From 40 feet to 400

As a keen blue water sailor with 12,000 miles experience I always wondered how I would take to swapping the deck of my 41’ yacht for the deck of a cruise ship. Sea voyages for myself usually mean sleep deprivation, long hours at the helm and a little bit of cabin fever – I felt it would be nice to let someone else do the work for a change and to sit back and relax as a passenger on a cruise holiday . The only night shift I would be doing would be in the bar or tucked up in my cabin with a decent book.

The world of cruise, to be honest was one that traditionally never appealed; it always conjured images of pensioners playing quoits on the foredeck before a night of having your ears assaulted by red-coat style cabaret. Not so any more, cruise ships are modern, floating metropolises with huge amounts of activities and distractions. We’re in an age where the power of the consumer has never been greater, cruise companies realized a while ago that they needed to broaden their appeal and bring in a younger clientele without alienating long time cruise addicts and that’s exactly what they’ve done. Our generation are a travel thirsty bunch, hungry to see as much of the world as they can and a cruise gives you the opportunity to get back in touch with the essence of travel – no departure lounges and delayed flights, it takes us back to the idea that half the fun of traveling is the getting there. Also cruises give you the opportunity to visit multiple destinations. Companies offering Mediterranean cruises mean you can be in the Balearics one day and the next find yourself island hopping in the Aegean, taking in the wonders of a varying cultures and historical sites.

One of the things that appeals to me most as a sailor is the incredible peace of the ocean and the humbling feeling it gives you to be out there on your own. Yes it is uncomfortable, cramped and the food is not always great but for that feeling, that moment, when you look up and the nights is lit up by a million stars, then you realize its all worth it.

Now I didn’t think I would be able to get any peace on a cruise but not so, there is always a quiet spot to think, reflect or just gaze out at the endless sprawl of the ocean. And if you are after activities then there are more than enough to keep you busy at all times with the ever attentive, but not over fussy staff always on hand to advise and help.

So there you have, a sailor turned cruiser in one easy step - maybe many of my kind will decry my actions for not making this voyage under my own steam but I for one found it a relaxing and thoroughly rewarding break (kind of like a hybrid between sailing and a normal holiday) and one I will be repeating in the future.