Cruising is the ultimate relaxing holiday - and you don't even have to get off the ship

In the wake of the Wall Street crash of 1929, Holland America Line began marketing the benefits of sea air.

This included calming the nervous system, as a cruise holiday could take one's mind off their financial situation and the recovering US stock market.

Given the current climate, travellers may again find themselves a little more stressed out by pennies.

Thankfully, I found the benefits of sea air can still be experienced on a voyage in 2025 and may come in handy now more than ever.

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Many people book cruises for the sole purpose of switching off and unwinding.

When I was invited for a section of Holland America's 14-day trip from Sydney to Auckland onboard MS Westerdam, I wanted to explore if a cruise really is the best relaxing holiday.

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The rooms

While cruising can produce some spectacular views, it can also, at times, feel a bit confined. I stayed in a bright verandah stateroom which featured floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a private balcony area.

The largely complementary 24-hour room service helped me enjoy slow mornings with breakfast in bed.

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Every time I left my stateroom to satisfy a particular food craving at the Lido Market or lay on a recliner by the swimming pool, I returned to a clean space because of the excellent daily housecleaning service.

My stateroom attendants also always greeted me by name and were on hand to assist me with whatever I needed or was unsure of.

There are a range of different accommodation options available on the Westerdam including suites, interior staterooms and exterior staterooms with an ocean view or verandah.

A select number of staterooms are also fully accessible for guests with health conditions or disabilities.

The food

Cruises are renowned for their free-flowing food and beverages, and a Holland America cruise is no different.

With a main dining room offering classic options for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the all-you-can-eat Lido Market – amongst other signature and casual dining options – there is a place to meet every hunger and thirst.

The outside taco buffet and Dive-In burger and hot dog stand fuelled many of my afternoons reading by the pool.

I was also fortunate to enjoy three of the ship's speciality restaurants including the fresh Italian pasta place Canaletto, the Pinnacle Grill steakhouse, and the highly-regarded pop-up A Taste of Tamarind.

Reservations at the restaurants need to be made early to avoid disappointment and a cover charge applies to the speciality options.

A highlight of the trip included the wok-seared lobster at A Taste of Tamarind – though I could not resist the copious amounts of sweet treats for me to try. Tamarind is a permanent venue on other Holland America ships.

Guests are always a stone's throw away from one of the ship's many bars and lounges, all offering an extensive range of drinks and beverages at an extra expense.

A note for the coffee aficionados: The ship's offerings largely reflect the American influence of coffee urns over Australia's premium coffee culture. However, barista-made hot beverages can be purchased from the Crows Nest Cafe and Dining Room at an additional cost.

Shore excursions and scenic cruising

One of the biggest benefits of a cruise I found is that sometimes is you don't even have to leave the ship for once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

The en-route scenic cruising of Milford Sound was one such moment.

From the early hours of the morning until the late afternoon, the Westerdam sailed through picturesque areas of Fiordland National Park including Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound and Dusky Sound.

Transported to another world with lush rainforests and waterfalls cascading from towering cliffs, commentary from a local expert complemented the adventure.

The day started with heavy rain and grey skies – bringing out the temporary waterfalls – but turned delightfully sun as we navigated the fiord.

When the weather improved, the bow was opened to give voyagers the full experience of 'the eighth wonder of the world'.

For those wanting to learn more about our surroundings, our local guide also gave a presentation on New Zealand's natural wilderness and the Fiordland National Park.

If you want to get off the ship, the 14-day Australia and New Zealand cruise offers different shore excursions in Melbourne, Hobart, Port Chalmers (Dunedin), Timaru, Lyttelton (Christchurch), Picton, Napier, Tauranga, and Auckland.

I had a wonderful day exploring the Tahune Forest Reserve during the shore day in Hobart.

Activities and entertainment

While I could have easily spent my days leisurely reading my book in the Crow's Nest Cafe or floating in the Sea View pool, there were also stacks of activities to keep me entertained.

The ship's outdoor Sport Court includes a basketball ring and padel court while the Fitness Centre offers a wide range of daily fitness classes and boasts the necessary equipment which I utilised to get my runs and workouts in.

Venues such as the Rolling Stone Lounge, Billboard Onboard bar, and World Stage theatre put on numerous themed activities and performances including movies, games, trivia, informative presentations and shows with its performers, comedians and dance troupes.

The Greenhouse Spa and Salon is divine. The aroma spa seaweed massage I chose cleansed my body of toxins and melted away my muscle tension.

Finally, if you do just want to laze around the pool the entire time – maybe with a cocktail in hand – there are two pools and three spas to rotate between.

Before this trip, I had no expectations. But I've come away with the realisation that a cruise is the perfect relaxing holiday for anyone wanting to take a load off or completely check out for a few days at sea.

The writer travelled as a guest of Holland America Line.