will amaze you. and most included in your cruise fare. Yes, there are buffets, but they are far more sumptuous than many found in AI resorts. On Celebrity Cruises, for example, the lunch buffet consists of separate stations for Mexican, Italian, Asian and Indian cuisines, plus carveries, grills, freshly made sandwiches and a salad bar.

There are many casual dining outlets too, such as outdoor bbqs and American-style diners or grab-and-go options. You can have 5-course fine dining banquets in the Main Dining Room or opt for a speciality restaurant (these usually carry a very modest cover charge). Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is known for its choice of speciality restaurants including steak houses, French gourmet and even Japanese Teppanyaki.

If you have a sweet tooth, take advantage of the afternoon tea, or huge choice of desserts and ice cream. On some ships you might even find a delectable chocolate buffet Check our Princess Cruises Chocolate Journeys for example.

One thing is for sure, you will not be able to resist, so bring an expanding waistband or two!

4.Entertainment

Forget the dreary, amateur entertainment you find in many hotels, or the cringey ‘party dances’ you are forced to join in. Ignore too the ill-informed comments of talent show judges maligning acts for being too ‘cruise ship’ (have you ever even been on a cruise, Simon Cowell?).

The truth is entertainment onboard is top-notch. There are huge, professional production shows and visiting performers. NCL, for example are debuting two current west end musicals - Kinky Boots and the fabulous Six; and Princess Cruises have an interactive, virtual reality show called 5-Skies. You will find intimate venues where you can enjoy live music or maybe a comedy show. If you like a boogie (or maybe channeling your inner Strictly diva), then checkout the nightclub or dance venues. Cunard have a beautiful ballroom complete with a live orchestra and crystal chandeliers whilst Carnival have some of the most unique clubs at sea.

The Manor Nightclub/Venue on Scarlet Lady. Image Credit: Virgin Voyages

Of course, Virgin Voyages launch was a game changer. With events and gigs onboard, including sets by Mark Ronson on Virgins private Bimini Beach Club, the Manor nightclub on board - why there are even resident drag queens!

Worried you will get bored? Forget it! Daytime activities range from thrills and spills with on-board water parks and theme park-style rides, to competitive sporting action, golf simulators, go-karts, climbing walls and even zip wires. Of course if you just want to chill out why not have a spa day or just chill out next to one of the many pools?

5. One size fits all

(well almost)

Choose the right one, and a cruise can exceed the expectations and needs of the whole family.

Perfect Day at Coco Cay. Image Credit: Royal Caribbean

Kids in tow? There are clubs on board most ships where they can meet new friends. Even better are the waterparks, zip wires, go-carts and thrill rides that are popping up on new ships. Check out Royal Caribbean for itineraries featuring their ‘Perfect Day’ private Island resort; or MSC Mereviglia-Class Ships for their fabulous family clubs and facilities.

Need pampering? The Spas on board rival any on dry land. Check out Marella Cruises who have partnered with Champney’s to provide spas on the Brands Explorer Ships. Or Celebrity Cruises Canyon Ranch Spas.

Young or young-at-heart? Norwegian Cruise Lines might have just what you are looking for - choice of fabulous restaurants, boardwalks, comedy clubs, West-End musicals (See above), even go-karting.

Only 5 Stars will do? Well what about 6-Star cruising? All-inclusive ultra-luxurious cruises are available from cruise lines such as Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seabourn and Crystal Cruises.

Love clubbing, music and Moët? Virgin Voyages have all that and more. Check out my related posts here to find out about a new style of voyage that is NOTHING like anything you could imagine a cruise could be (in fact shhh 🤫 don’t even call it a cruise)!

So if you have yet to dip your toe in the water (sorry I simply can’t resist these puns), I hope this will encourage you to at least consider it as an option. I’d hate you to miss out!