Cruise Ships are successful because many people want to visit exotic destinations without encountering the risks of a  navigating a foreign culture. A cruise ship offers a means to maintain the safety and comfort of a middle class existence (air conditioning, western food, entertainment, English speakers, clean private rooms) as well as the opportunity to sample diverse cultures and locations. Simply put, a cruise ship can take many of the things you like about your life in the developed world and park itself in almost any harbor in the world. For many, this is attractive. Although not for me, I understand the allure of an exotic vacation where everything from where you sleep to what you will do when you get to a port is elegantly choreographed. Problematically, the very lifestyle that motivates most cruisies [cruise-ee-s] (people who repeatedly spend their holidays on cruise ships) to spend anywhere from 3 days to 6 months on a cruise ship, is almost exactly opposite the lifestyle and motivation that drives a person to put a few sets of clothes in a backpack and head out to see the world.

Backpackers be warned. Although, a repositioning cruise (a cruise that starts in one port and ends in another) may be an excellent and cost effective way to move from one destination to another there are several things you should know.

The Good

Eating Olympics: If you have been on the road for several months, your inner hobbit is likely grumbling about all of those days in Europe where you skipped a meal or lived on cheap pasta or bread and cheese. (I have an external hobbit. Natalie likes to eat 6-8 meals a day so every time I skip a meal, she skips 2.5.) Any cruise ship will allow you to eat like a gluttonous hobbit and you get a well deserved break for washing all of those dishes and making daily runs to the grocery store.

Private Room: Thin mattresses, loud neighbors, and snoring bunk mates are an annoying part of budget travel (not to mention streaking down the hall at 2:00am to use the bathroom). Most days, the overall good experiences of travel allows me to put a thick coating of white wash over these small annoyances, but sometimes I really miss a quiet room and a hot shower. Even if you are sleeping below the waterline, a cruise ship will consistently provide a clean comfortable bed and your own hot shower.

The Ocean: The ocean is an enthralling and beautiful mistress. Try as you might, you will never grow tired of her seductive beauty.

Free Stuff: Especially on “days at sea” (days when your the ship is not in a port) the daily itinerary (it will be delivered to your room) is full of everything from bingo to Texas Hold’em tournaments. Be adventurous and go to odd activities such as the Art Auctions. It may be a bit stiff, but you can usually get free Champagne out of the deal. Remember, you cannot really afford to buy anything on the ship so take advantage of the free stuff.

The People: Cruise ships are filled with interesting and adventurous people. Take the opportunity to talk to the people you meet about places they have traveled. Although you may disagree with them about how to travel, their experiences could help to guide you towards or away from a destination.

Check back in a couple of days for the Bad and the Ugly parts of cruise ships, as well as the nomad backpackers’ final word on what you need to know before getting on a repositioning cruise.

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Tags | Logistics, Philosophy