Read this article about cruises and match the missing subheadings with the paragraphs.

There’s been a remarkable turnaround in the cruise holiday industry.  Once seen as the domain of the wealthy, silver-haired and largely American holiday-maker, cruising is now appealing to everyone and every pocket.

1.

Pools, sundecks and deck games have always been an important part of the cruising experience.  But with their lavish meals, cocktail parties and general atmosphere of self-indulgence, cruise holidays aren’t traditionally thought of as promoting health and fitness.  The new generation of cruise liners come equipped with state-of-the-art gyms, spa facilities and a full range of services and treatments such as Shiatsu and Reiki massage therapies, as well as Tai Chi and Yoga instruction.  Short cruises are seen as the ultimate get-away-from-it-all for stressed-out young professionals reluctant to give up their daily workouts.

2.

Low season cruises can be very affordable, and as most expenses are already paid for cruising can be ideal for those watching the pennies.  If you take full advantage of all the free entertainment laid on, and avoid costly excursions on land, you can find yourself spending very little during the actual holiday.  There is even a ‘no-frills’ cruise option.  EasyCruiseOne, the brainchild of easyJet founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou, allows even the most cash-strapped to cruise along the French Riviera, albeit in tiny cabins and with few facilities.

3.

Yes, you can just lie by the pool sipping a cocktail.  Or you can go rock climbing, ice skating, surfing and even bungee jumping.  Today’s massive cruise ships have everything you need for an active holiday – climbing walls, ice rinks, golf and surf simulators, not to mention a full range of classes from aerobics to salsa.

4.

Special interest cruises abound, such as a ‘Myths and Legends’ cruise that lets you experience the mythology, culture and history of the Mediterranean.  Other possibilities include cruising along the coast of Central America, learning about Mayan civilisation and rainforest ecology.  Onboard lectures combined with tours led by experts appeal to those who want more than just sun and sightseeing.  Well-stocked libraries and classical concerts complete the atmosphere of intellectual discovery.

5.

Taking the family doesn’t have to mean two weeks cooped up in a cabin with bored children.  Choose your cruise wisely and you may hardly see your kids onboard.  P&O offer cruises with a range of different kids’ clubs for ages two to sixteen.  With a full programme of activities all day and into the evening, and late-night babysitting services on offer, children get a fun-packed holiday and parents a well-deserved break.

6.

If you hanker after the old image of black-tie dining, white-glove afternoon tea and the kind of luxury that only the very wealthy once enjoyed, then cruising is for you.  Most cruises still maintain a certain amount of formality, insisting that men wear jackets in the restaurants, for example, and some companies are offering ‘ultra-luxury’ cruises that hark back to the heyday of cruising.

Now check your vocabulary.  Read the article again and match the words and expressions from the text with the definitions.

Develop your cruise vocabulary.  Drag and drop the appropriate word into each sentence.