Is a cruise for me?

Anyone can go on a cruise. You just need to find the cruise that is right for you. Think about what type of cruise you are looking for. Do you want something that's laid-back, active, romantic, party-oriented, or a little of each? Once you have an idea of what you want, you can judge the different cruises based on how well they meet your expectations. Ask your friends, travel agents, or anyone who has been on a cruise before what specific cruises are like. Also read cruise line brochures, cruise websites, and articles on cruising to see what types of activities particular cruises have planned. By doing a little research, you’ll be able to tell which cruises are best for you.

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Is cruising affordable and a good vacation value?

Cruising is the best vacation value! There are cruise vacations to suit every budget. Your cruise fare includes meals, your stateroom, on-board activities and entertainment, plus transportation from port to port. You'll know what your vacation will end up costing you before you go. (Typically, your only extra expenses will be drinks, specialty restaurants, optional shore excursions, and personal services such as massage or hairstyling.)

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Do cruise lines welcome families with kids?

More and more cruise vacations are booked by families with children. Most cruise lines provide plenty of supervised activities for kids, especially during school holidays. If your children enjoy swimming, sports, games, movies, and the adventure of new places, they'll love a family cruise. You'll find that children adapt to shipboard life with ease, and you won't have to wonder what they're up to every minute. The youth counselors will help keep them busy and entertained. Ships even offer different types of age-appropriate activities, suitable for toddlers to teens.

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Can singles have fun on a cruise?

Cruising is ideal for people traveling alone, because it's so easy to meet other people. In fact, most ships have parties for singles -- early on, so you can get to know people right away. Many ships even offer social hosts who can be dance partners, dinner companions or a fourth at cards.

Most ships also have single cabins as well as single rates for double staterooms.

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What’s the food like?

At each meal you’ll find a varied selection of entrees, and each day the selection will be different. If you’ve ever wanted to experiment with a cuisine or try a dish then you can experiment night after night. But don’t worry, just because your cruise ship offers plenty of delicious food, it doesn’t mean you’ll come home out of shape. You can chose from Low-cal, or vegetarian menu selections that are just as tempting as the regular menu. The best thing is, all your meals are included!

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What’s the night life like?

When the stars come out, a cruise ship comes alive! There’s plenty to keep you occupied including live entertainment, nightclubs, lounges, feature films, every nights a party. Most ships have a casino, and Broadway style shows!

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Are all cruise ships similar?

Far from it! Cruise lines’ ships range from intimate yacht-like to vessels stretching longer than three football fields. You can sail with as little as 100 fellow guests or with more than 2600. Enjoy atmospheres ranging from casual to formal, contemporary to classic. Enjoy the endless activities offered on a contemporary resort style cruise, or immerse yourself in the culture of a destination on a special interest cruise.

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Are all cruise ships similar?

Far from it! Cruise lines’ ships range from intimate yacht-like to vessels stretching longer than three football fields. You can sail with as little as 100 fellow guests or with more than 2600. Enjoy atmospheres ranging from casual to formal, contemporary to classic. Enjoy the endless activities offered on a contemporary resort style cruise, or immerse yourself in the culture of a destination on a special interest cruise.

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Do all cruises depart and arrive at the same port?

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Generally, how long is a cruise?

Cruises are as long or short as you want. Cruise lines offer itineraries from 3 days to 3 months

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What do cruise fares include? What’s not included?

Cruise fares include accommodation, meals, onboard activities, entertainment, and transportation from port to port. Usually your only extras will be alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, optional shore excursions and personal services such as spa and hair care.

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Are there different types of cruises?

There are cruises designed to suit virtually every interest and personal preference.

Choices include luxury cruises with globetrotting itineraries, large contemporary ships with a fantastic array of recreational facilities, classic vessels evoking the time honoured traditions of cruising, exploration cruises specializing in unique destinations with an accent on cultural enrichment.

For many, the perfect cruise holiday includes the non-stop fun of a tropical resort-style cruise to the Caribbean where you can sample a variety of islands cultures and cuisines while working on your tan!

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