Why choose to Cruise Over Conventional Vacations

What to Expect on a Cruise Vacation

Cruising has come a long way from the days of being a “floating hotel.” Today’s modern cruise ships are destinations in and of themselves and provide a wide variety of experiences and amenities that can’t be found anywhere else. If you’re new to cruising, here are some things you can expect: A wide range of dining options. A wide range of excursions. A wide range of entertainment options. A wide range of activities. A wide range of special interest seminars. Places to take an indoor or outdoor fitness class. Places to take an art or pottery class. Places to get your hair or nails done. Places to relax and unwind with a spa treatment. Places to get your shopping fix with a wide range of shops and boutiques.

What’s Included in the Price?

Cruise lines vary in what they include in the cruise fare, but most cruise lines will cover your cruise fare, port charges, taxes, and service charges. Some cruise itineraries may include one or two pre-or post-cruise hotel nights as part of the cruise fare, but those nights are often at a reduced rate compared to what you’d pay if you booked them at the last minute. Some cruise lines also offer airfare deals that can be bundled with your cruise fare, but those are often last-minute deals and are limited in availability. Cruise lines that offer airfare deals often do so as a way to fill empty cabins throughout the year.

Cruise Activities and Excursions

Cruise lines often offer a wide range of activities and excursions at an additional cost. Cruise excursions are pre-arranged tours that are part of the cruise fare. These pre-arranged tours can be a great way to go off the beaten path and see places that might not be accessible to cruise passengers. However, you won’t have any control over what you see or when you go. Cruise lines often also offer on-board activities and excursions, which can be a great way to experience the ship.

Dining Options

Cruise lines offer a wide variety of dining options and a wide range of price points. Some cruise lines offer “freestyle cruising,” which means you can choose which dining options you want to experience for each meal, including traditional sit-down meals in the main dining room or lighter fare at one of the buffet-style restaurants. Cruise lines also offer alternative dining options, such as offering a more casual option at the buffet or letting you pre-book a reservation at one of the alternative dining venues, like The Chef’s Table or a specialty restaurant.

Tips for Ensuring the Best Value During Your Cruise

Cruise prices fluctuate year-round, so the best advice we can give is to book early and shop around. Cruise lines offer different travel dates, sailing length options, and price points, so it’s important to shop around and find the cruise that best meets your needs. One thing to keep in mind is that cruise lines often increase their prices as the cruise date approaches. If you’re looking to book a cruise, we recommend booking as early as possible to ensure the best value. Cruising during off-peak travel times, such as late fall and winter, is cheaper than cruising during peak times, such as summer. Cruise lines consider summer to be their peak travel season, so you can expect to pay more to cruise during those months.

Bottom line: Why choose to cruise over conventional vacations?

Cruise lines are investing heavily in their fleet, so each year they have more new and innovative ships hitting the water. Newer cruise ships have more luxury and amenities, such as bigger entertainment venues and interactive experiences than ever before, so cruising is a more exciting and immersive experience than ever before. Cruising has come a long way from the days of being a “floating hotel,” and today’s modern cruise ships are destinations in and of themselves. Cruising is an affordable and accessible way to get away from everyday life and experience something new and exciting.