I’ll admit it. I hated the idea of a cruise. My husband dragged me kicking and screaming to our first family cruise. I love to plan travel and with a cruise there was nothing to plan. I felt like I would be trapped on a boat (visit this page for thermolite panel for your boat) with people in mile-long lines at the buffet. Five cruises later, I couldn’t be more surprised how much I like cruising. Here are my top reasons you should also choose to cruise:

1. Cruises are all inclusive.

This is great peace of mind for those who are budget-minded and want to have their trip paid in full before they go.  Your cruise fare includes all food, accommodations, daytime and evening entertainment and transportation between destination.  Depending on the cruise line, certain drinks are included.  You can always pre-pay for those expenses that are not includes (extra beverage packages, gratuities, and excursions).  You never have to touch your wallet on vacation.  It’s paid for!

2. Cruises are a good value.

Cruises are still the best bang for your buck.  Compared to land vacations, I often see fares for cheaper than just booking a hotel.  A travel agent can watch fares for you if you know where you would like to go.  Many cruises offer kids sail free or discounted fares, as well.

3. Cruises are convenient.

It is so easy to just unpack once.  No more dragging luggage to different hotels.  No more check-ins and check-outs.  Everything stays with you when you travel.   Get a taste of many places and decide where you would like to come back and visit for longer.  This is especially helpful when traveling with kids!

4. Cruises are great for all ages.

If you are traveling with a group, there is no better way to vacation.  There is something for EVERYONE.  Between the entertainment, the classes, the kids clubs, the teen centers, the pools, the fitness center, the spa, the port excursions, and the nightlife, there is no vacation that can satisfy more tastes.  I see more multi-generational family reunions traveling on cruises than any other group.  It is easy to spend your days vacationing as you like and meet up in the evenings for dinner together.

5. Cruises are a vacation for the cook.

Ok I am going to confess.  This is where my true love of cruising lies.  Nobody has to cook.  Ever.  Yes, I know what you are thinking.  “I don’t cook on vacation…I eat out!”.  Yes, but then you find yourself in those hangry situations where you are hunting for a restaurant when everyone is starving.  You aren’t sure if you can trust the restaurant.  Your daughter wants pizza.  You want a steak.

On a cruise, you can make everyone happy.  In addition to the regular sit down dining room (which by the way is not the dining room of old cruising where you have to be seated with strangers), there are often a multitude of other dining options included.  If none of those suit you, you can pay a small cover charge for a specialty restaurant.

6. Cruises are made to order.

There is a cruise for everyone.  If you like to party vegas style with casinos and nightlife, there is a cruise for you.  If you like adventure tours and outdoor recreation, there is a cruise for you! If you want a family cruise, there is a cruise for you! Single? Romantic? European?  Every cruise I have been on has had its own style.

You can also personalize your cruise to you.  Arrive to the port a few days ahead of time and explore the area more in depth or stay a few days after the cruise!

If you don’t find an excursion in port that suits you, you can hire your own third-party travel guide for the adventure you design!  In Alaska, we found a smaller boat to take us whale-watching with just 10 people on board.  We were up close and personal to the whales while others were stuck on a boat with hundreds!

7. Cruises aren’t off limits for the seasick.

This is where I was really hesitant about cruising.  I get seasick and I get it bad.  I can’t take seasick meds because they make me sleepy and I definitely did not want to spend my vacation sick.  Enter ship stabilizers!  If you are prone to seasickness, this is a wonder.  The stabilizers keep the ship…well…stable.  There are also tricks to booking the right itinerary and the right cabin (calmer waters in the correct season and a mid-ship cabin) that help a lot.  I can’t guarantee you won’t get seasick, but there is hope for the motion sickness crowd.

8. Cruises are social.

If you like to meet people on vacation, this is the place (or not).  You can choose the size table where you would like to dine: Do you want to dine with new people or just with your family? I’ve done both and loved each way for a different reason.  You can take classes to meet others or just lounge by the pool.  My daughter and I took a daily class to learn the Thriller dance with other shipmates.  At the end of the cruise, we dressed up as zombies and performed in front of the whole cruise!  We met so many great people in the process and felt like celebrities for the rest of the cruise.

My kids have made many friends at the kids clubs that have made their cruise ship experiences unforgettable!  We have loved sharing experiences from our days with other shipmates at dinner as well.  You can learn so much more about people and places when you travel with others!