With Valentine’s and Galentine’s Day approaching, many of us are dreaming about that next vacation getaway with the ones we love and care about most. Joining us now to discuss why a cruise may be just what you’re looking for, is travel expert and editor-in-chief of cruise critic, Colleen McDaniel. For more information visit ncl.com
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00:00 >> With Valentine's and
00:02 Galentine's Day approaching,
00:03 many of us are dreaming about
00:05 that next vacation getaway with
00:07 the ones we love and care about
00:08 most.
00:09 Last week, I talked with travel
00:10 expert and editor-in-chief of
00:12 "Cruise Critic" Colleen
00:13 McDaniel to discuss why a cruise
00:15 may be just what you're looking
00:17 for.
00:20 Hi, Colleen, good morning.
00:21 Thank you for being here.
00:24 >> Oh, thanks so much for
00:25 having me.
00:26 >> So I want to talk about why
00:28 cruises are so perfect for
00:30 couples.
00:31 I know I have to say I'm a huge
00:33 cruiser.
00:34 I actually used to work on
00:35 cruise ships, so I do love them,
00:37 but I have never gone as a
00:38 couple, so tell me a little bit
00:39 why it's so romantic and
00:40 special.
00:42 >> Oh, my gosh.
00:43 Well, for starters, you get to
00:45 spend more time together.
00:46 We all live super busy lives,
00:48 and cruising really offers a
00:50 romantic escape that lets you
00:52 maximize your quality time
00:53 together, whether that is
00:55 enjoying cultural sites in
00:56 Europe or simply relaxing on a
00:58 beach together in Hawaii.
01:00 Cruising is also unmatched in
01:02 terms of variety and value.
01:04 When it comes to variety, it
01:05 lets you pick your stateroom
01:07 type, your activities, your
01:08 dining, your entertainment, and
01:10 so much more.
01:11 And, of course, when it comes to
01:12 pricing, compared with a land
01:14 vacation, cruising is just more
01:16 inclusive.
01:17 It's the best value for your
01:19 vacation dollar.
01:20 >> That makes total sense.
01:22 It's a great value, like you
01:23 said, and you get to spend so
01:25 much time together either out
01:27 on land or while you're on the
01:29 ship at sea, which would make it
01:31 another great time to spend with
01:33 your girlfriends, right?
01:35 >> Yeah, well, and this is my
01:37 favorite thing to talk about
01:38 because there's really no better
01:40 way to connect or reconnect with
01:42 the women in your life than
01:43 embarking on a new cruise
01:45 journey together.
01:46 Cruising provides a variety of
01:48 experiences that really cater to
01:49 women everywhere, whether it's
01:51 discovering a new city, enjoying
01:53 beach time together, or just
01:54 signing up for an adventurous
01:56 activity.
01:57 Plus, you unpack once, and
01:59 you're in a new destination
02:00 every day.
02:01 Now, let's be honest.
02:02 It is hard for women to get away
02:04 given the daily responsibilities
02:06 they have, and cruising offers a
02:08 flexibility and an ease of
02:10 travel that makes it the best
02:12 value for your vacation time.
02:14 >> Plus, I'm sorry, but I just
02:15 have to say, the spa days while
02:17 you're on the ship, I'm sure,
02:19 are unmatched.
02:20 So that's got to be a blast when
02:21 you're with the girls.
02:22 >> They are incredible.
02:23 >> Yeah, and it's a great way to
02:25 catch up.
02:26 And then you come back fully
02:27 refreshed.
02:28 >> Ah, sounds amazing.
02:29 So when people are looking to
02:30 book, what should they be
02:31 considering?
02:33 >> Yeah, well, for starters, book
02:35 ahead of time right now is a
02:37 great time to start planning
02:38 your summer 2024 vacation.
02:41 And for a limited time,
02:42 Norwegian Cruise Line is offering
02:44 50% off all cruises, plus its
02:46 free at sea offer, which
02:47 includes things like unlimited
02:49 open bar, free specialty dining,
02:51 free water, and free food.
02:52 And of course, free food, free
02:54 water, free dining, free Wi-Fi,
02:56 and much more.
02:58 Also, research your
02:59 accommodations.
03:00 If you're looking for that
03:01 romantic getaway and want to
03:03 splurge a little bit, consider
03:05 something like The Haven, which
03:06 is Norwegian Cruise Line's
03:07 private ship-within-a-ship
03:09 enclave.
03:10 And this comes with a whole host
03:11 of perks, including private pool,
03:13 private restaurant, private bar,
03:15 and, of course, 24/7 butler
03:17 service.
03:18 Now, if you're doing a girls'
03:19 trip, consider connecting cabins
03:21 with a crew member.
03:22 Or you can choose a studio cabin,
03:24 which is designed and priced for
03:26 the solo traveler.
03:27 NCL actually has solo cabins on
03:29 all 19 ships across its fleet.
03:32 >> Colleen, that sounds amazing.
03:34 The Haven?
03:35 Oh, my gosh, sign me up right
03:36 now.
03:37 That sounds incredible.
03:38 So I know some of the most
03:40 popular destinations, I'm sure,
03:42 are, you know, going to the
03:43 Bahamas, going to Europe.
03:45 But really quickly, run us
03:46 through a couple of quick,
03:47 really popular destinations.
03:49 >> We bet.
03:50 So Europe and Hawaii are both in
03:51 high demand right now, and
03:52 they're both great destinations
03:54 for those girls' getaways or
03:55 that romantic trip.
03:56 Now, you know, when you're
03:58 looking in Europe, look for
03:59 immersive itineraries.
04:01 NCL, on average, offers
04:03 10 1/2 hours in ports in Europe,
04:05 so you can really bond and
04:06 indulge in those culturally
04:08 diverse itineraries together.
04:10 Also, Hawaii is incredible.
04:12 Yeah, and NCL is the only line
04:14 to offer seven-night inter-
04:16 island itineraries that start
04:18 from Honolulu.
04:19 >> Ooh, that sounds so
04:20 fantastic.
04:21 Well, Colleen, tell everyone
04:22 where they can go to learn more.
04:24 >> So for more on those ships,
04:27 itineraries, destinations I
04:28 talked about, visit ncl.com.
04:30 And to hear from cruisers just
04:32 like you, visit
04:33 cruisecritic.com.
04:34 >> Nice and easy.
04:35 I love it.
04:36 Thank you so much.
04:37 >> Thank you.
04:38 Appreciate it.
04:39 [BLANK_AUDIO]