I love a good cruise, and I absolutely crave incredible culinary experiences, allergen-friendly dining, family time and well appointed rooms. Some out there are not as finicky, but when I arrive to the high seas I need to relax and enjoy my time. Relaxation comes from private, well-maintained staterooms, and ends with a beautiful meal and fun entertainment.
Cruising is not about an over-used Lido deck where everyone congregates, its about finding a space on a stunning ship that appeals to you and yours. The best of cruising is not about where the action is but where you create action and fun.
Casinos are fun, but entertainment is relaxing. Adrenaline can be used for excursions and dancing can remind you of years gone by. Cruises are perfect for connoisseurs of the finest ingredients packed into experience of unforgettable combinations presented by your chefs.
The best of cruising comes in packages, not found by cruise lines that advertise family but those that don’t. The best of cruising allows you to lavishly live travel out loud with unique destinations, sensational dining, and great spaces on board.
The Cruise Conversation
So many families contemplate cruises, and then some families only focus on the bad that happens on cruise ships. Life is an experience and a cruise is the ultimate in multi-destinations and unpacking once. Whether you cruise solo, as a couple as a family or group, a cruise is a rejuvenating factor that should be mandatory for everyone. Cruise ships come in every shape, and size just like our families so find one that offers your family the best of cruising.
Cruising is the ultimate in getaways because it is not about what you hear on the news, it is what you don’t hear. It’s about dining, winding down, relaxation, family focus, destinations, experiences and learning the world.
The best way to get out there is to cruise, as it offers a spattering of our world, fielded into a journey of a set number of days. At the end of the journey, your life will be enlightened, relaxed and more in sync with the world we live in. Do choose your cruise line carefully, they are not all equal nor are the experiences.
Destinations
It’s not about heading where every other ship goes, its about the excursion, the experience and the people that live there. Getting close up and personal with the land, the area, the island and the people offer an experience and that is what cruising is about.
The gift of traveling to a destination and taking in the area, allows you to decipher if you would like to travel there for a full destination. I believe that the experience of destinations on cruise ships is like the first sample your palate has when it tastes a new wine. You will either find it simply divine or you will simply walk away. Either way you have a new mark on the bucketlist and a great start to a day.
When you arrive at a Cruising destination you can slow your day up or make it fast paced and your choices should be endless, so that you can take in the best of cruising.
As a side note, I don’t like when there are so many repeat cruisers that excursions are cancelled because they could not be filled, that just ruins the day. We had a few work arounds on this as we ventured out on our own, and yes we were warned not to, but when you want what you want, ADVENTURE, you go! Just get back on time!
Cruising
It’s not just about a place to lay your head, its where the other part of a vacation takes place. Rest, relaxation, room service and of course privacy. Your state room is where you get to unwind from a life that has just too much going on.
Pillows and linens matter as much as toiletries and amenities. Having to bring USB jumps, extensions and hairdryers just does not make for an enjoyable cruise. Seek out amenity filled rooms because ease of travel matters and allows you to rest easy when it is all at your fingertips.
Private balconies allow you to watch the moonlight dance on the waves and it’s the perfect way to end a perfect day at sea. The connection between the water, our souls and our fast-paced lives come to a calm and the private balcony is a bonus.
Ships that offer amenities and spacious rooms understand that a Cruising should offer its passengers space to sprawl out, its not about packing as many people in as possible rather treating those there to a magnificent experience.
Family Time & Couple Time
Perhaps it is the age of my children, or maybe it is because I both a mom and a wife who loves time with her family, but whatever it is my vacations require family time and couple time. Cruises that offer Teen Clubs allow us the ability to have some couple time that is well-deserved.
It’s about a private balcony, a glass of wine, a walk hand in hand to the bar, or an appetizer split at a table on the ship. It’s about dancing and not caring how ridiculous we look, and it’s about spa treatments, fun day departures (that remind us of dating) and enjoyment of our kids on OUR adventure.
A good cruise offers you both options, time together, and time away.
Cruising
As a foodie, food writer, there is simply no better way to be revel in food that transforms the everyday into a work of art other than on a cruise ship. Cruise dining will please even the most finicky gourmand, and no one will be able to resist the temptation of lovingly made desserts.
Savory selections of seafood, meats, and meatless dishes will define fine dining with ingredients of the highest quality, combined with restraint and balance. You will swoon over signature dishes, salads, soups and starters that impart a rich flavor.
Take the time to drag your fork through the sultry sauces that will lace your foods, enjoy the mountains of sauteed vegetables and allow your palate the opportunity to experience the intense flavors of all the foods and the alluring aromas you smell during the day.
Cruise Dining (on some ships) allows you to experience the best of cruising. Don’t stop on a LIDO Deck to eat, head to your on board restaurants to find the best of cruising with the hottest of culinary trends being served sunny side up!
Entertainment
No cruise could be complete without entertainment. It’s not enough that you are on a floating island of fun, the best of cruising happens at the shows. Cruising is a way to satisfy the hunger of the palate, the pang of quenching experiences for the mind, body and soul.
Award winning entertainment is something that can be found on cruises and I am a total entertainment junkie (my poor husband). Entertainment is about bars on board, mixology, and laughs that you don’t generally have each day. Dazzling performances, heartwarming music, and fun showtimes aboard the ship, provide the best of cruising for those that crave entertainment.
Lightly Salted Cruise Ship Happiness
Cruising is about being kissed by ocean waves, romanticized by your partner, indulged by sizzling entertainment, comforted by mixologist vividly flavored beverages, and finding the perfect triumvirate of flavors when dining. Cruising is occasional, and a well-deserved experience. The best of cruising comes in many shape and sizes of cruise ships, but remember, not every ship can meet every desire. Seek, compare, shop, list the options and then BOOK it, because if you don’t someone else will take your experience!
Lavishly live travel out loud and good luck with the best of cruising.
Need more Cruise Articles? Here are just a few I have written
Cruising with Food Allergies
Family Cruising Basics
Cruising with Pop Alcohol and Wine
Cruising as a Family
Well Packed Shore Excursion Bags For Cruisers
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Honestly, I’ve never been on a cruise yet but your post make me want to book one ASAP!
Hope that me and my family can go cruising too, soon. Love to experience this kind of luxury.
I haven’t been on a cruise in many years. I loved it though and I would definitely do it again. I would love to go to the Caribbean.
I’m going on my first cruise next week and this post makes me even more excited!! I can’t wait and I’ll be reading your other posts also. Thanks!
I want to experience cruising, it would be so romantic if I will bring my hubby. This is a wonderful experienced.
Great words. You have just described what real cruising is to a person like me who would never really think about having one for their own. Love the ideas!
I’ve never been on a cruise. I’d love to go though, I think it’d be awesome.
You brought up so many of the best parts of cruising. It’s such a wonderful way to travel, whether you’re going with a big group or just as a couple. I wish my husband didn’t get seasick because I would love to do more cruising.
I haven’t tried cruising yet but I think this would be so much fun! Maybe it will make a great gift for our anniversary!
I haven’t try cruising before but it sounds amazing and I want to try it when I have a chance.
I haven’t been on a cruise.. Sounds pretty fun and I think my kids will enjoy it. I love cruises that offer Teen Clubs
I also needed family and couple time. Even now when we go with the kids and grandkids, we make time for just us. We’re thinking about taking a cruise soon
I would so love to go on a cruise! And now would be the perfect time for one, now that summer is almost over!
I have never been on a cruise. It’s on my list of things I want to do in life for sure. I’d love to do an Alaskan one and then an overseas one.
I have always wanted to take a cruise. The only problem is my two younger kids are afraid of the water. 🙁
A cruise sounds like fun! I love that there are so many things to do!
My husband and I love cruising but it has to be during the warm months because we hated the cruise we went on in January.
It took my husband and I a full day before we caught on to finding our spot lol It was a lame cruise but relaxing.
I agree with State rooms and dining. I love having everything compartmentalized and let’s face it, I’m there for the food.
I have been thinking about taking a cruise with the family. There are a lot of great destinations and it seems like a cool way to see the world.
Cruising is a very wonderful moment. I am so glad that you enjoyed it.
I haven’t tried cruising but I heard so many beautiful things about it. I wish I can go next year.
I would love to have my own private balcony while on a cruise. That would be awesome. As much as I love watching sunrises and sunsets, I think I would also enjoy watching the moonlight on the waves!
I can’t remember the last time I went on a cruise, it would be nice to go with my family! Thanks for the very detailed guide on how to enjoy cruising. It’s definitely going to be useful!
Some cruises seem to have everything! I do want to try a cruise or two with my boyfriend. It would be new for both of us.
I haven’t been on a cruise in such a long time. I would love to take one again, especially with all the amenities they have to offer.