Fifteen reasons to sail away
Have you been thinking about a cruise holiday? Sally Macmillan lists a few reasons why now is the time to book.
Swimming with turtles and sea lions in the Galapagos Islands. Sailing to Antarctica, the most pristine wilderness in the world. Being greeted by smiling schoolchildren and warrior tribes in remote islands in Southeast Asia.
These are just a tiny sample of experiences I’ve enjoyed in places that are virtually impossible to reach other than by ship.
Travellers today have an unprecedented array of ships (river and ocean-going), destinations, itineraries and cruise styles to choose from.
Here are a few reasons to check out cruising for your next holiday.
Enjoy value for money
Fares for all cruises include meals, accommodation, entertainment and kids’ clubs and there are always lastminute bargains. But shopping on price alone isn’t the way to get the best-value cruise. Talk to a CLIA agent, particularly during Plan A Cruise Month (October), and let them know what you’re looking for. Balcony cabin? Drinks included? Time of year? Destination? Big or small ship? A good agent will find a cruise that works for your tastes and budget – and that’s good value.
Relax with no worries
There’s a reason why that phrase ‘‘you only unpack once’’ is such a cliche in the cruise industry – once you’ve boarded your ship, you can relax. You don’t have to worry about where you’re going, how to get there, beating traffic and checking in to a different hotel every night. Someone else is in charge of menu-planning, shopping, cooking, washing-up; and you don’t need a designated driver.
Eat fabulous food
You don’t have to sail on a luxury ship to enjoy fine dining. Mainstream cruise lines serve menus designed by celebrity chefs such as Luke Mangan (P&O), Curtis Stone (Princess) and Jamie Oliver (Royal Caribbean); yes, there is a charge but usually it’s a fraction of what you’d pay in their land-based restaurants. The more upscale you go, the more extensive the choice – Jacques Pepin (Oceania), Nobu (Crystal) and Thomas Keller (Seabourn), to name just a few.
The resort travels with you
Megaships that carry several thousand people are designed for fun-loving holidaymakers – everything from thrilling activities to shops, cinemas, theatres, gyms, kids’ clubs, restaurants, bars and spas is part of the package. The biggest ships boast ice-skating rinks, rock-climbing walls, massive waterslides, surf and sky-diving simulators, parks, lawns and even gokart racetracks.
Find a ship to suit you
Ocean-going cruise ships range from 50-passenger expedition ships to 6000-passenger megaships, with a whole range of sizes and styles in between, cruising all over the world. Sailing enthusiasts can cruise on traditional tall ships and luxury lovers can take to the sea on palatial boutique vessels. Then there are intimate-sized river ships and hotel barges, cruising the waterways of Europe, China, Egypt, India and Southeast Asia.
Multi-generational family groups are embracing cruising big-time. And no wonder: resort-style ships have enough activities, facilities and accommodation to suit everyone from babies to grandparents – plus the space to get away from each other. Grown-ups can retreat to adults-only sanctuaries while the children are busy at kids’ clubs, everyone can reconvene for lunch and dinner and if Grandma would rather relax with a cocktail than go on a shore tour, that’s all fine too.
Learn something new
Travel really can broaden the mind – cruises offer an amazing range of courses you can take on board. Finally, there is time for all those things you promised you would do but put off – classes range from photography to gourmet cooking, dance and social media. Computer courses are some of
Australia and New Zealand boast some stunning natural attractions that you can observe from a ship – The Kimberley, Great Barrier Reef, Bay of Islands, Fiordland’s Sounds – or explore on a shore tour. Then there are places such as Hawaii’s volcanoes, French Polynesia’s tropical islands, the Arctic’s rugged coastline, the Peruvian Amazon, Southeast Asia and the destinations mentioned for wildlife spotting.
Travel solo
Cruises are very social, whether you’re on a megaship or a 150-passenger river ship. It’s easier to meet other people on a smaller vessel – because you’ll see them regularly – and many lines run onboard events for solo travellers.
It’s no secret that honeymoon cruises are big business. Once you’ve picked your dream destination, look for a ship that provides plenty of opportunities for couples to enjoy private time together. Smaller, luxury ships are the way to go for a serene onboard experience. Book a balcony cabin, couples spa treatments, tables for two in fine-dining restaurants (and breakfast in bed in your cabin) and romance is assured.
Experience luxury
A handful of cruise lines cater for unashamed lovers of luxury travel. Imaginative itineraries to destinations inaccessible to megaships coupled with superlative service, gourmet dining, stylish interior design, sumptuous suites and lavish spas give the world’s best hotels more than a run for their money. Fares that include everything from onboard water toys to unlimited drinks are another attraction. – Traveller