Over the past 25 years Caroline Hendrie has sailed on dozens of ocean liners around the world and also sailed many rivers
In the past 25 years I’ve been writing about cruises, I’ve sailed on dozens of ocean liners around the world and also sailed up many rivers.
In conversations with hundreds of passengers of all ages and walks of life, I am convinced that there is a cruise for almost everyone who enjoys vacationing – if only because the ships are as varied as hotels.
Choose from a resort-style ship that is a destination in itself, a boutique riverboat that calls downtown, or a traditional ship with formal evenings for families and adults only.
You can also opt for a relaxed, ultra-luxury superyacht or expedition ship that sails to places unreachable by road or air.
My first cruise aboard the long gone Crystal Harmony set the bar high. I don’t remember much about the food or the furnishings – except that it lived up to my expectations for a luxury ship.
But what made me fall in love with sailing was the warm wraparound teak Boardwalk deck. You have walked around the ship four times and covered a mile, tasting your lungs of fresh air, watching the changing sea and spotting dolphins, distant ships and shores.
And at night I stand by the railing and watch the sun sink behind the horizon.
A good promenade deck will always be on my wish list, so I’m looking forward to the relaunch of sister ships Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity this summer. You’ll find these decks on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 and on Saga’s Spirit of Adventure and Spirit of Discovery, as well as the nine Viking ocean liners.
New Horizon: Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 (above) offers a good promenade deck, reveals Caroline
I’m not the only one who has ever tried a cruise and got hooked.
A recent survey by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) found that 91 percent of UK respondents plan to travel again.
Preaching to you as one of the converts – and over two million of us in the UK traveled in 2019 – here’s my challenge: if you have a favorite cruise line or style of cruising, choose something else. Did you know that an average of 60 ships per month will depart from Southampton this summer alone?
And if you’ve never traveled before, give it a try. You will discover a whole new holiday world.
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James is an author and travel journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a love for exploring new cultures and discovering unique destinations, James brings his readers on a journey with him through his articles.
