Travel&Vacation

Cruising isn’t just for the Caribbean, Alaska, and Mexico anymore. This year, you’ll see a big increase in the number of Europe-based cruise ships sailing to European, North African, and Middle Eastern destinations. And you’ll also see more sailings from different U.S. ports. All in all, the variety of choices has never been greater. And at least on the mass-market lines, cruising will remain one of the best vacation values senior travelers will find anywhere.

The main reason for the new focus on Europe is the recent and rapidly growing enthusiasm for cruises on the part of European residents. Even so, we Americans can certainly take advantage of the new itineraries. A recent release from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) highlights some of the more interesting new itineraries:

• High-end Crystal Cruises offers 14-day sailings linking Rome with Dubai via Alexandria and other regional ports.
• Disney positions a ship in Barcelona for 10- and 11-night Mediterranean itineraries.
• MSC Cruises operates three ships sailing to and from Amsterdam or Copenhagen, calling at North Sea, Channel, and Baltic ports.
• Norwegian Coastal Voyage sails from Reykjavik to Greenland.
• Norwegian Cruise Line’s new
  Norwegian Gem
  does 12-day itineraries from Barcelona in October and November.
• Princess Cruises’
  Royal Princess
  offers 12-day sailings from Rome or Venice along both Adriatic coasts.
• Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas is doing a 14-night itinerary from Southampton to Italy and Spain.

Cruise lines are also adding U.S. departure ports. Florida (Caribbean) and Vancouver (Alaska) will keep their traditional top spots among North American departure points, but you’ll see plenty of sailings from Los Angeles, New York/New Jersey, and San Diego; smaller numbers from Boston, Galveston/Houston, New Orleans, San Francisco, and Seattle; plus a few itineraries from Baltimore, Charleston, Mobile, Norfolk, and Philadelphia. For many of you, a local departure port means you can drive rather than fly, and offers the potential to reduce the cost and the hassle of getting to and from your cruise.

Overall, cruising remains one of the best travel buys for seniors—in fact, for travelers of any age. The best prices will be on the mass-market lines for trips in the Caribbean and along the Mexican coasts, along with transatlantic positioning cruises. I expect to see minimum promotional prices remain at or below the $100 per person per day level in those areas. Alaska prices are typically a bit higher than the Caribbean, but not enough to deter you if you really prefer the Inside Passage. Europe, on the other hand, is likely to be considerably more expensive: Daily rates are generally higher than for Caribbean/Mexican cruises, and transatlantic airfares will add quite a bit, especially during the peak summer season.

If you don’t quite know where you’d like to cruise, my suggestions include:

• Warm weather, low prices: Caribbean and Mexico
• Scenery and cool weather, reasonable prices: Alaska
• Scenery, culture, and history: Mediterranean
• Lots of time in the open sea: Hawaii (from the mainland) or transatlantic positioning
• Actually going somewhere, lowest prices per day: Transatlantic positioning

"Page 2"