The Looove Boooat... soon will be making another run.... If your idea of joining a cruise brings to mind Isaac mixing cocktails for diamond-draped celebrities who inevitably got caught up in late night romance on deck under the stars, it's time to look again at cruising! (It should come as no surprise I always thought Julie the cruise director had the best job on board.)
Today cruising caters to every style of travel imaginable for the modern world wanderer. There are expedition cruises for adventurers going off the beaten track, luxury cruises with fewer passengers and a dedicated butler for each cabin, family-friendly or adults-only cruises, mid-size and even small ship ocean cruises for a more intimate sailing experience, majestic masted sailing vessels, charted yachts or canal boats, and gentle river cruises where picturesque cities and landscapes pass slowly by your balcony. Within each type of cruising, there's a fantastic diversity of lines, itineraries, activities and themed sailings. A river cruise, for example, may have a professional guest host or theme related to wine, cuisine, music, golf, bicycling, photography, European Christmas markets, or even the once-in-a-decade Passion Play performed in the Bavarian Alps by the townspeople of Oberammergau. One thing is for sure: you can't beat the convenience of unpacking once and the wide choice of excursions featuring fitness activities, in-depth cultural experiences and private entré into sought-after attractions. Cruises are particularly well-suited for groups of friends and family; everyone stays entertained in their own way while still sharing a memorable journey together.
This October I'll be sailing with Celebrity cruise line on their extensively-renovated (down to the studs) ship "Summit" for Gifted Travel Network's annual conference, departing through NY harbor to San Juan stopping at St. Maarten and St. Thomas. Celebrity recently revealed cutting-edge partnerships that are SO up Nine Muses Travel's alley. First, Chef Daniel Boulud is now their Global Culinary Brand Ambassador, so the food is sure to be fan-tas-tic. Even more remarkable is Celebrity's new partnership with American Ballet Theatre. Guests on select ships (including Summit!) can join dancers for seminars and ballet barre classes and marvel as they dance en pointe aboard a moving ship, on a top-of-class, specially-installed sprung dance floor (a kind of floor that absorbs shock and helps prevent injuries). ABT is the only large-scale ballet company in the US that tours nationally and internationally every year and has been a pillar of America’s artistic landscape for almost 80 years. My inner "Julie the cruise director" cannot wait!
