6 REASONS WHY CRUISING IS FOR EVERYONE (Not just the retired…)

Honestly, whenever I mention cruising to those who haven’t experienced the wonders of the seas, I am often met with odd looks as if I am about 100 years old or as though I have completely lost my mind – one of my favourite comments was “isn’t it just like Butlins on sea?!” The answer, no, absolutely not. I am not well versed in all cruise liners as I am a Royal Caribbean & Norwegian addict, and like anything, there are liners that may be less luxurious than others, but I want to tell you why, with the right ship and destination, cruising is for EVERYONE.

1. TICK OFF MORE THAN ONE PLACE ON YOUR LIST

One of the best things about cruising is you get to tick off more than one place on your list. If you have the need for wanderlust like me, imagine arriving in a different place day after day without feeling like you have travelled at all. You can explore 5 Caribbean islands in a week, or 8 European cities in 10 days just to name a few, all while enjoying the luxury & comfort of an enormous ship. Want to explore the UAE? Sure, jump on a ship!

Cred: VisitDubai.com

Cred: AOL Travel

2. THE SHIP HAS EVERYTHING YOU NEED

Picking the right ship for you is important– I massively favour both Royal Caribbean & Norwegian as they are modern, luxurious and have something for absolutely everyone. My favourite ship has to be Oasis of the Seas, complete with just about everything you could ever need. From a ‘Central Park’, a zip wire, surf simulators, mini-golf, movie screens and 3 pools to enjoy during the day. Then, come evening time, you can enjoy the stunning bars (with extensive cocktail menus – v.important), dine out on delicious food or have a little flutter in the casino – plus there is stage shows, ice skating & more to enjoy! As I said, something for everyone…

Oasis of the Seas, Royal Caribbean

3. THE FOOD CATERS FOR ALL

I am a massive food lover so good food is very important to me! I think it is genuinely amazing how these cruise ships churn out good quality food for thousands of passengers every day at pretty much the same time. Enjoy three course dining in the formal dining room or visit the ships different restaurants which usually range from Japanese, Italian, Mexican & more. This will depend on which ship you book but one thing you can guarantee if that the food will be good quality, fresh with a huge range to suit all tastes.

Oasis of the Seas, Royal Caribbean

4. THE DÉCOR & THE EXPERIENCE

It really is hard to explain the grandeur and size of a cruise ship if you have never been on one but it really is breath-taking. Often people don’t believe me when I tell them exactly what is on a cruise ship – an ice skating rink you say, how is the ship still floating?! I can’t actually answer that as I often think the same but even stepping aboard one of these ships in an experience in itself – seriously, how does that thing float?! #notanengineer

5. DRESS UP OR DRESS DOWN?!

I am a big fan of the dress code on cruise ships as you have a complete choice. Often on beach holidays, you feel a little over dressed if you don’t wear flip-flops in the evening, or visiting a city you can feel underdressed as you couldn’t fit all your evening wear in your carry-on case. I absolutely love that fact that on cruise ships I can dress up if I want too or dress down if I have had a busy day exploring. There is usually a formal night to welcome you aboard which is my favourite – I love wearing a glam dress and seeing everyone dressed up to the nines. BUT, if you don’t fancy that, you can dress down too. Basically, wear what you want – no judgement (within reason..!)

St Kitts, Caribbean

6. VALUE FOR MONEY

I think it is a bit of a myth that cruising is super expensive. Don’t get me wrong, it certainly isn’t a bargain but when you look at the value for money, it really is a no brainer. If you broke down visiting each of your destinations, the flights, accommodation, food, drinks and everything else, you will find that the cruise definitely comes out cheaper. If you are looking for an easy, stress-free way to see the world, I would say that finding your perfect cruise is pretty much ideal.

*It is worth noting that there are many different types of cruise ships & liners out there suited to all different audiences. I personally favour Royal Caribbean & Norwegian as I have been on these ships with all different ages from 10-80+.