Can You Really Afford That Luxury Cruise?
Helen Palmer
These days we are all global travellers heading off in pursuit of even more exotic destinations to explore.
One of the biggest growth sectors in holiday travel is that of luxury cruising. Up until a few years ago, most of us would have believed that cruising was an activity simply for the very rich but cruise companies have gone to great lengths to ensure that the experience is within reach of everybody these days with trips ranging from a 3 day long weekender to a 3 month cruise spanning multiple destinations.
Cruises can virtually be as short or as long as you want them to be and the only limitations as to where you can cruise to these days is simply limited by whether or not the destination is accessible by water so you’ll find people heading off in the depths of winter to places like Alaska whilst, at the same time, others will be soaking up the sun in the likes of the Seychelles, Maldives or the Caribbean.
Cheap loans are a popular method of funding a cruise ‘experience of a lifetime and you can be assured that it’s a unique way to spend a holiday. You don’t need to worry that you’ll be the ‘poor man’s son’ on a cruise trip. These days, cruises cater for people of all backgrounds and can be as formal or as informal as you want to make it. There’s no separation of ‘classes’ on board. Just one class and that’s top class!
Some people worry that they’ll get bored or claustrophobic simply sailing the seas but unless you’ve been on board a luxury cruise liner, you’ll have no idea of what’s on offer. Some of these magnificent vessels are like floating cities and it can often take you several days to discover all the different areas of the cruiser and the multitude of activities that are on offer, from sports to dancing and live entertainment, nightclubs, casinos, shopping malls, yes - shopping malls not just the odd gift shop.
The atmosphere is very relaxed and cordial and it’s really easy to make friends as cruises are popular with young and old alike, singles and couples, honeymooners and families too. Living quarters can also often be more luxurious than even the best 5 star hotel you may have experienced so there really is something for everybody on board a cruise liner.
Depending on the type of cruise you choose, all food, drinks and entertainment is often ‘on the house’ so you barely have to put your hand in your pocket.
And, contrary to popular belief, many cruisers today are so vast in size and have such stable mechanisms that seasickness is rarely a problem.
A luxury cruise is an experience that you will never forget. Even if you take out a cheap loan to fund it, it will be well worthwhile - a magnificent holiday where not only do you get the 5 star experience and treatment but where each port you stop at seems to come to you, making it an even more enriching adventure.
Chris Hake
http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles/can-you-really-afford-that-luxury-cruise-126772.html
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Posted on: Saturday, March 14, 2009 at 1:48 am 
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god is blessing them dont you know envy is a sin heh heh heh
March 13th, 2009 at 11:50 pmbut in reality i agree
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Yes it is rude. It's honestly none of your business how they get money. Sorry.
March 13th, 2009 at 11:52 pmReferences :
Yes. It is really none of your business.
Once when I was little I was out with my grandma and a very nice mercedes convertable drove by. I said "wow, they must be rich". Mr grandma replied, "Not rich, just in debt."
Debt is the answer with most people, but it is still innapropriate to speculate. Just worry about what you can afford.
Besides, sometimes people have stuff like this to bait you into asking the question and then they try to get you to join an MLM (pyramid scheme). I see this a lot in Utah.
March 13th, 2009 at 11:54 pmReferences :
Yes it's rude and offensive because it's really none of your business.
March 13th, 2009 at 11:56 pmReferences :
yeah it's rude. You said you only ask people in their 20's how old are you? You sound jealous.
March 13th, 2009 at 11:58 pmReferences :
offensive offshemsive
March 14th, 2009 at 12:00 amif you ask someone they will get over it.
its a question maybe it offends some people but they prolly just loaned it or some cheeese
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Kind of. You have to be careful how you word it. If you make it sound like your jealous and you envy them, you can get away with asking a more personal question without upsetting the person.
A lot of people who have gotten something like an inheritance, or take out a lot of loans will not volunteer this information. Keep in mind if you do ask, he doesn't have to answer the question fully. But you'll be able to tell this, when he denies his million dollar inheritance, and insists he can buy a new 7-series through his hard work as assistant manager at Starbucks… lol.
March 14th, 2009 at 12:02 amReferences :
I ask questions like this sometimes…lol
It depends on the people that you ask (how well you know them) and the tone that you ask it in. If done the right way, it will not come across as rude. If done in the wrong way it is rude.
But if they are 20 something… have NO job….not getting help from parents.. I also want to know how the heck they are affording it. So rude or not kept asking and let me know what you find out.
March 14th, 2009 at 12:04 amReferences :
yes, its rude! but to answer your other question, they charge it! by the time that they are 25-30, they realize that those charges werent free!
March 14th, 2009 at 12:06 amReferences :
Yes, it's definitely rude and very offensive for you to ask anybody if they can afford something. This is nothing that you should be ever asking. It's none of your business. Most people I'm sure would give you that as a reponse, too. Some people can afford certain luxuries, such as cruises, vacations abroad, luxury cars, etc.. because they either came into a family member who just passed away, and they inherited a lot of that person's money. The other big, big thing, is credit card debt. People do this every single day and they don't care how much money that they end up spending. Before they know it, they get way in over there head.
March 14th, 2009 at 12:08 amReferences :
Yes, it's rude.
I know that you don't intend to be rude, but it's rude nonetheless.
The fact of the matter is that most people CAN'T afford such luxuries. Their credit cards and/or personal loans are allowing them to 'afford' such things, but they would be horrified if they added up how much more they're paying with interest than the original ticket price.
The end result is stress, stress and more stress.
The best way to decide if something is worth having is to convert its dollar value into hours that you'd have to work to pay for it.
If a cheeseburger is $5.60 and you earn $8/hour and pay 30% taxes (thereby taking home $5.60/hr), then it takes you an hour of work to earn the cheeseburger. Worth it or not? It's up to you.
If a new car is $31,5000 and you earn $15/hour and pay 30% taxes (thereby taking home $10.50/hr), then it takes you 3000 hours of work to earn the car. Worth it or not? It's up to you.
March 14th, 2009 at 12:10 amReferences :
well, if they are close friends, should probably be o.k., otherwise don't try it.
btw get a rich boyfriend or hubby
March 14th, 2009 at 12:12 amReferences :
In certain situations it can be pretty rude. In some, it might not be. My family always told me to never ask people about their money. And generally, it's a good rule.
A guy at work once asked me how I afford to go to college, which I didn't find rude at all. Granted, at first it definitely made me a little uncomfortable. I felt awkward telling him that I got a lot of scholarships for community service and good grades, and that I got grant money because my house was destroyed in Katrina, and I get student loans. Initially I was awkward and uncomfortable, but later I figured he was probably trying to decide whether or not to go to college and wondered how I paid for it, since we both had the same crappy job.
So it was totally cool that he asked me that. But if he were asking me how I could afford my car, then it's really none of his business.
If it just comes up in conversation it might not be rude, but just out of the blue, and especially around a lot of other people, it could be really rude.
March 14th, 2009 at 12:14 amReferences :
You can't ask that question until you are in your 30's, sorry.
March 14th, 2009 at 12:16 amReferences :
Well, I think the reason it's rude is that you're not asking because you're interested in figuring out how to do it yourself (as in, asking for advice) but it sounds like you're just being nosey. People tend to get defensive when you question them about finances, because it sounds like you're implying they aren't able to handle their own business (which many can't, but that's beside the point). Especially when you ask if they can afford something they are buying/doing - it really makes it sound as if you think they can't. Perhaps you could get away with it if it was someone really close to you, but unless you're actually concerned and trying to help them stop spending because you know there's a problem, you might want to avoid asking that.
Think of it as asking a person "should you be eating that?" because you think they're overweight.
March 14th, 2009 at 12:18 amReferences :
I only ask if they can afford something if they owe me money and aren't getting around to paying it back.
March 14th, 2009 at 12:20 amReferences :
It is considered rude, but for most of them there is a very easy answer.
Credit cards. I'm now in my late twenties and I know so many people my age who are now so deep in debt they're credit is ruined and they're facing bankruptcy.
I used to wonder the same thing when they would go on their fancy vacations and buy brand new cars, and spend gobs of money whenever we went out together. They just loved to show off their "money". Well, now I have a nice home and nice things and they're trying to hide from the repo man. Ha Ha, it will catch up with them eventually.
March 14th, 2009 at 12:22 amReferences :
don't worry about them. channel that energy into getting your own money. you too can be a baller.
March 14th, 2009 at 12:24 amReferences :
well, it's really none of your business…
March 14th, 2009 at 12:26 amReferences :
Yes it is rude. Moreover, it can be uncomfortable for the askee.
One person said something about how it's worded, but I think that only applies to good friends and even then in special situations.
No reason to ask.
March 14th, 2009 at 12:28 amReferences :
Yes it is rude and none of your business no matter how old they are.
March 14th, 2009 at 12:30 amReferences :
Yes, it is rude. And it doesn't matter how old they or you are.
March 14th, 2009 at 12:32 amReferences :
Actually, that's very rude. It's none of your business how people spend their money. I don't care how "curious" you get. Just accept that that's what they want to with their money.
March 14th, 2009 at 12:34 amReferences :
and if they told, then what….. then they have to dispose of you properly..
March 14th, 2009 at 12:36 ammaybe you should find new friends.
On the other hand, I have the same issue, I wonder, 'I don't ask,' how they do it…
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If only the IRS and law enforcement would do their job..
Is it rude to ask someone how the can afford something?
March 14th, 2009 at 1:48 amI only ask people that question when they're in their 20's and I know their parents aren't helping them.. and they have no job.. I get real curious how people can afford certain luxuries (cruises, vacations abroad, luxury cars). I mean.. where the HECK is the $ coming from?
i'm in my 20s