Seven Compelling Reasons To Go On Your First Cruise
Bill Duffield
6/1/20265 min read
Thinking about going on a cruise but not sure if it is right for you? In this blog post I'm going to share seven compelling reasons to go on a cruise for your next vacation.
Cruising is my favorite way to travel. In total I’ve been on fourteen cruises across six different cruise lines. I’ve tried other ways of travel but always end up going back to the high seas. I’m not the only one finding out how awesome cruise travel is. According to the 2026 Cruise Line International Association (CLIA) State of the Cruise Industry Report, there were 37.2 million total cruise passengers last year. This is a 7.5% increase from 2024’s total cruise passengers.
There are many reasons why people are choosing cruise travel over other types of vacation.
Let’s get into it!
Get To Visit Many Destinations In One Sailing
The first reason why you should go on a cruise for your next vacation is that you get to see many destinations in one sailing. This is actually the number one reason why people cruise (22%), according to CLIA’s recent state of the cruise line report. Itineraries come in various lengths, and because of that, you might stop at several destinations. For example, let’s take a look at a typical seven day Eastern Caribbean itinerary. You’ll board the ship. Throughout the week you will visit different ports such as a cruise line's private island, Amber Cove, and Grand Turk with two sea days. You essentially are waking up in a new part of the world each morning.
Get Lots Of Bang For Buck
One of the reasons why I love cruising is because there is a lot of value. Included with your cruise fare are
Accommodations
Complimentary food from the main dining room, buffet, and included restaurants
Complimentary drinks such as water, juices, tea, and basic coffee
Most of the entertainment and activities on the cruise ship.
Once you pay that initial fare you can spend as much as you want, or as little as you want. Extras such as specialty dining and shore excursions will enhance your cruise experience, but it’s up to you what ones to purchase. You're not required to purchase anything extra. Let’s take a look at a real life example. Last week I started planning a road trip to Cleveland, Ohio for the first week in August. The total for three hotel nights would be over $1,000 alone, not including food and different things to do. When I started looking at cruises, I found a cruise right around $1,000 for that same week for seven days. To me that is a big difference, especially as a solo traveler.
Only Have To Unpack Once
One of the annoying things about other types of travel is unpacking. Another great reason to go on a cruise is that you only have to unpack once. If you are going on a road trip you’re going to have to unpack and pack every time you go to a new place. With a cruise, once you get access to your stateroom, you can unpack once and be done. No need for repacking for each destination.
Variety Of Cruise Ships To Choose From
The top reason why I love cruise travel is that there are a wide variety of cruise ships to choose from. There are hundreds of cruise ships sailing the high seas ranging in various sizes. For example, Royal Caribbean's Vision of the Seas can hold just over 2,500 passengers. This is a smaller ship offering a more laid back experience. Vision can also leave and go to places that a larger ship can’t. Speaking of larger cruise ships, Royal Caribbean’s newest cruise ship Star of the Seas can hold around 7,500 passengers at max capacity. That is a huge difference. However, this mega ship has all the latest and greatest amenities such as thrilling aquaparks and relaxing hideaways. What I'm trying to say is there is a cruise ship out there for everybody. It depends on the experience that you want.
Activities and Entertainment For Everyone
Next up are the activities and entertainment on the ship. There are activities and entertainment for all age groups and traveler types on cruises that go from morning through night. This makes cruising great for solo travelers, families and multigenerational cruisers because there will be something for everyone to do. During the day there are programs for families with children, trivia and games for cruisers who want to do something more laid back, and obviously the pool area for cruisers who want to lounge around and relax. At night the fun shifts to world class production shows, comedy shows, dueling pianos and other musical acts throughout the ship. You definitely won’t get bored on a cruise ship unless you want to.
Explore Destinations First
Cruises are a great way to test the waters at a destination before committing to a longer vacation. Let’s say that you want to go to Hawaii for a longer vacation but are not sure what island you want to go to. You could go on a 14-day cruise from Los Angeles and explore several islands such as Honolulu, Kahului, and Nawiliwili. Typically a cruise ship is in port anywhere from six hours to a few days. This will give you time to explore the destination, maybe do an activity or two, try some local restaurants, to see if it’s the right fit for a longer vacation. A shore excursion is a great way to explore and learn about the destination on your first visit. You could also return to the destination on a cruise and do more when you get back. For example, last year I went to Bermuda for the first time. This year I will be returning in June and plan to really explore the island on my own. I feel more comfortable exploring on my own because I've been there and seen it.
Cruises Go All Over The World
Cruises go all over the world. There are thousands of destinations and itineraries to choose from. Chances are, if you want to go there, there is a cruise that takes you there. Want to hike Acadia National Park in Maine? A 7-Day cruise to Bar Harbour, Maine with shore excursions to the national park is available. Want to explore Memphis, Tennessee? Then a river cruise on the Mississippi River might be the right fit. Also, it’s important to note that cruises also leave from ports all over the world. When people first think about cruising they probably think Miami. However, cruises leave from smaller ports as well such as Baltimore, MD, Boston, MA, and now even Philadelphia, PA. Between ocean cruises and river cruises there is an itinerary out there for you.
At the end of the day, cruising offers cruisers a convenient and stress free experience. It gives you more time to focus on relaxation and fun. Whether you are a first time cruiser or a veteran cruiser, there is a cruise out there that fits the experience and budget you’re looking for.
What are some reasons why you love cruising or are wanting to go on a cruise? Let us know in the comments.