Let’s Talk About Cruises!

Summer is just around the corner, and many families are counting the days to their long-awaited vacation! 

Some opt for a trip to the beach to soak up the sun and play in the sand and waves. Others want to experience the thrill of hiking adventurous trails or the accomplishment of climbing a mountain. Maybe, for some, it’s the lure of a theme park and a famous mouse, where you can visit the “happiest place on earth!” For many, though, one of the most popular ways to vacation is a cruise. Cruises come in a number of shapes and sizes, and they also offer choices when it comes to numbers of days and locations to visit. One size certainly doesn’t fit all when it comes to cruises!

Cruising is on the rise for US vacationers. 2025 set a record for the number of those who opted for a cruise, and 2026 is expected to top 2025, with a predicted 21.7 million American passengers, according to AAA. While there are always first-time cruisers, the percentage of those planning to cruise again is about 91%, proving that those who take a cruise thoroughly enjoy it.

So, what makes cruising such an appealing option for vacationing? For we central Texas folks, let’s start with convenience. We are fortunate to have a first-class cruise port in Galveston, which is a short three-and-a-half-hour drive from Hutto. This is important for one main reason … you can drive down early morning the day your cruise embarks, and you don’t have to pay for a hotel room the night before! 

Likewise, when your cruise returns to port, you can generally be back home by around noon on your return day.  Contrast that with a cruise out of somewhere further, such as Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, Seattle, or even New Orleans, where you need to fly in the day before and spend a night. Some believe they can catch an early morning flight to one of those distant ports and still get there early enough to board on time. That’s great …until you have a flight delay or cancelation.

The cruise ships wait for nobody when it’s time to set sail!

Another appeal to cruises are the options of ship sizes, durations of cruises, diverse destinations, types of activities on board, and excursions when you are on land. In addition, some cruises are very family oriented, with special kids clubs and water activities, while others cater to an adult crowd. One thing they all have in common is food, food, and more food! For those who enjoy a sip or two of adult beverages, drink packages are a popular add-on. For those who can’t cut the connection cord, you can even subscribe to wi-fi packages that allow you to never be away from your email and give you 24/7 access to your social media to post your adventures as they happen!

Cruises are available all over the world.

For US passengers, 72% choose the Caribbean, Bahamas, or Bermuda as their destinations. For those going out of Galveston, cruises primarily focus on the Western Caribbean and Mexico, featuring popular ports such as Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico, Roatan in Honduras, or Belize.

Most of the major cruise lines also have their own private island in the Caribbean and often include a day stop for amazing beach time, food, and drink. It’s a day on an island reserved just for the passengers of that cruise brand, sometimes with only one or two ships porting at a time.

Another cruise destination favorite is Alaska, with about 7% of all US cruise passengers making the trip to the beautiful northwest. Unlike the convenience of driving to Galveston, however, an Alaskan cruise will require you to get to a port city such as Seattle or Vancouver, Canada, the day before your cruise (unless you really like living on the edge and trust your airline to get you there the morning of departure … not recommended!).

An Alaskan cruise is far different from something in the Caribbean. While the on-board experience might be similar (still great food and limitless drink options, as well as entertainment), the day sights and land excursions are often breathtaking.

Imagine seeing the terminal end of a glacier from a ship, or watching eagles soar and whales breach from your balcony! The beauty of an Alaskan cruise will be etched in your memory forever. The Mediterranean is another popular destination, welcoming about 5% of US cruise passengers each year. While a Mediterranean cruise is logistically and financially a little tougher, the wonder of visiting beautiful European beaches or coastal towns is limitless. 

Another segment of cruising that is becoming more and more popular are the European river cruises often seen in advertisements featuring Viking cruises or AmaWaterways, for example. Unlike ocean cruise ships that carry anywhere from 2,000 to 8,000 passengers, river cruises seldom have more than 150 passengers.

These are basically floating hotels that navigate famous rivers and stop daily at historic European cities, such as Amsterdam, Venice, or Budapest, giving passengers a chance to visit charming cathedrals or castles and tour multiple cities in one trip, or to visit legendary Christmas markets on a Christmas river cruise!  If a river cruise is more your speed but you don’t want to fly to Europe, there are multiple options in the US, too, including the Mississippi River or rivers in the western portion of the US.

Cruises allow you to be as active as you want, or to just kick back and truly relax. There’s never a dull moment … unless you want there to be!

If you are one that in intrigued by cruising but a little reluctant to hop in, there are three- and four-night options that allow you to test the waters (pun intended). If you are concerned about sea sickness, there are patches or prescribed pills which reduce the effects.

Cruises are a very affordable way to enjoy a vacation that fits almost anyone’s fancy, from amazing theater-style musicals to energy-filled casinos; from water activities on-board to a day of snorkeling at port; from a fancy steak and seafood dinner to an endless buffet (at every meal). There are late night comedy clubs with up-and-coming comedians or relaxed lounges with talented musicians.

The fun of a cruise ship doesn’t end until you leave!

We have been fortunate to experience all of the various cruises mentioned above, and we are always happy to discuss the pros and cons of cruising with first timers. Our service is free to you! We do the work so you can make the memories!

Todd & Katy Robison, Dream Vacations

BookOurNextTrip.com

trobison@dreamvacations.com; krobison@dreamvacations.com