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