Why People Stay on the Cruise Ship

While on my first cruise, I made an observation, there is a large subset of cruisers who stay on the ship, even on days when the boat is docked at a port and everyone is free to leave and explore.

What I found even more interesting was that many of these people are seasoned veteran cruisers. My middle school-aged son ended up making friends with several kids whose families had been cruising 5 to 10+ times, often taking multiple trips a year.

It made me realize exactly what cruise lines get right, cruising is, at its core, a vacation that completely coddles you. The business model is simple. You pay a one-time fee (mostly), and from that moment on, you don't have to think. Granted, they certainly try to get you to spend more money on excursions or premium experiences, but generally speaking, everything you need is taken care of.

Your food is prepared and readily available. Your entertainment is scheduled and easily accessible. Your living and sleeping areas are meticulously maintained by housekeeping staff who make it a point to get to know you. If you have kids, there are dedicated clubs and activities where they can run off, make friends, and be supervised by staff.

It creates this incredible bubble. If you are willing to exist within that bubble, it serves as a protective vacation that requires almost zero mental effort once that initial cost is paid.

I realized that this effortless, white glove catered experience is the draw. It’s why folks keep going back for more, choosing it over standard land based vacations that require planning, driving, and constant decision making.

Because of this bubble, when the ship finally docks at a city where you can get out and explore, many people simply don't want to leave their comfort zone. They will choose to stay on the ship, or they will happily pay a premium for a cruise provided excursion just to maintain that catered, predictable experience.

For me, I like a little variety, a bit of the unknown, the discomfort, at least a bit of it to make it a memorable experience. Because I have found in those moments on vacation, where you do push yourself a bit, is the time where you create the unforgettable memories, and the stories you tell later.

That is exactly what happened when we ventured out, with no plan just make the plan when we got off the ship. We ended up trying some unexpected things, had an encountered with the Mexican Coast Guard (thankfully got out of that), found some amazing food, made a friendship with a boat captian we stay connected with.

I will likely go on a cruise again, but I will continue to seek adventure at each place we can hop off and visit, and likely keep those adventures unplanned.