Phew, it’s been one stressful year, and we could all do with a break right about now, don’t you think?
However, with travel restrictions for Summer 2021 still lingering in the balance, we don’t blame you if you’re a little worried about booking a holiday this year.
Anticipating both this desire to travel and a certain degree of trepidation, many cruise lines are enthusiastically marketing voyages for 2022 and even 2023, hoping to capitalise on the collective desire for that freedom which only the open seas can bring.
We were very excited to hear about the launch of a new British cruise operator, Ambassador Cruise Line, which is homeported in Tilbury, Essex.
The voyages will firstly take in some of the gorgeous maritime routes found in European waters, with the maiden voyage heading to Hamburg in April 2022. Other inaugural trips focus on Norway’s UNESCO protected fjords and Baltic treasures, before January 2023 sees the course set for further afield, with Cuba and the Caribbean an early highlight of the year.
Chairman Gordon Wilson told the Telegraph that “There’s a certain style and cachet to cruising – and we want to bring that back’’, adding that the Ambassador Cruise Line hoped to call to mind a stylish and traditional maritime experience.
He did stress that this did not mean it would be “stuffy”. But with the wind in your hair and sails, and a sea-shanty in your heart, we don’t think there’s much danger of that.
So, gearing up for 2022 and beyond, we’re starting to consider cruises in a new light. You should, too. In celebration of the new launch, here are 6 IDEAL reasons to book a cruise for your next holiday.
CONFIDENCE IN HYGIENE
With the beginning of the pandemic giving cruise ships something a bit of a bad rep – remember when they became “floating coronavirus superspreaders”? – one could be forgiven for being apprehensive about booking a cruise.
However, as reported by the Times, “Cruise lines have adopted more stringent health and safety measures than any other sector of travel or hospitality”, and these measures have only become more refined as our understanding deepens regarding how COVID spreads.
Indeed, as CNT Traveler points out “cruise lines have a wealth of experience in managing outbreaks—and over time, have incorporated safety considerations that you won’t find on flights or in hotels, making them particularly adept at responding when things do go wrong”.
From banning self service buffets to investing in no-touch technology and air purification systems, a whole host of steps have been taken by different cruise liners to ensure the safety of passengers and staff. If that wasn’t enough, crew members now have to “undergo strict quarantine and testing regimes”.
As reported by National Geographic, last year German-based Hapag-Lloyd Cruises set the gold standard for post-pandemic travel, with “30 completed trips carrying more than 4,000 guests, no COVID cases have been reported.” If safety is a concern, cruises are a great way to get back into the holiday spirit.
GREAT VALUE FOR MONEY
Yes, we know it’s crude to start talking about money quite so early on (that bit’s usually reserved for the footnotes, right?) but since cruises represent such good value, we just had to bring it up.
Cruises are actually pretty affordable when you look at the nightly cost compared to staying in a hotel offering similar amenities, and on top of that, because fares tend to be all-inclusive, you don’t have to worry about other costs associated with ‘going out’.
Of course, if you’re planning to pay top dollar for a premium cabin on a top luxury cruise, then it will inevitably be a little more expensive, but when compared with travel and accommodation in a five-star hotel, say, you’re going to get more bang for your board on a cruise.
The Telegraph reports that “Cruises on Ambience will go on sale in June, with indicative prices for a seven-night European cruise from £850pp, full board.” With everything taken care of, who could argue with that?
Cruise ships are the ultimate all-inclusive holiday experience; a vacation where everything is paid for before you board. What’s more, rumour has it that there’s some incoming turbulence for the price of airfares and as airlines implement greater biosecurity measures and ramp up cleaning on aircraft, prices and wait times could increase, with availability also affected.
STRESS-FREE PLANNING
Decisions, decisions. Nope, when on holiday, we like to keep those to a minimum, thank you very much. Holidays are meant to be relaxing and calming, however, we all know, with the constant push and pull of where to go for dinner, which sites to see and whose tastes to prioritise, holidays can turn out to be surprisingly stressful.
However, a cruise requires very little planning on your part – everything is included – from the multiple destinations on the itinerary and pre-arranged excursions tours inland with a tour guide, all the way to all-day dining options.
You can avoid the hassle of the airport, too. When it comes to packing, while cruise ships set out their own weight limits, they are a little more lenient on luggage allowances. Moreover, most don’t charge passengers extra for bringing bags on board. Royal Caribbean, for example, offers a generous weight limit of 90kg per passenger.
No wrestling with your conscience over packing a second pair of shoes, then!
Read: 6 fun things to do on cruise ship sea days
SO MANY DIFFERENT ITINERARIES TO CHOOSE FROM
One of the best things about a cruise is the sheer variety of choices available in terms of when and where to go. If you’ve got the option of ditching reality for 131 nights spent exploring the world and ticking every item off your bucket list in one fell swoop, then you can choose a round-the-world cruise. And the best bit? You only have to unpack once.
But if you only have a few days to spare, that’s completely doable, too, with Ambassador’s maiden voyage to Hamburg we just mentioned being spread across just a long weekend. Perfect!
That’s not all. Should you wish to visit multiple Christmas markets in Europe in one foul swoop and come back with a Christmas haul of hampers and souvenirs like no other, then that’s easy, too.
As Conde Nast writes “We’re now entering the golden age of travel by ship, where there’s a cruise out there for everyone”, and we couldn’t agree more. There’s a diverse set of itineraries available when cruising, with intrepid and trepidatious travellers both catered for.
ENJOY SLOW TRAVEL & SEE THE WORLD FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE
The pandemic has slowed everything down, make no mistake. As we learn to live with the consequences of the pandemic in 2021 and beyond, we’re keen to embrace a new and stripped-back way of experiencing the world.
Here at IDEAL, we’re making it our resolution to carry over this newfound slower pace to life into our future travels and going on a cruise embraces this. Life at sea is slower than on land, and personally, that sounds pretty good to us right now.
Simply enjoy the views from deck, even if all that involves is staring into the boundless abyss of the open waves. There’s no better sight to take in if you’re pondering life’s biggest questions, or simply looking to clear your mind for a while.
What’s more, the sunrises and sunsets from a high vantage point on board are uniformly, reliably fantastic. Once you’ve seen the sun come up on another glorious day traversing the seas, all you have to worry about is what to have for breakfast!
AMENITIES, ENTERTAINMENT & COMMUNITY
‘’You’ll never get bored onboard’’, as cruise connoisseurs love to say. No, really. There’s entertainment provided at every turn, with dinner, dancing, games and performances all part and parcel of the cruise trip package. What’s more, there’s a real sense of community on board.
According to the ABTA, cruise holidays are rising in popularity across all age groups, with more people swapping their traditional holiday for an ocean excursion and making friends for life along the way.
On a cruise, you’re likely to meet like-minded people you have something in common with – even if that something is just a fear of flying! Cruises can be sociable affairs (helped along by the freeflow bubbles, sure) and there’s a wonderful sense of camaraderie on board. Wouldn’t you love a bit of that after a year stuck indoors with your dog?
THE BOTTOM LINE
The global pandemic has got us re-evaluating practically every facet of our lives, and where holidays are concerned, the idea of going on a cruise feels pretty tempting right now. With abundant itinerary options, fantastic entertainment on board, safety and hygiene taken very seriously and all the tedium of planning taken out of your hands, an adventure on the open seas sounds like just the ticket for 2022.
If this is your inaugural voyage, then do check out our 5 IDEAL tips for cruise first timers before you set sail!