According to Statista.com, it was projected that 27.2 million travelers around the world would embark on a cruise in 2018. With so many cruising these days, if you’re thinking about joining them but have never traveled this way before, you may be wondering if it’s worth it.

It Can Be More Affordable Vacation Option

Particularly for popular destinations like the Caribbean and the Bahamas, there are multiple ports in Florida that, depending on your specific location, can easily reached by car or an inexpensive flight. Even if you just worked with a realtor in Indianapolis to buy your dream home in that city, you can often find airfare to departure ports for well under $200. And, with cruises for just about every type of traveler, these days, it’s easy to find an excursion that fits in your price range. It’s not unheard of, for example, to score a five-day Eastern Caribbean sail with Carnival for less than $300 a person, and that includes the food, ship amenities, and your stateroom. A hotel stay alone would cost you a lot more than that for five days.

You Get to Visit Multiple Destinations in One Trip

The best part of a cruise is that you can visit all sorts of places in one trip, without the stress or driving, train, bus rides or flights in between. You’ll be able to check out a variety of islands, which can be a great way to determine your favorite and return for a longer vacation there.

You’ll Never Be Bored

While many people imagine that being on a cruise ship means being stuck inside dealing with boredom, with most cruises that’s impossible. There is so much entertainment on most vessels that you’re unlikely to be able to experience it all. Some even have water parks on board, with all sorts of swimming pools, and there are usually lots of shows to take in during the evening hours, from comedy clubs and dive-in movies to live music and more. There are cruise ships that cater to families with kids of all ages, even some that offer video game rooms, games, and a wide range of activities for toddlers to teens as well.

Some Cruises Aren’t Worth It

Of course, with so many different types of cruises, there’s really not a “yes” or “no” answer to this question as some really aren’t worth booking for most people. For example, a “booze cruise,” sometimes referred to as a “party cruise,” might sound like a great time, but it’s often anything but. While some people do enjoy a more raucous scene, kind of like a frat party – think spring break – but for most, when unlimited cocktails, beer and/or wine are provided with the motion of the ocean, the trip is just not all that fun because there’s a good chance that you’re going to spend it dealing with sea sickness, or be around lots of others who are.