If you’ve managed to hang on to your money and have been contemplating taking a sea cruise, I suggest you book one sooner rather than later.

For now that the cruise industry shows sign of recovering from the recent global economic downturn, prices will inevitably rise.

Fortunately for you, we are in a punter’s market and prices are still very competitive.

Compare the cost

If you don’t believe me, check the cost of a cruise holiday against the competition – you’ll notice that Virgin are still way ahead.

I don’t know about you but when I look at the traditional fly-drive-sit-on-the-beach-whatever holiday it makes no sense, financially speaking, when for the same money, often less, you get several destinations. And you arrive at each one in style and comfort without having to drag your suitcase in and out of Customs.

Yet it wasn’t that long ago when prices were so high some supermarkets would try to buy back the groceries you bought from them the previous week.

And we’ve all known restaurants where the only person who could afford to eat in them was the chef.

Some people think money can’t buy you happiness, but at least it can take you to more places to look, especially on a cruise.

Take your time on a cruise

Also, the biggest plus of all, you can take your time.

The trouble with the usual 21st century holiday is that it all goes by so fast. I once left Cowes with two rabbits for a Eurostar ride to Paris. When we arrived, I still only had two rabbits.

That’s one of the things I like about a holiday afloat, there’s time to expand your extended family.

You can walk around, have a drink or a meal with friends and total strangers. Or watch the movies, take in a Broadway-style show, sunbathe, swim, or chill out with the other lounge lizards.

A civilised holiday

The world sails by as you drift along. There’s no rush. A sea cruise is…civilised.

Not that this seems to have appealed to the Australian writer, Clive James, who many years ago described a luxury liner as a bad play surrounded by water.

That may be true of some cruise ships, but what a cast.

It seems to me that we are currently in the Silver Age of sea cruises – for there is a now a much great number of ships and itineraries to choose from than at any other time in cruise ship history.

And a sea cruise is no longer the province of the rich and famous. More people than ever before can afford them.

Money isn’t everything. For some people it’s never enough.

But right now you don’t need that much to take you on a magical sea cruise.

And that’s enough for me.

James Leavey

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