Reasons To Cruise This Year

Cruising is back but has to deal with new and different challenges than those of 2020 or 2021. Despite the challenges, cruising feels a lot like normal. There are even some benefits to cruising this year! Read on for 8 reasons you should book a cruise in 2022!

1. New ports & destinations.

Bimini opened in 2022 and several of the other ports underwent renovations in 2020 and 2021.

The newly opened port of Bimini with complementary shuttles and fancy new Hilton World Resorts.

Cruise Port Bimini Bahamas — The newly opened port of Bimini with complementary shuttles and fancy new Hilton World Resorts.

2. Ports are excited to see the cruise ships

There is often the idea that people in ports are unhappy to see hoards of people stepping off cruise ships, but since cruising has returned everyone in ports has seemed excited to see the return of cruise visitors. There are less of us than before and many cruise passengers I have spoken to about the ports have talked about making an effort to spend money and support the locals while there.

Ships are getting quite the fanfare when they return to ports!

St Thomas Greeting Cruise Ships — Ships are getting quite the fanfare when they return to ports!

3. Uncrowded buffets and dining rooms

There can still be crowds if you hit it at the wrong moment, but compared to cruising in 2019, lines are short and bottlenecks non-existent.

Yes, these pictures were taken at lunch time. No lines, no congestion!

OceanView Cafe Celebrity Edge — Yes, these pictures were taken at lunch time. No lines, no congestion!

4. Plenty of deck chairs

The internet seems to have this idea about chair hogs. These days everyone might be a chair hog but it doesn’t matter. There are plenty of deck chairs to go around.

Where are the people? Who knows but there are plenty of chairs in prime spots to go around!

Empty Deck Chairs — Where are the people? Who knows but there are plenty of chairs in prime spots to go around!

5. Uncrowded pools

No worries about too many people in the pools most of the time

4 pm on a sea day. You can’t beat these crowds!

Uncrowded pool on the Celebrity Edge — 4 pm on a sea day. You can’t beat these crowds!

6. Extra cleaning

There are letters in the rooms about extra cleaning and there are crew members literally walking the ship constantly cleaning. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anybody scrub the deck chairs before!

Extra Cleaning of Deck Chairs Carnival Cruise — Carnival’s crew was constantly cleaning the deck chairs!

7. Enthusiastic Crew

You can feel that the crew is happy to be back on board. With less ships in service, the crew that have returned are the best and most eager to make sure you have the best experience possible!

Dancing in the main dining room Carnival Cruise

8. Reduced Capacity

The cruise lines are not providing specific percentages of number of people on their ships, but most cruise lines seem to be sailing with a smaller number of guests. This means everything you want to do should be less crowded and more fun!

If you are looking you can always find the negative or the reasons not to cruise, but I have felt safe on the cruises I have been on in the past couple of months. Masks can get hot, but they’re hot at home too. But the lack of people is great!

Do I plan to cruise again in 2022? Absolutely!