People go on cruises for lots of different reasons. Some seek excitement at every port with excursions ranging from helicopter rides to zip lines to riding ATV’s on the beach. There is also plenty to do on the ship with go karts, shows, waterslides, games and sports competitions to casinos if gambling is your thing. Then there are others who really just enjoy having time to unwind and relax in the sun with a good book.
Reading is Fun
Growing up I was not one who saw reading as a recreational activity. I am dyslexic, so reading was work and often frustrating work at that. Then I met my dear bride and when packing for our first trip to Sweden together I noticed that she had a number of books in her suitcase. When I asked her if she was taking a summer class she laughed and said no, these are just to read for fun.
Read? For fun? What nonsense is this?!
She consulted with my mother and they collectively suggested I try reading what has become a favorite book, Watership Down. When Lisa described that reading a really interesting story is like seeing a movie in your mind I was curious. Once I got started I have been an enthusiastic reader ever since.
Real Books or E-Books
The problem, at times, is that physical books take up a lot of space and weight. There are many digital options that can help alleviate those problems like Kindle or Nook. These e-readers are very convenient and easy to view even in bright sunshine with the paperwhite features.
Cost
Another problem with physical books is that newer titles can be somewhat pricey. Have you ever considered getting books at your local Dollar Tree Store? Did you even know they carry books? They’re not all great reads, but here and there we manage to find some that are interesting and a few we have picked up there were true treasures, and all for $1.25 a piece.
You might be able to borrow books from your local library to take on trips with you. Depending on your level of comfort in the germ category, this may or may not be a realistic option for you! Our local library has done away with late fees, but even before that move we were able to log on to our library account and “renew” books we had that were becoming due before our return.
The Conclusion
For me, there is nothing like having the feel of an actual book in my hands to enjoy the reading experience. We often leave our $1.25 books in the ship’s library when we’ve finished reading them for someone else to enjoy. So whatever your preference, hopefully this has given you more ideas of options for on board enjoyment on your next cruise vacation! – René
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I too like a real book..but they take up too much space in our bags so I do some paperbacks and leave where ever we are and use my kindle app on the Ipad.