| It seems like everybody these days is setting sail, | | | | you'll be all rested up for duty-free shopping (in the |
| cruising around the deep blue ocean on ships the size | | | | Caribbean, at least) or scuba diving or whatever |
| of small cities. Travelers return from their ocean | | | | draws you to exotic locales in the first place. |
| adventures with strange and marvelous tales of | | | | Traveling also entails meeting a lot of new |
| grand movie theaters, huge climbing walls, water | | | | people-some of whom are nice and some of whom |
| slides, and mounds of delicious food, but is this the | | | | are not nice. Dealing with nasty flight attendants, |
| reason why cruises have grown in popularity? What | | | | shady cab drivers, and grouchy hotel clerks can add a |
| is it, exactly, that makes cruises so appealing to so | | | | level of stress to travel that detracts from the sense |
| many people. | | | | of excitement and adventure that should accompany |
| Perhaps it's the price. Long cruises, especially, can be | | | | any vacation. Perhaps it's because everyone's so |
| expensive, and port fees, cruise cancellation | | | | relaxed or perhaps it's because the staff is |
| insurance, and airfare (if it's not included in the price), | | | | brainwashed (or desperate for a generous gratuity), |
| not to mention pricey shore excursions, can destroy | | | | but, in general, fellow travelers and staff on cruise |
| your vacation budget. Just like with air travel, | | | | ships seem to be a whole lot happier, nicer, and more |
| however, significant discounts can be found online | | | | accommodating than your average human being you |
| and through travel agents, and when travelers factor | | | | encounter every day. Your fellow cruisers, who come |
| in the meals, accommodation, and shipboard | | | | from a variety of backgrounds, are not only happier |
| entertainment that are included in the fare, cruises | | | | but also more interesting to be around, and you're |
| can actually be pretty reasonable. There's also less | | | | actually encouraged and able to socialize on a cruise. |
| room for the typical nasty surprises that accompany | | | | But let's be honest. Nothing's more important to you |
| traveling to exotic locations on your own. | | | | than your stomach. Airlines understand that. It seems |
| Unlike land tours, which offer a similar sense of | | | | like, on some long-haul flights, attendants are walking |
| security when traveling, cruises also allow passengers | | | | around every hour with another opportunity to stuff |
| a great deal of personal freedom and the ability to | | | | your face. Airline food, however, will never be able to |
| set their own pace. If you don't feel like getting up | | | | compete with cruise ship food. Food is often the |
| for breakfast, then you can stay in your cabin and | | | | highlight of a cruise experience. Whether it's at a |
| make it down in time for lunch. On a tour, if you miss | | | | buffet, in a dining room, or in your cabin, the food is |
| breakfast, you might have missed the bus for the | | | | delicious, and there's plenty of it. In fact, you might |
| entire day, and you'll end up stuck in your hotel, while | | | | find yourself gaining a few pounds if you're not |
| everyone else is seeing the sights. Cruises have a | | | | careful. Luckily, that's what vacation is all about. If |
| definite relaxation factor that accompanies the fact | | | | you are worried about your waistline, there are |
| that you are, essentially, staying in a floating hotel, | | | | plenty of opportunities to exercise and stay fit |
| which is one reason why cruises attract passengers | | | | onboard. |
| who are celebrating honeymoons, birthdays, | | | | Finally, one of the major reasons why cruise travel is |
| anniversaries, and family reunions. | | | | growing in popularity is the variety it offers. Over 200 |
| The fact that cruises are actually carrying passengers | | | | cruise ships float in the world's oceans and rivers |
| from one port of call to the next with a minimum of | | | | today, and that number is growing by the year. Just |
| fuss or fanfare is another reason for their popularity. | | | | like with air travel, there are the big names-Princess, |
| Unlike planes, trains, or, God forbid, automobiles, | | | | Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Carnival-and they |
| passenger can sleep, eat, exercise, and even party | | | | each have their own fleet of ships. There are also |
| while the ship is transporting them from point A to | | | | smaller cruise lines, tailored to a specific region or for |
| point B. As mentioned earlier, the pace is slower, but | | | | a specific purpose. These days, if you do your |
| for many, that's a benefit rather than a drawback of | | | | research, you can find the perfect cruise ship to fit |
| cruise travel. Also, once you get to your port of call, | | | | your needs, wants and interests. |