Cruising is one of the most popular, convenient, and affordable vacation options offered in the travel industry today! With more cruise ships sailing to more incredible cruise destinations all over the world than ever before, there has truly never been a better time to cruise!

Cruise Destinations

Modern cruise ships today offer more thrilling onboard activities and travel to more breathtaking destinations than ever before. From the rugged natural beauty of Alaska, the charm of New England and Canada, the thundering volcanoes of Hawaii, the rich culture of Mexico and Panama, and the fascinating history and beauty of Europe and the Mediterranean, to the lush tropical vistas and white-sanded beaches of the Caribbean and the Bahamas, no where else than on one of these majestic and luxurious cruise ships do you get the opportunity to see and experience all these exciting and amazing new places like you never have before. And best of all, you only have to unpack once!

Cruise Ship Activities

There are a myriad of onboard activities and shore excursions that can enhance your cruise vacation experience. Whether you’re lounging by the pool, taking your chances at a game of poker in the casino, strolling through the on-board shops, enjoying a Broadway-style show, or just sipping on a drink with a new friend, you will never run out of fun, exciting, and relaxing things to do on your cruise vacation. There are even special programs and activities planned just for the kids!

Most cruise lines also offer shore excursion packages that can be added to your cruise vacation. A shore excursion is an optional, pre-planned adventure that you enjoy on-land in each of your ports of call. From snorkeling among beautiful coral reefs in the Caribbean, to whale-watching in Alaska, or exploring the ancient Mayan pyramids in Mexico, your opportunities for fun and adventure are virtually limitless. Shore excursions can be booked both online or after you board your ship at the purser’s desk.

Book Your Cruise Vacation Today!

A cruise vacation is the perfect vacation choice for the entire family! No matter what it is you choose to see or do, a spectacular cruise vacation gives you the opportunity for a vacation experience like no other!

The sooner you decide on your cruise package, the better deal you will get. With the increased popularity of cruising, most cruise ships fill to capacity weeks before their sailing date, making last minute cruise deals a thing of the past. Though booking yourself online is a good option for experienced cruisers, if you are new to cruising, working with a cruise agent is highly recommended. Your cruise travel agent will be able to walk you through the entire cruise vacation planning and booking process, explaining the differences between countless cruise lines, cruise ships and cruise destinations there are to choose from, helping you to select the cruise vacation that you and your family will enjoy most!

Before you know it, you’ll be sipping on your favorite drink and soaking up the sun while cruising the high seas aboard one of the most beautiful cruise ships in the world! This is sure to be one vacation that you and your family will never forget!!



Thanks to Nicole Summerfield for contributing this article to our Cruises blog:

Norwegian Dream Cruise

Are you looking for a way to escape the cold of winter? Then look no further than cruises around the world to take you to warm climates and exciting destinations.

Since cruises around the world usually depart in January, this is the ultimate way to escape the snow, ice and cold temperatures of a northern climate. They last from 90 to 121 days depending on the cruise line and the itinerary of ports of call. Such cruises visit at least five continents in one voyage, always choosing the best locations for excursions onshore. You will not only see dramatically changing landscapes when you awake each morning, but you get a chance to see some of the most renowned attractions in the world.

Most of the cruise lines offering luxury around the world cruises (http://www.amttravel.com/cruise-lines/luxury-world-cruises.html) divide the itinerary into sections allowing you the flexibility of booking several sections or the entire cruise depending on how long you want to spend at sea and the places you want to visit. Some of the most popular destinations for such cruises include:

? Auckland

? Sydney

? Bora Bora

? Vietnam

? French Polynesia

? The Caribbean

? The Greek Islands

? Safaga, Egypt

? Dubai

? Bombay

? Spain

There are so many things to see and do when taking cruises around the world that it is important to research the various cruises available to make sure that you will get to stop in the locations that are you are most interested in visiting. Most of the cruises around the world start in the east and sail west. If your point of departure is in Europe, you will have to travel to the Mediterranean area of the world first. Those cruises that originate on the east coast of the US will cross the Atlantic towards Europe and those originating on the west coast will cross the Pacific. Although it is mainly the larger cruise ships that offer cruises around the world, there are many luxury liners that are smaller in size so that your cruising experience is an intimate one with much more flexibility.

When packing for an upscale around the world cruise, you know that you can leave your bulky winter clothing at home. Since there are laundry facilities onboard all these cruise ships, you don’t have to try to take all your lighter clothing with you. No doubt you’ll plan to engage in shopping onboard the ship and when you land in the various ports, you will need to have room in your luggage to take your purchases back home with you. Since you will also be spending quite a lot of time on the ship, you should bring casual and formal clothing, as well as comfortable clothing you can wear in the fitness center. Of course, you have to plan on spending some time soaking up the sun’s rays as you lounge on the pool deck, so swimwear is essential.

With cruises around the world, you can jam a lifetime of vacationing into one cruise. Immerse yourself in the culture of each port you visit and make memories that will last the rest of your life. Not all cruises are alike, as the various cruise lines offering five star world cruises (http://www.amttravel.com/cruise-lines/world-cruise-lines.html) often have different ports of call. If you take one world cruise, you can take another in the following year or a few years down the road to visit different destinations.

By taking cruises around the world during the winter months, you have a change of scenery. You don’t have the year round expense of maintaining a home or cottage in a warmer climate. You also don’t have to worry about making reservations for different flights or for finding accommodations in various locations. Your home for the duration of your cruise will be your stateroom aboard the cruise ship where you will have all the comforts of home.



Thanks to Sarah Martin for contributing this article to our Cruises blog:

Luxury Cruise Ship

Dover, Southampton and Harwich seem to be the most favoured UK departure ports for cruise lines. But what about you poor folks who don’t live anywhere near these ports? Having to fly, drive or take the coach or train to get there can easily add on an extra day to your holiday and not everyone has the time. To help you out, I’ve trawled the internet to find alternative UK ports of departure for 2008. The majority are round trips, with the occasional disembarking at another UK port or flying back to the UK, all of which are noted. So take a look. You might be surprised at where you can go.

Liverpool

You have quite a choice if you live near Liverpool thanks to Fred Olsen. You can get a Taste of Portugal or Iberia, have a Canary Christmas, discover the Secrets of Norway, spend Easter in the Med, try out Castanets & Calvados (Portugal, Spain and France) or have an Adriatic Adventure. All on a round trip from Liverpool. Other Fred Olsen cruises from the home of the Beatles are:

Black Prince, The Orinoco Delta (Liverpool to Liverpool)

Black Prince, Canaries Interlude (Liverpool to Liverpool)

Black Prince, Mini Cruise (Liverpool to Greenock)

Black Prince, A British Summer (Liverpool to Liverpool)

Black Prince, Celtic Late Summer (Liverpool to Liverpool)

Black Prince, Canaries Collection (Liverpool to Liverpool)

Black Prince, Eastern Mediterranean Cruise (Liverpool to Liverpool)

Black Prince, The Fortunate Islands (Liverpool to Liverpool)

Black Prince, Pre- Christmas Escapade (Liverpool to Liverpool)

Thomson also offers two round-trip cruises from Liverpool. You can either get a Taste of Ireland or explore Idyllic Iberia aboard Thomson Celebration.

London

Okay, London might not be that far from Southampton or Dover but do you really want to be lugging your luggage across London on the tube, paying a fortune for a taxi to get you to a mainline station or getting stuck in traffic trying to get out of London? Fortunately Silversea offers five cruises departing from Tower Bridge, although with four of them you fly back to the UK. You can choose to cruise to Stockholm, Copenhagen, Lisbon or Montecarlo and fly back or go on a trip around the UK ending up back at Tower Bridge.

Yachts of Seabourn also offer a cruise starting from Tower Bridge that takes you to the Grand Harbours of Europe before you fly back from Copenhagen.

Alternatively, Transocean have several cruises departing from Tilbury aboard Marco Polo. Explore the majestic fjords in Norway, discover the British Isles, admire some Icelandic Wonders & Northern Isles or enjoy some sunshine in the West Indies. All beginning and ending in Tilbury. Other Transocean cruises from here are:

Marco Polo, Springtime Fjordland (x 4) (Tilbury to Tilbury)

Marco Polo, Whitsun Fjords (Tilbury to Tilbury)

Marco Polo, The North Cape Explorer (Tilbury to Tilbury)

Marco Polo, Baltic Cities & St Petersburg (Tilbury to Tilbury)

Marco Polo, Celtic Explorer (Tilbury to Tilbury)

Edinburgh

It’s quite a journey from Scotland to get to the more popular UK cruise ports, but fear not! Classic International Cruises and Fred Olsen both offer four cruises from Leith. Cruise to St Petersburg via the Baltic Cities on Classic International Cruises’ ship Athena on a round trip from Leith. Alternatively, pretend you’re an arctic explorer as you head to the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen that lies within the Arctic Circle on Fred Olsen’s Boudicca, also a round trip from Leith. Polarstar Expeditions also offer a cruise to Spitsbergen from Leith, but you do fly back to the UK.

Other cruises from Leith are:

Classic International Cruises, Athena, Norwegian Fjords (Leith to Leith)

Classic International Cruises, Athena, Iceland and Northern Isles (Leith to Leith)

Classic International Cruises, Athena, North Cape and the Midnight Sun (Leith to Leith)

Fred Olsen, Boudicca, UK Mini Cruise (Leith to Newcastle)

Fred Olsen, Boudicca, Baltic Cruise (Leith to Leith)

Fred Olsen, Boudicca, Summertime in Norway (Leith to Leith)

Travelscope, on the other hand, offer a cruise to the North Cape and Land of the Midnight Sun aboard Van Gogh on a round trip from the port of Rosith.

Falmouth

If you live right down in the south west of England, Falmouth is the place for you. Want to travel around the world, but like me you’re incapable of packing light? Well, Travelscope have a 93-day round the world cruise beginning and ending in Falmouth. Better be quick though, it departs 4 January 2008. If you don’t have the time to spare to go around the world, why not enjoy some summer sunshine around Spain and Gibraltar, also with Travelscope on a round trip from Falmouth. Other cruises offered by Travelscope from Falmouth next year are:

Van Gogh, Caribbean Sunshine (Falmouth to Falmouth)

Van Gogh, Iberian Costas, Corsica & the French Riviera (Falmouth to Falmouth)

Van Gogh, Christmas & New Year Sunshine (Falmouth to Falmouth)

Greenock

Glaswegians and their neighbours can depart from Greenock on several Fred Olsen cruises. Catch yourself some sunshine before the nights draw in on the 13-night Mediterranean Canvas cruise beginning and ending in Greenock. Or why not discover the delights of Norway on Norwegian Explorer (Greenock to Greenock)? Other cruises from Greenock for 2008, all by Fred Olsen, are:

Black Prince, Canaries Panoramas (Greenock to Greenock)

Black Prince, Mediterranean Medley (Greenock to Greenock)

Black Prince, Museums & Bistros (Greenock to Greenock)

Black Prince, Norwegian Panoramas (Greenock to Greenock)

Black Prince, Tagines & Tapas (Greenock to Greenock)

Black Prince, Greenland Adventure (Greenock to Greenock)

Black Prince, Dublin Mini Cruise (Greenock to Greenock)

Hull

Don’t fancy the long trek from Hull to the south coast? Travelscope offer two cruises that begin and end in Hull. You can either admire The Majestic Fjords of Norway or cruise east to St Petersburg visiting some of the Baltic Capitals along the way.

Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Pray there’s no fog on the Tyne as you board Fred Olsen’s Boudicca or Thomson’s Celebration. With Fred Olsen you can cruise to France & Spain, explore the Baltic, spend some Summertime in Norway or discover the land of Volcanoes & Vikings.

Thomson offers cruises to Norway’s fjords and northern cape, the lands of the Vikings and of fire and ice, and the treasures of the Baltic.

All the Fred Olsen and Thomson cruises from Newcastle are round trips.

Oban

The Scottish isles are beautiful and what better way to explore them than on a cruise. It might be tempting to go abroad on holiday but there’s often so much to discover in your own backyard. Hebridean Island Cruises offer a number of cruises around the Hebrides starting and ending in Oban. There are too many to list here but you can get A Taste of the Hebrides, go In Search of Bright Waters, discover Highland and Island Treasures or find the Secrets of the Western Isles to name but a few. The only cruise departing from Oban that doesn’t finish there is Summer in Orcadia, which ends in Scrabster.

Portland

If you live near Portland, why not go on a cruise with a bit of a difference on the RMS St Helena operated by the St Helena Line. According to her owners, this ship is the only ocean-going vessel in the world that still carries the title of Royal Mail Ship. As well as carrying passengers she also supplies goods to the island of St Helena. If you fancy something a bit different there are two cruises that depart from Portland and finish in Cape Town, or you can do the trip vice versa.

Hebridean Island Cruises offers one cruise, Jewels of the English Heritage, which departs from Portland and travels along the south coast to Tilbury where you disembark.

Scrabster

For those who live in the far north of Scotland, Hebridean Island Cruises offer three cruises departing from Scabster. If you want a round trip, you can explore the Northern Isles from Orkney to Shetland. Meanwhile, Home from the Far North takes you to Oban, where you’ll end the cruise, via Orkney. Song of Norway takes you (surprise, surprise) to Norway where you’ll visit some of the country’s highlights before flying back from Bergen.

So you see, you don’t always have to travel miles before embarking on your cruise. And, with the majority of cruises above being round trips, you don’t have to worry about weight restrictions on your luggage. Just don’t forget to tip the poor soul who had to carry your kitchen sink!



Thanks to Susan Bigmore for contributing this article to our Cruises blog:

Royal Caribbean Cruise Review

So you’ve heard how great cruise vacations are, and now you’ve decided to take to the high seas for a fortnight of luxury and pampering. But there’s a lot to think about. So before you select a cruise line, a cruise ship or even get in touch with a travel agent, there are certain issues that are vital to consider.

1) Who is going on the cruise?

Although this question should be easy to answer, it can have a bearing on the type of cruise line and ship that you ultimately choose.

If you and your partner want to take a relaxing cruise, there are many ships that are aimed at couples. In fact some cruise ships actively discourage or even ban people from taking children onboard.

If you will be cruising as a couple, it’s also important to consider the dining situation. On ships with assigned seating, you will have to specify the size of table that you want. However, on many ships, tables for two are in short supply, so if this is an important issue, this may influence your choice of cruise line and ship. Just make sure that you make this clear to your travel agent or the cruise line when booking.

On the other hand, if you want to take your children or travel with the rest of your extended family, there are certain cruise lines and ships within cruise lines that are specifically tailored with family vacations in mind.

2) How much have you got to spend?

It’s possible to find a cruise vacation to suit almost any budget. So before you go any further it’s important to work out how much you’re willing to spend on your holiday.

But as a general rule, you’ll need to set aside at least $150 per person per day to cover the cost of your cruise. However, bigger cabins in more luxurious ships can cost many times this figure.

However, it is possible to get more for your money if you;

a) Book early: Most cruise lines are willing to give generous discounts if you book your cruise 6-12 months in advance.

b) Book late: Likewise, if you book within 2 months of setting sail, most cruise lines will give you hefty discounts to fill the remaining cabins.

3) How long have you got?

The number of days that you want your vacation to last will determine the type and location of cruises that are available to you.

If you only have a few days, the main option is a one port cruise. This means that the ship leaves port sails around the sea/ocean for two or three days and then returns to the same port. The ship doesn’t call at any other ports, but it does give you a few days at sea. This is a good way to get the feel for a certain cruise ship, or even cruising in general.

If you have a week to spare, this gives you more choices. If you live in the US, this gives you the choice of Hawaii, Alaska, Florida, Mexico or even a Caribbean cruise. If you live in Europe this will give you access to the mediterranean, north africa, or even a nordic cruise.

Alternatively, if you want to increase the number of locations available, you could fly to and from the start/finish location of your cruise or take a one way cruise either flying to the start location or flying home after disembarkation.

If you have two weeks or longer, you can cruise almost any part of the world.

4) What time of the year?

The time of year that you take your cruise will have a major affect on two issues;

a) The Price: As with all forms of travel, your holiday will cost more during the peak season. In contrast, most cruises are cheaper in the spring or fall.

Traditionally, the winter was considered the high season for Caribbean destinations, but due to the weight of supply and demand (people who have to take their vacation during the summer) the summertime costs are almost on a par with the cost of a winter Caribbean cruise.

b) The Locations Available: The time of year that you take your cruise will also determine the locations that are available. Although this won’t make much difference to the more mainstream locations such as the Caribbean or the Mediterranean, certain places have a distinct cruise season.

If you want to go to Alaska or northern Europe, the main cruise season lasts from May till September.

For Antartica, the season is even shorter, running from November to February.

Although the tropical regions are in season all year, there is a great variation in the amount of rainfall throughout the year. Locations such as the Caribbean will have less rain during the summer months and more rain during the winter months.

And finally, although not a restriction as such, some people prefer to avoid places that may be affected by the hurricane season. If a cruise ship encounters a storm it will alter its route to avoid it, which means you may miss certain places that you wanted to visit.

5) What part of the world do you want to visit?

You can cruise almost anywhere in the world, even landlocked countries are often available to explore through river cruises. So it’s no surprise that this is one of the hardest decisions for cruise newcomers to make.

The amount of days that you have for your vacation will narrow your options, but beyond that, consider other issues, such as;

If you want to or have to take your vacation at a certain time of the year, which locations are available?

If you particularly want to use a certain cruise line, which locations do their ships visit?

What type of weather and climate do you prefer?

Are there any particular landmarks that you want to visit?

Are there any activities or adventures that you want to experience?

Now all you have to do it to get in touch with your travel agent.



Thanks to Kristen Olsen for contributing this article to our Cruises blog:

Best Cruise Line

Cruising is a wonderful and relaxed way to see several countries while enjoying the sun. Today, cruise trips are extremely popular due to their low cost and luxury travel experience.

However, like all travelling, there are a few things you need to be aware of before you start to plan your cruise ship vacation.

Here are some cruise tips to help guide you on your journey.



All inclusive cruises are not available

Most all cruise lines do not offer an all inclusive cruise package. Alcohols, soft drinks and even water all needs to be paid for when on cruise ships. The only things included are the cruise itself, your cabin and generally at least 1-2 meals a day.



Shop around and consult different cruise travel agents

Cruise travel agents are like travel agents, but are experts in cruising. Be prepared to tell the cruise agent exactly what you are looking for. You could visit 5 different agencies and receive 5 different quotes for the same cruise. In addition, look for deals in off weeks. A fare may be $2000 one week and $800 the following week.



Be aware of added charges

If you are planning to cruise alone and don’t want to share your cabin, you can anticipate a single’s supplement charge of 10% to 100% of a per person’s rate (depending on cruise line). In addition, a lot of cruises require you to pay extra for any cruise shore excursions, or any special activities that are offered on board. Be prepared to spend an additional 30% of the cost to take part in any of these activities.



Knowing when the best time to cruise is

Cruising is usually a little cheaper during the spring or fall. Weather can be uncertain, especially in the fall given many Caribbean destinations could have hurricane seasons during this time. This is something to watch out for. The dry season for Caribbean cruises is during the summer where as the rainy season is during the winter. Other cruise lines have short cruising seasons, such as Alaska cruises which normally run from May to September.



Have fun!

One of the most important tips that I can give to you on your cruise ship vacation is to have a great time. Relax! After all it’s your vacation and you deserve to make the most out of it. There are many things for you to do, fancy dinners and dressing up, meeting new friends, visiting exotic locations, being on deck in the sun, doing cruise shore excursions, and much more! It’s important to have fun, so when you come back you feel better about yourself and that you got the most out of your time and money.



Remember, cruising is an absolutely exceptional way to spend your vacation. They are very relaxing and a very enjoyable way to spend some time away. However, like all vacations, you need to know what is required before purchasing your dream cruise ship vacation. Keep this in mind and I have no doubt your cruise trip will be a complete success!



Thanks to Sarah W for contributing this article to our Cruises blog:

Disney Cruise Specials