Go. Eat.
Click the image to read my review of the Norwegian Gem.
I gotta say, cruise ships are pretty remarkable. These ginormous floating cities pretty much have every amenity a traveler could want, and then some. And unless you want to cruise to a far-off or remote destination, I highly recommend leaving from a port close to home. It saves on legwork and more importantly, airfare.
Sailing on the Norwegian Gem from New York was pretty neat, as was traveling with immediate family. And while the mini-suites could be a tad too confining even for the Cleavers, the ship was large enough to get lost somewhere cool and interesting, such as the bowling alley, or the giant slide, or the gym, or maybe even the casino.
Libations, extra-special activities, the spa, and the more upscale restaurants are extra, but cruising these days is an overall great value. Just don’t forget the Dramamine (…and on the 7th day…the ship was a-rockin’ back to New York!).
This article was written for JOURNEYS magazine, which consumers can find at travel agencies across the nation. This publication is way cool and chock full of ideas for even the well-seasoned adventurer.
I agree, in my opinion, cruising is the best form of vacation available. You not only have the ability to set a budget, and stick to it, you can awake each morning in a new destination. Kids can have the freedom to do what they want, eat what they want, go to camp, etc, parents have alone time too, to enjoy their own activities. Only 20% of travelers choose cruising because of mis-information, or misconceptions about cruises, but if you take a chance, you won’t be disappointed in ALL that cruising offers.