There’s nothing quite like that sinking feeling when your cruise is over and suddenly you’re back to cooking your own meals, making your own bed and dealing with normal life again.
The post-cruise blues are very real for some cruisers, and judging by the number of people who talk about them online, you’re definitely not alone.
Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to make coming home a little easier. And yes, the most obvious solution involves another cruise…
1. Book Another Cruise
The most obvious cure for the post-cruise blues? Book another cruise.
Having your next sailing in the calendar gives you something new to get excited about. You can start researching the ship, planning what you’ll do onboard and counting down the days until you’re back at sea.
Of course, booking another cruise immediately isn’t realistic for everyone, especially if you’re still paying for the one you’ve just taken.
But you don’t necessarily need to pay for the whole thing straight away. Look out for low-deposit offers that let you secure a future cruise without such a big upfront cost.
Suggested read: How To Pay For A Cruise In Instalments
A mini cruise can also be a more affordable option. Even a two or three-night sailing gives you another little escape to look forward to while you save for something longer.
And once it’s booked, get that countdown on your phone. Watching the number of days gradually drop is all part of the fun.
2. Plan Another Cruise
If you can’t afford to book another cruise yet, you can still have fun planning one.
Rather than endlessly scrolling through cruise deals, give yourself a potential trip to plan. Pick a rough date and destination, compare ships and itineraries and start researching what you’d like to do.
You could even look at pre-cruise hotels and other little details, so it starts to feel like a real holiday rather than just wishful thinking.
Then, when you are ready to book, you’ll already know exactly what you’re looking for.
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3. Write A Cruise Review
Writing a review is a great way to relive your cruise while also getting yourself back into an everyday frame of mind.
You don’t need to be a brilliant writer. Just think about what you loved, what surprised you and anything that didn’t quite live up to expectations. Even the best cruises usually have a few little niggles.
Thinking about the negatives can actually help with the post-cruise blues too, as it stops you looking back at your holiday as though everything was perfect.
And if you share your review online, it could help another cruiser decide whether that ship or itinerary is right for them.
Suggested read: 7 Best Cruise Forums & Message Boards
4. Share Your Holiday Stories
Going straight from cruise mode back to work and everyday life can be a bit of a shock. So why not keep the holiday feeling going for a little longer?
Arrange a catch-up with friends or family and tell them about your trip. Reliving the funny moments, favourite places and things you loved onboard can be a nice way to enjoy those memories again.
Just try not to talk about your cruise too much. I know how easily that can happen!
Talking it all through can help you reflect on the holiday rather than simply wishing you were still onboard. Or you might convince yourself to book another cruise. Either outcome works!
5. Bring A Little Cruise Life Home
One of the hardest things about coming home is suddenly losing all those little luxuries you quickly get used to at sea. No meals waiting for you, no cabin being tidied and no entertainment whenever you fancy it.
So why not bring a little of that cruise feeling home? Recreate a favourite meal from your ship, make one of the cocktails you enjoyed onboard or treat yourself to something you’d normally save for a holiday.
Suggested read: How To Take A Virtual Cruise At Home
You could also book a comedy show, theatre trip or meal out for a couple of weeks after your cruise. Having a smaller treat in the diary can make the return to normal life feel a little less abrupt.
It obviously won’t be quite the same as being back onboard, but keeping a little bit of that cruise spirit going can make coming home much easier.
6. Join Cruise Groups And Forums
Sometimes the best cure for missing a cruise is talking about cruising with people who are just as obsessed as you are.
Facebook groups and cruise forums are great places to swap stories, share tips and start getting ideas for your next trip.
I have a Facebook group called CRUISE CHAT, and I’d love to see you there.
You can relive your favourite cruise moments, chat about different ships and itineraries and help other cruisers with their plans.
The only downside? You’ll inevitably end up talking to people who are about to go on a cruise, so try to keep the jealousy under control!
7. Add Some Cruise Décor to Your Home
Why not bring a little reminder of your cruise into your home?
You could frame a favourite photo from your trip, create a collage, display a souvenir or even add a little nautical décor if that’s your style.
It’s a simple way to keep those happy cruise memories around long after you’ve unpacked your suitcase.
8. Distract Yourself
Sometimes you just need to stop thinking about the cruise altogether.
Get stuck into a hobby, start a new book or tackle a project you’ve been putting off. Or, if you can’t quite bring yourself to stop thinking about cruising, why not turn that obsession into a hobby?
You could try making or decorating cruise ducks to hide on your next sailing. It’s a fun little project to work on at home, while also giving you another reason to look forward to your next cruise.
And if none of that works, cycle back to number 2 and start planning another cruise.
Sometimes you just can’t beat the cruise obsession, so you might as well embrace it!
9. Get Active
Getting moving can be a good way to shake off the post-cruise blues, whether that means going for a walk, heading to the gym or taking up something more energetic.
Exercise can give your mood a boost, although I do sometimes wonder how much of this advice comes from people who know exactly how much we’ve all eaten at the cruise buffet!
If your holiday clothes were starting to feel a little tighter by disembarkation day, getting active might make you feel better in more ways than one.
TODAY’S BEST CRUISE DEALS!
Don’t miss these offers…
Final Word
Not everyone gets the post-cruise blues. Maybe you’re ready to get back to your own bed, your usual routine or a very excited cat or dog waiting at home.
But if you’re already missing the ship before you’ve even unpacked your suitcase, hopefully one of these tips will help.
And if all else fails? There’s always another cruise to plan…
