Ask Arthur

Friends are constantly suggesting that we book our first cruise. But we're undecided about what seems such a claustrophobic and crowded activity.

It's not for everyone, but many travelers prefer it over all other vacations. Claustrophobic? A bit. Crowded? Most ships today carry as many as 2,000 passengers. The atmosphere isn't of the highest intellectual order (you generally turn yourself off from weighty matters), and the great pastime is overeating-both day and night. But your time on board involves very little stress, exertion, or choice, and simply letting yourself be waited upon results in one of the most restful and relaxing interludes in travel. Many hesitant cruisers determine how they'll react by booking a three-night cruise as a test. From most port cities, long-weekenders are now broadly available (and rapidly growing in popularity) and cost so little ($399 is a frequent per person price for inside cabins) that ...