Cruising or crossing?

If I say “cruise,” what comes to mind?

Christy Price (an amazing Squarespace designer and problem-solver who I have worked with many times on my website) told me she’s hesitant to go on a cruise again because of a prior experience she had:

"My husband and I went on a discount cruise. When we went to the mandatory safety briefing in the lounge, as we're sitting there, this woman yells across the entire room to her husband, “Honey, I don't know what we're going to do, they ain’t got no Dr Pepper!”

Let me be honest: there’s no Dr Pepper on a Cunard voyage. (But there is root beer.) There’s also not likely to be yelling.

Cunard doesn’t call their offerings “cruises.” They offer “transatlantic crossings on an ocean liner.”

It’s not just semantics, it’s a different experience.

I haven’t been on a “discount cruise” per se, but I have been on 11 cruises in 10 years at low, medium, and high price points, including the QM2 transatlantic crossing as an instructor on Allison K Williams’ Craft and Publishing Voyage. I’ve been on 100-passenger and 3000-passenger ships. I feel qualified to comment that Cunard is a unique, high-end, refined experience that appeals to older travelers. You’ll find a mix of nationalities with a majority of British, American, and Canadian passengers. Guests tend to dress up for evening events (I saw ball gowns and satin gloves), but it’s not mandatory.

The key thing, I think, when choosing a trip on a ship, is to know what kind of experience you’d prefer to guide your selection.

The reasons I chose Cunard’s QM2 as the place for this writing retreat are:

1. It is a 6-day crossing with no stops, which is a great amount of time to get work done and enjoy what the ship has to offer — with no distractions from ports.

2. It is a unique, high-end, British experience on a uniquely built and appointed ship, designed for ocean crossings, so it can withstand rough weather and seas.

3. I enjoyed myself immensely on my crossing last year, especially at The Golden Lion for their pub lunches.

4. I know that writers experience breakthroughs and progress on their work when they invest in a retreat like this.

A good reason not to go on a cruise is if you know you don’t like being at sea. Otherwise, I encourage you to consider my cruise writing retreat for a writing retreat this September!