Ten years before we started full-time RVing, we took our first cruise, a nine-day from Long Beach, California, to the Mexican Riviera. Not knowing if we’d ever go on another one, we splurged for a balcony cabin. We enjoyed the experience so much that 16 years later, we have 14 cruises under our belts, many in interior cabins. I’m writing this from our 15th, a transpacific from San Francisco to Japan.

Cruises have become our favorite way to take a break from our exciting RV lifestyle. They give us a change of scenery and freedom from worrying about the logistics of getting places, making our bed, and cooking our meals. We can stand on deck and let the fresh sea breeze kiss our faces and whip through our hair while gazing at the vast ocean before us. Here are seven things we love about cruising.

1. Sea days

Some people cruise for the port days, which are stops at places of interest. That’s how we visited Puerto Vallarta, Cozumel, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Barcelona, the Azores, and myriad other locations. 

While we appreciate those days, we relish sea days more for the ultimate relaxation they provide. There’s no need to set an alarm, get up early, or plan our day. We can make our way to the lido deck or the dining room for breakfast or brunch and choose to attend organized activities (such as trivia, games, comedy shows, and music) or do something on our own, such as play a game or read.

Our ideal cruise itinerary offers a port day followed by at least one sea day in a repeating pattern. This allows us ample time to recover from rushing around a port city. Even better are multiple sea days in a row, most common on repositioning cruises. We lose track of what day it is and transition to a much slower pace than our normal everyday lives. 

2. Being disconnected

This is more of a Lana love than a Bob love. Bob prefers to stay up to date on news and be able to research things to do at upcoming port stops. 

Because I work for corporate America, however, I greatly appreciate turning off my laptop, disconnecting my phone, and being inaccessible to my workplace. It’s good for my team and for me. Being disconnected allows me to truly recharge so that I can return to work refreshed. 

3. Thermal suites

We don’t know about other cruise lines, but many of Carnival Cruise Line’s ships feature a thermal suite. This typically includes a steam room or two, a dry sauna, a thalassotherapy pool, and heated loungers. 

Having access to this suite costs a little extra over the cruise fare, but we’ve never been disappointed with this purchase. It makes our relaxing vacation that much more rewarding. And it gives us access to the spa showers, which are larger than the cabin showers.

4. Dining with strangers

One of the best things about cruising is meeting new people from all walks of life. We try to get assigned dining at a group table each night. This gives us a dedicated wait staff, as well as regular table mates. 

We also ask for a shared table when heading to the dining room for breakfast, lunch, or seaday brunch. Using these tactics, we’ve met some incredible people. Many have become dear friends. 

5. Sampling new foods

We like to eat supper in the dining room rather than at the buffet. This is partly to get to know people and partly that we enjoy the three-course experience. The menu varies each night, giving us ample opportunities to try foods we might not otherwise be exposed to. That’s how we got to sample frog legs, escargot, branzino fish, duck, and other delicacies. 

6. The rocking of the ship

We find being on a ship at sea relaxing in and of itself, thanks to the lack of having to be anywhere at a certain time. The rocking motion of the waves adds to that laidback feeling, gently lulling us to sleep at night and making for some of the most peaceful rest we’ve ever had. Occasionally, we’ve experienced rougher seas on ocean crossings, but they were short-lived.

7. Sunrises and sunsets

Seeing the sun rise and/or set on the horizon while at sea is a treat. Unlike in a city or town, buildings don’t block our view. We’re able to gaze at and appreciate the signal of a day starting or ending and reflect on the reality of how small we are in the vast universe. Being in the middle of an ocean helps solidify that even more, leaving us with praise and admiration for our Creator.

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