Print This Article Post Comment Add To Favorites Email to Friends Ezine Ready

Why Are Luxury Holiday Cruises Becoming So Popular With Vacationers?

By: Dorothy Yamich Home | Travel-and-Leisure | Cruises-Boating


In this era of faster everything, including faster and larger commercial airliners where passengers are packed in like sardines, one thing seems to remain constant. That is the wonderful, leisurely world of cruising. For many years the airline industry has experienced numerous setbacks, while the cruise industry has been growing by leaps and bounds. There are many reasons why you should consider becoming a part of this amazing phenomenon. Here are some of them.

According to recent research from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), ninety-five percent of cruisers give top marks to their cruising experience and more than seventy-five percent plan to cruise again within three years.

Contrary to what some people think, cruises are very affordable. With most vacations you end up paying for air flights, hotels or resorts, restaurants, entertainment, and sometimes car rentals. If you add all these costs up, cruises can be a real bargain. When you book a cruise, in most cases you pay for the airfare and cruise. However, if you live close enough to your cruise ship departure port, you may be able to drive there much cheaper than you can fly. Even if you have to fly to the departure port you can always get a flight and cruise package deal which is usually less expensive than purchasing your flight and cruise separately.

When you book a luxury cruise vacation, well over 85% of your holiday is prepaid and that includes all meals, night clubs, stage shows, movies, and entertainment, as well as numerous other activities and amenities. In addition, most ships have onboard activities such as golf, rock climbing, dancing, swimming, scuba diving lessons which can lead to certification, Pilates, yoga, and fitness trainers. You can also pamper yourself with wonderful spas and body massages.

Another way to save big bucks on a cruise is to book an inside cabin. If you do not need to have a cabin with a balcony or ocean view, then you will save a lot of money. You have use of all the shared amenities that your fellow passengers have, but it is costing you a lot less.

You can also save a bundle on repositioning cruises. A repositioning cruise is made possible at certain times of the year, usually in the spring and fall, when cruise lines relocate their ships from one part of the world to another.

There is a large variety of luxury cruise vacations to choose from, ranging from three day mini cruises to several month long cruises as well as an amazing around the world cruise odyssey.

When you cruise, you are traveling in the lap of luxury in a floating five-star hotel. You will be pampered and feel you are living the life of a king or queen, not just for a day, but for the entire length of the cruise. Gourmet dining, impeccable service and elegant surroundings are only a few of the superlatives that are used to describe cruising.

If you like delicious food you will absolutely love gourmet meals and scrumptious desserts created by great chefs and served in a variety of restaurants. There are always wonderful buffets available throughout the day and even midnight buffets. A number of themed lounges are located throughout the cruise ships for your convenience.

Love seeing Broadway style shows and theater performances without having to make reservations or pay outlandish prices for tickets? Then taking a luxury cruise is the answer. So many things are included on cruises which make them such a great value for your travel and entertainment dollar.

From children to great grandparents, there is always something to interest everyone on a cruise. You have the option to be as active as you like or you can just relax and experience magnificent sunrises and breathtaking sunsets while watching the world go by. So many wonderful, precious memories and experiences will stay with you a lifetime when you take a luxury cruise.

Want to party around the clock? Not a problem. Whether you are with a partner or single, it is always party time. You do not even have to plan or clean up after the party, just have a lot of fun!

Businesses from around the world book conferences and seminars, team building get-togethers, new product launches and employee reward vacations on cruise ships. Cruise lines do not charge extra for conference room facilities and use of audio and video equipment.

Group cruises are not only for companies and business people. Family reunions, honeymoons and weddings, sports groups and clubs, charities and fund raisers are only some of the many kinds of groups that have their events on cruises.

On cruises there is no hassle of having to pack and unpack again and again every time you travel to a new destination. Another bonus is that there is no limit on the amount of luggage you can bring on a cruise.

People with disabilities should have no problem getting around on a cruise ship. Cruise lines have made onboard accessibility a non-issue as their ships are equipped with ramps, elevators and easily accessible cabins and state rooms.

Modern cruise ships have dramatically reduced the problem of seasickness. The larger ships of today slice through the waves instead of riding on top of them. Also, new innovative technologies like stabilizers and counterbalancing systems have greatly reduced the pitch and roll of cruise ships, all but neutralizing any problem of seasickness.

Cruising is also one of the safest forms of travel. The cruise industry has an exceptional safety record. And as far as assaults and robberies are concerned, they are over a hundred times less likely to occur on a cruise ship than in your own home town.

A physician and medical staff are never more than a few minutes away on a cruise ship should any passenger need to see doctor. Most common passenger ailments and minor mishaps occur less on a cruise ship than on shore.

For those that have a fear of flying or do not enjoy being crammed like sardines into commercial airplanes when traveling to their destinations, here is some great news. The cruise lines in the United States are making terrific strides catering to cruise passengers needs. They are opening up more ports of call on both the East and West coasts so more and more people who would love to go on a cruise but do not like flying, can easily drive or take a bus or train to most departure ports.



Article Source: http://www.eArticlesOnline.com

About the Author:
Dorothy Yamich has a passion for travel. She has lived and traveled extensively throughout Europe as well as traveled in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. She is a travel consultant and specializes in luxury cruises as well as vacation package. To quickly find and book cheap cruises, at the best price possible, every time you feel like traveling, visit Travel Tips Guide, for more information.s.

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Please Rate this Article

 

Not yet Rated

Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Cruises-Boating Articles Via RSS!

Recent Related Articles From Cruises-Boating

  • Popular Cruise Amenities What To Expect

    Are you going on or thinking about a cruise? If you're curious about cruise ship vacations, but you're not sure what to expect keep reading to learn about common cruise ship amenities and what you can expect from a typical cruise ship vacation.

    Firstly, the activities, food and services are going to vary fr ...
    Read

  • Themed Cruise Ships: Everything You Need To Know

    Themed cruises are cruise vacations that focus on a specific customer, a specific theme like a type of music, or a skill such as gourmet cooking or painting. Essentially theme cruises allow passengers with similar tastes to enjoy a relatively all-inclusive vacation that tailors specifically to their interests. Since they ar ... Read

  • An Alaskan Adventure Cruise Aboard The Island Princess
    By: John Shallo | Dec 22nd 2005
    On one late summer's day, my journey took me from Valdez to Seaward, Alaska. While traveling I could see the fire weed, bright red and in full bloom along the highway's edge. According to the locals, winter would be coming soon, ending the short summer Alaska enjoys. My morning had begun in the Port of Valdez and I was prep ... Read

  • How To Cruise Ship Travel With Teenagers

    When you're planning a family vacation, it's hard to find something that appeals to everyone - especially if you have teenagers. Parents want to relax, take it easy or enjoy quality family time, while teenagers are maybe looking for something more adventurous or high energy. A cruise vacation is one way to appeal to everyon ... Read

  • Cruise Lines Offer Fun At Bargain Prices
    By: Rolf Zimmerli | May 30th 2006
    Cruise lines offer vacations for a weekend or many weeks that are fun and relaxation or sport, discovery and action, the choice is yours. The competition between cruise lines is fierce and if you know how to you can book a cruise at bargain prices. Here are a few tips: Read

  • Cruise Travel Close To Home From The West Coast
    By: Mary Hanna | Sep 22nd 2006
    Cruise passengers are opting now more than ever to arrange their cruise travel in ports of embarkation that are close to home. Being able to drive or take a short flight to your cruise vacation is becoming more and more popular. Read

  • Cruise Ships: Benefits And Drawbacks Of All-inclusive Cruise Travel

    All-inclusive travel, whether aboard a cruise ship or at a resort, definitely has an appeal. There are a limited number of hidden costs (though you never fully escape them) and you can hopefully approach your vacation more assured of close to how much you will have spent in the end - certainly a help to budget predictabilit ... Read

  • All About Cruise Ships
    By: cdup | Apr 10th 2008
    Article that is full of information on cruise ships and cruise Ship safety to inform you exacly what how safe and entertaining cruise ships are. Read

  • Your Cruise Vacation - Cruise Ship Embarkation Procedures
    By: Mary Hanna | Sep 8th 2006
    A cruise vacation is everyone's dream. Cruise travel is a great way to see the world, so here are some cruise tips for the day you embark on your cruise. Read

  • The Perfect Cruise Holiday - Relax And Enjoy
    By: Sara Winchester | Jul 19th 2006
    There comes a time when you want to take time off of work and put aside the stress and just go on vacation. Somewhere where no one can reach you and you just can sit back and relax. If this sounds like you, you should go on a cruise. Read


Copyright © 2005-2011 eArticlesOnline, LLC - All Rights Reserved
Terms of Service | Privacy Policy