Top 10 reasons to choose a cruise

There are small ships offering the ultimate in luxury, where everything is included in the price, including shore excursions, bar bills, and tipping; there are ships harkening back to the days of ocean liner elegance but with the latest accoutrements; there are party ships, where the action goes on from dawn to dawn; there are replica 19th-century clipper ships where you cruise beneath huge canvas sails in the company of fellow ocean-loving passengers (but in considerably more comfort than those sailors of old enjoyed) -- the choices are about as varied as the number of ships at sea, and that's saying a lot.

The common denominator, regardless of the vessel you pick, is value. Value tops the list of CLIA's (Cruise Lines International Association) Top Ten Reasons to Choose a Cruise, compiled from surveying thousands of passengers.

Why value? One price buys your accommodations, all your meals (including snacks and, in most cases, room service at whatever time of day), entertainment, and travel between ports. Even the all-inclusive land resort can't beat that, when you consider the ports offered.

If value is number one, what are the others?

Romance ranks second, with “dining on a stateroom balcony overlooking the ocean” cited as being “as romantic as it gets.” Throw in spa services for two, waking together in an exotic port, and dancing into the wee hours, and it's a tried-and-true recipe for the love stuff, be it a honeymoon, an anniversary, or a courtship.

Number three was, not surprisingly, cuisine. Passengers on the larger liners can choose to dine in a traditional ballroom setting, a bistro, or a casual eatery. The advent of alternative dining restaurants on a handful of ships in the early 1990s heralded a revolution in cruise food. Today, most of the popular cruise lines offer specialty restaurants, some of them, like Crystal Cruises', included in the fare. Others, like Cunard's gourmet Todd English restaurant, require an extra payment, but much lower than the land-based equivalent would cost. The main dining rooms have come a long way, too, with menus designed to please many palates and most dietary needs. Old favourites like pizza, hamburgers and chips, or ice cream can be found in their own nooks, often available throughout the day.