Norwegian Cruise Line - American Style!
May 15, 2007
It’s not just the size and opulence of their sleek and stylish fleet that attracts passengers to Norwegian Cruise Line. Norwegian Cruise Line boasts the largest ratio of staff to passengers of any cruise company and this extra service shows from stem to stern. Every inch of every ship gleams and on any trip through the corridors you always meet friendly and courteous staff in perfectly appointed uniforms.
A particular cruise feature that Norwegian Cruise Lines introduced is free-style dining. Historically, shipboard dining has been a structured affair, with meals served at preset hours, usually with assigned seating in the dining room and a dress code. Free-style dining changes all of that to match the contemporary American lifestyle. Passengers may choose from eight to a dozen dining areas on board and eat when they wish. Some dining areas serve cafeteria-style, with food already prepared and jean-clad passengers taking a tray and selecting their food items. The main dining areas serve menu-based meals with full service wait staff and where jeans and shorts are prohibited at the evening meal. All food in the dining rooms and cafeteria is included in the price of the cruise.
The History of Water Sports
May 14, 2007
Swimming is noted in many of the classics as relating to heroism and religion. Nicolas Wynman’s Dialogue Concerning the Art of Swimming (1538) is the first recorded written document on swimming methods. Swimming first appeared in the Olympics in 1896, paralleled to the development of the swimming pool. Swimming the English Channel is the most publicized non-Olympic event. It proves excellence in strength and endurance. Matthew Webb from England was the first man to cross the English Channel in 1875, and later Gertrude Ederle of the Unites States of America became the first woman to cross in 1926.
Snorkeling to view exotic fish and aquamarine life is a much-loved vacation adventure. In ancient times snorkels were crafted from hollow reeds found in lakes and marshes. Pliny the Elder, a first century A.D. Roman makes reference to the snorkel, so the activity holds rank as one of the oldest recorded water sports. Loenardo da Vinci created a more modern snorkel when the Venetian senate summonsed him to do so. Divers attached this hollow tube to leather helmets The present-day diver’s snorkel is typically a J-shaped tube that is open at the top and has a mouthpiece at the other end, usually no more than 2 ft (61 cm) long.
5 Steps to Crime Prevention at your Marina
May 13, 2007
Spending the day or weekend on your boat is one of the pleasures most boaters look forward to all the time. Unfortunately, the marinas where vessels are stored at are just as susceptible to crime as our homes and places of work, if not more so. Criminals prey on two facts. (1) Many boats are left alone for days and weeks at a time and (2) when a boater heads out onto the water, criminals know that they have more than enough time to burglarize their parked car.
With that being said, it becomes important for boat owners to learn some common-sense practices for keeping the property on their boats and in their vehicles as safe as possible. Listed below are five steps that boaters can take to help protect their property from crime.
1. Mark It This is a proven deterrent and you will have a better chance of having your property returned if it is stolen. Etch or engrave an identification number, such as you vessel ID number, onto all of your valuable items. This will enable authorities to trace lost or stolen items back to your vessel. Also, enroll in a crime prevention program, like Boat Watch USA. It is free, and you receive a Vessel ID decal which includes a warning for all would be perpetrators to avoid your vessel. Place this decal where it can be easily seen from the most common spot your vessel is boarded from. Boat Watch USA also offers smaller Boat Watch USA warning decals to affix prominently to your major equipment.
Are you Ready for the Cruise of a Lifetime?
May 12, 2007
Cruises are one of the best ways to unwind and relax. It’s the ultimate in vacations. Is a cruise for you? Do you know what there is to do on a cruise? Its not just a ride on a boat you know.
When you are tired of working long hours and feel as though your life has become dull and uninteresting, a cruise would be a great way to liven things up, to say the least. You will get to choose where you would like to go, when you would like to go, and the activities you want to participate in. While some cruises are more for touring cities around the world, others allow you to just enjoy the sea itself.
Do you have a destination in mind for your cruise? Do you have any activities in mind that you would like to do on your cruise? If not, check out the multitude of choices available to you. Ask a travel agent to help you, or, browse websites that offer cruises. Check out your choices. Most likely, you will find something that suits your needs!
Why Take a Cruise Vacation?
May 11, 2007
Have you considered taking a cruise vacation but just aren’t sure if it would be right for you? With all the cruise lines available, all the cruise destinations, the range of prices, there is a cruise for just about everyone.
Do you commute to work every day, sitting in traffic for perhaps hours? Think about it, on a cruise you don’t drive anywhere for 7, 10, 14 days or more. Now, even if you were on a bus tour with no driving yourself, you haul your luggage or at least pack and unpack it at each stop. On a cruise, you check your luggage when you check in and it magically appears in your cabin, stateroom, or suite. You unpack once, feeling at home for the duration of the cruise. The cruise staff will tell you when to place your bags outside your accommodations at the end of the cruise and, just a magically, your luggage will be waiting for you on shore at a designated pick-up point. Taking a cruise vacation frees you from some of the hassles of traveling.
Why a Cruise Vacation is YOUR Dream Holiday
May 10, 2007
Thinking you could use an escape from the wintertime blahs, maybe even that dream holiday you’ve been thinking about for years? A Caribbean cruise vacation is the answer! What makes a cruise your dream holiday, you ask? Well, put simply, a cruise combines all the elements of a dream vacation into one blissful trip. There is ALWAYS something to do, no matter your age or interests. Whether you’re on your honeymoon, vacationing with the family, or spending quality time reuniting old friends, a cruise is guaranteed to fulfill your dreams.
Picture yourself riding on a beautiful cruise ship, looking over the railing to see brilliant blue waters, idyllic sunsets, and dolphins playing in the white-capped waves. Do you feel dreamy already? This fantasy can be your reality if you choose a cruise for your next vacation.
With multiple poolside decks to lay out in the sunshine while enjoying the sights and sounds of the ocean, along with reggae music and fruity island beverages, daytime on the cruise ship can be very relaxing. If you prefer to be more active, most ships are fully equipped with activities. Take a jog around the boat-top track, or spend the day in aerobics and yoga classes followed by a massage and facial at the spa. If shopping is your one true love, you’ll be in heaven with all the shops on the ships, ranging from inexpensive trinkets to fancy wine and fine clothing.
Airboats - The Right Boat For Many People
May 10, 2007
The state of Florida is filled with lakes, swamps and unchartered territory that can only be reached by airboat. Airboat popularity continues to rise in Florida and boating enthusiasts are making new airboat purchases everyday. Choosing the right airboat is important and can be something like choosing a car or truck, it is a major purchase. There are a few things that you may want to consider as you shop for the right airboat.
The following is a general outline of the topics that can help you decide what you really want.
You have to ask yourself many questions when determining what airboat is best for you. Including topics such as the cost factor, whether to purchase a new or used airboat. Your stability needs to include the size of hull that you will require will help determine the size of engine. Also, what is the main purpose of the use of the airboat? In addition, you need to determine the performance expectancy meaning, what do you want your boat to be capable of?
The Rise and Rise of Croatia For Sailing Holidays
May 9, 2007
In the 1980s, Croatia - then part of Yugoslavia - built up a sizeable yacht charter industry. It was never then on the scale to rival long time favourite Greece, but it was large enough to get itself noticed as an attractive coming destination. Then came the various Balkan wars - one of them involving Croatia itself - and the disintegration of old Yugoslavia. Croatia is now the ex-Yugoslav republic with almost all the coast line!
Since the wars ended the growth of the croatian yacht charter industry has been little short of astonishing. In an industry notoriously short of credible statistics, we suspect that Croatia must now be a serious rival to Greece. There are a number of expalanations for this remarkable success:
Yacht Charter From Rhodos Base - Dodecanese
May 8, 2007
The most famous of the Dodecanese, beautiful and famous for its mixed lifestyles, Rhodos has contributed the Colossus, a huge statue which stood at the port’s entrance, to the seven wonders of the world. The old city is surrounded by powerful fortifications with bastions, battlements, gates and moat; a fine example of 15-16th century art. In the midst of the old city, and separated from it by an internal wall, stands the Palace of the Grand Masters of the Order of Saint John.
Now fully restored, with its fine wooden ceilings and floors paved with marble in various colors or with ancient mosaics brought over from Kos and alabaster windows, its fine 16th century furniture, this castle will fascinate you and make you understand the great diversity of Greek history. Rhodos offers beautiful holiday resorts along an endless coastline, restaurants, tavernas etc. and a famous casino. Numerous excursions and sailing trips can be made to visit sights like Kamiros, regarded as the Pompeii of Rhodes, and Butterfly valley, the Castallia fountain and many more.
Cruising with the Mouse ? Disney Cruise Line
May 7, 2007
There’s magic in everything that team Disney touches and their cruise line is no exception. Michael Eisner himself commissioned a talented group of ship designers, cruise experts and Disney creators to produce cruise ships that would appeal to adults and children of all ages. The result was two nearly-identical ships, Disney Wonder and Disney Magic.
The ships are distinctively Disney, with the famous mouse silhouette prominently placed on the smokestacks and appearing frequently throughout the ships. That’s not all; a fifteen-foot statue of Goofy is the figurehead on Disney Magic while Donald Duck adorns the front of Disney Wonder. Of course, cast members masquerade through the ship in costumes of the famous Disney characters. Disney art is featured on the walls and images of Disney characters appear everywhere. Disney excels at promoting everything Disney so expect onboard shops to be full of Disney memorabilia.
Disney Cruise Line offers three, four, seven and ten day cruises that sail from Disney’s own Port Canaveral near Orlando to popular spots in the Caribbean, including St. Maarten, Nassau, Antigua, Cozumel, St. Thomas, Grand Cayman Island, St. Lucia, and Key West. All cruises stop at for a day at Castaway Cay, a private island developed by Disney solely for the enjoyment of Disney Cruise Line passengers.
