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Posts Tagged ‘Cruise’

There comes a time when you want to take time off of work and put aside the stress and just go on vacation. Somewhere where no one can reach you and you just can sit back and relax. If this sounds like you, you should go on a cruise.

If you go on a cruise there is nothing to bother you at all, you will be surrounded by the ocean and sunlight. So you can get plenty of relaxation, and spend time with your family like you want to. Cruise trips, to me are the best way to get away from your everyday life. And there are plenty of cruises to choose from, so you can pick the right one for you. I am going to tell you about a couple of them so you can get an idea on what kind of cruise you would like to take.

Let’s start with Royal Caribbean Cruises…
The Caribbean is no longer the haunt of pirates; it now retains a seafaring romance that can be claimed by few other destinations. If you were to take a cruise trip here you and your spouse would be able to fall in love all over again.

Alaskan Cruises…
Alaska is known for its snow capped mountains that provide you with a once in a lifetime scenery. You can’t find such beautiful scenery anywhere else but here. This would be a wonderful place to carry your children and let them to be hypnotized by the scenery; they will be begging you to carry them back over and over again. However, it can be a little chilly, so if you plan to go here you may want to carry some warm clothes. Don’t be discouraged however, this will be a wonderful time to get the quality you and your love ones need. You can cuddle up by the fire place and reminisce on the old times that you have share together.

Taking a cruise trip is one of the most exciting things, it offers you so much freedom that you can’t have at home. If you decide to take a cruise, it will be just like you are at home, only not as loud and aggravating. The cruise ships have rooms that look like your entire house they are so big. This will make you feel just like you are at home. Cruise ships also have pools, lounges, tennis courts, bowling alleys; they basically have anything that you could image doing.

Once you get to your destination you will be able to see unbelievable places, places that you thought you would never see in your lifetime. All he cruise ships have destinations to go to, where you are able to get off the boat and see different places, basically you take tours to places throughout their destination.

When you go on a cruise you will need to dress for the occasion, you don’t want to be dresses inappropriate and miss out on all the fun. If you are going on a cruise that is destined for nothing but sunshine and oceans then you should dress warm. Maybe shorts and a nice shirt would be okay. If you are going to be swimming you may also want to bring a bathing suit or swimming trunks. If you are going somewhere that is full of snow covered mountains, then you may need to dress warmer. Pants and a sweater would be nice, and make sure that you carry a jacket with you.

Most cruise ships have a cheap cruise holiday in which they offer discount prices. If you are interested in taking a cruise then you may want to call ahead and find out when there cheap cruise holiday is. You may save a lot of money by asking them about that. This could mean more money for you to take with you and spend on something’s you may see and want.

Overall, I hope that you consider taking a cruise, whether it is an Alaskan cruise or a cruise to the Caribbean. I promise you that you will not be disappointed. Being out at sea offers you freedom that can’t be described. I recommend that if you carry a cell phone or pager that you cut it off, it may not work anyways but you don’t want people calling and ruining your vacation. This is a time for you, enjoy yourself and have fun, you deserve it.

You would agree that the best and the most special part of the wedding is the honeymoon. And there is no better way to make it extra special than by booking for a romantic honeymoon cruise.
However, taking a romantic honeymoon cruise might be out of your plan since you have the impression that it is expensive. Here’s the truth: you can find the cheapest romantic honeymoon cruise if you will work for it.
Here’s how:
Shop around like any wise and thrifty shoppers do. Treat the internet as a department store where you can find both the high-end products and the bargain ones. Take time searching from different sites that offer romantic honeymoon cruise package. If you find long enough, you will surely get the best deal that is worth every penny. Avoid booking directly with the cruise lines. There are lots of sites wherein you can compare prices of different cruise lines with the same destinations. Many internter travel sites can give you the best offer not only because they provide all the information you need but also because they offer discounted packages.
Off-season cruise. Different cruise destinations have different off-peak season. For example, the Caribbean cruise is off around the month of June while the Alaska honeymoon cruise is off during September and May. Consider this factor when deciding what cruise you should take and get the most out of the offered discount.
Take the interior rooms. There are usually 4 different rooms in a cruise liner: the interior, balcony, oceanview, and suite. Suites are always the most expensive. Balcony rooms are offered 40% to 60% cheaper than suites but some ships do not have this kind of rooms. Oceanview is cheaper by as much as 50% compared with balcony rooms. But the best deal of all is the interior room which is 10% to 20% cheaper than oceanview, 40% to 60% cheaper than the balcony room, and 60% to 75% cheaper than the suites.
Repositioning cruises. Usually, cruise ships are repositioned depending on the season. But, these ships still do business along the way. For example, an Alaska - Vancouver cruise ship is repositioned to the Caribbean, it still does a trip from Los Angeles to Mexico. Here, you can get a significantly cheap honeymoon cruise ship. The Royal Caribbean, Holland America, and the Carnival are some of the cruise liners that offer this type of discount.
Offline travel agents - If you are still unsatisfied with the price you see on the internet, you can check out offline travel agents and inquire on the possibility of cheap honeymoon cruise. Evaluate the offer and decide which is the best.

Cruise Line to Begin Sailings from New York City, Quebec in 2010

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (JANUARY 9, 2009) – MSC Cruises, long a leader in the European cruise market and a growing presence in the Caribbean cruise winter market, will be adding Canada and New England cruises to its offerings in 2010.

MSC Magnifica, currently under construction and scheduled to debut in March 2010, will be sailing a series of Fall Foliage cruises from both New York City and Quebec in the fall of 2010 before sailing to Fort Lauderdale to join MSC Lirica for the 2010-11 Caribbean cruise season.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for residents of the Northeastern United States and Canada to enjoy an MSC Cruises experience on one of the line’s newest and most elegant cruise ships without having to add in the cost and time of airfare,” says Richard E. Sasso, president and CEO of MSC Cruises (USA), Inc.

He adds, “MSC Magnifica is ideal for Fall Foliage cruises. With nearly 80 percent outside staterooms and a magrodome (retractable roof over the swimming pool), guests can appreciate the beauty of Mother Nature throughout the cruise.”

MSC Magnifica, which is scheduled to debut in March 2010, will depart Venice on Sept. 4, 2010 on an 18-night transatlantic cruise to New York City. Along the way, it will call at Bari, la Vallette, Malaga, Cadiz, Lisbon, Ponta Delgada and King’s Wharf (Bermuda), arriving in New York City on Sept. 22.

The cruise ship will then sail the following itineraries for Canada and New England cruises:

The cruise itineraries can be combined, making them ideal for those who want a longer, roundtrip experience or even a 16-night cruise from New York City to Fort Lauderdale.

For more information about MSC Cruises, visit www.msccruisesusa.com or a local travel professional.

About MSC Cruises:

MSC Cruises currently has the most modern fleet in the world with 10 cruise ships: MSC Fantasia (the largest ship ever built for a European ship owner), MSC Poesia, MSC Orchestra, MSC Musica, MSC Sinfonia, MSC Armonia MSC Opera, MSC Lirica, MSC Melody, MSC Rhapsody, cruising in the Mediterranean year round and seasonally in Northern Europe, Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean, North and South America, the Indian Ocean and South Africa. MSC Splendida and MSC Magnifica will be launched, respectively, in 2009 and 2010. MSC Cruises is the only company to receive the “6 Golden Pearls” award from the Bureau Veritas in recognition of its high level of quality management and environmental protection.

It started out as a simple week long cruise to Alaska.  My wife and I are avid cruisers…well my wife is and she drags me along. It may appear as though I am enjoying myself, but really I just want to get back to work.  My wife lets me work pretty much all the time, so I want her to enjoy the cruise.  For her to enjoy the cruise she has to think I am having fun too, so that’s why I pretend to enjoy myself.

 

Anyway, back to the Alaskan cruise…some people we met on a cruise were going to go, and so we were going to go along as well.  It’s always fun to cruise with people you’ve met before…assuming you like them of course. A couple of cruises back we went on a cruise to the Caribbean where a large number of people had been yakking at each other on the Cruise Critics message board for almost a year. People all going on the Caribbean cruise of course. It turned out to be a fantastic cruise.  We had so much fun with this huge group of people.  We referred to it as 62 best friends meeting for the first time.  We had some group party’s and a couple of blow-up dolls as mascots and we even had a Pirate theme.  It made the whole cruise far more fun.  Well for Kathy it was a lot of fun, I was just pretending of course.  There are a lot of pictures of the cruise, the group, and even the mascots at my cruisesrfun website.

 

But I digress…back to the Alaskan cruise.  Well, it turned out that a whole bunch of those folks that went on that Caribbean cruise decided to do another cruise together, this time to Acapulco Mexico.  The next thing I knew our Alaskan cruise had become our Acapulco cruise.  I much prefer hot weather to warm and warm to cold, so I had not been looking forward to the Alaskan cruise, but a cruise to sunny Mexico would be another story.  Er uh at least it would be easier to pretend to enjoy the cruise. 

 

One of the nifty things about this cruise is it stops at Zihuatanejo, which is where my step son and his wife got married on the beach. Actually, the beach was called La Playa Ropa, and the wedding was at a restaurant called La Perla.  Well…we thought why not invite our son and his wife and his sister and her husband to go along too.  They are great fun and our son’s wife is Mexican and speaks fluent Spanish…it makes her very handy when in Mexico. 

 

This cruise to Acapulco is at the end of October.  We will be on the ship for Halloween. You know what that means. It means that there will be a mandatory costume party. At least it will be mandatory for anyone married to my wife. Jeeze.  UPS has been making stops at my house several times a week lately bringing things like big fancy ear rings and costumes, and dresses…lots of dresses.  My wife Kathy really likes to dress up on these cruises. I pretend I don’t mind donning my tuxedo a couple of times each cruise.  Apparently I will also be getting dressed up as a Mexican Bandito…with bandoliers holding shot glasses instead of bullets, and holsters that hold tequila bottles.  Kathy is going to go as “Miss Piggy” dressed as “Big Bird”. Doesn’t make sense to me either, but check out our website in early November to see for yourself.

 

This cruise is aboard the Carnival Spirit, and we have never cruised on Carnival.  The last cruise I was on was aboard the HAL Oosterdam, a ship we’ve traveled on twice.  On that cruise I had my iphone, and I could check my email and visit my favorite websites from almost anywhere on the ship. I hope that’s the case with the Spirit.  As usual I will do a cruise review and post it on cruisesrfun.

 

Kathy has been in near constant communication with one of that group of 64, Judy, who happens to be a Travel agent.  So now we’ve been moved around, up graded and God knows what else, but we apparently have the perfect state room…with a wrap-around balcony and plenty of room for that cocktail party.  On this cruise our group will be around 20 people, and I know Kathy and two of her friends are planning at least one cocktail party for the entire group.  A lot of the original group of 64 still chat on the boards, and of course this upcoming cruise has a message board at cruise critics site, and there is daily chatting.  I never get involved in that stuff; I leave it all to Kathy.

 

The cruise begins in San Diego, and we will be staying overnight in the same hotel as the last time we cruised.  Kathy has booked us a room where we can stand on the balcony and watch the ship dock early in the morning.  Last time it was at like 5:00 a.m. or something…I don’t really understand the attraction., but I am pretty sure that at some un-Godly hour I’ll be up watch the ship pull up to the dock.

 

We usually build web pages about our cruise as we go, and upload them to the CruisesRfun website from the ship.  This time we will be doing the same thing.  I have a new digital camera that takes nice movies, and I would really like to begin incorporating videos into my website.  If we can upload at a reasonable speed I’ll certainly have some cool videos posted on the site before the end of the cruise.  If I am really lucky I’ll be able to get some really embarrassing footage of my children for all of their friends to view.

 

On this trip at least, what happens in Mexico will definitely NOT stay in Mexico.  Vive la Internet!

As you are exploring Caribbean vacation options, do not look just at the islands and cruises traveling between them. Mexico has a beautiful Caribbean coast, complete with paradise beaches, unique cultural destinations, and luxurious resorts. A Caribbean vacation to Mexico might be perfect for you the next time you plan a getaway.

When planning a tropical trip to Mexico, look at locations on the Yucatan Peninsula. This peninsula is made up of Mexico’s Yucatan, Campeche, and Quintana Roo states, as well as parts of Belize and Guatemala. As found in much of the Caribbean, the climate in this part of Mexico ranges from sunny and warm to extremely stormy. This region is in the Atlantic Hurricane Belt, which means it is susceptible to wind damage and flooding. Typically, hurricane season lasts from June 1 to November 30 every year. Late August to the end of November is considered the off-season and rates to Mexico are usually lower. At all times of the year, however, you can visit some of the famous tourist destinations in this area.

If you like to dive, Valladolid in Yucatan is your ideal destination. This town is the site of a number of sinkholes, which are connected via underground streams and caves. In some of the safe spots, you can swim, as well as dive into these underground caves with a tour guide. This is a unique opportunity for any diver, as you can see locations different from the typical ocean dive.

The Yucatan peninsula is also famous for its Mayan sites, which you can find in archaeological zones such as Kabah and Labna. One of the most famous of these is the ceremonial Chichen Itza, a UNESCO World Heritage site that includes an observatory, a ball court, and pyramids where they put on shows. A number of the Mayan sites offer guided tours, while at some you can also explore on your own if you want.

If you are more interested in what the coast has to offer, you can check out any of Mexico’s beaches in this area. Cancun is an extremely popular destination for international tourists, as it has a number of resorts and hotels with direct access to the beach. Along with sunbathing, you can try snorkeling, diving, fishing, jet skiing, sailing, parasailing, and a number of other marine activities. The great thing about the weather in this area is that, with the exception of hurricane season, rain usually clears rather quickly, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the beach.

Are you planning an upcoming trip to Mexico’s Caribbean Coast? If so, here are some travel tips to keep in mind:

¨ Apply for your passport early. Yes, United States citizens need a passport to get into Mexico and back home, even if you travel there via boat. You should apply for your passport at least three months prior to your date of travel, and it is better to apply about six month in advance if you can. Keep your passport in a safe place while on vacation, such as in your hotel safe.

¨ Do not drink the water. This is not an urban legend. When you are in Mexico, ask for bottled water, because the tap water contains bacteria that could make you sick. Locals have built up a tolerance, but as a tourist, you can become sick.

¨ Make sure you check customs laws. Without proper paperwork, there are certain items that you should declare when you come back into the United States. If you are going to shop while on vacation in Mexico, make sure you can keep your items! This can save much frustration and stress because by checking customs laws you know what can be brought back into the country.

You have a number of booking options when looking for a place to stay in Mexico. First, you can look for a hotel and plan your own activities. The cheapest options are inland, away from the coast, but remember that you may have to pay for beach access whereas hotels on the beach often give guests free access. You can also look at all-inclusive resort options. These can be very affordable and they give you more options with less time spent planning.

Even if you do not want to spend your entire Caribbean vacation in Mexico, you can use this as a starting point to for a cruise. Many Caribbean cruise lines spend time in Mexican waters before moving on to some of the islands you can find in this part of the world. Most people do not realize that Mexico is a prime location for a Caribbean vacation. This location should not be overlooked because along with unique cultural opportunities, Mexico can be more affordable than other island vacation options.

With the credit crunch hitting us hard, it seems difficult to comprehend how many millions of pounds is being invested into the cruise industry. With new ships still being ordered by the cruise lines, we can only expect bigger and better things for the future. Looking ahead to 2009, we can see a mixture of new ships ready to be launched, from smaller luxury vessels, to huge super liners.

Here is your guide to the new cruise ships for 2009:

Ready to hit our shores in May 2009, Costa Luminosa sister ship to Costa Serena is currently under construction at Fincantieri Marghera shipyard, Mantimo.  The 13th ship in the Costa fleet has a GRT of 92,600. There are 1130 cabins onboard, 56 of these have direct access to the ships innovative and exclusive Samsara spa, 718 have private balconies, 44 suites have private balconies, and 4 suites have direct access to the Samsara spa. The ship will accommodate over 2,260 passengers, and with its theme of light and elegance, we can ensure the latest addition to the Costa family is going to be a real jewel. 

The ship boasts 4 restaurants, 11 bars, 2 swimming pools, 4 Jacuzzis, the Samsara Spa, and for the more adventurous, the ship even contains a Grand Prix simulator. Costa Luminosa will set sail from Venice on its inaugural voyage on the 5th May 2009. The 10 night Vernissage Cruise around Greece and Turkey, will visit Bari, Katakolon/Olympia, Rhodes, Izmir, Istanbul, Mykonos, and Piraeus. After the ships initial voyages in May, it will take mini Vernissage cruises from Venice, before heading to Amsterdam to visit Northern Europe and the Norwegian Fjords throughout the summer.

The ships christening on the 5th of June, will be an extraordinary event, taking place in Genoa. This unique event will display both Costa Luminosa, and Costa Pacifica, as a double celebration, with both of MSC’s new additions to the fleet being christened together.

Costa Pacifica, the fleets 14th ship in the fleet, will be the 3rd sister ship in the Concordia class, making the Costa Pacifica, the newest and largest of the Costa fleet. Currently under construction at Fincantieri’s Genoa Sestri Ponente shipyard in Italy. The Italian lines newest addition is an impressive   114,000 tonnage, with 1540 cabins, the ship can take up to 3780 passengers. The ship will share many features with the other Costa Concordia and Costa Serena, its sister ships including the Samsara spa, 5 restaurants, 13 bars, 4 swimming pools, and 5 Jacuzzis.

The ships design and styling has been inspired by the musical theme onboard. Each area has been characterised by a different type of music, you will see this in the My Way restaurant, Ipanema Lounge, Route 66 Sports Bar, La Bamba pool deck and other areas around the ship.The Grand Inaugural cruise will be sailing from Savona on the 6th June, the 9-night cruise will visit Marseille, Barcelona, Palma, Tunis, Valetta, Palermo, and Civitacheccia/Rome. After this, the ship will be based in Barcelona, for the summer taking 7 night Mediterranean cruises.

Ready to launch in July 2009 is MSC Splendida.  The second in the new design style from MSC and sister ship to the recently launched MSC Fantasia, you can expect ‘cutting edge technology and luxurious comfort’. The 133,500-tonnage ship currently under construction at the STX Europe, St Nazaire, France, will take up to 3,300 passengers.

To ensure pure luxury, MSC are offering six star service in the form of the MSC Yacht Club, with 99 suites, a special VIP area as well as 24-hour butler service. Onboard MSC Splendida you can also experience the Aurea Spa, a wellness centre offering amazing treatments, including Balinese massage, Turkish baths, solariums, relaxation rooms and much more.

After the christening of MSC Splendida in Barcelona, the maiden voyage will visit La Goulette, Valletta, Messina, Civitacheccia, Genoa, and Marseille. Throughout the summer, the ship will be based in Barcelona, visiting the Mediterranean.

The Seabourn Odyssey will be launched in June 2009, the 32,000 tonne, 450-passenger ship is the first new build ship for The Yachts of Seabourn for over 15 years, and the first new build luxury ship for 6 years.  Under construction at Italy’s T Mariotti’s shipyard, the ships christening had been scheduled for June 24th 2009 in Genoa, Italy.

With 225 ocean view suites on offer, 90% with private balconies, luxury is guaranteed. With great onboard facilities including a spa, it will be a treat to be onboard the newest luxury liner in the cruise industry’s offerings. The maiden voyage from Venice will see you sail 14 nights around the Eastern Mediterranean, visiting Dubrovnik, Kotor (Montenerago), Mylos, Aghios Nikolaos, Rhodes, Santorini, Navplion (Mycanae), Piraeus (Athens), Mykonos, Kusadasi (Ephesus), and Istanbul. Before spending the summer cruising these islands, visiting some amazing locations.

The latest addition to the fleet of Celebrity Cruise line is the Celebrity Equinox.  Set for its launch in August 2009, the Celebrity Solstice class ship is 122,000 tonnages with the accommodation taking up to 2850 passengers. Under construction at Germanys Meyer Werft, Papenburg, the ship has incredible features and has been designed to exceed your expectations, from start to finish.

Onboard the Celebrity Equinox, you will find some familiar features from the Solstice class. The Lawn Club, a freshly manicured lawn area onboard that features real grass, for passengers to play sports including golf and croquet. You will also find the Aqua Class staterooms, which are cabins sharing a deck with the Aqua Spa, a relaxation room, incorporating spa elements into the staterooms.

The Maiden voyage from Southampton is set for 8th August 2009. The 10-night “Best of Europe” cruise will visit Paris, Cherbourg, Vigo, Lisbon, Gibralter, Cartagena, Barcelona and Rome. It will then sail 13-14 night itineraries “Ancient Empires” these are based from Rome, on these voyages two brand new ports Haifa and Ashdod, Israel will be visited. After this, the ship will cruise the transatlantic to Fort Lauderdale, before starting the 10 and 11 night “Ultimate Caribbean” itineraries.

In September 2009, we will see the arrival of Carnival Dream. The 130,000-tonnage ship will be accommodating around 3562 passengers. Currently under construction at the Fincanteri shipyard in Italy. The ship boasts the largest outdoor deck space, more stateroom categories, the largest spa Carnival have ever built, Carnival Waterworks, and a new indoor/outdoor entertainment area called the Ocean Plaza.

The ships maiden voyage ‘The 12-night Grand Mediterranean’ cruise from Rome is scheduled in September. Before heading across the Transatlantic to New York, where it will start 8 night Port Canaveral and Bahamas cruise, before operating year round 7 night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises itineraries.

Late in 2009, we will see the arrival of the much-anticipated Oasis of the Seas. The latest creation and addition to the Royal Caribbean fleet.  Oasis of the Seas, comes in at a massive 220,000 tonnage, and will accommodate an incredible 5400 guests in 2700 staterooms. The ship was originally ordered in February 2006, and had been constructed at the STX Europe, formerly Aker Yards.

With seven different neighbourhoods onboard, we can see a new concept by the cruise line introducing different areas similar to those found at a theme park. Each neighbourhood will have distinct characteristics, and will be themed and named; examples of these are the Youth Zone and the Boardwalk. The Boardwalk  will feature a unique Aqua Theatre, the first ever Carousel at sea, and games and amusements to entertain the whole family. Amongst the new additions, you will also find Madame Zamara’s - a psychic and tattoo parlour.

Based out of Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale. The ship will be visiting the Caribbean, alternating seven night Western and Eastern Caribbean itineraries.

Finally, in late 2009, the Silver Spirit will be debuting. Currently at the Fincantieri Ancona Shipyard, the 36,000 tonne, 540-passenger vessel will feature more balcony cabins, more dining choices, more facilities onboard and more luxury.

The ships debut voyage features an 11 night maiden voyage from Barcelona to Lisbon, before the 16 night transatlantic to Fort Lauderdale where the naming ceremony will take place. In January 21st 2010, the Silver Spirit will commence its 91-day South American voyage from Fort Lauderdale to La and back to New York.  It will then spend the summer in the Mediterranean, before spending the Winter/Autumn in the Caribbean.  

Want to go on exotic holiday soaking in luxury. A luxury cruise is the best way to enjoy your holiday. There are various cruises around the world each rivaling the other in providing the ultimate comfort and entertainment.

A Caribbean cruise, would transport you to a different world. Caribbean islands consist of beautiful sun kissed, immaculately clean beaches and lovely turquoise waters. And the cruise itself, providing you the ultimate luxury and entertainment.

There are several liners which provide you a plethora of choices. You can choose between a short cruise or a longer version of thirteen days or more.

You can choose a package to suit your taste and time available. You can be absolutely certain that you will have the time of your life.

There are several islands in the Caribbean. Each island rivals the other in beauty and charm. There are different packages provided by various liners on the choice of islands you visit. But generally the islands for which the cruises are arranged are Jamaica, Antigua, Bermuda and Bahamas.

In Antigua you will enjoy the picturesque scenery. Jamaica would entertain you with the cascading water falls and spectacular mountain scenery. Barbados would enthrall you with picture postcard beaches. In Bahamas you can laze under a shady palm on the beach, forgetting the world.

Once you board the cruiser, you will be treated to a variety of programs each rivaling the other in providing you exceptional entertainment.

Are you a disco lover? You can dance away to your hearts content. Do you like parties? There are evening parties abroad the cruiser. You can dress yourself to charm everyone around.

For your family, a cruise in the Caribbean would be ultimate in luxury and entertainment. For the kids there is not even a single dull moment. There would be people take care of your children for a while, if you want to enjoy some time of your own.

Whether you are on your honeymoon or not, Caribbean cruise would provide the most romantic moments of your life, for you and your partner. A wedding anniversary or a birthday celebration, a luxury cruise in the Caribbean would a wonderful way to celebrate.

Are we always complaining about not getting to see that perfect place we have dreamt of? That too in a very short span of time. Herein lies the answer.

What is a paradise? Well, beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. The inert twining of nature with the best she has to offer - the mountains, the sea, the land and the rest. A Caribbean Carnival cruise offers all of these things to keep you up and going - a voyage straight into the hearts and minds of people who experience it.

The cruises to the Caribbean are typically split into one of three categories: Eastern Caribbean, Western Caribbean, or Southern Caribbean. The trips to Southern Caribbean are typically a short one and will typically depart from Puerto Rico, Aruba, or Barbados; while longer journeys may depart from the mainland of the United States. Western Caribbean cruises will depart from the Gulf of Mexico for the most part: Florida, Texas, Alabama, and Louisiana. Finally, the Eastern Caribbean cruises may depart from the Gulf of Mexico, usually Florida, or New York, for slightly longer journeys.

Every region is elegance at its best .Shopping, snorkeling or sailing is best suited to the eastern Caribbean region .Those devoid of nature can head to the western region. The strong hearted can head to the south.

The length of your trip decides where you want to head. A typical two day adventure will leave you more at sea and a bit of port too. When you are at sea, you can enjoy all of the accommodations of the cruise ship, including food, pampering, and fun. When you port at your destination, you may choose to stay aboard or go out and see the sights of your temporary new home. The longer your trip gets, you may actually get to port at several different locations, which is especially nice as it gives you the freedom to explore more. You will then set course for home and travel a day or two back to where you departed from - a little more relaxed and ready to face the next year.

This is how the Caribbean tour is lined up for you. You will have no complaints in the land of Caribbean, an enchanting experience designed to suit every bit of your needs

cruises are luxury hotels that move every half hour, it’s a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, a mass of one hundred thousand tons, that glides on the ocean between Florida and the islands of the Caribbean on a regular basis.
Royal Caribbean International is the second largest cruise ship operator in the world with revenues in excess of $4 billion. It owns 28 ships with more than 65,000 berths on them and is growing. Here’s their story.
Flash back to 1969. An idea suddenly struck Arne Wilhelmsen and Edwin Stephan (Arne was a Harvard-educated investor and Edwin a famous Floridian businessman). The idea was that there was a large community of extremely wealthy Americans in Florida, and that this community would put down top dollar for a short, relaxing luxury cruise to the nearby Caribbean.
Arne and Edwin marketed this brainwave to some of the shipping magnates in Norway who readily bought it and came up with large investments. After a short gestation period, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines (and an entire new industry) was born.
By the next year (1970), the infant company could speak of it’s first possession: The SONG OF NORWAY, a splendid cruise ship, weighing 18,500 tons and equipped for 700 passengers, custom-built in Finland. The most stunning feature of it was a cocktail lounge cantilevered around the smokestack (Edwin Stephen got the idea from the Seattle Space Needle). This lounge was built into many of the Line’s later ships and became the hallmark of the Company’s fleet.
* Growth, Growth and More Growth *
The founders of the Company pursued their vision of achieving market dominance through a continual program of adding ships and services. A consolidated record of this, which is very difficult to find elsewhere in the media, is presented below:
1971
Cruise ships NORDIC PRINCE and SUN VIKING arrive
1978
SONG OF NORWAY cut in half, 75-foot piece with 164 cabins introduced in between
1980
NORDIC PRINCE augmented the same way
1982
SONG OF AMERICA arrives with a larger, more luxurious lounge around the smokestack
1988
SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS, the largest cruise ship ever built at 73,162 tons for 2,276 passengers, arrives at a cost of $150 million
1990
- NORDIC EMPRESS arrives
- The Company expands beyond the Caribbean: Mexico, Alaska, and Europe are added as destinations;
- Industry’s first computerized booking system introduced
1991
- MONARCH OF THE SEAS arrives, ready for 2,354 passengers
1992
- MAJESTY OF THE SEAS delivered, equipped for 2,354 passengers
1993
- The Company goes public
1995
- LEGEND OF THE SEAS arrives, built for 1,804 passengers
1996
- GRANDEUR OF THE SEAS arrives at 74,000 tons and for 2,440 passengers
- SPLENDOUR OF THE SEAS, in the same class as GRANDEUR, delivered
1997
- Name changed to Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited (RCCL)
- RCCL buys Celebrity Cruises and its four working ships from Chandris Lines at a cost of $1.3 billion
- RHAPSODY OF THE SEAS, at 79,000 tons and for 2,435 passengers, is delivered
- ENCHANTMENT OF THE SEAS, at 74,000 tons and for 2,440 passengers, arrives
1998
- Enter VISION OF THE SEAS, 79,000 tons and to carry 2,435 passengers
- Joint ownership agreement signed with Chicago’s Pritzker family (that has $15 billion in assets) and Haifa’s Ofer family (that owns one of the world’s largest shipping companies, Ofer Brothers Shipping Co)
1999
- VOYAGER OF THE SEAS comes in at a whopping 140,000 tons for 3,114 guests
2000
- EXPLORER OF THE SEAS arrives; in the VOYAGER class, it has marine laboratories on board as well
2001
- ADVENTURE OF THE SEAS arrives: 3,114 passengers accommodated per cruise
- RADIANCE OF THE SEAS delivered: 2,100 passenger capacity at 90,000 tons, with gas turbines, it is the first in it’s class
- The company buys 20% of UK tour operator First Choice and launches a joint venture cruise line. It offers land-based tours in Alaska through Royal Celebrity Tours.
2002
- BRILLIANCE OF THE SEAS, a vessel in the RADIANCE class, arrives and is ready for duty
2003
- SERENADE OF THE SEAS, the third RADIANCE class vessel, is delivered
2004
JEWEL OF THE SEAS, RADIANCE class, makes its debut
… and of course, more ships, even larger that the earlier ones, are on order!
* Conclusion *
With revenues in excess of $4 billion, RCCL is a juggernaut which will not slow down.
Its ships are floating cities, boast amenities such as rock climbing walls, miniature golf courses, swimming pools, ice skating rinks, sun decks, basketball courts, beauty salons, exercise and spa facilities, gaming facilities, lounges, bars, cabaret performances, cinemas, shopping arcades, multiple restaurants and casinos.
Most importantly, when on a cruise, one experiences some priceless bonuses: unpolluted air and a virtually noise-free environment. These are truly, in the modern context, balm for the soul.
If you can afford the entirely reasonable average fare of $400 per person for a 3-night cruise in a luxury stateroom don’t think twice about it, sign up for a cruise and gain the experience of a lifetime!

The time cruises were only for older people or the rich are long gone. I  made several cruises in the Caribbean. Cruises are fun, relaxing and there are lots of things you can do or see!

And no, you won’t get bored on these ships, there is always something to do or see on the ship itself if you have a ‘fun’ day at sea. You’ll want more days on the ship, so you can just enjoy the facilities they offer on these ships.

The biggest advantage of a cruise: you unpack once and you go places all week, without having to pack your suitcase every five minutes! While you’re having fun at night or sleeping, you will be taken to your next destination. For example on a cruise in the Caribbean, like I did, you visit 3 or 4 islands in just ONE week!

So, this is the perfect vacation if you don’t have a lot of vacation days left and want to make the most out of it.

You can make it a relaxing vacation and read a book by the pool, or visit the beautiful beaches at one of the islands you dock. OR you can have an active vacation: swimming, snorkelling, horseback riding, biking… what ever you want, they usually have it! You can experience culture sights or do a mix of all of the above!

It’s a great way of travelling. And if you have a look at the price, which includes a good hotel, wonderful food, the entertainment and the places you can visit on your way, a cruise is not that expensive!

For more information, personal cruise reviews and cruise tips: check out http://www.isabellestravelguide.com