Some of the common things I hear from people when I suggest a cruise vacation are “I’d be bored” “I don’t like being told what to do” “I get motion sick.”
These are some of the things I thought before I cruised for the first time 13 years ago. After a lot of pressure from family I agreed to try an Alaska cruise and could not believe how wrong I was. I enjoyed it more than any other vacation I had ever been on. I suffer from extreme motion sickness and have never had a problem on a cruise. Some of the highlights of cruising for me are the five-star dining and the extensive dining options, the adventure of waking up every morning in a different destination more often than not a whole new country. I love the pampering, the unbelievable service you receive from the highly trained staff, the vast selection of activities I can do every day and the option to just completely relax and do nothing.
Cruises have become one of the most popular vacations the world over. The satisfaction rate being near 98 per cent compared to 60 per cent from an all inclusive vacation. Luxury ships become floating resorts taking passengers to the tropical beauty of the Caribbean, the frosty frontiers in Alaska, the golden sun of the Mediterranean, or across oceans to countless other adventures. Whether your vacation will last a weekend or several months, there is a cruise for you and there is a cruise line to make you happy. Cruises offer unparalleled choices, adventures and amenities that few other vacation packages can offer. There are more than 93 cruise lines in the world visiting all seven continents with ship sizes ranging from less than 100 to more than 5,400 passengers.
My top 10 reasons to make a cruise your next vacation
1. 24-hour five-star cuisine. If you like to eat, or just like to try lots of different kinds of food, a cruise will not disappoint.
2. All inclusive value. Included in the price of your cruise is accommodation, transportation, food, entertainment, activities and most non alcoholic beverages. Some Cruise lines even include all beverages and shore excursions.
3. Convenient discovery. Being all-inclusive, you unpack your suitcase once…and enjoy for the duration of your vacation. Want to go to Aruba, St. Kitts, St. Thomas and Grand Turk all in one vacation? How about Turkey, Italy, Croatia and the Greek Islands? No problem.
4. Shopping. The towns the cruises stop in have unique items for bargain prices, just for cruise passengers. Onboard shops also offer excellent bargains and duty-free and tax shopping.
5. romance, relaxation and pampering... need I say more.
6. Entertainment. Every cruise offers nightly entertainment in at least one location and usually in more than one. From Vegas-style shows to comedians, DJs in the disco to jazz in the lounge, and of course the casino, there is some form of entertainment for everyone and for the most discriminating tastes.
7. Five-star plus service.
8. Onboard activities. Cruise ships offer a large variety of onboard sporting experiences for their passengers. Some activities offered include golf, rock climbing, a water park, multiple pools, scuba diving lessons, a surf simulation pool and ice skating rinks. There are educational lectures, cooking lessons, wine tasting and pairing, glass blowing, bingo, movie theatres and the list goes on.
9. Ideal vacation for families. The majority of cruise lines offer extensive age specific kids clubs and supervised activities (they will even give you a pager.) They offer evening in room babysitting, There are kids only pools and adult only pools and areas for some peace and quiet.
10. Safety. Vacationing in a foreign or unfamiliar city can be dangerous. On a cruise ship, however, safety abounds.
With the number of passengers and crew on each ship, crime is an unlikely occurrence.
Women can feel safe cruising alone. Families can feel safe letting the children run off to play Ping-Pong or watch a movie.
Yvonne Macpherson is the owner of a franchise of Travelonly a full service fully licensed and insured travel agency here in Quesnel. You can reach her at 250-992-8747 or visit www.ymacpherson.travelonly.com