Action Or a Relaxing Holiday? Why Choose, When You Can Go On a Cruise

by Sofia Brontvein

Action Or a Relaxing Holiday? Why Choose, When You Can Go On a Cruise

2 May 2025

Last year, I openly declared my sincere and endless love for cruises. Ever since I explored Greece and Turkey aboard an ocean liner, I have been dreaming of doing it all over again. So in April 2025, I went on a cruise around Spain, Morocco, and Gibraltar (spoiler alert: Gibraltar impressed me the most!).

I am absolutely indifferent to slow and peaceful vacations. I can’t last more than three or four days in a luxurious five-star hotel doing nothing. After that, I urgently want to rent a car and go explore all the nearby towns, villages, fields, and mountains. And while I love road trips, they can be quite exhausting.

First, you have to plan the route, then find cool hotels and restaurants along the way, and finally drive all those hundreds of kilometers. In the end, you definitely get to see dozens of amazing places, but you are left with a sore back, tired eyes, numb legs, and a playlist you have already played to death. After a vacation like that, you need another one just to recover from all the driving.

A cruise is the ultimate combination of a worry-free stay at a five-star hotel and the excitement of a road trip. You are literally living in a house on wheels — except instead of a beat-up camper, you are renting a multi-story home with a gym, spa, bars, restaurants, pools, karaoke, a casino, and other amenities. Your only real dilemma on board is whether you will have ribeye steak or grilled scallops for dinner. You don’t have to think at all about how to get from point A to point B.

I travelled around Spain, Morocco, and Gibraltar on the Explora II, part of the fleet of Explora Journeys, the premium division of MSC Cruises. In my opinion, hardly any hotel in the world can match the level of service and attention to detail on board Explora. Everything — from the mattresses and pillows in the room, to the cocktail menu in every bar, the entertainment in the lounges, and even the Technogym equipment in the fitness center — is perfect. And I swear to you, this cruise was paid for out of my own pocket — no sponsorship, no ads. Just a sincere recommendation.

I spent 12 days on the cruise. We departed from the port of Barcelona, and the first stop was the small town of Motril, where we visited the Alhambra of Granada. Fun fact: Granada was once also an Emirate. You can really feel the Arab influence in this part of Spain — it almost felt like home.

Then we went to Tangier, a charming city where it is a real pleasure to wander the narrow streets, admiring the tiled house facades. The next stop was Casablanca, which, to be honest, gave me mixed feelings. It felt more like a giant market — noisy, dirty, and unsafe. Places like that instantly remind me of all the reasons I love Dubai.

After Morocco, we headed to the Canary Islands — and in my opinion, everyone should visit them at least once. You have probably heard a lot about beautiful Tenerife with its perfect surfing beaches, or Gran Canaria with its eclectic colonial architecture. But I was most impressed by Lanzarote, with its countless volcanoes, black sand beaches, the architecture of César Manrique, and its signature lighthouses. I strongly recommend not missing this island when you are in the Canaries.

Then came our stop in Gibraltar. I had no expectations from this tiny country, but I must say — it surprised me the most. The whole state is essentially one giant rock with lush jungle and curious macaques, and at its base lies a small namesake town that visually looks like the UK, but where everyone speaks Spanish. Where else can you order both huevos rotos and fish & chips? If you are determined enough, you can literally walk across the entire country in one day — and I highly recommend doing just that.

On any cruise, you will spend at least a couple of days at sea. Friends often ask me if it gets boring just wandering around the ship while it slowly sails to the next destination. But sea days are actually the perfect way to recharge after a cultural sprint through a city or an island. For example, I always start with a cycling class in the morning, followed by a slow breakfast, then grab a book and head to one of the pools. A light power nap to fuel myself for another HIIT session, then muscle relaxation in the spa, and finally, an aperitif in one of the lounges with live music. Then dinner and a digestif while watching the sunset — because sunrises and sunsets are one of the most beautiful parts of the cruise experience. Maybe it is my age talking, but I could stare at the ocean for hours and feel completely at peace.

There are dozens of cruise destinations and formats — you just need to find the one that suits you. If you are traveling with family, maybe the larger MSC Cruises ships are a better fit, as they offer a ton of kid-friendly entertainment. But if, like me, you are looking for total comfort and privacy, then I highly recommend looking into Explora Journeys. I am already planning my next trip to the Caribbean on one of their ships. Can’t wait, to be honest.

by Sofia Brontvein