Cruisin’ for adventure: Is a cruise vacation right for me?

If you haven’t taken a cruise yet, you know someone who has. Most people like cruises, but they provide distinctly different experiences than independent travel. You are “along for the ride”, so to speak, as opposed to the intrepid backpacker wandering freely through the unknown. Despite the relatively rigid agenda of a cruise vacation, there is an array of advantages.

The tapas vacation

Spanish tapas are a variety of appetizers that encourage people to make conversation and sample new food. Cruises offer similar encouragement. In addition to the exotic destinations of the cruise, there are lots of fun activities available on the cruise ship itself. Activities such as swimming, dancing, concerts, magic shows, and standup comedy. If the opportunities aboard the ship are taken advantage of, a cruise vacationer is sure to meet new people, eat great food, and have a great time.

Many cruise ships visit several destinations during the cruise, which allow mini-trips to beaches and popular island destinations. These tiny excursions can be lots of fun, but often feel short-lived, as the crew often calls everybody back to the ship after only a few hours of site seeing. Some people might want more than a half a day to soak in the culture of a new city.

Hungry for more: when appetizers are not enough

To keep the tapas metaphor going, appetizers are not a meal. They are meant to whet your appetite before the real deal. And cruises, in this respect might be helpful in that they can spark in an interest in a new area. By themselves, however, cruises fall short of an opportunity for rich cultural immersion. A quick bite to eat, lounge on the beach, and visit to a historical site might be all you have time to do during a cruise.

For a deeper, richer experience of a city or region, you are better off traveling independently and playing tourist by your own rules. By yourself, you can waste the full day away in a museum, or roam a tiny village not frequented by tourists.

Independent travel, of course, is outside the comfort zone of some people. Others will argue that leaving one’s comfort zone is necessary for meaningful experiences and personal growth. Ultimately, a comfort zone is comfortable. Cruises are comfortable, and no one will argue otherwise. The variety of activities, although lacking in spontaneity, ensure a minimum amount of amusement. For fun-loving parents, the daycare services offered by some cruise liners are a must.

Whether a cruise is your thing really depends on the level of involvement you want to have in the planning of your trip. Freedom to roam appeals to some, others prefer more structure. Either way, the choice to embark on a cruise vacation will not disappoint. Just do not expect an organic, life-changing experience.