Cruise ships have long understood the importance of making the trip as much fun as the destination. While each cruise line offers their own unique blend of amenities and activities, and some ships are more geared toward families and others toward singles, all cruise lines provide a wide range of entertainment and activities to keep you as busy as you want to be during the cruise.
For those who consider vacation to be a time to relax, a cruise presents no pressure. Although you will be surrounded by a wide variety of choices in activity, if you want to stay in your room and nap, or lounge by the pool, that is fine as well. No one will pressure you to join in the fun. You can be as active or as passive as you want while on a cruise.
Activities for the Kids
Cruises have traditionally been thought of as the domain of honeymooners and retirees. Various cruise lines have gotten on board and realized that families make a great market for cruises as well. For parents, cruise ships can make a great vacation choice because mom and dad can have time to do what they want, while their children are entertained and having fun. This eliminates any guilt that the parents may feel about leaving junior with a babysitter.
Cruise ships that cater to families often have "camp" programs. These programs allow you to drop off and pick up your children. While they are at camp, they can play games, swim, make crafts or kick back in an arcade.
Educational Opportunities
Educational opportunities abound for those that want to participate in them. The educational opportunities can include everything from wine tasting classes to a behind the scenes look at how the boat operates. Cooking classes and history lesson of the destination are also common activities.
Relaxation Activities
Most cruise ships offer some level of spa services. These can range from massages to facials, to exotic treatments derived from the areas that you will be visiting. A visit to the spa is often worthwhile, and a fun way to end a busy day in port.
Fun and Games
Perhaps what cruise ships are best known for is the fun and games atmosphere on board. Gambling is a popular on board activity, with many ships having casinos. Many ships also have their own versions of game shows, picking volunteers out of the audience to play in front of their shipmates. Poolside, there are often awards given out for things such as the most impressive dive. The atmosphere on cruise ships is often that anything can be a game if approached in the right way.
What is Right for You?
With many cruise lines available, and the various ships and tours within each line, it can be hard to narrow down your choices. The best way to decide what cruise is right for you is to decide what is important to you, make a list, and prioritize that list. Then contact a local travel agent and share your desires. A well-trained travel agent is familiar enough with the services offered that they will be able to pair you with a cruise that will meet your expectations.
Some of the things to consider when deciding on a cruise:
What area do I want to visit?
What types of activities do I want to do in port?
Would I rather spend more time on the boat, or exploring port islands?
Do I want to be around lots of families, retirees or singles?
Do I want to dress up every evening, or at all, for dinner?
Once you have found several tours that meet your expectations you can narrow down your choices by choosing a tour that offers classes that sound interesting, sports opportunities that sound fun or stops that are appealing to you. Another thing to keep in mind is that many cruises have a goal. If you want to lose weight, meet a significant other, or have another goal, ask the travel agent if there are any cruises that cater to your interest.
With the wide variety of tours available, you are certain to find a cruise that interests you. However, even with the large number of cruises to choose from, it is likely that you will have to make some compromises in the search for a cruise. Only you can decide what items are worth compromising on, but destinations and ports are two that may seem like a big decision. When it comes down to it, however, these two are likely to surprise you. While you may want to visit one particular island, a stop in another is probably just as wonderful, and may introduce you to a whole new world.
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