The new trend in cruising is to spend more time off the ship than on, but that's not working for all passengers, the Wall Street Journal reports. Cruise lines continue to beef up their land excursions, including some with overnight hotel stays, adding to costs for passengers and diluting the pleasure of the floating hotel for an all-encompassing vacation. Shore excursions appeal to younger and more active travelers, who enjoy the mix of land and sea, now that the average cruise age is age 50 (down from 60 a decade ago). But they also help cruise lines, who have had to reduce fees to build occupancy, make up the difference in their revenues, including partnerships with onshore tour operators.
Alternatively, you can guarantee staying onboard for trans-Atlantic crossings that transport ships back and forth for the fall and winter seasons -- and they are often great values, especially now.
Two things are for certain:
- Cruising is hot and the best variety and value are highly competitive among cruise lines.
- But beware, ports and excursions can be boring, deadly, and drain your wallet.
Stay tuned for my special cruising report later in the summer.
