It seems like everybody these days is setting sail, cruising around the deep blue ocean on ships the size of small cities. Travelers return from their ocean adventures with strange and marvelous tales of grand movie theaters, huge climbing walls, water slides, and mounds of delicious food, but is this the reason why cruises have grown in popularity? What is it, exactly, that makes cruises so appealing to so many people.
Perhaps its the price. Long cruises, especially, can be expensive, and port fees, cruise cancellation insurance, and airfare (if its not included in the price), not to mention pricey shore excursions, can destroy your vacation budget. Just like with air travel, however, significant discounts can be found online and through travel agents, and when travelers factor in the meals, accommodation, and shipboard entertainment that are included in the fare, cruises can actually be pretty reasonable. Theres also less room for the typical nasty surprises that accompany traveling to exotic locations on your own.
Unlike land tours, which offer a similar sense of security when traveling, cruises also allow passengers a great deal of personal freedom and the...