At first, I felt that traveling the ocean was something that should be reserved for the Navy. The idea of boarding a ship with thousands of other people seemed like a terrible idea for someone like me. I really don’t like being in crowded places. I also dislike the thought of having to adhere to a structured timetable. For all of these reasons, my wife had to do a lot of convincing to get me on a cruise. As every married man knows, sometimes you have to give in and eventually, I agreed to give it a try.
The first cruise that I went on was a cruise to the Bahamas in the fall of 2016. It was a short cruise that featured stops in Nassau and Royal Caribbean’s private island. We definitely went on a budget and had fairly meager accommodations. Even though I went into the trip with negative expectations, I ended up having a good time.
So, what changed?
Many of the things that I didn’t like back then, remains true to this day. Crowded areas, waiting in lines…. Yep, still a little grumpy about those things. Over the years, we have discovered some tricks to help us overcome some of those less desirable aspects of cruising.
What I didn’t expect about cruising, is the way your time is truly spent. Those structured bits of the itinerary that I was fearing actually ended up being a positive.
Let me give you an example.
If you travel somewhere new, finding a good place to eat is often a topic of discussion. My wife and I are both researched based decision makers. Therefore, we sometimes fall into the pit of paralysis by analysis. We will take an hour to decide where to eat, stealing precious time that we have together. On a cruise, you always have the choice to eat ashore. But you are assured predictable, generally B+ to A- level meals onboard. Most of the time, we end up back on the ship enjoying our evening. We avoid being slightly miffed that the other one won the discussion on where to eat.
Service on a cruise ship is generally amazing, especially if you venture into the higher levels of travel onboard. Your wish is their command. Seriously, where else can you find that?
For me it ultimately comes down to spending time with my wife and/or family. A cruise lets us explore the world. Someone else manages the daily tasks that steal our attention. There are times when you can’t avoid a crowd. Yet, choosing a good cruise line, and using a few tips, will greatly reduce these inconveniences.
Take the risk to step outside of your comfort zone and give it a try, I am glad I did.
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