Why Cruising Could Be For You

With the number of new-to-cruise passengers increasing – 27% of cruisers over the past two years are new-to-cruise, that's an increase of 12% over the past year i thought it would be great to speak with someone about what makes Cruising so special for them This week, I had the pleasure of sitting down with cruise blogger Andy who runs the website https://mycruiseblog.co.uk/, his passion for the seas has inspired countless travellers. We discussed the world of cruising, and Andy shared invaluable insights for those still undecided about setting sail. From life onboard to tips on choosing the perfect cruise, Andy’s advice could be just what you need to take the plunge and embark on your own cruise adventure! Make sure you give Andy's page a follow as the information he provides is invaluable for anyone unsure on cruising but also seasoned Cruisers 1. What initially sparked your interest in going on a cruise? After a 21-year Royal Navy career, I still had the sea in my blood, so it was inevitable! Once we had the time with our children growing up and leaving home,the time was right to give it a go and we haven’t looked back since. My motherand father in law were also serial cruisers! 2. How did you feel about cruising before you took your first one? Were there any hesitations or misconceptions? There was no apprehension, just excitement as we knew it was the future ofholidaying for my wife and I. Our first cruise was with Marella and as holidayers who prefer all-inclusive holidays, we knew what we were going to get and apart from excursions it was all paid for up-front. We now cruise all-inclusive as muchas we can and pay for drinks etc up-front so no nasty bills waiting around thecorner at the end of the cruise! 3. What do you love the most about cruising, and why does it keep you comingback? In no particular order: Being at sea, visiting multiple ports/countries on one holiday, superb food cooked by someone else, our room cleaned to perfectiondaily, amazing shows in fantastic theatres, cocktails, oh the cocktails and pretty much relaxing and doing what we want in our own time.Finally, we have met so many different people from around the world whilst cruising; some have become friends for life. 4. Is there a specific destination or region that’s been your favourite to cruise through/ what made it stand out? Two really; First is Australia where we cruised with Celebrity out of Sydney up theeast coast of Australia to the ports for the Great Barrier Reef, everyone should dothis if they can because it is incredible! Second is the Caribbean as it is just so relaxing, and you more or less visit a new country/island every day. The people out there are amazing and although we are lucky enough to shortly go on ourthird cruise to the Caribbean, there are still many countries there that are on ourbucket list to visit. 5. How does a cruise compare to other types of holidays or travel experiences foryou? It is obviously down to individual taste and requirements to choose a type of holiday, but cruising has it all for us. But I think what really swings it for us iscovering so many different places on one holiday, I don’t think I could enjoysitting by the same pool for 7 or 14 nights now! 6. What’s the onboard experience like for you? Do you enjoy the entertainment,dining, or relaxation options the most? We like it all! A cruise does all the above and to a high quality; we have neverended a cruise disappointed. That may just us getting lucky, but we have been on7 different cruise lines now, so the sample size is decent. That said, some are obviously better than others and it is not always the more you pay the better it is,they really are all different though. 7. Are there any specific activities or excursions that make cruising extra special for you? I particularly love visiting the historic naval ports in the Caribbean, so far, wehave been to Nelsons Dockyard in Antigua and in two weeks’ time will be visitingthe Royal Naval Dockyard in Bermuda.We also enjoy snorkelling and have enjoyed this in both the Caribbean and Australia, a great way to get up close and personal with local aquatic life. 8. What surprised you the most on your first cruise? Did anything exceed your expectations? On our first cruise I was surprised how stable the ship was! I was used to being on frigates and destroyers being thrown around the sea, but a cruise ship barelyseems to move!I think the staff always amaze us with their friendliness and willingness to serveand this doesn’t seem to change from cruise line to cruise line, customer always seems to be king. 9. How do you choose which cruise to book next? Is it more about the ship or the destinations for you? Great question and difficult to answer, there are a couple of cruise lines I keep an eye on for offers, that’s Celebrity and Azamara. Not too concerned about choosing a particular ship it is then down to the offer and destination.Destinations wise, we love visiting new areas. We still have Alaska, the Far East,South America, The Middle East to name a few that we haven’t visited yet but plenty of time in retirement to visit them! 10. For someone who’s never cruised before, what would you tell them to ease any concerns or get them excited to try it? The biggest concerns I hear when I talk about cruising to newbies is the fear of being seasick. As I said earlier, unless in extreme weather conditions, cruiseships are so well stabilised it is so easy to forget you are even at sea. The newer mega ships have so many amenities now, go-kart tracks, water parks,bowling alleys etc, the choice is almost endless. Entertainment is often world class standard, and the choice of food and drink can be exceptional.A smaller ship can offer a boutique hotel style experience, with heightened service levels.So there really is a cruise ship out there for you if you are a young couple, afamily, baby boomers and like me greying a bit around the edges. Andy Parrett Founder and Owner of mycruiseblog.co.uk www.mycruiseblog.co.uk