If someone shared a secret with you that would bring you joy, happiness, and relaxation, would you keep that secret to yourself or share it with friends and family?  Knowing myself, I’d give the secret away to everyone I met.  Well, that is what a cruise has done to over nine million North Americans this past year.  Even more are predicted to find the secret joy of what a cruise can offer in 2005.  According to CLIA (Cruise Line International Association) , comparing cruises to other types of vacations, cruises offer more fun and variety per dollar.  An all-inclusive cruise will cover accommodations, meals, some drinks, event tickets, some shore excursions, and transportation to and from the ship.  Besides, cruises usually offer fantastic ports of call which encourage vacationers to take advantage of experiencing the world.  While the majority of travelers are sharing their vacation time with family members (kids and extended members), people desire to feel safe yet have the opportunities to explore beyond the ship’s boundaries.  One appealing nature of a cruise is the exotic lure of the unknown while still within the safety net of the cruise line.

Favorite cruises include family oriented, theme, special interest groups, cuisine, romance, activities, and experiencing new cultures.  A CLIA approved travel agent can handle the all important small details and help you search for just the right cruise.  Cruises are meant to pamper and indulge the senses.  Don’t worry about your budget cruise slacking off on indulgence.  Regardless of the size or category of your cruise ship, you can be assured of the same courteous services, activities, and menus.  All cruise staff are trained to provide around the clock courteous first class service.  One frequently asked question is about tipping.  There are some cruise lines which include the cost of daily gratuities into the total package cost of the cruise.  Other cruise lines leave tipping up to the customer.  Some cruise customers who complain the most regarding a pre-arranged gratuity are the ones who usually don’t tip!

At www.cruising.org you’ll find a bountiful list of North American ports of embarkation and worldwide tourism links and cruise destinations.  Besides the twenty-three US ports of embarkation, there are a number of US destinations hosting cruise tours.  These include Alaska, Connecticut, Ft. Lauderdale and Miami, Florida; the U.S. Virgin Islands, Maine, and Hawaii.

To help you choose which is the right cruise visit these links for research:  (vacation ideas and destinations), (an advanced guide to themed cruises), (themed cruises departing from New Orleans), (themed cruises for believers of faith who don’t want to miss their religious services while cruising), and (http://cruises.about.com/od/lifestylethemecruises).   

In 2005 you’ll notice an increase in cruises with specific goals such as “high technology cruises.”  These cruises will employ the idea of hands on computer training.  Hundreds of computer terminals will be set up for classroom style teaching and training.  Cruises with lecturers and special speakers will also be more popular than ever.  People crave knowledge and what better way to assimilate that knowledge than to immerse your self in an atmosphere of enjoyable learning.  Afraid there won’t be enough room for you?  Not to worry, there are more orders for bigger and better cruise ships, some of which will be completed in 2006 and 2007.

Some adults long to take cruises and leave the kids behind.  Many have asked about adult only cruises.  With the loss of P&O’s (Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company dating back to the 1800’s) adult only cruises as well as the failed Ardonia adult only cruises, it will take a long time before any cruise line wants to go down that shipping lane again.  Take comfort in knowing that each cruise line has activities for kids away from adult activities.  The problems encountered with children on a cruise are usually due to parent’s lack of supervision and parenting skills.  Otherwise, kids and adults can cohabitate on the same ship while each experience positive lasting memories.

Why cruise?  Affordable, family oriented and kid friendly, themes to suite the desires of almost everyone, all-inclusive, exotic, adventure packed, relaxing, and pampering.  These are just a few reasons why I would choose to cruise.  Happy Traveling!

Photos courtesy of member’s gallery photos of Cruisemates.com