Cue a shoreline of gently swaying coconut palms. Pan towards pirogue outrigger canoes plying an aquamarine lagoon. Fade into a backdrop of rare Columnar pine trees with a foreground of fluorescent-coloured snorkels drifting beside a sacred rock and sarong-wearing couples at the water’s edge.
This is the stuff of romance movies… and the reason I will always remember my first time.
After 25 merry romps on the high seas and seductive sojourns on some of the world’s most fascinating waterways, I believe cruises are great couple’s therapy and good for the soul.
And however brief the affair, in our current economic climate, this style of holiday is the easiest, most cost-effective way to ‘have it all’ when you travel – whether bargain-hunting for deals under $100 per person per night or living the high life on the high seas on a superyacht that comes complete with butler service.
Consider this:
You take your hotel with you for the entire trip. No need to trawl booking platforms for hours to find accommodation in each city, and you only unpack once.
This is an all-inclusive holiday. All meals, top-class entertainment and program of activities are provided, so there’s no nasty bill on debarkation. You only pay for drinks, spa treatments, shore tours, boutique purchases, internet and gratuities for staff. Even then, popular cruise lines have deals including many of these, while other luxury lines may also offer selected free shore excursions, as well as airfares in the one price.
It’s hassle-free. No housework, cooking or even making the bed, so more time to explore and relax. Many cruise lines also can arrange transfers, as well as pre- and post-cruise hotel stays.
The hardest decisions you’ll make will be how to spend your day and what to order at dinner.
That’s why holidays at sea are also well-suited to groups of friends, families and multiple generations who can all find their cruising sweet spot.
I’ll never forget the look of sheer joy on my mother-in-law’s face on a cruise celebrating her 80th birthday when she was surrounded by cherub-looking village children on a shore excursion on Vanuatu’s Efate Island. It brought out the little girl within who had longed to become a teacher or missionary. Throughout the trip, the crew made her feel like a queen, affording her the respect and reverence her years commanded. She had the time of her life.
For my family’s first cruise in 2003, the four of us walked up the gangway of P&O’s Pacific Sky at Sydney’s Darling Harbour and into a whole new world.
The 13- and 10-year-olds quickly found their own ‘crew’ in the supervised kids’ club and enjoyed the freedom of the ship on sea days, making the most of the daily program – from ping-pong tournaments to water polo, crafts to cheese tastings. (Today’s cruise ships offer everything from aqua parks and surf simulators to virtual skydiving and multi-level speedways.)
Mum and Dad were able to enjoy our own playtime with massages in the spa, café coffee, drinks by the pool, plus cooking demonstrations and hilarious bingo. Every night was ‘date night’: a chance to dress up, enjoy a cocktail before dinner and the occasional late-night casino flurry.
Our New Caledonia and Vanuatu shore excursions took us snorkelling on coral reefs, to lookouts and lighthouses, and to a village cultural show with a smorgasbord lunch. Each day ended with an all-singing, all-dancing production in the theatre or concert in a lounge bar before the four of us headed for bed.
The smile never left our faces.
Cruising has changed plenty in 20 years (robotic bartenders, anyone?), but the thrill remains the same. Whether waking up each morning in a thrilling new port or being surrounded by oceans of glorious nothingness, cruising really floats my boat. It has provided some of my happiest travel memories and, quite literally, given me the world.
BEFORE YOU GO:
So many choices – where do I begin? Every cruise is unique. First, decide who is cruising, how long you have to holiday and what time of year. Decide on a budget and the destinations/ports you want to visit here or abroad. Then, go online to cruise line websites for itineraries and deals. Talk to a travel agent for their suggestions to find the right ship and cruise for you. Do you want the atmosphere and all the bells and whistles of a large ship with 3000 passengers, or would you prefer the smaller, slower vessels with less than 150 guests? Do you want spring cherry blossoms in Kyoto, summer midnight sun in Alaska, autumn in Auckland? If still unsure, maybe try a taste-tester voyage of three to five nights closer to home.
Pack smart. While casual clothing and comfortable walking shoes are a must, bring something ritzier for dinner or quirkier for theme nights. Don’t overpack. Laundry services are available for a small fee onboard. Remember to pack a ‘go-to’ bag with a change of clothes, pool gear, medication, sunscreen and perhaps a phone charger to use before suitcases arrive at your stateroom.
Package it up. Consider deals that include beverages, internet and signature restaurant meals. You may never drink in a day what the beverage package covers, but it gives you peace of mind that you won’t find a hefty drinks bill at the end. Also, most roaming and phone plans don’t include talking, texting and data while at sea. So, keep your phone in airplane mode and, if you must go online during your cruise, buy a plan or find the deal. And while I enjoy a la carte in the dining room or a casual café burger, a special meal in a signature steakhouse, French bistro, teppanyaki grill, or seafood restaurant beats the buffet hands down. Remember to book a meal time as soon as they become available online to secure your timeslot.
Shore excursion or follow your feet? If visiting a port for the first time, peruse the shore excursions program to see if your ‘must-do’ spots are included in one convenient tour at a reasonable price. Any tours that appeal also should allow free time before, during or after to get a real feel for the area and to connect with the locals. Would a hop-on, hop-off bus be a better option, for example? The ship’s own shore excursions can be expensive, but much background work has gone into each one to present passengers with unique experiences in every port, from reliable and reputable companies employing local guides. They will always get you back onboard the ship before you need to be (I’ve heard horror stories of passengers having to find their own way to the next port after literally missing the boat.) If you find similar tours at a cheaper price, make sure you research the company, read customer reviews and check tour start and end times before you commit. If you have a small group, a private minivan tour where you dictate the itinerary may be preferable.
ONCE ONBOARD:
Research and reconnaissance. Perusing deck plans can only do so much. Before the full complement of passengers has arrived, get acquainted with the ship: find what may become your favourite bar, where restaurants and eateries are located, and the quietest spot far from the madding crowd.
It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Moderation is key. The temptation of rich, calorie-laden food and alcoholic drinks is everywhere. There’s a saying that some cruisers “come aboard as passengers and disembark as cargo”. Don’t be the cliché. Take the stairs instead of the elevators and enjoy the fresh air on open-deck walks. And if you have an early departure time for your shore excursion, a ‘morning after the night before’ hangover won’t help make the most of your tour, so have fun but not too much.