To Cruise Or Not To Cruise?

If you had told me 10 years ago that I would be a fully signed-up cruise convert, I would have laughed. My husband and I used to look at cruise ships and say: “Why would you want to be stuck on a ship with all those people?”

Fast forward to today and one of the questions I get asked most often is: “Where are you cruising next?”

From Ship-Spotter To Cruiser

I have always been a lover of the sea. So many of our holidays have been spent along coastlines around the world. One of my simple pleasures was watching the big ships glide in and out of port, whether they were cruise ships or container ships. I even have an app so I can see exactly which ship is on the horizon. Yes, I am absolutely that kind of geek and proud of it!

So when a big celebration was coming up and we could not decide where to go, we thought maybe it was time to try something different so we decided to give cruising a try and finally see what all the fuss was really about.

The Big Decision: Which Cruise?

The main attraction for us was clear: the chance to visit lots of different destinations in a relatively short space of time, with no constant packing and unpacking. That part really appealed to the planner in me.

We spent weeks researching different cruise lines and itineraries, going round in circles trying to work out which one would be “us”. There were many evenings lost to YouTube, watching ship tours, cabin reviews and “day in the life” vlogs.

We kept coming back to Princess Cruises and felt that the Mediterranean would be the perfect place for our first sailing. So, we did it. We booked a two‑week Princess cruise around the Med!

Cue the wobbles: once it was booked, I did have a bit of a panic. “What if we don’t like it? Two whole weeks is a long time to be stuck on a ship if cruising isn’t for us…” Also I am not good on boats – why would I choose to spend 2 weeks on a cruise!! I started to worry I would be seasick so made sure I packed some medication just in case!

Planning Our Days At Sea (And On Shore)

We are serious planners when it comes to travel. We love to make the most of every day and explore as much as we can, so the idea of only having one day in each port meant we knew we had to be organised.

We dived into researching every destination on the itinerary, what could we realistically see in one day? Which excursions would give us a real feel for the place? Where could we explore independently and where was a guided tour better?

By the end, we had produced a full spreadsheet with detailed plans for each port, plus spa treatments booked for our sea days. Excursions were confirmed, tickets downloaded and all that was left to do was pack our bags. Packing also led to more research – what do you wear on a cruise? What do you wear on celebration nights? What is a celebration night?! We still had lots to learn.

Why Arriving Early Really Matters

One of the most valuable tips we picked up during our research was to arrive into your departure port at least a day or two before embarkation. It is something I now strongly recommend to my own clients.

For our cruise, we flew into Athens and spent two nights there before boarding, building in time to explore Athens, a city that had been sitting on our wish list for years.

Arriving early:

• Gives you a buffer in case of flight delays.
• Lets you begin your holiday in a much more relaxed frame of mind.
• Means you actually get to enjoy your departure city, which is so often overlooked even though it is part of the overall experience.

By the time cruise day arrived, we already felt settled and in “holiday mode”.

Embarkation Day: First Impressions

Cruise day came around quickly. I was nervous, excited and slightly apprehensive all at once.

Embarkation itself completely blew me away. It was smooth, efficient and there were plenty of staff on hand to direct and assist. And then came the moment: stepping out to see the ship up close and realising that this beautiful floating resort was going to be our home for the next two weeks.

We even met Stanley Bear on the way in, which set the tone perfectly. From there it was straight to the Piazza for our first cocktails. The ship was stunning, stylish and full of little details that made it feel special and the staff were all so welcoming.

I will save the full review of that particular cruise for my next blog, but let’s go back to the big question: to cruise or not to cruise?

Life On Board: Hooked In 48 Hours

The next two weeks flew by. So much so that before we disembarked, we had already visited the future cruise desk and paid a deposit on our next sailing. That probably tells you everything you need to know about how we felt.

What won us over? A few highlights:

• Food: Delicious, varied and plentiful, with a choice of dining venues to suit different moods and tastes. From relaxed bites to more formal dinners, we never got bored.

• Cocktails & bars: Each bar had its own character and cocktail menu, which made “researching” them a very enjoyable part of the holiday!

• Entertainment: This was a huge plus for us. We love a good show and are very happy in a theatre or musical, and the onboard entertainment was brilliant. We had:
• Talented resident performers
• Guest entertainers including comedians, singers, magicians
• A man juggling actual chainsaws
• Incredible aerial acrobats
• Full stage shows that would not have felt out of place in a West End theatre

• Staff & service: Warm, attentive and genuinely invested in making sure everyone had a wonderful time.

For us it was heaven! We would be out all day exploring before coming back onboard for a quick cocktail in the hot tub to watch sail away before going back to our room to get ready for dinner. Dinner at a choice of restaurants before an array of entertainment, often fitting in 2 shows a night. Then back to bed ready to wake up tomorrow in a new port for more adventures planned and do it all again!! My only regret was the fact we had not tried it earlier. Oh, and I wasn’t seasick, didn’t feel a thing! The ships are so advanced these days they have special systems to help, plus I was too busy enjoying myself!!

Our long-standing concern with cruising was so many people onboard. However, the ship never felt over-crowded, they are very cleverly designed with so many venues and activities that passengers are naturally spread across the ship. We are not lovers of crowds but never felt over-whelmed onboard.

Is Cruising For Everyone?

Here is the honest caveat. I genuinely believe there is a cruise line for almost everyone, but not every cruise line will suit every person.

Our endless research paid off and we loved Princess. The style, atmosphere and overall experience fit us perfectly. But that does not mean Princess will be right for you. Some people prefer a more family-focused ship, others want ultra-luxury, some like a more laid-back vibe and others thrive on non-stop action and activities.

The ship & cruise line you choose can absolutely make or break your holiday.

That is where having someone to guide you makes a real difference.

How I Can Help You Find Your Perfect Cruise

If you are cruise-curious but not quite sure where to start, I can help you:

• Work out which cruise line suits your personality and travel style.
• Choose an itinerary that matches the kind of experiences you want, whether that is culture, beaches, history, food, or all of the above.
• Decide on the right cabin type and location for you.
• Plan your pre- and post-cruise stays so you get the most from your departure and arrival cities.
• Make sense of drinks packages, dining options and excursions so there are no surprises once you are on board.

To cruise or not to cruise? For us, the answer turned out to be a very definite “yes”. We fell in love with the rhythm of waking up somewhere new, exploring all day and coming back to the comfort and familiarity of our ship each evening.

Who knows, if you decide to take the plunge and discover cruising for yourself, we might even bump into each other on the high seas one day.

If you would like to chat about whether cruising is right for you and which line might suit you best, I would love to help you plan your perfect voyage.