I took my first cruise with a girlfriend back in 2000. It was a 3-day, 2-night sail from Key West to Coco Cay and back again. She had free tickets and I lucked up. That was the first time I ever snorkeled in the open ocean. I was hooked. While I realize that not everyone loves cruises, the great time I had back in 2000 served as partial inspiration for Indie Cruise.
This gorgeous picture was taken by Kenna Cote of Modern Soapmaking on Indie Cruise 2015. Capturing beautiful images like this is one of the many reasons I love cruising. Here are more.
What I Love About Cruises
- The sunsets
You cannot beat the beauty of a brilliant orange sun sinking “into” the open ocean. One of the best ways to experience it is from the deck of a cruise ship in the open ocean.
- The activities
No matter what you love to do, you can do it on a cruise ship. Gambling. Dancing. Shuffleboard. Swimming. Sun bathing. Rock climbing. Putt Putt. Eating. (Lots and lots of eating, and the seafood is naturally delicious.) Drinking. (Even more of that …) Meeting new people. Lounging. It’s all there, and you don’t have to walk very far to get it.
Oh, and of course, Masterminding! It can be a challenge to nail down the best location for Masterminding aboard a cruise ship, but we managed to get better at it every year. There are also lots of open spaces on board a ship for impromptu Masterminding as well.
- The movies
Cruise ships tend to have at least one night where they erect a massively huge plasma screen so you can watch movies. One year, Indie Cruise took place during Superbowl weekend, and we go tot watch the Big Game on the top deck. That was fun. Movie night is awesome in a group, but don’t forget your blanket because it’s quite chilly on board after dark.o
- The live entertainment
Each boat is different, but we’ve experienced everything from ice skating to Mowtown acts and comedy gigs on Indie Cruise.
They also offer classes of all kinds. For example, one year, we took a class on how to make cupcakes. Then, of course, we ate them.
- The shopping
There is tons of duty free shopping on board a cruise ship. The last night of the cruise is typically he best time to buy. The merchants line up in the mall area outside their shops and reduce the prices on just about everything in an effort not to have to go to the trouble of removing it from the ship.
- The staff
The staff aboard a cruise ship comes from all over the world. They were name tags with their country on them. It’s fun to listen to the different accents. I especially love to learn about their country and how they ended up working on a ship. Their stories are interesting, and sometimes, quite heartbreaking. They are always kind and caring no matter what. One of my greatest joys is to leave a generous gratuity for them for helping me enjoy my trip.
- The formal dinners
Most cruise vacations include at least one formal dinner where the cuisine is ratcheted up a notch and you can order unlimited lobster tails. These nights are always fun. They usually include a massive conga line, and the entire wait staff serenades the guests. The captain usually comes out on formal dinner night and personally greets as many people as possible. It’s like one humongous party with people you will never see again.
- The spa
The therapists on board a cruise ship are remarkable. They come from all over the world, so your treatments are often nothing like what you are used to at “home.” My favorite part is the massages. In fact, when Indie Cruise takes place on a ship, a group of us makes a bee line to the spa almost as soon as we board because they are giving out free head and neck massages. We often book our treatments right away because they tend to will up fast.
What are your favorite things to do on board a cruise ship?