When times are tough, a well-deserved vacation is therapeutic, doctor says

Dr. David Hubschmitt, a New Jersey-based psychologist specializing in depression, agrees that vacationing during stressful times can be a good remedy. "A well-timed vacation may offer significant benefits for mental health. The relaxation provides a much-needed change of gears in a time-starved society, and may be an ideal time to reconnect with loved ones traveling with you. For those traveling alone, vacations may lead to a higher level of self discovery."

A well-chosen vacation, according to experts, offers significant benefits and opportunities, including:

• Relaxation,shifting gears and change of scenery are good for one's health - physical, mental and spiritual
• There is no better time or setting for reconnecting with family and friends and renewing relationships
• A vacation is an opportunity to discover or rediscover oneself
• There's no better time to recharge and re-energize and to look forward with confidence and enthusiasm

What makes a cruise the perfect vacation therapy? There's the ease of planning and the convenience of having a "home away from home" for the length of the trip, plus all-inclusive pricing that delivers excellent value. The diversity of cruise experiences means that there is a vacation for every taste, interest and budget. With more than 30 domestic ports of embarkation, millions of Americans are within driving distance of a cruise. And CLIA member lines are doing everything they can to create irresistible incentives. So take a cruise; it's good for you!

Time is Money–Save both with a Cruise Vacation Expert

These days, every penny counts. When planning your vacation, it pays to find a professional who knows how to get value and find the cruise vacation that matches family budget as well as individual tastes and interests. With his or her knowledge of cruising, a CLIA travel agent and Certified Cruise Counselor can help customers get exactly the vacation experience they want and that meets their budget.

Top 10 Tips For Stretching Vacation Dollars On A Cruise Vacation

Here are some tips for planning a value-added cruise vacation:

1. CLIA member cruise lines offer inclusive pricing. Accommodations, meals, entertainment, use of most ship's facilities, and transportation from destination to destination are all included in the cruise price; this means the consumer is already off to a great start in realizing value for money spent.
2. Cruises are offered in every possible price category. Spend a little or spend a lot; it's easy to pick the line that matches your budget.
3. Cruises come in every length, from three days to three months. If budget is a high priority, pick a shorter cruise.
4. CLIA member cruise lines operate all over the world. By picking an "off season" destination - the Caribbean this summer, for example - travelers can often save money without losing any of the fun, excitement and pleasure of vacationing in the tropics.
5. With a weak U.S. dollar, planning a European cruise and paying in advance, in dollars, often represents added value compared to a European vacation paid in local currencies.
6. On most ships, the price of your cruise is based on your choice of accommodations, nothing else. Most ships offer a wide choice of inside and ocean view staterooms, staterooms with balconies, even suites. If budget is a consideration, choose an inexpensive inside stateroom and enjoy the same dining, entertainment and use of ship's facilities as everyone else.
7. Most CLIA member ships offer a wide variety of accommodations. If spacious, luxurious accommodations are your top priority, choose a cruise line whose suites match your budget.
8. Cruises are an ideal choice for families, extended families and friends who want to share a memorable vacation. Put together your own group of cruisers and ask for a group rate.
9. There are more than 30 homeports for cruise ships in the United States. Wherever you live, pick a cruise you can drive to in order to save on the cost of airfare.
10. Most important, take advantage of the expertise, experience and knowledge of a CLIA-certified travel agent. No type of vacation offers more variety than cruising; you'll enjoy extra satisfaction–and that, after all, is what value really means–by matching your cruise with your tastes, interests and budget. And, that is what CLIA's 16,000 travel agents around the country do best.

To help plan the cruise vacation that's right for you, here are some options on how to enjoy a vacation at sea:

• There's Never Been A Better Time To Cruise Alaska

Every destination visited by the ships of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has its own special character and personality. The Caribbean is all about tropical beaches and sensuous indulgence. Europe is history, sophistication and cosmopolitan charm. And, then there is Alaska.

America's Last Frontier - the "Great Land" - is like nowhere else on earth. Wild, expansive, magnificent in scale and natural beauty, its boundaries seem limitless and visitors are constantly reminded of the immensity and power of Mother Nature. Cruising through sweeping bays and steep fjords against a backdrop of giant glaciers, even a cruise ship seems tiny. As spring bursts into summer, this is what travelers from around the world come for - the unique experience of Alaska, thoroughly enjoyed in the comfort and luxury of a cruise. With new itineraries, ports, land options and special offers by member lines of CLIA, there has never been a better time to visit.

Alaska cruises are offered in varying lengths from ports all along the West Coast, from California to British Columbia to Alaska. Most lines also feature extensive land programs to ensure that the full offerings of the destination are appreciated, whether it's by dog sled, floatplane, jet boat or steam train. For 2009, cruise lines are making all this even more irresistible with added-value and special pricing, even, in some cases, two-for-one offers.

• The Only Thing Easier Than Planning A Family Reunion Cruise Is Enjoying The Vacation

Planning a family reunion often can be more enjoyable in theory than in fact. Picking the place, the food, the activities and the entertainment that every member will enjoy and appreciate can be close to impossible. This is particularly true when the group includes all ages, families with children, couples without children, singles, seniors and teens.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and its members have a remarkably simple solution, within the reach and budget of every extended family: a family reunion cruise vacation. Shipboard multigenerational group vacations, including family reunions, represent one of the fastest growing segments of the cruise industry for many reasons, not the least of which is the extraordinary ease of planning. Almost 90 percent of cruise vacations are sold by travel agents who do all the work - from talking with any or all members of the group to assess their needs and expectations, to recommending a cruise that matches those requirements and working with the cruise line to obtain the best price and make all the arrangements. Once onboard most cruise ships that cater to groups, the family has access to around-the-clock services and assistance of group and event coordinators who ensure that needs are met and activities run smoothly.

The top reason why cruises and family reunions are the perfect match - and very easy to plan - is that on a cruise, all family members can do whatever they want, when they want, individually or with others. There are babysitters for the youngest travelers, supervised activities for toddlers and young children, clubs and dances for teens, and a broad range of activities for adults and seniors. Depending on the ship, recreational activities may include climbing walls or ice skating rinks, spa and fitness programs, dance lessons, cooking classes, wine tastings or other learning opportunities. Multiple choices of dining experiences and venues - from poolside snacks to the most elegant haute cuisine - ensures that all guests enjoy themselves in the style and ambience they prefer. Daily entertainment, from movies to spectacular Broadway style musicals, guarantees that every taste and interest is accommodated. And, in each port - there may be as many as six different destinations visited during a seven-day cruise - a wide variety of shore excursions, including golf on some of the world's best courses, means land excursions of interest to everyone.

The choices of things to do and ways to enjoy the cruise mean that every member of the group can plan his or her own vacation. Individuals may choose to pursue their own interests, families or pairings of families may choose to share experiences, or the entire reunion group may choose to share meals or nightly entertainment. The possibilities are limitless, and, most important, no one in the group is stuck with planning for everyone, pleading for consensus or risking hurt feelings.

• Families Give Top Marks To Cruising

CRUISING: THE IDEAL FAMILY VACATION

Surfing on the ocean, ice skating in the tropics, aqua parks at sea, zip lining through the rainforest, living history lessons in legendary destinations: Families are discovering that a cruise vacation can be an experience almost impossible to imagine. Onboard surfing pools, ice skating rinks, rock climbing walls, outdoor movies and even bowling alleys are some of the amazing features found on today's cruises. There is top-quality family entertainment, learning programs geared for almost every age traveler, babysitting and supervised children's activities from dawn through the evening, and flexible dining, with special menus and in some cases special dining rooms for kids.

Onboard enrichment programs for children and families range from arts and crafts to a unique marine environment program created by the famed Jean-Michel Cousteau. There are supervised nurseries for the youngest travelers, science labs, age-specific dedicated children's and teen clubs and, in some cases, "children-only" recreation areas or decks. There are onboard "camps" where children learn to be disc jockeys or Broadway stars or celebrity chefs. And, depending on the itinerary, shore excursions may include special family-oriented sightseeing or recreational activities, visiting historical sites and other options of interest to young travelers.

• Discover The World's Natural Treasures In Comfort And Safety On A Cruise Vacation

Nature/Environment Themed Itineraries and Excursions Offered In Every Part of World from Antarctica to Tropics to Alaska

The world's natural treasures - magnificent, untouched landscapes, rare ecosystems and extraordinary plants, birds and animals - tend to be in out-of-the-way places, often remote and inaccessible for all but the most intrepid adventurer. And cruise vacationers.

One of the greatest advantages to travel by ship - in addition to the ease and comfort, great dining, entertainment and educational programs - is the ability to sail to parts of the world that are otherwise difficult to access. The magnificent fjords of Chile, the mighty wilderness of Alaska, the remote islands of the tropics, and, of course, the incomparable splendor of Antarctica: these are just a few of the remoter regions of the world that serve as destinations for a wide variety of cruise itineraries on ships small or large. What's more, even on cruises featuring popular beach, recreations and shopping destinations, a surprising encounter with nature - volcanoes and waterfalls, wildlife preserves, ziplining through tropical canopy forests, exotic birds and butterflies - is almost always on offer.

• Cruise Excursions: The Unusual, The Elegant And The Adventurous

Walking the rooftops of Stockholm, catching lobsters in Maine, Maseratis in Monaco and bobsleds in Jamaica: anyone who thinks cruise ship shore excursions offered by members of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) consist of only half-day city sightseeing tours, is in for a huge surprise.

Today's cruise industry is all about offering variety and choice. In addition to new ships of all sizes, innovative and diverse itineraries and new worldwide cruise destinations, CLIA members have also dramatically enhanced the scope and quality of cruise vacations by offering shore excursions that are dazzling in their ingenuity and often breathtaking in their sense of adventure. And many offer luxury in the extreme.

For starters, there are reserved seats for the Monaco Grand Prix and the chance to drive one of the world's fastest sports cars through the French Riviera. There is icy champagne on the way to the Arctic Circle. There's hunting the Red Elephant of Tsavo with a camera, and sampling rare wines from one of the world's largest private collections. Cruise guests can explore the Viking ruins of Greenland or the ancient Incan treasures of South America. They can ride Harleys in the Caribbean, climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia, or go biking in Croatia. In short, virtually anything an adventurous or inspired traveler can imagine doing is probably offered on a CLIA cruise line shore excursion.

• Driving to the Ship Adds Value Convenience to Cruise Vacations

DRIVING TO THE SHIP ADDS VALUE, CONVENIENCE TO CRUISE VACATIONS

For the member companies of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), cruising is all about choice, flexibility and value. While spectacular new ships tend to grab the headlines and symbolize the remarkable growth and diversity of the industry, a quieter and very timely trend is the growth of domestic ports of embarkation to more than 30, from Anchorage to St. Augustine, Boston to New Orleans. In fact, virtually the entire population of the United States is within driving distance of a cruise.

This not only adds significantly to the convenience factor of a cruise vacation - driving to the ship and leaving the car a short walking distance away - but can also represent significant savings during times of economic uncertainty, even allowing for the high price of gasoline.

When the modern cruise industry began in the 1960's, the vast majority of voyages departed from a handful of big city ports, notably New York, Miami and Los Angeles. Today, cruisers can choose an itinerary from such East Coast embarkation points as Bangor, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Norfolk, Charleston, Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Port Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami. Passengers embarking in the New York metropolitan area have three ports to choose from: Manhattan, Brooklyn and across the Hudson River in New Jersey. On the West Coast the choices include four ports in Alaska, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego. On the Gulf Coast, cruisers can opt for such cities as Galveston, New Orleans, Mobile and Tampa.

• Sampling The World And Shipboard Life On Short Cruises

SAMPLING THE WORLD AND SHIPBOARD LIFE ON SHORT CRUISES

If "the longest journey begins with a single step," then it may also be said that "a lifetime of cruising begins with a three-day trip." Member lines of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) enjoy some of the highest repeat customer rates in the travel industry and many of those millions of vacationers began with a short cruise of less than a week. They loved what they experienced and have kept coming back for more.

CLIA member lines offer cruises of less than a week in all parts of the world, from the Bahamas, the Caribbean and the West Coast, to Europe, Scandinavia, even Australia. Many are on the newest, largest ships among CLIA's fleet; others offer a more intimate exploration of world on luxury, yacht-sized ships or restored vintage vessels. Many of the short cruises are offered from a rapidly growing list of American port cities ranging the entire lengths of the East Coast, West Coast and Gulf Coast. There is even one cruise line that enables passengers to plan their own length of cruise.

• Sample Europe By Cruise Ship And Save This Summer

CRUISING IN EUROPE: NEW SHIPS AND SUPER SAVINGS

From the Arctic Circle to North Africa, the Baltic to the Black Sea, Iberia to Istanbul, the member companies of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) have the entire length and breadth of Europe covered. With cruises offered in every length of voyage and in all price categories, there is no easier, more comfortable way to discover the pleasures of Provence, the treasures of St. Petersburg or Venice, the Greek islands, Scandinavian fjords, the Blue Danube, the Adriatic coast and much more.

Beginning this summer and continuing through the year and into 2010, cruisers in Europe will also have the choice of some of the newest ships in the CLIA fleet and, most important, can take advantage of super savings.

On top of the already incredible value on offer throughout the industry, CLIA member lines are making Europe irresistible with phenomenal savings including two-for-one pricing, free airfare from North America, "kids sail free" plans and other incentives. Add in the opportunity to sail on some of the very newest ships and the choices for European cruising become truly exciting, whether it's a luxurious trip on legendary rivers, exploring the antiquities of Rome, Greece and Turkey, and discovering the wonders of the Baltic.

• Small Ship Cruising: Seeing The World Up Close

Differing Dramatically in Character and Destination, Small Cruise Ships Offer a Uniquely Personal Exploration of the World's Out-of-the-Way Places

At first glance, the American Eagle, the River Queen and the Seabourn Spirit might seem to have little in common. The first carries barely 60 guests on informal journeys through the Chesapeake Bay, the Antebellum South and other destinations on the East Coast. The River Queen travels the legendary Rhine and Moselle rivers of Europe. And, the Seabourn Spirit and its sister ships sail the world, accommodating just over 200 passengers.

But, in fact, these ships, while representing very different varieties of small ship cruising, have important things in common, qualities that distinguish this cruise segment from all other types of travel. And, they are just three of many small ships belonging to member lines of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).

From Antarctica to the Arctic, the Caribbean to Canada, Mexico to the Mediterranean, they travel the great rivers of Europe and North America, sail along Norwegian fjords and other scenic coasts, cross oceans, explore the globe's most remote destinations, and even embark on world cruises. Their size enables a small group of travelers to go where no other cruise ships go - to the inland capitals of Europe and Asia, tiny islands in the tropics, undiscovered ports in the Middle East, remote coves and bays in Alaska, America's Intra-Coastal Waterway and much more. The combination of out-of-the-way destinations and relatively small amount of passengers means that the lucky few onboard experience the world as though it was theirs alone to discover.

Whether the shipboard experience emphasizes sheer elegance and luxury while visiting some of the world's most glamorous yachting destinations, or a more informal yet equally delightful and comfortable lifestyle for journeying through nature's most extreme environments, all small ships have other qualities in common. They enable guests to socialize easily and share experiences with new-found friends who share their interests and tastes. They provide a true and very satisfying sense of having a home away from home, feeling cared for by staff the guests come to know and enjoy.

And, small ships virtually eliminate the hassles of travel. Getting on and off the vessel is effortless, with docking in the very center of the action of each destination or port, and sightseeing is crowdless, often in places where there are few other visitors.