What will be under your tree this Christmas?

As we eagerly await Thanksgiving, the inevitable rush to buy stuff will be upon us before we know it.

What will you purchase this year?  Do you remember what you bought last year?

If the answer is "no," might I gently suggest that you reconsider the type of gift you select for this year?

Here's an idea which will outlive the thrill of the unwrapping:  A family cruise vacation. 

When was the last time you took a vacation together?  Cruise travel is less expensive this year, providing the opportunity to go some places and do some things which you might not have considered.   In an effort to book revenue in 2009 there are some unbelievable deals out there in all price categories. 

When I talk to folks who have never cruised before I get three classic questions / objections:

• Why should I take a cruise?  
• I get sea sick! 
• I can't sit on a boat all day--I'll go mad!  
• What if I don't like it?

--Why should I take a cruise?  This is probably one of the most economical vacations you could take.  Remember, in the price of the cruise fare are the following:  daily meals and pretty much unlimited food in some shape or form, some beverages, lodging, transportation (ie:  going from port to port without having to rent a vehicle), entertainment--much of which is extremely high quality.

--I get sea sick:  Most folks who get sea sick on a small boat in open water do not get sea sick on large ships.  To further ensure your comfort, chose a cruise on a smaller body of water (as opposed to the open seas) such as the Mediterranean or the Baltic.  The larger ships are highly stable and for me, quite frankly, a bit disappointing as I love the rock. However, keep in mind--for a majority of the day you will either be docked (absolutely no rocking) or off the ship.  The ships tend to sail in the evening and throughout the night.  If you really really get sea sick you can take some medicine for it in the evening.  I have a friend who gets motion sickness from just looking at a ship and he took his first cruise a couple of years ago.  Not only did he love it but he only had to take his medicine two nights.  My point is--you'll be surprised how stable the ship is and you will probably be just fine.

--I can't sit on a boat all day, I'll get bored:   Here is an excerpt of "sea day" activities from last cruise I took:

Martini Mixing

Bourbon Sampling

Wine Flight Sampling

Glass Blowing Demonstration

String Quartet Entertainment

Movies

Acoustic Guitar Player

Games (including bingo, of course)

Crepe making demonstration

Poolside band

Water aerobics

Full sized and state of the art gym and exercise classes

Computer classes

Overview and introduction to the ports which the ship will be visiting

Spa Services (all kinds, including "medi-spa" type things like Botox)

Pastry Making Demonstration

Children's activities, various all day long

Boring?  I can't name a resort or hotel which has the variety of activities that a cruise offers.  And of course, you can always sit by the pool and lounge.  Umbrella drink optional.  On port days you can expect fewer (but still an excellent selection) activities, and you can also expect a huge number or shore excursions--or simply go off on your own and explore with your Frommer's guide.  Some people hire their own touring company.

If you've never been on a cruise before, you might think that the most fun is on port days.  You'll be surprised to find out, however, how eager you are to come back to the boat at the end of the day and see familiar faces whose main role is to make you comfortable and smile.  Most people actually really look forward to "sea days."  Keep in mind that most people really take advantage of port days and stay out for many long hours.  On sea days you might just be thrilled to have a nice workout in the morning, a long lunch, go for a swim, catch up on that book you've been meaning to read, and get ready for a fabulous dinner.

And remember, one of the biggest bonuses is that you don't have to wonder where you'll dine at night, and who will be designated driver.  Enjoy a cocktail and a glass of wine, attend a theater show after dinner, and make your way back to your cabin--just a short walk--at night.  It's really a dream.

--What if I don't like it?  I'll be stuck for a week or 10 days!  There is a possibility that you won't like a cruise.  Just like there is a possibility that you wouldn't like the hotel or resort that you've chosen for your vacation.  I won't deny it.  However, it's unlikely.  Cruises today strive to provide for you the best experience possible, tailored to your individual needs.  Cabin attendants are often key to your experience, and will go out of their way to assist you with what you need to stay comfortable.  Choose a region to cruise that is interesting to you--you will experience the thrill of the view from your cabin changing daily, without ever having to step foot outside your floating hotel if you don't want to.  One of the most fantastic memories I have is sitting on my balcony drinking coffee very early in the morning--watching Mt. Etna pass by--with no sound except for my breathing and the lapping of the ocean against the ship.  My worries had dissolved with the tide.

Other benefits of cruising:  the whole family can go.  Some vacations can be really difficult for the older members of the family--but not cruises.  Grandma and Grandpa can come along and go at their own pace, yet everyone can still be together.

If I've piqued your interest, you can do some investigation.  I favor a couple of websites when I begin doing research:

www.cruisecritic.com and www.cruisecompete.com

Cruise critic gives you a starting point for making sense of the various ships, which can be sorted by many different features, and Cruise Compete offers the opportunity to get a competitive quote for your cruise amongst competing travel agents.

Both are good, but if you use Cruise Compete to find an agent just be aware that you might be getting an agency which does not necessarily do the highest volume with that particular cruise line.  Why does that matter?  High volume agents can call in "favors" with their cruise lines which they do a high volume of business.  Let me give you an example:

We have decided to take a cruise for my aunt and uncle's 50th anniversary.  There will be about 15 people going, and one of my "must have's" was connecting cabins.  The other "must have" was a balcony cabin.  The cruise ship that we chose, unfortunately did not have both.  However, this particular ship is scheduled to undergo a renovation before we set sail, and so our agent, Gina from Northstar Cruises, was able to speak with the ship's management and get their commitment to remodel two balcony rooms and convert them into adjoining rooms.  If your mouth is not agape right now it should be...this was an unbelievable initiative on the part of our agent which demonstrated both her influence as a top producer as well as the commitment of the cruise line to meeting our needs.  Gina does a very big business with many of the cruise lines and I can highly recommend her for the most competitive rates AND the muscle to make things happen.  She can be reached at:

gina@northstarcruises.com

If you have specific questions or if you have questions about cruising for the first time, please feel free to leave me comments and I'll answer them as soon as I can.