Cruise holidays

　　In recent years there has been a steady growth in the number of people embarking on cruise holidays. Some of the reasons for this continued trend are quite easy to understand. A cruise liner is like a mammoth floating luxury hotel that has everything you can possibly imagine onboard – restaurants, sports activities, entertainment and more. Then there is the fact that you don’t have to do a lot of planning like you would have to for a regular holiday. Your cruise liner has a set itinerary and all meals, accommodation, entertainment, gym membership and, most often, even flights are included in the price of your cruise. So, contrary to popular belief, a cruise often works out cheaper than a regular holiday. Shore excursions are not normally included in your cruise price and you may have to pay separately for them. A cruise is also a relaxing, stress-free way to travel and you also get to meet people from all over the world.
Once you decide on a cruise holiday, the next thing to do is to fix a budget. There are cruise liners to fit every budget. So you can go for a super luxurious cruise or something less expensive. Smaller cruise boats and yacht charters are another option if you don’t want to travel with loads of people. Parents, however, generally opt for the bigger cruise liners as there’s every kind of activity available on board for the kids and the parents can make use of baby-sitting services. A lot of newly married couples choose Honeymoon Cruises for the romance and intimacy that those cruises offer. Some families also prefer to like to go off on Christmas Cruises as they allow families to spend time together without the hassle of cooking and cleaning. The cruise liners usually go to great lengths to make Christmas a special occasion for its passengers.
The duration of the cruise naturally affects the price. You can opt for shorter duration cruises of a few days to even round-the-world-trips of a few months. And you can sail to practically every part of the world, from Australia and South Pacific to Asia, Africa, Middle East, Europe, Caribbean and Central, North and South America. Some routes are known for their spectacular natural beauty while others take you through historic towns with fabulous museums.
Almost two thirds of the global cruise traffic originates from America and the Caribbean remains the most popular destination because of its wonderful beaches, warm climate and its proximity to the US. Europe, including the Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean, are the next most popular cruise routes. The top cruise lines for the Caribbean include Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Holland America, P&O, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Cunard, Norwegian Cruise Line and Crystal Cruises.