Cruising | @ieattravelwrite

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Have you sailed yet? Here are 7 reasons that may change your mind.

SEVEN REASONS TO BOOK A CRUISE

I have always been the type of person who spontaneously travels to a destination, with no preplanning. When I came across an interesting cruise itinerary to French Polynesia last year, I thought twice about whether I should book it or not. I loved the itinerary, but the idea of spending a week on a ship seemed questionable. I am used to being on the go every day, but at the same time, it was a great deal that I did not want to pass up. So I booked it and had no idea what to expect.

Does the destination matter most to you when booking a cruise? For me, the cruise line is just as important. Find out why.

HOW VIRGIN VOYAGES IS MAKING WAVES WITH THEIR CRUISING EXPERIENCE

Virgin Voyages is a cruise line that I have been eyeing since 2022. The design of the ships, reviews I came across, the many perks offered (more about this below), all impacted my decision to book with Virgin Voyages. I was just waiting for the right time. Did you know that Virgin Voyages has also been nominated for 11 awards in 2023 alone? They are also the first brand to win 5 awards (Best Overall Cruise Line, Best Dining, Best Service, Best Cabins, Best Value for Money) from Cruise Critic Cruiser's Choice Awards.

Booking with Atlas was more a question of convenience and price (Atlas had a "Buy One Get One" offer at the time). Another place I looked for last-minute offers was Freestyle Adventure, a company based in Ushuaia.

AN HONEST REVIEW OF ATLAS OCEAN VOYAGES JOURNEY TO ANTARCTICA

I started doing more research on Antarctic cruises in November when I came across some last-minute offers and group tours that were being promoted on Instagram. However, I still found it out of my budget (Starting at $6,995 USD). The research continued on until I narrowed down my choices to 3 cruise lines: Swan Hellenic, Hurtigruten, and Atlas Ocean Voyages. Hurtigruten is the most experienced in sailing in Polar waters, and though Swan Hellenic and Atlas are newer companies, I was looking into booking with them because of the dates that worked with my schedule.

I spent hours researching the right itinerary and ship to make it happen. The one that caught my eye was Celebrity Cruises, as I remember the unforgettable experience I had the first time I sailed with them in 2022. However, when looking at sailings based on my availability, I only found a sailing that would be longer than 10 days, which would be impossible with my tight work schedule. So I opted for MSC Cruises.

MY HONEST REVIEW OF MSC'S NEWEST SHIP EURIBIA

Norway is a destination I always wished to visit. Following my past travels to Antarctica and Alaska, I knew that seeing the Norwegian fjords is something I would have to do at sea, rather than taking a road trip.