Is Cruising for us?
Is Cruising for Us? Our Honest Thoughts After a Week in the Western Caribbean
If you'd asked me a year ago whether we'd become "cruise people", the answer would probably have been no.
We'd only cruised once before – a four-night trip to Norway for my father-in-law's 80th birthday. That cruise was all about the spectacular scenery, and while we enjoyed it, it wasn't enough to convince us that cruising was the holiday for us.
So, when we booked a seven-night Western Caribbean cruise on Regal Princess, we went with an open mind.
Here's what we honestly thought...
First Impressions
One thing I knew before we sailed was that I wanted a balcony cabin.
Yes, they cost more, and we probably didn't spend more than half an hour actually sitting on it all week!
But I still wouldn't choose an inside cabin.
The balcony became the perfect place to dry swimwear, air the cabin and, perhaps most importantly, enjoy those wonderful views as we sailed into each new destination. Sometimes it was simply nice to open the door and hear the sea.
Would I pay the extra again?
Absolutely.
The Cabin
I was pleasantly surprised by how spacious the cabin felt.
The wardrobe area was much bigger than I'd expected, with plenty of hanging space, lots of hangers and enough room to store our suitcases without constantly tripping over them.
Everything worked exactly as it should, the room was spotless throughout the cruise and our cabin steward was genuinely one of the friendliest people on board. Nothing was too much trouble.
Food... One of the Biggest Highlights
We chose Princess' Premium Package, which suited us perfectly.
The drinks were excellent (I'll come back to one particular margarita shortly!) but the food was what really impressed us.
Breakfast for us, was always in one of the main dining rooms rather than the buffet. It was calmer, the service was excellent and it felt like a much more relaxed way to start the day.
Lunch often didn't happen at all because breakfast filled us up, although we did enjoy a couple of visits to Alfredo's Pizzeria.
Evenings were spent in Sabatini's and Crown Grill, and honestly, both were exceptional.
The quality of the food and the standard of service rivalled many land-based restaurants we've eaten in.
Lazy Sea Days
I wasn’t looking forward to the sea days but they provided us with a well needed chance to relax.
We spent them around the adults-only pool where there were comfortable loungers, wonderfully fluffy towels and enough space to cool off with a swim whenever the Caribbean sunshine became a little too enthusiastic.
The adult pool bar staff were outstanding and quickly learned exactly how I liked my evening margarita!
Many guests ordered food directly to their sunbeds, something we never actually tried, but it looked incredibly popular.
One surprise?
Despite there being over 4,000 guests onboard, when I went swimming at 7am each morning I often had the entire pool to myself, or perhaps shared it with just one other person.
That peaceful start to the day and an hour of swimming was just what I needed.
For families, there are also two additional main pool areas, each with a shallow pool connected to a deeper pool by a small water channel, making them ideal for younger children.
The World Cup was on during our cruise and matches were shown on the large outdoor screen around one of the main pool areas, creating a brilliant atmosphere.
The Excursions
We booked three organised shore excursions.
Belize – Simply Outstanding
This was the highlight of the entire cruise.
A river safari took us deep into scenery that reminded me of my time living in Gabon and Malaysia.
We saw monkeys, crocodiles, dolphins, a manatee, countless birds and more iguanas than I could count.
What fascinated me most about the iguanas was how calm they were. Unlike most lizards that disappear the moment you approach, these seemed perfectly happy to pose for photographs.
Our guides were enthusiastic, knowledgeable and full of humour, constantly reminding us just how "unBelizable" everything was!
It was impossible not to smile.
The Mayan Ruins
History has always fascinated me and seeing the Mayan ruins in person was incredibly impressive.
Standing amongst structures that have survived for centuries really puts modern life into perspective.
Naturally, the tour also included tasting authentic chocolate, which wasn't exactly a hardship!
Cozumel, Mexico
Cozumel felt much quieter than I expected.
Our excursion included a guided tour explaining the island's history, time to explore the town, and, to finish, a tequila tasting.
There were sixteen different flavoured tequilas to sample.
I've always thought tequila belonged in a margarita rather than a glass on its own... although I have to admit the almond tequila nearly changed my mind. We ended our time there at a lovely beach resort.
Roatán, Honduras
This was probably our biggest lesson.
The island itself looked beautiful.
Unfortunately, I don't think we chose the right excursion.
We visited a small botanical garden where it was disappointing to see a monkey kept chained up, spent quite a long time at a tourist shopping stop and only had a short visit to the beach.
Meanwhile, other passengers returned full of stories about sealife encounters, snorkelling adventures and beautiful beaches.
It reminded me that choosing the right excursion can make all the difference.
The Downsides
No holiday is perfect.
Our biggest disappointment came before we'd even boarded.
Our boarding time wasn't confirmed until quite late. By then we'd already arranged transport to the port and arrived more than two hours before we could check in. The holding area had nowhere near enough seating for the number of passengers and, with only one toilet available, it wasn't the best start to the holiday.
The other major disappointment was the entertainment.
Technical problems meant one theatre production was cancelled and others moved to a much smaller venue. Illness amongst the performers led to another cancellation. In the end, only three of the seven advertised evenings of theatre entertainment actually took place where they should, and none of the major production shows went ahead.
We completed Princess' post-cruise survey, highlighting both the many things we loved and the areas where we felt improvements were needed. A few days later, we received a personal call from one of Princess' Guest Relations representatives, who thanked us for taking the time to provide such detailed and balanced feedback. It was reassuring to know that our comments had been read carefully and that both the positive experiences and constructive suggestions were genuinely valued. That level of attention to guest feedback left a very positive final impression and showed that Princess is committed to listening and continually improving the experience it offers.
So... Is Cruising for Us?
The answer is... yes.
But perhaps not in the way you might expect.
We probably won't become people who cruise several times a year.
For us, a cruise isn't a replacement for spending two relaxing weeks in one destination, city breaks or more adventurous holidays..
However, it is a wonderful way to experience several places in one holiday without constantly packing and unpacking.
The ship was very comfortable, the staff couldn't have been friendlier, the food was genuinely outstanding and we visited places we'd probably never have reached otherwise.
Would we cruise again?
Definitely.
In fact, there are already a few itineraries on our wish list, particularly Alaska, where the journey itself is every bit as spectacular as the destinations.
I think that perhaps, cruising isn't about becoming a "cruise person."
Sometimes it's simply the perfect way to experience parts of the world that are best discovered from the sea.
Final thought...
As a travel consultant, people often ask me whether I'd recommend cruising.
My answer is simple: it depends on what you're looking for.
If your dream holiday is spending two weeks on the same beach with a favourite restaurant around the corner, or deciding what you want to do when you wake up in the morning, cruising may not be for you.
But if you enjoy waking up somewhere new, unpacking just once, experiencing different destinations, enjoying excellent food and service, and letting someone else do the travelling between places, then it really is worth considering.
For us, it won't replace every holiday—but it has certainly earned its place as one of the ways we'd love to explore the world again. And who knows? Alaska may well be next.
