Millions of Americans are discovering that cruises are a perfect short getaway vacation choice…
Millions of Americans are discovering that cruises are a perfect short getaway vacation choice, according to market trends tracked by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). Nearly 2.6 million people will set sail on short cruises of five or fewer days in 2004, accounting for nearly one-third of the total cruise marketplace.
Short cruises offer a few days at sea combined with visits to nearby ports of call, and offer a special way to celebrate an occasion, get away from the office for a hassle-free meeting, enjoy a wonderfully romantic escape with someone you love or bring the family together for some quality time away from the daily routine.
Though the cruise may be relatively short, travelers will find they are not short-changed when it comes to the experience, says Terry L. Dale, president and CEO of CLIA, the non-profit marketing and training organization which represents 19 cruise lines and 16,000 travel agency members across North America. They can enjoy all the pampering, fine dining and onboard experiences that make a cruise the world`s greatest vacation.
Short cruises are attractive for several reasons, including: – Time – For folks who can`t squeeze a full week`s vacation out of their busy schedule, a short cruise is an ideal mini-escape and a way to unwind, relax and rejuvenate.
- Close-to-home – With ships sailing from more North American homeports than ever before, many travelers can save time and transportation costs by boarding a ship within easy driving distance of their homes.
- Test the waters – Vacationers who have never been aboard a cruise ship find a short cruise is a wonderful way to sample the cruise experience. Most of these first-timers soon come back to enjoy longer cruise vacations.
- Cost – It`s easy to fit a short cruise mini-vacation into most budgets because the cruise package price includes all the things that count – wonderful food, exciting entertainment, comfortable accommodations and stylish transportation in complete comfort and ease.
- No hassles – Once vacationers board the ship, they can relax and enjoy a totally hassle-free trip. There`s no packing and unpacking, no traffic snarls, no finding somewhere to eat or something to do. It`s all right there on the ship.
The world we live in is full of demands, time constraints and stress, and we all need to get away occasionally, says Dale. A short cruise makes a perfect escape from pressure and from the ordinary. It`s an extraordinary experience that is also extraordinarily relaxing and renewing.
The Caribbean, the Bahamas, and Mexico are the most popular short cruise destinations, but vacationers can also find opportunities for short cruises around the world. Here is a sampling of some of the short cruises offered by CLIA member lines:
Carnival Cruise Lines offers short cruises from 13 North American homeports. These include two-day voyages from Baltimore Oct. 31, Tampa Nov. 5, and Norfolk Oct. 16; four- and five-day Mexico cruises from Galveston, New Orleans and Mobile; three-day Bahamas itineraries from Miami and Port Canaveral; four-day Bahamas cruises from Port Canaveral and Jacksonville; four- and five-day western Caribbean cruises from Miami; three- and four-day Baja cruises from Long Beach; and four- and five-day Canada cruises from New York.
Costa Cruises` ships sail four- and five-night Mediterranean cruises in the fall. A five-night Venice to Genoa sailing calls at Bari and Naples, Italy; Corfu, Greece; and La Valletta, Malta. A four-night roundtrip cruise from Genoa includes port calls at Ajaccio, Corsica, as well as Palma de Mallorca and Barcelona, Spain.
Disney Cruise Line`s Disney Wonder offers three- and four-night cruises to the Bahamas departing from Port Canaveral. The three-night itinerary includes stops at Nassau, Bahamas and Castaway Cay, Disney`s private island. The four-night itinerary also makes stops at Nassau, Bahamas and Castaway Cay, with a day at sea.
Holland America Line features four-day Pacific Coast cruises. Statendam sails from Vancouver Sept. 26 on a four-day journey to San Diego. The itinerary includes two days cruising the Pacific Coast and a call at Victoria. Ryndam departs Vancouver Oct. 6 for San Diego.
After its initial Alaska season, Norwegian Cruise Line`s Norwegian Spirit moves to Miami, where it offers five-day roundtrip itineraries that include calls in George Town, Grand Cayman and Roatan, Honduras. Radisson Seven Seas Cruises offers four- and five-night November roundtrip cruises from San Juan on Radisson Diamond, calling at St. Bart`s, St. Kitts and St. Thomas; a five-night itinerary also calls at St. Maarten. The ship departs Fort Lauderdale Dec. 5 on a three-night roundtrip, calling at Nassau, Freeport. Seven Seas Navigator leaves Charleston Oct. 28 on a three-night trip to San Juan, with a call at Grand Turk. The ship departs Fort Lauderdale Dec. 14 on a four-night roundtrip that calls at Nassau and Key West.
Royal Caribbean International`s short itineraries visit the Bahamas, the Caribbean and Baja Mexico.
Enchantment of the Seas offers four- and five-night cruises from Fort Lauderdale, with various ports of call including Key West, Cozumel, Belize City, Ocho Rios and Grand Cayman. Majesty of the Seas offers three- and four-night cruises to
Nassau and the line`s private island, CocoCay, from Miami. Monarch of the Seas features three- and four-night roundtrip itineraries to Baja Mexico.
Seabourn Cruise Line`s Seabourn Pride repeats its New York Waterways cruise on Sept. 16. The three-day getaway departs New York Harbor in the evening, sailing past the skyline and under bridges as it sets off for Long Island Sound and the fall foliage of the Hudson River.
Silversea Cruises offers five-day cruises on all four of its vessels through the line`s Personalized Voyages program.
This option allows travelers to customize their cruise by deciding how long they want to cruise (minimum of five days in a row) as well as where and when they want to embark or disembark.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
