Cruising is a wonderful way to enjoy your vacation. It can be relaxing. You see a new port every couple of days. Ships usually sail to sunny places, even in the winter. Room and board are included, cutting down on surprise expenses. You are enjoying a resort at sea. You can enjoy day after day of fun without leaving the ship. Many passengers choose to stay onboard during port visits for that reason. Veteran cruisers know all that. What are some experiences you do not want to miss?
- Surprising your partner with flowers. Most cruise ships have an onboard florist. Once you see the flower arrangement through the ship, you realize they need one. You can order flowers for your cabin before you sail or from the Purser’s Office upon arrival. When was the last time you surprised your partner with flowers?
- Disconnect from social media.Internet access at sea leaves plenty of room for improvement. There are no cell towers in the ocean! Providing internet access onboard is a profit center for the cruise line. How about only using your phone for photos for the next several days? If you feel your smartphone is like leash and you are always on call, this is your chance to get off leash and run!
- When was the last time you went dancing?Most cruise ships are lively at night. There might be at least a dozen bars and lounges with live music. Expect all genres. If you can’t dance but enjoy listening, find comfy chairs, order drinks and enjoy the music. Being on vacation means you don’t have a curfew AND you can walk home!
- Have you wanted to get glammed up?Everyone is living a more casual lifestyle. When was the last time you wore a tie for dinner? Have you worn a tux or gown since the last wedding you attended? Certain cruise lines are famous for dressing up on formal nights. Get dressed up and pretend you are in a James Bond film.
- Take a nap in the afternoon. You can’t do this back home because you work for a living. On vacation you can return to your cabin and have a snooze before dinnertime. Maybe you find a deck chair in the shade and nap until lunchtime. Discover the hidden pleasures of napping.
- Try a different restaurant every night.Dining onboard starts with two basics: The main dining room and the buffet restaurant. Now add specialty restaurants and pop up ones. There should be enough to keep you seeing a new menu and new décor every night of your cruise. How often do you eat out at home? Not every night!
- Leave your wallet in your safe for a week. Back home, it’s constantly paying using credit cards, cash or your digital wallet. Onboard, your cruise ID card is all you need to get charges added to your shipboard account. You might even have an Onboard credit (OBC) that must be spent before you disembark. It feels good when your wallet gets a vacation too.
- Enjoy breakfast in bed.Does this ever happen at home? It can happen every morning on a cruise. You hang the paper tag on your door handle before going to sleep. At the appointed time, you hear a knock. The steward brings your hot (or cold) breakfast into your cabin. Don’t try suggesting your partner continues this service when you return home.
- Enjoy a cordial after dinner. Decades ago, people who used their dining room at home for dinner parties wheeled out a trolley with after dinner drinks following dessert. You might have heard of Cointreau, Benedictine and Amaretto. You certainly know about cognac and port. You can rediscover this tradition on your cruise. After all, no one is driving home.
Try to find as many ways as possible to enjoy every moment of your cruise! Most ships have a staff of at least a thousand people to help make this possible!
Cover photo Port after dinner at sea credit Bryce Sanders
Editor’s Notes:
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