 "Photo: MCT Campus")
For those looking to have a taste of a new destination without the plane fees, hotel costs and overpriced food, going on a cruise for vacation has always been a great, safe way for a cheap travel alternative.
Nearly every day on an expedition, passengers are allowed to experience new and foreign places without the worry of running out of things to do both on and off board. Rooms, meals and activities are included with ticket prices and a passenger’s itinerary can be booked from sunrise to sundown without even paying a cent.
Junior recreation major, Erin Oster, has been on five different cruises to Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico and the Caribbean and enjoys sampling new locations when the ship docks, as it gives her a chance to explore new places and see if she wants to visit there in the future. She even prefers taking cruises to flying.
“It’s a chance to see more than one place because you can stop at three or four places and see a little bit of everything,” Oster said. “On a plane, you have to keep on packing and unpacking, but it’s really fun being on the cruise because you get to meet a lot of new people on the ship and it’s a really fun environment.
San Diego is primarily a port for ships destined for Mexico. Depending on where a traveler wants to go, the most popular and well-known cruise lines are Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Holland America.
“It’s really like buying a house because each ship is different and they appeal to different people,” owner of Cruise Company of So Cal, Jayne Gomes, said. “It really depends on people’s budgets as some ships can be really expensive.”
Carnival cruises are the most convenient for San Diego residents as there is a year-round port home in the San Diego Bay. Carnival has 23 different types of ships for its various destinations. It has most of the same amenities and activities as other cruises, which include great food and entertainment such as Las Vegas style shows. Its most popular attraction is its multi-level waterslides. Carnival is known for being cheaper in comparison to other companies and is also family oriented.
Holland America is also a prestigious cruise line known for its award-winning service and five-star dining. According to its Web site, its cruises include the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, Mexico, South America, the Panama Canal, Australia, New Zealand and Asia. Some of its most unique voyages include the Amazon and Antarctica.
Oster believes the best cruise line for college travelers is Royal Caribbean.
“The Royal Caribbean has a lot to offer for a younger crowd because they have an ice skating rink, a rock climbing wall, a surf simulator, a mini mall and even a mini golf course,” Oster said. “They really try to reach to a younger crowd like 30 years old and under.”
Gomes said some important things for college travelers to know is that they need a passport and most cruises require passengers to be at least 21 years old or accompanied by someone 25 years old or older.
“All the cruise lines are going to say they’re wonderful and each is trying to outdo the other,” Gomes said. “The ships have a lot of amenities and some people don’t even get off the ship the entire trip. Prices right now are as inexpensive as they ever are and it’s a bargain because of the economy.”
Overall, cruises are a great option for those individuals who are mild or wild and seeking some sort of exploration or escape.
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