Is a Cruise For Me ?
Cruise FAQs: Is a cruise for you? | Who goes cruising? | What does it cost? |
The A-Z of cruising | Don't leave home without... | Practical Tips | What to expect
1 Why are cruises so popular?
Worldwide, more than 16 million people a year take an ocean/sea cruise. Cruising is popular because it takes you away from the pressures and strains of contemporary life ashore. Cruise ships are really self-contained resorts, without the crime, which can take you to several destinations in the space of just a few days.
The sea has always been a source of adventure, excitement, romance, and wonder. It is beneficial and therapeutic, and, because you pay in advance, you know what you will spend on your vacation without any hidden surprises. There is no traffic (except when you go ashore in ports of call), and no pollution. The hassles of ordinary travel are almost eliminated in one pleasant little package. And, you can save a substantial amount of money over a regular land-based vacation.
Then there are the sights. Some of the world’s most beautiful places are seen best from the decks of cruise ships. Indeed, there’s simply no other way to see the dramatic, awe-inspiring beauty of Antarctica, Alaska’s Inside Passage and its glaciers, the Galápagos Islands, the Panama Canal, or Vietnam’s haunting Halong Bay. Up-close and personal is just one of the reasons that cruising is such a valuable experience. It’s no wonder that 85 percent of passengers want to go again and again. Cruising is addictive.
2 What exactly is a cruise?
A cruise is a vacation – an antidote to (and escape from) the stress and strain of life ashore. It offers you a chance to relax and unwind in comfortable surroundings, with attentive service, good food, and a ship that changes the scenery for you. It is virtually a hassle-free, and, more importantly, a crime-free vacation. You seldom have to make blind choices. Everything’s close to hand, and there are always polite people to help you. A cruise provides great value for money, variety (in ship size, destinations, facilities, cuisine, entertainment, activities and shore excursions), a chance to explore new places, meet new people, make friends, and, above all, provides the ingredients for a wonderful vacation.
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3 What a cruise is not
Some cruises simply aren’t relaxing despite cruise brochure claims that ‘you can do as much or as little as you want to.’ For example, the large resort ships carrying more than 1,200 passengers, and particularly those with 3,000-plus, cram lots of people into small cabins and provide nonstop activities that insult the intelligence and assault the wallet.
Price is, of course, a consideration for most people. The cost of a cruise provides a useful guideline to a ship’s ambience, type of passengers, and degree of luxury, food, and service. The amount you are prepared to spend will determine the size, location, and style of accommodation you get. Be wary of huge discounts – it either means that the product was unrealistically priced at source or that quality will be reduced somewhere. Ships are as individual as fingerprints: each can change its ‘personality’ from cruise to cruise, depending on the mix of passengers (and crew).
Passengers encompass all types of personalities and lifestyles, from affluent, reserved, and mature to active, athletic, fun-loving, and youthful, or family-oriented, or conservation-minded, or adventurous, or wild fun seekers. They may be well traveled, or honeymooners on their first cruise, or veteran passengers who cruise several times a year.
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4 I’ve not taken a cruise. Where do I start?
First, think about where you want to go, how long a cruise you would like, and how much money you want to spend. You’ll need to think about how large a ship you’d like to cruise aboard. Then, find a good travel agent who specializes in cruises and is interested in matching your needs, requirements, lifestyle, and personality. Be sure to ask these 10 questions:
1. What size cruise ship would you recommend?
2. What should I budget for the cruise?
3. What is included in the cruise price?
4. What additional costs can I expect to pay?
5. Which destinations are included?
6. What kind of accommodation would you recommend for my tastes and budget?
7. What is the ship’s onboard ambiance like?
8. What facilities does the ship have?
9. What kind of food and service is provided?
10. What kind of entertainment should I expect?
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5 Aren’t all ships and cruises similar?
Far from it. Look through this book and you will see that ships range from under 200 ft (60 meters) to over 1,000 ft (300 meters) in length. They carry from under 100 to over 4,000 passengers; facilities, food, and service vary according to the size of the ship. Ambience ranges from ultra-casual to very formal (starchy and reserved). Entertainment ranges from amateur dramatics to full-fledged high-tech production shows, from the corner cabaret to a world-famous headliner.
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