The post Baby Boomer generations prefer experiences over possessions. This has been a marketing mantra for decades. The Economist magazine ran the article, “The Parable of Château d’Yquem” making the point luxury possessions are not as popular as luxury experiences. You do not need to spend a bundle for an experience that creates a memory that lasts a lifetime.
Some experiences are nearly impossible to duplicate. On our most recent Cunard cruise, I met a couple with a fascinating backstory. She was a passenger on Queen Elizabeth 2, affectionately known as QE2. He was her wine steward. They met onboard. They kept in touch afterwards. Four months later they were married. They recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. Experiences like that are hard to match.
Here are some experiences you can create, regardless of the price of your cruise or the accommodation you book.
- Seeing the moon light up the ocean. This stays with you forever and has no cost. Go out onto an upper deck on a moonlight night. It is a magical, romantic moment. You can do it again and again, as long as the moon cooperates on successive nights. Cost: Zero.
- Enjoying breakfast in bed every day. Many cruise lines provide this option. You hang a tag on your door handle with your breakfast preferences. This might be rolls, juice and coffee (Continental) or it might be a hot breakfast. You specify the time. Your steward knocks. Cost: Zero.
- Sipping a glass of champagne at sunset. This is another light up the horizon moment. Unlike moonlight, there should be plenty of orange color. Your cruise line might give you a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine. Your cabin should have champagne flutes. If not, prosecco is plentiful and reasonable onboard. Cost: Zero or minimal.
- Meeting new people at your dining room table. How often do you make new friends? When we meet and interact online, meeting face to face might be quite rare. Your ship is an imaginary world where everyone is on vacation and in a good mood. Meeting people from other countries is easy. We often choose to stay in touch afterwards. Cost: Zero.
- Stand up from your dining table without getting a bill. OK, this might not be a memory that lasts a lifetime, but it sure feels good. 51 other weeks during the year, you check the bill for accuracy, add a tip and pay be charge card. Not this week. Cost: Zero.
- Going to a costume party. Many cruises include a masquerade ball. On Cunard, it has been the Venetian Masked Ball. There is often a room where you can make your own mask. We bring ours from home. It is amazing that you often cannot recognize a person if they are wearing a mask! Cost:: Zero.
- Watching your ship sail into port. Sailing out can be good too. You see land on the horizon. You get closer. Perhaps you sail into an estuary. Maybe there is an old fort on shore. Perhaps you see the Statue of Liberty in New York. You might sail under a bridge. Cost: Zero.
- Dressing up for dinner. Yes, everyone lives a casual lifestyle today. It still feels good to dress up once in a while. If you watched Downton Abbey or The Gilded Age, you know what dressing up is all about. It creates a photo opportunity. Cost: Zero.
- Your server addresses you by name and remembers your preferences. If you are seated at the same table for dinner, you have the same serving team. They learn your name. They might unfold your napkin and drop it into your lap. When the meal is over, they know your preference for coffee or tea. For the duration of your cruise, you have staff. Cost: Zero.
- Surprising your partner with fresh flowers. The ship always looks sparkling. One reason this happens is the presence of fresh flowers. You can usually order them from the Purser’s Office. Same day or next day delivery is standard. Cost: Nominal.
- Several device free days. Internet is available at sea. Sometimes it is spotty. It is usually expensive. You can catch up in port at someplace like McDonalds or Starbucks, where they have free internet access. You can detach for your days at sea. Imagine that! Cost: Zero.
- Discovering a bar playing your favorite music and going every night. When was the last time you went clubbing? What was the last club you found where the music and the ambiance were perfect? Your ship should have at least a dozen music venues (unless it is a yachtlike ship). Find one and make it your own. Cost: Zero, except for drinks.
It is easy to have experiences and create memories, regardless of the cruise you choose.
Editor’s Notes:
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Cover photo credit Bryce Sanders, Half Moon Cay
