01 July 2008

Are cruises really the love boat?

A basic question about cruises was answered by Cruise Critic: Are they romantic? The answer: Yes.

More than half of those in a survey said it was a great vacation romantic vacation option.

The TV program Ã¢â¬ÅâœThe Love BoatÃ¢â¬â¢sÃ¢â¬~ penchant for celebrating romance resonated with those who responded to the poll which asked: Ã¢â¬ÅâœIf you went on a cruise with romance in mind, what type of romance would you be looking for?Ã¢â¬~ Ninety-one percent said they would be interested in spending time with Ã¢â¬Åâœsomeone special.Ã¢â¬~

What makes a cruise one of the most romantic vacations in the world?

Ã¢â¬ÅâœCruising -- with its cozy cabins, private balconies, intimate restaurants for dining a deux, plus the unimaginable romance of being out at sea, away from all semblance of normal daily routines -- is one of the most romantic ways to travel,Ã¢â¬~ suggests Carolyn Spencer Brown, Editor-in-Chief, Cruise Critic.

As a singles hotspot, cruise ships donÃ¢â¬â¢t yet rival dating sites like Match.com for offering easy ways to meet potential partners, but they are coming on strong.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœCruising is a great choice for a singles vacation according to 32 percent of survey respondents,Ã¢â¬~ notes Ms Spencer Brown, who met her now-husband on board a cruise ship while traveling solo. She added:

Ã¢â¬ÅâœThe combination of activities that aim to bring single travelers together and the fact that people are less inhibited on a cruise ship than in their daily routines helps romance along.Ã¢â¬~

Launched in October of 1995, by The Independent Traveler, Inc., Cruise Critic says it was the first consumer cruise site on the Internet.

Report by David Wilkening