Earlier this year, my kids' relentless pleas to take a cruise reached a fever pitch.
The thought of being trapped on a boat never appealed to me, but my children's friends continued to regale them with tales of megaships with multistory slides and unlimited access to ice cream.
Eventually, I relented and booked a weeklong voyage on Royal Caribbean, which owns the largest cruise ships in the world.
The trip was fun, and I left with an appreciation for how easy cruising makes travel planning. But the megaships weren't for me — I wanted more.
I searched for a cruise that fit my adventurous spirit. Two months after our first cruise, I found what I was looking for.
I booked a small-ship expedition to Iceland with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions. It had all of the conveniences I cared about, but I didn't feel like I had to compromise my other preferences.
When it was time to disembark, I had already started planning my next expedition. Here's what converted me into a (certain kind of) cruise lover.
I like to be enthralled while at sea.
We could whale-watch right from the ship.
Jamie Davis Smith
The activities on the megaship were fun, but I found them repetitive. Even the view of the ocean on our way to the Caribbean was basically the same every day.
On the expedition cruise, though, the hours at sea were filled with whale-watching opportunities and lectures about Iceland.
One of my favorite parts of the trip was having easy access to two National Geographic photographers. Other experts on the ship included an authority on Icelandic folklore (who entertained my kids with stories about elves and trolls) and a climate specialist.
I also visited the ship's bridge and borrowed travel books and games from the on-board library.
Most of the megaship activities were things I could do elsewhere — sitting by a pool, playing trivia, etc. But I'm probably not going to see a humpback whale swimming in front of a volcano again anytime soon.
I'm not interested in spending my whole vacation on a ship.
Naturalists and other experts answered our questions throughout the cruise.
Jamie Davis Smith
My seven-day mega cruise included four excursions. But my National Geographic trip went on two nearly every day.
When I travel, I want to see, learn, and do as much as possible. Although I was able to spend a few days in the Bahamas while cruising on the big ship, I didn't have many opportunities to learn about the country or its people.
In contrast, my expedition cruise had far more port stops and expeditions, with opportunities to meet locals and learn about the places I visited.
Although I could've paid extra for more excursions on my traditional cruise, I loved that everything was included in the base price on the expedition ship.
Adventures are more exciting to me than beaches.
The naturalists gave us tips on how and when to drink fresh water during the expeditions.
Jamie Davis Smith
Port stops on my megaship cruise typically involved a few hours on the beach or a quick tour.
On my expedition cruise, the excursions were longer and always accompanied by naturalists who were experts in the region. They added a lot of value by pointing out things like the tracks of an Arctic fox and teaching us how to safely drink water from a glacier.
Sitting on beaches in The Bahamas is nice, don't get me wrong. But I preferred hiking snow-capped mountains and riding in a small zodiac boat to see puffins up close.
The expedition cruise also did a great job engaging my kids.
My kids had plenty to do throughout the cruise.
Jamie Davis Smith
The kids' clubs on most family-centric megaships are legendary. However, they largely consist of activities my kids can do at home, like playing video games or a round of gaga ball (a popular variation of dodgeball).
Throughout our National Geographic trip, on the other hand, my kids participated in a small-group Global Explorers program.
When we first boarded, they each had a field diary waiting for them with tasks to complete during our expedition. They met with a naturalist each day to review their tasks, which included asking the captain questions about navigation, taking photos of Iceland's wild landscape, and answering questions about geography.
Although my kids had fun on the megaship, they were truly engaged during our expedition.
Overall, the smaller, more action-packed cruises are more worth it for us.
I'm already planning my next expedition cruise.
Jamie Davis Smith
Smaller expedition ships with active excursions aren't for everyone. They lack specialty restaurants, live performances, and casinos, but I didn't miss those things.
In fact, I preferred how quickly the small ship started to feel like home.
I got to know some of the crew, and we spent time with other passengers we saw repeatedly throughout the trip. By the end of the trip, my kids and I got to know another family so well that we're planning on staying in touch.
I prefer getting to know people and experiencing once-in-a-lifetime activities over spending time on a beach with thousands I'll never see again.