Off the Cuff

[#1]

I recently read an article by Erica Silverstein offering her Top 10 reasons to cruise. I’ve included her Top 10 below and added my own two cents!

1.  A Cruise Vacation Offers Great Value

Cruises offer great value for your vacation dollar because the fares include nearly everything you'll need for a fantastic trip: food, accommodations, daytime and evening entertainment, and transportation between travel destinations…

But A Cruise Vacation Has Additional Expenses Too

Depending upon what the cruise line includes in the fare, there may be additional expenses for shore excursions, non-included beverages, meals at speciality restaurants and staff gratuities. Cruises are still a great value, you just need to figure out the non-included expenses and budget for them.

2.  See Multiple Destinations, Unpack Only Once 

On a cruise, you unpack once and your floating hotel takes you from city to city or from island to island and there's no need to mess with train or ferry schedules, or lug your suitcase along cobblestone streets…

But Remember That Traveling to the Port with Luggage Can Be a Hassle!

3.  Cruise Ships are Family Friendly 

From tots to teens, grandparents to grandkids, cruises are fun for all ages…

Some Cruise Ships Are Singles Friendly and Some Are Really Couples-Only Friendly

A good travel professional can match you with the appropriate cruise line and ship.

4.  Cruise Ships Come in All Shapes and Sizes 

The ideal cruise ship for one person may be a mega-ship outfitted with onboard rock-climbing walls and outdoor movie theaters, while another will prefer an intimate ship with an upscale ambience...

And the People Who Cruise Come in All Shapes and Sizes

The people who cruise today come from all walks of life—and from all over the world. Cruising is no longer just for Americans, senior citizens or the idle rich.

5.  Ships Offer a Variety of Onboard Activities 

Today's cruise ships are designed to keep everyone happy...

Or You Can Do Nothing!

If you want to just kick back and read a book, there are lots of cozy places to do just that. A cruise provides you with options—options to do lots of things or to do nothing at all.

6.  Cruise Vacations are Easy to Plan 

Because cruise vacations package together transportation and accommodations, they're very easy to plan. Pick your ship, itinerary and cabin, and away you go…

But There’s Other Things to Plan Too

Today’s new ships offer extensive shore excursions, speciality restaurants, evening entertainment and special activities which need to be reserved—and they are often sold out before the ship leaves port! Use a travel professional to help you plan your cruise and ensure you have reservations for the “extras” you desire.

7.  Ships Are Floating Cities 

If you're concerned about being stranded in the middle of the ocean, relax. Cruise ships are like floating cities with everything you could possibly want onboard…

But Ships Can Also Be Less

Some ships offer very limited amenities—basically a cabin and a dining room. These ships generally sail to unique places where the destinations are more important than the ship. Or the ship may have an alternative purpose; it may be a freighter or a ferry that accommodates passengers.

8.  Plan an Exotic Vacation

Always wanted to visit Asia but are nervous about the language barrier? Curious about the Middle East, but nervous about country customs? A cruise is one of the best ways to see the most exotic and foreign destinations in this world in an easy way…

Or Plan a Trip to Nowhere

Several cruise lines now offer short cruises to nowhere or to only one destination. If you live close to a port offering these short cruises, you can enjoy a weekened getaway and all the amenities of the ship.

 9.  Cruising Is Romantic 

…If you want to rekindle the spark with your sweetie, a cruise vacation provides plenty of together time... Cruise lines also have special packages for honeymoons, vow renewals, and weddings onboard and onshore...

Cruising Can Also Be Adventurous, Relaxing or Focused on Your Special Interests

The remarkable thing about today’s cruise industry is that there is a cruise for just about everyone. Whatever your style of vacation or interests, there is a cruise for you. Just ask your travel professional.

 

10.  Cruising is Social 

If you love to meet people from around the country—and the world—cruising provides a wonderful opportunity to make new friends… Onboard, you'll meet people at your dinner table, at the piano bar or by the pool…

But You Can Opt to Be Solitary or Semi-Social

There are always private places onboard ships where you can read or relax without being disturbed. If you don’t want to dine with other people, the ship’s staff will happily serve you in your cabin. And if you want to be social only part of the time, a cruise may suit you perfectly.

[#2]

I love cruising and have taken 16 cruises over the past 25 years. They offer something for everyone! Each ship and each itinerary just gets better and better. Viva cruising!

[#3]

I went on my very first cruise a few years ago for our honeymoon, and it was spectacular. We opted, because it was such a special trip, for one of the pricier cruise lines and everything was incredibly deluxe. I felt like a princess for ten days as we cruised the Mediterranean and took shore excursions to Santorini, Ephesus, Rome, Naxos, Mt. Etna, etc. The cruise went from Greece to Turkey to Italy to France, and I'll never forget it. The food was delicious. And we had an elaborate afternoon tea each day. Dinner was always followed by a themed show of some sort (like a Broadway night, for example, and one night dedicated to songs from the 60's era). Every night I was lulled to sleep by the thrum of the ship's engines and the gentle swaying of the ocean. Each morning I took tea out to our balcony and watched for dolphins. What a life changing experience!

[#4]

I've looked ahead and seen tons of fascinating blog posts from you that I'm looking forward to reading. Wow! Who knew all these cool international travel blogs were on a AAA web site. I feel like I stumbled upon a goldmine and I'm so excited to get to every one of them!

[#5]

People often associate cruises with romantic getaways, but I can vouch for the fact that they can also be a blast when you go with a dear friend.  I had the good fortune of going on a cruise to Bermuda with a great friend who had won 2 tickets as a reward for her success at work.  I had just finished graduate school, so the timing couldn't have been better.  The food was incredible, the cabin comfortable, and our destination was dreamy.  Although my friend had a slight bout of seasickness, she was only green for a day.  I will never forget this incredible treat and her generosity.  

[#6]

I love cruises, and one of the ways that I like to experience them is with theme or topic-specific cruises. A couple of years ago I went on a wonderful cruise to the Caribbean where speakers taught us about nutrition, macrobiotic food and sustainable living. Another cruise I took a number of years ago, to the coast of Italy, the theme was all about vineyards and wines. The early part of the cruise was great fun until I discovered I had a sulfite allergy and couldn't tolerate wine. Oops! But I loved our shore excursions to visit vineyards, and we had opportunities as well to purchase local crafts.