These are the times when it seems as if you hold the fate of the world in your hands. So what will it be? How can you possibly choose between tropical beaches and Mickey Mouse? Last year was a disaster and you know that you only have one more year to redeem yourself before the decision making is taken out of your hands forever. You can feel the weight of defeat pressing down on your shoulders. How can you possibly please everyone? Someone is bound to rebel; there’s just no way around it.

Where in the world are you going to take your family on vacation? The choices are obvious. The kids want to go to Disney Land, and your partner is not opposed. There are golf courses nearby, right? You would really love to lounge on a brilliant, white tropical beach, cool drink in hand. Maybe tour ancient ruins and see a little bit of the world. There is always Vegas and the strip. And you have been talking about a casino vacation for quite sometime. The options are endless, but you can’t possibly book the vacation of everyone’s dreams on your budget and during your timeframe; can you?

Actually there is a way that you can do everything on your family’s vacation wish list without breaking the bank and taking the next six months off of work. The answer lies in a floating hotel paradise, otherwise called a cruise ship.

If you book a cruise vacation with a popular cruise line such as Princess Cruise Lines, you will be able to squeeze a whole lot of vacation into a small time frame. And there’s no repacking and traveling from destination to destination as is required in many multi-faceted vacations. All you have to do is board, unpack, and let the vacation of a lifetime unfurl before your very eyes.

One of the main reasons that people decide to spend their vacation this way is that they can do so much in a small time amount of time. On just one, one-week trip, it is possible to enjoy fine dining and entertainment nightly, try your luck at casino gambling, lie on the beach for hours, tour great ancient ruins, golf on world-famous greens, shop in the open markets of the world, and give the kids an amazing vacation that will blow the amusement park right out of the water.

In addition to all of this, you never have to unpack. Your luxurious, floating palace will provide you with all of the amenities of a five-star hotel plus some. There will be several restaurants to choose from, (Plus 24 hour room service!) and on-board activities that will keep you entertained and make you wish that you never had to leave the ship. But you will be able to leave the ship if you choose, and believe me, you’ll want to. The shore excursions offer you fabulous adventures at exotic locales.

Maybe, just maybe, you will be able to rouse yourself from sunning on the decks just long enough to dip your toes into the sapphire waters of the Caribbean. Or you might trade an afternoon of on-board spa treatments for a breathtaking, underwater view of a nearby coral reef. Sounds tempting, doesn’t it?

Cruises are also very affordable if you book in advance and know where to look for great deals. Granted, the price tag per head might seem a little hefty at first. But after you take into consideration the cost of flying to the numerous locations that your cruise will visit, hotel accommodations once you get there, money for food and entertainment, and added costs for each activity that you do, a cruise is a great deal.

When you book a cruise for the family, the only cost that you pay is the price of the cruise ticket. Meals and entertainment are included as well as many amenities aboard ship. In many cases, the cost of the cruise also includes excursions and scheduled activities at exotic ports. The truth of the matter is this: If you paid for each individual item that is included in a cruise package, you would have to cancel your next five vacations to pay for it.

Regardless of the latest media frenzy, cruises are also extremely safe. Sadly, many hot tourist locations all over the world are home to ruthless thieves that are just waiting to prey on an unsuspecting traveler. A cruise ship can shelter you from crime by providing you with a safe haven and vehicle of travel while at the same time providing you with a support group to travel with while docked. As you can imagine, touring the local markets with a large group of people is much safer than going it alone.

So why take a cruise? Because there is no other vacation that can encompass so many different activities and please the whole family like a voyage with Princess Cruise Lines can. It’s inexpensive and it is safe. So, if you want to book a dream vacation that will please the whole family, maybe you should think about taking a cruise this year. I can hear the warm, pristine beaches calling, can you? Oh, and I think I saw a martini at the bar with your name on it.

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In reality, most couples don’t get married at sea, or on the
actual cruise ship. In order to do this, you need to find a
cruise line that has a wedding department and someone (often the
captain) to perform a legal ceremony. Not all captains have the
legal right to marry couples, so check this ahead of time if
your heart is set on an ocean bound ceremony.

For most couples, getting married just before you leave the
port or at another port of call along the way is a great
compromise that can be done on any cruise line. There are a few
things you’ll need to put in place ahead of time . . . often the
cruise line will help you out with this. For example, you will
need to decide where you will have the wedding ceremony
performed, since most cruises have more than one stop.

In order to get married in a foreign port of call, you will
need to have the right paperwork. Some states actually allow you
to use their marriage license abroad, so make sure you check
this ahead of time. Otherwise, you will need to find out what
paperwork is required for the port of your choice. This will be
reviewed upon arrival in the port, even if you plan to marry
aboard the ship.

Other options for cruise ship marriages include tying the knot
on the beach or at a local church. This will require additional
arrangements, but if you really want a wedding to remember, it
can really be worth the extra effort. Getting married in a
foreign country may require other specifics like placing a
notice in the local newspaper, before you are allowed to have a
formal ceremony. This can take time, so make sure you are aware
of all regulations and requirements ahead of time and if you
won’t be able to complete them in time, pick another location
for your cruise wedding.

One thing is for sure, you can’t just throw together a last
minute cruise ship wedding. You will need time to plan it,
particularly if you want to invite friends and family, since the
paperwork doesn’t happen overnight. Different countries have
different rules as to who can be married and what is required.
Also, keep in mind that if you are married aboard a cruise ship,
your wedding license may be issued by the ship’s mother country
of origin or registration, which is usually outside the US. You
will want to ensure that this is acceptable in your home
country, otherwise it will be necessary to conduct another
wedding once you return.

Having your wedding on a cruise can be a wonderful experience,
if you have prepared correctly. Enjoy a romantic wedding aboard
the ship or on a beach and then continue with your honeymoon . .
. that part is already taken care of! Just remember that you
need to take time to plan everything out, just like with any
other wedding arrangements. Set it up ahead of time and enjoy!

Play Areas Many cruise ships have special play areas with a number of toys, games, and activities that children can enjoy. These play areas are usually staffed by individuals who have special training in youth protection and they also love working with children. This provides your kids with plenty to do, while being supervised by people trained specifically to keep them safe and entertained.

Swimming Many cruises have an onboard swimming pool, giving passengers a chance to relax in the water while enjoying the sun and ocean air. A number of ships have additional kid-friendly pools as well, providing a more shallow area for children to play and swim with other kids their own age.

Organized Children’s Activities The majority of cruise ships have organized activities for children just as they have for adults. These activities can include a variety of different things from games and crafts to storytelling and the showing of kid-friendly movies. These can be attended by anyone within the age range specified for the activity. Most ships with children’s activities have several sets of related activities, letting the kids who attend participate with children within a similar age group instead of having all ages grouped together in a single activity session.

Games and Tournaments A number of games are generally available on cruise ships, especially within a designated children’s activity area. These games include active games as well as board games, and some cruises will even organize children’s tournaments so that they can play their favorite games competitively. Since the goal is to have fun, of course, cruises that do offer tournaments generally try to ensure that the games are not too competitive to avoid potential hurt feelings or poor sportsmanship.

Sports Larger ships will generally have at least limited sports facilities that children can enjoy in addition to the swimming pool and play areas. Especially popular on cruise ships are basketball nets, since the game can be played on a relatively limited-sized court and there is much less danger of injury or damage than some other sports. Time may be dedicated each day to giving children access to sports facilities, and games may be organized in order to provide balanced teams for healthy competition.

Educational Experiences In addition to sports, a number of educational experiences may be available for children on a cruise. These experiences range from learning about ships and ocean navigation, to stargazing at night. They are designed to give kids something that they can enjoy doing while learning new things. If the cruise travels along migration routes for aquatic mammals such as whales, special learning experiences may be available during the portion of the year when these animals are migrating as well. This provides the children with a hands-on opportunity to learn while enjoying their vacation.

Kid-Friendly Excursions Cruise activities for children are not necessarily confined to time spent on the cruise ship. Many cruise lines offer a range of family-friendly excursion packages as well, letting parents and children visit exotic ports-of-call and take part in activities that everyone will enjoy. These excursions can range from visiting sites that are designed with children in mind to taking part in out-of-this-world activities such as swimming with dolphins or seeing local wildlife in their natural environment. Even if a cruise does not have excursions that are specifically identified as being child-friendly, most excursion coordinators can identify onshore activities that children tend to enjoy so that you can plan some family time off the ship that every member of the family can enjoy. If you are considering planning a family cruise, there are many great cruise lines available that provide trips for the whole family. Cruises have a variety of activities for children the activities available are often supervised by a trained professional that enjoys watching kids and keeping them safe. These kids can take part in a variety of board games, tournaments. If your kids are older, there may be sports activities available such as a basketball court, swimming pool. An event that the whole family can enjoy is a kid-friendly movie. When booking a cruise check the activities offered and you are sure to find something that your family can enjoy.

TIP: There is usually open seating for breakfast and lunch in the main dining room. Be adventurous with the menu because if you dont like something you can send it back for a replacement. And if they have two things on the menu that you like ask for both of them. My husband, John, always orders the Filet Mignon and the Lobster Tail when they are served on the same night. Many times he tells the waiter to bring what the waiter recommends for that evening. more

This means you dont have to choose first or second seating. (First seating is 6:00 to 6:30 and Second seating is usually 8:00-8:30). There can be more than one restaurant where you just walk in when you are ready to dine. Every ship will ask for your dining preference when you book your cruise. You can indicate first, second or flexible dining, whichever will make you more comfortable. The newer ships have a 24 hour dining spot which is always casual so if you dont want to do the formal nights you dont have to, although I find dressing up to be quite fun.

You will have many options for each meal. You may have any meal delivered to your room, taken in the buffet restaurant or in the dining room. There is usually outdoor dining around the pool with hot dogs and hamburgers, pizza, salads, even Tacos.

There are also alternative dining rooms available on some ships that require an additional fee but the service and food are generally 4 to 5 star and worth it if you want to splurge.

In my experience families with young children and people who go to bed early usually dine in first seating. But if you dont want to be on a schedule or want to meet new people every night, go for the alternative dining option. Of course you can always ask for a table for two, but be aware that there are only a few of them.

If you make a special request one night, John always asks for blue cheese, your waiter will bring it every night. They pride themselves on remembering your tastes. (This only happens when you choose traditional dining). On one cruise we asked for Melba toast, and you bet, every night we had Melba toast. There is one thing I always make clear to the waiter. I am not a big eater but I like to taste everything. I tell this to them the first night so they dont think I am unhappy with the food. It is their job to keep you happy and they take it very seriously.

If you dont want to eat in the main dining room almost all ships have a Lido caf where it is casual but you order from a menu and are served by a waiter. Its one of the many choices if you dont want to participate in a formal night or if you just want to eat by yourselves. On Carnivals single cruises they encourage this style of dining so the singles can meet more people. There are exceptions to this but not many. On some of the newer ships the Lido is open 24 hours a day.

On most of the cruise lines they offer the food of the region that you are visiting. While on Hawaiian cruises expect to be served Hawaiian food. When on an Alaskan cruise you will be given the choices of salmon and Alaskan king crab legs. It makes more fun to dine on the local cuisine.

All of the cruise lines offer healthy alternative menus or what they call spa menus. So if you want low-fat, low-salt, low cholesterol, vegetarian or any other type of diet, they are available. It is best however to inform your travel agent of any special needs so they can notify the cruise line ahead of time. If you have special dietary needs make sure the cruise lines knows before hand. For example, Royal Caribbean cruises cater to food allergy, Kosher, Indian, Vegetarian and Gluten Free Diets.
To be really safe read all of the cruise reviews and cruise critics sites for each ships food and service ratings.

Happy Cruising, enjoy it, we do!