Cruising - recommended cruise lines and opportunities - includes information on cruising Egypt's Nile River and sailing to Hawaii

American Visions, April-May, 1993 by Michael L. Pina, Joanne Harris

You work hard all day, every day. When you go on vacation, you want to escape life's hassles in comfort and style. You dream of a vacation where you will be wined and dined, even pampered - a trip where you can indulge your every whim and return home rejuvenated. Relax. Your ship has come in.

According to a recent survey sponsored by the cruise industry, satisfaction levels for cruise vacationers are at an all-time high, with almost 90 percent of respondents saying that they were very satisfied or extremely satisfied with their cruise vacation. The statistics aren't without explanation. Where else can you unpack your bags once and travel from One exotic destination to the next while enjoying an assortment of shopping, sightseeing and sports activities?

Cruise lines also report that they are seeing a new breed of cruise traveler - one who is younger and earns a moderate income. Cruises are no longer the exclusive pleasure of wealthy retirees; today cruise lines have diversified to the point where they can accommodate varied lifestyles and budgets.

What surprises many people is that a cruise is an unbeatable value. The price of a weeklong cruise averages $200 a day - about the price of a deluxe hotel room in New York City or Honolulu - and some cruises cost as little as $75 a day. The all-inclusive nature of a cruise means that there are no surprise expenses; airfare, transfers from the airport to the dock and back, meals, and onboard entertainment and activities are included in the price. On most cruises guests only pay additional charges for drinks, tips, shore activities, and personal services, such as massages.

At the high end of the market are cruises that cater to upscale travelers by offering luxurious suites and lavish meals. Other cruises appeal to the mass-market traveler, who is interested in group activities and meeting new people.

For the passenger who wants luxury - and is willing to pay for it - several cruise lines, including Costa Cruises, Seabourn Cruises and Regency Cruises, offer extra-large cabins and unregimented activities that are designed to accommodate everyone's schedule. Meals on these floating palaces rival those in the world's best restaurants, with freshly made pastas, lobster, decorative desserts and imported champagne.

Regardless of the type of cruise, bargains can be found by traveling off-season (usually in early spring and late fall), booking months in advance, or joining travel clubs that offer deep discounts. Travelers on a budget can also take advantage of the enormous number of short cruises, usually three to five days, that explore the Bahamas, the western Caribbean and the Mexican Riviera. Prices on these trips start as low as $300 per person, including airfare, but offer all the amenities of the big-budget, weeklong journeys. A short cruise is ideal for workaholics looking for a way to wind down over a long weekend.

The biggest decision facing cruise travelers is the choice of cruise type. Almost every cruise ship has swimming pools, jogging tracks, and state-of-the-art health spas with personal trainers and aerobics classes, but that's where the similarities end. For instance, classes offered aboard ships range from gourmet cooking, foreign languages and ballroom dancing to sophisticated lectures on oceanography or lessons on Caribbean music and culture taught by international experts in the field.

Many cruise lines - for example, Carnival, Cunard and Regency - offer singles packages and single-share programs, where the cruise lines match up compatible cabinmates. Some have extensive host programs that match single travelers with ready-made tennis, dancing and dining partners.

If love strikes, that's all the better. There are few settings as romantic as a cruise. Strolling along a starlit deck, enjoying a private candlelight dinner, or dancing under the moonlight are part of the reason lovers of all ages yearn for a vacation at sea and why cruises are so attractive to honeymooners.

Yet, for some travelers, especially for veteran cruisers, the standard cruise is not enough. That's why theme cruises have become all the rage. Murder mystery cruises, jazz cruises featuring famous musicians, and educational cruises that include cultural lectures and presentations are some of the more popular theme cruises. But ships also offer classic-movie cruises; spa cruises that include daily workouts, facials and massages; and gourmet dining cruises that serve only one type of cuisine.

With all of the options available on today's cruise ships, no wonder satisfaction levels are soaring. As cruises continue to outpace other vacations, people seeking romance, fine dining, pampering and fun can't go wrong.