PRINCESS BLOG ASKS, WHY DO YOU CRUISE?

Just about every major cruise line is taking advantage of social media and the "blogosphere," knowing that's a great way to connect with their customers.


On the blog side of things, Princess Cruises is especially active. Last year they had their "50 Essential Experiences." They asked their employees to answer the question, “You’ve seen it all. What places do I really need to have on my travel bucket list?” This year the theme is Inspired to Cruise: A Year of Reasons to Get Away from the Everyday, "offering readers a new collection of touching passenger stories about the many things that can inspire travelers to vacation at sea." Each week during 2012, "the blog explores the celebrations, accomplishments, milestones and other inspired reasons to cruise, each told by a different passenger."


The latest reasons to cruise, from their press release, are:


Story #20: To Renew Our Vows – LeaBeth Taylor of Perth, Ontario, Canada, recounts the magical moments she and her husband shared on their 35th anniversary cruise, including their private vow renewal onboard and having the ceremony blessed by a priest in Ephesus, Turkey.

Story #19: To Keep a Promise – Sally Bookman of Santa Cruz, Calif., describes how she and her husband promised their son’s birth mother that they would travel the world with him, and how they’ve kept that promise by taking their son Drew on several cruises, including a recent voyage to Asia where he gained a newfound sense of confidence.

Story #18: To Fulfill My Husband’s Bucket List – Sandy McFarlane of Turosshead, New South Wales, Australia, tells how she found her cancer-stricken husband’s bucket list and secretly booked a cruise where he could cross three of his wishes off the list.

Story #17: To Quit Smoking – Robin Tawfall of Paradise, Calif., tells how she quit smoking when she took the place of her friend’s husband on a Alaska cruise after he passed away of smoking-related complications. In his honor, she kicked the habit herself during the cruise, after many years of trying.

Story #16: To See My Wife Smile Again – Willy Stader of Cremorne Point, New South Wales, Australia, describes how being at sea brought happiness back to his wife, who had been suffering from dementia and a debilitating muscular disease. As a result, he booked the Dawn Princess world cruise in an effort to keep her smiling.

Also featured on the blog is a weekly “Escape Inspiration” video. Each 30-second favorite moment at sea is introduced by a Princess crew member who describes why the scene is meaningful to them.


So tell us -- why do you cruise?


-- Gerry, for Cruising Squared