Taking a cruise was once viewed as the purview of the wealthy alone, but they’re growing more popular and more affordable. Even for families of low-to-average income, a cruise can be a wonderful option for a vacation with a little saving and the appropriate preparation, especially if they are willing to look into Royal Holiday cruise vacations or similar. The following are three of the best reasons to take a cruise for your next family vacation.

Cost is the first reason. Cruises are growing less expensive over time as companies work to make them more affordable. While going on a cruise will usually require saving some money beforehand, the cost of entry is much lower than it used to be. This grows more true as the costs of air and overland travel rise. While road trips grow much more expensive proportional to increases in the price of gasoline, the costs of cruises remain fairly steady, subject primarily to marketing and competition between different cruise lines. This is the most obvious cost-related benefit, but it is also the case that cruises are much easier to budget for. Many cruises are all-inclusive. You pay for your meals and lodgings all up front for a given period of time. This allows you to put aside any budget micromanagement and simply relax on your vacation, unlike a trip to another country or a theme park where you would need to keep an eye on your accounts. The only budgeting you would need to do day-to-day is for any extras that might catch your whimsy.

This ties neatly into the ease of planning a cruise. Ease of planning is one of the primary draws to the cruise-style vacation. Most vacations will require you to plot out lodgings and destinations in advance on a tight schedule. You’ll need to know where to be and when to be there, and a single missed connection will require a total overhaul of your itinerary. Cruises don’t demand this kind of preparation. You simply need to decide where you want to go, what cruise line to use for it, and how you will transport yourself to the site of the cruise cast-off. You only need to plan for as many days as you’ll be staying. Being able to fix a very simple itinerary ahead of time is a great boon to those with tight vacation schedules, and it makes it much easier to request time off from work for the appropriate timeframe.

Finally, cruises make excellent vacations because of how comprehensive they are in terms of luxury. Road trips and sightseeing are great and can leave people with a sense of accomplishment. It’s wonderful to travel places and see things. However, it can’t match the sheer pampering and relaxation that a cruise can offer. Cruises frequently come with yoga and calisthenics classes to enhance the relaxation experience as well as options for massages. On top of the elaborate dining experience and the optional group activities, cruises make for great getaways for sheer relaxation’s sake.

There are many compelling reasons to take cruises. They’re excellent luxuries and very cost effective in terms of relaxation. Dollar for dollar, they’re some of the best vacations you can invest in, and they’re only growing more affordable as time wears on. If you want an affordable, relaxing vacation that’s easy to plan, cruises are a great choice.