Relaxing Cruises are just what you need after a legal wrangle

Getting away from all that legal stuff.

holiday is all important when at the end or in the middle of any legal wrangle. No matter what the ways and wherefores of a case the stress is tremendous. In the case of things like divorce, you just want the whole thing over so you can get on with your life. If it’s more to do with heavier legal stuff then the need for a break is even greater. Of course there’s always plenty of legal advice on hand, but really all you want is to get away and relax somewhere. It could be called ‘running away to sea’ but taking to the Caribbean and getting on board a ship from one of the vessels belonging to Princess cruises, strikes you as a good idea. They have a terrific fleet which sails around the West Indies on a regular basis, with many of the embarkation points in Florida. That’s easy to get to by air, although that aspect of the journey is not something to relish.

Once in the port, then all the court proceedings and the legal advice being whispered in your ear can be forgotten. That’s a blessed relief, although the fact is that without all that legal advice you’d be swimming in deep waters, a bit like the Caribbean blue. That thought is not half so attractive as that of looking at those deep blue waters from the deck of a ship in the fleet of the very traditional P&O cruises. Sitting in the big leather sofas of the Anderson bar of the S.S Oriana sipping a cocktail before dinner, is a long way from taking the tube to the legal advisors office in Hammersmith every week.   

The family trip on a fun ship

It could be there is a family involved in all this legal argument and no matter how old, the tension of a family at war affects everyone. With the best will in the world all amount of legal advice can not help the seven year old who’s witnessing the break up of his parents. What he needs more than anything is to be in a fun place with other kids and not around the ongoing problems. This is where grandparents can be so helpful, and if the budget will allow, Granny and Granddad can take the young boy and his sister around the Mediterranean on one of the MSC cruises. They have a very refreshing approach to families on board their ships and their whole philosophy is geared towards making a cruise a fun experience for children from three to 17 years old. That’s a great benefit, and as the ship is your home for a while, then the elderly grandparents don’t have the struggle of taking the kids out of hotels to get to the beach, or the amusement park. The top deck swimming pool is ideal for splashing about, and there’s a wealth of kids entertainment on board. They have a dedicated staff to organise parties and games, so this is the perfect way of taking the legal stuff away, if only for a short time. And Granny and Granddad won’t mind a week or two at sea either!

Norwegian fjord relaxation

For a relaxing time, then the calm waters of the Norwegian fjords might be just the ticket. The coast of Norway is the longest in Europe and is regularly plied by the ships of the Fred Olsen cruises, although they go to a whole raft of other destinations as well. All of the cruise line companies have itineraries which stretch from vibrant South America and the Amazon, to the cooler climes of the Alaskan icecap. The departure points vary according to the cruise itinerary, so passengers can embark in Hong Kong for a cruise around Asia Pacific, Vancouver for a voyage to Alaska and Miami for a trip to the West Indies. For the UK based companies and the transatlantic trips, cruises from Southampton will be the most likely port of embarkation.

Festive fun under the Sydney Harbour Bridge

Australia is a destination which can be reached on a full round the world trip or picked up as a short voyage around the region and on to New Zealand. The favourite time to get away from the cold European weather for any reason, is the winter period, when it is just plain miserable. Of course the opposite is true down under and springtime in Melbourne is superb, but it’s in November! It takes a bit of getting used to, but the perfect time for the big festive celebrations would be on one of the Christmas cruises which take in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and maybe Auckland as well. The coast of Australia is wonderful and the shore excursions in Sydney would surely take in the Opera House and the Sydney harbour bridge. Passengers on board their ship will have already had the pleasure of sailing underneath one of the most famous bridges in the world. It’s a sight many Sydney dwellers never tire of – that of a big cruise liner gliding gracefully into Sydney harbour.

Low cost holidays in the Caribbean

So as the legal wrangles continue and the idea of taking to the seas with the Royal Caribbean cruises looks to be more attractive, the question must always be – how much? The legal costs don’t come cheap and the savings may be running down at an alarming rate. But a 5 day trip out of Miami around those blue waters you were dreaming about is remarkably cheap. For less that $350 an inside cabin on board the Jewel of the Seas will take you to Mexico and back, calling at Cozumel and Costa Maya. That’s not bad when compared with any sort of holiday.

So whilst the West Indies and Mexico look attractive – well, the truth is they all look attractive – there is always the good old Mediterranean cruises which have been the stalwart of the cruise business in Europe for decades. The cities of the Med. are well used to seeing cruise liners dock and disembark camera toting passengers to spend a day on shore. The Greek islands are a favourite, as are the fine cities of Italy, with Venice outstanding amongst them all. But the Holy Lands and Turkey are all on the itinerary for the many companies who include Europe as a region for taking a cruises. The shore excursions are all important for the traveller who sees the on board lifestyle as just one aspect of the journey. Getting off the ship and looking at the location is equally important, so shipping lines have experts in archeology, history and traditional cultures on board to pave the way. The series of lectures and meetings about a new location provide that extra bit of knowledge from an expert who is not averse to discussing the topics over a drink in the bar. It’s a much more personal experience and one which can never be recreated on the tour bus with the lady up front yelling into a microphone.

Meeting new people once aboard

So with the legal difficulties behind the Caribbean cruises remain a very attractive proposition for a short break away. Shopping in the smart malls of Miami is not going to be lost on a parent who prides herself on her appearance, and that can only help in possibly meeting new friends on board a cruise liner. That’s another aspect of the world of cruising. It’s a very sociable affair, and the evening dinner is a time to meet new people. Some may be serious types, others who may enjoy a bit of fun. The mixing of passengers at a table is an art which is carried out by the Cruise Director.

Knowing a person is getting away after a bad divorce would not be the place to put the legal advisor on a trip to England. That may not quite work! But its surprising the mix of people who go on cruises. There are always a few retirees who have promised themselves a quality cruise all of their lives. Often there is a young family, and one which is trying to get away from it all, and then there are people on transatlantic trips, who have a fear of flying. One posting on a forum from a traveller read “ Can anyone tell me how I can get from Shanghai to London by sea – I have a genuine fear of flying?”. It’s the most simple of reasons to take a sea voyage and one which is not often seriously considered. So. the cruise is not confined to those in the latter stages of their lives and appeals to all ages and all types.

St Kitts or Bergen?

The Caribbean still looks terrific value but it’s making the long the trip out there, and with the young family that may be as stressful as staying at home. With overcrowded airports and all that goes with modern day flying, the temptation to stay closer to home is there. The trips that leave from the UK are as good as any, so the Norwegian cruises look just the job. Getting away from the legal workings is the all important factor here, and reducing the stress levels. Communications will be easy, and it’s a chance to see the great deep water fjords of Trondheim and cities such as Bergen and Tromso.