Maybe you're a seasoned traveler who has been reluctant to try a cruise vacation in the past. People who have never taken a cruise have all kinds of reasons for not trying it. Maybe all you need is the perfect excuse! If you can't think of a good one, here are six ready-made excuses for booking a cruise vacation right now.

1. I'm saving the environment. Where else can you find everything you could possibly want to do, see, hear, and eat all in one place? Take all-inclusive Caribbean cruises, for example. You'll never have to get into a carbon-emitting car to go to the casino, to the gym, to get your hair done, or out for a night of dancing. When you get to your destination, you'll find sunshine, sand and surf from the first moment you step off the ship.

2. I like saving money on a vacation package. Think floating vacations are expensive? Think again! There are discount cruises available to just about every destination you can imagine. You can increase your odds of finding discount cruises if you aren't picky about destination, and if you are flexible when it comes to travel dates.

3. I don't mind showing my age. Age is beauty, and sometimes age is savings too. There are many cruise deals available to seniors. So if you're over 65, don't hide your age, use it to your advantage!

4. I enjoy mixing pleasure with pleasure. You can book a cruise vacation that combines the fun and relaxation of cruising with your favorite hobby. There are cruises for scrapbookers, antiques lovers, golf enthusiasts, bridge and chess players, and more. Imagine enjoying all of the perks that cruising offers: dancing, dining, swimming and gaming, plus engaging in your favorite leisure activity.

5. Cultural exposure is important to me. There are ships sailing all over the world. No matter what culture tickles your fancy, there's probably a boat sailing in that direction. Are you drawn to Greece, Turkey or Egypt? Book a trip on a Mediterranean cruise line. Do you prefer the tropics? Try a Hawaiian island cruise. Do you want to explore the rugged beauty of the mountains? An Alaskan vacation cruise might be just right for you. Besides diverse destinations, you can even get a taste of culture right onboard ship. Sample cuisine from several countries. See shows featuring dance styles from different continents. Plus, you'll meet people from all over the world.

6. I think it's important to see how "the other half" lives at least once in a lifetime. Where else can you go on vacation and have absolutely everything done for you? Imagine no cooking, no cleaning, no curfew and no demanding schedules. You do whatever you want, whenever you want. You'll never run out of things to do. Or you can do nothing at all.

Now that you have six good excuses to take a cruise, it will be much harder to find an excuse NOT to!