ED U C AT I O N
Why More Groups Are Choosing to Cruise By Sarah Suydam
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Photo © Celebrit y Cr uises
We’ve all heard the old stereot y pes of cruising, where non-cruise people (or those who haven’t boarded a ship in a long
time) assume the experience eventually grows stale, the food is meh and the crowds are over whelming. Those days of misconception are long gone. After being invited onboard the Celebrit y Ascent, the fourth and newest ship in the brand’s award-w inning Edge Series
for its pre-inaugural cruise in late 2023, I was able to get a first-hand glimpse at some of the amenities and experiences that groups could enjoy. It wasn’t hard to see what’s mak ing cruising an increasingly popular option for groups of all k inds. Let’s take a look at a few of those reasons they’re gravitating in this direction.
A BIG BANG FOR YOUR BUCK. A l l a rou nd t he world, cr u ises a l low g roups to see a n incredible number of dest inat ions and enjoy immersive
it’s hard to turn dow n relax ing in a rooftop garden and by the pool on a stunning resort deck while mak ing your way to the next unforgettable destination on your itinerar y.
activ ities—all while still technically on one trip. So rather than seeing only one or t wo cities relatively close together
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NEXT-LEVEL SERVICE.
by t ravel i ng on ly on la nd, cr u isi ng is appea l i ng for its
Groups are looking for trips that are relaxing, memorable,
abilit y to cover lots of distance in the same amount of time
luxurious and offer excitement, and cruises certainly can
as some other trips that potentially offer less (for about the
deliver in that area. The Retreat—Ascent’s exclusive resort-
same amount of money, in many cases).
within-a-resort area for suite guests—especially stood out as
Cr uising is also appealing to g roups who don’t like to
an exceptional offering. From a private restaurant, exclusive
worr y about the logistics of getting from point A, to point
lounge and sundeck—and even your own Retreat Butler and
B, to point C and back again. W hich is understandable, as
concierge team who can help maximize your time onboard—
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