| Cruises as a holiday option has always been a | | | | Cruises are not only lowering the price on current |
| popular choice with countless cruise liners offering | | | | cruises; they are also including more extras to the |
| the exciting vacation experience without thecrisis | | | | offer by bringing upgrades to the cruise liners |
| of transit and trek from destination to destination. | | | | themselves and their travel destination plans. For |
| The cruises market now has many styles of | | | | cruises to hold their own against the increasingly |
| cruises on offer all suited for different travellers | | | | popular extreme holidays, theyhave available |
| and holiday makers from families to singles to | | | | more extreme activities and sports. These vary |
| couples. | | | | in selection from rock climbing, ice skating, ocean |
| Cruising in 2009 has undergone substantial | | | | swimming (within netted areas), trampolines and |
| changes, as with most travel industries while | | | | even surfing through newly developed artificial |
| surviving the Global Financial Crisis, with the latest | | | | wave simulators which have been introduced on |
| deals and activities presented to the cruise | | | | board some ocean liners. |
| industry to lure people to decide on a cruise | | | | But these cruises are not limited to the young and |
| vacation. Consequently, cruises have been | | | | fit, with the forever popular romantic cruise still a |
| relaunched into contemporary extravagance and | | | | crowd favourite for romantic getaways or |
| glamour getaway with amusing and relaxed | | | | honeymoons. While the popular dining and ballroom |
| destinations and activities available. | | | | activities will remain, the majority of cruise ships |
| Cruises Price Savings | | | | now have everything from mini golf and similar |
| One of the biggest trends felt for 2009 in the | | | | sports to shopping to gyms, these features also |
| cruises industry was price cuts, with numerous | | | | make the cruise an attractive option as a family |
| cruise package deals for sale at half the price of | | | | holiday choice. |
| what was set only a few years ago. There is | | | | The trend for cruises to become a foremost |
| often question that when deciding on a cruise, it is | | | | family holiday option has been further encouraged |
| best to hold off til last minute to make a | | | | in 2009 with most cruise companies offering free |
| reservation for your ticket in order to get the | | | | travel insurance for children. |
| best price. While this is true of airfares, it is not | | | | Discounts to Fuel Surcharges |
| really the case with cruises as getting in early can | | | | In 2008 cruise liner companies started rolling back |
| often offer major savings. This is also true as | | | | the fuel surcharges as a reaction to declining oil |
| when booking a cruise, you are also booking your | | | | prices, and while the price of oil has recovered |
| room for the extent of the cruise, which always | | | | since 2008 many cruise companies have left this |
| a main point. Most industry experts propose | | | | surcharge off their prices until the end of 2010. |
| booking around four to six months before | | | | Extra Activities on Land with New Destinations |
| departure for the best result financially and for | | | | There are very diverse cruise destinations around |
| cabin choice. | | | | to lure people to see the world, but there is a |
| Upgrade Opportunities | | | | few destination favourites that are established |
| In addition to discounted cruise prices, passengers | | | | over time as excellent cruise travel spots, |
| are now able to take advantage of upgrade | | | | including the Caribbean, South Pacific and even |
| opportunities, extended or discountedreduced | | | | Antarctica. |
| priced|lower priced} travel insurance and added | | | | In a move to reinvent these destinations, cruises |
| incentives. For example, Norwegian Cruise Line has | | | | companies have offered on-land excursion |
| introduced a new service of "job loss" insurance, | | | | packages which range from the standard |
| meaning passengers are entitled to a full refund if | | | | sightseeing activities to more extreme choices of |
| they lose their job between booking and the | | | | scuba diving, sports car racing and bungee |
| departure date. | | | | jumping . |
| New Activities on Board | | | | |