Savvy travelers go on cruises again and again, sharing simple moments, from sunsets on their balconies to waking up in a new port.
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On every cruise, I spend most of my time in the same place: on the balcony.
Whether you’re reading a book, soaking up the sun or watching the sunset away from the crowds on the pool deck, staterooms with lanais offer a private space to enjoy the ever-changing views and the waves crashing up close. The balcony back at ground level will never be the same.
Cruises offer a unique way to vacation by combining accommodations, transportation, and activities all in one, with features that keep guests coming back for more. There have been some harrowing stories about cruise ships lately, so USA TODAY asked six cruise ship frequenters about their favorite cruise ships.
Here’s what they said:
1. Wake up in a new place
Mike Smith and his partner have a morning routine when they set sail.
“We wake up in the morning and say, “Okay, this is where I like it.” And “my favorite place’ is getting out of bed — and I always get a balcony room — and ripping open the curtains as hard as I can, and all the sunlight comes in, and you can usually tell where the new port is,” he said.
Smith, who teaches American Sign Language and creates travel content on his Instagram account, cited one particularly memorable morning in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. “And it was just gorgeous, like the iconic backdrop of the Cabo Peninsula sticking out like a screensaver.”
2. Accessing hard-to-reach destinations
Jordan Taylor, one half of JJ Cruises, said cruise ships help guests get to destinations that would otherwise be difficult or prohibitive to reach.
“I love being able to fly to Miami and then go to the Southern Caribbean, or fly to London and go to the fjords in Norway, or go to parts of Alaska that are really hard to get to,” he said. “I think cruise ships have opened up the world to everyone by making places more accessible and easier to get to, whereas without cruise ships it might be more difficult.”
3. Make friends from all over the world
Jared Daly, Taylor’s husband and one half of JJ Cruises, said he realized over time that although the passengers and crew come from all over the world, “every ship is like a small world.” He found a friend at sea.
“It could be sailing for five nights in the Caribbean, it could be sailing around the world, and it’s just being in a new culture like Japan, finding like-minded people, hitting it off and building friendships that last a lifetime,” he said. “The more you cruise, the more you get to know people around the world and learn about their backgrounds. It’s pretty cool.”
4. Share your experience
RacQuelle Major-Holland, owner of Major Adventures Travel Agency, similarly said cruises bring travelers together “naturally and effortlessly.”
“Regardless of your background, your career, or where you’re from, once you’re on that ship, you’re just someone who enjoys the journey,” she says. “And there’s something really special about sharing that energy. Thousands of people choosing to slow down, have fun, and experience the world together.”
5. Start your day at the sea
“My favorite thing about cruising is sitting on the deck at sunrise, cruising slowly through the middle of the ocean, feeling the breeze on my skin as I do my morning meditation,” said Heather Schlueter, who documents her retirement travels with her husband, Paul, on YouTube. The pair aim to spend a third of the year on cruises.
6. Fall asleep listening to the waves
“One of my favorite aspects of cruising, no matter the cruise line, is being gently rocked to sleep at night,” added Paul Schlueter. “I love falling asleep to the sound of the ship gently creaking as the ocean moves. I sleep better on a cruise ship than anywhere else.”
This article has been updated to update the headline.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. Please contact us at ndiller@usatoday.com.
