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Traveler photo: John Galvin, Silver Spring, MD
The Cruising Experience
A cruise is one of the most relaxing and romantic forms of travel, and an inspiring and irresistibly enticing way to visit multiple destinations on the same vacation.
You'll enjoy the excitement of sailing into new ports and exploring to your heart's content, while packing and unpacking just once.
Cruise ships, like hotels, come in all sizes and standards, and are designed to appeal to a wide range of budgets, tastes, interests, and lifestyles. So the cruise you choose is all about the experience.
From Alaska and the Mediterranean to every lush corner of the Caribbean and beyond, chances are, if you can get there by land, you can also get there on a cruise. Choose from large resort-style ships, small intimate ships, or choose a private yacht charter for a group of family and friends.
Ashore
Ashore you can swim in crystal-clear Caribbean waters, climb a waterfall, raft down a gentle flowing river, go horseback riding on the beach, ride a camel . . . or an elephant, walk on a glacier, tour the cathedrals of Europe, marvel at the pyramids of Egypt, visit the golden palaces and ancient temples of the Orient, tee off on signature golf courses, tour ancient mosques and ruins, sail down the Panama Canal, explore ancient ruins in South America, take a romantic gondola ride in Venice, and enjoy the exotic flavors of Africa . . . to name a few . . . or you can blissfully do absolutely nothing at all! Enhance your Cruise with a hotel package in one of several sensational cities before and/or after your cruise.
The Resort-Style (Mega) Cruise Ship E
xperience
Large (mega) cruise ships are like floating resorts with swimming pool, casino, full service spa, gym, disco, shopping, in-room movies, broadway-style shows, and plenty of on-board activities both day and night.
Resort-style cruise ships typically sail select popular itineraries which are usually the only ones large enough to accommodate the ship size. There are usually 1-3 nights of formal attire at dinner (varies by ship and cruise length) and you can choose traditional dining with a specified table, dining time and table companions every night or anytime dining. Large-ship cruises are available to meet most budget ranges, from ultra-luxury all-suite accommodations to minimum priced interior cabins. Choose a large ship cruise if you want abundant shipboard activities, casinos, and Las Vegas-style shows.
Small Ships/Luxury Cruises
Luxury cruises, many of which are also small-ships, offer more intimate, highly personal experiences and there are lot fewer guests on board. These ships are usually the ones sailing to exotic and far-flung places as their smaller size allows them to access narrow channels and shallow bays to visit ports that are inaccessible to larger ships. Many offer 24-hour room service, stocked in-suite mini bar, complimentary cocktails and wine at dinner and enrichment programs that range from history and archaeology to photography, food & wine, shopping, and a spa with a variety of treatments, fitness classes and wellness lectures reflecting the varied interests of those with an appreciation for the finer things in life.
On luxury cruises, you are essentially trading the casino and broadway shows of the larger ships, for evenings of culture and education generally related to the areas you are visiting. Dress is Country club-casual with open seating restaurants so you can usually dine when and with whom you want. Choose a luxury cruise if you prefer a more intimate, environment with refined service, and evenings filled with culture and education.
River Cruises
River Cruises are intimate, leisurely and relaxing. Accommodations, meals, transfers, onboard entertainment, cultural presentations and some sightseeing tours are usually included in the price of your river cruise. There are typically no formal nights, and unlike large resort-style ships, there are often no spa services or broadway-style shows. On a river cruise, you'll typically visit a different port each day on nearly every itinerary, and ships often dock right in the middle of town.
The Private Yacht Experience
A crewed chartered private yacht offers a unique way to visit some of the world's most beautiful and interesting places. Yacht charters are arranged according to the length of your trip, the number of cabins you need, your cruising location, and of course, your budget.
While the most popular cruise itineraries are arranged in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Greek Isles, South Pacific, New England, and Alaska, you can visit much of the world on a chartered yacht. Perfect for an intimate honeymoon or vacation with treasured friends. With a chartered yacht, the journey is just as enchanting as the destination.
Private Yacht Features & Amenities
- Mega Yachts (15-55 cabins)
- Motor Yachts (3-10 cabins)
- Sailing Yachts (3-25 cabins)
- Elegant decor
- Many include Jacuzzis, gyms and water toys
- Yacht charters include a full crew including a personal chef
- Arrangements can be made for guided tours at ports of call
Cruise Groups
Cruises are perfect for vacations of all kinds, multi-generational travel, family reunions, girlfriend getaways, and more, with plenty of choices to keep everyone entertained. Special arrangements may be made for groups requiring eight (8 ) or more cabins.
Booking Your Cruise
For the cruise itinerary that best covers the destinations you wish to visit, the ideal cruise ship and stateroom type for you, tips about the cruise experience and other things worth considering when booking your cruise vacation, ask a TWG Vacation Specialist to help you.