My first cruise surprised me…I was a skeptic who thought this would be a “one-and-done” experience, but quite the contrary, my cruise was delightful and a mode of travel I plan to frequently use in the future.
My First Cruise: 7 Things I Liked
It helped that I started in “first class” (or at least “business class”) on Explora Journeys, a luxury division of the Swiss-Italian MSC Cruises, onboard the Explora I vessel. I suspect that if I had started on a cruise to Mexico on Carnival, I’d be telling you a very different story today.
I know I already pointed out what I liked onboard, but want to again underscore why I found the cruise so pleasant.
1. Spacious Suite
I was expecting a closet and wound up with a beautiful and spacious suite (I was upgraded). Even the standard rooms were large with comfortable beds, seating areas, and nicely appointed bathrooms.
My expectation was just a room to sleep in, but it turned out to be a room I greatly enjoyed spending time in.
2. Great Coffee
The vessel’s coffee shop opened early and stayed open late. It was where I began my day in the quiet solitude of the early morning. The coffee was great, the baristas were lovely, and it was a huge value-add for this cruise line (versus autonomic machines that dispense bitter swill).
2. Delicious Food
Every restaurant onboard offered excellent food and the quality was fantastic too (though I tend to be easier to please). I loved that there were made-to-order omelets and fresh squeezed orange juice in the morning, lobster and scallops most nights (treats I do not normally enjoy at home), plus a rotating selection of red meats and fish in The Marketplace Emporium, the main dining outlet onboard that was like a fancy cafeteria. Furthermore, the restaurants onboard offered varied and delicious choices from cuisines around the world. The steakhouse even had a caviar appetizer!
Even nicer: no assigned tables or eating times. You could eat when you wanted and also had your own table (note: the restaurants required reservations, but everyone was guaranteed a reservation in every restaurant onboard at least once).
3. Fitness + Wellness Facilities
Working out and spending time in the sauna is a critical part of my daily routine and I did not have to interrupt that onboard. The gym had a comprehensive selection of modern equipment and the sap/wellness area was quite luxe, with a nice sauna and steam room.
4. Gelateria
Kudos for the gelateria onboard, which my son Augustine loved and I greatly appreciated too. having a dish of gelato with coffee in the late afternoon was one of the favorite parts of our day.
5. No Crowds
I was expecting crowds of people. quite the contrary, there were only about 700 people onboard. Even if the ship was at full capacity (about 1,000 guests), there was plenty of room to move around. This was not like Royal Carribean’s Icon of the Seas, which welcomes 7,600 passengers onboard…
6. All-Inclusive
I despise nickel-and-diming. I despise hidden fees. On Explora, there was neither. Everything was included and I loved access to the wellness facilities without a fee, no tipping jars at the coffee shop or tipping trays in restaurants, and high-speed internet access at no extra cost. What a pleasure not to always have to sign for things with a gratuity line glaring at you.
7. Professional Service
The staff onboard were lovely and it felt like an Emirates flights, with crew from around the world. That brought beauty and differing perspectives, but all were well-trained, gracious, and courteous.
I appreciated that the cleaning staff was invisible ( though I did leave them a tip at the end). We were never disturbed, there was never an annoying knock. Instead, they respected our “do no disturb” or “request cleaning” outside the door: the rooms sparkled.
CONCLUSION
My first cruise was a resounding success and now opens a new way for me to see the world. I greatly look forward to my next cruise and returning to Explora Journeys.
As nice as it was, I’ll next share seven things I did not care for on my first cruise.
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Now I’m curious. Which travel experiences have been one and done? Debut and retirement party all in one.
Being outside in mud in typhoon rain in mountains of South Vietnam ?
@JoeMart: The more difficult African, Carribean, and Pacific Isalnd nations are “one-and-done” as far as I am concrned.
But you never know.
My wife and I absolutely fell in love with French Polynesia (which I suppose is far easier to get to than Pitcairn or Niue)
Interesting comment re Africa. When you say ‘more difficult’, do you just mean Nigeria/South Sudan/Eritrea level of difficulty, or would you include the likes of Angola, Mozambique, and Cameroon (not particularly dangerous or hostile, but tricky to get to, somewhat limited tourism infrastructure etc)?
The latter too. Just difficult and expensive to get to (though relatively safe).
Just took my first “cruise,” as well, albeit not on a cruise ship, but rather, the world’s last true ocean liner, the Queen Mary 2. Sailed from NYC to Southampton on what was a seven day crossing. Cunard (the line that operates the QM2) did an absolutely fantastic job, and was truly the last word in service, luxury, and food. As this was an ocean liner, it was much smaller and faster than your typical cruise ship, thus, it didn’t have the water slides, race tracks, etc, and that floating city feel. I’d say the crowd was mixed…some use it as simply a means of transport to cross the ocean, while others, like me, for a once in a lifetime experience.
Highly recommended, but perhaps not with young kids, as there are not the diversions found on a cruise ship.
Hi Scott, I’d love to try the QEII. I hope to do so one day with the entire family. I’d do so this summer if I had more time…
The QE II is now a hotel and museum in Dubai. The QM II is the replacement.
Hey Matthew, try an Interior Cabin. I’m sure your opinion would change.
This ship has no interior cabins.
Did you have to pay for this cruise and if so, how much?
Yes, I did. Details here:
https://liveandletsfly.com/first-cruise/
Great post. I have never done a cruise, but I might consider this.
I may have missed it, but what does a cruise like this cost?
Normally $3,600 per-person for the seven night voyage, but during “wave” seasons (January – March) it was bookable for $2,520 each, which I considered a good bargain.
We were upgraded – the ship was 70% full – and I think it was because I booked via Kyle’s agency, which does a lot of volume with Explora. It was announced by me that I was a blogger. Even the base rooms seem nice, though.
https://liveandletsfly.com/first-cruise/
I think that’s reasonable certainly for what you get.. and especially broken down by the day. I would even say that’s comparable or possibly slightly cheaper than a similar experience on land somewhere like NYC when you throw in hotel, meal, activities, coffees, etc.
Maybe next time you want to “review” a cruise, try sailing on a a real cruise with real people – not the elitist one percenters who can easily afford Explora Journeys. I’m sure your review would be very different. Give it a shot !!
I thought the price was reasonable…not 1% at all.
Glad you had such a great time. We’re on our way back to Germany (JAL economy, like the little people) after three weeks in Japan. Absolutely love cruising. Have done 21 on major lines (Carnival in ancient times, Celebrity, Disney, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and Princess.). Only one bad one in there. In last 18 months, have done four after skipping six years (pandemic played a role).
Not sure how you’d react to a much larger ship. You were on a tony exclusive deal, although still not elite. But I bet your kids would absolutely love most of the others. We’re booked on a transatlantic on Disney next spring and really looking forward to it.