Think about it. Which offers more bang for your travel buck — a resort on land ... or a floating resort that visits multiple vacation destinations? A cruise is also more affordable than an all-inclusive resort, even just from a simple supply-and-demand perspective. While most resorts can offer about 500 rooms, most superliners can offer nearly 1,000 staterooms. In comparison, booking a cruise is like getting your travel reservation at a wholesale cost. And a cruise includes all your meals, snacks, basic beverages, and plenty of fun activities and live entertainment in one low price. Because a cruise is designed for such extraordinary value, the seafaring vacation should be the most budget-friendly travel option for everyone in your group.

With a cruise, you can sample half a dozen islands in the Caribbean, visit several historic European cities, or tour the Hawaiian islands — and you'll only unpack once! Cruises offer such a great variety of destinations, shore excursions, and onboard amenities that you can be sure everyone will always find something to their taste.

Endless Dining Decisions

Most hotels and resorts only offer a couple restaurants and bars, but cruise ships usually feature a restaurant and a bar for every day of the week — sometimes more. Onboard, the range of casual and fine cuisine will satisfy even the most discriminating palates. Imagine feasting with panoramic ocean views — perhaps the sun is setting or the dramatic coastline of the next port is sitting on the horizon. Ships also offer flexible dining hours, so you can all come together or break into smaller groups as you please. You'll savor a bevy of flavors, including Italian, French, American, Japanese, Mexican, and other international fare. Many superliners offer classic favorites like fresh lobster, as well as mouthwatering breakfast and midnight buffets ... and, last but not least, a diverse selection of decadent desserts. Room service is always available and is especially popular for guests with balcony staterooms. Some vessels even offer 24-hour ice cream bars and pizzerias!

So Much More Than Shuffleboard

From casino gaming to Broadway-style shows, the journey between ports really is half the fun. Few hotels and resorts can compare to the huge assortment of activities and entertainment found aboard today's cruise ships. Get wet and wild onboard with everything from huge spiral waterslides and starlit whirlpools to rock-climbing walls and deluxe mini-golf. Relaxing at sea is a breeze, with options ranging from pampering massages in the spa to smooth jazz and cocktails in the piano bar. Drop your children off at the supervised kids' club or teen coffeehouse, and enjoy the art gallery or some shopping. A wealth of enrichment classes, from gourmet cooking lessons to yoga training, will satisfy the intellectually curious cruisers. For some action in the evening, catch a comedy show, join the theme party on deck, or dance the night away in the nightclub.

Explore Multiple Shores

And did we mention the infinite possibilities for adventure found in the hundreds of ports of call across the globe? Most itineraries feature three or more popular vacation destinations, providing countless photo opportunities, a wealth of history, fascinating culture, and plenty of fun to discover. Ask your group cruise consultant about the full spectrum of exciting shore excursions we offer — you'll save time, money, and hassle by reserving your sightseeing activities in advance. From jungle safaris to scuba diving and city tours to sunset luau shows, the sampling of unique thrills available in each port can create the ultimate cruise experience.

Cruising not only offers better value and variety, it's more convenient than traveling with multiple hotel reservations. One reservation guarantees all your accommodations — plus transportation — for your whole trip! One person, from one company, provides dedicated customer service on all the reservations for your entire group. With a cruise, you'll be spared from the hassle of coordinating train or bus schedules, renting and driving a car in an unfamiliar place, and the stress of flying between cities. And your vacation begins the moment you step onboard! Today, cruising is easier than ever because many voyages are just a short drive or flight away — you can set sail from 22 ports in the U.S. alone. With so many cruises departing from close to home, planning a vacation sailing for your group is simple.

Cruising as a group often has valuable benefits. About 80% of groups at sea receive special amenity points, called "tour credits". These exclusive onboard extras vary by group size, fleet, and each particular sailing. Tour credits are normally shipboard credits — often valid toward the purchase of spa services, shore excursions, casino credits, and alcoholic beverages — or stateroom gifts like a bottle of wine, a box of chocolates, a basket of fresh flowers, or complimentary gratuities. Each group signs a booking contract that includes unique terms and conditions for any available bonus offers and tour credits. We use our superior cruise line relationships to negotiate the absolute best prices and special amenities available for each group. Usually, the bigger the group, the more tour credits you'll enjoy. Ask your group cruise consultant for details.

The best part about being a group leader is that you may have the opportunity to sail for free! As a way of saying "thank you" for recruiting a large group of cruisers, some cruise lines let our group cruise consultants offer this special deal to eligible group leaders. The cost of non-commissionable fares and some taxes are not included, but the cruise fare is absolutely free to the group leader of an eligible group. This special offer varies by group size, fleet, and each sailing — not all groups will be eligible. Each group signs a booking contract that includes unique terms and conditions for any available bonus offers, tour credits, and special deals such as the sail-for-free offer. We use our superior cruise line relationships to negotiate the absolute best prices and special amenities available for each group. In general, the more staterooms reserved in your group, the more likely you'll be eligible. Ask your group cruise consultant for details.

The secret is out — cruising has quickly become the hottest form of leisure travel. During the past 15 years, the number of passengers has risen by an average of 8% each year. In just the past 5 years, the world's top fleets responded to the growing demand by introducing 62 new ships in North America. And last year broke the industry's North American record, with approximately 9 million people taking a cruise vacation.

It's the best value for your vacation dollar — a cruise offers unmatched variety, convenience, and fun. Plus, it's more affordable than most land-based vacations. Cruises enable you to visit multiple destinations for one low price, without the hassle of coordinating travel details. Your vacation begins the moment you step onboard. And now, many cruises are just a short drive or flight away.

What's Included:

• Stateroom or suite accommodations
• Ocean transportation
• Gourmet dining
• Supervised kids' programs
• Vegas- or Broadway-style shows
• Entry to nightclubs, piano bars & more
• Activities like yoga & basketball
• Gym, pool & hot tubs
• Non-commissionable fares

What's Not Included:

• Gratuities
• Spa treatments
• Alcoholic beverages
• Casino gambling
• Shopping
• Organized tours & activities onshore
• Babysitting
• Nominal fees at some specialty restaurants

Many ships sail from 22 U.S. ports to popular vacation destinations all across the globe. From the glaciers of Alaska to the isles of the South Pacific, we offer 6,500 sailings to 730 ports around the globe. Destinations include the Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico, and the Mediterranean. Some cruises feature several days at sea, while others stop at private islands. Deciding where to go will be the hardest part.

Whether you're looking for adventure, family fun, romance, or sophisticated ambience, there's a cruise line and a ship for you. Cruising is so much more than shuffleboard and all-you-can-eat buffets. Today's ships offer activities and entertainment for vacationers of all ages, from toddlers to seniors.

Family-friendly ships may feature everything from kids' clubs to teen coffeehouses. Want to unwind? Activities are as diverse as spa treatments, basketball, and casino gaming. At night, you might catch a comedy show, relax in a piano bar, or feast on five-star cuisine. From luxury to adventure, there's a ship to suit your vacation needs.

Unique ship features may include:

• Rock-climbing wall
• All-oceanview or all-suite accommodations
• Martini & champagne bars
• Teen discos
• Thalassotherapy pool
• Spiral waterslide
• Planetarium
• Boutiques by Harrods & Bvlgari
• Butler service
• Miniature golf & golf simulators
• Bungee Trampolines
• Poolside movies under the stars
• Ice-skating rink

GLOSSARY

Destination

Port: A destination or city visited by a ship.

Shore Excursion: An activity or tour in a port.

Accommodations

Category: A group of staterooms (formerly referred to as cabins) that are assigned the same rank because of their size, amenities, deck level, and location. Prices vary according to category.

Interior: Staterooms that do not have windows.

Oceanview: Staterooms that feature portholes or a picture window.

Balcony: Staterooms that feature private balconies.

Suite: The most spacious, luxurious accommodations onboard.

Bonus Offers

Upgrade: When you receive a better stateroom category than you paid for.

Shipboard Credit: A credit that is posted to your account upon embarkation. It's yours to spend at the spa, in the boutiques, or almost anywhere onboard.

Group Cruises

Group: Reservations with eight or more staterooms booked together by calling our groups phone number (see side column).

Group Leader: The person who coordinates all the travel needs of the group members with one of our group cruise consultants. The group leader recruits group members.

Tour Credit: A special amenity onboard that is offered to select groups. Varies by group size, fleet, and sailing. May take the form of shipboard credits or stateroom gifts.