A great vacation is a matter of taste, but regardless of individual interests or needs, seniors can find it all on a cruise — cutting-edge seminars, intriguing ports of call, five-star treatment or fun for multiple generations. And, says Kerry Smith, author of “Cruise Vacations for Mature Travelers,” seniors have the background to truly appreciate the experience.
“Too many younger people who work full-time and then cruise attack the vacation the same way they attack their job — by over-organizing and judging how much fun they had by how much they accomplished,” Smith said.
“Mature travelers have enough years under their belt to see life — and vacations — as a balance. They tour and have fun, but take time to really enjoy a meal or stand on a deck and just watch the sunset and smell sea air.
“Because a cruise allows you to unpack just once and choose from a range of options, it gives mature travelers more freedom to see the world on their own terms,” she added. “Cruising is also a very social vacation — a chance to meet others — if you want it to be. “
With hundreds of cruises available, how is one to choose?
“Mature travelers should always start by deciding what they hope to get from the experience,” Smith said. “Are they looking to be one with the sea? To celebrate an anniversary with champagne and dancing? To get closer to their grandkids?”
Travel agents should spend at least 15 minutes asking such questions before suggesting and booking a cruise, Smith said, and those planning the trip on their own need to evaluate what they hope to get out of their vacation.
“If mature travelers seek a cruise with fewer young families or kids, their best bet is to book a more upscale cruise line,” she said.
Crystal Cruises boasts luxury spas, restaurants by Wolfgang Puck, computer seminars and yoga and Pilates classes tailored to those 55 and older, as well as specialty programs, such as wine and food festivals, upscale entertainment and health- and fitness-themed trips. To further avoid the family crowd, book longer cruises.
“Opt for an itinerary that lasts 10 days or more because younger families usually take one-week vacations,” Smith said.
Lindblad Expeditions, which sails to the Arctic Circle, the Antarctic and all points in between, is geared toward adventure-loving travelers looking for an extended vacation.
“Expeditions tend to be a little longer than regular cruises,” said George Johns, vice president in sales for Lindblad Expeditions. “They’re eight days to two weeks, which tends to appeal to somebody with a little more leisure time on their hands.”
On voyages to exotic locales, such as the Galapagos Islands, Central America and the lochs of Scotland, seniors can split their time between relaxing on a typical luxury cruise ship and joining adventure activities, such as snorkeling, kayaking or hiking, Johns said.
“For expedition cruising you have the same advantages as a regular cruise, yet you’re going into very remote and inaccessible places — in absolute comfort and security,” he added.
The Delta Queen Steamboat Co. caters to the mature crowd with a mix of Americana and old-fashioned cruising, offering trips down the Mississippi and its tributaries in paddle-wheel steamboats with shore excursions to historical sites, such as Civil War battlefields.
“It’s a great choice for the baby boomers,” said Rick Abramson, Delta Queen president. “It’s historical. It gives you the experience of America. I think when people get to a certain age they fly the flag harder and stronger, especially now.