The Cruise Lines International Association release a new forecast that says The world’s growing love affair with cruising will continue in 2011, with the industry drawing a record 16 million passengers from around the globe. The total number of people cruising worldwide will be up 6.6% from 2010, when 15 million people took a cruise.
As in past years, the majority of the world’s cruisers will come from North America, though the number of non-North Americans cruising continues to grow rapidly. The cruise association says it expects 73% of cruisers in 2011, or 11.68 million, will come from North America, up from 11.1 million in 2010. The association says 4.32 million cruisers will come from outside North America, up from 3.9 million in 2010.
Choosing The Best European Cruise in 2011
According to statistics, 2010 saw an upturn in people who travelled on a European Cruise. 2011 seems to be trending the same, if not better, with many people deciding to take a cruise rather than a traditional vacation. Driving the increase: More than half a dozen major new ships from such lines as Carnival, Celebrity Cruises and Disney Cruise Line.
When you want to find the “best” European cruise, rather than looking for the best cruise vacation money can buy, you should think about finding the cruise that offers the largest amount of adventure and luxury without blowing your budget. While there is always a temptations to ignore budgetary restrictions and just max out the credit cards, that isn’t a realistic option, especially in today’s tough economic times. Think about it, if you find a great deal on a European cruise that offers everything you’re looking for, you’ll have more money available for extras.
First, you should spend some time considering which ports of call you want to visit. Even though the majority of your time will be spent aboard the cruise ship, the highlights of your vacation will undoubtedly be the time you spend in the historic cities of Europe. For instance, if you’ve always dreamed of seeing Athens, Barcelona, or Rome, you should plan your itinerary around these destinations. You might get more joy from visiting St. Peter’s Basilica while in Rome than the rest of the entire journey combined. Remember, the destinations you visit during the cruise should be more important than the cruise itself.
When you are planning your itinerary, don’t concentrate solely on the cities within the Mediterranean basin. There are some amazing cruises to take on the Caspian, Black, or Baltic Seas. Another option that will allow you to explore the cities of inland Europe is the popular European river cruises.
Next, you will need to decide how much time you want to spend at sea. European cruises vary widely in length, from short 5-day jaunts to lengthy voyages lasting as long as a month. Obviously, longer cruises are going to be more expensive than shorter cruises, but this is an important consideration when determining your vacation budget. Of course, you don’t want to fly halfway across the world, board your cruise ship, and be on your way home two days after you’ve recovered from jet lag. However, you don’t want get yourself deeply in debt for the sake of a luxury vacation. The trick is to find a healthy compromise that will make the journey worthwhile without sending you to the poor house. If you’re unable to find such a compromise, you may want to postpone your vacation until such a compromise can be found.
Last, consider the amenities and luxuries you expect aboard a cruise ship. While the highlight of your journey will be the amazing ports of call you’ll visit, don’t forget that a great deal of time will be spent on the ship. There should be enough activities available to keep you entertained while at see. Spend some time comparing entertainment options between cruise lines as well as other amenities like fitness centers, hot tubs, pools, and climbing walls. You will find that the price will vary widely depending on the level of luxury the ship provides.
Choosing the best European cruise will depend on your preferences and your budget. Use this guide to help you plan the vacation of your dreams without putting too much stress on your budget.