Give up cruise control and go cruise crazy instead

If you’ve ever been on a cruise, you understand things normal vacationers simply cannot grasp – yet. If you’ve moved beyond a novice cruiser (1 or 2 cruises) to an addict (1 or 2 cruises – a YEAR!), you understand that your cruising addiction can be a positive force in your life.

Instead of denying your cruise cravings, embrace them.

While friends watch movies, you re-watch videos from past cruises. Some people barely glance at junk mail but you comb through each piece of paper, hungrily searching for cruise brochures. Like most folks, your fridge may be blanketed in family photos and to-do lists – but magnets from every port you’ve ever visited hold them there.

The joy you experience in cruise memorabilia (and marketing) is unbounded.

Not sure if you’re a cracked-up cruise addict? If you agree and can relate a personal experience to ANY of the points below, it’s time to accept your fate – and book your next cruise!

1. Embarkation day feels like a trip to the carnival. You saunter across the gang plank with musicians playing and costumed people snapping your picture – and you aren’t even on the ship yet. And once you’re onboard, it’s time for the fancy shmancy umbrella drinks. Better than a roller coaster ride any day!
2. Paying for a cruise is done in installments. Depending on how far ahead you book your cruise, you can go months before any money is due. Think of the cruises you could plan over the next decade.
3. Cruise countdowns are all you can think about once you’ve paid your down payment. On your phone. On your laptop. On the bathroom mirror. Family members who don’t cruise with you cannot be held responsible for their actions under this kind of pressure.
4. Booking a cabin without a balcony is a stupid idea. Sun on your face, salt in your hair with the waves lulling you to sleep and waking you up, not to mention private seaside sunsets and sunrises. Let nature have her wild way with you and think of the money you’ll save on hair products and cosmetics.
5. Sleeping late on sea days is the best. Face it you’re either out of control on sea days, honing in on every craft seminar or volleyball ball game you can suss out or you lounge everywhere, craving nothing but more relaxation. Yup, you’ve got it bad …
6. Waking up early on port days is also the best. Sampling your way through the Mediterranean, Caribbean or a transatlantic world cruise – who could bear to miss a moment? Most ships dock early in the morning and the best shore excursions leave shortly afterward. Sleep too late and you may as well have an at-sea day – which may not be a bad idea either.
7. Menus without prices are divine. Your land-locked friends can’t even imagine, but you’re wiser and giddy with anticipation just thinking about it. Tell your lover to choose whatever she wants because you’re buying tonight.
8. Ordering multiple entrees at dinner. Since you’re buying tonight, tell your lover to order all the appetizers and an extra entrée – just so you can taste it. It’s okay, your server is expecting this and won’t roll his eyes. We promise.
9. Cruises are addictive. Need we say more?

If you’re a cruise junkie, we’d love to hear from you! Share your cruise addiction with us in the in the comments below or shout out to us on Facebook or Twitter. We’d love to hear from you!