I've taken over 100 cruises on Royal Caribbean ships, but a lot of people will ask what's so great about going on a cruise.
If you think I cruise a lot, I'm just one person in a much bigger world of people that discovered and fell in love with cruises as their preferred form of vacation.
Not only are there fans of cruising, but it continues to grow every year breaking records each time. According to an industry report, 34.6 million went on a cruise in 2024 and that number is expected to swell to 42 million by 2028.
Someone who has never been on one might be curious what's so great about a cruise and why are they so popular.
Here are six reasons why cruises are more popular than ever.
Cruise ships evolve faster than iPhones
One thing about cruise ships is they're constantly changing in an effort to out do each other.
It reminds me a lot of iPhones or cars, which have to push forward with new features in order to stand out. Similarly, each year new cruise ships debut with new ways to wow its customers.
It's exciting to see what the next ship will have onboard, such as Legend of the Seas debuting with a two story casino, new Broadway show, and an immersive train restaurant.
Royal Caribbean and other cruise lines build new ships not only to add capacity, but as incentive to try a cruise in the first place. Bigger and bolder cruise ships capture the attention of the public and it's lead a lot of people to give it a try.
Unpack once, visit multiple places
Cruise ships may have evolved from ocean liners, but the main premise remains the same: get onboard and see places around the world.
Unlike a hotel or resort, your accommodations travel with you. It's almost like magic to wake up in a new place each day.
This is something unique to cruises, as no other form of travel offers this without repacking and doing the moving yourself.
Plus, the places you visit are quite impressive. You could be at a beautiful port in the Caribbean, docked near a well-known city, or spending the day at a private port.
So many food choices
Royal Caribbean says the top two reasons people go on a cruise with them is for the destinations you visit and the food.
Cruise ships are packed with so many restaurants that going on a cruise just for the food is reason enough to try it.
You'll find a blend of cuisines and dining options: buffets, hibachi, and supper clubs.
And yes, some of the restaurants are included in your cruise fare and there's no limit to how much you can order.
I think the varied cuisines and cooking styles appeal to many cruisers, as does the opportunity to enjoy dinners each night along with a show.
Just like a city, having "dinner and a show" on a cruise ship is quite popular and it's at the heart of the evening options.
It really is for everyone, regardless of age
It's cliched to say "fun for all ages", but cruises truly do offer more for everyone. I think a cruise is well-suited for catering to all ages in a way land vacations cannot compete with.
Every day there is programming and events that offer things to do for kids, teens, parents, adults, grandparents and more.
- Different pools for lounging and splashing
- Water slides to race down
- Stage production shows to watch
- Musicians performing in bars and lounges
- Hosted trivia for groups to compete
- Fitness centers to get a workout in
- Spa treatments
- Shore excursions to explore and learn
Plus, there are more age-specific events too. You'll find gambling in the casino for adults, supervised care in the kids club, and nightly events at the teen center.
What I love about a cruise is you can go with your family, but not feel like you all have to do the same thing at the same time. If I'm visiting a city or historical site with my family, we're all walking around and doing the same thing. On a cruise, we can do our own things before joining back later for family time.
Plus, it's all up to you how much or how little you want to do any of it.
Sleep when you feel like it, eat when you feel like it, do things when you feel like it, live as if time just isn't a thing.
Still the best bang for your buck
While cruises have gotten more expensive in recent years (but then again, what hasn't?), I still think they're the best vacation value out there.
In fact, the value proposition of a cruise makes it a top reason why people try a cruise for the first time.
Royal Caribbean Group executives talk often about the "value gap" between a land vacation and a cruise and why consumers are attracted to cruising.
"The appreciation of so much more you get out of cruise experience than you do by land based [vacations]", Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty explained during an earnings call this year.
What this means is because cruises include accommodations, travel, entertainment, and most food, you get more the cost than you would staying at a resort.
I recently tried a land vacation at Disneyland Paris and while we had fun, the value of a cruise was quite apparent as I started to count all the extra costs that didn't exist on a ship.
Traveling by sea is undeniably stunning
Lastly, going on a cruise ship and sailing the ocean is a lovely way to travel.
There's something inherently romantic and relaxing about being on the ocean and watching the world sail away.
While I don't think watching the horizon from your cruise ship balcony is necessarily the top reason cruises are so popular, I do believe it's a supporting reason why people come back to it.
Sailing on the open sea shows colors you never knew the ocean could produce, and it's incredibly relaxing.
The other reasons in this article are top reasons to cruise, but when your ship sails across the open vista that is the Caribbean, Mediterranean, or Pacific, it's hard not to fall in love with the view.
