Cruise holidays are often seen as a luxurious, once-in-a-lifetime experience – but in fact they’re often comparable in cost to a regular holiday, and offer a much more varied experience! Cruising is becoming more popular among people of all ages: it’s a way to see lots of different cities and locations on a single holiday, and take part in all kinds of activities.
- Guide to cruisingjoiseyshowaa / Foter.com / CC BY-SA
If you’ve never been on a cruise before, just think of the cruise liner as a moving hotel. You’ll spend some of your time on the ship, and like any good hotel it’ll be equipped with bars, shops and restaurants – and many include swimming pools, spas, gyms and nightclubs too, as well as plenty of space on the deck where you can kick back and enjoy the sunshine. Of course, you’ll also have your own cabin and bathroom – while these tend to be a bit smaller than the average hotel room, there’s no need to do much more than sleep in them!
The ship follows a set route and makes regular stops at port towns and points of interest. These might include capital cities, beautiful islands and beaches, and while the ship is stopped passengers have the chance to disembark and explore the local area for themselves. Many operators also offer an itinerary of optional excursions – for instance, diving with dolphins or visiting ancient ruins. These cost a little extra, but they’re often well worth doing, and there’s enough variety in the excursions to keep everybody happy.
While many cruises take place in sun-kissed surroundings like the Mediterranean or the Caribbean, there’s a growing interest in cruises to equally beautiful but decidedly chillier climes: for instance, luxury MSC Cruises offers trips to the Norwegian fjords, and some cruises go as far as the Antarctic. This means there’s a wide range of destinations to choose from, and if there’s a part of the world you’ve always wanted to explore, a cruise holiday is a great way to see it.
In many ways, a cruise is like an all-inclusive holiday: the price usually includes three meals a day and regular entertainment in the ship’s bars and nightclubs. Alcoholic drinks are generally cheaper than they would be on the mainland, and many offer an “unlimited bar” option where you pay a lump sum at the beginning and then can have as many drinks as you like (within reason!) Swimming pools are usually included too, although you may have to pay extra to use facilities like the gym or beauty treatments.
Another great feature of cruising is the social aspect: while you wouldn’t normally get chummy with the neighbours on a hotel holiday, while you’re on a cruise ship you will often find yourself making friends with those who share your table at mealtimes, and then arranging excursions together. Cruising really is a holiday with a difference – if it sounds tempting, find out more at the Discover Cruises website.
