A cruise has it all. Where do you want to go? Do you want to cruise the Caribbean or the Alaskan waterways? There is a cruise for you, I assure you. Do you like to have a slow-paced, casual and relaxing vacation or do you prefer to dress up a bit and have a few more formal events available to you. There is a cruise for you, I assure you. Are you single and don’t want to get stuck with an entire vacation used dodging children and the noise and havoc that can wreak or are you the member of a family with teens or smaller children and you want to have things available to entertain them on your vacation? There is a cruise for you, I assure you. Are you gay or lesbian? Do you love blues or country music? Are you retired or a senior citizen? Are you physically handicapped in some way? Are you a gourmand and insist on fine food and fine wine? Must I continue to repeat myself — there is a cruise for you, I assure you.

Once you have decided if there is a specific category that you fall into and if that is the way you would prefer to travel, then call a travel agent or go online and start planning. Here is what you can expect on a cruise — almost all expenses covered in one price.

With the least expensive accommodations, your room may be on the small side but it will be clean and efficient and comfortable. You may prefer to stretch your budget a bit and go for the larger room with a balcony or a larger bathroom (that is my particular favorite, especially on longer cruises). I promise you though, other than sleeping, you will not be spending very much time in your room with all that is made available to you on a cruise. The meals are all provided and you may have never realized how much food you can eat until you have eaten your way through a cruise.

If you enjoy dancing and live entertainment, it is provided for you on your cruise. If you want to lounge outside in the fresh air and devour that new book you brought along with you, no problem. Lounging areas abound on the cruise ship whether you want to be in the sun or in the shade. If you want to try your hand at one of those rock climbing walls, a lot of cruise ships have them available. The cruise directors plan lots of fun games and competitions too, it’s amazing what crazy things people will do to win silly promotional items like a Carnival fanny pack. Take a while out to enjoy the pool and Jacuzzi too or schedule a massage or facial or a manicure or pedicure. It can all be available to you right there on your cruise ship.

The ports-of-call are so varied and it all depends on your chosen destination stops. When the ship arrives in one of its predetermined ports, you really must embark. You will find more shopping and vendors and eating and drinking establishments as well as excursions waiting for you. Depending on how long your stay is in each port, you will be able to see more and do more than if you had arrived at that destination by any other means of travel and visited it for a day or short period of time and you won’t have to find a place to sleep. Just get back on your ship, have a nightcap or a nibble in one of the many lounges or even in your room, then most likely when you awake the next day, another port awaits to taste and smell and discover.

Have I convinced you yet? Well, if this little message has not totally convinced you, then you need to do just a little more investigating. Ask your friends who have cruised. Go online and do a little research. Call a travel agent. I guarantee once you have been on a cruise, you will wait with anticipation until your next vacation time rolls around again and you can take another one. Bon voyage, my friends.