If you’re the type of traveler who loves to leave the vacation planning to someone else, then a cruise could be the perfect choice for you. Going on a cruise allows you to unpack once and still enjoy multiple destinations, without the need to drive from place to place or hop from plane to plane.
But simplicity isn’t the only reason you might enjoy going on a cruise. Sailing the ocean blue on a line that fits your tastes and budget can offer an incredible value. When deciding whether you should go on a cruise, consider the following points.
In Short:
- Reasons for setting sail: With all-inclusive pricing, cruising offers an incredible value and a no-hassle way of vacationing. Cruisers also enjoy the opportunity to visit many destinations in a single trip and the chance to try on locales where they might want to spend more time on a future trip.
- Who should go on a cruise: Cruising is no longer confined to the silver haired set. Cruises are growing in popularity with all age groups, as well as families and solo travelers. Let’s break down the reasons why.
- Cruises for the reluctant cruiser: Why do some people go on a cruise after swearing they never will? Curiosity, family interest and the advent of shorter “try-on” cruises are all reasons reluctant cruisers decide to sail.
What Are the Advantages of Going on a Cruise?
Ask a die-hard cruise traveler why they’re going on another cruise, and they’ll extol the virtues of simplicity and a hassle free vacation experience. According to cruise-worthy travelers, sailing on one of today’s popular lines offers the following advantages:
Going on a Cruise Equals Simplicity:
- Nirvana for the Anti-Vacation Planner: When going on a cruise, there is no need to lay out itineraries, book multiple nights of accommodations or find restaurants and entertainment. It’s all planned for you, with enough options to keep everyone in your travel party happy.
- Leave the Driving Behind: On a cruise, you’ll be napping, playing, exploring or learning something new while someone else does the driving.
- Explore New Countries—No Customs Lines in Between: Most cruise lines offer streamlined boarding and disembarkation. With one check-in, you’re set for the whole trip. No need to pass through customs each time you visit a new destination.
- No Language Barriers (Most of the Time): When cruising from the U.S., your cruise ship is an English-speaking island. Staff will speak your native tongue, menus are easy to read, and excursions are hosted in your language, making international travel less intimidating.
- Cashless Convenience: Once onboard, everything is linked to your room key or cruise card. You don’t need wallets or foreign currency.
- Safety & Support: Cruise lines have well-trained staff, medical centers onboard, and excursions vetted for safety. You get the freedom of travel with the peace of mind of a secure environment.
Going on a Cruise Offers Value
- Entertainment Galore—At No Extra Cost: Broadway-style shows, comedy clubs, trivia nights, movies under the stars, live music, pool games, and more—all included in your fare.
- Amazing Food Options and Variety: On a cruise, meals and snacks are covered. No need to grab for your wallet every time you surf the buffet or dine in splendor in the main dining room or other table-service restaurants. On many lines, you may even dine in specialty venues by taking advantage of limited-time promotions.
- Built-In Fun for Every Age: Many cruise lines offer kids’ clubs, teen zones, waterslides, splash parks, and family-friendly excursions—all supervised and included. Some lines let kids sail free on certain dates, making family travel much more affordable.
- Addons rev up the inclusive value: most cruise lines allow you to add airfare and hotel accommodations, to create a more inclusive vacation package, leaving you with fewer budgetary surprises when you return home.
- Easy Payment Plans: Many cruise lines facilitate simple automated payment plans that allow you to pay off your vacation over time. If you can’t find a line that supports pay-over-time, work with a travel agent to book your cruise. Travel agents often have tools available to them that aren’t readily accessible by the public.
- Low-Risk Exploration: Avoid spending thousands on a destination that looks dreamy in photos but doesn’t match your expectations in person. By going on a cruise, you aren’t locked into a full vacation package only to find out a destination isn’t your style.
Find Your Next Favorite Destination
- Get Inspired: A cruise helps build your travel bucket list. You might discover off-the-beaten-path gems or cultural hubs that deserve a return visit.
- Guided Shore Excursions Make It Easy: Cruise lines often offer curated, local-led tours—making short visits more meaningful without needing to plan every detail.
- Flexible Exploration Styles: Prefer to wander on your own? Most ports are walkable or accessible via shuttles and taxis, giving you control over how deep you explore.
Should You Go On a Cruise if You’re in Your 20s?
The vast variety of onboard activities, clubs and lounges offer travelers in their 20s a prime experience with little hassle and a lot of variety. I recently asked a client in this age group about his favorite part of a recent cruise. Hands down, he said it was just being on the ship. The variety of games, activities, shows and pool time kept him and his companions engaged for the length of the 7-night voyage.
But here’s the caveat that many cruisers in this age group might miss. The line you sail has a big impact on the experience you’ll have onboard.
Lines like Celebrity, Princess and Viking, focus on an older clientele. Ship activities geared toward the 40+ crowd may have little appeal to 20-something travelers. On the other hand, since lines such as Royal Caribbean and Carnival, focus on a broader target audience, onboard activities appeal more to younger age groups. According to a recent survey, these lines ranked at the top of the list for younger travelers.
I’ve also found Disney Cruise Lines to be popular with the 20- and 30-year old mind set. A variety of adult-exclusive offerings throughout the day isolate younger adults from family minded travelers and provide a more exclusive experience. Themed clubs and lounges, such as the Star Wars lounge on the Disney Wish, offer additional appeal to adults who are fans of various Disney franchises.
Advantages for passengers in their 20s going on a cruise:
- Onboard activities on many lines will keep the night owl traveler busy well into the wee hours.
- Shore excursions offer unique options for younger adults, covering every interest from adventure pursuits to cultural explorations.
- A cruise offers a great value for travelers in their 20s who may just be getting started in life, with included food and affordable fares on many lines.
Should You Go on a Cruise if You’re a Solo Traveler?
Solo travel is on the rise, with 62% of travelers responding to a Skyscanner survey saying they plan to take between 2 and 5 solo trips within the next year. Solo travel is of particular interest to female travelers, with 80% of respondents to a Solo Travel World study planning to travel alone. The survey also revealed that solo female adults over 50 prefer group or arranged tours, putting an emphasis on safety and security.
Going on a cruise is as safe and reliable for solo travelers as travel tours arranged through a trusted provider. Shore excursions offered by the cruise line are a safe way to explore destinations with pre-vetted guides. Best of all, finding the right experience is as simple as opening the cruise line app.
If you’re a solo traveler who is interested in finding like-minded individuals to spend your time with, a cruise is a perfect vacation. Onboard activities range from peaceful to raucous. On the quiet end of the scale, you’ll find everything from seminars, to artistic or culinary endeavors. Communal onboard activities, such as games and shows provide opportunities for solitary passengers to mingle with others in a livelier atmosphere, as do adult-only clubs and lounges.
Solo travelers looking to maximize alone time will find plenty of private space by booking a veranda stateroom. Private balconies are perfect for settling in for a solitary reading or napping session, with constant views of the ocean beyond.
Of course, the cruise line you sail matters here as well. Many lines require passengers to book staterooms double occupancy to make fares profitable. That means, a solo traveler may end up paying full fare, minus taxes and port fees for the second traveler, instead of the solo per person cost.
Catching on to the solo travel trend, some lines have started offering single cruise fares. When sailing Celebrity Ascent, for example, solo cruisers may opt for a single veranda stateroom. Norwegian Cruise Line also offers solo cabins on many ships.
Advantages for solo travelers going on a cruise:
- Safety in pre-arranged shore excursions
- Opportunities to meet other travelers with similar interests
- Innate cruise value on lines that offer solo staterooms
Should You Cruise if You’re Over 50?
Once upon a time, cruises were considered a haven for silver-haired travelers. While times have changed with the advent of bigger and more activity-based ships, cruising remains a popular vacation choice for many over 50 travelers.
Simplicity is one reason. Whether retired or still actively engaged in the work force, travelers in this group appreciate the no hassle experience provided by a cruise. To make things easier still, many luxury lines include everything from shore excursions to pre- and post-accommodations, flights and cruise gratuities in the fare.
Over 50 cruisers also enjoy the opportunity to learn and experience new activities or cultures. Celebrity, Viking, Princess and other premium lines cater to this traveler, with a host of seminars and activities designed to educate and uplift the curious thinking traveler.
The fifties and sixties are also a time when many are leaving the work life behind. As a new phase of life opens, they’re ready for an adventure and don’t mind spending some of the wealth they’ve accumulated over their working years. Premium and luxury lines indulge passengers with elevated accommodations and amenities.
Advantages for travelers over 50 going on a cruise:
- Many lines offer vacation itineraries and activities designed for the older traveler, with bucket list destinations and education-based programs.
- The over-50 set can also find plenty of entertainment and lively action onboard ships.
- The over-50 traveler who has a premium budget will find lines that cater to their desired level of luxury and opulence.
Is Cruising for Families?
Breaking old stereotypes on cruising, many lines have opened doors to families traveling together. Disney Cruise Line remains at the top of this tier, offering meet and greets with Disney characters, fireworks at sea, a Pirate night and 3-themed restaurants that bring dining to new heights.
Disney’s Oceaneer Club and Lab offers some of the most innovative experiences for younger travelers I’ve seen on sailings, while also making space for tweens and teens with their Edge and Vibe clubs.
But Disney isn’t alone in family-first entertainment. Royal Caribbean has designed many ships to keep families busy from sunup to sundown. From water slides and splash pads to climbing walls, zip lines and go-karts, a sea day on Royal Caribbean is no longer just a lounge around the pool day. Distinctly designed neighborhoods, including one just for families, make it easy for adults and children traveling together to experience different environments before they even leave the ship.
Cruises are also ideal for multi-generational vacations. Everyone—from toddlers to grandparents—can do their own thing during the day and reunite for dinner or shows. No one is stuck planning everyone’s schedule.
Lines such as Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Celebrity cater to multigenerational families, offering connecting staterooms or suites that accommodate more than 2 passengers. Celebrity, in particular, appeals to the adults who want to travel as a family but don’t want to sacrifice the luxe experience.
Advantages for families going on a cruise:
- Offer family friendly amenities and activities, perfect for children and adults to enjoy together.
- Onboard kids club allow youngsters to enjoy quality time with others their own age, while adults can take advantage of the time to enjoy some poolside relaxation or adult-only activities.
- Since there is something to do for all ages on a cruise, multi-generational families can enjoy the no-hassle planning of a cruise vacation while still meeting the needs of various tastes and interests.
- Cruising can offer considerable value when adults travel with children, with kids sail free or half off specials common across the industry.
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Request a QuoteWhy Do People Go on a Cruise After Saying It’s Not for Them – Convincing a Reluctant Traveler to Cruise
I can answer this question with some experience. For years, I denied an interest in cruising. Sitting on a ship with little control over my journey didn’t sit well with me. I pictured endless hours poolside with nothing to do but bake in the sun.
Eventually, curiosity got the best of me as it does many travelers. What would it be like to visit so many destinations on a single vacation? Are the ships really as grand as they seem?
While my story isn’t unique, travelers finally opt to cruise for a variety of reasons. For some, it’s family pressure. If the family wants to take a cruise, and you’re the lone holdout, odds are you’ll end up sailing at some point.
Often, travelers are uninformed about what a cruise offers. A retired client of mine swore cruising was not for him. After talking for several minutes, it became clear that he was basing his assumptions on commercials he had seen for a line that didn’t fit him and his vacation tastes at all. When I explained the advantages of a line more suited to the way he liked to travel, his mind began to change.
Last, the advent of 3- and 4- night sailings now make it easy for reluctant cruisers to try on the cruising experience. These shortened itineraries alleviate the extensive time and cost commitments, and are perfect for travelers who aren’t certain they will like the cruising experience.
If you’re trying to convince a reluctant cruiser to take a voyage, it’s important that you’re pitching the right cruise line. Make sure you understand the breadth of onboard amenities and activities and align them to the traveler in question. If you’re traveling with a foodie, for example, finding a line that is renowned for its dining or a well-known chef could turn the tide.
The itinerary is another factor to consider. A shorter cruise can be a trial period that ultimately convinces the reluctant traveler to take future voyages.
Whether you can’t wait to take a cruise or feel it might not be for you, you’ll have the best experience if you match the line and its atmosphere and amenities to your travel style. And be sure to select an itinerary that travels to places you want to see.
