One of the best ways to spend the golden years is traveling. Among the various ways to travel, cruises can be an exciting yet relaxing way to see the world. Whether one is a first-timer or a seasoned traveler, there are several things to consider when booking a cruise trip. For instance, factors like overall accessibility and comfort and availability of senior-friendly destinations can be key considerations to ensure one has a smooth, safe trip.
Popular cruises for seniors
Many small, medium, and big companies offer cruises for seniors over 60. These cruise trips come with itineraries that specifically cater to seniors, making traveling easier for them. This means seniors do not have to rely on bingo or shuffleboard nights to have a good time; they can enjoy relaxing tours, mingling events, and plays, among other engaging activities. Additionally, many cruise companies offer seniors all-inclusive cruise packages with special deals.
River cruises
These cruises have become quite popular among senior travelers, as the ports here are generally closer to major cities, offering shore excursions with different levels of walking intensity. Additionally, with the weather on rivers being much milder than the ocean or sea, the sailing experience is quite smooth, too. Also, river cruise ships are relatively smaller, typically boasting a capacity of less than 200 passengers, lowering the possibility of consistently finding crowded common areas. River cruise trips can last anywhere between a few days to three weeks. They are suitable for seniors who are going on a cruise for the first time. Some of the popular river cruises are run by Viking River Cruises, AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, and American Cruise Lines.
Ocean cruises
Compared to river cruises, ocean cruises are bigger in every sense—from vessel capacity to trip duration. For example, mega ships offering ocean voyages can carry between 2,000 and 6,000 passengers, while mid-size ships have a capacity of around 1,000–2,500 passengers. That said, ocean cruise trips may also be offered via smaller ships that can hold about 1,200 or fewer passengers. However, bigger vessels have their own benefits, such as more options for dining, entertainment, public areas, and pools. So, seniors who intend to stay on the ship throughout the trip might find better ways to stay entertained with bigger cruise ships. Here, the ship itself becomes the vacation destination. A few popular ocean cruises seniors can consider are Princess Cruises, Silversea, Azamara, Seabourn Cruise Line, and Holland America Line.
Popular cruise trip destinations for seniors
When booking cruises for seniors over 70, it is important to consider the destination/route climate and must-have activities. Seniors should opt for destinations that offer perfect weather conditions for shore excursions.
Alaska
This is a popular cruise destination for travelers of all ages. So seniors planning a cruise trip, especially with family members, can opt for a summer Alaskan cruise trip. At this time, the weather is pleasant in the region, and the landscape offers scenic views.
Caribbean islands
As the weather in this region is favorable all year, seniors must consider Caribbean island cruises. The year-round packages also mean seniors can choose from various itineraries, departure ports, and trip lengths. The best senior cruise packages often cover the charming islands of St. Lucia, Antigua, St. Kitts and Nevis, Barbados, and St. Maarten.
Norwegian Fjords
This destination is another favorite among seniors who want the ultimate cruise experience. On a Norway cruise trip, seniors visit some of the most stunning ports, such as Bergen, Geiranger, Alesund, and Stavanger.
Scandinavia
Cruise vacations to Scandinavia cover beautiful ports of call like Copenhagen, Sweden, Stockholm, and Tallinn. Many cruise ships often make an overnight halt in Copenhagen to allow passengers to experience the best of the city’s culture.
Galápagos Islands
For seniors looking for a vacation that allows them to connect with nature, a trip to the Galápagos is worth considering. Cruise liners operating in this region tend to offer week-long all-inclusive senior cruise packages. On such trips, seniors get to explore amazing land and marine wildlife along with stunning volcanic islands.
Things seniors must consider
As the demand for senior-friendly cruises grows, many travel companies have begun offering seniors exclusive cruise packages and deals. For seniors on a budget, traveling will become more affordable if they avail of senior-specific cruise deals or rates set exclusively for seniors over 60. Besides, many popular cruise companies frequently roll out senior discounts on select destinations and routes. So, before booking any cruise, seniors must look for available promotions and compare prices of various packages.
Additionally, to make booking easier and avoid missing out on key amenities, seniors can opt for all-inclusive cruise packages, which may also carry discounts.
Finally, seniors planning a cruise trip should also consider getting travel insurance. A good insurance policy can offer financial protection when encountering unexpected situations like lost luggage, missed connections, and other issues. Besides, many travel insurance plans also reimburse policyholders for any trip cancellations. Along with this, insurance can offer seniors access to helplines whenever they need help with rebooking a cruise trip. Here, too, it is important to compare multiple insurance plans and choose an option that offers the most value for money.