12 Reasons Why a Cruise is the Best Holiday Gift
It’s that time of year again when we are all racking our brains to come up with the most unique and special holiday gift for a loved one. We believe that the gift of travel is simply the best, and it gives that special someone in your life something to look forward to. Can we all agree that 2020 has us longing for experiences outside of the home? We’ve shared our top 12 reasons why a cruise vacation makes THE BEST holiday gift.
1. One Trip, Multiple Destinations
One of the many reasons people love to cruise is because it is one trip, but you get the opportunity to visit multiple destinations. You hop on a ship and when you get to your cabin, you only have to unpack once before you sail away to different port cities, each offering unique experiences.
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2. A City At Sea
Photo by Royal Caribbean International
Even if you think you prefer a resort vacation, think again because a cruise ship is like a city on the sea. From restaurants with all types of cuisines, bars, nightlife and entertainment to shopping, spas, kid’s clubs, and an array of thrilling activities like rock climbing, bowling alleys, or even roller coasters. You can literally walk through the ship sightseeing and find something new every day.
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3. Something for Everyone
On a cruise, you most definitely don’t have to worry about being bored, that’s for sure. There are so many cruise lines with different personalities offering ships with distinct offerings that the options are truly endless and there is literally something for everyone at every age. So how do you decide? If you work with your travel advisor, they can help you choose the perfect cruise to gift. Do they have kids? Do they like to escape from reality and just chill? Do they like the thrill of adventure? Do they like high-class Broadway entertainment? Are they a food aficionado? Do they like to party all night and drink all day? Do they want a laid back or high-class experience? We’re serious when we say the options are endless. If you are wondering what cruise line would be the best for that special someone, channel their inner personality and take this quiz or use our CruiseMatch tool.
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4. More Bang for Your Buck
The value you receive when purchasing a cruise vacation is truly unmatched. For the most part, the price scores you lodging, food, and entertainment making it a fantastic value. In addition, some cruise lines offer “kids sail free” promotions and most cruise ships offer supervised Kid’s Clubs so … free babysitting! Plus, as we mentioned above, you get to visit multiple destinations for one price. Do you live within driving distance of a cruise port? If so, SCORE! You get to save those airline ticket dollars. Also, there is always a deal out there. If you don’t believe us, be sure to sign up for our weekly newsletter.
5. The Perfect Way to Celebrate
Who doesn’t love a celebration with a large group of family and friends? A cruise ship can accommodate all of you and you’ll get special group rates starting with parties of five to eight cabins, depending on the cruise line. Cruise lines are also onboard for making your milestone celebration extraordinary. Whether you are celebrating a birthday, anniversary, wedding, honeymoon, family reunion or something else, your travel agent can work with the cruise line to make your trip extra special.
6. A Cultural Experience
Ocean cruising is the most popular, but if you want something really unique, you may want to consider gifting a river cruise. While any cruise provides the opportunity to experience cultures in a variety of destinations, river cruises provide a different and more intimate experience. Depending on the ship size, river cruises carry anywhere from 100 to 250 guests and travel along inland waterways. They stop at ports, from big cities to small towns you would otherwise be unlikely to visit, where you can explore and truly immerse yourself in the culture. Another bonus is that most of the shore excursions are included in the price of the river cruise. This is the perfect gift for someone who enjoys the intimacy of a smaller ship, exploring different cultures, appreciates art and architecture, good food or wine, and is interested in vacationing with like-minded travelers.
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7. A Foodies Excuse to Indulge
Vacations are for indulging, right? It is when most of us throw caution to the wind and take a break from our healthy diet. A cruise is the best place for this because it offers a wide variety of different cuisines from steakhouses, Asian fusion, Mexican and Italian to Indian, Chinese, Japanese, American and more, there is truly something available for every taste bud and food is plentiful all throughout the day and night. We know that indulging on a cruise goes beyond the food and cruises offer an array of thirst-quenching options like specialty cocktails to keep the party alive, unlimited soft drink packages for the soda addicts, and of course coffee when you need a good pick-me-up.
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8. A Private Island Experience Like No Other
In recent years, many cruise lines have invested in creating ultimate Caribbean paradises on their private islands. These private islands offer something for everyone from adventurous watersports, waterslides for kids and adults, and shore excursions like swimming with pigs. There is something for everyone with a variety of food options and swim-up bars as well as tons of beach chairs and cabanas where you can sit back, relax and take in the crystal blue Caribbean waters. Check out what each cruise line’s private islands have to offer.
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9. Entertainment Abounds
Another value-add when it comes to cruising is the endless entertainment options, with most ships offering high-end performances from Tony-award winning Broadway shows. If you are looking for a good laugh, the adult-only Comedy Clubs are the place to be or check out the fun trivia games or scavenger hunts that can sometimes be, let’s say, a bit risqué. The energetic and adventurous will want to carve out plenty time for activities like rock climbing, surf and skydiving simulators, go-kart racing, ropes courses and more. Your travel agent can review which stage shows, comedians and activities are offered on which ships.
10. Make New Friends
Photo by Regent Seven Seas
Cruise vacations bring people together and there are multiple opportunities to meet new people and make new friends. Whether you are laying by the pool, having dinner, grabbing a drink at the bar, waiting for a show to start in the theater, lounging by the pool or taking in a shore excursion, there are many opportunities to strike up a conversation with strangers. You may find that you have something in common, you may learn something new, and many passengers have even shared stories with us about making lifelong friends on their cruise vacation.
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11. Good for the Soul (And Body)
The gift of travel is so much more than gifting someone a tangible item. It has been proven that it can improve your physical health and happiness. In an interview with Forbes Travel Guide, Dr. Mehmet Oz elaborated on how traveling for pleasure affects your wellbeing. He said, “Taking vacations can lower men’s risk of death by 21 percent and mortality from cardiovascular disease by 32 percent. Among women, a lack of vacation is associated with a higher risk of heart disease and death from heart disease. Vacationing improves your mood and reduces stress. It also can temporarily help boost productivity.
12. Create Lifelong Memories
And … the most important reason a cruise is THE BEST holiday gift is the memories that will be made with family and friends. Memories that last a lifetime are truly priceless!
Okay, so have we convinced you that a cruise vacation is an excellent holiday gift? If so, who are you going to give the gift of travel to and what cruise line or ship best fits their personality? Let us know in the comments and be sure to work with your travel agent to find the perfect match.
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Happy Gift Giving!
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