Even though the talking heads on television say that the current economy is recovering, many folks just do not have the extra money to spend on luxury items like vacations. How is it, then, that the cruise and shore excursion travel industries are seeing such a surge in popularity? The answers might surprise you! 

Cruises Are Often All Inclusive

What many people look for when planning out a vacation are perks, and these kinds of getaways have them all. From food to entertainment and everything in between, a cruise has it all. In fact, a recent J.D. Power 2013 Cruise Line Satisfaction Report stated that a large percentage of cruise customers rated the food on their journeys as one of the best parts of their experiences.

This takes the guesswork out of planning a vacation as well. Travelers won’t have to look up restaurants, map out directions to attractions or get lost in traffic looking for their destinations. Cruises do all the work for you so all you have to do is relax and enjoy your time away from home.

A cruise ship is like a floating resort, taking passengers to ports of call as well as offering shows, music, swimming and even activities for the kids. There are so many things to do on a cruise that many passengers book their next vacation as soon as they return home!

Shore Excursions and Ports of Call Are Huge Perks

Many travelers want to see places they’ve never been and there is virtually no other offering in the travel industry quite like a cruise to satisfy this demand. All you really have to do with most cruises is choose your destination and shore excursions are planned for you enabling you to visit some of the most beautiful places on the planet. Obviously the Caribbean is a very popular destination; however places like Alaska, Asia, Europe and the Mediterranean  rank as very popular with cruise guests also, especially because of the breathtaking scenery.

Cruise lines will schedule multiple ports of call for their visitors so they will have a wide variety of experiences and amazing memories to take back home.

Cruises Are Cost Effective

In these days of making every dollar count, there aren’t many vacations that offer as much bang for your buck as a cruise, especially with shore excursions on the agenda. A good cruise package, especially booked in advance, can save a single person, a couple or a family literally hundreds of dollars, making it not only the trip of a lifetime but also an amazing value.

Planning a vacation can cost a family thousands of dollars once airfare, lodging, meals and other expenses are taken into consideration but a cruise can cut that budget by a huge percentage. And with so many different things to see and do on a cruise and shore excursions, you will find that you have really done your dollars justice.

Cruises Are Fun for the Whole Family

How many times have you taken a vacation with your kids and all you hear is “I’m bored?”

Not on a cruise you won’t.

Many packages not only include things for the children, but some activities are designed solely for parents and kids to have time apart on their vacations. Mom and dad won’t necessarily want to see a kiddie show and the kids probably wouldn’t want to go shopping so cruise lines have ingeniously devised ways to keep everybody happy. That in itself is worth the package price!

There are always activities and entertainment options for the whole family to experience together as well, making a cruise the ultimate opportunity to bring the family together for wonderful and lasting memories.

If you are considering planning a vacation, think about taking a cruise. Add in shore excursions and plan your ports of call for the ultimate experience and you’ll understand why so many folks are hooked on these amazing vacations!