If you’re contemplating where to take your next vacation, a new study may provide you with some food for thought. Recent research shows that going on a cruise may improve our wellbeing – and the effects can apparently last for up to six months. While most travel is beneficial, cruises seem to be particularly so thanks to their multi-faceted nature, which includes time for relaxation, visiting multiple destinations and being able to experience a variety of new activities.
The researchers, whose work has been published in the International Journal of Tourism Research, concluded this after giving over 300 tourists a psychological questionnaire on their return from a cruise. The same questionnaire was given to another 300 tourists that went on cruise six months earlier.
The results showed that cruise vacations may not only provide a fun-filled experience but also help increase an individual’s overall happiness and wellbeing. In the short term, happiness from cruise travel is created mainly through emotional and relational experiences, said researchers, including those from Zhejiang University in China. Relaxing and simply “doing nothing”—what is called ‘emotional experience’—is of great importance for many vacationers. In addition to boosting short-term happiness, cruise travel seems to have a longer-term effect on wellbeing, thanks to the ‘thinking experience’ you gain from visiting lots of new places in one trip.
Are you interested in boosting your wellbeing? Contact a travel professional at Vivian V. Russell Travel to find out which cruise expedition—or other type of travel adventure—best fits your interests and needs.
