For over four decades, I’ve built a career around travel photography, specializing in the leisure and hospitality industries. Along the way, I’ve logged more nautical miles at sea than many young captains and officers. Cruise photography became a niche of mine—unexpectedly—but one that I grew to love.
However, my experience had always been on small luxury ships and classic tall ships, those with billowing sails and intimate gatherings of like-minded travelers. Mega cruise ships? Not my thing. Or so I thought.
Then, on my 70th birthday, I decided to challenge my own assumptions. As a gift to myself, I booked a voyage on the Regal Princess, departing from Galveston and bound for Mexico. Princess Cruises—yes, the original Love Boat—had been enticing travelers with its promise of romance, adventure, and elegance for decades. And now, it was my turn to experience it firsthand.
This ship was big—3,560 guests, a floating city with all the amenities one could imagine. Given my deep-rooted small-ship sensibilities, I had my reservations. Would it feel overwhelming? Would the sheer size dilute the intimacy I had grown to love about life at sea? Would I, a seasoned travel photographer, find the same magic I’d always found on the water?
The answer? A resounding yes.
From the moment I stepped onboard, camera in hand, I knew I was in for something special. A mega-ship is a photographer’s playground, a visual feast at every turn. Sunrises from the top deck, elegant staircases that frame every movement with cinematic beauty, reflections on the endless pools, and the soft glow of twilight setting the scene for evening entertainment—it was a nonstop symphony of light, color, and movement. I shot day and night, capturing everything from grand architectural elements to quiet, human moments that defined the onboard experience.
And yet, it wasn’t just about the photography. It was about the ease, the comfort, and the luxury of it all. I found myself savoring long, leisurely meals without a second thought, indulging in afternoon naps (a rare treat for someone always on the move), and—yes—even making time to flirt a little. I was reminded that cruising isn’t just about the destinations; it’s about the joy of the journey itself. It’s about love—not in a saccharine, storybook way, but in the love of travel, the love of exploration, the love of seeing the world from an entirely new perspective.
I was always one of the first off the ship at each port, eager to explore and, of course, shoot more. But I also relished my time on board, simply watching the world go by, feeling the hum of the ocean beneath my feet.
Mega ships may not have been my first love, but they quickly became an unexpected romance. They offer a grand, sweeping, and yet deeply personal way to experience the world—in style, in safety, and in absolute comfort. If you’ve ever dismissed them as “not your thing,” take it from me: sometimes, love finds you in the most surprising of places.
Click.
Jack.
