Those who have never cruised before have preconceived notion that cruising is not for them for a multitude of reasons. Two major reasons come to mind, safety and the feeling of being couped up for a long period of time. Those who overcome this notion, usually do so after sitting down with a travel consultant who fully explains and paints a picture of what one could expect while vacationing at sea.
Undoubtedly safety issues should be a concern; the fear that one would wind up overboard and drowning is usually what one thinks about and cites this as being the #1 reason not to cruise. However, this is not the case. Fire is the #1 concern for the Captain and his staff. A drill, called a muster drill is performed and mandatory for all to partake in, prior to setting sail on the day of embarkation. It is taken extremely seriously as it should be and prepares the traveler to be aware of what to do in case evacuation becomes necessary.
The other concern is that one would feel confined. Once made aware of the ships statistics and advised of the availability to various public rooms and areas, are told of the activities available to them onboard, a good travel consultant would suggest that someone who has never cruised before take a short one, perhaps one which is 3 or 4 night's duration.
Another reason one might not want to cruise is the fear of getting ill while on board. It should be strongly recommended that the cruiser pack some short of device or over-the-counter medication, such as Dramamine or Bonine, to avoid the feeling of seasickness.
Most of the larger, megaships as they are touted, are actually floating cities unto themselves. Depending on the cruiseline, they offer many different venues onboard, such as different dining rooms/restaurants, a theater where entertainment is provided nightly and various swimming pools (some with slides). Depending on the cruiseline and/or ship, one might even be able to enjoy outdoor movies, ice skating, rock climbing, surf simulators, Internet cafes, libraries, game rooms, various bar/entertainment areas, childrens' clubs, discos, ballrooms, a host of shopping boutiques, hair salons, high end spas, basketball courts, golf simulators and/or miniature golf, a running track, exercise room. The list goes on and on. In fact, there are some ships that are currently being built at drydock which provide a public area called "Central Park", Boardwalk, a carousel and much, much more.
Misconceptions About CruisingArticle Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Valarie_Contrino
