The Truth About Cruising.

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Celticeagle recently did a post about the pros and cons of cruising, and as you may have been put off by some of the things she wrote, I'll tell you of my own experiences. My husband and I have been on 16 cruises, and as I wrote recently about the scenery on our cruise to Norway, I'll use that cruise as an example of life on board. We travelled with Celebrity Cruises and the ship itself was like a floating 5 star hotel - very opulent. Our cabin was roomy with 2 full size beds, a sofa, dressing table, fridge, TV, ample drawer and wardrobe space, and of course a bathroom and shower. The towels were changed daily, and toiletries, dressing gowns and hair dryer were all provided. There was also a safe in which to put our passports and valuables. Our cabin steward was a lovely guy who attended to our every need, keeping our cabin spotless. He always 'went the extra mile' by putting chocolates on our pillows every night, and making animal 'sculptures' out of towels to sit on our beds. Life on board can be whatever you want it to be. There were plenty of sports/ quizzes/ lectures/ demonstrations laid on when the ship was at sea, or we could just get a book from the on board library and laze by the pool. Of course, on most of the days we stopped at a different port and sampled the delights of whatever was on offer ashore. Eating on board is quite an experience as there is so much to choose from. We chose the informal option of the self service buffet during the day, going to the beautiful restaurant for dinner in the evenings. There were two formal evenings during this cruise, where everybody dressed in their most glamorous clothes (including the men!). It's not compulsory, but it's fun. The food was exceptionally good, and there was something for all tastes, but be warned - you will most likely put on a few pounds before the cruise ends! Food of some sort was available pretty much 24 hours a day. The evening entertainment was excellent with top class variety shows every night, or quieter entertainment in the piano bar if we preferred. There was ballroom dancing to a live band, or disco dancing for those so inclined, or of course we could find a quiet lounge if we wanted to. There was also a casino (I lost a few dollars!) You are probably wondering how much the cruise cost. We always opt for an inside cabin as we only use it for sleeping, and the cost can double if you have an outside one with a balcony. Even a small porthole can add hundreds of pounds, and the money we save by going for the cheaper option goes towards our spending money. The cabins themselves are all the same anyway, except if you choose a suite. Anyway, the cost to us for this 10 day cruise was £830 each ($1100) and that included all food and entertainment. I really do recommend cruising - it's a great way to see the world, waking up somewhere new each day, often in a different country, and you only have to unpack once. So do you think you'd like cruising? ******************************************** Photo is mine of the ship I'm talking about.