65 Inspirational Cruising Quotes for Your Next Voyage

Are you looking for the best cruise quotes? You’re in the right place.

It’s difficult to put into words just how wonderful cruising is.

I myself have been on 8 cruises — including riverboats, small sailboats, and large cruise ships all over the world — but Mediterranean cruises continue to be my favorite.

That’s where this list of cruise quotes comes in!

In this post, I’m sharing my favorite cruise quotes, from inspirational sailing quotes to funny cruise sayings and Instagram captions. I’ve even included some cruise quote images you can save for later.

Why I Love Mediterranean Cruises — Especially Spain

One of the things I love most about Mediterranean cruises is how different every port feels. One day you’re wandering through the Gothic Quarter in Barcelona, and the next you’re watching the sunset along the coast of Italy or heading out for gyros in Athens.

I think Spain particularly makes an incredible cruise destination because the ports are connected to real cities and regional culture. Whether you’re exploring historic neighborhoods, trying local food, or spending the day along the Mediterranean coast, Spain cruise stops feel immersive in a way that’s hard to explain until you experience them yourself.

If you’re planning your own cruise through Spain and the Mediterranean, don’t miss my Spain Regions Travel Overview to help you decide which ports and shore excursions are worth prioritizing.

Inspiring Cruising Quotes

Cruising seems to personify the best of everything. It’s easy to see why. From sea views and sunsets to leisurely meals for two, cruising is certainly a favorite pastime of many, with the global cruise industry welcoming nearly 30 million passengers annually (pre-COVID)!

Keep reading this section below for some of the most inspiring cruise quotes that get to the heart of cruising.

1. “A man is never lost at sea.” ― Ernest Hemingway

2. “Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate.” ― Captain Jack Sparrow

3. “For whatever we lose (like a you or a me), it’s always our self we find in the sea.” ― E.E. Cummings

4. “You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.” ― Christopher Columbus

5. “A ship in the harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for.” ― William Shedd

6. “The days pass happily with me wherever my ship sails.” ― Joshua Slocum

7. “On a day when the wind is perfect, the sail just needs to open and the world is full of beauty.” ― Rumi

8. “If your ship doesn’t come in, swim out and meet it.” ― Jonathan Winters

9. “At sea, I learned how little a person needs, not how much.” ― Robin Lee Graham

Cruise Ship Quotes

Cruising isn’t just about the destinations you’ll visit. In fact, some would say it isn’t about that at all! In many ways, the cruise ship itself is the destination.

In fact, 1/3 of guests don’t even get off the cruise ship each day, choosing instead to enjoy the time aboard. While we love a quiet pool, we also love to check out the ports!

In any case, listed below are a few of my favorite boat cruise quotes.

10. “Cruising is fixing your boat in exotic locations.” — Author Unknown

11. “To desire nothing beyond what you have is surely happiness. Aboard a boat, it is frequently possible to achieve just that. That is why sailing is a way of life, one of the finest of lives.” ― Carleton Mitchell

12. “The thing I realized these last few days is that the earth is a big place.” — Paul Cayard

13. “The planning stage of a cruise is often just as enjoyable as the voyage itself, letting one’s imagination loose on all kinds of possibilities. Yet translating dreams into reality means a lot of practical questions have to be answered.” — Jimmy Cornell

14. “Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made, for somewhere deep in their oaken hearts the soul of a song is laid.” — Robert N. Rose

15. “The lovely thing about cruising is that planning usually turns out to be of little use.”  — Dom Degnon

Sailing Quotes

The opportunity to sail on a sailboat is something I treasure. Truly, watching the crew adeptly steer the boat with only the power of the wind was mind-blowing.

So what makes sailing so magical? Check out these sailing quotes to find out.

16. “I wanted freedom, open air, and adventure. I found it on the sea.” — Alaine Gerbault

17. “A sailing vessel is alive in a way that no ship with mechanical power ever be.” — Aubrey de Selincourt

18. “It’s remarkable how quickly a good and favorable wind can sweep away the maddening frustrations of shore living.” ― Ernest K. Gann

19. “Sailors, with their built-in sense of order, service and discipline, should really be running the world.” — Nicholas Monsarrat

20. “Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than those you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the wind in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” — Mark Twain

21. “A sailor is an artist whose medium is the wind.” — Webb Chiles

22. “The sail, the play of its pulse so like our own lives: so thin and yet so full of life, so noiseless when it labors hardest, so noisy and impatient when least effective.”  ― Henry David Thoreau

23. “It is not that life ashore is distasteful to me. But life at sea is better.” — Sir Francis Drake, English Explorer

River Cruise Quotes

River cruising is becoming more well-known these days with the opportunity to float all around the world. The slow rhythm, the tastes, and the tiny ports are all part of what makes river cruising undeniably wonderful.

Ask anyone who has been on a river cruise, and they will tell you it’s hard to beat. (My mom cites river cruising on Avalon Waterways as the best trip she’s ever taken, and she has taken a lot!)

Until you visit, look no further for some amazing quotes related to river cruising.

24. “A good river is nature’s life work in song.” — Mark Helprin

25. “I had no plans of any destination. I wish to flow like a river.” — Lailah Gifty Akita

26. “I would love to live like a river flows, carried by the surprise of its own unfolding.” — John O’Donohue

27. “The journey, not the arrival matters.” — T.S. Elliot

28. “The river has great wisdom and whispers its secrets to the hearts of men.” — Mark Twain

29. “A river seems a magic thing. A magic, moving, living part of the very earth itself.” — Laura Gilpin

30. “Who hears the rippling of rivers will not utterly despair of anything.” — Henry David Thoreau

Funny Cruise Quotes

Cruising isn’t all moonlight and relaxing. It’s certainly a place to enjoy everything the ship, the water, the crew, and the ports have to offer! Thus, this list wouldn’t be complete without some silly cruise quotes.

In this section, I share some of the best funny cruise quotes, so read on for some laughs.

31. “A bad day sailing is still better than a good day at work.” — Author Unknown

32. “If there’s a heaven for me, I’m sure it has a beach attached to it.”  — Jimmy Buffett

33. “If your ship doesn’t come in, swim out and meet it.” — Andrew Barger

34. “My doctor says I need more vitamin sea in my life.” — Author Unknown

35. “The sea finds out everything you did wrong.” — Francis Stokes

36. “Land was created to provide a place for boats to visit.” — Brooks Atkinson

37. “Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt

38. “I Googled my symptoms, and it turns out I just need a cruise.” — Author Unknown

Short Cruise Quotes

When it comes to quotes, sometimes shorter is sweeter! This is unlike the cruise, itself, in my opinion!

Take a moment to reflect on these short and sweet inspirational cruise quotes.

39. “Cruise and muse.” — Author Unknown

40. “On the sea, life moves at the pace of the waves.” — Author Unknown

41. “Seas the day!” — Author Unknown

42. “The ocean is a mighty harmonist.” — William Wordsworth

43. “Cruising has stolen my heart.” — Author Unknown

Sea Quotes

There’s hardly anything more calming than the sea. Yes, there’s a reason to book a balcony room on a cruise ship or a seaside villa. There’s just something about the ocean that makes everything alright. (Just writing about it is making me feel calmer actually.)

Read this section for some of the top quotes on the sea, ocean, and beach.

44. “Every time I slip into the ocean, it’s like going home.” — Sylvia Earle

45. “How inappropriate it is to call this planet Earth, when clearly it is Sea.” — Arthur C. Clarke

46. “Smell the sea and feel the sky. Let your soul and spirit fly.” ― Van Morrison

47. “Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

48. “In losing complete awareness of time, I felt pure freedom. I was becoming one with the sea.” — Michelle Segrest

49. “No literature is richer than that of the sea. No story is more enthralling, no tradition is more secure.” — Felix Riesenberg

50. “I must go down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and the sky. And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by.” — John Masefield

51. “The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” — Jacques Cousteau

Cruise Quotes for Instagram

After your vacation, you’ll surely want to share your photos on Instagram (or your other favorite social platform.) You can use any of the quotes on this page as Instagram captions.

But, here are some cruise quotes for Instagram with that certain spark. Use them alone or to start off your captions, expanding on the ideas they profess. (PS: Scroll to then to grab some images to use, too.)

52. “Can’t control the wind but I can adjust the sail.” ― Ricky Skaggs

53. “The great difference between voyages rests not in ships, but in the people you meet on them.” ― Amelia Barr

54. “The cure for anything is saltwater – sweat, tears, or the sea.” ― Isak Dinesen

55. “You haven’t lived until you’ve sailed.” ― David Sedaris

56. “There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm.” ― Willa Cather

57. “Never in my life before have I experienced such beauty, and fear at the same time.” ― Ellen MacArthur

58. “Meet me where the sky touches the sea.” ― Author Unknown

Cruising Sayings and Slogans

Need some cruise sayings? Look no further than this section.

I’ve collected some of the sweetest sayings about cruising, sailing, and life.

59. “Home is where the anchor drops.” ― Author Unknown

60. “The waves of the sea help me get back to me.” ― Author Unknown

61. “Mackerel skies and mares tails, soon will be time to shorten sails.” ― Sailors’ Proverb

62. “I’d rather be cruisin’” ― Author Unknown

63. “Watch more sunsets than Netflix.” ― Author Unknown

64. “An ocean breeze puts your mind at ease.” ― Author Unknown

65. “Life’s too short to stay on land.” ― Author Unknown

Ready to Turn These Quotes into Your Reality?

A Mediterranean cruise is one of the most beautiful ways to see the Spanish coast, but 8 hours in port goes by fast!

If you’re docking in Barcelona or Málaga, you’ll want to make every minute count. I’m currently developing a series of Spain Shore Excursion Guides to help you find the best tapas, history, and hidden gems near the port.

In the meantime, if you’re looking for the perfect place to stay before or after your voyage, check out my guide to Choosing Where to Stay in Spain.