Our Top 10 Reasons To Cruise

Last year over 1.9 million UK holidaymakers took to the high seas for a cruise holiday, many of them being repeat customers. This year, that number is expected to grow. Will you be cruising this year? If not, why not?

Below are my top ten reasons to cruise, hopefully this will help to dispel some of the myths that may be stopping you from trying a cruise.

1. Visit multiple destinations but unpack only once – Cruising is a luxury alternative to a multi centre holiday but unlike the land based multi centre you only have to unpack your case the one time, giving you more time to enjoy your holiday.
2. Great value for money – One of the biggest myths about cruising is that it is very expensive. OK so they do tend to be a little bit more than a land holiday but if you consider everything that is included (fine dining, Broadway style shows, drinks packages) a cruise will more than likely cost less than you think.
3. Food, glorious food –  Cruises are pretty much all-you-can-eat but unlike some all-inclusive holidays the emphasis is placed on quality. The main dining room will be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Cafes and pizzerias are dotted around the ship and the buffet restaurant will usually be open right through the day. Most ships also have speciality restaurants (cover charges apply) with chefs such as Marco Pierre White, James Martin, Jamie Oliver and Atul Kochhar all having restaurants on the high seas.
4. Watch a show in the theatre – Personally I think the entertainment on a cruise is a massive reason to go on one. For instance, shows like Grease, We Will Rock You and Saturday Night Fever are all Broadway shows currently being performed on Royal Caribbean ships and they are all included in the price of your holiday. Now you don’t get that on a land holiday!
   

   Grease is on Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas

5. Hit the gym – It is a well known fact that when you go on a cruise it is very easy to pile the pounds on! I for one can’t seem to resist sampling one of each dessert on offer! All cruise lines have state of the art gyms on their ships with personal trainers on hand to help advise how to shed some of those extra pounds. Independence of the Seas even has a boxing ring in the gym.
   

   The gym on Independence of the Seas

6. Take in some retail therapy – Cruise ships all have fantastic shopping facilities. Everything that you would expect in a small shopping mall, designer jewellery and clothing, handbags (my wife’s favourite), numerous types of novelty gifts and of course duty free. This tends to be where my on board credit disappears.
7. Learn to cook on board – You can watch a cookery demonstration on many ships these days. P&O Britannia has a state of the art kitchen where you can enjoy expert tuition and make your own culinary masterpieces and Oceania Marina and Riviera have a cookery learning centre in association with US magazine Bon Appetit.
8. Great for families – Water-slides, rock climbing walls, mini-golf, sports courts, arcades, modern ships really do cater brilliantly for kids. The children’s clubs are brilliant and once they’ve done a cruise, your children won’t want to holiday any other way!
   

   Mini Golf is just one of many children’s activities you will find on a cruise

9. Dance the night away – Every time I go on a cruise there is never a shortage of guests looking to dance the night away in the ships night club venues! Why not let your hair down and join them?
10. Relax – After all, the whole point of going on holiday is to relax and get away from the stresses of every day life. Lie by the pool and take in the rays of the sun! Enjoy being waited on hand and foot, sip a few cocktails whilst listening to the relaxing music that plays. You deserve it!

Whatever you choose to do out there, enjoy it!

Thanks for reading, until next time keep searching for YOUR Best Destination….