Nearly 30 million people take a cruise vacation every year. Cruise lines continue to invest in the construction of new ships, and in 2020, cruise lovers have much to be excited about with the launch of some amazing ships including Carnival’s Mardi Gras and Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas.
There are dozens of reasons that compel millions of people to select a cruise vacation as their vacation of preference. We should all be in agreement that everyone needs a vacation, but what’s the real motivation to book a cruise vacation as opposed to other destination options? I wanted more detail, so I have asked people who cruise frequently to tell me why they choose to cruise versus another vacation. Here’s what I discovered, and these responses are in no particular order.
1) Getting Unplugged
Cruises are great vacations to get unplugged. Because you spend so much time in international waters, it’s very difficult to get phone service and when you do have it, you are usually roaming which requires paying extra for service just to make a phone call. Now, because cruise ships offer Internet packages, you can still use your phone to post pictures all over social media.
2) See the World, Someone Else Does the Driving
My favorite part of the cruise is that someone else is driving. Now, you do have to figure out transportation to get to the cruise ship, but once you arrive, someone else handles all of the transportation for the remainder of the trip. If you choose to take some of the excursions, you will have to arrange your own transportation if you choose not to book the excursions through the cruise line. It is my personal recommendation that you should always book your day trips through the cruise line especially when you are in a foreign country.
3) Someone Else Cooks and Cleans All Week
Once you get onboard a cruise ship, your only decision is about what to do each day. You don’t even have to make your bed. Cooking and cleaning is the responsibility of the crew, and they never disappoint. That’s why it’s so important to make sure you take care of the crew by tipping well. You won’t find harder working people in the world than those who work on cruise ships. And many of them work for long stretches at a time away from their homes, family, and friends. These cruise jobs provide the income they need to take care of their families, so please never discount the importance of generous gratuities.
4) Great for Small or Large Groups
Whether it’s a family reunion of any size or just a few friends who desire to travel together, cruise vacations are the best no better how big or small the group is. Nothing can ruin a vacation more than trying to play small or cheap by cramming people in a house. Cruise ships are big and spacious, and they offer something for everybody which brings us to the last point.
5) Something for Everyone
It sounds a little cliché to say that there is something for everybody, but there isn’t a vacation option that offers more choices than a cruise vacation. Whether you are an adrenaline junky looking to zipline and rock climb and just simply someone who wants to bask in the sun while a friendly bartender serves fruity drinks poolside, cruise ships have it all. The kids and large kids (adults) have game rooms, water slides, putt-putt, and basketball. The real grownups can try their luck with the slots in the casino, and the parents with small children can have some grownup time trusting their kids are in good hands in the children’s program. During the evening, families can gather together for meals.
Cruise ships have the highest repeat guest rate of any industry, and that isn’t by accident. Cruise lines work vigilantly to make sure their guests have peak-life experiences. Having been on 11 cruises myself, I can speak first-hand that there is something addictive about cruising, and with all the new ships being built and the older ships being redesigned, there will be no shortage of available cruise adventures over the next few years.
Happy Cruising!!!
Bill Garner
