Everyone knows that cruises are a wonderful form of vacation. But most people believe that they are also the most expensive kind of vacation, and therefore disregard cruises as an option. In reality, cruises are not necessarily more expensive than other forms of vacationing, and can be found at a variety of prices, from budget to luxury.
The initial cost of cruises may appear to be much more than the cost of hotel stay for a regular vacation simply because the cost of the cruise includes all your meals. If you tack on the price of eating out every day to that of your hotel stay, you may find that cruises are the same cost, or less expensive, than another vacation. They also save you money by including your entertainment, which may be comprised of things like free aerobics and cooking classes, or even free massages. The only expense that may take the price of a cruise above that of a traditional vacation is airfare to and from the departure and arrival points. If you live in Florida, or near a major port, though, cruises will likely be an economical vacation choice for you.
A cruise may require more planning than other vacations. You will have to research the policies and activities available on particular cruise lines to determine which cruise is right for you. Your cruise needs may vary according to your budget, your preferred location of departure and return, and whether you are going on the cruise with children. Some cruises will not allow children under a certain age, and some cruise lines will not allow pregnant women to travel past a specified stage of pregnancy.
When going on cruises, it’s important to pack correctly. Unlike vacationing on land, once you’re on your cruise it may be hard to purchase any forgotten necessary items, although many cruises have small stores on board. Some things you definitely won’t want to forget are: sunscreen, sunglasses, your swimsuit, workout clothes, a camera and formalwear if necessary. It’s probably a good idea to start making a list of items to pack a couple of weeks in advance.
Dress on cruises is usually casual during the day, meaning it’s okay to wear shorts and t-shirts or basically whatever else you like. At dinner, though, dress codes will probably vary depending on your cruise. More expensive cruises are often more formal at dinner. A casual dinner does not mean you can wear your shorts and t-shirt. At casual dinners, men and women should wear slacks and a nice shirt. Women may opt to wear a casual dress. At a semi-formal dinner, men should wear a suit jacket, and women should wear either a dress or pantsuit. Formal dinners require formalwear.
Most 3- and 4-day cruises have one formal night; most 7-day cruises have 2 formal nights; most 10-day cruises have 3 formal nights, and so on. In general, the longer and more expensive (per day) cruises will be the most formal on formal night, but a dark suit and tie is acceptable attire on even the most exclusive ships. (In other words, don't buy a tuxedo for a single cruise).
Cruises are a popular form of vacation, with good reason, but they’re not as popular as they should be, because most people aren’t aware that cruises are often available at very reasonable costs. If you’re planning a vacation soon, look for discount cruises online. Chances are you’ll spend about the same and have a lot more fun.
By Riannon Cutler