During the 1990s, the famous American writer David Foster Wallace found the cruise industry guilty of having ‘nearly lethal comforts’. Travellers around the world have been writing off cruises for being ‘too mainstream’ and the epitome of crass tourism. However, the modern cruise industry has changed a lot and emerged as one of the most luxurious yet culturally enriching vacation experiences. The 21st century cruises are much more than only buffets, silly pool games and beaches. Nowadays, whether you are travelling cross country on a mega cruise or sailing off into the sea on a yacht, you will surely have plenty of opportunities to immerse yourself into the unique, local cultures of the places you are visiting. Here are 5 reasons why you must try going on a cruise holiday for your next trip.

1. Immersive experience

Modern cruises are as much about luxury as they are about immersing their guests into the new cultures and ways of the destination they are travelling to. Most of the cruise lines conduct guided expeditions to the shores, where you will be able to learn all about the place you are visiting. You can learn all about the history, politics and culture from your guide or through pre-recorded audio. You can talk to the locals, visit unexplored places by foot or even cycle to remote locations before getting back to your ship. Many cruise tours also organise local cultural and dance shows and serve local cuisines.

2. Visit lesser known locations

You can reach a lot of places if you go on a cruise which can be quite hard to go by lands. Especially if you are cruising on a smaller sized ship or a yacht, then you will be able to dock at and visit many smaller ports and town. The beaches or the localities in these ‘off the beaten path’ destinations are much less crowded, and you will be able to enjoy a much more personal time while you are on the land.

3. Hustle free tour planning

Some of us might be ashamed to admit this, but planning a trip is a tough job. There are so many information and things to know about a new place. Planning the perfect holiday to a destination which you barely know nothing about can be pretty hectic, and if you do not invest enough time, your plans can go haywire. However, going on a cruise takes all of these problems away. The whole itinerary is already planned, there are no worries of booking hotels or travel tickets and you won’t have to research anything. Just book a cruise and you can be sure to explore a destination just as it was meant to be explored, without the added burden of researching about the place yourself.

4. The ultimate luxurious experience

Relaxing during a vacation is really important for many travellers. And cruise tours provide you with the most relaxing and luxurious vacation experiences you can ever imagine. From luxurious cabins on the cruise ship with private decks to top of the line hotel rooms, from gourmet dinner to a choice of on the house beverages, from on board swimming pool to spas and casinos, cruise ships are equipped with some the most pleasurable experiences you could wish for.

Value for money

This can be a bit hard to imagine, with the generally high price tags that come with the cruise tours. However, if you calculate everything that comes with a cruise tour, the flight tickets, the luxurious accommodation, the delectable food and beverages, the guided expeditions, you will see that the price you pay is actually really reasonable for the services you get. Add in the convenience of taking care of all the planning for you, and you will see that cruise tours are actually the best value for money trips you can go on.