So many people want to know if cruising is “worth the money”. Of course, you are investing your hard-earned money in a vacation, so you want to make sure you are getting the most bang for your buck. That’s what it is, an investment. You are making memories, relaxing, & recharging, and that is important! Is cruising cheap? “Cheap” is relative, but it is a high value vacation!
Have you vacationed by island hopping? Or visited several countries in one trip? If so, you likely paid for plane tickets, booked hotels, packed and unpacked several times to move from one location to another. You had to book public transportation, pay for meals, plan when and where to eat, and what to do for entertainment. Add multiple travelers to that equation and it was likely a lot of work! Yes, it may have been worth and a fantastic trip, but I venture to say, it wasn’t the most relaxing. That was a trip, not a vacation. Have you ever said, or heard someone say, “I need a vacation after my vacation”? Exactly. It is adventurous, but is it relaxing?
Now, imagine, walking onto a large ship, where all your restaurants, pools, hot tubs, and entertainment are in one place. You unpack ONCE, and RELAX while island hopping, or city hopping. Your most pressing decision is, am I going to nap, lay by the pool, go to the bar, play bingo, rock climb, or relax in the hot tub now? Maybe sit out on my balcony. Oh, I am hungry, let me mosey down to the dining room, buffet, or specialty restaurant for something to eat! My travel partners want to swim or play, or nap? No problem, we can meet up later because we are all going to the same place! You are being escorted to an amazing destination on a floating resort. Are the pools crowded? Most of the time, yes. We don’t call these swimming pools, we just call them pools. You stand and talk, you don’t swim. And let’s be honest, most adults don’t swim and splash in the pool. The kids are fine, they swim and splash no matter what. Give them one square foot of water and they will have the time of their lives. One of our favorite activities is sitting in the hot tubs and having conversations with others! There are typically adult areas on every ship, so you can escape the kids and relax!
I haven’t forgotten the kids! The beauty of cruising is all it has to offer kids/teens! Prior to taking our children on a cruise for the first time, I had all the same concerns you may have. Will there be enough for them to do? Will they be safe? Will they fall off?! Can I trust the kids club staff? One day into our cruise, I was able to answer all those questions. There is a TON for them to do, yes they are safe. Don’t let them jump off the side, and they won’t fall off. The kids’ club staff are amazing! Most cruise lines have nurseries (some charge a fee if your child is under a certain age), kids’ clubs and teen clubs. They are divided up into groups based on ages. There are guided, planned activities as well as free time. Kids’ clubs and teen clubs are included in your cruise cost! Depending on the ships, there is typically miniature golf, ropes courses, water slides, some have zip lining, and surf simulators! There are shows for families, and movies by the pool on most ships. If you children are bored, it is likely because they are choosing to be bored!
Food. Most food is included in the cost of your cruise. There are paid options, but you will not go hungry. You could truly stay stuffed from the moment you walk on the ship until the moment you leave and not spend a dime extra!
Staff! I cannot stress enough how hard working the crew are on cruise ships. And they do it with smiles on their faces. Take time to get to know them and you will be so glad you did! If you are spending your hard-earned money, it is so much nicer when the staff make you feel like they love their job!
Shows. There are so many shows! There are family friendly shows, adult shows, family & adult comedy, water shows, you name! And it is all included in your price!
I could continue, but you likely get my point. No, it isn’t always cheap, but it is very valuable! The next time you go on vacation, keep track with how much you spend, from gas, lodging, activities, food. I bet you will find you could have visited 2-3 different countries and been entertained the entire trip for as much as you spent on a week at the beach!
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