Stockholm’s Karolinska Institute is experimenting with cameras linked to a headpiece and electrodes enabling its volunteer subjects to have an out-of-body experience.

The results of this research will help people understand how they perceive their bodies and convince them that they are inhabiting a body other than their own.

Imagine the possibilities for the cruise industry. You could find yourself virtually at the front of the ship reinacting that famous scene from the film, Titanic, from the comfort of your cabin, office or home.

Or spend a virtual Christmas with your friends and relatives on land while you are taking a breather from the cruise ship’s festivities. And maybe someone would notice and remark:

Yesterday upon the stair
I met a man who wasn’t there.
He wasn’t there again today
Oh how I wish he’d go away!

But don’t go too far for in a few years’ time you may be able to walk into a travel agency and test-drive a virtual Christmas cruise.

If you did you would soon realise it’s nothing like the real thing.

Millions of people will soon be celebrating the joys of Christmas all over the world. It’s a good time to push the boat out – especially when you’re on it having a great time.

But then on a cruise ship every day is Christmas Day.

Cruising is a luxury that is particularly memorable at this time of the year for Christmas is a celebration of life. And there’s all that food, drink and bonhomie that you get to share with the other passengers who are determined to get as much fun out of Christmas as you are.

Meanwhile, while luxury land-based shops may be feeling the chill of recession, there’s no sign of cruisers letting up on their favourite break.

Just 13% of nearly 2,000 respondents to a recent survey – which asked them if the economic downturn might affect their plans for the coming year – said they wouldn’t be going on a cruise.

23% of them said they had no intention of changing their plans. The rest intended to take a cruise next year but are looking for bargains – which are currently plentiful.

Some of you feel embarrassed even considering booking a luxury cruise in the current economic climate but you shouldn’t be. As the farmer said, money is like manure – it’s not much good unless you spread it around.

And there’s a lot of people around the world who depend on the cruise industry for their livelihood.

It’s their business to help you enjoy yourself.

A cruise holiday is also something that many people dream about and aspire to so if you can afford to take that cruise of a lifetime you may as well enjoy every moment of it. And do stop being embarrassed by your wealth. For if you can’t enjoy yourself with all that money, what chance is there for the rest of us?

There’s really no excuse for as many cruise fares are at a record low and there are less crowded flights to stopover ports, this year’s cruiser should experience a cheaper, more hassle-free seasonal break.

But when you are proposing (or responding to) that Christmas toast to your fellow passengers please spare a thought for those less fortunate than yourself and leave a nice tip for the stewards and the cruise ship’s other little helpers.

A couple of years ago I was on the QM2 at Christmas and two children came up and asked me why the liner had such a huge funnel. “It’s because there’s a lot of nice people on board this ship who have been especially good this year and helped their family, friends and neighbours,” I told them, “and Santa needs a very large chimney to drop the presents down.”

Merry Christmas, virtual or not.

James Leavey

Related posts:

• Cruising Christmas List ‘Tis the season of goodwill to all passengers and...
• Wynken, Blynken and Nod cruise for Christmas Next year promises to be one of my most...
• A Fairy Tale Cruise for Christmas Once upon a time far from land, where the...
• Only 73 shipping days to Christmas Where will you spend Christmas day 2010? I’m no...
• Cruising has Christmas wrapped up With Christmas less than a week away and Britain...

Posted in Cruising