Miracle at Sea

By Leslie Joy Ickowitz

Where can you sail the majestic blue sea accompanied by Captain Nemo, Don Quixote, Sherlock Holmes and 2,600 of your closest friends? Where can you wine and dine like the Roman god Bacchus, get sloshed in four swimming pools, dance the night away at Dr. Frankenstein’s Lab or grab a drink in the Gotham Lounge? Aboard the “Fun Ship” Carnival Miracle, that’s where. At over three football fields long and 88,500 tons the Miracle is by no means the largest passenger vessel afloat, but she, along with a seemingly endless parade of today’s cruise ships, are nothing short of miraculous.

Often referred to as “cities at sea,” cruise ships come equipped with almost every imaginable amenity. Some feature multi-story waterslides while others boast rock-climbing walls and ice-skating rinks. Cruising enables guests to experience a sliver of the world in a single voyage, but to unpack only once with no worries of where to stay or where to eat or what to do when they get there. To assist with travelers’ pleasurable pursuits, all cruise lines offer guided shore excursions in each destination. From Alaska to the Caribbean, Europe, Latin America and the Far East, a world of discovery awaits cruisers. Exotic ports-of-call beckon passengers to explore new territories, unfamiliar cultures, architecture, history, shopping, sporting activities and more. Contributing to the stress-free cruising experience is the incomparable value. With the exception of shore excursions, alcohol, soft drinks and spa treatments, practically everything is covered in the upfront cost.

Why is cruising ideal for groups large and small? In addition to the economics, another reason is that each member of the party is free to do his or her own thing with everyone else close by—but not too close. Mom and dad can go for a romantic stroll on the promenade deck or steal away to their stateroom while the kids play at “camp.” On company retreats, the CEO might golf topside while the ranks soak up the sun in and around the swimming pool. Jane can go snorkeling while Joe ziplines through the rainforest. Mary can get a hot-stone massage while Mike chills out in the sports bar. Fitness fanatics work out in state-of-the-art gyms before mellowing out in steam rooms and saunas while others keep busy with Bingo and try their luck in the casino. Art auctions, ice sculpture demonstrations, scavenger hunts, sing-alongs, nightly entertainment and more all exist among the choices of life at sea.

The epitome of hedonistic travel, self-indulgence is always on tap aboard a cruise ship. As a rule, cruising involves a nonstop culinary orgy beginning with breakfast each morning. From the many buffet stations or served sit-down style, pancakes, French toast, made-to-order omelets, sizzling bacon and sausage, fresh fruit and cereal are consumed by the boatload. No sooner do you begin digesting the first tasty morsels of the day when you realize it’s time to wash it all down with a post-breakfast consisting of warm, fresh pastries and flaky croissants. As the last luscious crumb is licked from your lips, post-breakfast is followed by pre-lunch, which is followed by lunch, which leads to afternoon ice cream and cookies or steaming bread pudding topped with vanilla sauce.

Complimentary room service as well as pizza and salad are usually available 24 hours a day ensuring that after the six meals you devoured between, say, 9 a.m. and noon that you don’t get too hungry waiting for dinner. Course after course of delectable dinner is served in elegant dining rooms night after night. On scheduled formal evenings, ladies and gents funnel in draped with finery fit for special occasions. But for those who prefer to pass on the pomp in the main dining rooms, and in the tradition of doing almost anything you want that’s synonymous with cruising, dressed-down passengers may once again take advantage of the bountiful buffet at dinnertime. Adding to the dizzying array of choices, you may add a little romance with room service delivered to your stateroom or served on your private balcony, and most ships now offer upgraded dining at specialty restaurants. Whatever you do, don’t step on a scale for at least a month after returning from a cruise.

Whether you attack each day with gusto or float carelessly as the world goes by, each day of a cruise vacation concludes with the gentle lullaby of the sea. With the mega-ships of today and those with maiden voyages approaching on the horizon, cruising proves that the fun isn’t necessarily all about the destination, but rather how you get there. Catch my drift?

About the Author
Leslie Joy Ickowitz is president of Empire Public Relations and a personal travel concierge with 12-years experience creating custom vacations for couples, singles and families. Call 813.382.4387 or email: Leslie@EmpirePublicRelations.com for more information and white-glove service.