Celebrations At Sea

CLIA is offering some top tips on celebrating life’s milestones aboard a cruise, with its president and CEO, Cindy D’Aoust observing, “There is no better way to spend life’’s big moments than with a journey at sea and the cruise industry offers a variety of options to make milestones memorable.”

D’Aoust noted that, “With a completely customizable travel experience, a cruise offers travellers a unique way to celebrate occasions with a trip tailored to every budget and preference.””

And considering that every day is a celebration on a cruise ship, it’s not surprising that many travellers are choosing to commemorate life’s greatest moments — from weddings and reunions to retirements and everything in between — on a cruise vacation.

So here’s some tips from CLIA:

• Prepared Packages — No matter what the celebration may be, many cruise lines offer group packages for large travel parties and special occasions, including specialty celebration offering fun extras. Travel agents can help travellers find special excursions and discounted cabin rates for many sized groups. Some cruise lines offer a free cabin based upon the number of rooms booked by large groups – a great way for the guests of honor to celebrate.
• Take the Cake & Culture – Some cruise lines offer commemorative sweet treats including celebratory cakes and other baked goods, which can be ordered in advance. As a bonus, crew members will sing “Happy Birthday”” to mark the special occasion. Additionally, celebrating cruisers can immerse themselves in the local culture of their destinations to make celebrations even more special. And agents can check with their cruise line partners to see if there are any special, culturally immersive ceremonies or experiences available like traditional wedding celebrations or birthday customs based on the destination.
• Pack the Party – The majority of cruise lines will also help travelers celebrate any occasion – from birthdays to bar mitzvahs to vow renewals and more – with special surprises including private parties and group excursions. Travellers looking to celebrate onboard a ship should pack accordingly with items like cabin decorations for birthdays, and matching shirts for reunions. Some cruise lines even encourage cruise travelers to decorate cabins and cabin doors with festive décor.
• Celebrate Onboard and Onshore – Book ahead for a celebratory dinner in a specialty restaurant on the ship and alert the staff to the special occasion—some restaurants will provide complimentary dessert or make special accommodations. On land, a pre-planned excursion can create a bonding, exhilarating or educational experience for every celebratory cruise. Celebrating a birthday? Consider checking off a “bucket list”” item during a shore excursion, like rock climbing or sightseeing in a storybook European village.

For more, sail on over to https://cruising.org/cruise-vacationer/learn-about-cruising/clia-cruise-lines-encourage-travelers-to-celebrate-onboard-a-cruise-ship .