Let's look at the numbers…almost 16,000,000 people will cruise this year alone, and this number continues to grow each year. That’s a lot of people! That’s more than many countries have! And when you compare that number to the much smaller numbers from just a few years ago, you can see just how incredible this number, and this growth in the cruise industry, is. But there is something else that is interesting about this number. It shows you just how much growth potential there still is for the cruise industry. Currently, under 5% of Americans (the largest passenger group for the cruise lines) have taken a cruise…this is kind of sad. People don’t seem to know the many great reasons that a cruise is a wonderful vacation option.
Now of course…I am
But before that, a disclaimer...regulars will know this, but anyone new might not. I myself have never cruised (NOT BY CHOICE!!! I WILL CHANGE THIS SAD FACT SOON!). Everything, I say here is based on years and years of learning, reading, reviews, and my obsession with the cruise industry! Continuing now...
First of all, there is the, ahem… “bang for your buck” factor. People don’t always realize it, but cruises offer an incredible deal...more so than many other vacation options, if not all others. A week long cruise can cost you as little as a few hundred dollars per person (as an example, Royal Caribbean International is offering 7 day cruises for as little as $499 out of New Orleans on one of their largest ships, the Voyager of the Seas). But more than the small price, it’s what’s included that makes this really amazing! Your cruise fare includes everything you will need to have a great vacation, such as your cabin and all cabin services, great food in the ship's main dining room and other venues, wonderful theater shows and other entertainment, all the many different amenities that modern cruise ships offer, great service, and the transportation between the different exotic ports that you will visit on your cruise! I think I should also note that luxury cruise lines (even though they are more expensive) often include even more…like airfare, excursions, transfers, and alcohol.
Often times, and especially when the economy is down (like right now), the cruise lines will offer discounts and other incentives such as onboard credit (essentially free money for you to spend onboard) and many others.
Also one other thing I would like to note about price, cruise lines base their prices on double occupancy (the idea that there will be at least 2 passengers to each cabin). This can be both a good and a bad thing for passengers. The positive is that a 3rd and a 4th person will be charged a smaller fare than the first two occupants of a cabin (meaning that while two parents will spend, say, $500 each, their two kids will sail for less if they are in the same cabin). On the negative side, if you are a single cruiser sailing by yourself, you may have to pay an extra charge to occupy a cabin on your own (though this policy changes from each cruise line)…the good news, though, is that many new ships are being built with singles in mind and now have single cabins (such as NCL’s Norwegian Epic).
Moving on…
Cruising offers some of the most incredible destinations on earth! As the cruise industry continues to grow internationally, new destinations continually open up. From such time honored places like the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Alaska or the Mexican Riviera, to other somewhat less developed places like the South Pacific, Australia, Asia, South America, Antarctica, and the Middle East; cruising offers one of the best ways to see some of the best destinations…and in some cases the only real way to see them.
An example…
One of the best destinations in the world (in my opinion) is the glorious Norwegian Fjords, and if you ask me, the best way to see them is from the decks of a cruise ship. Imagine sailing leisurely through one of Norway’s incredible fjords with the huge mountains towering thousands of feet above you on either side, reflecting off of the beautifully smooth waters…all as you watch, from your deck chair, the acres and acres of vividly green forest, farm lands, and meadows clinging to the sides of these mountains, the mighty glaciers, and the perfectly picturesque villages pass slowly before you. It is one of the most incredible experiences in the world, in one of the most beautiful places in the world…definitely on my bucket list!
But this is just one of the many different places of almost unimaginable beauty, that you can see on a cruise! Places such as the South Pacific, Vietnam, the Amazon, Alaska, and even the heavily touristy Caribbean, can all rival Norway.
NEXT POINT!!!!
One of the great things about cruising is the options! There is a perfect cruise somewhere for just about everyone! All that stands between you and the perfect cruise, is making the right choice.
While all the different cruise lines offer a great product of their own, making the right choices when booking your cruise is absolutely essential. Your choices can either make or break your cruise, and this is where a lot of people can make mistakes (and one of the good reasons a travel agent is not a bad idea). The cruise industry offers hundreds of choices to potential passengers, and this can be confusing to first timers. “Which destination? Which ship? Which cruise line? What date? What cabin? What price?” are all important questions (they can all affect how well your cruise goes) that you will have to answer.
Being a shipgeek, for me the first question is pretty much always “which ship?” (then I figure out the others later), but for those of you who are sadly not, shipgeeks, I would suggest having other questions answered first…
-Have an idea of where you want to go.
-Next think about what kind of cruise you would enjoy: a fun, sometimes party cruise, like those offered by Carnival; something more laid back, trendy, and sophisticated like Celebrity Cruises; a little more upscale, but still casual cruise like Princess Cruises; something that recalls the history and romance of ocean travel like Cunard Line (*geek squeal), or some much more luxurious and intimate like Seabourn Cruises, or Windstar Cruises.
-Think about how much you are willing to spend…this will also help you choose a line.
-Try and find a date that works best for you. Keep in mind the different times of year will have an effect on your cruise. For example, there will be much more kids and families during the summer months, than other times of year.
-After choosing a ship, choose a cabin. Keep in mind the destination. Some places like Norway, or Alaska, almost beg for you to have your own balcony, or at least a window. Some other itineraries, not so much.
Make the right combinations of choices and you are sure to have a great cruise. One bit of advice though…don’t be afraid to try new things, like picking a cruise line or ship you would not normally choose; especially as you start to cruise more and more. Many people are often very pleasantly surprised when they try new things in the cruise industry…just don’t be too reckless at first, you could over do it!
Next!
While, at least in my super shipgeeky opinion, any day at sea is better than most on land, but being a shipgeek means that when it comes to ships, I am pretty easily satisfied (I know…not much of a comfort when I am singing cruising’s praises). But don’t take my opinion, take a look at the numbers! According to CLIA’s (Cruise Lines International Association) 2011 cruise market study, 94% of people who cruised this past year had a satisfying cruise experience. That's a pretty good number, almost 15,000,000 people! And I should note, most of those were not shipgeeks (sad for them).
Moving right along…
Cruise are more accessible than ever! Especially if you are in the US. The cruise lines are making efforts to place ships in departure ports that are easily accessible by car to millions of people, with more than a dozen such ports all over the country. The idea is that now, you can cruise without having to deal with the hassle of flying…now you can just drive, park, and cruise!
Next…
There is a cruise line and cruise ship for everyone now-a-days. I already touched on the subject of cruise line choices above so let’s talk more about the ships. The largest ships today are up to 5 times larger than the Titanic! So you can be sure that they have a ton to do! Pools, surfing machines and water parks, ice skating, rock climbing, classes, lectures, restaurants, theater shows, and more, are all available to you! And with extensive facilities dedicated to babies, children and teenagers, you can be sure that younger cruisers will be very well entertained, and looked after. And with many other amenities targeted at an adult crowd, such as spas, clubs, dances, comedy clubs, casinos, and more, you can be sure that you will also always be entertained…of course, you can always just enjoy yourself doing absolutely nothing!
Next and last for right now...
The timeless romance of sailing the ocean! Really, is there anything more romantic than the idea of slowly walking the decks of a passenger ship arm in arm with your loved one, as you sail off into a beautiful sunset, with the sounds of the waves and distant music filling the incredibly fresh ocean air? Or, how about dancing together in your finest clothes, to Big Band music, inside
a grand ballroom, in the same way that people have been doing for more then a hundred years? Or maybe your idea of romance is simpler than that? Maybe you prefer just sitting on your private balcony with your love, champagne glass in hand, as you watch the ocean and occasional island pass by.For centuries, people have been captivated by the romance of being at sea, and while it may seem that this romance would be lessened on the huge mega ships of today, it's not. In fact, in some way’s it is more romantic than ever! The industry is full of romantic experiences, like walking through Oasis of the Sea’s gently lit, “Central Park,” at night, or eating dinner al fresco on the deck of a Windstar Cruises' sailing ship with it's white sails billowing above you, or even watching a wonderful fireworks display mid-ocean, like on Disney Cruise Lines. Ah romance!
Anyways, there are many other reasons that a cruise is a great vacation option…you only have to unpack once but you still get to see multiple places, the food (!), almost everything is taken care of for you (even your flight arrangements, if you opt for such), and it is a great way to sample all these great destinations!
No matter how you slice it, a cruise is a great option when considering a vacation! Keep in mind all that has been said above, and make the right choices and you, your friends, partners, and/or family are sure to enjoy yourselves!
"It isn't that life ashore is distasteful to me. But life at sea is better."
-Sir Francis Drake
