The Best of Cruise Travel Is the People You Meet

There are many reasons to spend a vacation on a cruise.  Whether it is a short cruise on a party ship to escape winter in a warm climate, or a destination intensive world travel holiday, there is more to the memories of a cruise than souvenirs in your suitcase, photos of faraway places, and the few pounds gained.  The first memory to come to mind of a past cruise is likely to be the new friends made as you shared your days’ events at dinner, the lounges, or the pool with fellow guests.  For me, meeting new people is the highlight of every cruise.  

Where but on a cruise ship might you meet people from all over the world, learn their stories, and grow by the experience? This is a cruise attribute that is not found in the brochures.  You chose a cruise ship itinerary to meet your desires and viola; you are sharing the holiday with people with your same priorities for a fun time.

Since many of the cruise guests I encounter on longer cruises are retired, it is fascinating to learn the stories of the challenges in their lives as they look back with a seasoned perspective on life.  I will not forget the lovely couple that escaped to Switzerland to evade the Nazis entering Poland, only to end up in East Germany when the war ended and the country was divided.  They escaped again and will forever be grateful for the life they were blessed with in Canada.  

Angelika Bangkok, CTH Photo

Andreas and his chainsaws, CTH Photo

I so enjoyed spending time on a cruise with Andreas and Angelika, a young German couple, who represent the new enterprising and humanist Germany.  He is a prison guard who loves to cook and collects chain saws.  She is a business community leader.  Together they are traversing the world, experiencing diverse cultures, and keeping in touch through their whimsical photos.  

Risa and Ed with Guy and I in Morea, CTH Photo

We met Risa and Ed and on a cruise down the Amazon and joined them the next year on a Polynesian cruise that began in Pape’ete.  Only other like-minded adventurers would find a way to have breakfast delivered on a canoe to the sound of a conch and then go swimming in the reefs.  

We have met so many people from Florida that we feel part of the neighborhood.  One new friend told her husband that she would not force him to take one more transatlantic crossing cruise, so she signed up to take him and join us on a transpacific cruise in the near future.  I am withholding her name to protect the fun loving.  On that cruise we will also rejoin David and Chris, the forever-young Aussie couple, who have sent us the most beautiful pictures of the Keukenhoff tulips in bloom, and Rita and Joel of Florida.  

Keukenhoff photo sent by David and David Greinke

On cruises during the days at sea, I tell stories of the ports we will visit.  In exchange, every evening there are new faces to join at the dinner table and new stories to be heard, at least new to me.  Of all the many reasons to enjoy cruise travel, the best delight is the people you meet.  I look forward to seeing you on a future cruise.

Read all Cruise through History Stories in the series available at amazon.com.