Each year when talking about my travel plans with friends, the same question always comes up, "Have you taken a cruise yet?" And the answer is always the same, "no." I love the water and as a matter of fact, I love sailing, but when traveling to a new destination for the first time, I like to wonder around and get a true sense of where I am at. I just didn't think that was possible if I was on a boat the majority of the time.
But as my schedule continues to get busier and "me" time is down to once a month, taking a cruise is starting to sound like those two Reese's Peanut Butter Cups calling my name…I just don't know how much longer I can resist.
So I decided to talk to the experts about the cruising industry in hopes of getting information that will not only help me make a future decision but Cuisine Noir readers too. After doing some research, I scheduled a call first with Lanie Fagan who is the director of communications for The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). This organization works with 25 cruise lines and over 16,000 travel agents in North America. Through the CLIA, I learned that in 2009, an estimated 13.5 million people took a cruise with 14.3 million passengers expected this year. Statistics show that only approximately 20% of adults have taken a cruise for the first time which means the industry has a lot of room for growth.
Fagan points out that the industry is much different than what it used to be. Cruises offer an amazing value as an affordable experience. In addition, there is really a cruise for everyone and every generation. Cruises for families, Christians, music lovers, singles and even clothing optional give passengers an opportunity to truly create an unforgettable time.
Next, I talked to Michael Ackermann, a sales director at AAA, who also offered some valuable tips for first-time cruisers.
- Begin a relationship with a travel agent. This is good advice because ideally your agent should get to know you well enough to know what you will like and what you won't like. He also recommends not to book online for the first time. According to the CLIA, 90% off all cruises are booked through a travel agent.
- Know what type of experience you want to have and not just where you want to go. Today, the cruise line itself has become the destination based on the activities that passengers can enjoy. Royal Caribbean introduced the largest ship in the world, Oasis of the Sea, in 2009. This ship has seven themed "neighborhoods" for passengers to enjoy and feel like they never really left home.
- In addition to the cruise itself, remember that you have to consider what state and city the cruise is leaving out of. Getting there is usually not included in your cruise package price.
- Book your cruise in advance.
Some cruise experiences that I have looked into as well as those shared by friends include:
- The Smooth Jazz Cruise in January hosted by celebrities such as Brian McKnight and Gerald Albright. www.thesmoothjazzcruise.com.
- Greece and Turkey. I find a great 11-day vacation with Globus which is a travel company I have used in the past to go to Spain. www.globusjourneys.com.
- Alaska. I think taking an Alaskan cruise is recommended to me every year. Friends and family say that it is just beautiful and a must see. Royal Caribbean has a nice selection of cruise packages to select from. www.royalcaribbean.com.
- Mexico. Being in California, it is nice to know that when I do take my "me" time, I can just fly an hour way and in no time jump on a quick but relaxing cruise and soak up some sun before getting back to business. www.cruising2mexico.com.
- Puerto Rico. Definitely at the top of my list along with Greece and Turkey. For this trip, I really want to make sure I select a cruise that offers plenty of time in town to explore. Oh, just the thought of the food. www.destination360.com/caribbean/puerto-rico/puerto-rico-cruises.
- Culinary cruises. Holland America was one of the first to introduce the concept of culinary cruises. I know there is a lot of food available on the ship itself, but the thought of cruising to Italy with the sole purpose of the food and wine takes me back down memory lane. www.culinarycruisesandtours.com.
I think I have a few good ones to consider as the choices can be overwhelming. They say once you start cruising, you may never go back to land vacations again. One day soon, I plan to be the judge of that.
Additional resources that I found worth checking out:
Black Cruise Week – www.blackcruiseweek.com
Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine - http://www.prowsedge.com
Cruise Magazines – www.cruise-links.com
Jazz Cruises, LLC – www.jazzcruisesll.com
Cruise Radio – www.cruiseradio.net
Cruise Talk Central – www.cruisetalk.org
Cruising Guides – www.cruisingguides.com