The Munro house is full of cruise brochures and guidebooks at the moment, so it’s probably not surprising that my mind drifted to cruises when I was wondering what topic to choose for my TT this week.
Thirteen Things About Cruises and Cruising
1. Cruising is a real growth area in the travel industry with more than 30 new ships scheduled for delivery before December 2012.
2. There’s a tendency for larger resort-style ships with low cost fares but many of the items onboard are no longer included and must be paid for at the time of use e.g. coffee, spas, internet.
3. Emphasis on many cruises is on healthy eating and spas.
4. These days there’s more concern for the environment and carbon-neutral ships.
5. Modern ships have built in stabilizers so seasickness isn’t such a big problem.
6. More than 16 million people take an ocean/sea cruise each year.
7. Cruising isn’t just for old people any longer. Some cruises cater to singles or for those with young children. There are gay cruises and special theme cruises such as for romance writers.
8. Food, accommodation and most of the travel component is included in your fare so that makes cruising very affordable.
9. Class distinctions are no longer part of cruising. These days people who go on cruises choose their grade of accommodation with cabins being cheaper than the suites.
10. Ships come in different sizes: boutique (50 – 200 pax), small (200 – 500 pax), mid-size (500 – 1200 pax) and large (1200 – 4000 pax). Choose according to your like or dislike of crowds!!
11. Cruising is one of the safest methods of travel.
12. Some of the incidentals such as shore excursions, drinks etc can add up to a substantial amount if you’re not careful.
13. There’s a different destination every day yet passengers only need to unpack once.
SOURCE: Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships 2008, Douglas Ward, Berlitz.
Have you been cruising before? If not would you like to? If you’ve cruised before where did you go and what was your favorite part of the cruise?
Related posts:
October 1st, 2009 at 1:55 am · Link
Hi Shelley :)
I’ve always wanted to go on a cruise.
I had the opportunity once to go as an employee of a cruise but chose instead to take a job closer to my girlfriend – who became my wife.
:)
Do you go on cruises?
:)
All the best,
RKCharron
xoxo
October 1st, 2009 at 3:27 am · Link
My sister is a big fan of cruises, but I must confess they’re not my cup of tea. Still, that’s an interesting collection of info, there!
Happy TT!
Ciao!
October 1st, 2009 at 3:35 am · Link
Hmmmmmmm, I live by the ocean [10 minutes tops] and I love the sound of the surf…the feel of the sand at my feet. I almost always have to wade when I’m there….but a cruise ship….you go girl. I’ll stay on LAND. LOLOLOL
My 13 is a mixture of funny and fact this week! I also started my 3rd year of October Halloween Treat hand outs on my blog to all the ‘visitors’ [trick r treaters] who stop by! Come on over!!!! [You'll need to scroll down a bit below my Thursday Thunks Meme entry to view my 13] Happy day to you….see you at my October Abode!
October 1st, 2009 at 4:03 am · Link
Oh, I so want to go on a cruise. I’ve never been on one. I think I’d be a great way to enjoy some time away.
Happy T13
October 1st, 2009 at 4:38 am · Link
I’ve always wanted to go on a cruise. Can you imagine a cruise ship full of Romance Divas.? Woohoo! Happy T13!
October 1st, 2009 at 4:38 am · Link
Do you like to cruise?
I think it would be fun for a large group. For just the two of us, I’d rather drive or fly and have the freedom of going where I want.
October 1st, 2009 at 4:54 am · Link
Well, I’ll probably never go on a cruise because of my fear of deep water. If I can’t see the bottom of it, like in a swimming pool, then I won’t get in it. LOL It sounds like fun though. Happy Thursday!
October 1st, 2009 at 5:29 am · Link
Sadly, I have been working on a cop story so long, I read CRUISER and CRUISING and looked for a light bar. *sigh*
October 1st, 2009 at 6:22 am · Link
I’ve been on a cruise and it was okay I guess. Part of the mystery was rubbed out as I was stationed on an aircraft carrier at the time, so all it really had going for me was good food and entertainment and even that wasn’t anything spectacular. I think it might be fun to take one to a location where I haven’t been before like an Alaskan cruise but other than that or a Disney one, I don’t see myself going on any.
October 1st, 2009 at 6:28 am · Link
I went on one of the big cruiseliner cruises & do think most of the activities seemed to revolve around eating. Yum.
But my favorite cruise so far was the one on my honeymoon in NZ. (yep, been down to kiwi land). We took a youth hostel overnight cruise on a small boat up the Milford Sound. Gorgeous!
I still want to take one of the Greek island cruises. That would be fantastic!
October 1st, 2009 at 6:56 am · Link
I’d love to go on one of those cruises for Romance writers.
October 1st, 2009 at 6:57 am · Link
I’ve never been on a cruise before but I’ve always thought they sounded like fun. Maybe for our next family vacation… Happy Thursday!
October 1st, 2009 at 7:22 am · Link
I’ve always wanted to go on an Alaskan cruise, though one to Scandinavia or Continental Europe would be nice, too.
October 1st, 2009 at 7:49 am · Link
*sigh* I always wanted to go on a boat trip like the ones featured in Ngaio Marsh or Agatha Christie books. Sadly, they don’t exist anymore.
An Alaskan cruise would be awesome.
October 1st, 2009 at 10:41 am · Link
I always wanted to go on a Nile cruise. Of course, I’ve heard that’s the best way of getting really, really sick. I still kinda want to to go though.
October 1st, 2009 at 10:48 am · Link
I’ve never been on a cruise; but lots of my friends have and rave about them. I think I’d have to choose ones with lots of stops, I have this thing about feeling trapped.
October 1st, 2009 at 11:07 am · Link
Cruises involve water. Therefore, no thanks. Besides, I’ve still got National Parks to conquer.
October 1st, 2009 at 11:10 am · Link
Cruises are so fun! The Disney Cruise is the best!
hugs*
Paige
My TT is at http://paigetylertheauthor.blogspot.com/
October 1st, 2009 at 11:25 am · Link
interesting. i’ve never been on one and am afraid i’d feel trapped. would i?
October 1st, 2009 at 11:47 am · Link
DH was in the Navy. As far as he’s concerned, getting on a ship voluntarily is a non-starter. plus, the idea of being stuck on a floating city with a zillion strangers is pretty close to my idea of hell. No cruises for me. Which, of course, means Munchkin will beg for a cruise until one of us gives in. lol.
October 1st, 2009 at 11:52 am · Link
I’ve always wanted to go on a cruise.
October 1st, 2009 at 12:34 pm · Link
I WANNA GO ON A CRUISE!!!!!!!!
October 1st, 2009 at 1:49 pm · Link
RK,
I’ve been on a couple of cruises. They’re a different sort of holiday and we go into them with different expectations. We’ve cruised the Inside Passage from Alaska to Vancouver (amazing) and also the Hawaiian Island for our 25th wedding anniversary. (magical)
We’ve also cruised the Nile on a tiny boat and had a ball. I liked the tiny boat better than all the huge riverboats.
October 1st, 2009 at 1:50 pm · Link
Ella – the Milford Sound and Dusky Sounds are both on our list. We’ve been down that way but have never done the cruise. It’s beautiful down there – the scenery is stunning. It makes me proud to be a NZer.
October 1st, 2009 at 1:51 pm · Link
Susan – the National Parks will be on another trip. I love exploring those too!
October 1st, 2009 at 5:09 pm · Link
I’ve never been on one, but Halifax is still in cruise ship season, and when I met my best friend for a lunch hour walk down at the harbour this afternoon, there were swarms of cruise ship people everywhere. But I always enjoy a good mob.
October 2nd, 2009 at 1:36 am · Link
Oh now I want to go on a cruise, but I think hubby might get sea sick.
Happy TT.
Janice~
October 2nd, 2009 at 8:04 pm · Link
I’ve never been on a cruise. I’m afraid of the water so I don’t know if I could do one or not.