It’s National Cruise Week this week – seven days when the cruise industry pulls out all the stops to encourage more people to holiday at sea.
The second annual promotion will see cruise companies and travel agencies highlighting special deals and offers as the country goes cruise crazy.
Unsurprisingly the PR machinery has gone into overdrive with stats and projections about the joys of cruise holidays.
Cruise holiday heart throbs
For example, were you aware that Hollywood heartthrob Johnny Depp’s swashbuckling character Captain Jack Sparrow is the number one ‘celebrity squeeze on the seas’ for Britons considering their favourite cruise partner?
A poll of more than 2,000 people showed that Pirates of the Caribbean star was voted the number one celebrity cruise partner by 10 per cent of people.
He was ten times more popular than actor Tom Cruise who obtained just one per cent of the vote.
The most popular lady of the seas was actress Penelope Cruz with six per cent of the votes, surging ahead of singer Katrina Leskanich of Katrina and the Waves fame, and comedian Joan Rivers who each gained one per cent of the vote.
Singer Billy Ocean managed one per cent of votes – maybe something to do with his nautical surname.
Yet more than half of those polled would choose to cruise with their partner. Women were most loyal with 61 per cent choosing their partners as their number one shipping spouse, while 52 per cent of men named their partner.
A to Z of cruising
One handy guide that has surfaced for the uninitiated is a simple A to Z of cruising – the only problem being it only goes up to W as X Y and Z obviously proved too difficult to match up with all things cruise. However, I’ve come up with the answers, just read on.
The almost complete alphabet of cruising starts with A for the Association of Cruise Experts, travel agents such as Virgin Holidays Cruises that are on hand to provide expert cruise advice.
It goes onto B for book now for the best deals as cruise companies tend to provide more incentives the earlier you book.
C covers cruise and stay – a holiday where a hotel stay can be combined either before or after a cruise. It is always possible to tag on a few days pre- or post-cruise whether you are in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Dubai or Far East to get a great two-in-one holiday.
Disabled facilities on board cruise ships are impressive, particularly on the larger, restore-style vessels where there is ample space for wheelchair users.
Expedition cruises appeal to those with an adventurous streak looking to seek out the most off the beaten track destinations.
Families are famously treated on board the many ships with dedicated facilities for youngsters of all ages which can range from water parks and bowling alleys to rock schools and learning circus skills.
Celebrity chefs
Gourmet dining is an important part of the cruise experience with many celebrity chefs now putting their name to restaurants, such as Marco Pierre White, Gary Rhodes, Aldo Zilli and Michel Roux.
How to book is pretty simple – go to www.virginholidayscruises.co.uk
Internet access is an integral part of everyday life and you can still stay in touch when at sea with Wi-Fi hotspots and internet cafes.
Joining in is never a problem on a cruise due to the range of entertainment and activities available but it is equally easy to be left alone to relax if that’s your preference.
Kids are well catered for on today’s modern resort-style ships with dedicated clubs for all ages together with crèches and babysitting facilities.
Luxury cruise lines provide everything you desire (well. pretty much everything) from butler service to complementary drinks and bespoke shore excursions.
Meeting people is one of the real benefits of taking a cruise as ships attract such a diverse range of passengers.
Nautical miles will be notched up as you cruise, with the average cruise ship travelling 73,000 nautical miles a year or six times around the world.
The Orient is emerging as a leading cruise destination with fly-cruises from Hong Kong growing in popularity.
Ports of call – there are literally hundreds to choose from across all corners of the globe.
Quality on board cruise ships is universally high with many lines reporting outstanding levels of passenger satisfaction.
River cruises allow for a truly destination-based holiday as ships can navigate right into the centre of famous towns and cities.
Spas on cruise ships are getting more expansive with all kinds of treatments, massages and even Botox available.
Themed cruises can range from ‘Strictly-style’ ballroom dancing through to golf, art and antiquities complete with lectures and seminars.
Value is a recurring theme and one of the key reasons cruising continues to attract more British passengers, not least because most meals, entertainment and children’s activities are included in the price.
World cruises enable you to escape the UK winter for sunnier climes visiting several different continents on a single voyage.
The X, Y, Z
My additions to the list include X for excitement, as there’s always a new adventure to be experienced on every cruise. Y is for youthful, as the age profile of cruise passengers continues to come down and Z is for Zzzz…the opportunity to chill out without interruptions either in your cabin or on a lounger on your private balcony.
With a wider choice of ships becoming available, industry pundits reckon 2010 will be a record year with more Britons than ever before expected to take to the seas.
With National Cruise Week is full swing, it couldn’t be a better time to plan next year’s holiday afloat.
Related posts:
- Getting Britain sailing Travel agents across the country including virginholidayscruises.co.uk are gearing...
- Britain waives the rules It won’t have gone unnoticed to cruise historians that...
- Take Your Partners – On A Cruise If you enjoy ballroom or Latin dancing, chances are...
Leave a Comment