Celebrity cruises are gaining in popularity. Not to be confused with the Celebrity Cruise Line, celebrity cruises are cruise vacations that include the opportunity to see or even meet popular celebrities like television actors, movie stars and musicians.

But, is cruising with a celebrity worth the cost?

What is cruising with a celebrity?

Most celebrity cruises will advertise several performances by their celebrity or celebrities along with a chance to dine or participate in ship activities featuring their advertised star.

The cruise line then either pays or offers free passage as a way of bringing celebrities on board. Typically, fans are attracted by the chance to not only meet, but also interact with their favorite public personality.

Why do well-known people participate in celebrity cruises?

In addition to being paid or compensated with free travel, many actors and musical performers use the cruise market as a way of promoting upcoming ventures like a new album, a stint in Vegas, an upcoming movie or a tour.

Meanwhile, some celebrities use celebrity cruises as a way of supporting a particular charity. Often, a charity will sponsor a specific sailing and the cruise line will donate a portion of the profits or proceeds. If you’re interested in supporting a charity and meeting a favorite celebrity, these charity cruises are a great way to do so.

What are the benefits and disadvantages of cruising with a celebrity?

Before you book a celebrity cruise, you should look at why you want to take this specific cruise. Is it because you are interesting in meeting your favorite celebrity or because you wish to enjoy a cruise vacation?

If you’re actively interested in the idea of taking a cruise with a celebrity, look at how much time the featured person will actually be on board. Also consider what performances are scheduled and if there are any extra costs associated with attending those events.

You’ll also want to investigate the size of the cruise. Realistically, if your favorite celebrity is only scheduled to make a one-night performance on a ship that has thousands of passengers, you’re unlikely to meet or make any contact with the individual. However, a cruise can still be a great, intimate environment to see a concert.

Finally, if your purpose for booking the cruise is to have a nice cruise vacation, you may want to reconsider the celebrity cruise option.

If you’re completely uninterested in the “celebrity element” on board the ship, you’ll find yourself at sea with hundreds - or possibly thousands - of fans on a ship where the majority of activities and events are focused around a specific individual - something that may not enhance your cruise.

If you’re a senior citizen, you’re most likely aware of the number of cruise options that are tailored specifically toward the senior market.

With cruise lines offering “Golden” Cruises, “Silver” Cruises, and Adults-Only cruises, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of options that are geared toward you and your interests.

Unfortunately, it’s a bit harder to find adventure or “active” cruises for seniors. To learn about active cruise options for seniors as well as how to get the most out of your active/adventure cruise, keep reading.

Pick a Cruise with “Active” Amenities

Whether or not you’re booking a senior-specific cruise, opt for a ship that has a lot of “active” amenities.

For example, booking a boat that has on-board golf, tennis, swimming, gym facilities and activities like whale-watching and bird watching will get you on board a ship that’s already geared toward your active lifestyle. You’re also more likely to meet seniors like you who are interested in active and healthy living.

Look For a Variety of Ports of Call

By booking a cruise with many stops, you’ll have access to more shore-side activities, greater sightseeing opportunities and a wider variety of shopping and food options.

Most cruises tailored toward the “adventure” or “active” market will offer a variety of shore activities, including low-impact and “senior-friendly” excursions like sea kayaking, scuba diving, easy nature hiking and on-land golf.

Always ask for a Senior’s Discount

Most cruise lines offer a senior’s discount for travelers over a certain age. Always ask for the senior’s rate. You’ll save anywhere from 10-50% off the regular rate.

A number of cruise lines also offer veteran’s rates for veterans and their spouses or families. If you’re a former serviceman, don’t hesitate to ask for a service special.

Remember to Relax

Most cruise ships offer a spa facility. Especially if you’re active, remember to take the time to enjoy and indulge.

At an onboard spa, you’ll enjoy massages, facials, skin treatments, hair cuts, manicures and a wide variety of other aesthetic options. Don’t forget to reserve your spot early.

Finally, cruise ships are one of the safest places to vacation in the entire world. It’s an enclosed environment with a carefully screened staff, so you can worry less about theft or violence.

Whether you’re vacationing alone or with someone you know, you are sure to have a fun and memorable experience heading for the cruise vacation destination of your choice.

Certainly not every vacation activity or destination involves boarding a ship - in fact, most do not. However, if you take an international trip, your odds certainly increase - and so does the likelihood of dealing with motion sickness.

Motion sickness on a boat or ship can be a problem for anyone, given the right movement circumstances. It is simply caused by the way your ears adjust to your eyes that results in some people feeling queasy shortly after they get on a boat while others are perfectly fine.

Recognizing the Symptoms

Seasickness comes about when your eyes are looking out straight, but your body is moving, causing your ears to be out of sync with your eyes.

If you stand still looking at something and your body is moving back and forth, your five senses simply do not “understand” that, and the result can be some level of nausea.

The symptoms of seasickness are easy to spot. You may start to sweat a lot, have a problem focusing on certain objects, feel as if you may vomit, and have extreme dizziness.

All in all, it is not a pleasant feeling, though it is not dangerous. Once you step off of the boat, you will start to feel better after a little land adjustment.

Preventive Measures

If you are prone to becoming seasick, there are preventive medications you can take and also things you can do while on the boat to minimize the symptoms.

First, prior to boarding the ship, start with the medication that your doctor provided. Alternatively, you can purchase a motion sickness patch that you put behind your ear to assist.

You can find these patches at your local pharmacy or even at the boarding dock before departure. These patches are made for your body to balance itself and so your visual cues won’t be different from your bodily cues.

Get Some Fresh Air

Once you are on the ship and feel a bit of seasickness coming on, it is best to get some fresh air. Since the waves themselves cause seasickness, keep your eyes fixed on the horizon, or simply lay down on a steady object on the ship.

Do so on your back to give your body more stability to help your ears can work in conjunction with your eyes. It is best to keep your eyes open as well since when closing them you tend to succumb to the motion of the waves.

Finally, try to eat something that will take the nausea away - crackers or soda can serve this purpose. You may not be able to rid yourself of seasickness once you have it, but at the very least you can adjust to and cope with the symptoms.

Cruising on a ship isn’t just for young couples and seniors anymore - it’s now a full-family cruise vacation destination.

Increasingly, cruise lines are beginning to offer family-focused cruises, while others are geared specifically toward families with young children.

Offering child care, kid-specific activities, entertainment for both kids and adults and kid-friendly menus, these family-focused cruises allow parents to actually take a break on their vacations.

No more long drives spent with hours of crying in the car, cramped hotel rooms or afternoons dragging kids out sightseeing. Family cruising allows parents of young children to truly enjoy their vacation.

Keep reading to learn more about cruise ship traveling with children under the age of twelve - along with what to expect, tips on booking and a few pointers on how to get the most out of your family cruise.

What to Expect on a Family Cruise

Most family cruises go beyond the typical entertainment offers of a dance hall, arcade, movie theatre and supervised swimming. Yes, all those things would keep your child entertained, but they may not be engaging, active or properly supervised.

Typically, a family cruise that’s geared toward children under the age of twelve will also offer children’s entertainment programs like live performance matinees.

They should also provide “day camp” programs that actively engage your children in group activities as well as shore excursions or training programs that are kid centered. For example, one cruise line offers a kids-only, on-board tennis camp while another gives daily swim lessons.

An additional benefit of family-focused cruising is the food. Unlike an adults-only cruise, the menus are usually a little more kid-friendly and offer up kid-sized portions.

On top of that, the wait staff and other ship crew members are already trained and comfortable working with children - which can be a big help when someone starts a temper tantrum at dinner.

How to Book a Cruise for Kids

Before you book, look for a cruise ship that’s specifically geared toward children.

By selecting a cruise that tailors to the vacation needs of you and your children, you’re more likely to reap the benefits of extra daycare options, increased child-targeted recreational activities, kid-friendly entertainment and other amenities that parents and their offspring really want.

Remember, the services, activities and amenities mentioned will vary from cruise to cruise, but if you book a ship that’s targeted specifically toward families and families with young children - you’re going to enjoy a true family vacation, for both the parents and the kids.