Cruise ships – advantages and disadvantages

Teacher : Mihai Dan Frumuselu Students : Dobre Alexandru Ionut

Ancu Alexandru

Harcau George

5 Reasons to Go on a Cruise

1. Simplicity and Convenience

If you plan a vacation to a popular destination like Las Vegas, you’re going to

have to plan everything from the airfare, the hotel, what to see, and where to eat. On the other hand, when you book a cruise, most of the work is done for you. You can select a cruise based on travel times, length of the trip, or destinations. Your meals are arranged, courtesy of the onboard restaurants and dining areas. The cruise plans around-the-clock activities for all ages. Most cruise lines will even help you select what sightseeing activities you want to do in port.

2. Multiple Travel Destinations

Unlike visiting a resort, which locks you in to one location, a cruise ship stops at several ports. Depending on the length of your cruise, you could see five or more different locations in one vacation. If you’re into seeing new places, you can rack up quite a few on a seven-day cruise. And since you’re on the ship, you don’t have to worry about making new travel arrangements for each spot.

3. Bundle Deals

Cruise lines offer specials on their popular destinations all the time. If you travel in the off-season, you can get a cruise package at a major discount, but you’re going to have to work for it. Cruise lines offer different package tiers throughout the year. A basic cruise package will include a small state room, your time on board, and one or two excursions. A more all-inclusive package will include airfare to and from the cruise ship’s port, a hotel stay at the port city the night prior to departure, transportation to the ship, and a decent-sized state room while on board. To get the best deal, you’ll have to hunt through the travel websites, and you should be prepared to book several weeks, if not months, in advance. Some of the best travel websites that highlight cheap cruise deals include Orbitz, Travelocity, and Kayak.

4. A Diverse Experience

When you stay in a resort, or visit one city, you have a limited number of activities you and your family can do while still staying within the confines of your area. Cruise lines really pack the entertainment into the ship. The cruise line plans both day and night activities for every day you’re at sea. For example, you can shop at several stores, attend an art auction, get a massage, play in a ping pong tournament, lay out by the pool, take in a bingo game, gamble at the casino, or learn ballroom dancing – all within a few feet of your stateroom and while eating excellent food. If you’re the type who likes to be active when you’re on vacation, you’ll love the at sea days on a cruise.

• 5. Meeting New People

Thanks to the buffet-style eating areas and planned group activities, you will have several opportunities to meet new people. Every cruise trip draws in people from all over the world. If you like meeting new people, a cruise can be a great way to do it. And if you’re single, “singles cruises,” much like the name implies, are specifically designed for the uncoupled to have a great time and potentially meet a significant other.

5 Disadvantages of Cruise Vacations

1. Hidden Costs

Taking a cruise will cost you far more than the cost of airfare and booking the

trip. You will also have to shell out for drinks, tourist excursions, souvenirs, and tips. You could easily spend more than the cost of booking the cruise on the little things you buy throughout the trip.

2. Traveling with Children

Some cruise lines, like the Disney Cruises, cater specifically to families. Other

cruise lines, like Royal Caribbean, cater more towards singles. Every cruise line will offer something for your children to do, but if you have younger children, you want to be careful about which cruise line you book. If you go with a cruise line geared towards adults, your children will likely end up bored by the second day, especially since they won’t be able to take part in many of the 21+ events. And we all know that bored children equals a tough time for parents.

3. Time LimitsIf you’re someone who likes to really get to know a place, and cram in as

many activities as you can, you may not enjoy a cruise. Typically, you can leave the ship early in the morning and must return by dusk at each port stop. All of that coming and going can create a sort of whirlwind effect, and you may never feel like you are in one place long enough – especially if you really like one of the port cities.

4. Tourist TrapsMost excursions on land are typical tourist-type events, and the ports cater

to tourists since that’s where the cruise ships dock. Because of that, it’s hard to get the authentic cultural experience of the place you’re visiting – and prices are typically inflated for everything from food to souvenirs and adventures.

5. Sea SicknessTraveling on a huge cruise liner bares little resemblance to spending the day

fishing in a small boat, but there is a reason they hand Dramamine out like candy at the reception center. While a cruise ship might weigh the same as a small island, the ocean can still rock that ship back and forth.

From the onboard casino, to the midnight buffet and exotic ports, cruises offer a vacation experience unlike any other. If you do your research and book in advance, you can get a great deal on a cruise package. Once on board, if you just remember to stay frugal, you can save yourself even more money. But cruising isn’t for everyone. Before you shell out your hard-earned money, make sure it’s the type of vacation you’ll enjoy.