Is taking a cruise worth it? What you need to know about –

Imagine a building that floats. Sounds absurd, right? Interestingly, there are many of them across the ocean, all over the world. Yes, I’m talking about cruise ships. I, personally, had never set foot in one of these – that is, of course, if you don’t count the countless times I watched Titanic throughout my life – and I feel that I failed miserably to contain my excitement when I realized that, yes, it is. possible to place an 18-story building on water.

But I’m not being accurate, of course. The building is more like a full resort. I was invited by the MSC Cruises team to participate in a trip of a few days, between March 31st and April 3rd, aboard the Preziosa, a monstrosity over 330 meters long and 67 meters high. It’s so big that it couldn’t fit in a vertical photo taken with a cell phone.

Curiosity took me by the hand from the moment I received the invitation until the end of the tour: after all, why do people take cruises? Preziosa is a ship with more than 1700 cabins and capacity for 4300 guests. What drove so many people to the high seas?

ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

Disregarding the Titanic soundtrack that played on loop in my head, I began to understand why so many families, in particular, love the idea of ​​a cruise. A ship of this size can be more accurately described as a resort on water.

In total, the vessel has 5 swimming pools, 12 whirlpools, a 120-metre long water slide (which passes over the sea), a theater with Broadway-style shows with capacity for 1500 people, 17 bars and lounges, restaurants, gym, disco… Even a spa, with dry saunas and massage rooms.

– (MSC Preziosa/Disclosure)

It’s impossible not to find something to do on the ship. Spend the day at the pool, at the children’s play area (for the kids, in this case), have a snack at the buffet or at one of the restaurants, take gym classes, run at the gym, watch a movie (or a show) at the theater… at all times the ship was buzzing with a series of activities that are a school holiday paradise – for parents and children alike.

It was also interesting to observe that the families that bet on the cruise were numerous. Father, mother, children, grandparents, cousins… Many large families used the opportunity as a socializing space, a way to enjoy a few days together in the same environment – ​​even if doing different activities.

Considering that nobody has anywhere to go but the ship’s environments, it’s understandable why there’s so much fuss. The idea is that guests do not stay in the cabins, they are just the place where they go to sleep at the end of the day – if it ever ends. The parties and the club, mainly, go far into the night and it is very easy to change the day for the night there.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO RELAX ON A SHIP?

I participated in a different experience at Preziosa. The invitation was for me to stay at the Yatch Club, a luxury area, accessible only to guests of that category. There, less people and much more silence.

The cabins are truly luxurious: spacious, with gigantic beds, a balcony, a sofa, and an all-inclusive system: even drinks and delights from the minibar are included in the package. A butler is available 24 hours a day to respond to any request, and everything was thought out for my enjoyment: the bed was made up for the day or for rest and various delicacies were left available daily in the cabin – who doesn’t want to taste a strawberry with chocolate before bedtime?

The Yatch Club is located at the bow of the ship, an area considered privileged, and has its own lounge, the Top Sail, where it was possible to have a simple breakfast, tea in the afternoon or just sit down for drinks in the evening.

Every Yatch Club member can have breakfast, lunch and dinner at their exclusive restaurant – which, however, is located on the other side of the ship, at the stern. The food is quite varied and delicious and there are vegetarian and vegan options, a concern for someone who doesn’t eat animal foods like me.

For those who, in fact, seek silence and peace, it is worth accessing the exclusive pool in the Yatch Club area, which also has two hydromassages and a bar with buffet, on the top floor of the ship. There, silence is great and the possibility of relaxation much greater.

Guests in this category also have exclusive access to the MSC Aurea Spa, the ship’s Balinese-style spa. As a member, I had free access to the thermal area, consisting of dry saunas, ice room and heated chairs. The combo is really relaxing and an experience in itself. The spa is open to the ship’s general public, however, only Yatch Club members can freely use the thermal area.

– (MSC Preziosa/Disclosure)

AFINAL, IS IT WORTH TAKING A CRUISE?

Like everything in life, the answer is: it depends. Experience has shown that you need a clear objective – and an adequate budget – to truly enjoy your trip. For families, this is, in fact, a very interesting trip and, for sure, will yield good memories.

Those looking for peace and quiet may prefer to stay in the luxury area, the Yatch Club, which offers a little more calm and exclusivity. The ship’s common areas tend to be quite hectic and noisy, especially between the afternoon and evening, when the social life there begins to bubble up.

Those who belong to the party are sure to find the party. Who is one of the good drinks too. But be aware that you’ll have to cross paths with everyone to access the different bars and restaurants, which could perhaps break the magic of relaxation a bit, if that’s your goal.

And, of course, the burning question: what about nausea? Truth be told, the weather was not my friend during my first trip by ship – and maybe that’s why nightmares with icebergs and shipwrecks took over my mind during the three nights I slept there. The day at sea – the one in which the vessel spends the entire day at sea – challenged my meals to remain in my stomach and sleeping that first night was an adventure: I woke up more than once because of the vertigo caused by the agitation of the sea . It is important to take adequate medication to deal with these discomforts if you are sensitive.

Due to bad weather, the route had to be changed and instead of docking in Ilha Grande, in Rio de Janeiro, we stopped in Ilhabela, on the coast of São Paulo. With the ship stationary, it is much more peaceful to go from one side to the other and enjoy what it has to offer – and it crossed my mind that all the activities also served as a great distraction for the coming and going generated by the movement of the water.

Overall, it was a wonderful and unique experience – watching the complete darkness from the cabin window, like never before in my life, was one of the scenarios that most impressed me, out of everything I could notice on a ship -, and I would definitely repeat the experience. dose, depending on the context. I just hope that, next time, the sea doesn’t demand to show its ability to defy the laws of physics and my balance on two legs.