Since my childhood vacations usually meant camping (you can read more about that here), I didn’t really see much of the world until I was older. Even after we purchased our travel trailer, my family went to the same campgrounds every year. We had our favorites, and we stuck with them.
Seeking New Travel Experiences
As a young adult, I began searching for new travel experiences, and cruising quickly became a favorite. It allowed me to explore different places while staying in what was essentially a floating hotel. It also allowed me to try new cuisines.
All Aboard
One of my first cruises was an Angels Baseball Cruise to Ensenada, Mexico. Baseball is another love of mine, but I’ll talk about that later. As a huge Angels fan, I was excited to go on my first cruise and meet some of my favorite baseball players. It was just a short weekend cruise, but I enjoyed it so much that the Angel Baseball Cruise was a yearly trip until they stopped offering them. Since then, I have cruised to Hawaii, the Pacific Coast, the Caribbean, Alaska, and Bermuda.
Now, cruising isn’t for everyone. I’ve noticed people either absolutely love it or completely hate it. There are things I love about cruising and a few things I don’t. I love that I only have to unpack once and get to see several places without having to move my stuff each time. The food is usually good, though sometimes it is just okay.
A Culinary Delight
With such diverse crews, you can also get some of the best cultural dishes onboard. Some of the best Indian food I have ever eaten has been on a cruise ship. Trying new cuisines is risk free, and if you don’t like a dish, you can easily order another one. If I want only appetizers or two desserts, that’s possible, too.
Cruise lines also offer special dining experiences. I have attended intimate dinners with fewer than 20 people where we tried chef-inspired dishes that are extremely creative. Some have been a little too inventive, but I enjoyed the experience anyway. I also love when cruise lines offer afternoon tea (many do), and you know how much I love tea!
Bounce the Buffet
One thing I don’t like about cruising that many people do like is the buffet. I have seen too many people push their ham around their plate to make room for mashed potatoes, so I avoid the buffet as much as I can. If you know about my relationship with ham, you know why! Since I mainly eat a vegetarian diet with only the occasional fish, it can be hard to find dishes I like that aren’t pasta or super spicy. Why do people think all vegetarians love spicy food? There are other options!
Life at Sea
I also don’t love days spent at sea. With nowhere to go, the ship often feels too crowded. I’ve learned to solve this problem by always getting a balcony room. This way, I can enjoy the fresh air and avoid the crowds. I find the older I get, the less I like being around a lot of people. I also find that my travel tastes are getting more expensive.
Another downside of cruising is that you are confined to coastlines and waterways, which limits the places you can visit. Even with that, it’s still one of my favorite ways of travel.
On the Horizon
In fact, I recently took my first Disney Cruise. I am a Disney adult, after all. You can judge me if you want, but that’s a “you” problem 😀 The Disney experience is a little different from other cruises, and it’s not just because of the giant mouse! They offered a distinct, rotational dining experience that I enjoyed, mostly. They were also plenty of adult-only spaces, which I visited often. I plan on sharing all about it in future posts!
I am also taking another cruise to Alaska that includes an interior portion. I have never done anything like this, so I am a little nervous but also excited. I’ll be traveling with my family, so I’m sure I will have lots of stories to tell, with their permission, of course. I am excited about the opportunity to explore, and I hope it will be worth it. I will also have the chance to practice my photography skills, so you’ll see how well I do.
Then again, two cruises in the same year may keep me off a ship for a while, but there is so much more I want to experience. There are river cruises in the US and Europe, and I can’t wait to go on a luxury cruise line. I need to take more substitute teaching jobs to afford that one, but a gal can dream!
Have you ever been on a cruise? What was your experience like? If you haven’t, have you ever considered taking a cruise? I hope you’ll share in the comments.
Hi Stacy. I’m enjoying reading all your stories. I also love cruises. I’ve been on cruises to Ensenada (just three days), Alaska (twice!), and through Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Germany. The convenience is great and most will help you arrange tours when you’re in port.
I don’t know if you recall, but my daughter participated in the Semester at Sea program one semester. Four months on board. They left from the Bahamas, traveled to Puerto Rico, Brazil, South Africa, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Japan before returning to San Diego. There were no weekends. When the ship was sailing, you were in class. When it was in port, you would visit different places depending on the classes you were taking.
Apparently, there are “senior” Semester at Sea programs, too. Probably wildly expensive but wouldn’t that be something?
I would absolutely love doing that! I think I need to start looking for a sponsor 😀