Cruising is more than a vacation — it's a lifestyle.
I learned this back in April 2022, when I embarked on my first-ever sea voyage on one of the largest cruise ships in the world, Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas.
Several passengers I spoke with told me that every vacation they take is a cruise. They return to the same cruise lines over and over again because it's the only way they want to travel. These seasoned voyagers told me that they've spent hundreds of nights at sea in the process.
And it's hardly a small group of people. Cruise Lines International Association expects 35.7 million passengers to set sail in 2024, Reuters reported in December 2023.
During my first voyage, I saw why cruising is so popular. There was something special about waking up in the middle of the ocean.
At the same time, sleepless nights due to rough waters, crowded communal decks, raucous kids, and a lack of activities that interested me led me to the conclusion that cruising simply wasn't for me.
However, just over a year after my first cruise, I decided to try again — but this time, on a different type of ship with a new set of cruisers.
I embarked on a 7-day, luxury, adults-only Mediterranean cruise onboard Virgin Voyages' Valiant Lady ship.
I hoped that a ship with upscale details that was free of children and had more activities geared towards adults would change my mind about the vacation style.
Turns out, I was right.