Cruises in Europe For Less
April 2, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Large luxury liners feature Europe cruises that hit all the major cities and provide world-class dining and entertainment options that make you never want to get off the boat! Smaller ships will give you quicker loading times and adventures to off-the-beaten-path destinations, although the accommodations are more modest. The most difficult part of cruising is deciding which port stops to take part in. Sometimes you have to just say “no” and enjoy your pre-paid time on the boat, getting some rest and relaxation. Whether you choose Princess, Disney, Carnival Group or another major cruise line, you’ll be happy you decided to forgo the hustle and bustle of the airport for a swankier, more leisurely float.
First time travelers often choose the 12-Night Western Mediterranean cruise to get highlights of all the major cities. For instance, Carnival Group’s “Carnival Freedom” will sail you from Italian stops Civitavecchia (Rome’s port) to Naples (to visit Pompeii and Capri), Venice, Sicily and Livorno (to see Florence, Pisa and Cinque Terre). Next you’ll sail to Croatia (Dubrovnik), Spain (Barcelona) and France (Cannes). Princess Cruise’s “Ruby Princess” will also take you on a comprehensive 12-day Grand Mediterranean trip with cities like Barcelona, Florence, Rome, Venice, Athens and Istanbul starting at $3,200/person. These Europe cruises (sometimes called “highlights” tours) will let you experience some of the most exciting ports so you can decide where to take more intimate vacations later. The downside with choosing this type of excursion is that sometimes you’re surrounded by more tourists than you’d like and the experience may seem a little less magical on such a generic tour.
While the Western Mediterranean cruise takes you to Italy, France and Spain, the Eastern Mediterranean cruises have a charm of their own too. When you cruise Mediterranean’s eastern waters, you’ll come across Greece, Turkey and the opposite side of Italy. In 7-14 nights, Celebrity Mediterranean cruise lines will whisk you away to Italy (Rome/Civitavecchia and Naples), Greece (Mykonos, Rhodes, Santorini, Piraeus/Athens) and Turkey (Istanbul and Kusadasi/Ephesus). These Europe cruises are ideal for history lovers who would like to see historic sites, ancient ruins and the birthplace of democratic thought.
Experienced travelers are often looking for a bit of luxury and personalization on their Europe cruises, which is why an intimate mega-yacht like “Seabourn” is ideal. Not only will you have personal concierge at your beck and call, but you’ll also enjoy spacious cabins with large picture windows, marble bathrooms, flat screen TVs/DVD players and dinner served on expensive china. The ships fit 280 to 450 passengers, which is the perfect size to cruise Mediterranean ports like Cannes and Monte Carlo, but also fit into smaller spots like Bordeaux and the Kiel Canal. Prices for luxury of this magnitude can start at $14,000 per person, although you can get a 60% discount by booking early.
Baltic Cruises
April 2, 2010 | Leave a Comment
If you’re interested in Baltic cruises, then be sure to visit a new website, www.cruisebaltic.com. Ten countries have paired up to promote tourism in the Eastern European region. You can hop aboard a number of cruise lines, including Carnival, Fred Olsen, Holland America, MSC, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Oceania, P&O, Princess, Regent Seven Seas, Royal Caribbean International, Seabourn, Silversea Cruises and Swann Hellenic Cruises for your Baltic/Scandinavian cruises. The website provides you with all you need to know about Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia and Sweden so you can decide where you’d like to visit.
There are many Baltic cruises offered but here are some of the best itineraries. Regent Seven Seas Cruises offers a 7-night Russia and Baltic cruise leaving from Stockholm and wrapping up in Copenhagen (or vice versa) in July and August, spending three days in St. Petersburg. Prices start around $3,604 per person, including gratuities and drinks. The UK’s Fred Olsen Cruise Lines offers a 14-night “Treasures of the Baltic” adventure leaving from Southampton en route to Berlin, with three days in St. Petersburg starting at $2,266 per person for the cruise only. Costa Cruises’ “Baltic Discovery” offers 12 nights starting in Amsterdam on August 5th, calling at all major ports and spending two days in St. Petersburg for $1,970, including flights and transfers. Princess Cruises has great Russian and Scandinavian cruises that run 10 nights from May to September, departing from Copenhagen and stopping at Gdynia, as well as two days in St. Petersburg for $1,678 including flight. Lastly, Swan Hellenic’s 16-day “Journey to the Land of the Tsars” cruise departs from Dover in July, spends three days in St. Petersburg and tours the Kiel Canal starting at $3,975 per person, not including flight.
Baltic cruises are appealing because there is so much culture, history and world-class entertainment, all within reach of the other European countries. The downside is that not all the countries have opted for Euro currency, which means you’ll need krone in Norway, krona in Sweden, kroner in Denmark, zloty in Poland and rubles in Russia. The only places where you can use your Euros are Estonia and Finland. Yet on Scandinavian cruises, you can visit the balsa Kon-Tiki raft and Ra II reed ship used by Norwegian ethnographer Thor Heyerdahl at Oslo’s Kon-Tiki Museum. In Helsinki, Finland, you can shop at the esteemed local markets or visit the Church in the Rock. In St Petersburg, Russia, you can see the massive Hermitage art museum, catch a ballet or opera, visit the Peterhof summer palace or see where Raputin was poisoned at Yusupov Palace. Germany houses some of the world’s best food and music in Berlin, not to mention historical locations like Checkpoint Charlie, the Brandenburg Gates and the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church. In Poland, you can see where the first two shots of WWII were fired in Westerplatte and Stockholm invigorates with its tour through the archipelago.
Practically speaking, Baltic cruises are ideal for people who dislike those long treks from the ports to the epicenter of adventure. For instance, you’re dropped off right in the heart of Oslo, Norway. Tallinn is just a ten minute walk from the port and Stockholm offers a 20-minute walk or 15-minute taxi ride. In Helsinki, you’ll take a fifteen minute shuttle to all the action. Even though these tours are often overshadowed by the Eastern and Western Mediterranean cruises, you’ll find that the traffic isn’t as congested in Eastern Europe and you’re treated to more offbeat adventures.
Celebrity Cruises
March 15, 2010 | Leave a Comment
The experience of vacationing on a cruise ship is quite unique and unlike any other kind of vacation experience that you can enjoy. Just close your eyes and imagine how it feels to have warm tropical breezes caressing your face as you take in the 360 degree view of a mesmerizing ocean and stunning coastal scenery. Celebrity Cruises are one of the most popular cruise lines and they not only bring such experiences to life, but they do so by offering excellent value, while delivering a quality cruise vacation for their passengers.
Another of the wonders of a cruise travel vacation is waking up each morning to find yourself transported to a new, interesting and exciting destination that you will have the opportunity to explore. In addition to having new sights to see every day, cruise vacations also allow you to relax and be pampered by the staff. This cruise line has ample experience in taking people to wonderful destinations and to seeing to it that they have a wonderful time during every aspect of the adventure.
Celebrity Cruises are well-known for their outstanding amenities, their unrivaled accommodations, their luxurious appointments, and their attention to the smallest detail. In addition, they take great pride in striving to make you feel as though you are the only guest aboard their vessel and treat you as though you were indeed a celebrity.
Many people who have been aboard the Celebrity cruise line, come back to land and report that they truly had a once-in-a-lifetime experience and enjoyed a cruise travel vacation that was a journey from the ordinary to the extraordinary. All Celebrity Cruise vacation packages are considered “all inclusive.” This means that virtually everything you need for a marvelous vacation is included in the price of your ticket.
The Celebrity cruise line makes sure that you have luxurious accommodations that include everything from comfortable beds to gracious surroundings. Gourmet meals are included with a wide array of dishes to delight and tantalize your taste buds. Entertainment options, a selection of activities and numerous amenities are yours to enjoy in making sure that you never have a dull moment. All are at your disposal as part of the price of your ticket.
Taking a Celebrity cruise has been likened to staying at a luxury hotel, with personal staff to follow you as you travel the globe. Each day you have the advantage of exploring a new location, or simply taking in the new view from aboard ship. But you never have the hassles of constantly packing, unpacking, repacking and hauling your bags to the next stop on your journey.
Instead, this cruise line allows you to simply focus on the fun, the excitement, and interesting aspects of taking in all the sights and sounds, tastes and treasures of each new port of call. Best of all, after a long day of wandering the streets of a new destination, you get to “come home” to a staff who knows your tastes and has been busy preparing your quarters for an evening of relaxation.
Celebrity Cruises visit more than 130 different destinations that cover many continents, so you should have no trouble finding an itinerary that fits your interests. You can also choose from quick two-night cruises to more extensive voyages that span more than two weeks. Consistently rated as one of the top cruise lines, you can’t go wrong when you choose a Celebrity Cruise for your next vacation.
Transatlantic Cruises
March 12, 2010 | Leave a Comment
If you’ve ever taken a cruise to Italy and purchased one of those Mediterranean cruise deals, then you know how grueling these trips can be! Perhaps you imagined just relaxing in the sun, sipping a cold, fruity Bellini and catching some much-needed relaxation. Yet it seemed like the ship was docking several times a day, which always had you hustling on and off the boat or left you struggling to choose between pre-paid ship entertainment and the more expensive shore excursions. For those who wish to slow it down a bit and leisurely cruise across the Atlantic Ocean, Transatlantic cruises returning from Europe to the Caribbean are perfect during the summer months!
There are several different Atlantic cruises’ routes you may take. The first, the Northern Route, traverses from Southampton, England to New York, passing along Southern Greenland. This short voyage, similar to the one the Titanic took, can be accomplished in just seven days. The Middle Route begins in Madeira, in the Portuguese archipelago, at the Spanish Island of Tenerife or in the Grand Canary Islands and ending in the Caribbean or South America. This route is much like Christopher Columbus’s fated 1492 voyage, which was guided by trade winds. The transatlantic Southern Route cruise starts in South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope and takes you to Chile’s Cape Horn.
One of the most highly regarded Transatlantic cruises is aboard Cunard’s “Queen Mary 2,” which launched in 2004. Since then, she’s seen high profile passengers such as Queen Elizabeth II, Jacques Chirac, Tony Blair, George HW Bush, George Lucas, Rod Stewart, Katie Couric, John Cleese and Donald Trump. Aboard you’ll be treated to 15 restaurants and bars, 5 swimming pools, a casino, a ballroom, a theater, a planetarium, the Canyon Ranch Spa, a state-of-the-art fitness center, basketball courts, book stores and a movie theater. Three-quarters of the rooms offer private balcony views, as well as cozy apartment-like accommodations. Enrichment programs also help to make this voyage an informative, unforgettable and never dull experience, as you see what Atlantic cruises have to offer.
The long days at sea involved in Transatlantic cruises are ideal for passengers who want to get some rest and relaxation on their voyage, without the burden of constant port stop bombardment. They’re also perfect for passengers who like the predictability of all-inclusive food, drinks, entertainment and accommodations, without having to penny pinch for too many land excursions. Travelers can get that real feeling of “being at sea” if they step out on the decks, or they can go below and do some gambling at the casino, take a ballroom dancing class, watch a movie, play a game of shuffleboard or take a language course. The food aboard voyages that spend most days at sea are usually much better than those on shorter Greek Islands cruises or the port-heavy Western Mediterranean cruise. These journeys may not be for everyone, but they’re the most like what you’d imagine a cruise to be; adventurous, serene and loaded with amenities.
Ocean Village Cruises
March 11, 2010 | Leave a Comment
You could say Ocean Village Cruises was Carnival Group’s experiment. Launching in 2003, Ocean Village fancied itself as “cruises for people who don’t do cruises” or “cruising gone casual.” Their target market was the young, the “dress down” on Friday crowd, the former hostel backpackers, the light packers and the people who love the idea of 24/7 buffets more than fancy balls. Unfortunately, Carnival has announced they will cease operations in the summer of 2010 to “maximize performance from their other assets.” Despite this bad news, passengers who act quickly may be able to score some terrific end-of-the-road deals.
One way that Ocean Village Cruises sets itself apart from other ships is with the food they serve. Some Mediterranean and Caribbean cruises close up shop at night, allowing only minimal snacking options. However, Ocean Village boasts a delicious 24/7 buffet of Mexican, Italian, Thai and American foods. “We don’t believe in set meal times or fixed seating plans,” the website declares. “We don’t believe in formal dress codes either, so you can leave the tuxedo and tiara at home.” You can also feast on fish and steaks under the stars at the pool side restaurant La Luna, where you’ll be personally waited on. Or perhaps you’d like to snag a meal from celebrity chef James Martin. European themed food will be served daily at Plantation, while Waterfront treats you to the Mediterranean cruise thoroughfare. Charlie’s has a cozy cafe atmosphere where coffee and panini sandwiches are served up daily. The Blue Bar features cocktails and pints of imported beer and is a comfortable gathering place.
When you cruise Mediterranean or Caribbean waters, you’ll have no shortage of things to do and places to hang out. Since they cater to a younger crowd, it’s reasonable to assume that Ocean Village Cruises offer a wide variety of bars, lounges, cafes and mingling opportunities. Ocean Village I has standup comedy at Connexions Bar, a romantic three-deck atrium and ocean view at The Blue Bar and a casual pub atmosphere at The Oval. The Splash is a swim-up bar, where you don’t even have to get out of the pool to have your drink served! The Sunweaver Bar lets you enjoy the sunshine or the moonshine, while sipping on your margarita. The Bayside Bar features live sports coverage on TV, while the Marquee Cabart Bar entertains with dance performances. Ocean Village II also has the Connexions Bar, the Marquee Cabaret Bar and the Sunweaver Deck Bar. Additionally, you can see the romantic atrium at The Balcony Bar, hang out in six-seat alcoves with your new friends at The Casbah, enjoy an espresso at Charlie’s or gamble at The Player’s Bar and Casino.
Parents love Ocean Village Cruises because they can send pre-teen children to the supervised Youth program at no additional charge or send babies as young as six months old to the nighttime nursery for a few hours, while they enjoy some of the evening performances and nightlife the ship has to offer. Teens love the video game consoles, internet connections, laser tag and private teen area where they can meet new people. The Action Ashore trips include family-friendly excursions, like water parks, aquarium visits, beach trips and pizza-making. Great Escapes take teen youth groups hiking up Mt Vesuvius or to the Nou Camp stadium, allowing parents time to rest and relax, while their kids have the adventure of a lifetime. Buffet dining ensures that someone will find something they like, at no additional charge, which is as family-friendly as it gets! With circuses, movies, laser shows and a number of entertainment options, Ocean Village offers some of the best Caribbean, Western and Eastern Mediterranean cruises. After summer 2010, look out for these ships on P&O Cruises’ Australian waters tours.
Princess Cruises Cruise the Globe
February 16, 2010 | Leave a Comment
For decades now, the Princess Cruise Line has had their fleet of ships circling the globe to almost any cruise destination that a person could dream of visiting. Princess cruises offer their passengers a huge selection of interesting and exciting itineraries that range from a minimum of three days to more than two months in length. The Princess line sails to more than 220 ports which are spread across six different continents.
From popular Caribbean ports to exotic destinations in Africa or the Orient, just about anyone can enjoy a great cruise vacation on a Princess cruise ship. This cruise line has set itself apart from the other cruise lines by voyaging to more global destinations than any of the others. From their offices in Seattle, Princess was also a leader in opening up the northern waters as a popular sea-going destination and they operate the largest tour division that specializes in Alaskan cruises.
Princess Cruises are also known for the quality of the accommodations and experiences that people can expect to enjoy onboard. Cruise ship passengers on a Princess cruise can expect to be delighted with imported teak woodwork, shimmering brass accents, and luxurious butter-soft leather furnishings. The spacious ship staterooms often boast private balconies and provide affordable luxury to both experienced cruisers and those who are new to cruise vacations.
There are three different classes of ships available for a Princess Cruise. The Grand Class ships are the newest vessels in the Princess cruise line fleet, can accommodate up to 3,100 passengers, and feature some innovative amenities and unique design elements. The design of the Grand class ships allows for a feeling of spaciousness while at the same time providing opportunities for intimacy. Also featured are a variety of dining rooms, entertainment venues, special amenities such as a virtual reality center and computerized golf options.
The other two classes of Princess cruise ships are the Sun Class of ships which were first debuted in 1995. A Sun Class ship is able to carry about 1,900 passengers. The Explorer Class ships in the Princess cruise line are the smallest and provide a more intimate atmosphere, while still providing all of the modern amenities that people expect to enjoy on their cruise vacations.
While it is important to be comfortable on the cruise, it is also important to consider what type of shore excursions that your cruise line offers after arriving at the various ports. The Princess Cruise Adventure Ashore program has more than a thousand tours and activities available throughout the network of ports that they sail to worldwide. In addition to this huge selection of day excursions, Princess also has an expansive choice in “cruise tour” offerings, that let you combine your cruising with multi-day land tours at the various ports-of-call.
Princess Cruises also have many options that allow passengers to extend their vacations, either pre-cruise or post-cruise. The Princess Cruise Plus program can help cruisers enjoy extended stays and tours in some of the world’s hot spots and most cosmopolitan cities, and can even help with the arrangements for discount cruise travel and hotel vacation packages.
Tips For Whale Watch Trips
February 15, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Whale watch trips can be the experience of a lifetime. It’s hard to fathom just what a 90-foot-long blue whale really looks like until you see him with your own eyes. You can watch videos of 100 humpbacks migrating, but you can’t get a sense of what it would feel like to see it for yourself. Then, there’s always that one that is just a little bit curious about the menagerie of spectators, and wants to swim up and investigate. “If you make eye contact with a whale you are never the same again — ever,” says Benji Shake of the Princess Monterey Whale Watching cruise. However, your cruise of a lifetime can quickly turn into a huge disappointment if you’re not prepared.
Veteran cruiser Bob Messina of Georgia recalls one horrific experience in February of 2007. After 11 days aboard the MSC Lirica, he and his wife decided to book passage aboard a whale watching boat for $71 out of Samana, Dominican Republic. The passengers boarded a 24-foot open-air boat with 30 seats, no bathroom and no cover. Despite the 6-8 foot swells, the tour operators handed out seasickness pills and assured them everything would be fine. Two women seated next to Messina started throwing up within minutes. “For the next hour and a half, we experienced rough seas and what we called ‘whale chasing,’ not whale watching,” he explains. Five boats in the prime watch area would wait to see a spout and take off at full-speed to get a closer look, despite regulations mandating that whale watching boats stay at least 100 feet away. Messina recalls, “After about two hours, people started barfing everywhere, due to the rough sea conditions. Most of the passengers wanted to go back to the ship, but the operator said he needed to stay out for at least three hours.”
Travelers usually expect to see something on their whale watch trips and tour operators desperately want to make that magic happen, and at any cost. Once the initial seasickness had subsided, the boat arrived at the prime whale watching area, along with five other boats full of eager tourists armed with cameras. In this distance, a couple humpback whales leapt out of the water. The tour operators fired up the engines and began pounding over the surf in pursuit of the majestic giants. The travelers were hanging on for dear life, fighting seasickness and trying to catch a glimpse of anything besides the walls of water before them. “Then the guy behind us puked all over us,” Bob Messina recalls. “My wife almost joined in! At this point, everyone was yelling ‘take us back to the ship!’ The boat turned back finally, but halfway there, they shut down the engines and offered us some coke or water. They again said that they needed to stay out for at least three hours to get paid. I guess the lesson is don’t count on the cruise line to watch out for your safety; all they want is the mighty buck.”
Sometimes travelers also come wearing the wrong clothes and find their whale watch trips to be a real disaster. “I don’t care how nice it looks; dress warm,” advises Pete Bruno, owner of Randy’s Fishing and Whale Watching Trips based out of California. Whale watching in California can be deceiving because even if it’s sunny and warm on land, it’s always much colder on the water, especially with a breeze on the bay. It’s best to wear multiple layers, knit hats and gloves. “Wear rubber-soled shoes,” Bruno recommends. He says that leather-soled shoes can be very slippery on a wet deck and that “high heels are not very fashionable on a boat.” Wearing sunscreen and sunglasses should also be standard protocol, no matter the weather. Bringing a raincoat can protect you from the occasional odd humpback whale that decides to breech and blow his slime all over you too.
Whale And Dolphin Watching Cruises
February 14, 2010 | Leave a Comment
There are over 80 species of cetaceans, a word derived from the Latin “cetus,” which literally means “large sea creature.” The cetaceans include whales, dolphins and porpoises of all shapes and sizes. After nearly 200 years of slaughtering whales for their fat and flesh, a 1986 moratorium on whaling in most parts of the world has allowed many of the near-extinct whale populations — like the blue whale — to return. Some nations like Japan, Norway, Russia, Iceland and select islands still allow hunting but impose quotas. Today, whale and dolphin watching is bringing more awareness and appreciation for these docile creatures. In this article, you will learn about some of the whale types you might encounter on your next whale watching excursion.
The humpback whale is one of the most common creatures spotted when whale watching. There are about 30,000 to 40,000 humpbacks in the wild today, which makes up about 30 to 35% of the overall population. In the summer, they frequent New England, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Iceland, California, Alaska, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Antarctica. In the winter, they migrate to warmer climes like the Dominican Republic’s Samana Province, France’s Bay of Biscay, Hawaii, Mexico’s Puerto Vallarta, Australia and New Zealand, Cape Town, Costa Rica and the Tongan Islands. Humpback whales are especially exciting to see during their breeding season, when up to forty males may gather to court one female with tail-lobbing, breaching several feet in the air, tail-slapping, spy-hopping, peduncle throwing and charging.
Blue whales are another group you might encounter on your whale and dolphin watching trip. Measuring up to 100 feet long and weighing in at 200 tons, the blues are the largest creature to have ever lived on Earth. Just the water spout from these magnificent mammals can shoot thirty feet in the air. The average life span of a blue is 80 to 90 years, although aggressive hunting drove them to the brink of extinction and back again. Early whalers never bothered with the blues, however, because they were so powerful and fast compared to other types. Today there are about 8,000 to 14,000 remaining. Blue whale watching is most common in California, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the Gulf of Maine. Blues can also be found along the northern tip of Japan and off the coasts of Greenland, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Iceland, Antarctica, the northern Indian Ocean, Peru, Chile and western Australia.
When given the choice between whale and dolphin watching, many people actually choose the dolphin watch program. While whales generally keep their distance and spend most time below the surface, dolphins are much more naturally inquisitive about the boats passing by. Often, cruises also offer “swimming with the dolphins” as one of their activities. Tourists might see risso’s dolphins, bottle-nosed dolphins, Pacific white-sided dolphins, spinner dolphins or spotted dolphins on their excursion. Popular destinations include Florida, California, Hawaii, the Caribbean Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Thailand.
Tips for Finding Cruise Deals
September 24, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Many people who have not yet had the opportunity to take a cruise travel vacation consider one to be a dream holiday. Often, it is just a matter of finding a discount on cruise vacation packages that would open the door for them to be able to make it a reality. There are a few tips to follow which can help you to unearth the best cruise deals and enjoy that long-awaited dream.
Finding deals comes down to a combination of having a good strategy, being in the right place at the right time, and being able to take swift and decisive action to book hot deals when you find them. It is the principle of supply and demand that still rules when it comes to the rates. If the cruise lines have more ships out on the water than they are able to easily fill, then discount cruise travel deals start to appear. If they are enjoying quick bookings and people clamoring to get aboard, then the travel deals disappear and the prices start to climb.
Whenever one of the cruise companies has a new ship built and it is time to launch it on it’s maiden voyage, there is a good chance of finding cruise deals. The new vessel will likely have an increased capacity over an older one, and the owners will be very eager to have it full of paying customers. Therefore, they will often offer some great deals to get passengers aboard. And, in response, their competitors will often drop their rates as well, so that they don’t lose too many customers to the competition.
One of the best ways to enjoy hot deals on cruises is to be as flexible as possible with the category of ship and the type of cabin you are willing to book. It is also a good idea to book your cruise at least 90 days ahead of the departure date. For the best discount cruise travel deals, it is advisable to book four to six months ahead because the rates are generally lower when the ship is far from full capacity. However, if you can be super-flexible about when you can leave, then you might be able to find super hot deals on last minute travel.
When you are considering the available deals, be sure to remember that the rates for cruises include all your meals aboard ship, your on-ship entertainment, and most of the onboard activities such as movies, live shows, gym usage, games and sports, and dance classes. Some people are more than satisfied with all of the food, fun and activities that are included in the “all inclusive” price.
If you discovered great cruise deals and ultimately got a break on your ticket price, then bravo to you and happy sailing. However, you will have some additional expenses of which you should be aware. It is customary, and expected, for you to tip the service staff. Plan on about $10 per day to cover this expense. Bottled water, soda pop, and alcoholic beverages are not included in your ticket fare, so you need to budget for your needs in this area as well. Also the shore excursions, special spa services and extra classes, such as yoga, need to be paid for separately.
Luxury Cruises Abound
September 24, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Taking a cruise vacation is more popular than ever and if you are ready to move cruising off the “to-do” list and into reality, then you should take some time to review the various information about cruises before making those reservations. Sometimes, all of the available choices can be bewildering because there are so many to consider. You will need to choose the cruise line, the size of the ship you prefer, the category of cabin, and the duration of your voyage. Then you will need to determine if your finances will keep you afloat.
The major cruise lines visit about 1,800 different ports that span the globe, and not all of these ports will be places that you’ll be interested in visiting. Because there are so many destinations, the first thing to do is decide which ones hold the most interest. For instance, you can focus on Caribbean or Mexican cruises if you are looking for warmth and sunshine, or you can go for the scenery and whale watching possibilities of an Alaskan or Antarctic cruise. Once you have narrowed down the general area that you want to cruise to, then you can more easily make your final decision.
When it comes to choosing how long you want to be at sea, you will have many choices. The minimum duration of most cruises is either two-nights or three-nights, which work well if you can only get away for a weekend. Others can span five days, a week or even ten days and can often be worked into most people’s vacation allotments.
The major cruise lines also offer longer voyages, with itineraries that span anywhere from three weeks to several months. Often these longer voyages provide opportunities to visit ports-of-call in several countries and sometimes more than one continent. Most of these longer itineraries are especially geared toward the affluent or retirees who have the time and financial freedom to be voyaging for weeks or months at a time.
Some cruise ships are referred to as “megaliners” and are so large that a person can actually get lost onboard. In fact, they are so large that they cannot even go through the Panama Canal. Cruises on megaliners can accommodate up to 2,000 passengers and provide a plethora of activities to keep passengers of all ages entertained and active. The mid-size ships are the most common and usually have up to 900 passengers, but still provide a nice variety of activities. The smaller ships are more intimate and usually accommodate less than 400 passengers.
There is also a class of cruise ships called “boutique ships,” which could be compared to luxury boutique hotels. They offer exceptional attention to service and usually have an even higher standard of gourmet food, which is saying something considering that these floating hotels are well-known for the quality and selection of fine foods.
The vast majority of cabins onboard ship are considered to be standard-size and are generally quite cozy, which helps encourage people to take advantage of the many amenities during their time aboard. Cabins with ocean views and verandas are very popular, but will cost more than an interior cabin. Many of the newer cruise ships are being designed so that virtually all of the cabins have at least a minimal exterior view and some even boast that every cabin has a veranda, albeit small ones. For cruisers with the cash, there are spacious suites, but the cost of these puts them well out of reach for the average person.
You can learn in-depth information about the available cruises that are of interest to you. There is no lack of information about all kinds of options that can readily be accessed online at the many travel websites, as many of these sites specialize in providing cruise travel information. Often there are discount cruise travel deals that you can locate through these sites and that can help you stretch your vacation budget.