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As a travel writer, it's no surprise I spend a hefty part of the year on the go. Some of my favorite getaways have included pool deck lounging in Las Vegas, touring coffee farms in Hawaii, sampling street food in Amsterdam, and improving my dance moves in Latin America. There's also nothing like finding the perfect 24-hour diner in New York City or staring up in awe at Norwegian fjords. But I'm a fan of budget weekenders as much as I am luxury, five-star resorts.

As you can see, travel has been a big part of my life. I grew up road-tripping with the family across the picturesque Canadian Maritimes and driving south along the coastal highway to the Florida Keys. I then became a frequent flyer for the sheer joy of experiencing distant locales. And yet if I were to name my favorite mode of travel, it would have to be by sea. Read on to find out why I will always choose a cruise over any other vacation.

TERKAIT:5 Things You Should Never Bring on a Cruise, Experts Warn.

The value that comes with cruises is unbeatable.

Docked Cruise Ship and Palm Tree
NAN728/Shutterstock

If you book a cruise, it's possible to spend one flat rate and stick to that initial base fare budget because most meals, entertainment, and activities are included—in addition to accommodations, of course. When I compare these costs against doing something similar by land, cruises just seem like the best value.

Sebagai contoh,island hopping in Hawaii is a favorite getaway of mine, yet when I add up the costs for inter-island flights, multiple hotels, a car rental, and, of course, amazing dining experiences, that vacation price tag can quickly become unreasonable. Instead, I find incredible value in the dedicated Hawaiian Islands itinerary Norwegian Cruise Line offers. Every day is spent in a different region on the islands of Honolulu, Maui, Kauai, and the big island of Hawaii, so the experience is incredible and a fraction of the cost of booking all those destinations in one land vacation.

For that reason, I appreciate the all-inclusive approach of cruises. While many choose to indulge in specialty restaurants or pay for excursions, I've often opted for the most economical route by enjoying all of the free offerings available. Yet, when I want an upgraded experience, I also appreciate being able to book my specialty dining or activities in advance. That way I know what my total vacation package costs upfront, and I pay just one bill.

There are endless itinerary options.

Empty Deck on Cruise Ship
Joni Hanebutt/Shutterstock

Whatever my vacation vibe, there's a cruise itinerary for it. In addition to wanting to experience multiple destinations, I seek out onboard wine tastings, Broadway performances on the production stage, trivia challenges, or just soaking up the sun on a pool deck.

For destinations, I tend to look for port-intensive itineraries with just enough sea days to relax, while having full days to stroll charming coastal towns in Alaska or Scotland. Some people prefer quick weekend cruises to the Caribbean whereas I favor 10- to 12-day sailings to maximize my introduction to different towns.AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB.

For instance, one of my favorite cruise experiences was sailing through Europe, Norway, and the Baltics. It was a month-long journey, and I loved every minute of it, sampling food and cultural highlights in two dozen countries. I landed on that particular cruise in part because, for my first visit to Europe, I simply couldn't decide on a single region to fly into. My cruise vacation didn't make me choose.

Instead, I got a wonderful overview of each area, that prepared me for potential future visits. This can be especially helpful when you're first visiting a new region, as a cruise offers a sampler of multiple cities. That way, you can see and sample the highlights, yet not feel committed to one specific town. By exploring three, four, or more cities in a country, you'll discover which location(s) might be ideal to revisit on another trip.

RELATED: For more travel advice delivered straight to your inbox, Mendaftar untuk buletin harian kami.

Cruises force you to slow down.

black woman hair
Shutterstock.

On the flipside of a packed itinerary, cruises are my favorite vacation because they force me to slow down. You can find a way to party morning to night on a ship, but with sea days, there are only so many places you can go. And, during that time, there is nothing quite like the sound of ocean surf below, the shimmer of the sun above, and a wide assortment of leisurely nooks to simply kick back and enjoy the ride.

Di darat, saya jarang meluangkan waktu untuk memanjakan diri dengan sesi spa, tetapi pada pesiar, saya tiba-tiba punya waktu dan akses ke berbagai macamLayanan spa dan fasilitas relaksasi dalam anggaran saya. Saya juga bersenang-senang mencoba cara-cara baru untuk bersinggungan, seperti menghadiri pesta manjakan dengan facial DIY gratis atau bergabung dengan pelajaran tarian baris di dek kolam renang. Meskipun tidak pernah ada kekurangan kegiatan dan acara di kapal, saya selalu rileks hanya sedikit lagi ketika di laut.

Cruises memungkinkan Anda untuk keluar dari zona nyaman Anda.

Row of Jet-skis on the beach
Worachat Sodsri / Shutterstock

Karena kapal pesiar memiliki audiens yang ditawan, mungkin ada beragam hiburan, permainan, pertunjukan panggung, dan restoran lezat.

Setiap kali saya pergi ke laut, saya bertujuan untuk melakukan setidaknya satu hal baru - itu adalah kesempatan sempurna untuk keluar dari zona nyaman saya. Apakah itu berarti menikmati makanan koki selebriti diSELD DE mer Di Holland America atau mencoba mobil balap di Speedway Bliss Norwegia, menghabiskan seminggu di kapal pesiar adalah lingkungan yang sempurna untuk memperluas wawasan Anda.

Dan tidak ada banyak risiko atau komitmen yang terlibat. Pernah ingin bermain seperti anak kecil di aTrampoline Park.? Panorama karnaval memiliki zona langit interior super menyenangkan untuk anak-anak dan orang dewasa. Ingin belajar salsa? Menuju keHavana Club.. Ingin mencoba berselancar tetapi Anda diintimidasi oleh gelombang Maui? Berikan Royal CaribbeanFLOWRIDER. sebuah kesempatan.

Atau, menjadi petualang bisa sesederhana mencoba koktail delima "40 adalah 20" di karnavalAlkimia Bar. bukannya kuno tradisional. Jika Anda tidak menyukainya, itulah paket minuman. Dengan opsi koktail yang tak ada habisnya, bukan masalah besar untuk membuang satu minuman yang mendukung yang lain karena tidak seperti Anda menambahkan lebih banyak biaya untuk pengalaman all-inclusive ini. Berkat kapal pesiar, saya telah menemukan segelintir minuman baru, masuk ke dalam. Setiap kali Anda memesan favorit baru Anda di darat, Anda akan selalu diingatkan untuk pertama kalinya Anda mencobanya di kapal pesiar - dan kenangan benar-benar membuat suvenir liburan terbaik.

TERKAIT:Ini adalah tempat paling berbahaya untuk berada di kapal pesiar, kata para ahli.


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