Cruising At The Speed Of 55

Being 55 years old is the new middle age of today. People are living longer and enjoying life, so why not take advantage of those "senior" discounts on cruises once you hit the 55 magic number? Empty-nesters have grown kids, no more diapers to change, and preparing for that last stretch before retirement. It is the perfect time to indulge in a little cruise.

The great thing about cruising for seniors is that everything is included in the costs. The food, lodging, activities and so forth are all part of the deal. By knowing ahead of time what is not included like drinks at the bar, tips and some shore excursions, seniors can better plan their budgets and know what kind of spending money they can bring. In other words, there are no surprises on the money front.

There are fewer hassles for seniors to deal with. They only unpack one time, yet get to vacation in several ports. To them, it is like a floating hotel with all the amenities. Seniors can also rest assured that the ship's infirmary includes enough modern equipment to take care of even emergency treatment.

Rest and relaxation are at their fingertips. There is lounging at the pool, finding a quiet nook and reading a book or even rustling up a card game with a few other fellow passengers. Indulging in a visit to the spa is another way to take it easy. In fact, some seniors swear by the rejuvenating effects of a massage.

Seniors can also be as active as they want to be on the cruise ship. There are exercise classes like aerobics, pilates, spinning or yoga. Dance lessons are available with ballroom dancing and line dancing being popular choices. Crafts and game activities like bingo are well attended as is the gourmet cooking or wine classes. In addition, enrichment courses are a rising trend in cruising.

A cruise could be the perfect time for seniors to broaden their interests. Enrichment classes aboard the ship provide another way of enticing more travelers and seniors could gain the most benefit. Classes like Navigating the Internet or beginning Microsoft Office classes are trendy. Then there are lessons in art or history classes geared towards the ports of call the cruise ship will sail to. In-depth classes in a conversational foreign language are also popular with seniors.

A rising trend is the philanthropic cruise. Seniors can have a "working" vacation on the high seas by serving as a volunteer for one of many organizations around the world. Some services senior volunteers perform are educating local village children in English and assisting local and traveling doctors with medical care missions. Senior volunteers also help build housing and distribute food and clothing to impoverished areas around the globe. Often times, these seniors are treated wonderfully and become an honored member of a village or community.

Seniors have more options than ever before when it comes to cruising. From dancing the night away to serving foreign communities in need, 55 years of age is no longer for the golden years of retirement, it is just the beginning of a new way of life – cruise style!

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