World Travel Guide: Cruise vacations - |
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The traditional view of cruises has been that they're for couples who are getting away for romance and adventure. More recently people have also begun thinking about cruises as a way for singles to meet each other and have a great time as well. But even that is a limited view of cruising. The reality is that there are cruise packages available today for everybody - if you like to travel and are looking for a unique vacation opportunity, a cruise offers more diversity and choice than any other kind vacation out there!
There are cruise packages for couples, singles, groups of friends and families, and each of these take into consideration the specific needs and interests of these groups. This is what makes a cruise vacation so special - the attention to detail and specialized service. Most vacation packages simply can't provide this kind of service.
Family cruises can be amazing bargains when you're traveling with your children because the cruise ship staff takes care of your children's entertainment needs from the moment they step aboard ship. Kid-rated movies, live kid-friendly theaters, pizza parlors, organized games and activities and free baby sitting for the younger ones mean you'll have the opportunity to have some couples time while your kids have a blast! The best part is the all-inclusive price - they can play, watch, swim and eat to their hearts' content! How many hotels give you that?
Worried that teens will be bored? Not a problem! Cruise packages with families in mind have age-specific activities planned that range from crafts for the younger set to karaoke and coffee houses for the teens, so you're practically guaranteed to find something for every age group.
Honeymoon cruises cater to your desire for romance and pampering. Little extras like champagne and chocolates are typically included in the price of your cruise, and discounts are usually offered for luxury accommodations onshore when you get to your port of call if you are staying there a few days. You can also upgrade for a small fee and get extras that really stand out, such as chocolate covered strawberries and canapés in your room, breakfast in bed and matching robes to take home with you.
Let the cruise ship know ahead of time that you're on your honeymoon and you'll almost always receive some free gifts as well, and a special invitation to dine at the Captain's table one evening. It's thoughtful touches like this that make a honeymoon cruise such a popular choice.
Cruise ship staff members are some of the most highly trained in the world, and excel at being both unobtrusive and ever-present to cater to your needs, making your honeymoon magical in every way. For a romantic vacation getaway, a honeymoon cruise can't be beat. Fine dining, spas, world class entertainment, sumptuous rooms and moonlit nights with sea breezes all combine to make these romantic cruise packages a honeymoon vacation you'll never forget.
Girlfriends' Getaway Cruises are the newest alternative to Girls Night Out. Hey, we all have those days when we throw up our hands and say, - I can't take it anymore! - don't we? Why not take a two or three day discount cruise for the weekend? It's so much nicer than the yearly trip to the outlet malls! Pack up your bathing suits and get ready to relax!
A three-day vacation with the girls can be all about you - spas, saunas, drinks on the deck while reading a great paperback. Nights of relaxing and chatting or seeing a great show; or maybe playing the slots in the casino. It's three days of just the girls, and when you go home you'll be refreshed, relaxed and full of great memories!
You can get a great discount on three day cruises that will bring in the weekend at a lower cost than driving to those outlets, renting a hotel room and buying all of your meals in restaurants - and the food will be better, too. No driving around looking for the nearest movie theater, no looking for something to do - it's all right there on board ship.
Singles Cruises are usually booked as groups of singles onboard cruise ships that may have other groups as well, but because the singles group organizer is buying a block of rooms to keep the singles all together you can get a great discount on this kind of vacation. If you're looking to meet and mingle with other singles, these cruise packages offer activities, dining and dancing with other singles onboard.
These have become increasingly popular and are also a great way to enjoy great vacation destinations - why not go snorkeling off Nassau or shopping in the Bahamas and meet some great eligible singles, too? Today's single professionals don't want to wait until they find someone special to enjoy the finer things in life, and a singles cruise means they can enjoy an amazing vacation and find someone special at the same time!
Cruise packages come in several different sizes to fit your budget and your time constraints. You can even start with a day cruise if you'd like to try out your 'sea legs' and see what cruises are all about. But be warned - once you've tried a day cruise, you'll be ready to book the next step up, and you'll be looking at four day, seven day or longer cruises!
If you're looking for a great getaway for a long weekend, check into the three- and four-day cruise packages that are available; you can find savings of up to 50% on these if you book in advance and are flexible on which port you leave from.
For a longer vacation, there are cruise packages of a variety of lengths, with the most common lengths being seven day, eleven day, and then two and three week cruises. For seriously intense vacations, you can even book a discount cruise that's a month or two months long (travel around the world on a cruise ship, anyone?). The fabulous thing about a really long cruise is that the discount is often substantial - an empty cabin is expensive for a cruise ship, so they'll offer it a significant discount rather than have it sit empty for two months, so be sure to check out all possibilities - you may be surprised by what you can afford!
| ©2005 Lori Wilkerson. All rights reserved. |
Know first that canal and waterway cruising is not a holiday that will please everyone. If you like playing tennis and golf all day, if your idea of happiness is lying beside a pool looking at the young ladies in their miniature bikinis, if you must absolutely be able to enjoy a hectic night life every day of your holiday – then a canal cruising holiday is most certainly not for you.
On the other hand, if you don't mind gliding peacefully through some
of the most beautiful country in the world at a speed of around 7 km
an hour, seeing parts of the countryside that other
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Have you ever dreamed of a cruise? Intimate dinners with family or perhaps someone new? A close evening of dancing followed by a moonlight stroll around the deck, watching the full moon? Perhaps you dream of a huge family reunion as you go from port to port and re-establish closeness. Whatever your fantasy, it undoubtedly is peaceful, joyous, and loving.
The opportunities on a cruise are almost unlimited for
parties with old friends, or to seek out new friendships, or
having an extended vacation with family and friends. When
you book a cruise you open a door to a new way of life.
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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
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Exploring Europe can be such a unique experience with a River Cruise. You just unpack once on this floating hotel and there you go cruising with river cruises over magnificent castles, significant towns and cities, appealing villages and lavish vineyards. It has become increasingly popular nowadays to sail through the grand rivers of Europe especially with the wide selection of vessels available. All the vessels are beautifully furnished, displaying attractive art objects with public areas reflecting the atmosphere around each region you cruise. It is the most pleasurable experience on river vessels as all offer personal service with the help
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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 75 km 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 Bahamian ports - Nassau and Freeport.
Nassau is Bahamas' capital, and is located on the
island of New Providence. It is
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