Being a proud Crown & Anchor Club member and having been cruising for a little under 20 years; it's safe to say that sailing the seven seas is by far my favourite way to vacation. However, it does have a reputation of being suitable for the rich, famous, newlywed and nearly dead - these days especially, that couldn't be any further from the truth.
Cruising appeals to a wide variety of holiday makers, with different preferences and tastes, as it's not as expensive as people may think. In fact, it can work out a fraction of the price cheaper in comparison to a beach resort. There are hundreds or liners and fleets out there - all with different itineraries and on board entertainment features to suit everyone's needs. I've cruised with Norwegian Cruise Lines, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean - Royal Caribbean is by far my favourite. First and foremost, cruising is a great way to see the world, without having to worry about various accommodation and transportation. I have been lucky enough to sail around Europe, The Med, Caribbean and New Zealand, all thanks to the joy of cruising. So why exactly is cruising an easy and affordable choice?
It's all inclusive
That's right. Once your holiday has been locked in, booked and paid for - practically everything is included. You can enjoy endless drinks and fine-dining experiences, along with housekeeping, babysitting services, kids clubs, photo services, and spa access, entertainment, water sports, extreme sports, room service - the list goes on. The last ship I went on (Ovation of the Seas), had several unique fine-dining experiences and celebrity chef restaurants, a bionic bar (cocktails made from 100% robots), a casino, theatres, ice skating shows, a cinema, surf and skydiving simulators - and I didn't have to pay a single penny extra to enjoy any of them.
One of my favourite things to do whilst on board is quite frankly eat. I literally spend my week plus long vacation eating my way around each available restaurant. The culinary team work tirelessly to design dishes for all pallets - from a beach themed BBQ on the open top pool deck, to a midnight desert buffet. The bartenders also recommend a cocktail a day, and for those avid drinkers amongst us; there is no weights and measures act, so if you make 'good friends' with the chaps on the Sky Bar (like I do on many occasions), expect a very strong and very fruity cocktail waiting for you at 11am. And never tell them to 'surprise you', as you will require a drunken nap come 1pm. But once you have woken from that nap, you can enjoy complimentary room service, or a midnight snack. From gourmet sandwiches to a cheese board - they have an extensive in statement dining menu to tantalise all taste buds. If you haven't left the ship a stone heavier in weight, you haven't taken full advantage.
Planning is stress and hassle free
It really is. There's a team of esteemed, highly trained professionals, giving exceptional customer service at your becking call. Not sure what to do on board during the day, or need assistance in planning a trip or tour? Then the Guest Relations and Shore Excursions team can assist you pretty much 24 hours of the day. All staterooms are given a full days' onboard itinerary each night as part of their daily turn down service, along with a stateroom TV channel, recommending all the tours when you go offshore. Activities are organised by the Cruise Director Staff (there's even a separate youth activities program too for your tiny tots), where you can enjoy bingo, take up a new craft skill, enjoy sunrise yoga, dancing lessons, take a behind the scene gally tour, get exclusive access to helipad or brigde control room and much, much more - all without paying a single penny extra.
You get a taste for countries you may (or may not) want to come back to...
Cruising is a great way to go if you aren't entirely sure about a destination, but just want a little intro before going back for a full week's holiday. This is especially helpful if you like the idea of 'island hopping' - especially around the Greek Islands, Canaries, Caribbean, Polynesian or even the Fjord-lands and Alaska. This was originally what cruises were designed for, and there's nothing more satisfying than waking up on your own private balcony and seeing your ship pull up into land. Given, some ports are far from luxurious, but for the most part; it's exciting seeing the island which you get free reign to explore for the day. Depending on customs regulations and border control; most ships will be docked for anywhere from 8-12 hours; meaning you get a fairly decent amount of time to venture off and explore. You can either do a self-led/guided tour, or take part in one of the organised shore excursions from the cruise company and local guides - this is always the safer option, though is not part of the all-inclusive package. In your Cruise Compass (your daily itinerary breakdown), you are given a time where the ship departs, and a time you need to be back on the ship by (usually an hour before). It's important to note, that the ship will not wait for you - unless you have booked a shore excursion through the on board sales team - that is the safeguard behind it. I have luckily never missed a boarding call, however have witnessed endless groups run back down the boardwalk (with partners in wheelchairs), as they have taken full advantage of the typical tourist bars tequila slingers offer, and too drunk to even stand. Note, if your ship docks in Cozumel, Mexico - you will witness exactly this, as the party-goer guests make their way back from the famous 'Carlos and Charlies'...
Many small islands and ports however are used to cruises coming to visit and will take advantage of vulnerable tourists. Some of the more riskier islands will have taxi drivers who deliberately get guests lost or con them into paying more for tours. Majority of the time you can swindle a good deal, though this is just something to be cautious of.
You receive 24 hour luxury service
You are literally served upon and treated like a king on your entire vacation. If you enjoy the fine dining restaurants, as well as munching your way through 6 courses on the daily; you can expect to have several waiters. One who seats you to your table, tucks you in, places your napkin on your lap, pours you water and gives you bread and butter. Next up you have the drinks waiter and wine connoisseur. Then you have your main waiter and their assistant. Occasionally you will get another chap who will offer to cut your steak and lobster and then a new lady will pop in, just to serve you dessert and coffee. Needless to say, 9 year old me quite enjoyed her first cruise and fine-dining experience with service like this every night; probably why I now have extremely high standards with my restaurants and choices in husbands...
But in all seriousness, you cannot fault the exceptional customer service you receive on the daily. Each department works tirelessly to ensure your stay is as luxurious as the price tag (which isn't even that pricey, but we'll get onto that one in a moment). Having many friends who work in the cruise trade; they are expected to work every single day for a 6 month contract, and I have never experienced a staff member not being hospitable and smiley. Some departments have much harsher shifts than others, but waitering from 5am-10pm each day and being so pleasant, where they have genuine care over; is a real treat to encounter.
Shopaholics can enjoy heavy duty free discounts
I purely use cruises to stock up on all my designer watches, handbags and perfumes - as the offers are purely too good to refuse. Each ship is built with their version of an outlet mall or promenade, which is home to endless retailers. This deck has been known to rival some major malls out there on land; being home to Tiffanys, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Michael Kors, Pandora, Longines, Longchamp and much much more. Each day in your Cruise Compass; you will be notified of a daily sale - that being either watches, bags etc. Understandably, it does get extremely busy during these flash sales, as all passengers arrive earlier, to get their mits on a $500 Rolex watch. There are also different types of auctions to win jewellery, fine art and spa treatments. But aside from the sales, the promenade is a fun place - a bustling, eclectic deck filled with stores to gauge over and bars to devour. There is usual nightly entertainment from karaoke competitions to parades.
You get to experience a wide range of entertainment
The daily entertainment is just a vision in itself. I have enjoyed professional dancing on ice shows, comedians, full broadway style productions and much, much more. It is always part of my after-dinner plans to head to the 3 -tier theatre and watch a show. Shows are so popular, so they usually put on 2-3 options of that one show per night; depending on when you prefer to dine. Some guests like watching shows before dinner and some after. I have been fortunate enough to watch professional productions of Cats, Hairspray and Grease whilst at sea - and they are simply incredible, as well as their version of Cirque Du Soleil.
As well as daily shows, passengers can enjoy endless free classes and sessions that they wouldn't normally try at home. You can enjoy karaoke, spa sample sessions, surf and scuba lessons, different workout classes, rock climbing, water slides, ziplining, star gaze in the observation ball, golfing, bowling, ice skating - kids even have their own dedicated area known as seaplex, where they can whizz around in bumper cars. With over 70 bars, 20 restaurants, a multiplex cinema, arcades, spas, gyms, an ice rink, theatres, casinos and over 90 types of different entertainment offerings per day; it's hard to think all this can fit inside a boat - it literally is like a floating village.
Ships are getting more and more unique
They really are. As cruising becomes ever more popular - each fleet and class competes with the next to be bigger and better. Ships are now home to observation decks, projected glass-bottom hot tubs, water parks, helipad rides, surf simulators, sky-diving simulators, bionic bars run by robots, unique spa experience, 12 course tasting menus, bumper cars, 4D simulators, rock climbing walls, golf courses, ice rinks, silent discos, floating/suspended bars, thethered hot air balloon rides and much more. And yep...you've guessed it; 90% of the time; these activities are free.
It's easy as a parent
One of the reasons my parents found extremely beneficial, was having the ability to to chuck me off at a free kids club and they can enjoy 'couple time', knowing I was well cared for. And believe me I was - I still have friends who I am in contact with from 'kids club' today. Adventure Ocean is a kids dream hub - with different zones for different ages. Aquanauts from tiny tots, explorers and adventurers for the mid kids and navigators for teens. Kids have access to their own Cruise Compass itinerary, where they can literally come and go as they please,or spend all day there. Once being dropped off and having made many friends; I would have such a great time; I'd usually come rolling back into my room at 3am. Kid Club will host various evening parties, teen nightclubs and themed nights. So it's advised to tell your kids to pack stuff for a white party, a 90s disco and possible a pyjama party.
Private island discoveries
Many cruise companies are now lucky enough to own their own private islands. Royal Caribbean has 2 gorgeous islands in Haiti, called Labadee and another known as Coco Cay. These islands stops are great as you can a day at the beach, lying in a sun, a complimentary offshore beach BBQ and endless water sport activities - and yes, they are all free. Labadee is beautiful - white sands, crystal clear waters, exotic wildlife and the opportunity to jet ski, parasail and snorkel for a discounted rate. You can either relax in a cabana and do your own thing for the day, or you can participate in the free ship activities off board.
The price really isn't that expensive...
So, you've read all the above and quite like the sound of this cruising malarkey. Other than being eager to spend a day exploring the nooks and crannies of the helm, and eating your way through half of South East Asia; the big question looming now, is how much? There are many cruise agencies out there - such as cruise 118 and cruise direct and vacations to go. Whilst these options are sometimes good, I would always recommend booking with the cruise company directly. You usually get offered free on board credit, or a discount towards an alcohol or photo package - plus you don't have the worry of third party vendors taking care of your booking and once you have paid your deposit; you have access to an online portal where you can manage your booking - reserve any restaurants, spa treatments or shows or create special requests for a honeymoon or birthday package. If you are a loyalty member (which is definitely worth while looking into - you can sign up for free once completing your first cruise, and it works as a bonus and points scheme, where you can get discounts and money off your next stay) it definitely works out more cost effective. Whilst frequently travelling alone, Royal Caribbean is one of the only cruise companies I have found, who's direct booking site rewards solo-travellers, by shaving off and being exempt from single supplements fees.
So, to give you an example on what you would typically pay for a cruise:
A 10 day all-inclusive cruise, including a pre-purchased drinks package around the Med and Canary Islands in September, staying in an indoor, promenade view cabin = £1000 per person.
A 10 day all inclusive cruise, including a WiFi package with diamond status loyalty discount around New Zealand over New Years, staying in a solo cabin = £800
A 7 day all inclusive cruise, including x2 fine-wine packages, a WiFi package, around the Caribbean in August for a family of 3 staying in a private balcony cabin = £2300 per group
A 16 day all inclusive cruise around New Zealand and the Polynesian Islands (departing from Sydney and arriving in Hawaii) in April, staying in a private balcony cabin = £2750 per person
So there you have it. I will allow you to make your own minds on whether you consider those prices reasonable or not. However from my 20 year sailing experience, I think it's really good value for money, and it's very easy to live the available opportunities to the max, without having to spend a single penny extra.
If you are planning a future cruise vacation and want some tips, itinerary help or just fancy a chat - I am always available to offer advice. Please feel free to get in touch via the 'contact me' page, as I always love hearing from you. Danie xxx
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