3×5 Adventures

Everyone has their own definition of what vacationing looks like. Some people like to sit on the beach with unlimited food and drinks while others like more of an action-packed vacation hiking 14ers in Rocky Mountain National Park. We’ve found that cruising affords us the best of both worlds. One day we can be sitting poolside with a cocktail in hand or watching a Broadway-style show in the ship’s theatre and the next we can be exploring the cobblestoned villages of Europe or hiking glaciers in Alaska. Even if we’re not in the mood to get involved in all the shows and activities we can still be alone relaxing in the sun or even chilling on the balcony with a nice glass of wine. The great thing about cruising is that we can choose how to enjoy it.

For us, cruising is all about the destinations and ports of call rather than the ship itself. You can typically find a cruise to any part of the world. We’ve been able to escape to the Caribbean on a whim simply by driving up to Galveston. Alaska allowed us to see majestic glaciers and whales dancing in the sea. On our most recent cruise to the Norway and Amsterdam, we sailed the beautiful Norwegian Fjords and Artic Circle while also being to explore the historical sites and windmill-lined countryside of Holland. And don’t forget the endless views of the ocean which can become even more iconic with that famous sunset. Cruising offers an unlimited supply of amazing sights and views of the ocean and at the ports.

One of our favorite aspects of cruising is that you unpack only once, all while visiting several destinations. We experienced this on our 13 day Norwegian cruise where we visited eight different ports and cities. No packing and unpacking. The same trip as a land tour would mean packing and unpacking at each destination, and probably living out of a suitcase. You would have to carry luggage on and off buses or a train and endure early morning drives to the next destination. Whereas on a cruise, after a busy day sightseeing, you get to return home to your cruise ship. All you need to do is enjoy a relaxing dinner and perhaps see a show. Cruise ships often sail to the next during the night, while you’re sleeping.

We also enjoy cruising because it’s something our entire family enjoys. We’ve done several cruises with my parents and last summer we did a family cruise to the Caribbean with the kids. Cruising offers activities and experiences that suit a wide range of ages, interests, and activity levels. There are times where my parents will split off during the day to do something different than Denise and I while the kids are hanging out with the friends they made on board. And then we regroup for dinner at night. There is enough to do separately and together to keep everyone happy and still loving each other by the end of the cruise.

And finally, there’s something romantic about being out on the open sea, and something very attractive about leaving cell service behind, escaping into the lap of luxury, and visiting far-off places that might otherwise be difficult to access. And this is why we enjoy cruising.