08/17/2023
As a long time Cruiser and cruise host, I am often asked what do I like best about cruising. My answer is always, do you mean besides the bacon? Because really what better way to start a fabulous day at sea then with an endless supply of bacon?
But my second answer is what's not to like? I mean, you're floating at sea, you can choose from a dozen different activities or sample dozens of different foods at any time of the day or night, or you can choose to do nothing at all. You can try something new or revisit an activity you haven’t tried in years. You can just sit and look at the beautiful sea and sunset. What's not to like?
When asked why cruise? Cruise Director Danielle, a modern day Julie, replied, “Why not cruise? Its perfect, safe, affordable and a great way to discover new places.”
Of all the branches of the travel industries cruising has changed the most over the past several decades. Modern cruising is less formal and more accessible. From small, formal ships with elegant dining service to the now Mega floating cities, ships that sail everywhere and offer pretty much everything- cruising is still the best deal around.
I always say it's the only vacation for a woman because seriously all you have to do is sit there and be waited on. Modern cruises offer something for everybody, although some of the old standards are falling by the wayside, I was disappointed to hear the new Princess ships will not have shuffleboard, a cruise ship standard. I find that shocking because really it doesn't take up any space it's literally drawn on the deck. But even with the constant changes, the one thing that has not changed is-cruising is still a great way to spend your vacation.
The pandemic hugely affected cruise lines by shutting down all sailings, at present , ships are completely open again and cruise lines are offering a lot of good deals but they are also filling up fast.
All time cruising favorite include Mexico, the Caribbean and beautiful Alaska. If you want to visit the last frontier, a cruise ship is a great place to start. Sitting in the comfort of a lounge and sailing through Glacier Bay is a treat for any traveler. Alaska is the place to cruise these days as the glaciers are shrinking fast. I was shocked to see a third of the Mendenhall Glacier that I saw in the 80’s
Some of the lines have added what I call “cruising lite”, these are simple cruises that don't really go anywhere terribly exciting but they're a great deal and it's just a wonderful way to get away for a week. With fares starting at less than $80 a day you really can't beat that kind of deal.
These simple cruises offer itineraries up and down the West Coast and do not go to a lot of fascinating destinations but there is still plenty to do in each of the ports. They also offer a wonderful Cruise option and vacation for family reunions, High School reunions and other type of get together because you have so much down time to just spend with your group. Its about making memories with family and friends.
Be warned- there are many many ways that you can really add up an impressive bill on a cruise ship, everything you need is still included in the base fare. With daily activities, sports and entertainment the ships are full of lots of fun things to do from pools, movies, evening shows and lots of live music and dancing.
Although there are some huge ships out there that can carry an outrageous number of passengers, only 50 per cent of Americans have ever sailed on a cruise ship.
A good number of passengers on any given sailing are repeat passengers. They like what they get for their money. On a recent sailing, we sat with a couple who were enjoying there 96th cruise and they were not ever the couple with the most sailings on board.
Cruise lines vary greatly on what they offer. Some cater to families, some for younger adults and some for the older and experienced cruiser. The demographics, style and amenities can be very different from one line to another. It can be confusing. As a passenger you want to find the line, ship and destination that fit your personalities. A travel professional can help you find the perfect cruise.
It is still possible to take a vacation starting at $80 a day per person, you can't find that on land you just cannot find those kind of deals. For more information on cruising call 541-479-5953.
If you are interested in learning more about the wonderful world of cruising or booking a cruise with our group we are here to answer all your questions. As we host cruises, we are on board to take care of any problems and help you to navigate anything that might come up along the way. Having sailed on over 80 cruises I know my way around a cruise ship.
