All Aboard for the Best About Cruising!

More Booty June, 2007

Fri
Jun
29

Great Destination Ideas for your Next Cruise



One of the most exciting aspects of cruising is the virtually unlimited range of possibilities and inexhaustible number of places and regions to visit. You might like to explore them all, although it is more likely that you might like to do a bit more research before committing to any one, so that you are more likely to have chosen exactly the right one for you. There will be a perfect match in the range; you might have to search a little to find it.
Have you thought about the destination for your next cruise? Could it be the Caribbean which many cruise ships cruise around. Where will you visit? How about Belize, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grand Antigua, Cayman, South Carolina, Martinique, Barbados, St. Lucia, Louisiana, Texas, Florida, the Bahamas or Mexico. These are all destinations from cruises setting out from places such as Fort Lauderdale.
You could try a cruise in the Mediterranean calling at such destinations such as, Greece, Turkey, Italy, France, Spain, Gibraltar, Portugal and other Mediterranean countries. When visiting Gibraltar you must check out the “Rock” but look out for the Apes. These are known as the Barbary Apes and they want you to feed them. I have seen people being attacked by the apes in their search for food. It can be very scary if it is you being attacked but very funny if you are watching it. If it happens to you just let go of the food and the Apes will leave you alone. Its the food they are after.
There are other places to cruise in Europe such as Norway, cruising up the coast and fiords visiting isolated communities in the deep-sea valleys on the west coast of Norway. The scenery is dramatic and by cruising above the artic circle you can experience the land of the midnight sun. This sun never sets in summertime but in wintertime it never rises. Because of this you need to make sure you only cruise this area in the summer. Just as much fun as Norway is Alaska where you can get just as dramatic scenery and it is just as much fun.
Some cruise ships in the US spend the winter months cruising the Caribbean and the summer months cruising the West coast of Alaska. These ships need to reposition themselves during the fall and springtime and do this through the Panama Canal. These cruises are highly recommended due to the unique experience of the Panama Canal. The US completed the canal in the early part of the last century although the canal was started by the French. The canal starts at the Gatun locks at the Atlantic side of Panama and travels to the Pacific side which lowers ships over 50 feet in the series of Miraflores Locks. The Panama Canal is one of the wonders of the engineering world.
Cruises do not just take place on the sea though and you could try cruising the rivers of the world. How about the great Mississippi river from New Orleans to Little Rock, St Louis or Pittsburg. Companies also run theme cruises covering themes such as the Civil War, Steamboat racing and special Fall cruises.
You could also try Europe and cruise on the river Rhine, Elbe, Danube, Seine or Rhone rivers to name just a few, or you could try your hand at captaining your own boat on the canal systems in France or the UK. Dont forget further to the east of Europe there are many other countries offering river cruises. There are also rivers such as the Nile and Amazon as well. Whatever you choose to do, just enjoy yourselves.
Ric Wiley is an established writer and Internet author. His latest advice site about cruising can be found at http://www.destination-cruise.com

Tue
Jun
26

How To Ensure A Very Exciting Cruise Vacation



There’s an old saying that “If you fail to plan - you plan to fail”
Fortunately it’s not as dramatic as that when choosing your cruise vacation. However, taking the time to work through options, and in particular your own preferences, will make a huge difference to the excitement & success of your cruise. It is time very well invested.

Most people who have gone on a cruise vacation before regard it as the best of all types of vacations. So they would rather get on a cruise ship and have a memorable, mind-blowing and a life time experience of touring round the world.
Taking a cruise vacation is breathtaking and very exciting. All the cruise lines that are available work tirelessly in their to outdo their competitor in providing their client a more than satisfactory service in terms facilities and other packages.
Before you go cruising you have to consider things like the cruising destination, the facilities available and the price package . Just ensure you plan your cruise and you will enjoy it. It is the first step of getting satisfaction. You can follow the steps bellow if you must enjoy your cruise.
a.There are varying cruising offers from which you can choose. Choose a suitable package for you and those you are going cruising with. The price for individual and group varies. Whichever you choose, there is discount offered by most of the cruise lines. The facilities that you will use also effects the price package.
b.Duration of the cruise: You must plan for this too. Duration of cruises range from 3 day to 2 weeks and more. The longer you stay on the cruise the more of it you enjoy.
c.Places and Destination: Choose the destination you want. Ensure such a place will give you enough privacy to enjoy the cruise, either alone or with your family. If you are with your family, it is advisable to choose a place that will interest the kids. You could also choose a different cruise line from the one you have used before, so as to compare.
d.Choosing Cruise line: Do a little bit of investigation on the best of cruising lines that offer the best of services by browsing the net and acquaint yourself with their offer. Compare their prices against their prices.
e.Landing Ports: Get a port that is well known or find out if the port is reachable so you dont spend extra time, energy and probably more money to reach it .
To enjoy your cruise you must plan properly. In cruising, you may lose the excitement it brings you if you go to the same destination and engage in the same and routine every year. Create some unexpected excitement by choosing different a destination. If you adopt this method of cruising, you will always have fun for you and your loved ones.

Salihu Ibrahim
The Author, Salihu Ibrahim writes articles on cruise vacation. You can find more interesting articles on alaska cruise at his website http://www.cruise-vacation-online.com

Mon
Jun
25

Croatia Cruising - Where to find attractive offers online



Everyone knows of the Greek Isles. Many have heard of the Turkish Islands. Few are really aware of the beauty to be found in Croatia. You might find it very worthwhile to consider the possibilities to be found here before making any final arrangements.
There are many dream holiday destinations in the world and the Internet is perhaps the best resource to find them. Online, prospective tourists have several options for traveling and there are plenty of websites presenting interesting offers.

Croatia has always been considered as an extremely attractive option for traveling. The Adriatic coast is visited by hundreds of people from every corner of the world, looking for unique landscapes and memories. One of the most popular choices is Croatia cruising, representing a wonderful way to explore the Croatian Adriatic Sea.

If you think about such a vacation, you can visualize the clear-crystal sea, the sandy white beaches and the delicious national cuisine. There are many companies offering their services for Croatia cruising and many people choose this kind of vacation. Many of them prefer exploring Croatia onboard gulet, being really impressed with the beauty and peace provided by a cruise.

The Adriatic Sea is thought to be one of the most clear and blue waters on Earth. Annually, millions of tourists decide for Croatia Cruising, desiring to stroll down the coastline, with its 1700 km and amazing landscapes. For anyone interested in having a one-of-a-kind experience, the Croatia gulet cruise can be the best option with its trained crew and unbelievable offers.

The Croatian gulet called Patronice is responsible for offering some of the best holidays ever. Tourists love the whole idea of Croatia cruising, visiting isolated bays with untouched beaches and a lot of peace. Many of them take up such kind of a vacation just to escape the stress and the routine of their daily lives; they need this getaway in order to benefit from the sun and the peace.

The Internet is top leader in terms of holiday destinations and available possibilities. Cruises down the Croatian Adriatic Coast are extremely popular nowadays, many people wishing to enjoy themselves in a lovely atmosphere, with plenty of activities and things to see. The cruise lasts for a week, during which many amazing old towns are visited, providing one with a taste of the rich culture and history. Tourists also have the possibility to check out astonishing islands, with their natural habitat.

Patronice is a Croatian gulet, representing the perfect instrument for tourists to see the Adriatic coast of Croatia. It is a cruising yacht, with all the accommodation necessary not to mention many other incredible options. There is a lot of space for sunbathing, relaxation and even fishing. Also, for people that need to check into the real world from time to time, they have permanent Internet connection.

Taking a cruise with the Croatia gulet can prove out to be the most wonderful vacation and can bring life-lasting memories. The conditions are excellent and the area to be visited is fabulous. They can suggest any itinerary you might be interested in and offer an unforgettable vacation.

Croatian Adriatic Coast is definitely a place worth to be seen and maybe the best way to do that is with a cruising yacht. You will enjoy the beautiful beaches, untamed islands and land expeditions. Also, you will get a taste of that awesome cuisine, prepared only of exotic ingredients and offering some totally apart. It is the perfect holiday and the Internet can really offer interesting pieces of information on the subject.

Ken Wilson
If you are interested in Croatia Cruising, we can offer you some of the most incredible possibilities. Choose our Croatia gulet tour and prepare yourself for the vacation of your life. After this trip, you will remain with wonderful memories and wish to return as soon as possible.

Sat
Jun
23

Ahoy! All Aboard!



Welcome aboard Cruiser’s Hub!

Together we’re going on a journey, here, there and everywhere. In style of course, unless as a seasoned “yachty” you prefer something a little more traditional - well that’s fine too.

So make yourself at home and enjoy exploring the cabins, treasure chests, ancient relics and fishy tales that you’ll find here.

Happy Sailing!
Skipper

Thu
Jun
14

Your Cruise Vacation - Travel Tips



Traveling moves people out of their sphere of normal life into sometimes unknown and completely unfamiliar circumstances. To some the adventure is exciting. To others it can be quite stressful and perhaps even intimidating. No-one would want that to diminish the joy of the vacation. Taking a little time to learn a few basic things about what to expect and how to plan for the inevitable (even simple things like formalities, local culture and etiquette), will greatly enhance your experience.

The Cruising Holiday you have been planning for a year is now a reality. You’ve packed your bags with the appropriate clothes for cruise travel. You have filled out all of the cruise documentation, do this at home, dont wait to get to your cruise ship, and now you are ready for this highly anticipated cruise. There are a few cruises tips about embarkation day that you should know before you head for your cruising vacation.

Keep all of your documents with you, that includes tickets for the cruise, any vouchers, passport and any immigration forms that the cruise line has sent you. That includes bus vouchers from the cruise line that will deliver you to the ship from the airport. In is wise to pack a change of clothes in your carry on in case your baggage gets delayed. If you have purchased the vouchers from the cruise line, a cruise line representative will meet you at baggage claim and take you to the bus or van that will transport you to your cruise ship.

If you decided to handle the transfer on your own, check ahead of time to find out how much a taxi will cost from the airport to the pier. It is good to know how long it will take to make the transfer so you have timed your flights accordingly. Make sure you have attached your cruise line tags with ship name, cruising date, and stateroom number. When you arrive at the pier a porter will relieve of your bags. He will expect to be tipped. The going fare is one dollar per bag.

Cruising tips are always helpful so pay attention to this one. Let the cruise line make your airline reservations. The reason for this is that if your flight is delayed the cruise line will handle it. If there are several other passengers on the same flight the cruise line will delay the departure of the ship. If its just you and your traveling companion they will probably put you up in a hotel in the town of your embarkation and get you on the ship at the next port of call. If you opted to do it on your own, you will have to make all those arrangements. So, for safety and peace of mind let the cruise lines do it.

If you have decided to go to the town of embarkation a few days before the cruise, that will not be a problem, so make your own reservations. Some travel insurance companies will pick up these expenses but make sure you read the fine print on the policy BEFORE your cruising vacation.

When you get to your cruise ship, embarkation could be a little chaotic. There will be lines, especially early in the check in process. There will be a lot of stressed out people so just relax and take it in stride. After you have gone through the check in process you will be aboard and your cruising vacations begins. Here is where it pays to have all of your documentation completely filled out. Many of the cruise lines have loyalty programs so if you are a repeat cruiser many times they have preferred check in areas. Many of the cruise lines will have preferred check in for cruisers who have booked suites or mini suites. Check this out with your cruise travel agent.

This is a little off topic but its one of the best cruise tips you will hear. Use a cruise travel agent for all of your cruising travel. It is important to deal with an agent that has sailed on many different cruise lines so they can give you an honest opinion on the difference between cruise lines. Check and see if they are CLIA certified cruise lines organization. Be careful they don’t push you onto cruise ships where they have preferred status which means they get a higher commission. Scour the internet for cruise reviews on cruise travel to back up what your travel agent is telling you.

Now back to the pier. While you are checking in you will have to give the cruise line a credit card for any on board charges. Most times your room card is also your credit card and identification for getting on and off at ports while on the cruise ship. If you can get on the ship early in the process you get two benefits. One you get to have lunch and two you get the first shot at spa and beauty appointments. It will also give you time to peruse your cruise ship and then head for the pool. Having been a savvy cruise traveler you knew to bag a bathing suit into your carry on luggage.

Just before you get to the gangway you will be stopped by the ships photographer and a picture will be taken to commemorate your cruising vacation. It will be on display in the ships photo gallery but you are under no obligation to purchase it. Check in procedures will be different from ship to ship even within the same cruise lines. It depends on the experience of the staff and the cooperation of the passengers. Remember that these folks that are checking you in have been working since seven o’clock in the morning off loading the people from last weeks cruise vacation. Then they turn around and start putting on a whole new set of passengers for the next cruise.

The most important advice is to try to keep a cool head. You are headed for the best thing you can imagine, a cruising vacation.

Happy Cruising!

Mary Hanna has traveled the world by Air and Ship. Visit her websites at: Cruising Tips Cruise Travel and Cruise Reviews

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