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I know many folks look down on cruises, and I can understand why. The amount of food and booze that’s consumed is a wonder to behold, the casino is a smoke-filled den of desperation, and the behavior of fellow passengers can be a tad off-putting.
Still, Elaine and I have taken three cruises in the past four years, including one last week, and we thoroughly enjoyed all three. Why? Here are five reasons.
Few hassles. From Philadelphia, we can hop the train to New York City and take a cruise from there. That means no airports and long flights—always a plus. Once we’re on the ship, everything is taken care of, including housekeeping and all meals.
Paid in advance. Given that the price includes accommodation, food, entertainment and travel to exotic locales, cruises strike me as good value. But what I especially like is that pretty much the entire cost is paid before you get on the ship (assuming, of course, that you don’t carry the expense as a large credit-card balance). That means Elaine and I are free to enjoy ourselves without worrying about, say, the cost of each meal or about getting hit with a big bill at the end.
Disconnecting. We pay for unlimited internet on cruises—got to keep HumbleDollar humming along—but only for one device each: our laptops. Meanwhile, our cell phones, with no internet connection and no cell signal, are useless except for checking the time and taking photos. That removes the endless temptation to glance at our phones, which is initially disconcerting but soon feels liberating.
Less choice. How do we spend our days while at sea? We might take a walk around the deck, head to the gym, or sit on our balcony reading and writing. In other words, there’s a limit to what we can do. The slower pace is refreshing.
Pampering. We should design a life for ourselves where we enjoy a gradually rising standard of living, so we truly appreciate each improvement that comes our way.
That brings me to an admission that might earn tut-tutting from some in the HumbleDollar community: When we take cruises, we’ve lately taken to paying for the highest class of service. That gives us a larger cabin and access to a part of the ship with its own pool, restaurant and lounge. This might not seem luxurious to those who spent their lives flying business class and going to high-end resorts. But after a lifetime of frugality, it feels like a real treat.
I agree totally with Jonathan’s view. Just returned from an 8 day catamaran cruise through the Galapagos Islands. As a biologist, I’ve had a passion for evolutionary biology theory for nearly 4 decades. Disconnecting from the world and traveling the path (and thoughts) of one of my heroes was an experience of a lifetime. Bucket list item, and worth every penny!
Cruises are a treat. You unpack once. You don’t have to shlep your bags from place to place. A great cruise line (there are only about a half dozen) gives you excellent quarters, service, food and activity options. A good cruise schedule puts you in port at times you can spend a full day on land. You do pay a bit of a premium for a good cruise line, but I agree that it is a pleasure to move up a class or two. If you are on a ship for a week or more, it is well worth it to have a big window or balcony, and a midship location away from the dance floor and other noisy activities. Every year, we look for cruise options that spend less time “at sea’, and that take us almost daily to locations we have never visited. With a cruise, you can’t get a “deep dive” into the culture or character of a country or city, but with most places, you don’t need that. I’d save the long stays and non-cruise travel for locations where there are many compelling attractions and you really want to have a more complete experience. The best cruises of the six or eight we’ve had so far, IMHO: Australia and New Zealand, and the Greek islands (eastern Mediterranean).
Good for you, Jonathan. Good for you. When my husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2013, we started dipping into my 401k to travel, including some longer cruises on upscale lines (Cunard, Oceania). The long expanses of uninterrupted time together watching the ocean without worrying about cooking, cleaning or working (me!) was restorative. After 5 years, I told him we’d better die or we would go broke! Best money we ever spent.
I was/am a veteran cruiser due to being a single mom of a teenager in Florida. It was a great way to spend time with my son. My husband, having defied the survival odds and then some, and I are full-time travelers. We focus on 1-way (repositioning) cruises and have 1 world cruise under our belts with a second one booked for 2027. And, yes, we will spend a little more for upgrades. I’m taking my first river cruise (with a girlfriend) this December.
We joke that as long as I have a cruise booked, he can’t die. We are both on-board (literally) with having our ashes spread at sea—which some lines will do at no charge.
Live your life. Live your life.
Did Viking River Cruise in southern France. It was great. 150 or so people. Nothing like the huge ships. Big advantage is they dock right near small towns, as opposed to tourist traps looking to sell junky trinkets.