Why We Choose to Cross Oceans by Cruise Instead of Flying
"Life is a journey. How we travel is really up to us. We can just flow with the tide or follow our own dreams." Paulo Coelho
12/28/20268 min read
We love traveling the world, but as full-time travelers, one of the biggest expenses we face is simply getting from one continent to another. Once you arrive on a new continent, travel costs can often be reduced through regional flights, trains, or driving. Over the past three years, we have discovered a better way to make those long crossings. Instead of flying across the Atlantic or Pacific, we now choose to cruise, and Princess Cruises has become our trusted partner for these journeys.
Cruising across an ocean is not just about transportation. It becomes part of the travel experience itself. While flying may get you there faster, it often comes with jet lag, lost luggage, cramped seats, airport stress, and a sense that the journey is something to endure rather than enjoy. Ocean crossings flip that idea completely. You unpack once, settle in, and allow the days to unfold at a slower, more intentional pace.
One of the biggest advantages of crossing an ocean by cruise ship is how naturally your body adjusts to time changes. Sailing across the Atlantic or Pacific allows you to ease into new time zones gradually. By the time you arrive at your destination, jet lag is often minimal or nonexistent. Instead of losing days to exhaustion, you arrive rested and ready to explore.
Another benefit is access to ports that are often overlooked or skipped entirely when flying. Many ocean crossings include stops at smaller islands or coastal cities that are difficult or expensive to reach by air. These ports become unexpected highlights and add depth to the journey. Rather than jumping from one major hub to another, you experience a string of destinations that feel connected by the sea.
Long ocean crossings also create something rare in modern travel: community. On a typical seven-day cruise, you meet interesting people but rarely have time to truly connect. On voyages lasting three weeks or longer, friendships naturally form. You see familiar faces at dinner, in the theater, at trivia, or on the walking track. Conversations deepen, routines develop, and the ship begins to feel like a small floating neighborhood of like-minded travelers.
The two questions we are asked most often about crossing an ocean by cruise are whether we get bored and whether the seas are rough. Our answer to both is always no. We love port days, but we love sea days even more. Sea days are when you truly relax. You can read, work out, enjoy the pool, attend lectures, watch shows, or simply sit and watch the ocean roll by. Princess offers multiple shows and activities every day, and there is always something to do, or nothing to do at all, which is sometimes the best option.
As for seasickness, we have never experienced it. Whether it is careful route planning by the captain, modern ship stabilization, or simple good fortune, our ocean crossings have been remarkably smooth. We are grateful for that and hope anyone considering this style of travel enjoys the same experience.
In the past 18 months alone, we have completed one 32 day trans-Pacific cruise and two 21 day trans-Atlantic crossings. Each one served as both transportation and destination.
In 2024, after spending much of the year traveling through Asia, we needed to return to the United States for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. We found a 32-day Princess cruise sailing from Singapore to Los Angeles. The cost of a balcony stateroom was less than purchasing airline tickets, and the itinerary was exceptional. Along the way, we visited Thailand (2 ports), Vietnam (2 ports), Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan (2 ports), and Hawaii (2 ports). What could have been a long and exhausting flight turned into one of our favorite travel experiences.
In early 2025, we wanted to visit family and friends in Germany and spend time exploring Morocco. We booked a 21-day trans-Atlantic Princess cruise departing from Fort Lauderdale in March. The itinerary included stops in Portugal, Spain, Gibraltar, Corsica, and Italy, ending in Rome. After a few days in Rome, we flew to Morocco and spent three weeks traveling there before heading north to Germany.
After Morocco, we flew to Frankfurt, rented a car, visited family in western Germany, and drove to Bavaria to see friends. When that part of the journey came to an end, we returned the car in Munich and flew back to Rome to board another 21-day Princess cruise home to Fort Lauderdale. This crossing included familiar ports along with new ones, including Genoa, Ville de Franche, Corsica, Casablanca, Cadiz, and the Canary Islands. Each sailing felt unique, even when some ports overlapped.
Looking ahead, we already have a 27 day trans-Atlantic Princess cruise scheduled for 2027. At this point, crossing oceans by cruise is not just something we enjoy. It is how we prefer to travel.
Cruising across the ocean turns travel days into travel experiences. It replaces stress with routine, exhaustion with relaxation, and isolation with connection. For us, it has completely changed how we move through the world.
If you are considering an ocean crossing and want to explore whether a trans-Atlantic, a trans-Pacific, or a World Cruise cruise might be right for you, we would love to help. Contact Tacks Travels to learn more about Princess Cruises or your cruise line of choice, explore upcoming itineraries, and get assistance booking a voyage that fits your travel style. Sometimes the best way to get somewhere is not faster, but better.
We love traveling the world, but as full-time travelers, one of the biggest expenses we face is simply getting from one continent to another. Once you arrive on a new continent, travel costs can often be reduced through regional flights, trains, or driving. Over the past three years, we have discovered a better way to make those long crossings. Instead of flying across the Atlantic or Pacific, we now choose to cruise, and Princess Cruises has become our trusted partner for these journeys.
Cruising across an ocean is not just about transportation. It becomes part of the travel experience itself. While flying may get you there faster, it often comes with jet lag, lost luggage, cramped seats, airport stress, and a sense that the journey is something to endure rather than enjoy. Ocean crossings flip that idea completely. You unpack once, settle in, and allow the days to unfold at a slower, more intentional pace.
One of the biggest advantages of crossing an ocean by cruise ship is how naturally your body adjusts to time changes. Sailing across the Atlantic or Pacific allows you to ease into new time zones gradually. By the time you arrive at your destination, jet lag is often minimal or nonexistent. Instead of losing days to exhaustion, you arrive rested and ready to explore.
Another benefit is access to ports that are often overlooked or skipped entirely when flying. Many ocean crossings include stops at smaller islands or coastal cities that are difficult or expensive to reach by air. These ports become unexpected highlights and add depth to the journey. Rather than jumping from one major hub to another, you experience a string of destinations that feel connected by the sea.
Long ocean crossings also create something rare in modern travel: community. On a typical seven-day cruise, you meet interesting people but rarely have time to truly connect. On voyages lasting three weeks or longer, friendships naturally form. You see familiar faces at dinner, in the theater, at trivia, or on the walking track. Conversations deepen, routines develop, and the ship begins to feel like a small floating neighborhood of like-minded travelers.
The two questions we are asked most often about crossing an ocean by cruise are whether we get bored and whether the seas are rough. Our answer to both is always no. We love port days, but we love sea days even more. Sea days are when you truly relax. You can read, work out, enjoy the pool, attend lectures, watch shows, or simply sit and watch the ocean roll by. Princess offers multiple shows and activities every day, and there is always something to do, or nothing to do at all, which is sometimes the best option.
As for seasickness, we have never experienced it. Whether it is careful route planning by the captain, modern ship stabilization, or simple good fortune, our ocean crossings have been remarkably smooth. We are grateful for that and hope anyone considering this style of travel enjoys the same experience.
In the past 18 months alone, we have completed one 32 day trans-Pacific cruise and two 21 day trans-Atlantic crossings. Each one served as both transportation and destination.
In 2024, after spending much of the year traveling through Asia, we needed to return to the United States for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. We found a 32-day Princess cruise sailing from Singapore to Los Angeles. The cost of a balcony stateroom was less than purchasing airline tickets, and the itinerary was exceptional. Along the way, we visited Thailand (2 ports), Vietnam (2 ports), Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan (2 ports), and Hawaii (2 ports). What could have been a long and exhausting flight turned into one of our favorite travel experiences.
In early 2025, we wanted to visit family and friends in Germany and spend time exploring Morocco. We booked a 21-day trans-Atlantic Princess cruise departing from Fort Lauderdale in March. The itinerary included stops in Portugal, Spain, Gibraltar, Corsica, and Italy, ending in Rome. After a few days in Rome, we flew to Morocco and spent three weeks traveling there before heading north to Germany.
After Morocco, we flew to Frankfurt, rented a car, visited family in western Germany, and drove to Bavaria to see friends. When that part of the journey came to an end, we returned the car in Munich and flew back to Rome to board another 21-day Princess cruise home to Fort Lauderdale. This crossing included familiar ports along with new ones, including Genoa, Ville de Franche, Corsica, Casablanca, Cadiz, and the Canary Islands. Each sailing felt unique, even when some ports overlapped.
Looking ahead, we already have a 27 day trans-Atlantic Princess cruise scheduled for 2027. At this point, crossing oceans by cruise is not just something we enjoy. It is how we prefer to travel.
Cruising across the ocean turns travel days into travel experiences. It replaces stress with routine, exhaustion with relaxation, and isolation with connection. For us, it has completely changed how we move through the world.
If you are considering an ocean crossing and want to explore whether a trans-Atlantic, a trans-Pacific, or a World Cruise cruise might be right for you, we would love to help. Contact Tacks Travels to learn more about Princess Cruises or your cruise line of choice, explore upcoming itineraries, and get assistance booking a voyage that fits your travel style. Sometimes the best way to get somewhere is not faster, but better.
