Posts Tagged ‘Cruise Vacation’

PostHeaderIcon Tips To Make Your Caribbean Island Cruise More Enjoyable

Many people now consider Caribbean cruises as excellent value for money and a good place for families to spend some time together; why not spoil yourself and be treated like royalty while you spend time visiting these idyllic tropical islands. It should be on everyone’s list of vacations with tropical Caribbean islands, clear, clean beaches and of course a fun filled time on board the cruise liner. There is a great deal of flexibility involved on the part of the liner companies and they can arrange short taster trips or a full fourteen days or more vacations.
The great thing about cruising is that these ships have immense experience in catering for just about all tastes so whether you just want to relax on the deck or want a full itinerary of events, they will be able to supply exactly what you want. You can guarantee the cruise liner company will have a package custom made to suit your needs as it is their job to ensure you have the best vacation ever.
In any situation where you are spending a great deal of money, it is worth checking out a few details that should put you on the right track and you travel agency will be a good place to start. Almost every Caribbean island will receive cruise liner guests but they can’t call on every one each trip as it would take to long so you need to look for a package that will call at the islands you want.
Disco loving people that don’t like to sleep will enjoy those cruise vacations that arrange activity filled days and non-stop party evenings. Some Caribbean cruise liner companies actually produce virtual tours and other information on DVD’s which can be collected from your travel agent or ordered online.
The main difference with this type of vacation is the number of changes of clothing you take with you as there is a greater opportunity to dress for evening functions. Women may want to take two or three evening dresses and men will need a tuxedo, they will probably get to wear it for a number of evenings.
A common mistake is for families to believe that cruise vacations aren’t very child friendly which couldn’t be further from the truth as most have more activities for children than they do for adults. There is always something for them to do and people to take care of them if you need a few hours of adult time.
But Caribbean cruises can be for adults to and there are those that do not have children on board. Other cruise liner packages are available and have been created for special occasions like weddings, honeymoons and anniversaries.
The whole idea of a Caribbean cruise vacation is that you enjoy yourself and just let go for however long you are on board because it may be some time before you go again!

PostHeaderIcon Cruises: Cruise Vacation Anyone?

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.

PostHeaderIcon Cruise Lines Enhance the Cruise Experience by Offering Up-to-date Amenities

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.

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.

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

PostHeaderIcon Cruise Vacation – Tips On Caribbean Cruises

Once the provinces of the rich and famous, cruises have changed and Caribbean cruises are fast becoming the most popular vacation choice; cruise vacations like these are also becoming more desirable with younger people. There is fantastic scenery, beautiful beaches, and exotic Caribbean island locations; on the cruise liner itself you will have entertainment and a full program of activities at anytime of the day or night. There is a great deal of flexibility involved on the part of the liner companies and they can arrange short taster trips or a full fourteen days or more vacations.
Whilst this type of vacation has become widespread each vacationer has diverse needs so there are many different packages available as it is a time for unwinding, enjoyment and revitalization. Don’t think for one moment that there will not be enough to occupy you as cruise liners are the equivalent of floating vacation resorts that have a different view every day.
It is always a pleasant use of your time to see what vacations on ships are available and see what choice of packages there are so why not start at the local travel operator for some advice. Each Caribbean cruise will visit a certain number of islands on that particular voyage so you must decide if you want to visit certain islands like Jamaica, Bermuda, Bahamas or Antigua for example.
Many cruise vacations cater more for adults and the activities include discos, late night entertainment, casinos and shows with daytime events to challenge those with an excess of energy. Some Caribbean cruise liner companies actually produce virtual tours and other information on DVD’s which can be collected from your travel agent or ordered online.
One important thing to remember is the type of clothes you pack for your trip as you will have the opportunity to wear all you normal holiday clothes plus those for dressing up in the evening. For formal evenings and events a gown is necessary for women and tuxedo for men so that you can be seen in your finest and something you need to be prepared for especially if you are invited to the Captains table.
There are also plenty of activities if you take your children along on a cruise vacation and they will probably burn off all their energy by the time the evening has ended. There will be probably more for your children to do than at a standard resort, in fact you probably won’t see them much during the day.
But Caribbean cruises can be for adults to and there are those that do not have children on board. Other cruise liner packages are available and have been created for special occasions like weddings, honeymoons and anniversaries.
A Caribbean cruise vacation is the ideal venue for singles, couples and for families as everyone is looked after with a multitude of activities available; no-one ever feels left out.

PostHeaderIcon An Introduction To Caribbean Cruises

Caribbean cruises are a popular vacation choice for adults, couples and families alike. One reason for this is the convenience of planning a cruise. Another reason is that Caribbean cruises visit a variety of destinations and last for a various amount of days. You can take a 3-day cruise to Cancun or a 10-day cruise with excursions to a number of places. You can virtually set up a cruise to meet your time and financial needs.
The benefit of taking a Caribbean cruise is that you get to visit multiple locations in one trip. You will enjoy fine dining, meet new people, experience adventure, have a wide variety of experiences and see some of the most beautiful places in the world.
Plan the Perfect Vacation with a Caribbean Cruise
Caribbean cruises are the perfect vacation for couples, honeymoons and family vacations because each cruise is tailored to meet your traveling needs. A family cruise typically offers babysitters (at an hourly rate), adventure camps and playgroups for kids. This allows kids to have fun at their own level while adults get some free time of their own to explore.
Caribbean Cruise Destinations
Caribbean cruises depart regularly from Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa, Houston, New Jersey, New York and Cape Canaveral. Just as you can plan the kind of activities on your cruise, you can plan the types of excursions you want too have too. There are many counties, cities and islands you can incorporate into a Caribbean cruise:
* Alaska cruises Stop in Alaska for scenic arctic tours, glacial waterfalls, wilderness adventures and salmon fishing.
* In Asia try exotic foods; see the worlds tallest building, and visit local markets and beaches.
* In the Bahamas enjoy warm temperatures, sandy beaches or swim with the dolphins when you stop in the Bahamas.
* In Mexico roam the colonial city of Mexico or enjoy sandy beaches, coral reefs and tropical fish.
* In Hawaii catch the waves, surf, hike through the rain forest, see volcanoes or stretch out on the beach.
* In Europe experience the culture, history, art and architecture of European cities.
All Inclusive Cruises
Sometimes you can find an all inclusive Caribbean ruise. Not only does an all inclusive cruise save you money, but it saves a lot of time and effort you would have had to put into planning the vacation otherwise. You can find deals that include your meals, drinks, taxes, tips, airport transfers, water sports, cruise entertainment and select activities on excursions.
Last Minute Caribbean Cruises
Travelers can save a lot of money with last minute cruise deals. Cruises that have limited spaces left open them up to the public at a discounted rate just to fill the empty spots. This allows people to travel in luxury for as little as $100 to $150 per night, which is less than a fine hotel without all of the perks.
The Luxury of a Caribbean Cruise
Cruise ships come in difference size, decor and price ranges. Each ship offers a variety of room choices, as well, from inside cabin rooms to rooms with a window and a private balcony. One thing that will not leave you disappointed is the food on your cruise. Large buffets of food are set up throughout the day and well into the night. Its hard not to overdo it, but as long as you remain active on the cruise ship and participate in offshore activities, you will not have a problem.

PostHeaderIcon 5 Reasons to Book a Caribbean Cruise During Hurricane Season

Is it really a wise decision to book a Caribbean Cruise vacation during the hurricane season? Many may argue against it. Summer may not be the right season to explore the Caribbean region. Not to mention the characteristic tropical storms associated with this region. But there are a handful of good reasons to why it’s a good idea to book a Caribbean cruise during hurricane season.

1. A cruise vacation is always a better option than a land vacation. Once you are on board, the ship presents you an entirely out of the world vacation experience. With new horizons to witness, a cruise vacation is altogether a different kind of incomparable pleasant experience. Pleasant sight seeing to fun filled sport activities, visits to historical places to entertaining evenings a cruise vacation has all the ingredients required for a joyful vacation.

2. One good reason to book a Caribbean cruise vacation during hurricane season is that you are safe in a ship. If you are camping in an island when the storm strikes, not only your vacation gets spoilt you are in trouble as well. Imagine how difficult it will be to travel back home from a storm-stricken island? In a cruise you are really safe and your pleasant vacation is assured all through.

3. Price is an important aspect that speaks for booking Caribbean cruises during hurricane season. Cruise liners offer discounted pricing for their vacation packages during this season. Hurricane season extends from June to November. With discounts aplenty, hurricane season provides an affordable way to enjoy a cruise vacation happily in its wholeness.

4. It is highly unlikely that hurricane affects a specific ship during the season. Statistics favor those who dare a Caribbean cruise vacation during the hurricane season. Hurricane may affect even air and road travel. By planning well in advance and reaching the boarding port much ahead of the actual start you can get ready to enjoy a cruise vacation with minimum possible expenses. Prices drop to an unbelievable level during this time of the year. It is a good time to take the whole family to a happy vacation within your budget.

5. Reputed cruise liners offer you the assurance of reimbursement. If ports are missed or any part of the cruise vacation package gets cancelled you are paid reimbursement. So in effect you would loose nothing in terms of money in case of any adversity. And of course there is always the option of going for insurance.

Booking a Caribbean vacation during hurricane season is all about gain. It really is a good idea to spend a wholesome vacation by spending less.

Chris De La Rosa and his family are avid cruisers who can be found on some of the biggest and most glamorous cruise ships sailing the Caribbean seas.To learn more about Booking a Caribbean cruise during hurricane season, please visit CruiseCrownPrincess.com. Where you get access to various crusie videos, pictures and reviews.