Cruising: Then and Now

Do you recall your first cruise or getaway? I certainly do, as it marked one of my initial journeys abroad — a remarkable Dinogo cruise to the Caribbean and Mexico. Recently, I discovered an old college photo album filled with travel memories. Back in 1998, cell phones were just emerging, and we 'savvy' travelers relied on disposable cameras for capturing vacation moments, limited to 36 shots (the silver lining being that if you lost your camera, you only lost a handful of memories along with the film and casing).

Rachelle and friends in 1998:

Times have certainly evolved in numerous ways. Nowadays, I snap hundreds of pictures across various devices, no longer waiting for development, and I can effortlessly share them online instead of passing a physical album around with friends. Reflecting on these old photos has been a delightful journey down memory lane, and it’s intriguing to consider all the ways travel has transformed from then to now.

Here are some notable observations I made (aside from the photo shortage) ...

Our First Day Setting Sail

On the first day of our getaway, the last thing we wanted was to endure an interminable safety and rules briefing. It felt like it consumed a significant portion of our inaugural day at sea when the announcement instructed us to attend a session, don our life jackets, and head to our muster station. At the time, I kept mishearing it as 'mustard' station, which made me chuckle (a 'muster' station is the designated gathering point in case of an emergency). However, with all of us lined up like we were in a school fire drill, it wasn’t quite the laughing matter it seemed. Given that Titanic had just hit theaters, we were all eager to learn what to do in an emergency and relieved to discover that there were enough lifeboats for every passenger. Nevertheless, it still felt like it took a chunk out of our day.

THEN:

During my recent cruise, the process was much more efficient. A video in our stateroom covered all the essential information about the ship. When it was time for the safety drill, we simply found our life jackets without needing to wear them or bring them along. Afterward, we located our muster station, checked in, and once everyone was confirmed present, we returned to enjoying our first day at sea. Since we didn’t have to go back to our cabins for our life vests, we headed straight back up to the top deck to soak in the views. It was great to receive all the necessary information without it eating into our vacation time.

NOW:

Culinary Experiences and Entertainment

My taste has undoubtedly evolved over the past decade. I remember cruise dining as being quite extravagant, featuring themed dinners and grand buffets adorned with elaborate ice sculptures. Each night, we dressed formally and dined at our designated table alongside other passengers, many of whom had become friends by the end of the week. If Facebook had been around back then, I’m sure I’d still be connected with all of them. We had a server who treated us like family, so much so that we insisted on including him in our photos on our final day at sea.

THEN:

Nowadays, cruise dining emphasizes variety and flexibility. You can choose what to eat and where to eat it, with numerous restaurants offering a diverse array of cuisines. The only downside is that we never truly connected with the servers since we dined at a different venue each evening. However, the wide range of dishes I was able to sample every night more than made up for that.

NOW:

After dinner in the 90s, I recall spending the whole night at the piano bar or enjoying some interactive stage performances with fellow passengers. Today, the entertainment has certainly been elevated. The shows we experienced were of such high quality that they rival anything I’d pay to see on land (and thankfully, the entertainment on the cruise is complimentary!). From live bands to the comedy club, there was an array of fantastic performances to keep us entertained throughout the night.

Exciting Itineraries

One aspect that thankfully remains unchanged is the itineraries. During my college years, we aimed to maximize our experiences while adhering to a budget, and an all-inclusive cruise made that possible. Visiting the Mayan temples at Tulum back then was such a memorable experience that it ignited my passion for further travels.

THEN:

The most significant change I notice now is the abundance of options available to tailor the experience. The only real difference at these destinations is the enhanced quality of the photos we can take and share.

NOW: