Don’t get me wrong. You can learn a lot by going to school or college, but in my view the greatest lessons come from that noble institution, the University of Life.

Indeed, it was from life that I learned the greatest lesson of them all – namely that I should have gone to university.

It’s probably too late for me to do that now, but there are still plenty of learning opportunities out there in everyday life for me, and indeed you, to take advantage of.

Rich variety of experiences

It’s fair to say that one of the best sources of learning in life is a cruise holiday. With a rich variety of experiences on offer, cruising provides more than its fair share of chances for people to absorb new ideas and insights.

Last year I wrote about the study of Cruisology and how you could get a good grounding in that subject after just one week at sea. Well now I want to turn my attention to another kind of nautical learning experience that’s there for the taking, if you so choose.

Besides being a great way to relax and enjoy yourself, a cruise also offers an opportunity for you to grow and develop as a person and to take in fresh knowledge and wisdom. On every voyage, if you know where to look, there are valuable lessons to be gained.

Here are just three I’ve learned during my time at sea.

1. Story telling

It’s easy to be dismissive of people, we don’t know, especially the ones who seem a little unassuming. Maybe that elderly guy dining on his own in the corner of the restaurant looks like he hasn’t much to say for himself. But get talking to him and you could be in for a big surprise.

The old gentleman in my case turned out to be a hero of the D Day landings with a wealth of tales about his wartime experiences. But I’d never have discovered any of that had I not found the courage to strike up a conversation with him.

What that experience reminded me is that people have fascinating stories to tell, especially total strangers. You just have to get to know them, ask the right questions and of course remember to be a good listener.

2. Complexities of life

Sometimes when you’re caught up in the worries and complexities of daily life it’s possible to lose a sense of perspective. Going on a cruise gives you a chance to break out of that bubble and be transported into another realm.

When that happens you quickly realise that your everyday troubles are just a microscopic and insignificant part of life on Earth. There’s so much more going on out there – things that are probably more deserving of your attention.

What you also learn is that tearing yourself away from your comfort zone to taste other cultures and customs can be truly inspirational. You can return home with a fresh spring in your step and the feeling that your batteries have been recharged.

3. Survival of the species

If you spend too long watching the news on TV it’s easy to think the human race is totally mixed up and intent on self destruction. How can we survive as a species when we seem poles apart in attitudes and behaviours?

If you feel like that cruising has the antidote. Travelling to distant lands to take a closer look at your fellow humans in other parts of the world can be hugely instructive. Whenever I’ve done that I’ve been reminded of a simple truth: despite our many differences, we are incredibly similar.

To name but a few, we all enjoy eating and drinking and admiring the wonders of nature. We are all driven by the same biological processes, allowing of course for the obvious gender differences. And while there are always some exceptions, most people want to be happy and enjoy listening to a good story or having a good laugh.

There are, it seems to me, more things that unite us than divide us. And that in my humble view is one of the most critical lessons you can learn when you set off on a cruise.

These then are three big lessons I have gained over the years, but they are only a tiny percentage of the character building and even life-transforming lessons available to us when we set sail.

Great deals

But hey, I almost forgot. Something else you learn when you get into cruising is that there are some great deals to be had.

For example, there’s the seven-night Mediterranean Cruise that starts from £499 per person

Not to mention the six-night transatlantic cruise to New York that’s available from £699 per person

And let’s not forget the 14 night Caribbean stay, cruise and stay package that’s on offer from £899 per person.

Remember, each of these could be a fabulous opportunity to learn something new.

Bruce Beckett

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