JUST A perfect DAY
We can all enjoy magic moments on a cruise, says Check In’s Neil Simpson
FOR me, it’s a (very) early cup of coffee on the first morning of my holiday. That’s one of the moments I look forward to the most on a cruise.
It’s when I start to really explore my still-sleepy ship, knowing the whole day, and my whole holiday, stretches ahead.
So, what’s your own special moment on board?
I love the fact that almost everyone I’ve asked has a different answer.
Lots of us cherish the first moment we step into our cabins.
Stretching out on the bed seems to be a high point, knowing we’ve no more packing or moving to do.
‘I love realising I don’t have to see my suitcase again for a fortnight’ was how one friend put it.
SMILE
Others told me their special memory came later. It was the moment the breakfast waiter remembered their order before they even sat down. And it was the smile with which he served the meal.
Friends with two young children said their top cruise moment came when the pair headed off to the kids’ club without a backwards glance – and they knew they were really making friends.
Another unexpected joy of a cruise is the chance to do things that are unaffordable on land. Or to do things that are simply more comfortable at sea.
For a lot of people, that means seeing West End-style shows without West End prices. It means sitting in wider, softer theatre seats where there’s plenty of legroom and no queues for the loo.
Overall, though, the special moments people talk about most include the excitement and anticipation of a brand-new itinerary. One friend says her biggest holiday joy is sitting in her cabin with a marker pen and highlighting all the events and excursions she wants to try as the days unfold.
EXCITEMENT
We’ve tried to capture some of that excitement in this special issue of Check In.
We want to share the joy of a cruise holiday – whether that’s on an ocean or on one of the world’s great rivers.
Big ship or small, family group, couple or solo traveller, there’s a great cruise waiting somewhere for all of us.
On page 13 we show there’s no better place than a ship for young families and multi-generation holidays: the kind of get-togethers many of us are in need of after the past few years.
On page 4 we focus on three very different cruises around the warm waters and paradise islands of the Caribbean. There’s a glorious trip arranged by the experts at Titan Travel and two dream cruises with passenger favourites Hurtigruten and Tui.
If it’s entertainment you’re after, then cruises never disappoint.
I’ll always remember the first live show I saw on a cruise out of Florida’s Cape Canaveral, many years ago.
It seemed cutting edge at the time. But it’s nothing compared to the performances on big ships today.
BROADWAY BOUND
Take a look at page 12 to see what’s on stage at sea this year. The programme with the likes of P&O and on Norwegian and MSC ships is Broadway quality. Many of their performers may indeed be Broadway-bound.
On smaller river cruise ships, which we feature on page 8, magic moments come equally fast, not least because the excursion lists are so comprehensive. These are the holidays to pick if you want someone to do all the research for you. All you have to do is relax and you’ll see every sight in town.
Excited but wary about crowded airports? On page 14 we’ve got plenty of inspiration for sunny no-fly cruises with companies such as Ambassador, MSC, Great Rail Journeys and P&O.
Book soon to make a new set of magic moments on your own cruise. I can heartily recommend starting very early in the day, coffee in hand, and feeling like the king of the world.