As cruise vacations become an increasingly popular choice, travellers are often bombarded with options for excursions, onboard activities, and entertainment.
While it’s tempting to pack every moment with an activity, the expert at The Points Guy Guide to Your First Cruise has shared a nine-word piece of advice that will help ensure a relaxing and fulfilling cruise experience: “Don’t feel like you have to do it all.”
It’s perfectly fine to miss a few things along the way, the expert noted.
He wrote: “You don’t have to do it all. In fact, you should force yourself to try to not do it all. Remember, you’re on vacation. Relax. Take some downtime. Sit on your balcony, if you have one, and just stare out at the ocean for a couple of hours. You won’t regret it.”
Instead of trying to do everything, it’s important to embrace relaxation and downtime. Whether you’re taking a moment to watch the ocean or simply unwinding during a quiet afternoon, those moments of rest are just as valuable as any activity or excursion.
After all, the essence of a vacation is to fully experience the present moment, rather than racing to check off every item on a to-do list.
A study of 2,000 UK travellers from 2023 found that nearly one in six feel guilty for relaxing, though 50% said they feel refreshed at the end of a low-key holiday.
The pressure to stay active and share every moment on social media also led 61% of respondents to participate in activities they didn’t enjoy, to appear more productive.
Taking a proper vacation offers measurable benefits, including improved sleep that boosts memory and concentration, according to the Harvard Business Review.
It also helps reduce stress hormones, lowering the risk of illness and enhancing overall health.
The desire to do less has also been noted in the US, where “rest and relaxation” has now become the top priority for leisure travel, surpassing “having a fun time” and “spending time with immediate family,” according to a February survey by Longwoods International.
