My Favourite Cruise

About 6 years ago my wife and I decided to try out our first cruise. It’s difficult to remember now why we decided to take a cruise, instead of our normal beach holiday.  We didn’t know anyone who had been on a cruise, we were in our late 20’s and had always enjoyed the traditional beach holiday and going out for dinner at the local restaurant’s.

However, for whatever reason, we took the plunge and every year since we have been on several cruises. Now 20 cruises later we haven’t looked back.

Something I always get asked when I tell people about how many cruises I have been on is “which is your favourite cruise line/ship” to which I normally reply with a long pause and then tell them how I always struggle with this question! Now this might sound like a cop out, but it’s the truth! You see I can honestly say I have thoroughly loved every cruise I have been on, but always for different reasons. There are some things I prefer on some ships like on NCL I love the freedom of eating when I want and where I want, and not having to get dressed up, particularly now as I have a young daughter which makes life easier. However that’s not to say that I don’t enjoy the formal side because I do! This was something I really looked forward to when we cruised before my daughter was born and again when we had a weekend pass and had a short 2 night mini cruise whilst she was at her grandparents.

I love P&O the most for the standard of dining and entertainment. The 5 course meals, excellent steaks and great cheese board followed by an after dinner show with the quality of any I have seen in the theatres at home.  For me the evening tends to end a little too early though compared with NCL or RCCL . Now don’t get me wrong I’m not saying there’s no entertainment happening after midnight on P&O because there is, it’s just that the night club on Epic was still packed most nights until well after 2 am and for me I like to have that choice.

I love the live music that is played by various bands round the pool deck whilst I’m in the Jacuzzi with a cold beer but this isn’t on every ship! Would it put me off sailing with that cruise line absolutely not because there is probably something else that I’m going to like which isn’t available elsewhere, so for me it’s just a compromise I am willing to take.

I loved Celebrity for that extra quality of service, cold towels and sorbet being brought round the pool deck on sea days; it was a nice touch and just a small example of the extra level of service you receive. The sunset bar and grassed lawn on Equinox has been by far the most beautiful outside area on any ship, great whilst sailing through the Greek isles watching the sun set.

The indoor pools and Spa on Anthem of the Seas are out of this world and were perfect when I was sailing out of Southampton in April, would I appreciate them as much if I were sailing in a warmer climate? probably not!

I guess what I’m trying to say is there really is a cruise ship out there for everyone and for every occasion and destination no matter what your tastes are. On every ship there is something a little bit different to your last that will leave a memory that will have made your holiday special. As more and more new ships are being built they will have more innovative ideas and my list of likes and perhaps dislikes will, I’m sure, continue to grow.  It’s just understanding what things are most important to you and finding your perfect match.