Ships Bursting at the Hulls with Options
Cruises Offer Variety of Activities for the Whole Family to Enjoy
The Signal - Business Section, February, 2005
This is not your grandfather’s cruise, and ships have come a long way from shuffle board and bingo as primary daytime activities. Today’s mega cruise liners are bursting at the hulls with everything from casinos and discos to rock climbing walls and babysitting services. Cruising is now designed for the whole family to enjoy.
Before you put on your deck shoes and prepare to set sail on the ultimate cruise vacation, make sure you and your travel agent have planned the itinerary and booked the ship that is right for you and your family. With a fleet of vessels to choose from, rely on the help of an experienced cruise expert to ensure your trip to paradise doesn’t turn out to be the cruise that wouldn’t end.
It takes all kinds of ships to meet the needs of travelers. With that in mind, Princess Cruises has led the way in developing family-friendly programs and age-appropriate kids and teen clubs to keep everyone happy while onboard. They also feature a popular new concept called Movies Under the Stars, where the daytime poolside area is transformed by night into an outdoor surround-sound, jumbo screen movie theater. It has the feel of an old-fashioned drive-in movie theater, watching from a deck chair rather than in the family wagon.
Since multi-generational groups are a quickly growing segment of cruise travelers, most cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean and Princess, cater to this market. These vessels host a wide variety of daytime activities, foodservice options, and enough nighttime entertainment to please everyone in the family. With the exception of spa services and drinks, most of the onboard activities are part of the inclusive cruise package.
Once only offering onboard swimming pools and a weight room, ships these days feature what’s hot. In-line skating, paddle tennis, arcades, miniature golf and golf simulators are among the favorites. Now there is so much to do on a cruise that you couldn’t possibly get to it all. Hair salons have expanded to become full-service spas, and the little shops are now large, recognizable upscale boutiques.
Here’s a quick tip for those of you who enjoy the spa. Plan a spa day in port and stay onboard. Many cruises offer port spa specials, featuring services at reduced rates. The ship is also quieter and great for relaxing or sunbathing poolside without as many people around. But book early, as this best-kept secret is getting out fast.
Then there are education and themed departure cruises to consider. Some of the smaller ships are geared toward exploration, both at sea and personally. For example, travelers may head to Alaska to observe nature along the way, and while onboard attend lectures, learn a new language, how to cook like a chef, and play the piano. Now that’s some kind of discovery adventure. Crystal Cruises has perfected this extended education program, calling it the Institute at Sea.
Themed Disney cruises are obviously a hit among the young sailing crowd. The nice part about this is that kids can run around and enjoy all things Disney, while the adults and grandparents stay put, preferably at the pool reading a good book. Not bad for a day at the theme park.
Now for more good news, we have a major port nearby in San Pedro and Long Beach, so there’s no need to fly anywhere. With airline tickets arguably the greatest challenge in the vacation booking process, you’ve eliminated this step.
So get the whole family together for a vacation at sea. With today’s ships providing options and activities sure to keep everyone happy, maybe your grandfather will try something new too.
Commentary provided by Eric Maryanov, president and founder of All-Travel.com, the Los Angeles-based travel management company with an office in Valencia. He can be reached at 661.775.7511..
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