Don't give any "thing" this Holiday Season

Here’s something different: this holiday season don’t give a “THING” to your loved ones; give them an “EXPERIENCE.” Instead of giving them something that soon will break or go out of style, or that will be returned on December 26th,  give them a “time of their life” experience that they will remember forever.

Nothing in our lives is more valuable than time. So why not give the gift of time – time together? Having time together is worth more than any one “thing.”  So giving the gift of time together is the most valuable gift you can give, and it’s the best way to say “thank you.”

By leaving home and going somewhere special together you can create what will become some of the best memories your family will ever have. I’ve written previously about the critical importance that leisure time plays in the lives of modern people. Specifically, I believe the very idea of “vacation” to be an increasingly important concept for modern civilization. In our urbanized, high pressure, and productivity-focused world, people not only want, but need – often desperately – pleasure- and relaxation-focused breaks in order to maintain their perspective, their health, their most important relationships, their good humor, and even their sanity.

So why not give a vacation to a loved one this Holiday season, rather than – or in addition to – toys, clothes or other items?

Your family will remember a great week – or even just three or four days – spent together having fun, relaxing and investing deeply in each other’s lives long after the toys break, the clothes wear out, and that neat new gizmo either breaks or proves not to be quite so neat after all.

All sorts of getaways can provide the kind of great family and friend bonding-times that are key to creating great experiences and memories. Naturally, I’m partial to leaving the land and heading out to the majestic beauty of the sea. The simple act of getting on a ship and leaving land for three days, a week or even longer creates a dynamic in which those traveling together spend not just lots of time, but also high quality time together.

One obvious “experience” that you could give would be a warm getaway from the cold winter. Book a trip now for January, February or March when temperatures will plunge into the teens and you will have something to look forward to all winter long.  If you can’t settle on a single destination, come aboard one of our ships and visit three or four of the best beaches in the world in just 7 days while all the people back home shiver.

And if you still feel like you absolutely must put something under the tree, purchase a gift card redeemable for a vacation.   Giving a vacation that way allows you to give the gift of an experience without actually having to book a specific date and destination until you talk it over with the family.

We are all time-starved. So why don’t you give that – the gift of time together – instead of physical items this holiday season? We hope to see you soon on the water.