If you want to be free, be free. Cruising has evolved from seating assignments and all-inclusive itineraries to varied rosters of independent experiences. Eat when you want and with whom you want on ships offering up to fourteen different restaurants and cafés. There’s no dress code to worry about as most cruises have done away with the mandatory (and formal) Captain’s Dinner.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) leads the way with Freestyle Cruising. NCL offers more choice, including numerous stateroom configurations, more onboard activities, and more onshore excursions. With so much to choose from, you never have to eat in the same place, take an unwelcome tour or darn your black socks.

Princess Cruises offers Personal Choice Dining, an opportunity to choose where and what you eat every night of your cruise. You may never end up in the same restaurant, seated by the same people or eating from the same menu. Personal Choice Dining has proven so popular that Princess is adding Personal Choice themes to all of their onboard and onshore amenities.

Most cruise lines are developing their own versions of carefree cruising, so check in and chill out, but only if you want to of course.