It happens every time. You’ve saved up for your vacation. Dreamed about it. But you find yourself getting more stressed just planning your vacation. Everybody’s idea of a perfect vacation are different. Your 6-year old wants to spend her whole summer on the water. Your teenage son only seems to detach himself from his computer if it involves a radical sport. Your teenage daughter’s idea of heaven is living at the mall. And dad wants to make sure all of his kids imbibe some culture this-time-I-mean-it! What do you do with the baby? Where do you take grandma & grandpa? Mommy just wants a day-off from all of them, hopefully while getting a full body scrub.
Sounds impossible? While there are some destinations, like Hawaii, that seems to fit the bill, the problem becomes how to schedule for all of these activities? Especially if you have a limited budget. For those of you who haven’t tried it out yet, I have just one word for you: CRUISE!
Remember the TV series “The Loveboat”? Today’s cruises offer more than visiting different ports & a possibility of romance. Most cruise ships today are a whole destination itself. You’d almost be tempted to stay in the ship! For the sports-minded, gyms & outdoor sporting activities are found on all ships. Some cruise ships even have rock-climbing, golf, ice-skating & surfing! Evening entertainment, like shows, cabaret acts, casinos & onboard movie theaters are found in most cruises. For those in search of more erudite distractions, classes and seminars are offered onboard as well, and there are quiet areas like the libraries & 24-hour internet cafes. For shopoholics, there’s duty-free shopping for anything, from designer clothing to cheesy souvenirs, off-shore & onboard as well. For the harassed mom, she can relax easily in the onboard spas, knowing that her kids are enjoying themselves with their peers in playgroups supervised by a competent staff. And of course, passengers can participate on planned shore excursions.
Did I mention that all of these, the activities, the classes, the entertainment and the meals, are already included in the price of your cruise? Except for the shopping of course, you wish! But for those of you on a strict budget, cruises offer a good alternative to keep track of expenses. Plus, tipping is optional in some cruises.
So go ahead, book your cruise now. Don’t forget the sun block lotion!