Sober Cruises: The Ultimate Getaway for Sober Travelers
For most people, drinking alcohol is almost an expectation for a vacation cruise. In fact, it’s not unusual for cruise lines to sell beverage packages to potential vacationers, and the ships themselves usually have more than one bar. All of this poses a massive risk to someone in recovery from alcohol misuse.
Fortunately, there’s a growing trend in sober cruises. Just as the name implies, these cruises serve no alcohol, providing a safe alternative for those hoping to avoid the temptation. Instead of highlighting alcohol, their focus is on sober activities, fellowship, and travel.
What is a Sober Cruise?
A sober cruise is, as the name suggests, a getaway cruise for sober travelers. There may be alcohol in the locations passed, but the goal is to stay sober together while taking a vacation out in the real world. By banding like-minded people together, a safety social net forms to help support one another.
You don’t have to worry about having too narrow a choice, either. Sober cruises are typically organized by vendors that specialize in supplying alternatives. That means you can actually find them in several major cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line. Unlike traditional cruises, these include a bevy of activities that don’t involve alcohol; that’s the key difference.
In some cases, you can also find a cruise ship that offers more than sober celebrations; many also include organized meetings to help support their passengers’ long-term recovery.
Why Choose a Sober Cruise?
Traveling sober is a growing trend among those prioritizing their health and safety. Sober cruise experiences are an especially great way to explore new places for several reasons:
- Supportive community: A good support system is key for staying on track. Joining a cruise full of sober people gives you an instant community and keeps you from feeling alone.
- Alcohol-free environment: Without the peer pressure or option to have a drink at all, you won’t face the temptation of having alcohol whatsoever.
- Sober celebrations: Depending on your interests, you can find a cruise line with plenty of exciting opportunities to steer clear of alcohol. Plenty of options exist, such as cruises with in-depth history lessons and those with interactive shows.
- Mental health benefits: Routine matters in recovery, but having a vacation is a great way to take a refreshing break away from normal life. You can give yourself self-care in a relaxing environment and participate in activities for personal growth.
- Mocktails: They taste great, and they have none of the repercussions of alcohol.
Popular Cruise Lines Offering Sober-Friendly Options
If you’re on the hunt for a totally alcohol-free cruise experience, you have more options than ever before.
Royal Caribbean
Cruises on Royal Caribbean feature loads of interesting zero-proof drinks, such as the All Aboard Spritz; this crisp drink features lime and cranberry juice, desert pear syrup, and club soda. They also have special cruises with dedicated sober spaces and meetings.
Celebrity Cruises
Another popular cruise line, Celebrity Cruises offers wellness-focused itineraries with numerous sober-friendly options. Here, you can enjoy mocktails like the Watermelon Tropic, featuring watermelon syrup and lime and pineapple juice.
Norwegian Cruise Line
For more alcohol-free events and social activities for sober travelers, take a look at Norwegian Cruise Line’s plentiful selection. One mocktail option includes the Espresso Notini, which uses a zero-proof amaretto liqueur to introduce the flavor without any of the alcohol.
Carnival Cruise Line
Options at Carnival Cruise Line not only include private group booking options for sober travelers, but they also have some of the most delectable mocktails on the sea. One example is the Spicy Chipotle Pineapple Martini, which dollops handcrafted chipotle pineapple syrup with mint leaves into a non-alcoholic tequila.
Top Destinations for Sober Cruises
With all the different sober cruise lines out there, it’s easy to have a great vacation without alcohol in the most beautiful destinations around the world.
- Alaska: From rugged coastlines to the quaint historic town of Hope, Alaska is loaded with scenic landscapes, outdoor hiking, wildlife encounters, and adventurous excursions.
- Caribbean: Known for their far-reaching pristine beaches and turquoise water, Caribbean beaches are perfect for new cultural experiences and a focus on wellness.
- Mediterranean: The Mediterranean was once home to countless cultures, such as the ancient Romans and Phoenicians. Skip the party scene and dive into thousand-year-old mosaics, sunken cobblestone streets, and other historic remnants.
- Mexico: In addition to an exploration of rare and unique ecosystems, Mexico offers tons of wellness retreats for sober travelers.
What to Expect on a Sober Cruise
Though they’re growing in popularity, sober cruises are still a fairly new phenomenon, so it’s natural to wonder what to expect. There’s actually quite a lot you can do without the stress of the party vibe in the background.
For example, most sober cruises have the usual range of entertainment options, including live music, a comedy club, a theater with shows. You can also generally find recovery meetings and other group discussions, as well as a range of healthy dining options and fitness programs to support your well-being. In fact, cruise staff will often go above and beyond to offer personalized services to sober travelers to help them feel more at ease.
Tips for Planning a Successful Sober Cruise
Most sober cruises are already structured to ensure you’ll have an alcohol-free vacation, but you can also set up a few safety nets with a little preparation.
- Pick the right cruise line: First and foremost, pick a cruise line that supports sobriety by abstaining from all alcohol. The right company won’t send you off with temptations.
- Book through a sober travel agency: For a more personalized touch, consider looking for packages offered by sober travel agencies. These are bundles specifically designed to curate a structured, alcohol-free vacation.
- Bring a supportive friend: Traveling with a trusted companion is a great way to help strengthen your resolve.
- Anticipate triggers: Sometimes coming across alcohol on a land excursion is unavoidable, but anticipating this possibility and preparing yourself with your trusted companion will help reinforce your determination to stay sober.
- Self-care: As fun as cruises may be, avoiding temptations can be exhausting. Take some time to relax and engage in activities that support your mental health.
How to Stay Sober While Traveling
In addition to the above tips, bringing and using the tools you acquired through recovery can help. For example, you’ve set your intention to stay sober, which gives you a goal and boundaries to stick to. During the day, you can attend support meetings and enjoy sober-friendly excursions, and you can spend your alone time journaling, meditating, or reflecting on the day’s activities.
Encouraging Loved Ones to Join a Sober Vacation
If you have a trusted friend or loved one who has stuck by you throughout your recovery, encouraging them to join you for a sober vacation might be easier than you think. After all, they’ve already proven you can feel safe with them.
They already know the importance of a supportive environment for sustained recovery, so emphasizing that they can explore new places and broaden their horizons may just be the icing on the cake for them.
Sober Travel and Long-Term Recovery
Through travel with like-minded friends, you can connect with others, build community and connections, and learn more about yourself in the process. These are all essential factors in maintaining your sobriety.
Plus, going to new places is a great way to see different parts of the world from another perspective. While daily life stresses can at times make sobriety feel like a challenging path, getting the chance to explore a new cave or hike up a mountain can transform this perspective into a blessing; you can appreciate that sobriety has given you this ability to see new places and consider how much more there is to explore.
How Live Free Recovery Services Can Help
These days, zero-proof cocktails are becoming more and more popular, even at sea. The shift is largely driven by consumer demand, but it’s also about inclusivity; you no longer have to avoid an entire form of travel to avoid alcohol.
Live Free Recovery Services can help you plan a sober vacation in support of your long-term recovery, offering personalized service before, during, and after your trip and giving you the tools to navigate any challenges that may come up. You can also connect with other clients, tapping into an extensive community full of support.
Contact us today to find out more about our sober travel resources that can help you maintain sobriety during travel.
Category: Alcohol