A certain kind of inverted snobbery has emerged in response to the growing popularity of cruise holidays. Once thought to be the exclusive preserve of the wealthy they’ve more recently been derided by travel writers like Arthur Frommer, somewhat dyspeptically, as an inauthentic way to travel. But if you’re looking for some serious fun as well as some serious relaxation, and you’d like to see some glorious sights that a standard resort holiday just can’t deliver, it’s time to start exploring the many cruise deals on offer perennially from big operators like Thomson Cruises, Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises and Carnival Cruises (to name but a few).
If your inner killjoy tells you that you’ll be bored or sea-sick (or both), ignore it and take a serious look at what’s on offer. For example, on board Royal Caribbean Cruises’ gargantuan ‘Oasis of the Seas’, as with many of the larger vessels, you can relax with a spa treatment after working out in the gym, ride a carousel with the kids, climb a rock wall, have a round of golf and take a whirl on a superb surf simulator. Then you could go shopping in an onboard high street – all before you take in a live Broadway musical or comedy show, watch or take part in a karaoke evening and dine in a range of restaurants to suit every taste (and budget).
Sea sickness is largely a myth – modern ships, from the modest to the extravagantly huge, are equipped with very effective stabilisers. And if you really worry about this, why not begin your cruise experience with one of the many river cruises now available?