Mediterranean Cruise Expert Guide
June 30, 2007
A Mediterranean cruise is without doubt the most varied type of cruise available. There are more than 120 seaports around the Mediterranean coastline, offering numerous combinations of cruise vacations over one-week, two-week or longer trips.
A huge clash of cultures await all who opt for a Mediterranean cruise. You can visit no less than 17 different countries, including such nations as Spain, Italy, Greece and Egypt. Each nation has its own unique attractions, all of which you can sample as your cruise ship gracefully sails around the calm blue Mediterranean Sea.
More than 50 companies offer cruises along varied routes in the Mediterranean. Some companies specialize in providing Western Mediterranean cruises, concentrating on ports of call around Portugal, Spain, France, Italy and Morocco. Other companies offer Eastern Mediterranean cruises which take in Croatia, Greece, Turkey and countries in the Middle East. Popular specialist Mediterranean cruises include a tour of the North African nations, a Mediterranean islands cruise that visits the island nations of Cyprus and Malta, as well as cruises around the Greek Islands. If you’re after a longer vacation, it is possible to arrange a cruise itinerary that takes you around most if not all of the Mediterranean nations.
Luxury Cruise Expert Guide
June 29, 2007
What could be more enjoyable than relaxing by a pool and being served with chilled champagne and caviar while soaking up the sun under deep azure skies? It’s a dream that many people have, but on a luxury cruise this dream is a reality. If you want high-class pampering, attentive service that is second to none and spacious accommodation with all those ‘little extras’ added in, you’ll simply love luxury cruising.
A luxury cruise really is in a different league. On a luxury cruise you’ll be offered nothing less than a spacious ocean view cabin as entry level accommodation. It will be nicely decorated with plush furnishings and quality bed linen, along with modern entertainment equipment such as a TV, video and DVD player. You’ll have exclusive use of your own private balcony, as well as a fully-stocked bar and mini-fridge. Many cruise lines even offer personalized stationary, desk and writing equipment as standard in their cabins.
Quality of service is really out of this world on a luxury cruise. Most luxury cruise ships insure that crewmembers address customers by name from day one on board the vessel. Every need is catered for 24/7, and no task is too small (or too big). If you want burger and fries at 4 in the morning, then the crew will get you burger and fries at 4 in the morning!
Hawaii Cruise Expert Guide
June 29, 2007
Experiencing a Hawaii cruise is a dream come true for many people around the world. Very few travel adventures can live up to the thrill of sailing out into the depths of the Pacific Ocean on a luxury cruise liner in search of a paradise that is Hawaii and her neighboring islands. And what a paradise it is too!
Golden sunsets, sun-drenched sands and palm trees swaying in the warm gentle breeze await all who take a Hawaiian cruise. Is there anything on Earth that could rival sipping your favorite poison while watching the sun dip down below a watery horizon - all to the gentle sound of wavelets breaking on the golden sands of Hawaii? For many, this is paradise found!
For U.S. and Canadian citizens, Hawaii cruises depart from numerous seaports along the west coast of North America. Vancouver, Seattle and San Diego are the main ports of departure to Hawaii, although several of the other ports up and down the coastline offer cruise services to Hawaii too.
European Cruise Expert Guide
June 28, 2007
Europe is one of the premier cruise destinations in the world. Its attraction is overpowering - grand cities, relics of ancient civilizations and breathtaking scenery await European cruise passengers at almost every port of call. The variety is such that one visit to this part of the world is never enough - it’ll have you coming back for more?again and again!
European cruises depart from most major seaports around Europe. They often cover a specific region of Europe, although some companies do offer a whirlwind tour of the major sites right around the European coastline.
Starting in Northern Europe, cruises around Scandinavia and the Baltic States are popular, especially those that take in the Norwegian fjords. Here, you can delight in stunning scenery where mountains rise up like towers in every direction, and where waterfalls and glaciers are almost within touching distance. There are majestic cities too. Oslo, Stockholm, Copenhagen and Helsinki, home to the Uspenski Cathedral - the largest orthodox church in Western Europe - can all be built into a European cruise itinerary.
Disney Cruise Expert Guide
June 27, 2007
Experiencing the magic of Disney at Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort Paris is something that is rarely forgotten as a child or as an adult. With a Disney cruise, you can now recapture that magic on board one of Disney’s elite cruise ships. There are several exotic Caribbean cruise routes to choose from, and with a spread of onboard entertainment for all the family it is a cruise that will live long in the memory of the young and the young at heart.
All Disney cruises depart from Port Canaveral in Florida through Disney Cruise Lines, and take guests out on a voyage of the Caribbean. Short 3-night cruises are catered for as well as 7 night cruises that encompass a larger number of ports around the Western Caribbean and Eastern Caribbean.
A typical three or four night Disney cruise takes guests out into the Bahamas, and includes a visit to the sun-drenched beaches of Nassau. Shore excursions include a magical tour to the Discover Atlantis attraction, which is home to more than 120,000 fish.
Caribbean Cruise Expert Guide
June 26, 2007
Comprising of around 50 islands (750 if you count the archipelago of the Bahamas), the Caribbean is a real treasure trove when it comes to cruising. A rich variety of vistas, people and places await, along with swaying palms and idyllic beaches of golden sand. The network of islands in the Caribbean is in fact so extensive that it is possible to book several Caribbean cruises and avoid going to the same islands twice!
There are four basic Caribbean cruise routes used by cruise operators:
Western Caribbean Cruise Route - Departing from seaports in Texas, Louisiana and Florida, the Western Route takes in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, the island of Cozumel, the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, and any number of islands off the coasts of Honduras and Belize.
Eastern Caribbean Cruise Route - One of the most popular Caribbean cruise routes, the Eastern Route typically departs from Florida and other seaports along the eastern seaboard of the United States. The route calls on destinations such as Key West, The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands the Virgin Islands (including St. Thomas and St. Croix), and Puerto Rico.
Bahamas Cruise Expert Guide
June 25, 2007
The Bahamas is arguably the most popular cruise destination for U.S. travelers, and is especially popular with first-time cruisers from the U.S. Only 75kms from mainland USA, the outer islands that make up the group can be reached within a matter of hours. This makes the Bahamas an excellent choice of location for a short Bahamas cruise break of two, three or four nights away from home.
Some 700 islands make up the archipelago of the Bahamas, of which only around 50 are inhabited. Cruise lines generally focus on just two Bahaman ports - Nassau and Freeport.
Nassau is Bahamas’ capital, and is located on the island of New Providence. It is a beautiful compact city that is easy to explore inside a day’s shore excursion. The city’s charm is in its architecture - and of course its people. Late 18th century and early 19th century colonial buildings stand as reminders of Bahamas’ British past. Parliament Square in downtown Nassau offers a unique perspective on the city’s architecture, watched over, as always, by a grandiose marble statue of Queen Victoria.
Australia Cruise Expert Guide
June 24, 2007
Australia is a country of amazing diversity and awe- inspiring beauty. From grand cities to ancient coral reefs, there is no end of star attractions in the land of Oz and the best way to see them is to book yourself on an Australia cruise.
Sydney and its world famous harbor is a good starting point for an Australia cruise, although it is of course possible to start at other Australian ports, and also at ports outside of Australia. For instance, you could join the US to Australia leg of a round-the-world cruise at Los Angeles and find yourself in Sydney, Australia 30-days later. From Sydney you could depart on a smaller cruise around Australia and/or New Zealand.
Cruise routes around Australia normally concentrate on port stops along the East and North coasts. Brisbane, the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns, Port Douglas, Townsville and Darwin are the main ports of call, with cruise durations typically of between 7-10 days. From Darwin, a few cruise lines offer services westwards towards Broome. Cruises along the southern and western coasts are less popular. Here, the main ports of call are Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. A port stop in Tasmania is also incorporated into many an Australia cruise, as are ports of call in New Zealand, such as Auckland and Dunedin, and sometimes ports of call in Indonesia.
Finding Discount Royal Caribbean Cruises
June 24, 2007
For those new to cruising, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, remember that the Internet is your best friend when it comes to cruising with any company. You can gather information on cruises and use it to find the lowest prices available. An internet-savvy customer has many opportunities to locate discount Royal Caribbean cruises.
One tip for the cruise bargain shopper is to consider a weekend trip or short cruise. This is a great way to experience the magic of a cruise vacation even if you don’t have a lot of time or money to spare. On the Internet, you can also conveniently browse the company’s featured cruises for more discounts. This is also the best place to enter sweepstakes and contests run by Royal Caribbean.
If you’re serious about discount cruise opportunities, there is still another potentially valuable resource available online. There are a few organizations online that can teach you how to create your own travel website as a business you run from home. If done properly, you can earn an income right from home and take advantage of generous discounts on your own vacation packages, including Royal Caribbean cruise discounts.
Maximize Your Cruise Wardrobe With These Packing Tips
June 23, 2007
Cruises are a fun opportunity to dress up and look your best but how do you look fresh every day without bringing your whole closet?
The first thing you need to think about is what type of clothing you will need. Will you be attending fancy dinners or dressing casual the whole time? Is there a theme party you would like to attend? Will you be dancing until dawn in your best dance dress? Some of these may necessitate bringing special attire and you want to make sure you have room set aside in your luggage for this.
If you will be dressing for dinner, one way to stretch your cruise wardrobe is to coordinate separates. Stick to no more than 3 coordinating colors such as black, white and tan. This way you can bring 1 pair of slacks, 1 skirt, 2 nice shirts and 2 jackets and make them look like 8 brand new and fresh outfits by mixing up what piece you wear with what. For example, the slacks paired with shirt 1 and jacket 1 could be one outfit, substitute shirt 2 with the same slacks and jacket for a whole new look! Now substitute the skirt in and you get another whole new look! In addition, you can use scarves and accessories to give each outfit a whole new look.
