| For many years, taking a cruise for a
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| | · Shuffleboard
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| family vacation was considered an
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| | · Ping pong
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| expensive luxury that few people could
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| | · Skeet shooting
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| afford. Most people never even
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| | · Lectures and workshops
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| considered a vacation cruise as an option
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| | · History and culture of ports of call
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| for themselves. Times have changed,
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| | · Arts and crafts
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| though, as more and more people are
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| | · Photography classes
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| discovering that cruising is a great
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| | · Sports and game competitions
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| value for a family vacation.
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| | · Scavenger hunts
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| 1. What you get
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| | · Discussion groups
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| The price you pay for your cruise
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| | · Mix and mingle hour
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| includes a huge number of things. It
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| | · Wine tasting
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| covers your accommodations (cabin) for
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| | · Painting lessons
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| the duration of the cruise, all of the
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| | · Clay and pottery lessons
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| food you can eat, and a huge variety of
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| | The list goes on and on, and changes
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| shipboard amenities and activities. A
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| | regularly. Some cruises are even
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| good way to see the value of what you get
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| | considered "theme" cruises, where
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| for yourself is to compare the direct
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| | activities are designed around a
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| costs of a cruise with the direct costs
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| | particular topic or special interest.
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| of a typical vacation. Add up the cost
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| | 4. Ports of call
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| of comparable travel, hotel, food, and
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| | Being on a cruise ship is like being at a
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| activities, you will quickly see that the
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| | fine resort with great food, lots of fun,
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| price of a cruise is indeed a bargain
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| | and exceptional facilities. In addition
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| when you take into consideration
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| | to all of this, though, a cruise also
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| everything that you get.
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| | takes you to one or more ports of call.
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| 2. Shipboard amenities
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| | At each stop, you can experience the
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| Modern cruise ships have an amazing array
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| | culture of a location, explore the area,
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| of amenities. Nearly all ships have the
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| | go on a special excursion, and then
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| expected swimming pools, restaurants,
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| | return to the comfort of your floating
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| bars, and other common attractions. More
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| | hotel.
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| and more, though, cruise ships offer
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| | Some cruises visit only a handful of
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| other amenities that may surprise you.
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| | locations, while others stop at four,
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| These may include:
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| | five, or even more places. You can
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| · Wine, cigar and specialty bars
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| | choose a cruise that goes to as many or
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| · Ice skating rink
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| | as few ports of call as you like. Many
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| · Rock climbing wall
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| | cruise aficionados say that cruising is a
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| · Luxury spa
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| | great way to see a wide variety of places
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| · Modern fitness facility
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| | and determine which ones they would like
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| · Jogging track
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| | to go back and visit for a more extended
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| · Game room
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| | stay.
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| · Broadway entertainment
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| | 5. Choices
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| · Multi-room staterooms
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| | A cruise is a great value because it
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| · Specialty facilities for special needs
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| | offers so many choices. You can do as
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| · Miniature golf
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| | much or as little as you like, and be
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| Each ship is different, so find out the
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| | very spontaneous about participating in
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| amenities on whatever ship you are
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| | activities. You have the freedom to
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| considering and select the one that best
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| | relax and do nothing or spend your time
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| matches your wants and needs.
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| | being busy - it's all up to you.
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| 3. Shipboard activities
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| | One thing is for certain - when you go on
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| Activities abound on a cruise ship, and
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| | a cruise, you will never be bored. Some
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| it is the rare person indeed who can
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| | people return from their cruise saying
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| manage to take part in all of them.
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| | they want to do it again because they
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| There is literally something for everyone
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| | didn't have time to do all of the
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| to do on a cruise ship, so you can be
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| | activities they wanted, while others
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| assured you will never be bored.
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| | return and want to do it again because
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| The list of shipboard activities will
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| | they had a great time doing absolutely
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| vary, but here are some typical examples:
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| | nothing. Cruising truly does offer
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| · Dance lessons
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| | something for everyone.
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| · Swimming pool games
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