Why Do People Like Cruises?

NOTE: This article was originally posted in 2020 but has since been updated.

If you’re thinking about taking a cruise for the first time, take the plunge. We did, and now we love cruising so much that it has become a huge part of our lives. If you want to have a wonderful vacation, you should take a cruise. So, why do people like cruises?

I’m glad you asked. For me, it’s not one or two things but a myriad of them that together make cruising so attractive. There are so many benefits of a cruise!

The Anticipation

First and foremost, I love the anticipation of an upcoming trip. To me, looking forward to a journey is almost as much fun as the trip itself.

Crazy, right?

But I’m a planner, an organizer, and I truly enjoy creating a schedule for us and organizing all the travel details. I have spreadsheets and a notebook for each trip, and spend a lot of time planning our activities, making sure the fun is spread out over the week so I don’t get overtired. I don’t have as much stamina as I used to, and want to squeeze every drop of joy from our trips that I can.

The Excitement

Do you smile at the roar of a jet engine accelerating as the airplane barrels down the runway? Enjoy the thrill of that moment of weightlessness as the wheels leave the tarmac?

I do. Each and every time we fly. It’s exhilarating, thrilling, and something I never tire of. See those smiles? Those are our “we’re on vacation!” faces.

Flying toward a cruise port is even more exciting for me. I’m like a kid on Christmas morning. And when we’re finally allowed to board the ship and are making our way up the gangway? Adrenaline shoots through my veins at the thought of the fun we’re about to have.

Once you reach your sixties like me, you might start feeling a little jaded, but travel always brings out the child in me.

The Food

We like to cook and love to eat, and it’s even more fun if someone else cooks the meal for you. The buffet is nice and the variety is welcome, but we especially enjoy the premium restaurants onboard the ship. The abundance of dining opportunities is one of the best parts about cruising.

Oh my, the food is so GOOD! Sure, you might have a lackluster meal here or there, but overall the food is fantastic. Before each cruise, I have to lose several pounds so I’ll be able to enjoy all that yummy goodness while we’re traveling without feeling guilty.

The Silly Activities

My husband tends to hang back during group activities, but I jump in, and the sillier the activity, the better. I have stood in front of a few hundred passengers and sang songs I made up on the spot, took part in boisterous game shows, and other crazy activities that were a lot of fun. Sometimes I’ve won prizes, like cruise-line-branded T-shirts, water bottles, portable chargers, key chains, and the like.

Myron likes the archery competitions, though, and does really well at them.

One day when we stayed onboard rather than go ashore, I convinced my husband to go with me to seek out a game of charades in one of the bars, and we had a blast. We’d been married for twenty years, and I had no idea he was a charades expert!

Playing games like these helps you learn more about the friends and family you’re traveling with, and brings you closer. The memories you create are priceless.

The Beverage Package

At home, I’m practically a teetotaler. I might have one or two cocktails a month.

But onboard ship with a beverage package, I let loose a little, especially since my husband believes the only way to get his money’s worth is to always have a drink in hand. Thank goodness we get the free drinks package and are only paying the gratuities, otherwise he’d have a lot more to make up for.

Do we overindulge? Not really; we pace ourselves. There’s an art to it.

On one cruise, we made a game of it, doing our best to try all the specialty cocktails on the ship. It was a lot of fun, and pretty amusing to some of our bar mates, who burst out laughing at my expression and full-body shudder when I tried an especially bitter cocktail.

Next cruise, we’ve decided to try all the high-end gins to see which we like the best. That should be fun.

Being Pampered

Life onboard a cruise ship is a unique experience where nearly all the passengers are fairly equal, much more so than in the real world. Sure, there’s a big disparity between the size of the cabins we sleep in each night, but with a few exceptions, we have access to the same food, the same activities, the same entertainment, etc.

So, when we’re on a cruise, I feel like I’m rich. Want something special? I’ve learned to just ask for it. And the amazing thing is how often your wishes are fulfilled.

Onboard ship, we’re spoiled and pampered, and it’s a heady feeling. I could definitely get used to that.

Trying New Things

On each cruise, I push myself to try something new, something outside my comfort zone. On our first trip to Alaska, that challenge was zip-lining for the first time since I was a teenager.

Was it scary? Oh yeah. But did I enjoy it? Absolutely!

That’s what travel should be about, I think…challenging yourself and seeking out adventure.

The Shows

In the real world, we live in a remote rural area, so going to a Broadway-style show isn’t in the cards for us. But onboard, we get to see fabulous musicals and amazing magic acts, laugh until our cheeks hurt at a comedy show, or have a cocktail late in the evening while listening to a lounge singer (and sometimes singing along).

Learning New Things

Lately, on our cruises, we have been culinary classes, either onboard or on excursions. It’s been so much fun! In culinary classes, we have learned how to make the perfect risotto, deconstruct a lobster, make a mean guacamole, whip up Caesar dressing, mix some fabulous Mexican cocktails, and more.

We have even learned how to create art glass and made some beautiful pieces.

Trying New Cruise Lines

After getting a few cruises under your belt with one cruise line, you think you know what cruising is all about. Then you try another cruise line and find that the experience, although the same in some ways, is very different in others.

We started out cruising on Norwegian Cruise Line and loved it. But then we tried Celebrity Cruises and loved it too, but for different reasons. Soon, we’ll try MSC Cruises and will have a chance to make new comparisons. Don’t worry; we’ll fill you in when the time comes.

Exploring New Places

Up until the pandemic started, our cruises were pretty close to home, Alaska, Mexico and the like. We’ve seen glaciers and rainforests, iconic rock formations and whales. Now that the pandemic is done, we’ve explored the Caribbean and cruised through Scandinavia, the Greek Isles, the French Riviera, and Italy, plus we’ve cruised to Japan.

And there’s still more to see!

Feeling Like A Kid Again

We’ve had such fun trying all the entertainment options on the ship such as water slides and video arcades. Myron especially enjoyed the Formula 1 race car simulator on Norwegian Joy. He kept going back again and again. I’ve never seen him so excited about anything.

I got a kick out of the water slides, although I did get stuck in one. But that’s another story.

Meeting New People

Although we’re not social butterflies, we do enjoy chatting with new people who are dining next to us, exchanging stories about past cruises with another couple on deck, or being sought out by another passenger when they learned we were from the same area.

Even more interesting is talking with crew members and getting to know their stories. I had a fascinating conversation with a young Chinese crew member who told me how she’d left home to avoid her parents’ excessive matchmaking efforts and pressure to get married. Her story was heartbreaking and made me appreciate how different our cultures are.

Being Truly Relaxing

When we’re on a cruise, we have no worries except where we’re going to eat our next meal or what activity we want to try next. Our biggest challenge is always making these choices, but it’s a problem I love.

Want to while away the day with a book next to the pool? You can do that, and experience zero guilt. Want to enjoy a spa day? Yes, a chance to use that onboard credit! If your idea of relaxing is spending time in the casino, seeing how long you can make twenty bucks last, go for it. No one’s going to judge you.

Being At Sea

There’s nothing like opening your balcony slider and going to sleep to the sound of the ocean. Waking up to the clang of the anchor being released when your ship docks for the day. Feeling the ocean breeze stir your hair as you stretch out on a lounger, enjoying the sun on deck.

Honestly, I have to admit that I like sea days better than port days. But, shhh. Don’t tell anyone.

And the sunsets. Those sunsets over the ocean are magical.

So, Why Do People Like Cruises?

My husband and I agree that the most fun we’ve had in a long time has been on the cruises we’ve taken. For the first time in ages, we were able to fully relax and enjoy ourselves, not worrying about a thing.

That’s what makes cruising so addictive, I think, and why people like cruises so much.