If you have never cruised before, then you REALLY are missing out on a wonderful holiday experience and I’m not just saying that because I love cruising, I’m saying it because it is true. There are some things about a cruise holiday that you will never experience on a land based break: visiting several destinations in one trip and only unpacking once being two of the biggest differences.

I’ve experienced so many wonderful things since I first started cruising and a lot of those things were born from my time onboard the ship. Of course, your time ashore is always going to leave fond memories behind, but there really is something about the ship herself that creates a whole other dimension to the holiday.

These are just a few of the things that I think make a cruise the perfect choice:

Sunsets

You will see some of the most amazing sunsets at sea, sunsets that you just don’t get on land. Imagine – you’re in the Caribbean aboard a cruise ship, the sun is starting to set and the only thing on the horizon is a sailing boat…unless you’re incredibly lucky, you’re not going to see that at home every day. I typically have the view of my neighbours’ house and their motor home, not quite the same!

Friendships

You can make friends on any type of holiday, but the beauty of a cruise born friendship is that you instantly have something in common: the love of cruise holidays! You have both picked your holiday because it is aboard a ship – and then comes the “so, is this your first cruise?” question and the rest as they say is history.

Food

The food onboard is superb and many dining venues at sea rival some of the best restaurants on land. You can eat around the clock (quite literally) and the majority is included in the cost of your cruise. There are a few restaurants onboard some ships that require an additional charge and I must admit, 95% of them really are worth trying! Some cruise lines also also offer all-inclusive options, so you don’t need to worry about a sky high onboard account at the end of your cruise.

Amazing Destinations

A cruise is the only type of holiday that lets you visit several destinations while only having to unpack once and for me that is absolutely perfect. Going back to the actual destinations, however, there are so many incredible places you can visit and some of those places are not accessible by land – you have to sail the Seven Seas to reach them! You could go from the remote and relatively untouched landscape of Antarctica to a 2-week family cruise in the Mediterranean. The choices are endless!

Kids and Family Activities

OK, so a lot of land based hotels have some pretty cool kids facilities, but the ones at sea (on some ships) are on a whole other level. Many of the cruise ships today that are aimed towards families not only have dedicated kids club areas (per age group) they also have an impressive selection of other features and activities that the entire family can enjoy together: water parks, slides, ice rinks, climbing walls, SkyRide (Carnival Vista), The Plank (Norwegian Escape) and very soon, thanks to MSC Cruises, a go-kart track!

These are just some of the things that make cruising such a great choice, but I could continue this list for another 4 days! I haven’t mentioned the onboard accommodations, the fact that the crew are absolutely superb and look after their passengers like their own family, or the time I was sunbathing on deck and spotted a submarine surface!

What do you think makes cruising the ideal choice? Leave your comments below.