Summer Time Pack It In
I don't know if it is conditioned in to us but summer seems to be the best time of the year.
First of all school is out. So that allows for more free time and travel for children and their families. We tended to move around a lot as a family in summer. Usually there are many family related activities scheduled for this time of year. There are weddings and graduations, family reunions, picnics and family vacations.
Summer vacations at the shore or in the mountains make for wonderful times. Most people want to beat the heat and get out of town and those family trips, as stressful as they may be, are some of the best experiences. Many wonderful trips were taken in the summer and beautiful memories were made.
I've decided as an adult, I don't really like the process of traveling except on a cruise. Flying and driving for hours can be very annoying to your physical frame and insides and therefore the process of traveling is more cumbersome than relaxing. On a cruise ship, however, it is a joy.
A cruise ship is a moving feast; for the eyes, for the ears and for your tastebuds as there are many choices for meals and snacks. But the beautiful thing about a cruise is you are always traveling and it is painless. The lap of the waves on the sides of the ship are relaxing and the breeze is just beautiful.
The experience of this floating hotel with all sorts of people from many distant places is one of the most fun ways to take a vacation. It is the best way to travel with children and groups. There is no packing and unpacking at each stop and the children have more independence and choice then they would at a hotel in a large city. For a family or extended family, there is something for everyone.
The children have the opportunity to meet other children and attend activities suitable to their age group in the mornings as well as the late afternoons and evenings. The food choices suit the pickiest eaters and are all prepaid. Room service is available 24 hours.
There are pools just for children and spas just for adults. And my favorite part; standing up at the table after a delicious four course meal and walking away, no dishes. By the time you return home, you will be missing all of those little helpers for the last 4, 7 11, or 14 days.. or however long you decided to take your vacation voyage.
I have taken cruises to places all over the world. They are now expanding to the far east, Australia and around the world. This is an opportunity to see many far off lands not available to anyone 50 years ago. And when you calculate the cost, it is hard to beat if you are smart with your dollars.
They say the average cruise ship brings in about 100K of revenue for each port and sometimes as many as 3000 cruisers are in town and end up spending on souvenirs, food, beverages and clothing. These cruisers also spend on recreational or educational tours depending on the location and desire of the cruiser. Either way its a win-win for all as the ports benefit and the cruiser gets a glimpse of some wonderful places in another land.
Whether you travel to the ocean or the mountains by land or by sea, pack it in as the summer of 2014 comes to a close.
