Why Choose a Cruise?

Traveling has always been a passion of mine. One of my earliest memories involves taking a train from Mississippi to Illinois, enjoying chicken and chocolate cake from a picnic basket under the gentle glow of the cabin lights. When I recounted this story to my mother years later, she remarked that I couldn't remember because I was barely a year old at the time!

Fast forward over 65 years, and I still experience that same sense of wonder whenever I venture to new destinations, as well as to some familiar ones. In 2019, I took my first true vacation since 1980—a series of exciting adventures that continue to this day. This included my first cruise and my first visit to Universal Studios, making for an overall exhilarating experience.

This brings me to why I believe you should consider going on a cruise—with me. More details on that will follow.

You might wonder why choose a cruise? Here are my reasons:

A cruise offers the perfect escape from daily life. Being in the middle of the ocean can be both humbling and incredibly relaxing. And if you find yourself craving more activity, most ships feature bars, casinos, and pools. Initially, I feared getting seasick, but after five cruises, I've never experienced it. Most of my voyages have been smooth, and the ports of call are not to be missed either.

My first cruise was on the Carnival Sensation (retired in 2022), a smaller ship with a capacity of around 3000 people. We visited Key West and Cozumel—places I once only dreamed of seeing. I booked this cruise in December so I could enjoy the festive atmosphere of the holiday season. The joyful spirit of fellow passengers made the experience even more special.

My most recent cruise was aboard the Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas, a significantly larger ship accommodating about 4,500 passengers and crew members, yet it carried the same festive vibe I encountered four years prior.

In September 2023, I reserved a spot on Royal Caribbean's newest Freedom Class ship, Utopia of the Seas, for another cruise in December 2024. I'm eagerly anticipating this weekend party on one of the largest and newest ships afloat.

Looking ahead, I plan to take even more cruises in 2025 and will provide additional information about a group cruise before and after hurricane season. Stay tuned for more updates.