Three Days at Sea: Thoughts On My First Time On Board a Cruise Ship
Starting a travel business and switching industries completely was always going to be a daunting and difficult task, but you hope when you do it that it will come with a few perks. Last week was definitely one of those perks, getting to sail onboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s brand new ship Aqua. Not only is it their newest ship in the fleet, but it’s the newest ship in the whole world.
Now I don’t need to write a lengthy blog post about the different cabin classes, the dining experiences or what entertainment you’ll expect to get on board, there are plenty of online resources for those.
Here I wanted to share a few thoughts, observations and maybe even a bit of advice for those who have never been on a cruise before, and probably didn’t think they wanted to. Oh look, I’ve just described myself, so I’m glad that one of the perks of the job has been to change my mind about something I’d originally written off but am now excited to do again.
I’ll start by saying the ship is new. You said that earlier… I did, but it’s worth repeating. It’s a brand new ship in NCL’s Prima class and that means that I was probably going to like it. But boy is it swanky.
An old time movie
I really liked the American styling. That appeals, and it is an American company after all. I was taking photos feeling like I was back in the 70s and I’d worn a suit on the plane to Miami and now we were sailing around the Caribbean in our slacks and deck shoes (in reality I was in a hoody sailing to Belgium but mentally I was in a movie).
It’s a floating town
Or a floating airport. It’s a floating “everything you need and more” that’s for certain. We had a tour of the spa and they showed us the barber, I watched semi-fascinated as people tried on the jewellery and of course there’s a casino. It’s family friendly this one, other ships are adults only, but a “day at sea” shouldn’t fill you with the same dread it did me, you won’t be bored.
They do solo travel really, really well
I would, without doubt, sail on an NCL cruise as a solo traveller. I would also, without doubt, have never thought that was an option.
Comfortable cabin sizes, specifically for people travelling alone, a lounge that you can socialise in with other solo travellers that’s safe and secure just for you guys, and no extra supplements. If you want to go on holiday alone but aren’t keen on the actual reality of it, this is a brilliant way to get out there and see the world.
Would I cruise instead of a land holiday?
At least once, that’s for sure. It’s a moving hotel, you unpack once and you’re set, and you might win so much at the casino you can buy that Brietling you’ve always wanted. But in all seriousness, it is firmly on our list to do as an alternative to a land holiday. It is also for some places, like Alaska and Norway, the best way to see the landscapes.
If you have any questions or don’t feel cruise is for you, I’d love to have a chat about your next holiday and see how it probably, actually, almost certainly could be for you.
