For many people, taking a cruise is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, an extraordinary chance to escape for a couple of weeks. You experience new activities, visit different places every day, change your view constantly and create awesome memories that really do last a lifetime.

Cruises are a special kind of holiday that deserves the very best scrapbook pages to be completed on your return, but it can be a little overwhelming knowing where to start. I thought I would share a few ideas to inspire you.

Photo Opportunities

On a cruise ship there are plenty of photo opportunities, so I would recommend taking a digital camera with you and a large memory card.  It is also worthwhile signing up to an online photo service such as Photobucket or Flickr so that you can upload your photos to the Internet using the ship's Internet cafes and thus freeing up some memory on your card for even more photos.  If you're eager to get your photos scrapped as soon as you get home, you could always order prints of your photos online on the last day of your holiday and it won't be long before they are delivered to your home on your return. Many developers even offer next-day service!  Here are some key photo opportunities that shouldn't be missed:

• your arrival
• photo of the ship itself
• towel art left on your pillow each evening
• your cabin number and photos of the cabin itself
• views from the balcony each morning
• pictures of onboard store fronts
• time in the casinos
• pictures of the hall / lobby and the carpets (which often have the name of the ship)
• the food you eat
• the restaurants 
• any tablemates you are seated with
• formal night - everyone dressed to impress
• captain's formal dinner / picture with the captain
• excursions you attend
• waiters / attendants
• room service if you order any
• all of the ship's entertainment - themed nights / chocolate day / shows / activities
• the journey to get to your ship
• posing in your life jackets
• the deck

Of course in addition to your own photographs there are staff photographers who are constantly taking photos. These are on sale every evening and can be purchased on your way to or from dinner. They print them on ship's paper in glossy covers and note the date and other information, making them perfect for including on your layouts.

When you take your photos, I recommend taking tons - focus on the details of your vacation, the quality of service, the traditions and of course most importantly your family enjoying themselves.

Embellishments and Journaling

On board your magnificent ship you will find many opportunities to collect items to use on your scrapbook pages. I recommend taking a small plastic folder and a notebook with you.  Each evening place your collection of items in the folder and write a brief journal about your day - this will be invaluable when you sit down to scrap on your return.  Here are a few things to look out for:

• invitations
• boxes from bon voyage gifts
• luggage tags
• postcards
• daily papers
• wrappers from chocolates left on your pillow
• ticket stubs
• currency from each place you visit
• ship information brochures
• menus (which can be photocopied and scaled down to include on your pages)
• bingo cards
• packs of playing cards available in the ship's shop
• brochures of excursions
• maps of the ship / deck plan
• napkins
• wristbands
• factsheets
• business cards
• shop bags
• receipts from purchases
• wine bottle labels
• notepaper / stationery from your cabin
• final bill
• room service hanging tags
• gifts from the shop such as magnets which can be used as embellishments on pages
• 12" x 12" scrapbook albums which are custom-made with the name of the ship on the front, sold on some ships

Title Ideas for Your Pages

While photos, embellishments and journaling make up the majority of components on your layouts, the title is equally as important. Here are some ideas you may want to include:

• name of your ship
• All Aboard
• A Room with a View
• Day Tripping
• Enchanted Journey
• Imagination Sets Sail
• Paradise Found
• Princess at Sea
• Towel Animals
• Tranquillity
• Sea Legs
• A Sailor's Life for Me
• Seasick
• Sea What I Mean
• Cruising Along
• Bon Voyage
• Relax
• Just Add Water

Cruising Themed Products

If you are looking for the finishing touches to your layouts, why not check out some of these cruise-themed scrapbooking products to include on your layouts:

• Karen Foster - Sea Kit
• Reminisce Cruise Collection
• Sandylion Cruise Collection