Chitika

Sunday, February 10, 2013

What a Cruise offers the vacationer

By Jayden Wilson


Whether it is a 3 star, 4 star or a luxury 5 star cruise you're boarding, the perks and activities on a cruise are almost endless, with something in store for young, old and everyone in between. Kids are definitely spoilt for choice on ships, but it is important to take the ages into consideration before you book as some cruise liners have more specific activities for teens compared to toddlers.

Many of the activities these days are aimed at teens or the young at heart. Water parks, rock climbing walls, artificial surf pools and whirlpools but there are plenty of things for kids under 9 as well. If you are older, then brands like Carnival cater for you with a myriad of restaurant styles, outdoor cinemas and Broadway style shows. But that's not all, there is a host of other recreational activities that are divided in to categories depending on the age of the participant.

Ages between 2 and 5 are normally catered for in the toddlers groups and will get to do things like art, coloring and singing to name a few. Kids between 6 and 8 are normally seen as the junior category and that get to take part in excellent activities like talent shows, karaoke and scavenger hunts. The teens - and the pre teens - have a mountain of things to do. Many of the activities are water based in the host of pools that are aboard all the modern cruise vessels, but there is also multiplayer computer tournaments and energy sapping adventures like rock wall climbing and sometimes even ice skating, depending on the ship.

Any opportunity to get away from the daily grind is a good one, and taking a vacation on a cruise allows for you to do just that. Statistics show that most people disembarking from a cruises agree they felt on overall sense of well being and relaxation from their vacation. For most people, the experience of slowly floating over crystal clear waters and shore visits to tropical locations is an absolute thrill made even more thrilling by the countless hours of pampering on board. Some of the more well known companies like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Cunard, Holland America Lines and P&O excel at these things.

Cruise ships have a number of different approaches for spas, with the two most common being on-board and land-based spa resorts. On-board spas are undoubtedly the easiest to get in to with creative spa treatments inspired by Eastern Traditions, high-tech cardio machines and fitness centres. These spa based cruises are best for travelers seeking an all inclusive vacation as these facilities are usually included in the package. Add to this a host of swimming pools, musical events and tantalizing dining options and you are going to find it hard to find somewhere better suited to relaxing and enjoying yourself.

If a little adventure is more your fancy, then you will be looking forward to things like shore excursions to your ports of call, maybe a hand or 2 at your on board casino, deck games, ice skating, rock climbing, water slides or even on board surfing. Be sure to look up exactly what facilities are offered on your potential ships before you make your booking to make sure the options fit with your desires.

Most of the good cruise companies offer unlimited action activities with things like Wii consoles or Playstation for the teens. On some cruises these are pumped through to large screens TV and competitions are held. There are also game kiosks for the younger kids and for the adults you can often find things like cooking classes or even a full size boxing ring if that takes your fancy. But that's not all, you can find, depending the cruise-liner, surf and water theme parks, yoga classes in a variety of styles, fully equipped gyms and even skating rinks.

Of all the things that are included in the price of a cruise, by far the most enticing is the food. Nearly all companies these days include all food and beverages in the price of the ticket. Some companies still do restrict some elements though, in particular beverages, so make sure you check the fine print before you decide on the exact cruise you want. In other cases there are sometimes a single restaurant that is of the highest quality where extra charges apply. All in all, the quality of food on board cruise-liners these days is world class with many menus being prepared by renowned chefs from around the world.

Over the last 10 years the number of people taking cruises has increased dramatically. This is reflected by the cruise companies building new, larger ships with more to do. These days a cruise ship is not just a boat, but a floating city, and like all good cities there are activities, decor, food and activities to cater for all age groups, styles and budget.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment