Whether you’re a life-long guest at the Captain’s table or just packing for your first sailing, nothing quite compares to the non-stop fun and adventure of cruising. And with so many great ships traveling to fascinating ports of call across the globe, there’s never been a better time to maximize your vacation dollars and say bon voyage!
To make the most of your family vacation or couples-only escape, cruising is the way to go. No other type of getaway offers you the all-inclusive convenience of unpacking once and experiencing multiple destinations, beautiful scenery, wonderful shore excursions, decadent food and a wide array of activities for one price. Want to pamper yourself at the spa while your spouse hits the casino or lounge in the sun reading a book while your family plays basketball? How about attending a wine tasting, yoga class or a dance workshop? You can do all this and much more onboard today’s ships.
Your local Boscov’s Travel Specialist is your best source for learning which cruise line, ship and itinerary best fits your budget. With their knowledge and experience, they can help you find the best value for your vacation dollars, as well as arrange airfare and assist with purchasing travel insurance and any other incidentals you may need.
All About Fun
In need of a vacation that will please everyone in the family? From tots to teens, grandparents to grandkids, there are many cruise lines that cater to the needs of families. Today’s ships have kids covered, incorporating everything from video games and swimming pools, to non-stop day and evening activities. Day and evening children’s programs and kids’ clubs aboard many ships even give parents a chance to sneak away for spa treatments and romantic dinners. And when it’s time to corral the family, there’s plenty of fun to be had exploring a variety of ports and exciting shore excursions.
Families wanting all of this in a vacation will love ships of Royal Caribbean International. From the young to the young-at-heart, Royal Caribbean’s ships like Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas offer something for everyone, including staterooms for nearly every budget. Families will enjoy one of the most fun experiences at sea with delicious dining, spacious accommodations, Broadway-style entertainment and an Adventure Ocean youth program all for one price. On selected ships kids can climb the cruise line’s signature rock-wall, hang-ten on the FlowRider or glide around on an ice-skating rink. While the kids are having their fun, parents can have their own play time and relax by the pool with a cocktail or indulge in the ship’s Vitality Spa with a couple’s massage. With over 261 destinations in 72 countries to choose from, Royal Caribbean can take you virtually anywhere you want to go.
If your family prefers to cruise in style, Celebrity Cruises allows guests to fully immerse themselves in culture and casual luxury while en route to each port of call. Celebrity’s refined suites and modern staterooms, globally-influenced restaurants and pampering services certainly heighten the cruise experience. With 11 decadent ships, one staff member for every two guests, butler services in all suites, and the Celebrity Enrichment program featuring renowned lecturers and unique offerings, cruisers will not be disappointed. Celebrity is also the only major cruise line to call on the Galapagos Islands with the Celebrity Expedition. Kids will find an onboard wonderland just for them. From toddlers to teens, the line’s XClub youth programs are divided by age so kids will always be entertained. And to ensure that every voyage is an enriching one for young travelers, Celebrity has developed an exclusive partnership with Leapfrog Schoolhouse to offer Leapfrog Edutainment.
Revel in Romance
There’s no doubting the fact that few vacation escapes are as romantic as a cruise. And just how romantic you want to make it depends on where you want to travel and the level of accommodations and service you prefer. While most cruise lines have special packages designed for honeymoons, vow renewals and weddings onboard and onshore, there are some standout lines that truly set the scene whether you’re just married or celebrating your 10th anniversary.
Popular with couples and geared to a wide cross section of cruisers, Princess Cruises is prime for romantics of all ages. Princess’ ships are large, lovely, and some of the most attractive sailing the seas. Each ship has multiple dining rooms, one or two alternative restaurants and a 24-hour buffet should you care to truly indulge (and you should). Evening theater and lounge entertainment is superb onboard each of Princess’ ships. Ships offer the line’s innovative Personal Choice Cruising program, an individualized style of cruising that provides a “what you want, when you want” atmosphere of choice and flexibility. More than 100 different itineraries offer travelers the opportunity to cross the globe, with sailings to all seven continents that call at approximately 350 ports. Princess passengers can also enhance their cruise experience through the Adventures Ashore program featuring nearly 4,000 in-port excursions worldwide.
Launched in 2007, Azamara Club Cruises is perfect for lovebirds who want a truly extravagant cruise experience. Azamara’s ships, Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest, are smaller and more intimate, visiting out of the ordinary destinations. The ships offer a superb blend of big-ship features (multiple dining venues, a casino and a generous fitness facility) in a size that contributes to a cozier, more social cruise experience. The lack of kids’ activities and programs finds mainly adults and couples onboard. Azamara’s amenities and services are beyond compare. Butler service is provided in every suite and land excursions are designed to let guests become part of the fabric of life in each destination, instead of merely being an observer. For onboard dining and entertainment pleasure, two specialty restaurants provide the finest cuisine at sea and live entertainment can be enjoyed nightly.
Cruising the Good Life
Ah, the good life—lavish accommodations, five-star cuisine and once in-a-lifetime shore excursions—that’s just what you can expect on many of the world’s most respected luxury cruise ships. Yes, the cost associated with sailing on a luxury vessel can be significantly more than most mass-market lines, but the heightened level of service, comfort, dining and entertainment is certainly worth the price. Many luxury lines have increased the inclusive nature of their fares, offering thousands of dollars in onboard credit. Shore excursions, airfare, beverages and gratuities are often included in the cruise base price.
Radiating warmth and character of a floating country club, the ships of Oceania Cruises harken back to the elegance and prestige of the golden age of cruising. Onboard, Oceania’s ships boast exquisite appointments typically found in palatial estates. Accommodations are equally alluring with rich Wenge walnut paneling, supple designer fabrics and sumptuous residential furnishings. Marina and Riviera are the only ships at sea to feature suites designed and furnished by Ralph Lauren Home and noted interior designer Dakota Jackson. Onboard, the famed Canyon Ranch SpaClub offers not only spa and fitness, but renowned wellness and lifestyle enrichment. Oceania tends to favor longer itineraries and smaller less visited ports. Itineraries are unique in that they call on the perfect mix of must-see and off-the-beaten-path ports. Multiple overnight calls afford an in-depth, enriching destination experience and allow travelers to immerse themselves in the culture of the ports visited.
For a true taste of the good life, it doesn’t get any better than the impeccable ships of Silversea. This is one cruise line where champagne and über sophistication flow freely and nothing is overlooked. Onboard and off board experiences are all about ultra-professional service, sumptuous comfort, and timeless elegance. Silversea’s staterooms are some of the largest at sea and the marble bathrooms (outfitted with Ferragamo and Bulgari bath products) are pure heaven. Silversea’s divine cuisine rivals the best restaurants onshore and is as good as it gets at sea. An impressive selection of wines and spirits is included in the rates, as are gratuities. Silversea’s list of destinations is extensive and includes South America, the Middle East and world cruises. Adventure seekers with refined tastes can even join Silversea Expeditions on luxurious voyages that cross some of the world’s more remote areas like the Polar Circle, Central American jungles and Patagonia.
For more information on these and other great cruise options contact your local Boscov’s Travel Specialist, email travelrequest@boscovs.com or call 800-755-8020.
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