The Top Reasons To Take a Cruise Holiday

If you’ve thought about booking a cruise holiday but you haven’t got around to it yet, or you still have lingering doubts, there’s never been a better time to take that leap of faith than now. Cruising is not only a booming part of the travel industry, but as more holidaymakers are discovering, it’s an ideal getaway for anyone, with options to suit all budgets and tastes. While the romance, and some of the throwback traditions remain, cruising has evolved from a mode of long distance travel to become a significant holiday option. Forget old fashioned ocean going liners and class systems; today there’s not only an impressive variety of ships to choose from, but also itineraries and places to explore, aimed at luring all types of travellers.

Cruising Is Exceptional Value For Money

This is arguably the top reason why many people cruise. Dollar for dollar cruising is great value for money, with fares including everything you need for a great holiday; if you have a budget in mind, you’ll find a ship, and a cruise, to match it. Accommodation, dining and entertainment is all included in the fare, something few resorts can match, while you get to move effortlessly from one destination to another. Families can opt for staterooms and suites accommodating up to six people on some ships, with discounted rates for kids, or cruising free if sharing a stateroom with their parents, and there are affordable packages for soft drinks, and complimentary kid clubs and activities. In contrast, at the five-star end of the scale, on high seas and river cruises, “all-inclusive” fares will even cover your morning latté, wine with dinner, and tips.

Ships Are Floating Resorts

In the past, cruising had a bad reputation, from the kitschiness of “The Love Boat” television series, to being regarded as a holiday for the “over fed and nearly dead”. Those days are long gone, however, with cruise lines appealing to different types of holidaymakers, from singles and couples to families. A major reason for this is the ships. They now come in many shapes and sizes, from elegant river cruisers and boutique 100-person yachts with sails, to sparkling liners carrying over 4,000 fun seekers. Cruise ships also offer a wide choice of accommodation types to suit budgets, from affordable inside staterooms sleeping four people, to lavish suites with a private butler. Like many land based resorts, they also come with all the perks you could possibly want for a great holiday; theatres, sports complexes, restaurants, satellite television, cyber cafés, babysitting and duty free shopping.

Unpack Once But Travel Far

Visiting multiple places on a single trip is appealing to many travellers, but the “airports-taxis-hotels” experience can become a tiring chore, not to mention difficult, to plan. Cruising is an excellent alternative, as your ship will transport you from one destination to another with ease; all you have to do each morning is get up, and step ashore to explore. Few land-based holiday options offer the opportunity of snorkeling on a reef one day, shopping for local handicrafts in a rural village the next, exploring ancient ruins in a great city the day after, and rounding every day off back on board with a cocktail by the pool watching the sun go down. All this, and you only have to unpack once.

The Destinations Are Diverse

Experienced cruisers not only pick a cruise for the ship, but also for the ports of call. Besides the opportunity of visiting different destinations in a single trip, on a cruise you can eliminate difficult choices. If you can’t choose between Thailand and Vietnam, for example, on typical southeast Asia cruises you won’t have to as itineraries often feature ports of call in both. The same goes for river cruising; take a Danube cruise in Europe, and you will travel through Holland, Germany, Austria and Hungary in one trip. Another bonus of cruising a foreign country or region, is that you don’t have to worry about language barriers, and sightseeing is made easy thanks to the ship’s shore excursions; just turn up for the bus at the right time, and let the cruise line worry about everything else. One some cruise holidays, such as expedition voyages and river cruises, many excursions are included in the fare. 

Age Is No Barrier

Statistics have revealed that almost half of all people taking a cruise are less than age 50, and a quarter are 40 or younger. Younger couples, singles and families have all discovered the joys of cruising, largely because cruise lines have responded to demand for different cruise experiences. Families have more child-friendly ships to enjoy, with modern and expansive facilities to keep everyone from toddlers to teens happily engaged while on holiday. The same goes for younger singles, with ships providing more nightlife, more adventurous shore excursions, and more group activities. For seniors, however, and for couples of all ages, there’s still plenty to enjoy including the romance of a high seas holiday, from intimate dining venues and couples’ spa treatments, to private balcony dining.

There’s Plenty To Do, Or Not, As You Choose

Worried you’ll get bored on a cruise? Don’t be, because today’s ships come with a gamut of facilities which can have you on the go 24/7, and experiencing something new every day - should you wish to. Where kids are concerned, there are programs to keep kids occupied all day long, with facilities including rock climbing walls, paddling pools, Playstation competitions, and 3-D cinemas. For adults there are fitness centres to help keep you in good health and good shape, spas for a spot of pampering and rejuvenation, sports including mini-golf, and enrichment and education programs. At night, there’s entertainment for all ages, from live music and karaoke, to Broadway style shows. Cruising is also very social; if you enjoy making new friends, and meeting new people from around the world, cruising is a great way to go.