7 gifts for cruisers

Gifts are best when they reveal an appreciation for your recipient's hobbies and interests, so give your cruising comrades something that relates to their love of sailing. From a silly "Cruise Cash" jar, to stately ship paintings and even a few commodities for the kids, we've gathered a list of our favourite holiday cruise gift items.

For the full list and pictures, see cruisecritic.co.uk.

1. The Lifetimer Clock
I Want One of Those
(£14.95)

We all know how much cruise passengers - and Cruise Critic members in particular - like to count down the months, minutes and hours until their next foray at sea. The Lifetimer countdown clock is a perfect gift for the cruise aficionado on your list because it calculates the time left until that next sailing holiday. It also includes a stopwatch function, and lets you programme in birthdays, coffee breaks and anything else. So that's six months, four days, 28 minutes and 12 seconds until that Mediterranean cruise....

2. Cruise Scrapbook Items
Paperarts.co.uk
(From 55 pence)

Scrapbooking, whatever your age, can become an addictive hobby, and Brits are just beginning to catch on to the phenomenon that has taken hold in the U.S. Think beyond a book full of newspaper cuttings of the kid's football results or Christmas play photographs, and chronicle your last cruise holiday. Many art and craft companies have a fantastic selection of scrapbooking items, such as these nautical-themed papers and stickers. Recounting your trip may be just as fun as the cruise itself.

3. Cruise Art
Snowbow Productions
(From £50.00)

If you're looking for a classic gift for an art-loving cruiser, we recommend Snowbow production's nautical art and bric-a-brac. From tasteful ship paintings to enchanting videos with archival footage of historic trans-Atlantic sailings, you're sure to find something to give on Snowbow's Web site. Our favourites are the cruise ship teapots, whimsical pots in the shape of cruise vessels, including the Titanic and Queen Mary -- a nostalgic way to make the perfect pot of tea! Prepare to spend a reasonable amount, and make sure your gifting to a true cruise fanatic. While teapots in the shape of ships will excite most sailing fans, a typical land-lubber could find these knickknacks kitschy.

4. "Cruise Cash" Jar
Cruise Gifts
(£10.95)

Celebrate the obsession of the cruise aficionado in your life with a witty "Cruise Cash" jar. The "Cruise Cash" jar reminds its owner that there's always a potential vacation on the horizon and prompts him or her to save up. However, the jar may not be as large as we would like -- cruises cost a bit more than the change that you find on the floor of your car. So until we find a store that sells a "Cruise Cash" barrel, this cute (albeit small) token of the good times to come will have to do.

5. Binoculars
Magellan's
(£79)

If the person on your list regularly sails to regions where scenic wonders are the prime events -- destinations such as Alaska, Norway, the Galapagos Islands and South America -- Magellan's binoculars, with one-touch micro-zoom and superb clarity, are as important as a swimsuit and sunscreen. The binoculars' tinted UV lenses are a must for glaringly sunny Caribbean and Antarctica cruises, and the one-touch zoom feature is ideal for technologically-challenged cruisers. Not sure if binoculars are the right gift? If your loved one spends her vacation time in spas and stores, a pair of binoculars might end up in the "re-gift" section of her closet.

6. The Golden Age of Cruise Liners Memorabilia Gift Pack
Getting Personal
(From £5.95)

This creative gift, which features lunch menus, cruise arrangements, tickets and other memorabilia from the golden age of cruising, will evoke the days of elegant trans-Atlantic ocean crossings and luxurious formal dinners aboard legendary ships. Your favorite aficionado/history buff will be delighted when you stuff this clever treat in his or her stocking or slide it under the tree. The Golden Age of Cruise Liners Memorabilia Gift Pack sells for just £4.95 and is a great gift for faraway cruising friends. Slip the pack in a brown envelope with a holiday card, and you've got instant long-distance holiday joy.

7. Countdown Keyring
Cruise Gift Store
(£7.95)

Another item for the cruise countdown fan -- with this cruise countdown keyring however you can check exactly how many days or hours it is until that next trip wherever you are -- check it when you are opening the door after a long day at work or when you are starting up the car in the morning. With an image of the ship's trail, it's a great gift for anyone who loves to holiday at sea!