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Keen to see the world without the hassle of taking dozens of flights? This is a very real reason for the spectacular rise in the number of U.S. cruise travelers right now.
The number of U.S. travelers choosing to take a cruise has exploded, and the North American cruise market now accounts for 33.5% of worldwide cruise travel.
People want to travel and they’re prepared to spend money on seeing the world. But they also want that travel to be affordable, convenient, and as easy as possible.
Here’s why cruising is the fastest-growing travel trend in the U.S. right now:
An Affordable Way To Travel
Cruising is still an affordable way to travel, and one of the most appealing aspects of taking a cruise is that almost all elements of your trip are included.
You’ll find activities, entertainment, varied food options, and a range of shore excursions on offer on board a cruise ship all in one handy package.
Most cruise fares will include food, accommodations, daytime and evening entertainment, and of course your transportation between destinations too.
Flights to get to your ship and all-inclusive drinks packages often aren’t included, particularly if you choose a more affordable cruise line, but you can opt to pay for these in advance so you don’t have any extras to worry about during your vacation.
While you will pay more for shore excursions if you’re on a budget, it is possible to simply jump off the ship and explore in each port without paying for the excursions offered by your cruise line.
Multiple Destinations With Ease
The worst part of traveling has to be packing and unpacking your luggage. But when you take a cruise, you only need to unpack your suitcase once no matter how many destinations you’re visiting.
You can float from destination to destination without having to worry about booking flights, hotels, or anything else. When you cruise you will simply go to sleep in one destination and wake up in another.
This is great for travelers that want to see as much of the world as possible in a relatively short period of time.
If you can’t decide whether you want to visit St. Lucia or Barbados on your trip to the Caribbean or between France and Spain on your trip to Europe, then book a cruise. You can choose a cruise line with an itinerary that visits all the cities on your wish list, and some cruises will make different port stops every day.
Need a day of R&R? That’s made easy on a cruise vacation too. You can pamper in the spa, relax by the pool, or go to an educational lecture. Wine tastings, pottery painting, dance workshops. The list of entertainment options is near-endless and many of these are included in your cruise price too.
Easy To Plan
Cruise vacations are incredibly easy to plan. Because a cruise includes your transportation and accommodations as one package you don’t have to search for hotels close to the attractions or in your budget, and you don’t need to coordinate travel between cities.
Pick your cruise line, ship, itinerary, and package and then everything else is done for you.
If you’re particularly time-poor or just want the security of knowing everything is taken care of then you can even get your travel agent to arrange your airfare for you.
Cruise lines also have tried and tested plans in place for group travel so if you’re organizing a family reunion or a get-together with a big group of friends then this can be arranged for you and many lines will even offer extra perks for group bookings.
A Cruise Line For Everyone
Not all cruise lines or cruise ships were created equal, and not all cruisers are the same either.
Gone is the stereotype of cruising being a hobby for golden oldies. While there is still a market for retirees, sailing now has a much broader audience.
This means that cruising is growing in appeal to many more wannabe travelers. And there’s the perfect cruise line for everyone.
The Disney cruise line is an obvious choice for families. But lines like Carnival Cruises and Royal Caribbean also offer incredible family-friendly features such as water parks, climbing walls, zip wiring, and other adrenaline-pumping pursuits.
Virgin Cruises and Celebrity Cruises are great options for young adults in their 20s and 30s. They offer an incredible atmosphere, abundant deck parties, and great entertainment.
Finally, if you are an older cruiser looking for a traditional cruise ship where you can relax and unwind as you sail, then look to lines such as the Holland America Lines or the smaller ships of Viking River Cruises.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com