It’s become official, over the past 4 years I’ve been on 5 cruises and have fallen a cruise lover! Planning and taking holidays is a BIG deal to our family, we love to travel and explore. As someone who is a recovering alcoholic I’ve written to you all before, sharing my Tips for Sober Travel but today I’m going to tell you why taking a cruise is one of the best choices for a sober traveller.
Perhaps you’re not actually sober and you’re reading this…don’t worry it will still be relevant if your holidays aren’t centred solely around how much booze you can get for free. This wee piece will shed light on all there is to do on a cruise…other than drinking alcohol.
5 Reasons to Take a Cruise – for Sober Travellers
We have just stepped off of a 7 Day Western Caribbean cruise with Carnival Cruise Line so my thoughts are fresh and clear. Cruising sober doesn’t have to be a snore, in fact on Carnival ships there’s so much to do that you may find you forget to relax! Carnival Cruise Line recently invited me to experience the cruise in exchange for sharing my experience here and on social media, but don’t mistake it…these thoughts are my own opinions!
1 – Friends of Bill W Meetings – Each day while cruising, Carnival slips a “Carnival Fun Times” document under your door where you can see a schedule of everything happening on the cruise ship that day. Look closely and you’ll find a Friends of Bill W meeting taking place usually once every day. This is a great way to meet other sober travellers and keep connected and supported during your cruise.
2 – Serenity Now – On many of Carnival’s ships there is an adult-only area which is called Serenity. This is a quiet location with hammocks, loungers and yes serenity. This is a great spot to reflect and unwind without the high energy found in other locations onboard.
3 – Coffee, lemonade and more! – All over the ships there are free beverage stations where you’ll find coffee, tea, lemonade, iced tea and water. These are easily found and if you’re anything like me, you’ll be refilling on the coffee often. There is also a delicious coffee bar on select ships where you can purchase your FAV speciality coffees and desserts.
4 – Alchemy Bar – Does it seem weird that I’m telling you to go to a bar? Well Alchemy Bar on Carnival Cruises are different! Their mixologists know their stuff and there’s no syrups to be found here; when you’re looking for a flavour-filled speciality non-alcoholic beverage this is the place to go! Using fresh ingredients, this is the perfect antidote to all that pre-vacation stress.
5 – FUN Culture – Carnival is tooted as the “Fun Ships” and this shows itself as true in the laughter and energy onboard. This isn’t a booze-centric environment because the bars aren’t all-inclusive. For me that matters! On cruises I don’t often see folks hammered by mid-day the way I can at all-inclusive resorts. There’s a very different feel to the atmosphere as travellers are busy seeing all there is to do onboard.
Of course some will over-indulge on a cruise but this isn’t the focus of the ship. Instead, folks are enjoying Bingo, Game shows, Theatre shows, sliding down Waterworks, working out on the top decks in open-air gyms, enjoying the spa, trying new things at the Taste Bar, enjoying fabulous food, learning new dances in the lobby and pool decks, having quiet time in the library….holy cow there’s something for everyone!
If you’re sober and you’re looking into taking a holiday, be sure to take a look at all that cruising has to offer.
What an AWESOME way to look at it! A sober cruise is the only way to go.. LOVE it! :)
I loved following along on twitter and Instagram on your Carnival Cruise. Loved seeing the care and waitstaff going out of their way to accommodate everyone. This is what my husband and I have been talking about is taking a cruise with our kids as there is so much fun and entertainment aboard and to have the chance to see many beautiful destinations in one trip. Thanks for the post.
Thanks for sharing! It’s nice to know cruises aren’t all boozy boozy – I get tired of all inclusive place touting this – you miss have your vacation this way! And I’m set to cruise in the fall, so I’m excited!
An awesome way to look at an adventure. I will vicariously live through you !
I am so gald they have a bar full of drinks with no alcohol and you look so relaxed on the hammock!
I have never been on a cruise and most likely never will go on one. I am not a water lover and with my luck the ship would sink when I was on it. My brother in law and his wife are going on their 5th cruise soon but its just not for me. You look like you are having a great rest on the hammock.
I want to take one but I’d need to be drugged up. I can’t even sit on a swing without feeling dizzy.
I love cruising, and have noticed the “Friends of Bill W” meetings also on Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruise Lines :)
WOw I heard a lot of good things about here I cant wait to go here.
Looks like a great trip! There is certainly a lot for everyone to do. Thanks for sharing!
Love coffee 23 months sober now just got off my first cruise and it was probably one of my biggest battles…seeing all the partying and alcohol everywhere… if you aren’t ready to be in that atmosphere and you’re working on sobriety I would plan a different type of vacay …to each their own and thanks for sharing