Dozens of departure ports. As cruise lines base ships in a growing number of smaller ports, cruising is closer to home than ever. There's no need to fly to Miami or Los Angeles when you can depart from cities like Baltimore, New Orleans, Galveston and Long Beach, California. That can save you time and money and help you avoid the congestion often found in huge terminals where several ships are boarding at one time. What's more, many cruise lines offer pre- or post-vacation packages in desirable departure ports like New Orleans. It's like adding another port of call to your cruise.

Faster means farther. Not only are ships getting larger, they're getting faster. You can set sail for the Caribbean with just a long weekend to spare. On a week-long cruise, ships now can reach exotic locales like Belize and Honduras.

Bring the kids -- and grandparents, too. Cruise lines are wooing families, who represent one of the fastest-growing market segments. According to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the number of kids cruising has doubled since 1998, to nearly 1 million. "Cruise lines have gone to great lengths to ensure that ships are family-friendly, making a cruise ship a popular venue for family reunions and multi-generational family vacations," says Bob Sharak, CLIA's executive director.

Disney Cruise Line sets the pace for kid fun. Kids ages 5-7 enjoy Goofy's Giggle Gala slumber party, while 8- and 9-year-olds make batches of "flubber" in the Apprentice's Workshop. Princess Cruises provide teens with their own disco, pizza parties and movie fests. Princess also pairs with organizations like Miami Seaquarium and California Science Center for "edutainment" offerings where young passengers can dissect a squid or build a rocket.

Shore bets for fun. Shore excursions allow you to make the most of your time in port. Cruise lines often offer 10, 15 or even 30 excursions per port. They include activities geared to the whole family, such as catamaran trips, and an increasing number of more adventurous outings, from moonlight kayaking in Puerto Rico to mountain biking through the rain forest in Belize.

There's no doubt cruising is one of the most convenient forms of vacation travel. And with rates that can be as low as $100 per day for transportation, food and lodging, it can be one of the most economical, too. That may be the best trend of all!

The MetLife Advantage
Valuable Home Policy Coverage
On most cruise ships you'll have the opportunity to dress to the nines for one or more formal evenings. Take along your finest jewelry to complement your outfits, but make sure it's adequately insured. If your jewelry is valued at more than $1,500, you'll need Extended Coverage or an endorsement called Scheduled Personal Property (SPP) to insure each specific item. Check with your agent today to make sure you're covered. While you're at it, you may want to ask about SPP coverage for:

• cameras
• coin and stamp collections
• fine arts and antiques
• silverware/goldware
  >>Find out more about Extended Coverage and SPP at www.MetLife.com