Carribian Cruise – Caribbean Cruise

A trip onboard a Caribbean Cruise is among one of the favorite options for holiday seekers wanting to make the most out of a tropical getaway. With a 7-day cruise, all the possibilities are there for the taking. Diving, sailing, shopping, beaches, island hopping – choose your adventure. Wake up to a new port each day. Your itinerary may include exotic destinations in the east such as the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, St Martin, St Thomas or St John. On the western side, visit historical places like the Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Key West, the Dominican Republic, Belize, Jamaica or Costa Rica. Mingle with the locals, sample the local cuisine, take home souvenirs or if you have the inclination, go mountain climbing or explore Mayan ruins. Caribbean Cruises offer great living amenities, delightful services and excellent dining. Join on board ship activities or if you want solitude, just curl up on the lounges on the deck and feel the sun kiss your skin. Rejuvenate your body and refresh your mind by taking a trip to the Caribbean and enjoying the refreshing experience it has to offer.A Caribbean Cruise brings you to more places with more beach and sun than any other holiday trip. Every day promises a new island destination. Every destination promises new activities, sights, and memories to carry with you for a lifetime. So for a complete break, go for a Caribbean Cruise and get the best of fun, sun and sand all the same time. With this kind of cruise you can be guaranteed of a lifetime of experiences to treasure.

New to Cruise

Your complete guide

1st Time Cruising

IS IT YOUR FIRST TIME ….. ON A CRUISE?

OR….. NEVER BEEN AND THINKING ABOUT IT?

Taking a cruise is the IN thing in the holiday world – lots of people take their first cruise in trepidation with lots of misgivings only to find they are not true and wonder why they never cruised before. Many get the bug and end up taking a couple of cruises each year. Cruising is the fastest growing sector of the holiday industry with more than a million people in the United Kingdom taking a cruise each year.

Here‘s why:

CRUISES COST TOO MUCH

When asked – most non cruises expect Caribbean cruises to cost upwards of £1500 per person and Mediterranean cruises to anything from £1000pp. Also many people are not sure what is included in the cost – many think that flights and tax are additional. Here – at Jetline we have been at the leading edge of the cruise industry for the past 10 years bringing to the public new and innovative ways to enjoy a cruise holiday. Our collective expertise and contacts in the cruise industry mean that we can provide amazing cruise deals and great prices which are hard to match elsewhere. We pride ourselves in being the first to find incredible prices, exclusive offers and bespoke packages.

Cruises start from only £399 into the med for a week, Caribbean from £699 and the Nile from £399 including 10 excursions. These prices include stateroom accommodation, any flights that are required to take you to your port of departure, food virtually 24 hours per day and all port / air tax and fuel surcharges.

Also included are the majority of facilities and entertainment on board such as – theatrical shows every nights, nightclubs, variety shows, fitness centre, swimming pools, hot tubs and much more. Plus you will always find tea and coffee on tap 24 hours a day. Extras may include: tips foe the cabin crew, transfers ( in the case or our exclusive low cost tailor made cruise holidays), on board drinks that are served to you at the bar and at dinner, specialty restaurants, excursions and any additional service such as massages etc.

CRUISES ARE FOR SNOBS

Gone are the days of the Titanic with the first Class people on the upper deck and steerage passengers in the bowels of the ship. Cabins are priced from the bottom upwards and all passengers have access to all public areas of the ships. Cruises these days are a classless society.

CRUISES ARE FOR OLD PEOPLE

Cruises were traditionally the realm of the retired – but these days the average of the cruises if around the mid forties. Gone are the days of sedate cruises sitting in a deck chair under a tartan blanket, dressing up, ball room dancing and perhaps a game of shuffleboard for the energetic. Cruise ships have an incredible range of facilities and are built to appeal to all age groups. Perfect for families with a wide range of children’s clubs and facilities which far surpass the best land based resorts. Ideal for couple young and old and amazingly satisfying for the most energetic of holiday makers. After all you would not catch grandma in the video games arcade, scuba diving, rock climbing or ice skating … would you???

CRUISES ARE TOO FORMAL

Pardon – no way. Gone are the days of dressing for dinner every night and jostling for position at the captain’s table. Some cruise lines even go out of their way to market themselves as informal – one tag line sums it all up – “The cruise for people who don’t do cruises!”. During a standard 7 day cruise most cruise ships will hold only 2 formal nights in the main restaurant for dinner only. Formal could mean as little as a business suit for the gentlemen and trouser / skirt suit for the ladies. If you did not want to participate you could simple eat in one of the many other places on board. Throughout the day casual attire (as you would wear in any beach resort) is the norm. Even on Cunard you could get away with cruising without any formal clothes at all.

CRUISES ARE TOO CONFINED AND ORGANISED

Imagine standing outside a 14 storey office block that is the length of four football pitches. The building towers above you and stretches further than the eye can see without turning you head. This is the size of typical modern cruise ship above the water line – confined – I don’t think so. Ships are being built bigger and bigger – the average size of ships these days being twice the size of the Titanic and 1.5 times the size of the QE2. Quite often with so much to see and the different ports of call many people disembark without having seen the whole ship. As with any beach resort hotel there are organised activities – but equally passengers are free to do their own thing: many cruise ships having dining options at any time, pool areas that have no organised events and each port of call you do not have to book organised excursions – you simply get off and do your own thing. Also you can escape the crowds and find quieter parts of the ship and bars to enjoy some solitude if needed.

CRUISES ARE BORING

Imagine a hotel with the following : 13 bars, 9 restaurants, 3 swimming pools, 24 hour pizzeria (free), rock climbing wall, ice skating rink, 1400 seat theatre, mini golf course, in line skating, night club, shopping mall, casino; state of the art panoramic fitness centre, saunas, hot tubs, steam rooms, thalasso therapy pool, thermal relaxation lounges, sports court, surfing pools, 4 kids clubs, internet café, video arcade, and cinema. Plus when you walk out of your hotel you can visit a different set of beaches, local shops, historical sights and places of interest each day. Ask yourself again … Are cruises boring????

CRUISES TAKE TOO LONG

That’s the point – see more and do more whilst your floating resort cruises between destinations. Avoid travelling time in planes, trains and automobiles and enjoy all your floating resort has to offer as it takes you on to the next destination. Wake up at a different destination each day and take several holidays in one.

CRUISES ARE TOO COMPLICATED

You check – as you would a hotel. Drinks and excursions are charged back to your room – as you would in a hotel, the difference being that there is so much more choice on a cruise than the limited facilities of a hotel resort. Everything is at hand at no extra charge – unlike a hotel. No need to find other places to eat and drink unlike the limited choice at a hotel. No need to work out how far places are and what taxi’s cost to see different places of interest – unlike a hotel. What could be simpler than a cruise?

CRUISES DONT HAVE ENOUGHT TO DO

Cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean Cruises are actually floating luxury hotels and some of the larger ones have more facilities than your local town. Imagine Ice skating in the Caribbean, rock climbing in Alaska or catching a wave on their brand new surf simulator called the flow rider. These ships have everything on them from gyms, theaters, libraries, internet cafes and more bars and restaurants than you can imagine. If just sitting down reading a book is your thing then you can do as little or as much as you want. And remember nearly everything is covered in the price.

PEOPLE GET SEASICK

Yes they do – if they are ultra sensitive or crossing the Atlantic in a Force 10. The majority of cruise holidays cruise around sheltered waters such as the Med, the Caribbean or the Alaskan coastline. All modern ships have stabilisers on them which reduce the rocking motion and all public areas and passenger accommodations are on decks above the waterline. Quite often passengers do not realise the ship is moving until they look out of the window! If you are ultra sensitive – book a cabin in the middle of the ship on a low deck when any motion is minimal.

Seasickness – not an excuse!

….. GO ON TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH – BOOK YOUR CRUISE – YOU WILL GET HOOKED!

A recent survey by www.idealcruising.co.uk of it’s British customers on board a Royal Caribbean cruise around the Mediterranean revealed that the number one reason that they chose Royal Caribbean was because they perceived the cruise line to offer non-traditional cruises. When digging deeper it was clear that customers had been swayed by Royal Caribbean’s advertising campaigns that had featured product innovations such as a rock climbing wall, an ice rink, and flow-rider.

Royal Caribbean’s Flow Rider produces artificial waves that recreates a surfing environment on the deck of the ship. The flow rider which is features onboard Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, and Independence of the Seas shoots waves at 30 MPH, and an incredible 60,000 gallons of water a minute. It’s a great feeling riding the waves on board a 150,000 tonne ship that is riding some even bigger waves below you. Falling off however in front of several hundred people watching you can be humiliating however!

 The rock climbing wall is a really popular feature, and all the safety aspects are covered. Royal Caribbean staff are there to supervise you in a one-to-one ratio, and they are there to support you if you are struggling. Helmets and special rock climbing boots are also provided, and the great thing is that this is all at no extra cost. You don’t have to have any previous experience and as long as you have reasonable fitness levels it is a great introduction to an exhilarating sport.

 Another popular aspect of Royal Caribbean the various whirl pools that are located on the main deck. These are open all day and also in the evening, and after dark they are a popular hang-out place for teenagers.

For those that prefer a more energetic cruise, Royal Caribbean have an amazing state of the art gym, with an array of cardiovascular exercise machines all of which face out towards inspiring panoramic views of the ocean when the ship is at sea. There are also a selection of aerobic, spinning and yoga classes taking place throughout the day.

Ice skating is yet another differentiating activity that is available, which defies the conventional thinking of what you can do on a cruise. For those however that prefer not to be inside on a sunny day, roller blading up on the main deck is a good alternative, and for those less energetic, the mini golf again on the main deck is great entertainment for all the family and even those not blessed with sporting acumen. 

 Those responding to the survey when probed about the priority that they put on the ship’s facilities and product innovations showed that it was not the individual product features that were important, but more the collective impact that they had in creating an image of a cruise that was a fun experience and pitched at a more youthful audience. Respondents also referred to on board activities such as karaoke, themed disco nights in the main concourse of the ship, and state of the art gyms as other examples of what made the experience on board a Royal Caribbean ship a positive one. When asked about if they would consider a cruise again with Royal Caribbean, over 90% replied positively, with value for money as the number one factor, followed by high customer service and then entertainment

 

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. – Baseball fans looking to stretch the baseball season into the winter months can enjoy the warmth of the Caribbean with some of their favorite former Major League Baseball players – including Philadelphia Phillies’ Jim Fregosi and Tony Taylor and Rennie Stennet from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

In addition to visiting some of the Caribbean’s most beautiful locations, each “Baseball Greats” Caribbean cruise includes free interactive guest/player activities, including a player-hosted trivia game in which guests can test their baseball knowledge, question-and-answer sessions with the players, a guest pitching contest and a lively story-telling session in which the players share candid revelations about some of the “characters” of the game. Baseball players will also host pitching, hitting, fielding and base running clinics.

Phillies fan favorites Jim Fregosi and Tony Taylor are in the lineup of baseball greats scheduled to sail Caribbean itineraries roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale this winter:

• The Feb. 6, 7 night Caribbean Cruise “Island Treasures & Ancient Temples” cruise will feature Fregosi, Stan Bahnsen, Rudy May, Ed Kranepool, and Tony Oliva

• The April 3, 7 night Caribbean Cruise “Eastern Caribbean Dream” cruise will feature Taylor, Bahnsen, Randy Hundley, and two additional players still to be announced

Pirates fan favorite Stennet is in the lineup of baseball greats scheduled to cruise a 7-night “Eastern Caribbean Enchantment” itinerary sailing roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale on March 6, 2010. He will be joined by Bahnsen, Amos Otis and two additional players still to be announced.

MSC Cruises also has a 10 night Caribbean Cruise “Baseball Greats” cruise and several additional 7 night Caribbean cruises scheduled with a varied lineup of former Major League Baseball players.

Caribbean cruise only rates begin at $569 per person, double occupancy (government fees/taxes additional). As on all MSC Cruises’ sailings, kids ages 17 and younger sail free when sharing a stateroom with two full-fare-paying adults.

To review more information about MSC Cruises and its Theme Cruises, visit msccruisesusa.com/specialcruises/theme-cruises or a local travel professional.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (August 25, 2009) – For many, the Caribbean evokes visions of sunbathing, shopping and sightseeing. Travelers seeking that plus a more experiential Caribbean cruise need look no further than MSC Cruises for an unforgettable vacation with exciting shore excursions. MSC Cruises offers guests the opportunity for some exciting – even adventurous – experiences on its 2009-10 Caribbean itineraries. Several shore excursion options enable guests to explore the Caribbean over land (by train, bicycle, 4X4, ATV, bus or horseback), above and beneath the sea (snorkeling, SCUBA diving, in a glass-bottomed boat, and on a catamaran or kayak) and through the air (attached to a cable between 100-foot-high trees). There is also the chance for unique ecological experiences and, of course, plenty of fun and sun. There’s limited space available for shore excursions, so advance reservations prior to sailing are recommended. MSC Poesia’s 7-night Western Caribbean roundtrip sailings from Fort Lauderdale (January 16, February 6, 13 and 27, March 13 and 27, and April 10) call at Key West, Florida; Playa del Carmen, Mexico; Georgetown, Grand Cayman; Montego Bay, Jamaica, and Nassau, Bahamas.  Among the many shore excursion options available are:Playa del Carmen •    Snorkel the Mayan Riviera and explore underwater caverns •    Glide over marine life in a clear-bottom kayak •    Swim with the dolphins •    Go horseback ridingGrand Cayman •    Feed, interact and play with Southern Stingrays at Stingray City •    Certified divers can explore reefs and wrecks Introductory SCUBA lesson – after training in a swimming pool, participants go on a shallow reef dive •    Board a Reef Roamer glass bottom boat for a glimpse of the shipwrecksMontego Bay •    Go white water rafting on Martha Brae •    Take a river tubing safari in the White River Valley •    4X4 Jeep safari through Fern Gully, Murphy Hill and Dunn’s River Falls •    Explore Ocho Rios and Dunn’s River FallsNassau•    Drive to Fort Fincastle for a panoramic view of the island •    Ride in a boat for a narrated cruise through the harbor and then enjoy a narrated walking tour of Atlantis Resort •    Sail in a catamaran •    Snorkel the Athol Island Park Cruise-only rates begin at $549 per person, double occupancy. Shore excursions are additional. Cruise the Eastern Caribbean on MSC Poesia for 7 nights from Fort Lauderdale (January 9, 23 and 30, February 20 and March 6). Calling at San Juan, Puerto Rico; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; and Nassau, Bahamas), shore excursions include the following: •    Explore the El Yunque Rainforest by foot while surrounded by exotic plants and waterfalls •    Visit the Bacardi Rum Distillery and tour Old San Juan •    Experience the passion and fire of Spanish music with Juan Carlos in a traditional performance •    View the bioluminescent organisms that make the fish and kayak glow when you immerse your hands in the water during a kayak adventure •    Swing from tree-to-tree and platform-to-platform on a series of pulleys and cables for a canopy adventure 10-70 feet above the tropical rainforest Cruise-only rates begin at $549 per person, double occupancy. Shore excursions are additional.10-Night Caribbean Experiences MSC Poesia’s  10-night Deep Caribbean cruises (departing Fort Lauderdale November 20 and 30 and calling at Willemstad, Curacao; Oranjestad, Aruba; Cartagena, Colombia; Cristobal, Panama; Playa del Carmen, Mexico; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Basseterre, St. Kitts; Bridgetown, Barbados; Fort de France, Martinique; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and Nassau, Bahamas) offer a variety of  shore excursion experiences as well. While in Antigua, for example, guests can go horseback riding on the beach, take a catamaran to the northwest coast of the island for some snorkeling, or go bottom fishing. Cruise-only rates begin at $799 per person, double occupancy. Shore excursions are additional. The ship’s Caribbean featuring Panama 10-night sailing (departing Fort Lauderdale on December 10) calls at Georgetown, Grand Cayman; Cartagena, Colombia; Cristobal, Panama; Puerto Limon, Costa Rica, and Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Among the many shore excursions available on this itinerary are a Mangroves Ecological Tour via canoe in Cartagena. In Cristobal, guests can opt to explore the Portobelo and Gatun Locks to admire the Panama Canal, kayak the Gatun Lake, and encounter monkey watch at Gamboa. Cruise-only rates begin at $749 per person, double occupancy. Shore excursions are additional. Whether you are interested in adventure, exploration, history, shopping, architecture, relaxation or just some plain old fun in the sun, MSC Cruises’ Caribbean itineraries offer something for everyone. With the line’s “Kids Sail Free” offer (ages 17 and under sail free when sharing a stateroom with two full-fare-paying adults), the entire family can enjoy a memorable Caribbean getaway.All prices quoted are cruise-only; government fees and taxes are additional for all guests. Some restrictions may apply on shore excursions. For more information, visit www.MSCCruisesUSA or contact a local travel professional. Check out our website for a wide array of theme cruises at www.MSCCruisesUSA.com. Become a fan on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Watch us on You Tube. For more information about MSC Cruises, visit www.MSCCruisesUSA.com or a local travel professional. ### About MSC Cruises: MSC Cruises has the most modern fleet in the world with ten ships: MSC Splendida and MSC Fantasia (the largest ships built for a European ship owner), MSC Poesia, MSC Orchestra, MSC Musica, MSC Sinfonia, MSC Armonia, MSC Opera, MSC Lirica and MSC Melody. The fleet cruises year round in the Mediterranean and seasonally in Northern Europe, the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean, North America and Canada, South America, the Indian Ocean, South and West Africa. MSC Magnifica launches in 2010. MSC Cruises recently forged a three-year, million-dollar partnership with UNICEF to fund a community project in Brazil while increasing awareness of this cause onboard its ships.

There are many cruise ships now that have Freestyle Dining (Norwegian Cruises) or Choice Dining (Prince Cruise line) available. Or on Disney Cruise Lines they have what is called “Rotational Dining”. They have you and your tablemates rotate through the three restaurants each evening.

TIP: There is usually open seating for breakfast and lunch in the main dining room. Be adventurous with the menu because if you don’t like something you can send it back for a replacement. And if they have two things on the menu that you like ask for both of them. My husband, John, always orders the Filet Mignon and the Lobster Tail when they are served on the same night. Many times he tells the waiter to bring what the waiter recommends for that evening.

This means you don’t have to choose first or second seating. (First seating is 6:00 to 6:30 and Second seating is usually 8:00-8:30). There can be more than one restaurant where you just walk in when you are ready to dine. Every ship will ask for your dining preference when you book your cruise. You can indicate first, second or flexible dining, whichever will make you more comfortable. The newer ships have a 24 hour dining spot which is always casual so if you don’t want to do the formal nights you don’t have to, although I find dressing up to be quite fun.

You will have many options for each meal. You may have any meal delivered to your room, taken in the buffet restaurant or in the dining room. There is usually outdoor dining around the pool with hot dogs and hamburgers, pizza, salads, even Tacos.

There are also alternative dining rooms available on some ships that require an additional fee but the service and food are generally 4 to 5 star and worth it if you want to splurge.

In my experience families with young children and people who go to bed early usually dine in first seating. But if you don’t want to be on a schedule or want to meet new people every night, go for the alternative dining option. Of course you can always ask for a table for two, but be aware that there are only a few of them.

If you make a special request one night, John always asks for blue cheese, your waiter will bring it every night. They pride themselves on remembering your tastes. (This only happens when you choose traditional dining). On one cruise we asked for Melba toast, and you bet, every night we had Melba toast. There is one thing I always make clear to the waiter. I am not a big eater but I like to taste everything. I tell this to them the first night so they don’t think I am unhappy with the food. It is their job to keep you happy and they take it very seriously.

If you don’t want to eat in the main dining room almost all ships have a Lido café where it is casual but you order from a menu and are served by a waiter. It’s one of the many choices if you don’t want to participate in a formal night or if you just want to eat by yourselves. On Carnivals single cruises they encourage this style of dining so the singles can meet more people. There are exceptions to this but not many. On some of the newer ships the Lido is open 24 hours a day.

On most of the cruise lines they offer the food of the region that you are visiting. While on Hawaiian cruises expect to be served Hawaiian food. When on an Alaskan cruise you will be given the choices of salmon and Alaskan king crab legs. It makes more fun to dine on the local cuisine.

All of the cruise lines offer healthy alternative menus or what they call spa menus. So if you want low-fat, low-salt, low cholesterol, vegetarian or any other type of diet, they are available. It is best however to inform your travel agent of any special needs so they can notify the cruise line ahead of time. If you have special dietary needs make sure the cruise lines knows before hand. For example, Royal Caribbean cruises cater to food allergy, Kosher, Indian, Vegetarian and Gluten Free Diets.
To be really safe read all of the cruise reviews and cruise critics sites for each ships food and service ratings.

Happy Cruising, enjoy it, we do!

Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.

This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.

There are many cruise ships now that have Freestyle Dining (Norwegian Cruises) or Choice Dining (Prince Cruise line) available. Or on Disney Cruise Lines they have what is called “Rotational Dining”. They have you and your table mates rotate through the three restaurants each evening.
CRUISE TIPS: There is usually open seating for breakfast and lunch in the main dining room. Be adventurous with the menu because if you don’t like something you can send it back for a replacement. And if they have two things on the menu that you like ask for both of them. My husband, John, always orders the Filet Mignon and the Lobster Tail when they are served on the same night. Many times he tells the waiter to bring what the waiter recommends for that evening.
This means you don’t have to choose first or second seating. (First seating is 6:00 to 6:30 and Second seating is usually 8:00-8:30). There can be more than one restaurant where you just walk in when you are ready to dine. Every ship will ask for your dining preference when you book your cruise. You can indicate first, second or flexible dining, whichever will make you more comfortable. The newer ships have a 24 hour dining spot which is always casual so if you don’t want to do the formal nights you don’t have to, although I find dressing up to be quite fun.
You will have many options for each meal. You may have any meal delivered to your room, taken in the buffet restaurant or in the dining room. There is usually outdoor dining around the pool with hot dogs and hamburgers, pizza, salads, even Tacos.
There are also alternative dining rooms available on some ships that require an additional fee but the service and food are generally 4 to 5 star and worth it if you want to splurge.
In my experience families with young children and people who go to bed early usually dine in first seating. But if you don’t want to be on a schedule or want to meet new people every night, go for the alternative dining option. Of course you can always ask for a table for two, but be aware that there are only a few of them.
If you make a special request one night, John always asks for blue cheese, your waiter will bring it every night. They pride themselves on remembering your tastes. (This only happens when you choose traditional dining). On one cruise we asked for Melba toast, and you bet, every night we had Melba toast. There is one thing I always make clear to the waiter. I am not a big eater but I like to taste everything. I tell this to them the first night so they don’t think I am unhappy with the food. It is their job to keep you happy and they take it very seriously.
If you don’t want to eat in the main dining room almost all ships have a Lido café where it is casual but you order from a menu and are served by a waiter. It’s one of the many choices if you don’t want to participate in a formal night or if you just want to eat by yourselves. On Carnivals single cruises they encourage this style of dining so the singles can meet more people. There are exceptions to this but not many. On some of the newer ships the Lido is open 24 hours a day.
On most of the cruise lines they offer the food of the region that you are visiting. While on Hawaiian cruises expect to be served Hawaiian food. When on an Alaskan cruise you will be given the choices of salmon and Alaskan king crab legs. It makes more fun to dine on the local cuisine.
All of the cruise lines offer healthy alternative menus or what they call spa menus. So if you want low-fat, low-salt, low cholesterol, vegetarian or any other type of diet, they are available. It is best however to inform your travel agent of any special needs so they can notify the cruise line ahead of time. If you have special dietary needs make sure the cruise lines knows before hand. For example, Royal Caribbean cruises cater to food allergy, Kosher, Indian, Vegetarian and Gluten Free Diets.
To be really safe read all of the cruise reviews and cruise critics sites for each ships food and service ratings.
Happy Cruising, enjoy it, we do!
Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.
This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.

Every year more and more people are discovering the all-inclusive pleasures of cruise vacation.Last year alone, more than 7 million people took a cruise, more families, singles, honeymooners, couples and groups of friends are taking cruises, plus company sponsored cruise vacation for employees

Cruise Lines are experiencing a 20 percent increase in the number of cruises longer than 10 days. The demand for world cruises is on the increase, Cunard lines is having two world cruises, including the Queen Mary II’s first voyage around the world, an 80-day journey.

One of the very exclusive Cruise Lines has just launched a series of voyages of greater than 50 days and is having its first around-the-world cruise in 2007. Cruise bookings are up says one cruise line spokesperson there has been a record number of bookings for this year’s world cruise.

No one likes to fly anymore. It is not relaxing, you are packed in like sardines in a tin, and must bring your own lunch, and they even ask you to remove your shoes. With cruising, you have got everything with you, you are in your house wherever you go. You are taken care of, whatever you need. Medical Care is available, plus the night clubs and restaurants.

You don’t have to pack and unpack every day as with regular vacations, you can spend leisurely days swimming and sun-bathing and relaxing with just met friends. You can see and do exotic things from 8 AM to 12 Noon, go for lunch, and do more exotic things from 2 PM till you’re tired and then have a 7 course meal.

After supper there is always a show every night. Entertainment is also second to none. Rather than sitting in a hotel room watching TV, on a cruise your social life is built in, with 1800 possible friends some of whom are always ready to party.

Cruise lines echo the fact that one of the key attractions is that now you can visit many exotic destinations – such as Hawaii and Tahiti- without having to deal with airport security and the hassles that one encounters going through customs at foreign ports.

Today, these Cruises are no longer exclusively for the retired Seniors, but are becoming populated by young singles, couples, triple honeymooners and families, who can turn the ship into a virtual city shopping and pleasure center.

For those who are unable to cut their business ties and really relax, you can virtually run your business from the ship’s Wireless Internet Access worldwide available on-board these Cruise Ships.

It’s easy to see why cruises are so popular today. First off, your all inclusive package price includes all meals and snacks, cabin or stateroom, activities, entertainment and parties plus your visit to some of the most enchanting places on the planet.

The cruise ship is a floating four and five star top quality resort and more, where you can associate and meet many new friends of like tastes and interests. On a cruise you completely eliminate all the hassles of an ordinary vacation.

This is one convenient all-inclusive package where you don’t have to make any reservations at all for dinner, night clubs or having to get in your car and drive anywhere for anything. This is a laid back atmosphere, where you are completely pampered, dine constantly, enjoy one excellent show after another and just let your cares float away.

Cruising, this excellent way to take vacations has encouraged many more people to book a cruise vacation over the ordinary fly, drive, hotel vacations, where you must decide what to do each day. Your cruise can be as long or short as you can afford, typically 7- 14 days although, 17 to 21 days are available.

There are cruises designed to suit virtually every interest and personal preference. Some cruises offer soft adventure expeditions to exotic places, while for some experienced vacationers, the cruise is focused on specialized culturally-rich ports of call with tours centered around history, treasures and antiquities.

From all indications, cruise vacations have a much higher percentage of satisfied customers than other types of vacation. Cruise vacation is a better value for your money and there is a cruise package for every budget.

Since the cruise fare includes all your meals, living quarters and all on-board activities and entertainment, you know what your cruise will cost before you go and your only incidental spending, which is optional, is on souvenirs, specialty restaurants, shore excursions and personal services, such as health spas and beauty salons.

To book a cruise, simply call your travel agent or one of many cruise lines. Their professionals will help you to pick the best fit for your pocket book and schedule.

So, what type of cruise vacation do you want? For many people the perfect cruise vacation centers around the non-stop sun and fun Caribbean cruises coupled with Island cultures and cuisines, along with that fabulous tan in paradise.

Cruising is now big business, only last week private equity group Apollo Management became a major shareholder in Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) having spent $1 billion for a 50 percent share of the company. Apollo has also recently purchased Oceania Cruises and has a deal with Regent Seven Seas and is a growing force within the industry. So what else is growing within the industry? Well the cost of a new build is staggering, Royal Caribbean are spending no fewer than $1.2 billion on just one ship, the yet un-named Genesis class ship due in service in the fall of 2009.Ships have grown rapidly, not just in cost but in size over the last few years. When you consider that Titanic was 52,300 tons and considered in its time to be a monster of a ship; nowadays car ferries are just as big. Royal Caribbean Cruise Line are renowned for being innovative within the world of cruising and are pushing the boundaries with their new cruise ship that will make the Titanic appear nothing more than a barge. At 220,000 tons the Genesis class ship will surpass the Independence of the Seas, due to enter service this spring, which at 158,000 tons will be the joint largest cruise ship in the world at present. It begs the question, just how big can they make a cruise ship?There is no doubt, wherever you look in the world of cruising, there is some form of growth. This year there is set to be 5 new builds and a couple of renamed ships cruising out of the UK alone. Add to this the number of new to Europe ships cruising out of the Mediterranean ports and Costa Cruises are set to send two ships to Dubai compared to only one last year. This all adds up to the number of ports being visited by cruise ships is set to reach an all time high.Another growing aspect is how we receive the news of what the cruise companies are doing and that is via the cruising website. Independent cruise websites are growing almost daily as more people try to get on the bandwagon of an industry that appears to be on a never ending uplift. The Cruise is one of these new, growing websites and has been designed by Drabdesign a UK based search engine optimisation company that has a history of cruising websites. What makes The Cruise stand out is the look and feel of a real newspaper and although it is still being worked on, it will have an archive of a whole year’s news. Being split into sections means if you are interested in the growing number of new builds, or news from a specific location such as US Based Cruise News even destination news, it will have it all.

With the addition of so many new mega cruise liners the cruise industry has cabin inventory with thousands of berths that they must fill each week or every two weeks. Cruisers expect these beautiful ships with a plethora of entertainment venues, shops and itineraries to choose from everyday when taking a cruise vacation. Everyone that has enjoyed the cruise experience knows that cruise lines are forever trying to come up with new ideas and interesting things to entice new and repeat cruisers. The ships are getting glitzier and the perks are getting better and better. Here are a few things that the cruise lines have added to their rosters to coax you into taking your next cruise vacation on one of their ships.

The world is health conscious today, and the cruise lines have noticed this trend. The first thing that they have decided to revamp and extend is their sports activities to cater to those cruisers who wish to indulge in the cruise experience without leaving their fitness routine behind. Royal Caribbean, for example, not only offers its rock climbing wall but has added a forty foot wave pool, an ice skating rink and a boxing arena for guests to learn how to bunch a bag. These are all very diverse activities sure to meet the tastes of almost everyone on board. On the higher end of cruise lines, SeaDreams Yachts has a retractable marina. The marina opens so that guests may enjoy all kinds of water sports including snorkeling, water skiing, kayaking, and wakeboarding. The ship is even equipped with “Segways” for the clients to borrow to get around the ship or at tour ports when docked. Segways are high tech motor scooters rarely seen in port towns which make them doubly enjoyable.

Even non cruisers know the cruise lines reputation for good food, all of the time. Now the ships are creating activities that include the cruise guests when it comes to the culinary arts. The cruise lines want to show you how to prepare great food, present it and to savor it, a talent you can take back to your own kitchen. Holland America for one, has instituted the Culinary Arts Centers fleet wide. Each year they invite 20 well known culinary experts to sail and host cooking classes. Silversea on the other hand, has had Viking create a show kitchen on the beautiful Silver Wind. Jacques Pepin is the star of Oceania’s ships doing cooking lessons, taking guests on culinary excursions in port and dining with the passengers on board. What aspiring chef would not be delighted with that?

During this time, as the cruise lines are teaching you about gourmet food what would be the perfect pairing? Well, Wine of course. Carnival has taken this step by introducing the wine-themed vacation called the Presidential Wine Club Cruise. On this wine themed Caribbean cruise they offer seminars and wine tastings from famous vineyards. They have even included the Michelin-starred chef Georges Blanc to oversee culinary dishes that are wine friendly. Silversea has instituted the Slow Food Experience excursions on its Genoa, Italy itinerary. With this unique program passengers become students at the University of Gastronomic Sciences for one day and then visit the nearby Wine Bank that has the top wines produced by 200 Italian vineyards. When touring the Iberian Peninsula, Princess Cruise passengers get to create their very own cognac in Camus, France at a family owned distiller. Another Princess Cruise line offering is a trip to Leith near Edinburgh, Scotland where you can visit a Scottish Malt Whisky Society and have single-malt tastings.

When it comes to spas, some cruisers will book just for that experience. Celebrity Cruises has packages that you can book ahead of time with a variety of spa treatments. Some of their exotic treatments include the Ceremony of Milk and Ginger, the Asian Ceremony of the Stone or the pricey Daily Well-Being Ritual. With all packages you have unlimited use of the Thalassotherapy pool. Costa Cruises offers the largest spa at sea on their Concordia. In the 20,000+ square foot spa there are Turkish baths, Rock saunas and thermals. If you book a suite on the Concordia, or a spa cabin, you have unlimited access to the Ristorante Samsaru where Chef Ettore Bocchia, another Michelin starred professional, has created the menu. All of the major cruise lines have choices which include aerobics, work out rooms with equipment, saunas, whirlpools and special programs like yoga or toning and stretching.

Because of our hectic world some people just don’t want to be without internet access. Well, the cruise industry has answered your concerns. It is safe to say that all of the mega liners have internet access. Some have portals in each berth while others have internet cafes. On the higher end cruise lines you can borrow lap tops to use in your cabin. Each cruise line is different, some charge for usage or some use it as a perk for repeat cruisers. For instance, Princess Cruises has free internet usage for their Captains Club members after they have sailed a certain amount of times on the Princess ships. The cruise lines clubs (once you have sailed on a particular cruise line you are automatically a club member) all have different “perks” for different levels of repeat cruisers but that is for another discussion.

As you can see, the cruise lines are keeping up with all cruisers demands so you have lots of options to choose from on your next cruise vacation. Check out all the cruise lines with your Travel Agent and pick the one that is tailor made for your needs.

Bon Voyage!

Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.

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Mary Hanna has traveled the world by Air and Ship while writing eBooks, Software Reviews and Practical Articles on Internet Marketing, Cruising, Gardening and Cooking. Visit her websites at: http://www.BestCruiseSites.com