I used to be always on the transfer in 2022, with 10 cruises, 44 flight segments, and 13 nations beneath my belt. Whereas I definitely made reminiscences this 12 months, I additionally discovered just a few classes that can change how I cruise with Royal Caribbean in 2023.
I began 2022 with two back-to-back solo cruises to the Bahamas and the Japanese Caribbean.
In March, I boarded Surprise of the Seas—the biggest cruise ship on the planet—for a 7-night crusing to Labadee, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas.
Only a month later, I headed again to the Caribbean with a cruise to Mexico and one other to the Bahamas.
In June, I cruised from England to Spain and France and later from Greece to Montenegro, Croatia, and Italy.
As summer time got here to an finish in August, I boarded the least expensive Alaska cruise I may discover.
Simply three weeks later, I cruised to Mexico earlier than ending my 2022 travels with a 4-night cruise to the Dominican Republic in November.
I turned a seasoned cruiser in 2022, however the 12 months got here with loads of trial and error, from regretting reserving shore excursions to realizing solo cruising isn’t my cup of tea. Listed here are 8 issues I discovered in 2022 that can change how I cruise in 2023.
I cruised solo for the primary time in 2022. Whereas I loved it, I feel I’ll follow cruising with family and friends.
In 2022, I spent most cruises crusing with mates or household, however I additionally tried solo cruising for the primary time on two ships. Cruising solo appeared daunting at first, nevertheless it wasn’t as nerve-wracking as I initially thought it will be.
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On my solo cruises, I discovered that I struck up conversations with fellow passengers extra typically than common, resulting in new friendships and connections onboard. I additionally cherished the liberty I needed to do no matter I wished, at any time when I wished.
Nonetheless, I discovered myself wishing I may have shared the expertise with a buddy or member of the family. A few of my finest cruise reminiscences have been these I’ve skilled with family members, whether or not island hopping with my dad and mom within the Bahamas or sipping rosé in France with considered one of my finest mates.
In 2023, I plan to deliver a buddy or member of the family on most of my cruises. I don’t thoughts spending a while alone in port or on shore, however as an entire, I feel I favor to share the cruise expertise with another person.
I discovered a $240 cruise deal to Alaska in 2022. In 2023, I plan to search for extra low-cost last-minute cruise offers
I booked the most cost effective Alaska cruise I may discover in 2022 and set sail on a 7-night one-way crusing from Vancouver to Seward. Whereas the value ended up being greater than the $240 cruise fare after taxes, charges, and gratuities, it nonetheless provided a unbelievable worth for such an outstanding trip.
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Discovering low-cost cruise offers is at all times a pleasant shock, and I plan to maintain my schedule open to last-minute cruises in 2023. Although we sometimes advise reserving cruises far prematurely, my expertise with a budget Alaska deal made me desperate to see which last-minute cruise offers pop up this 12 months.
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I felt seasick on a cruise ship for the primary time in 2022. In 2023, I’ll make sure that I at all times pack motion-sickness remedy.
After cruising as soon as a month in 2022, I felt invincible when it got here to seasickness. Even in what I assumed had been “uneven” waters, I felt fully high quality!
On my Alaska cruise in August, nevertheless, I felt seasick for the primary time ever. As we started crossing the Gulf of Alaska, I began to really feel in poor health. Fortunately I by no means acquired bodily in poor health, however the identical can’t be mentioned about my journey companion!
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I used to be relieved I remembered to pack movement illness remedy in my toiletry bag to Alaska, as I hadn’t at all times performed this on earlier cruises. When you can get hold of movement illness remedy onboard, it’s far more handy to have seasickness treatments in your cabin already.
I’ll you should definitely pack Dramamine or different motion-sickness treatments for all my cruises in 2023.
I discovered myself missing freedom on organized excursions in 2022. This 12 months, I received’t e-book cruise line excursions.
Nearly each time I e-book an organized shore tour I discover myself regretting the choice. I’m not a fan of structured sightseeing to verify gadgets off a listing; I favor to discover locations alone schedule.
I discover that almost all shore excursions are likely to contain loads of ready round for different members within the group. Once I discover alone, the tempo of the day is as much as me. Plus, organized excursions are virtually at all times costlier than exploring by yourself.
Due to my previous experiences with organized shore excursions, I received’t be reserving any cruise line excursions in 2023. I’ll, nevertheless, make an exception for excursions that provide experiences I can not do alone, such because the Uncover Scuba lesson I took in St. Thomas final 12 months.
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Whereas I can see some good thing about reserving by means of the cruise line for shore excursions that require lengthy journey occasions from port to the vacation spot (i.e. excursions to Rome or Paris), I’ll be sticking to exploring alone in port this 12 months.
I employed a non-public information in port for the primary time in 2022, and the expertise was so nice that I plan to do that a number of occasions in 2023.
I encountered an sudden itinerary change on a cruise in November, with our itinerary altering from the Bahamas to the Dominican Republic. Having by no means been to the Puerto Plata cruise port earlier than, I had no thought what to anticipate.
Whereas the port itself gives greater than sufficient to maintain guests busy for the day, I wished to expertise the town highlights exterior the gated port space. The town’s principal points of interest didn’t appear walkable from the cruise port, so I employed a taxi driver for $100 for the complete port day.
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I had full management over the place I wished to go and the way lengthy I wished to spend in every place, which was a unbelievable method to see the port in comparison with a crowded tour bus. I additionally had a customized, pleasant native information with me alongside the way in which to level out fascinating locations to go to in Puerto Plata.
I’ve already booked a non-public tour information for a port cease in Roatan this February and am trying ahead to exploring different ports this fashion in 2023.
In 2022, I flew on 44 separate flight segments. Fortunately, I by no means missed a connection, however I’ll you should definitely e-book longer layovers in 2023.
Sadly, regardless of being a cruise blogger, I don’t stay inside cheap driving distance to a cruise port.
Due to this, I discover myself spending a lot of time in airports. My house airport is kind of small, so I typically have 1-2 layovers to achieve most cruise ports. Touring to port—together with private journey—led to 44 flight segments in 2022, probably the most I’ve ever flown in a single 12 months.
I’m at all times paranoid about lacking my cruise resulting from airline delays and cancellations, so I often schedule layovers which are round 2 to three hours lengthy as a substitute of an hour or much less. This ensures I’ve wiggle room in case my first flight is delayed.
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A couple of occasions in 2022, nevertheless, I had layovers that had been beneath an hour in size. At any time when this was the case, I used to be a nervous wreck. If my first flight was delayed even a half hour, I may miss my connecting flight to the cruise port.
Fortunately this by no means occurred, however I’ll be extra cognizant of layover occasions when reserving flights in 2023. I’d a lot slightly wait in an airport lounge for just a few hours than frantically run to my gate!
After 10 cruises in 2022, I discovered myself losing interest on sea days. I plan to e-book extra port-intensive itineraries in 2023.
Whereas there are numerous actions to maintain passengers busy on a Royal Caribbean cruise, I spend extra time than most on cruise ships resulting from my work with Royal Caribbean Weblog. After 10 cruises in 2022, I discovered myself feeling stressed on sea days.
A method I’ll counteract this in 2023 is to sail on extra port-intensive itineraries. Cruises with just one or two sea days in every week versus three or 4 work a lot better for my journey fashion. I really like with the ability to discover a brand new port almost daily on a cruise whereas nonetheless having a sea day or two to chill out.
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For example, I virtually at all times choose a Western Caribbean cruise over an Japanese Caribbean cruise. 7-night Western Caribbean sailings sometimes embody 4 port stops whereas 7-night Japanese Caribbean cruises (from Florida) solely embody three port stops.
Having an additional port cease within the Caribbean means I can get pleasure from extra time on the seaside, strive extra scrumptious Mexican meals, and have further time to follow my Spanish expertise.
In 2022, I sailed from 6 embarkation ports. In 2023, I’ll plan to spend extra time in my embarkation ports earlier than my cruise.
From Vancouver to Athens, I sailed from a wide range of cruise ports in 2022. For many sailings, I arrived within the port solely someday earlier than my cruise started. And though this supplied ample time to reach earlier than my ship set sail, it didn’t depart a lot time for exploring these world-class locations.
In 2023, I plan to spend extra time in my embarkation ports earlier than and after my cruise. I’m already trying ahead to exploring Sydney earlier than my South Pacific cruise this fall and consuming my means by means of Vancouver earlier than my Alaska cruise this spring.
