by Allen Teal

Created on: February 13, 2007   Last Updated: December 30, 2008

Retirement is coming. You are going over your list of ways to spend the leisure hours that come included with this time of your life. Even if you are not retiring early, you should still have many great years of living before you if you are healthy. Most people have delayed exotic travel because of the cost and the time involved. In retirement, you should now have the time and many retirees have the funds. It is time to travel. See the world.

Cruises and retirement are a good fit. Both are about relaxing and living a leisurely life with a few dollars to spend. Cruises are an excellent way to visit many of those exotic places without having to bone up on local customs and fear eating and drinking there. You get to sample the scenery, people, and culture without much of the hassle.

If you like to be pampered, cruise ships pamper you very well. They make your bed, cook your food, bring your entertainment to you, and every day or two escort you to some exotic place. It really doesn't get much better. You can eat all of your meals on the ship and not have to worry about unhealthy foods.

My wife and I sat across from a couple in their eighties at dinner each night on one cruise. They were on their nineteenth cruise. The majority of their cruises had been with the same line. Because of this they were given even better than normal treatment by the cruise line, the captain of the ship, and their travel agent.

Speaking of dinner, it is always fabulous. If you want three appetizers, you just order them. Or three entrees. Or three desserts. Oh yeah! We took two cruises with family or friends and ate together each night and recapped our days. It was great. But, we have taken other cruises just as a couple. Getting acquainted with our table mates over the 5 or 7 nights was a great experience too.

Cruises are all=inclusive and cost little more than any other extended trip where you have to buy your meals and lodging and pay for transportation. They also compare favorably on both price and enjoyment to most all-inclusive vacation packages to a similar part of the world. At most ports you are treated very well because the locals depend on the tourist business to eat. So, most ports are more like an extension of the ship.

Safety has never been an issue for us either onboard or ashore. The few problems with violence or illness are exagerated by the media just like plane crashes or train wrecks. They are few and far between, but they make good press.

Some lines like Holland America, for example, seem to cater more to seniors and retirees than say, Carnival. But, I have rarely seen anyone wondering about grumbling and complaining on any ship on any of the 4 lines I have sailed with. I would suggest that you try a couple of different cruise lines to find the best fit for you. I always choose cheap, but sometimes it makes it interesting to dodge an occasional rude guest.

The ships are spectacular and huge. The waves are barely noticeable if at all unless you are unfortunate enough to get caught in a major storm. They try really hard not to let that happen. They can develop your film or digital pics for a reasonable price. This lets you get off the boat ready to start sharing your memories on the ride home.

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