Ocean Cruises anyone? Don't knock it if you haven't tried it.

"Here at Magic Planned we like to tell the story like it is. We never want to be accused of putting lipstick on a pig".

It’s really a shame that so many still turn their noses up at the idea of taking an ocean cruise. Full confession - I used to be one of these anti cruise snobs and I can now say it was definitely my loss. Is ocean cruising my favorite form of travel. No, not always. But my love or indifference towards it is very brand dependent. Cruising definitely has a regular place in my travel itineraries now for a variety of reasons. The big reasons I like cruises are, 

#1 - They are fun.

#2 - A cruise vacation is easy - Forget about decision overload or complicated planning.

#3 - There’s something for everyone.

#4 - It’s a great value, no matter the price point.

Cruises are our TOP choice for group travel. There is food, fun, activities, destination and price points that can accommodate a variety of interests, ages, and budgets. While one brand may not be absolutely perfect for everyone in the group - everyone in the group can have a great time while enjoying time with their friends, family or like minded travelers.

In addition to group travel we sometimes recommend cruises for people who are a bit fragile healthwise. Ships are very able to accommodate many needs and are naturally compact making it easier to get from point A to B. Cruise ships have excellent medical facilities and personnel and can therefore be a great choice if there is a higher likelihood of needing medical assistance. Especially if traveling to areas with “dodgier” medical services etc.

Here at Magic Planned we like to tell the story like it is. We never want to be accused of putting lipstick on a pig. There is no such thing as perfect. When do I think some ocean cruises are not so great? If you are really destination focused some ocean cruise concepts (particularly mass market) don't allow much time in port to really explore a place. Although you can definitely get a taste or nibble, if you will, for a place. Furthermore they don’t usually dock right in the heart of destinations (though there are exceptions) so there is often some time spent (wasted) going to and fro. However, don't despair, there ARE exceptions to this. Certain cruise lines do a fantastic job of diving into destinations, with longer stays and unique tour options, making them great choices for novice or seasoned travelers. Smaller cruise ships can also access a much larger variety of ports. You can also combine a travel ethos for both education and relaxation by spending ample time in port cities and surrounding areas exploring before embarking or after disembarking a relaxing cruise. I always spend extra time on land before and after a cruise experience. Frankly it makes for a near perfect vacation for me.

All cruises are not created equal. Not even close. There are a myriad of different brands from budget to luxury; small expedition to large city sized; destination focused, ship focused, or a combination of the two. If you think you know cruising based on 1 ship, 1 brand and 1 itinerary, 1 trip, or by what you read on the internet - YOU are WRONG. Sorry, true.

Why did I take my first cruise? ME - the crowd hating, claustrophobic, germ averse, gets motion sick just thinking about it, kind of introverted human that I am. Seriously, why would I ever want to go on a cruise? Bleh! Yuck! How plebeian! Don't get me wrong I love to travel, party, try new foods (except cheeses that have blue bits in them) and just LOVE being somewhere I haven't been before. But I imagined  that cruises were kind of gross, too crowded, structured and stodgy for me, and would likely cause motion sickness. Despite this I would occasionally get curious about cruising, think about crossing into the dark cruising underworld, and then would easily get talked out of it (insert spooky noises here). But one day I was offered a free cruise and never being one to pass up such an opportunity, I went. Well I'm sure glad I did take that first cruise, just REALLY, REALLY, sorry I didn't do it sooner. Yes regrets do happen. But hey, I fixed it.

Claustrophobia was not an issue for me. Not even a whiff. Me, always getting twitchy on airplanes - nothing like hurtling through the air, packed like sardines in a tin can; and don’t get me started on crowded airports. But I endure all those things to travel because I still don't own a private jet and I do LOVE to travel, except for the airplane part. Full disclosure, certain types of crowded situations do - make - me - very - uncomfortable! Yes anxious. I appear a zen master in those situations to others; but really it's a serious amount of deep breathing, mantras and self control that keep me from cracking. Don't talk to me right now! I just haven't experiences these situations on cruise ships and if I have it's been simple to walk away or very short lived. Cruise ships come in all shapes and sizes and are basically floating resorts with all sorts of different places to explore and relax or not. You’ll find spots on the ship you love and others you don’t just like any other place. The biggest ships even have different neighborhoods. Cruise ships aren’t airplanes. There are no fasten seat belt signs and return to your ultra skinny and extra hard seats onboard. There is, however, a mandatory safety briefing. While there may be crowded moments, there are always choices of other places on the ship to enjoy. That feeling of looking out to sea and smelling the ocean breeze is intoxicating, rejuvenating and expansive.

Germs, trust me when I say I have a heightened understanding of them. More than I would like to sometimes. It really was a topic of a dissertation. Cruise ships have never been any "dirtier" than any other vacation venue, think: airplanes, airports, crowded pools, casinos, trains, restaurants, hotel lobbies, museums, concerts etc. Ok museums are cleaner but otherwise I’d put cruise ships ahead of all those other things in terms of cleanliness. Furthermore, since Covid, there have been hefty investments made by cruise operators on state of the art air filtration, enhanced cleaning protocols and other beneficial technologies. Additionally cruise lines offer top notch medical facilities should the need arise. No need to ask if there's a doctor on the boat, there is. Remember Doctor Adam Bricker on the Love Boat? Am I dating myself?

Let's not forget the dreaded motion sickness. I am very prone to motion sickness and do worry about it. Sometimes a lot. Curvy roads, certain amusement park rides (OMG!), small boats, standing on a dock, yep, can take me out for hours or longer. My propensity for motion sickness is reason number one that it took me so long to get on a cruise ship. Personally I have found that I can get a bit queasy the first couple of days at sea or on rougher water and I won’t step onto a tender until it’s ready to go. This is where you find your fellow seasick prone buddies. We are all casually standing around waiting until the last moment to step on the tender. The crew is totally on to us and is happy to accommodate. Don't mock us. Nothing more fun for the queasy than bobbing around in a small boat while waiting for all the slow pokes with iron stomachs to board. But for me it's nothing sea bands and ibuprofen can't handle. Other travelers use Bonine and Dramamine or prescription patches to good effect and although I always bring these things I've never needed them. Yet. I do sometimes experience some "mal de debarquement syndrome" where you feel as though you're still swaying on the ship when you get off. I've also noticed this has become less pronounced as I cruise more. My son claims that desensitization therapy works for minimizing or even curing motion sickness. This is intriguing and unpleasant at the same time. Maybe I'll get on that mediterranean sailboat I'm always admiring one of these days. The vast majority of the time, cruise ships offer smooth sailing with no queasy issues whatsoever, even for me. Definitely nothing that would keep me from cruising on most itineraries. Although I wouldn't recommend an Antarctic or shoulder season cruise to someone who is concerned about motion sickness. I've not done these either. The ships are large, stable and sail around bad weather whenever possible. However I am fully aware that sometimes (relatively rarely) unavoidable rough weather can happen. But the great experiences available via cruising outway the relative rareness of serious seasickness, and seasickness isn't fatal. Let's try not to let these things stop us from enjoying life. 

Cruises can be excellent choices for everyone. They are suitable for introverts, extroverts, solo travelers, old, young, adults only, families, cruises with childcare and teen clubs, large groups, small groups, weird groups, boring groups, knitting groups - you name it - there is a cruise with your name on it. On the right cruise everyone will be able to find their sweet spot on the same ship. Partier, chiller, culture focused, early riser, late riser, fitness enthusiast, slug, five star foodie, only eats mac and cheeser, lover of broadway style shows, comedy, acrobatics, travel lectures,  you name it there's a cruise for you. Arranged shore excursions or do it yourself or stay on the ship cuz you're not feeling it. Oh and did I tell you that I sleep like a baby on cruises so I'm ready for the next brand new day.

Put simply a cruise experience offers you the ability to experience as much or as little of the world as you prefer. You can safely travel just about anywhere your heart takes you.  Anywhere. There's a cruise brand, experience, itinerary and budget for everyone. Unpack your bag once and let the cruise venue take care of the details. Cruises also offer the most flexibility in pricing allowing all travelers the opportunity to cruise with their preferred budget in mind. They are a fantastic value and can make a fine addition to everyone's travel plans.