The Pros and Cons of a Cruise Vacation (and Some Travel Tips)
I must admit, when my hubby first proposed that we take a family vacation on a cruise ship, I had some major trepidations… I love the ocean dearly, but I’d seen the movie Titanic one too many times. Not to mention, I’m no stranger to motion sickness. Kendall snidely pointed out that there weren’t likely to be any icebergs on the way to the Bahamas; and everyone I talked to assured me that “you can’t even feel the boat move.” So… we booked it. And now that I’m back from sailing the seas, I thought I’d share my experience with you in case you might also be considering a vacation via cruise ship for the first time.
To begin with… When someone tells you that, “they never felt the ship move when they went on their cruise,” know that they are either lying through their teeth to make you feel better, or that they were likely too drunk to notice and it just felt normal. I’m here to tell you that you can absolutely feel the dang ship moving – like A LOT! I hardly ever drink, so all of my stumbling about and nearly falling over several times was not alcohol induced. Thankfully, I didn’t get seasick (seriously, so thankful), and I attribute that primarily to the motion sickness patch that I wore behind my ear. Once I realized that I wasn’t going to puke my guts out, I decided to just embrace the rocking, strange as it was. Though heads up, I was still dizzy DAYS after I got my feet back on solid land. No joke.
So, what did we think of the whole cruise experience? There were some definite pluses. My favorite things about traveling this way were our balcony overlooking the ocean, and the fact that I didn’t have to cook, clean, or grocery shop at all. Those might sound silly, but not having to worry about meals or cleanup is kind of a huge deal. (If you know; you know – especially if you’re a mom.) I also enjoyed the stops we made in Nassau and Princess Cays. The latter was an excellent beach day, complete with a lunch buffet provided by the cruise line (again, a meal that I didn’t have to cook). We also did a beach day in Nassau; but in hindsight, I would have preferred an excursion that explored the island instead, as I love architecture and history. Ah well; you live and learn, as they say.
If you like to be entertained while on vacation, there is certainly a plethora of things to do aboard a cruise ship. They have waterslides, pools, miniature golf, pickleball and basketball courts, movies, casinos, art galleries, spas, shops, arcades, kid camps, restaurants, etc. And in addition to those, each day they give you a full itinerary of all the goings-on that is chock-full of activities and shows. (Downloading their app is extra helpful.) Apparently, the itinerary is also where you learn the evening’s dress code. Olivia was bummed that I missed the memo on “formal night.” Though it didn’t much matter since we were already headed to the buffet for dinner and didn’t need fancy attire for that.
And if you like to drink, there’s no shortage of alcohol either. There were at least five bars on our ship, all of which were very popular destinations. The Carnival Cruise Line seems to put on quite a party with DJs, music, and booze. Kendall purchased the drink package for himself (which allows for a certain number of beverages each day), and was also forced to purchase one for me as well since I was over 21 and in the same cabin as him. This was unfortunately a total rip off though since I don’t drink. So, I just got him extra drinks, and myself and Olivia multiple bottles of water. (I understand that some cruise lines will wave this fee if you call and explain that your roommate doesn’t drink.)
So basically, a cruise is an action-packed, sunny, floating party boat with an all-inclusive food package. If this sounds like your cup of tea, you’re probably going to love it! A word to the wise though… It’s crowded – especially so, when everyone is on the ship at the same time (i.e. when you first board and the rooms aren’t ready yet, or your “fun days at sea”). There are only so many places on the ship for thousands of people to go. So, if you don’t handle crowds well, you’re likely to find the whole thing a bit too “peopley.” This was the case for us since Kendall has a low threshold for tolerating people in general (haha), and crowds ratchet up my anxiety. (I actually like people; it’s just that too many of them at once stresses me out.) So, if you’re more of an introvert and prefer a laid-back kind of vacation, you might want to seriously consider a different option.
In all, it was a nice experience, but… I don’t think I’d like to do it again. I much prefer a low-key day at an uncrowded beach, book in hand, under our sun shade, and listening to the waves crash. I don’t need fancy dining options or days full of activities. And I do dearly love solid ground.
Travel Tips:
- Pay extra for the Faster to the Fun Pass (or other cruise line equivalent). This priority pass is well worth the money and comes in very handy.
- Choose your excursions early on, as well as check in and pick your dining times (right after you book your trip), otherwise your options will be limited.
- Read over all of the info provided by the cruise line for what to expect and learn about dress codes, gratuities, excursions, etc.
- Don’t be afraid to call the cruise company to ask questions.
- You’ll want a lanyard to keep your key card/boat pass and government ID in.
- Put your phone on airplane mode when on the ship, even if you purchase the wifi package.
- I used my air tag to keep track of my luggage (this is handy when flying too).
- Getting on and off the boat is faster if you use your passports.
- The back of the ship is where you feel it move the most, but we also discovered that it was far less crowded.
- I highly recommend using the motion sickness patches that go behind your ear. I also brought along Dramamine, but didn’t have to use it.
- I imagine going with someone who has already been on a cruise, would be super helpful, as they would likely already know the ins and outs of everything.
Photo Notes…
- I insisted that Kendall book a cabin with a balcony overlooking the ocean because I was worried I would need some fresh air if I got seasick (not to mention I’m a tad claustrophobic). Also, if you think the room looks small, the bathroom was about the same size as the one in our camper. (Just a heads up.)
- We found a ton of sea glass on the beach in Nassau (presumably since we were in a port).
- You could rent snorkel gear and floats for your Princess Cays excursion (if booked in advance).
- The towel creatures that our attendant left in our room each day were a favorite. We saved all of them, and when we left it looked like our room was a towel zoo. We also attended a towel folding activity and learned how to create a bulldog.
- I still can’t get over how beautifully blue the ocean was. It was absolutely breathtaking.
- Apparently, there was a whole duck thing going on; much like the Jeep/duck craze. People were hiding (and finding) rubber ducks all over the ship. Olivia was happy to contribute, as she won several ducks out of the claw machine in the arcade.
Looking for more travel ideas? You’ll love this section.
🙂
