Traveller’s Tales: All About Cruising
I can remember being a small child, sitting at the kitchen table after my first cruise and telling my parents that one day I was going to work on one. Fast-forward 15 years and although working on a cruise ship may not be in my near future, I can still ramble for hours about the floating cities.
To this day, I am STILL convinced there is no greater euphoria than the moment you step onto a cruise ship. The wooden deck below your feet promises a week of unbelievable adventures. The moment you first walk into the grand piazza, and see the chandelier, the grand staircases, takes your breath away.
There’s a stigma surrounding these beautiful luxury liners. Some believe they are basically retirement homes on water, and lack in fun or adventure. But I can assure you that there is nothing better than lying on deck, breathing in the sea breeze and feeling the sun on your skin, or chowing down in the all-inclusive restaurant or buffet, or climbing a rock wall at sea for that matter.
Today, cruise ships are the greatest source of relaxation and entertainment around. In 2004, one cruise line came out with the first outdoor, poolside theatre at sea! These massive LED screens ranging from 250 – 350 square feet are used for movies, concerts, Guitar Hero or other video game competitions – I even watched the 2010 Soccer World Cup on a cruise ship outdoor theatre (and cried a little inside watching the Netherlands loose to Spain on such a big screen). Nowadays, it’s unusual to find a cruise ship that doesn’t have a screen under the stars where you can kick back on a lounger, sip a cold drink and watch the latest blockbuster.