s a kid, you might’ve gone on road trips, or maybe flown to visit family – but as a young adult, your travel options have expanded. Whether you’re looking to visit somewhere specific, or just want to take the scenic route, a cruise might be just the thing for you (and it may be more within your price range than you think!). Today, we’ve compiled for you:
- Reasons to go on a cruise,
- The best cruise lines for young adults, and
- Tips to get the most out of your cruise
So hop aboard on this wonderful journey with us!
Why Go on a Cruise?
Set Your Sights on the Unknown
Every form of vacation or travel has its perks, and cruises are no exception. If you want to do any of the following things, going on a cruise is a great way to do it:
- See new sights. See some whales. See the Aurora Borealis. See the ocean stretching from horizon to horizon, or go snorkeling in the South Pacific. The exact sights, of course, will depend on your cruise line – but going on a cruise unlocks a lot of once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that would be otherwise unavailable to you.
- Meet new people. You’ll be spending a few days – or maybe even a few weeks! – on a boat with the same people. Whether you become lifelong friends or have a brief but meaningful moment in the spa, it’s a great way to make connections and talk to people you’d never otherwise meet.
- Engage in new cultures. A lot of the stops along the way on your cruise may be new to you – it’s a great way to get a glimpse of life in other places, see beautiful landmarks, and learn a little bit about the local culture (just be sure to do your research, and treat the locals with respect – they’re not props).
- Disconnect. Stressed about life on the land? Take to the sea! (Or, as Ishmael so poetically puts it, “This is my substitute for pistol and ball. With a philosophical flourish Cato throws himself upon the sword; I quietly take to the ship”. We hope you aren’t that stressed, but it certainly is a good way to decompress) Stare at the rolling waves for a while, or have a marg and lounge by the pool. There are plenty of amenities to keep you occupied, and it’s a great chance to turn your phone off for a few days (many modern ships do provide WiFi, but it may be part of a package – and signal can be spotty in the middle of the ocean).Â
The Best Cruise Lines for Young Adults
Visit exotic locations, or see stunning onboard performances
There are a lot of cruise lines out there – but which one is the best for you? Well, that depends on your tastes! We’ve collected some of the most top-rated cruise lines for you, though, with emphasis on their beautiful locations and diverse amenities and itineraries. First up:
1. Carnival Cruise
Make your vacation a real party with Carnival Cruise. Sail to Ho Chi Minh City, Honolulu, Belize… with a whopping 30 ships in their fleet, Carnival Cruise can take you just about anywhere (and if you take one of their older ships, you can get some great deals – Carnival Radiance has cruises as low as $180 per person for a 4-night cruise). If you’re bringing along young ones, Carnival Cruise has kids clubs and various other itineraries to keep them occupied, but if you’re looking to get away from it all, most of their ships also have a Serenity Adult-Only Retreat. Combine that with sea coasters, comedy clubs, a game-filled SportSquare, and plenty of bars, you’re guaranteed to have a blast no matter which ship you choose.
2. MSC Cruises
From the Canary Islands to Cape Town, and even Dubai, Tokyo, and Helsinki, MSC Cruises has beautiful destinations all over the globe. With extensive buffets (including everyone’s favorite, a free continental breakfast), theater shows, open-air sports facilities, spas, and more, you’ll never be bored on this luxurious cruise. As a bonus, MSC Cruises runs a promotional savings event that allows children under the age of 17 to sail free on select sailings, meaning you won’t be breaking the bank by bringing your kids along.
3. Viking Cruises
Want to feel not only refreshed, but also enriched? A Viking ocean cruise might be calling your name! This adults-only cruise line visits locations all over the world (often tracing historic paths), and they take their cultural knowledge very seriously. Disconnect from the world you know, but enter another, with destination performances (Greek dancing, Portuguese fado, and so much more), resident historians, port talks, onboard cooking classes (with dishes that highlight upcoming destinations), and even curated libraries. Viking Cruises is all about learning more about the world around you, all through a combination of hands-on experiences and lessons and lectures from experts.Â
4. Norwegian Cruise Line
Looking for a lengthier cruise? Nothing beats a Norwegian Cruise Line holiday. Right now, it has lots of 2-3 week cruise options – with options like spending 21 days sailing from Athens to Dubai, or 19 days traveling from Singapore to Sydney, you can certainly get your fill of the open sea. Of course, NCL has plenty of options for shorter cruises, like a 4-day cruise around the Bahamas. With award-winning casinos, musical and theatrical performances, spas and gyms, and even a quarter-mile oceanfront promenade on select vessels, you’ll never be bored in between your on-shore destinations. As a bonus, kids sail free under select circumstances.
Cruise Tips & Tricks
Don’t Get Stranded Without A Clue!
Packing
Make sure you’re packed properly for travel. Bring weather-appropriate clothes, and maybe a poncho if you’re in the rainy season. Don’t forget your meds (try to bring along a couple extra doses, just in case your travel gets delayed, or you lose/drop a few pills, since you won’t have access to any refills for a bit). If you’re someone who can be a bit scatter-brained, try making a packing checklist – that way, you know you’re not forgetting anything on your way there, and you can use it to make sure you don’t miss anything when you’re packing up to go home.
(❗TIP❗: Rainy seasons and other weather phenomena vary by region, so make sure you know what the climate is like where you’re going when you’re going, and in any regions you may be passing through on your way.)
Budget Cruises
Cruises are stereotyped as being for the rich, but there are plenty of more affordable options for those of us who aren’t exactly rolling in it. Some of these options include:
- Older vessels. Just because they’re older doesn’t mean they’re rickety and unsafe – these vessels are still beautiful and often have been refurbished, they just might be smaller, have less amenities, or travel shorter or less popular routes.
- Shorter itineraries. Overnight or 3-4 night cruises are often cheaper.
- Repositioning cruises. These are one-way cruises when a ship is moving from one way to another, often at the beginning or end of a season (also known as a shoulder-season). Depending on the length, the overall cost might be higher, but the nightly rates are often cheaper (just be prepared for how you’re going to get back home).
- Shoulder-seasons. Traveling earlier or later in the season than most people can net you cheaper rates, usually due to things like less-than-ideal vacation weather (such as cool temperatures and rain), or flora and fauna being less active in the more picturesque locations. Just be sure to pack weather-appropriate clothing, and look into travel insurance in case your cruise is delayed, canceled, or rescheduled.
Dealing with Seasickness
Chances are, you won’t really have to deal with seasickness at all – most cruise ships are large enough you won’t feel the rocking back and forth of the ship on the waves, which is usually what causes seasickness (since, really, it’s just motion sickness under a different label). Most of the motion you might feel is typically at the bow (the front of the boat) and the stern (the back), so as long as you stick more towards the middle of the boat, you should be good.
Just like motion sickness, you can also medicate seasickness, either with a prescribed medication or something over-the-counter like Dramamine – these medications typically work best if you take them before you’re feeling unwell. You can also take antinausea medications if you start feeling sick anyway (or forget your medication), both over-the-counter or, if you see your doctor in advance, prescribed (ondansetron, for example, is a great, gentle-on-the-body antinausea medication, perfect for seasickness… or a hangover).
Show Respect to the People Around You
You’re all in the same boat (heh). Keep things pleasant for everyone around you. This means:
- Don’t be late. Cruises are often on very strict schedules, and they can and will leave without you if you’re not at port on time. Not only is being late just plain rude (no, the other passengers shouldn’t be held up on their cruise just because you lost track of time at an on-shore bar), but it can cost you a bundle of money if you do get left behind.
- Respect the crew. Listen to their instructions, and do what they tell you. Everything they do is for safety and efficiency. They’re not trying to be a buzzkill when they tell you a room is at capacity, or not to climb on structures. They’re trying to make sure everyone makes it safely to their destination. As for the cabin staff and cooks, just like in a hotel, they’ll be taking care of a lot of your needs, like cooking your meals or cleaning your cabin while you’re out. But remember, these are courtesies. Your cabin steward is there to tidy up blankets and take out the trash – they’re almost certainly not paid enough to deal with bodily fluids, broken glass, or other serious health hazards.
- Respect the locals. We said it before, but it bears repeating. While this is your exotic vacation, it’s their everyday life. If you live in a popular tourist destination yourself, like Chicago, NYC, or London, you already know how obnoxious, disrespectful, and entitled tourists can be. It’s the same everywhere else. Don’t take pictures of strangers, don’t try to enter off-limits areas, and don’t expect everyone to know English.
- Don’t get wasted. Whether it’s your first time drinking, or you’ve been on your fair share of pub crawls in the past, it might be tempting to try the dazzling array of fancy drinks and cocktails your cruise offers all at once. But remember – any nausea you feel during or after drinking will only be heightened by the ship’s motion, and showing up hungover to on-shore activities is no fun (for you, or for the people around you). Drunken behavior is also irritating to both other passengers and crew (ever had to deal with that guy in a bar, or had your loud upstairs neighbor come home stumbling drunk and wake you up? Don’t be that guy).
Setting Sail
Ready to Brave the Seven Seas?
With all this under your belt, you’re ready to set out – find the perfect cruise for you, and mark that bad boy on your calendar. Once that’s done, start looking up on-shore activities, and if you’re not familiar with the local languages, start practicing (you don’t need to be fluent, by any means – basics like “Hello,” “Thank you,” “Do you speak English?”, and “Two beers, please” are often enough for you to navigate at least basic interactions). Get ready to have an unforgettable time at sea!
