It seems like everybody these days is setting sail, cruising around the deep blue ocean on ships the size of small cities. Travelers return from their ocean adventures with strange and marvelous tales of grand movie theaters, huge climbing walls, water slides, and mounds of delicious food, but is this the reason why cruises have grown in popularity? What is it, exactly, that makes cruises so appealing to so many people?
Perhaps it’s the
price. Long cruises, especially, can be expensive, and port fees, cruise
cancellation insurance, and airfare (if it’s not included in the price), not to
mention pricey shore excursions, can destroy your vacation budget. Just like
with air travel, however, significant discounts can be found online and through
travel agents, and when travellers factor in the meals, accommodation, and
shipboard entertainment that are included in the fare, cruises can actually be
pretty reasonable. There’s also less room for the typical nasty surprises that
accompany traveling to exotic locations on your own.
Unlike land tours,
which offer a similar sense of security when traveling, cruises also allow
passengers a great deal of personal freedom and the ability to set their own
pace. If you don’t feel like getting up for breakfast, then you can stay in
your cabin and make it down in time for lunch. On a tour, if you miss
breakfast, you might have missed the bus for the entire day, and you’ll end up
stuck in your hotel, while everyone else is seeing the sights. Cruises have a
definite relaxation factor that accompanies the fact that you are, essentially,
staying in a floating hotel, which is one reason why cruises attract passengers
who are celebrating honeymoons, birthdays, anniversaries, and family reunions.
The fact that
cruises are actually carrying passengers from one port of call to the next with
a minimum of fuss or fanfare is another reason for their popularity. Unlike
planes, trains, or, God forbid, automobiles, passenger can sleep, eat,
exercise, and even party while the ship is transporting them from point A to
point B. As mentioned earlier, the pace is slower, but for many, that’s a
benefit rather than a drawback of cruise travel. Also, once you get to your
port of call, you’ll be all rested up for duty-free shopping (in the Caribbean,
at least) or scuba diving or whatever draws you to exotic locales in the first
place.
Traveling also
entails meeting a lot of new people—some of whom are nice and some of whom are
not nice. Dealing with nasty flight attendants, shady cab drivers, and grouchy
hotel clerks can add a level of stress to travel that detracts from the sense
of excitement and adventure that should accompany any vacation. Perhaps it’s
because everyone’s so relaxed or perhaps it’s because the staff is brainwashed
(or desperate for a generous gratuity), but, in general, fellow travellers and
staff on cruise ships seem to be a whole lot happier, nicer, and more
accommodating than your average human being you encounter every day. Your
fellow cruisers, who come from a variety of backgrounds, are not only happier
but also more interesting to be around, and you’re actually encouraged and able
to socialize on a cruise.
But let’s be
honest. Nothing’s more important to you than your stomach. Airlines understand
that. It seems like, on some long-haul flights, attendants are walking around
every hour with another opportunity to stuff your face. Airline food, however,
will never be able to compete with cruise ship food. Food is often the
highlight of a cruise experience. Whether it’s at a buffet, in a dining room,
or in your cabin, the food is delicious, and there’s plenty of it. In fact, you
might find yourself gaining a few pounds if you’re not careful. Luckily, that’s
what vacation is all about. If you are worried about your waistline, there are
plenty of opportunities to exercise and stay fit onboard.
Finally, one of the
major reasons why cruise travel is growing in popularity is the variety it
offers. Over 200 cruise ships float in the world’s oceans and rivers today, and
that number is growing by the year. Just like with air travel, there are the
big names—Princess, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Carnival—and they each have
their own fleet of ships. There are also smaller cruise lines, tailored to a
specific region or for a specific purpose. These days, if you do your research,
you can find the perfect cruise ship to fit your needs, wants and interests.
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