Before cruising, I felt like being on a cruise was like being trapped at sea… That was always my gut reaction, which, in truth, plays on some phobias of mine. I imagined that I would find myself on a boat 24/7 with nothing before me but water, pining away, hoping to hear ‘Land Ho’ from the crow’s nest. All hope of seeing land again was lost…

Dramatic much?

After experiencing several cruises, I realized that outside of days at sea – more on that later – sea time on a cruise is mostly spent when I wouldn’t necessarily be roaming the land’s mountains and beaches anyway. It is while I enjoy dinner and a show and throughout the night when I am resting. Ultimately, I overlooked that I wasn’t on land as I had things engaging me during seatime rather than looking forlornly at sea hoping to see land.

Turns out, I don’t actually feel trapped on a boat. The cruise itinerary is designed to offer a balance between sea days and port visits, allowing me to wake up each day with new scenery and destinations to explore. The flexibility of the itinerary also means that if I ever feel like staying on board and enjoying the ship’s amenities, I have that option, too.

I can no longer say it’s like being trapped on a boat when, during my cruises, I’ve spent:

• afternoons lazing around the world’s favorite beaches on Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Cozumel, Bimini, Bahamas, St. Barths, St. Maarten, British Virgin Islands, US Virgin Islands, etc.

• days interacting with local birds and wildlife in sanctuaries

• days exploring sites, both ancient and modern, destroyed by stratovolcano volcanoes, which have been my most treasured experiences

• days exploring the places inspiring myths and legends like the River Styx, Odysseus’s trials in the Odyssey (so many of these!)

• days exploring historic towns, castle ruins, and lovingly refurbished forts

• days exploring the Mayan ruins on horseback in Cozumel

• days looking at the fabulous shopping from my chair by the pool on the ship, knowing that I could hop off to shop and adventure – but I liked my spot too much, so I didn’t…

I can do this all day…

Needless to say, my perspective has shifted, and I now view my cruise ship as a unique floating city – or hotel, depending on the ship’s size. The ship offers a variety of amenities and entertainment options, from pools and lounges to theaters and arcades and even adventure activities like laser tag and climbing walls. Each new day is the opportunity to explore a new place should my heart crave adventure… or I could stay in my floating city and enjoy these fantastic facilities.

Aside from learning to enjoy the times at sea rather than viewing it as entrapment, I have come to appreciate the times when enjoying a meal or drink with a great view and watching the infinite blue sea stretch in all directions. It’s a humbling experience to realize just how small I really am in this great, big world. Seeing nothing but water puts my blip of existence into perspective, and my soul loves it! It’s a moment of tranquility and reflection that I cherish on every cruise.