If you’ve never been on a cruise before, you might be apprehensive about trying one. Maybe you’ve heard that it’s boring on a cruise, or it’s only for old people. Perhaps you’ve heard that it’s not safe and you’ll get sick.
While those things can be true of the wrong type of cruise, we think there are many great reasons to consider going on a cruise for your next vacation. There are dozens of activities to do on a cruise ship while you’re at sea, plus great restaurants, bars, and entertainment to keep you busy throughout the trip.
Cruise ships are some of the cleanest and safest places to stay because the cruise lines take health and cleanliness very seriously. And the best part about cruising is that you get to see many places but only have to unpack once.
If you’re contemplating a cruise, here are seven reasons we think you should give it a try, even if you think you’re not cruise people.
Additional reading:
→ Make your cruise planning easier with these helpful apps.
→ Read our guide to booking your first cruise.
→ Read about Scandinavian cruises, Caribbean Cruises or Northern Europe cruises.
Why You Should Go On a Cruise
1. It’s a Moving Hotel
If you are traveling to a specific destination by airplane, a train or a car, you are likely bound for a single destination with several interesting hotspots. If you want to see more of the region or country, you will have to make extra arrangements and, indeed, put in a lot of extra effort.
To see more than one destination, you’ll have to pack your bags and move to a new city / hotel, perhaps more than once. However, on a cruise vacation, you are literally staying in a moving hotel that will take you from one interesting destination to another.
On a two-week cruise, it is likely you’ll visit at least 4 ports of call. That would mean packing up and moving four different times if you were on land, but on a cruise, you don’t have to move at all. This is especially convenient for big families.
If you’re looking for a fun vacation that everyone in the family will enjoy, a cruise offers great variety with the convenience of staying on board for the duration of the trip.
2. Babysitters Included
Parents like to have some fun too, but usually on vacation there isn’t a babysitter to watch the kids while you enjoy some relaxation or alone time. While some resorts have kids programs, they typically only include a few hour’s of entertainment for the kids.
If you bring your small children on a family cruise, there are robust kid’s programs and extra perks, like babysitters. With some help, you can finally enjoy a bit of me-time with your significant other, and your children will be supervised by a reliable and dedicated individual.
Older kids love the activities provided by the ship too. A good kid’s program can turn a family cruise into a huge adventure for the kids.
3. It’s One of the Safest Ways to Travel
When you have to organize a vacation for the whole family, the anxiety over safety can really ramp up. One of the greatest things about a cruise vacation is how safe this form of travel can be.
You likely heard all about the cruise ships that were stranded at sea at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. The outbreak on ships was not a unique event and was happening at hotels around the world. In light of this event, cruise ships have become even more stringent with cleaning procedures.
There is a mandatory quarantine for any passenger who isn’t feeling well, and things like hand sanitizer are available everywhere on board.
Accidents happen on vacation, but they are especially uncommon on cruise ships. If something were to happen, well-trained help is always available. All cruise ships operate under Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) guidelines, which includes everything from fire safety to navigation and maritime security.
With the utmost care being taken to ensure your safety, both on and off the ship, your safety is practically guaranteed. If you’re worried about the kids wandering off, it’s nearly impossible to “lose” someone on a cruise liner. Traveling on modern cruise liners is one of the safest ways to travel today.
4. It Gives You More Options Than You May Think
If you don’t have a lot of vacation time, or don’t have time to plan a trip that includes stops in many different locations, then a cruise is the perfect way to see more things with less planning. There are literally hundreds of cruise itinerary options.
You can choose a 4-day cruise or a 24-day cruise. You can visit an entire region, like Southeast Asia or the Caribbean, or you can focus on one area like Alaska or Norway. Want to see 7 or 8 countries all in once trip? That’s possible on a Northern Europe cruise or through Asia.
We went on a Holland America cruise that stopped in 8 Asian ports.. The options are endless when it comes to cruising. You can even choose a themed cruise on the Disney Cruise Line or go all out in luxury with a Celebrity cruise.
We’ve even been on a personalized barge cruise in France. If you want to choose something that completely suits your interests and is all planned out for you, cruising is one of the best options available.
5. Cruises Offer Big Adventures
Not every cruise is built the same. There are quiet and relaxing cruises that are designed with older passengers in mind, and there are active, adventurous cruises designed for young families and couples. Leave the relaxing cruises behind and book the type of cruise that will keep you on your toes.
Royal Caribbean is one of the best family-oriented cruise lines. Their Oasis-class and Quantum-class ships offer the most appeal for the young ones. They offer karaoke, scavenger hunts and outdoor movies, cooking classes, and games and sports options.
Princess Cruises has teamed up with the Discovery Channel to provide fun activities and excursions. Norwegian offers pizza-making lessons, deck parties, family charades and lots of sports activities.
6. Packing is Easy
One of the perks of cruising is not having to pack and repack your luggage over and over again as you move from place to place. This makes packing easy because you only need to prepare for one location. You’ll know ahead of time what the cruise stateroom includes, so you can plan accordingly.
While storage space in your cabin varies from ship to ship, you can always count on there being under bed space, and some wardrobes where you can stow your empty luggage. We always recommend unpacking clothes into the drawers and hangers provided, so you can feel a bit more at home while on the cruise ship.
There’s no need to pack one outfit for every day, because laundry is available on board. Some cruises even boast do-it-yourself launderettes. You can also have your things ironed for you, so there’s no need to worry about steamers.
Read our guide to packing for a cruise.
7. The Food & Drinks Are Out of This World
When you are paying for a cruise, you are paying for a lot more than a hotel room. The ticket price also includes all of your meals (and some drinks, too). There is always food available, around the clock, including room service. And if you book a cruise drinks package, you’ll also be able to take advantage of included drinks, like wine, beer, cocktails, specialty coffee and tea.
While not all cruises have gourmet cuisine, the top cruise lines are known for their top-notch food. Some cruises offer specialty restaurants that you will pay an additional fee for, but will blow your gourmet mind. But even if you stick with the dining room, the meals are well above average.
On a Holland America cruise, we were treated to a walk through the kitchen and we were astounded by the effort that goes into preparing quality meals and fast, efficient service. We are sure you won’t go hungry on a cruise.
8. The Sheer Bliss of No Obligations
The ultimate reason why every families should try out a cruise lies in a simple fact that only this format of vacationing takes all of the burden off your plate. Everything is taken care of for you on a cruise. All you have to do is wake up, choose what cruise activities you want to do, and have a great time.
Your meals are made for you, your cabin will be cleaned and taken care of, all the daily activities are arranged, there’s tons of entertainment, your laundry can be done for you, sometimes you even have a 24/7 butler to arrange anything you need.
9. Excursions Are Taken Care Of
You might like planning out all the little details of what you’re going to do on your vacation – and you can still do that while on a cruise – but one of the major perks of cruising is not having to do that planning for yourself.
Cruise ships offer an array of choices for excursions in each port. These excursions have been well researched and planned out for you. So all you have to do is decide which one you want to do and pay for it. When the time comes for the excursion, all of the details are handled by the ship, including transportation.
When you go on a cruise ship excursion, there’s no worry that the boat will leave without you. They are obligated to wait for you. And all of the safety and security measures have been taken to make sure you and your family stays safe while you’re on the excursion.
CONCLUSION
As you can see from this list, cruising isn’t just for old people anymore. There are tons of activities for the whole family to enjoy on the cruise ship and the itineraries are active and exciting.
We hope these reasons to take a cruise vacation have helped you make a decision. Cruising is a great way to spend time as a family without the burdens of typical vacations.
Be Prepared For Travel
Planning is the most important part of any successful trip. Do it the easy way:
🧳 Travel Packing List | ✔️ Why You Need Travel Insurance | ✈️ What to Do Before You Leave Home
- Find and book the best hotel (our favorite booking site is Expedia)
- Research flight options (our favorite tool is Skyscanner)
- Book a tour (we always use Viator to find the best tours)
- Rent a car through Discover Cars (they search the best deals for you!)
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