Cruises

Cruises, especially long term cruises, are increasing in popularity. More and more travelers are beginning to realize the convenience of traveling by sea and the cruise industry is responding to this realization by increasing the number of cruises they run annually as well as the length of these cruises.

What is a Cruise?

A cruise is essentially a vacation option where travelers spend their travel time and some of their leisure time aboard a ship. Some cruises sail to several different destinations while others may sail to only one port of interest during the duration of the cruise. At each port, passengers usually have the option of either disembarking to enjoy the destination for a set amount of time before the ship sets sail again or staying on board to enjoy the accommodations aboard the ship. Although the boat is the mode of transportation in a cruise, it is also part of the vacation with many cruise ships including options for dining, entertainment and even shopping.

How Long Do Cruises Last?

Cruises come in a variety of lengths. They can be as short as a few hours and include a dinner and a short trip or they may last upwards of 100 days and include stops at multiple exotic destinations. Cruises of three to seven days are extremely popular for travelers who are limited in the amount of vacation time they have to enjoy, while those who have more time to spend enjoy longer cruises lasting more than 12 days.

Shopping for Cruises

Like any travel option, researching is an important part of finding a great deal on cruises, but it isn't the only way to find great deals. Travelers can find a great deal on cruises by:

• Comparison shopping


• Booking early


• Using a travel agent


• Considering repositioning cruises.

Comparison shopping is one of the best ways to find the best possible price on a cruise. This is important because many different cruise lines may offer similar cruises at slightly different prices. The only way to know which cruise line is offering the best rate is to check out all of the available options.

Booking early can also save cruisers a great deal of money. Many cruise lines offer discounts to those who book their cruise more than 120 days before the departure date. These discounts are certainly worthwhile as they may be as much as 10% of the regular price.

Using a travel agent can result in savings because they can often offer travelers discounts they would not receive if they booked directly with the cruise line. Travel agents are also typically knowledgeably about the different cruise lines and can help those interested in a cruise to find the most suitable option.

Repositioning cruises can result in a tremendous cost savings for those who choose this option. Cruise lines often have to get their ship from one location to another and offer passengers the opportunity to travel aboard the ship during this repositioning effort. The disadvantages to this type of cruise are it makes fewer stops at ports of interest than typical cruises and it is not a round trip vacation meaning the travelers will depart from one port and arrive at another port. However, those who do not mind these differences can enjoy an affordable cruise.

By Mary Stasiewicz