Cruises are the best vacations for introverted travelers. Here's how I make them work for me.
Terri Peters
- As an introvert, cruises are one of my favorite ways to travel and recharge.
- I wake up early and go on walks around the ship and take myself to dinner.
I've been writing about my family's travels for over a decade and traveling for even longer. I'm also an introvert who gets easily overwhelmed by crowds and finds energy in moments of quiet solitude.
But even as a seeker of alone time, cruising remains among my favorite ways to explore the world.
Although heading onto a ship packed with thousands of guests may seem off-putting for introverts like me, cruising is among the best types of vacations I've taken from a recharging standpoint.
While at sea, there are plenty of moments, spaces, and activities perfect for taking time away from the chaos of the crowds. In fact, I'd even argue that cruising is one of the best vacations for introverted travelers.
I recently sailed aboard Princess Cruises' Caribbean Princess during spring break, when the ship was at its more than 3,000-passenger capacity, and never found myself feeling socially spent or overwhelmed by others.
Here's why cruises are great for introverts — plus, my advice for anyone who wants to recharge and take some "me time" on a cruise vacation.
And with cruise ships projected to be packed as ever this year, even extroverts could use these tips to find some much-needed peace on board.
First of all, some cruise lines are much more peaceful than others.
It's important to choose a cruise line that fits your travel personality.
Since my family knows me and my son are introverts, we choose cruise ships that attract a more calm clientele and offer a more elevated experience.
I've sailed with a few lines, but my family often chooses Princess Cruises because its ships are a bit calmer and more elevated than those packed with water slides and rock-climbing walls.
Plus, the more attractions and activities a ship offers, the more likely the people on it are seeking a louder, wilder time.
Ships often have quiet times in the early mornings and late nights.
I've found the two times when a ship's decks are virtually empty are early in the morning and late in the evening.
For most of the day, the busy main pool decks of the Caribbean Princess were full of revelers enjoying the spring-break sunshine, but in the morning and evening, things were much quieter.
Not having to fight the crowds to get a chair on the pool deck makes for a relaxing time of watching the ocean or reading a book quietly.
There's nothing like a morning walk with ocean views.
Each morning on a cruise, I set an alarm for 7 a.m. and wake up before my family to go for a walk around the ship.
The Caribbean Princess had a jogging track on one of the lower decks, and walking there while taking in sweeping ocean views was a beautiful way to start my days and burn off the stress caused by being around other people.
Although our ship offered a fitness center and group fitness classes, I found the peaceful outdoor track to be the better option for my introverted self.
Coffee and a good book are the perfect way to usher in the day, too.
Morning routines truly are an introvert's key to powering up for long days of cruising, whether those days include time in the pool or adventures in various ports of call.
After my morning walks, I'd grab a coffee and head to one of the ship's upper decks, where I'd read for a bit, getting caffeinated and ready for whatever each day would bring.
When the ship is crowded on sea days, I head to the spa.
My most recent sailing included three days at sea, meaning we did not get off at a port for about 72 hours straight.
On sea days, the ship's main areas are way more crowded, so I always book a spa treatment to escape.
On my recent trip, I booked a seaweed wrap and massage and spent time before and after the 90-minute service relaxing in the spa area, sipping infused water, and reading in my cozy robe.
Most ships have adult-only areas, which are often quite calm.
Another day-at-sea tip for introverts is to take advantage of the ship's adults-only areas.
Even if you're traveling with children, it's perfectly acceptable to send them off to the kids' clubs on board while you relax in a much quieter atmosphere.
The Caribbean Princess had an adults-only pool area available to all guests. Still, we took our seclusion a step further by renting a cabana in The Sanctuary, the cruise line's exclusive deck area just for grown-ups.
There, I recharged in complete silence by reading in a pool lounger overlooking the ocean.
Having a solo dinner on a cruise ship is amazing.
On one night of every cruise, I take myself on a little date, sending my husband and kids off to explore the ship together while I have dinner on my own.
I curl up in my chair with a good book and eat my dinner peacefully while I allow my body to relax and unwind from a full day of activities.
With no one at my table to chat with, I have time to recharge and quiet any stresses I've felt throughout the day.
In fact, cruising makes it easy to be alone and entertained for an entire evening.
On my sailing aboard the Caribbean Princess, I treated myself to dinner and a show.
Since the cruise line offered performances nightly in its onboard theater, I was able to head there after dinner to watch a show in darkness and solitude.
Yes, there were hundreds of other guests in the audience, but since I wasn't with my travel party, I didn't need to make small talk with anyone and was able to soak in the relaxing vibes.
But it's also OK — and easy — to blend into the crowd.
Another way I take some time for myself while cruising is to choose a few activities on the ship's entertainment schedule each day to attend alone.
From a paper-flower-making class to cooking demonstrations, our ship had plenty of interesting activities on offer each day.
Among my favorites? Sitting in on a trivia or game show-style activity all by myself — a team of one, ready to use my brain only for thinking of answers, not for making small talk.
Lastly, there's nothing more recharging than a cruise-ship nap.
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the bliss of a cruise-ship nap, which I took full advantage of most afternoons and reaped the benefits of.
After all, there's nothing quite like being rocked to sleep by the ocean at 3 p.m. after a long day in the sunshine.
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