Cruising is HOT! It is a romantic, luxurious, economical, yet worthwhile way to see more for less. Imagine calling on SEVERAL ports and joining shore excursions to see the destination’s most visited sights and attractions. Envision eating or meeting local cultures in each of these destinations. The prospect is thrilling, but it is not for everyone.
To the consternation of certain people, cruising is not for those who get seasick, claustrophobic or aquaphobic. So, when you hear your relatives and friends raving about their cruising experiences, you are turning green with envy. If only you can survive your cruising problems.
The Uncertainty of Your Reactions
If you haven’t tried cruising yet, it is not clever to conclude that it will be one rough ride even when you have certain fears – of being enclosed in a small cabin or being surrounded by water – or easily getting seasick. These may make your cruise harder, but then again, cruises are so comfortable and entertaining you may even not notice them as you indulge in the fun and great elements of a cruise.
If the motivation is strong enough based on your reactions when you watch commercials online or on TV, or when people you know share their experiences, maybe you are ready to give it a try. If you are anxious that you won’t be able to complete the cruise, it is a good thing to try a test cruise first.
What’s a Test Cruise
If you are apprehensive that cruising will just be a waste of money, it is smart to test your water legs if you can survive a short run. This is the idea behind Peter Greenberg’s article Travel Tip: How You Can Take a Test Cruise. Greenberg suggest “… taking a test run on a shorter trip. It’ll give you a sample without investing a lot of time or money.”
He went to the extent of offering some short runs or options:
How about…a cruise to nowhere? This May, Carnival Cruise Lines has a cruise that sails from Norfolk out to sea for two days. It starts at $320 a person and that includes all your meals and entertainment.
A two-day cruise on the Carnival Breeze starts and ends in Galveston, from just $240 a person.
Or look for cruises that make one stop. Norwegian Cruise Line has a weekend cruise on the Norwegian Pearl, from Seattle to Vancouver.
The price tag will not be much. A one-stop cruise can cost you only $89 a person. You may spend about $350 if you’ll join a cruise for two nights from Fort Lauderdale to Nassau, Bahamas.
Just remember, these short runs are popular among young people looking for the experience without the huge price tag. Even if you don’t like mixing with the rowdy, young crowd, you need to take a chance on these ones. One or two nights will not be too hard if you intend to discover if you can survive a trip to the high seas on a luxurious ride. Maybe the young crowd can be a good diversion too. Party with them… you may soon discover that partying on board a cruise ship isn’t just something you can survive, but even enjoy.
