The interior stateroom I had on my most recent cruise could fit at least four times into the apartment I currently call home. But in many ways, the apartment is smaller.
That’s despite the fact that the windowless cabin barely had enough room for a double bed and a desk, and had a bathroom in which one, even if so cruelly inclined, could not swing a cat.
It’s because the stateroom is much, much bigger on the outside. Not bigger than the entire world, but big enough to take me there.
And it’s certainly bigger than the immediate surroundings of my home — with far more facilities and fun options in easy walking distance than even the most luxurious resort.
Cruise ships are marvels of modern design. No space is wasted, and yet nothing ever seems cramped.
Certainly a balcony cabin with a view to the point where the sky meets the ocean is better than an inside cabin; and a suite with butler service, separate bedrooms, a spa and a mini grand piano is better yet.
But being at sea, for me, is superior to being in a landlocked apartment building, or even a spacious house with a generous back yard — because it represents the ultimate in freedom.
The room is a place to sleep, but it is part of a living organism that pumps with life 24 hours a day. Broadway-style entertainment, restaurant-quality dining, activities, enrichment courses, exercise, relaxation and rejuvenation … it’s all there. As is the opportunity to meet interesting people from far-flung places.
And, let us not forget, how else can you visit many different ports, in different countries — even to the point of travelling around the globe — without having to constantly pack and repack?
If there’s a better, more affordable, less stressful way to see the world at a comfortable pace, somebody please tell me about it.
