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Nobody wants to think about the worst case scenario for their cruise vacation. As much as we'd all like to believe that it is smooth sailing as soon as the deposit is placed, that is not always the case. Unexpected events, such as the sudden onset of an illness prior to embarkation or a delayed flight, can cause the vacation to be thrown off course.

As children turn into teens, they may start to moan and goan when the words "family vacation" are brought up. They have their own likes, dislikes, and often are not ready to retire to bed at night when parents are. 

That is why cruising is becoming a more popular family vacation, as they offer something for everyone -- think countless destinations; dedicated venues for kids, teens, and adults; and unlimited food. 

No one wants to think about getting sick on their cruise vacation; in fact, it’s the absolute last thing I want to think about when I am enjoying a mojito on the pool deck.

Especially in a post-pandemic world where we are more aware of potential diseases and illnesses, you might wonder what it’s like using a medical facility on a cruise ship.

If you’re like me, you might not live within driving distance to a lot of cruise ports. Sure, I could hop the subway and sail out of New York or Cape Liberty, or I could take a train to Boston. But what if I’m just itching to explore ancient Mayan ruins or bask in the Mexican Riviera sun?

Over the last decade, the cruising industry has been transformed through innovation and technology. 

Cruising was once considered a fairly posh, traditional and exclusive experience. In fact, the cruise industry goes back all the way to 1901. The most infamous cruise ship, of course, is the Titanic, which was pretty revolutionary for its time. The ocean liner had an impressive design that featured pools, restaurants and onboard activities. 

Thinking about taking a cruise but not sure if it is right for you?

Cruising comes in a variety of forms, some of which you may not have considered. Preconceived ideas about hoards of people and massive lives don't match up to the reality of cruising. There is a reason why millions of people cruise each year and why they keep coming back.  

Where to go, what cruise line, and the type of ship are all considerations in planning a great cruise vacation. 

Cruise fans will agree: there’s something extra special about sailing on a cruise line’s brand-new ship. While older ships have charm, you can also find outdated decor, old-school ship design and a little bit more rust than you might prefer. 

Sailing on a brand-new cruise ship feels like buying a new car. Not only are you experiencing the latest and greatest from an innovation standpoint, but everything just feels modern, clean and fresh. 

There’s no denying that the “big three” cruise lines have their issues with consumers, but they aren't the only cruise line with downsides to them.

I recently wrote an an article dedicated to the things I don't like about Carnival, NCL and Royal Caribbean, but I wanted to expand this to other major cruise lines. While they may the biggest cruise lines, I also wanted to talk about three more popular cruise lines.

Whether you just returned from a cruise, are eagerly counting down the days until you set sail, or just daydreaming about staring off into the vast and seemingly endless horizon, sometimes it is nice to find a quote that summarizes your thoughts and feelings.  

While they may not be the most quirky Instagramable captions or cure your post-cruise blues, here are twenty-four quotes that will hopefully bring you closer to the sea, no matter how near or far you may be.