Through
technology, new itineraries
and unbeatable value, the member
lines of Cruise Lines International
Association (CLIA) continue
to make it easier to explore
new worlds.
“Exploration
begins at the computer,”
says Bob Sharak, executive director
of CLIA. “A click on CLIA’s
website, www.cruising.org, opens
up a world of valuable information,
including details on cruise
lines, ships, itineraries, destinations
and so much more.”
A click on the
“Cruise Line and Ship
Profiles” option on the
CLIA home page takes site visitors
to a list of the 24 cruise lines
that make up CLIA, the association
representing the North American
cruise industry. Clicking on
an individual line opens a company
profile and links to details
about the cruise lines’
individual ships.
“We have
upgraded the website to include
more information in an easily
accessible format and have introduced
new features such as deck plans
and expanded destination profiles,”
says Sharak. “In this
age of Internet information,
this is a valuable resource
to both consumers and travel
agents.”
The site also
includes such useful tools as
the following:
-
Frequently
Asked Questions. Answers
to just about any question
concerning planning or taking
a cruise vacation.
-
Special
Interest Guides to Cruising.
Charts detailing each cruise
line’s offerings for
destinations; sports, spa
and fitness programs; children’s
activities; lean and light
cuisines; singles activities
and amenities; honeymooner
packages and amenities;
niche and cultural experiences;
golf facilities and programs;
theme cruises; and onboard
meeting facilities.
The entry for
each member line includes information
about the cruise line and its
specialties, fleetwide programs
and facilities. Clicking on
the name of an individual ship
reveals details such as deck
plans and accommodations/amenities/facilities
specific to each ship as well
as an assortment of photos.
“The site
can also take you to another
valuable resource – the
cruise experts at a CLIA-affiliated
travel agency,” says Sharak.
To find an agency
staffed with Accredited Cruise
Counsellors (ACCs) and Master
Cruise Counsellors (MCCs) –
agents who have extensive personal
cruise experience and have completed
advanced levels of CLIA’s
intensive training program –
click on “Find a Cruise
Travel Agent” on CLIA’s
website.
“Between
the information available on
CLIA’s website and the
knowledge of the travel agents
at the CLIA-affiliated agencies,
potential cruisers will soon
find themselves well on the
way to discovering the world,”
says Sharak.
With more than
1,800 ports of call, cruising
takes passengers to destinations
around the world – if
it’s accessible by water,
there is probably a cruise ship
that visits there.
“Cruising
enables passengers to visit
places they may have only dreamed
of, explore the roots of history
at home and abroad, and experience
new cultures,” says Sharak.
“Each year, new ports
are added to the lines’
itineraries, providing travelers
with more cruising options.”
On the home front,
the expanded use of North American
ports has also played an important
role in the evolution of the
cruise industry. This makes
it easier for travelers to get
to their cruise and begin their
journey of exploration.
One thing that
continues to make it easier
for travelers to explore the
world on a cruise is the all-around
value of a cruise vacation.
“Many of
the items that would be ‘extras’
on a typical land-based vacation
– such as Broadway-style
entertainment, meals, snacks,
transportation, enrichment classes
and other activities –
are generally included in the
cost of a cruise,” says
Sharak.
Incorporated
into the value of a cruise are
other elements which contribute
to the appeal of a cruise vacation
option:
-
Easy to
plan: There is no need to
book hotel rooms for each
night, hop in the car for
lengthy rides to each destination
or worry about where to
eat the next meal.
-
Easy to
budget: You pay for almost
everything up front on a
cruise – items such
as spa services, sightseeing
tours, drinks and some alternative
dining may be charged separately
– so you have a good
idea what your vacation
will cost before you get
started.
-
Comfort
factor: You only have to
unpack once.
-
Access
to endless value-added facilities
and amenities: These include
state-of-the-art fitness
facilities, play centers
and programs for children,
enrichment opportunities
and first-class entertainment.
“Industry
insiders have always known that
you get a lot for your money
when you cruise,” says
Sharak. “More and more
people are expanding their horizons
and discovering that a cruise,
when compared with land resorts
or the typical family vacation,
is truly the better vacation
value.”
For more information
about cruising, visit CLIA’s
website, www.cruising.org, then
visit a cruise expert at a CLIA-affiliated
travel agency. To find a nearby
affiliated agency staffed with
Accredited Cruise Counsellors
(ACCs) and Master Cruise Counsellors
(MCCs) – agents who have
extensive cruise experience
and have completed advanced
levels of CLIA’s intensive
training program – click
on “Find a Cruise Travel
Agent” on CLIA’s
website.
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