Archive

Posts Tagged ‘cruise ships’

Take An Educational Cruise For A Holiday With A Difference

April 1st, 2011 No comments

What is a holiday, but free time to spend at our leisure, any way we want. For many, this means relaxing on a beach or taking a trip somewhere exotic, while for others, free time provides the opportunity to learn a new skill or try something new. So what if you could do both?

There are now all kinds of cruise holidays which offer educational courses on board, so that passengers can learn alongside their leisure time. Here are just a few of the excellent options available:

If you’re travelling on one of the Crystal Cruises holidays, then you’ll have the opportunity to sign up for one of the classes in their Creative Learning Institute. There is also the Crystal Visions range of seminars, with motivational speakers and recognisable people who come to speak on board. The classes range from art, languages, music and health, so whatever you’re interested in you’ll find something to suit.

Princess Cruises offer the Scholarship@Sea programme which gives passengers the opportunity to learn hands-on crafts like scrapbooking and pottery, get technical with digital photography and computer classes, or enjoy cooking and wine-tasting sessions. The courses require a small fee but there are also plenty of fascinating lectures which are free to attend, from maritime history to science and politics. So even those who are sticking to a tight budget on discount cruises can enjoy the benefits of this motivational programme.

Celebrity Cruises also have their own set of classes for passengers on their cruise ships, which is called Celebrity Life. The main categories are Savor (featuring food and wine), Discover (practical life skills), and Renew (health and inner wellbeing). The range of options is wide enough that everyone will be able to find something they’d be interested in learning, and you can come away from your holiday with a new language or a new recipe!

Book a discount cruise and pick up a new skill. More information can be found at www.cruiseanswers.co.uk

Categories: Cruises Tags: , ,

Book A Discount Cruise For All Kinds Of Dining Experiences

March 28th, 2011 No comments

Whether you’re looking for cheap cruises or a no expense spared trip of a lifetime, you’ll get totally swept up in the luxury lifestyle on board. You can expect outstanding service whether you’ve ordered room service, popped in for a light bite in a bistro, or found yourself at the captain’s table.

Not only is there a jaw-dropping selection of things to do on board a cruise ship, but when it comes to dining, you will be hard pressed to make a quick decision at dinner, such is the immense selection!

Should you be looking for a little bit of glamour, then rest assured most cruise hold formal dinners sometimes, for those who are keen to don their best attire. This doesn’t mean you need to be fancy for the rest of the time of course. There is everything on board from retro diners, steakhouses, Asian cuisine and even ice cream restaurants. You can have a different meal every single time if you wanted!

Are you an early bird or do you prefer to eat late? That might be an interesting question but overall it doesn’t matter on a cruise as there are two sittings for meals – usually in the realm of 6pm and 8pm. It’s wise to book a table ahead if you are set on a particular time.

With evening entertainment and exciting on-board nightlife, it’s worth considering that an earlier meal will leave you with more of the evening ahead of you to make the most of the shows on offer. If you’re traveling with a group of friends, your whole family, or dining with friends you’ve met on board, then there are also options to book large communal tables at dinner too. Tables for two are usually the quickest to be snapped up, so make sure you book early if you’re hoping to enjoy a quiet intimate meal. Enjoying a discount cruise is all about making the most of your time on board.

Want to find the best cruise for you? Visit www.cruiseanswers.com.

Cruise Ship Vacation: Preparing for Your Voyage

May 5th, 2009 No comments

Travel arrangements should not be delayed until a week before you go, but instead, you should start preparing as soon as you book and the type of cruise you’re taking is vital to preparation. A lot of cruise ships go over international waters and in addition to that there are many that stop at international ports. Before you can board, you may have to show proper identification and with international cruises, this identification often includes a passport, as well as a driver’s license.

Unfortunately, when it comes to obtaining a passport, that some people wait for the last minute and even though last minute passports can actually be arranged during an emergency but usually it takes a week. You won’t just be given a passport, but instead you need to apply for one and though most that apply for one are given one it’s still wise to think ahead. That way if you made an error on the submission you made you’ll have time to fix the problem before your ship sails.

The passport and license aren’t the only documentation that you should board with. If you are covered under a health insurance plan, you are encouraged to take your health insurance cards. In the event you fall ill on your vacation the insurance cards will help you get the necessary treatment.

In addition to insurance cards it is advised that you take along all of your needed medications, actually, you should think about taking extra medication with you. A number of physicians will write extra prescriptions for their patients that are about to travel on a cruise liner so if medication comes up missing the extra prescriptions can be used until you return home. When requesting additional medication from your physician you should also ask questions about the safety precautions you should take on a ship.

To make sure you can pay for the various onboard and activities on port you will need to take along extra money. Taking a vacation on a cruise ship is just like vacationing anywhere else so you’re advised to avoid carrying a lot of cash. If you absolutely must take cash you are encouraged to split your money and place it in safe locations although almost all cruise ships as well as the popular ports take credit cards cashiers checks, money orders, or traveler’s checks which are good alternatives to carrying cash.

When traveling on a ship you are advised to give a copy of the ship’s itinerary to your friends and family members because that will make it easier for you to be contacted in case of emergency. When you register you may also be required to give the contact information for someone who can be reached in an emergency. Your first instinct might be to give contact information for your spouse children, or a close friend however, if you do that, you should ensure that they’re on dry land and easily accessible.

When you’ve made the preparations mentioned you can begin focusing on alternate preparations like packing your luggage however, take care when packing you should keep the climate of your cruise in mind. Additionally you should be prepared for surprise weather and making the proper preparations to make sure it will be be a fantastic vacation.

About the Author:

Get The Most Out Of An Alaska Guided Tour

April 27th, 2009 No comments

When it’s finally time to go up to one of the last of the unspoiled wilderness areas in the United States, deciding on the best Alaska tours will become a necessary decision to make. One only needs, really, to make a choice between exploring this vast and beautiful state via a cruise ship or on land, and in the interior.

People are usually unable to conceive of how vast Alaska really is. There’s little chance of being able to see it all, even over more than a few lifetimes. In this regard, then, take the time to learn about the most exciting and memorable places and then find a tour that hits as many of them as desired. There are more than a few nice tour packages available, too, which is a fortunate occurrence.

Most of the time these days, a lot of touring is done via the cruise ship method. This is especially effective when the time for touring is limited to a specific number of days. And all the cruise ships have on-land transportation available to carry passengers off to many of the onshore scenic touring areas, such as wildlife centers and the like.

Those who want something a bit more involved, though, can take the time to set up what’s called a “land tour.” These activities tend to be a bit more costly than one of those all-inclusive, but slightly limited, cruise ship packages. Yet they all include discounts with air, hotel and land transportation partners, so overall costs in many cases can even out over the long run. And land tours are excellent choices when time constraints aren’t a factor.

When looking for a memory-filled Alaska experience, try to go for quality over quantity. Memories last longer when that’s the case. In cases like going on a trip, being on the lookout for Alaska tours means taking the time to learn a bit about the two main touring opportunities themselves. Whether going by ship or on an in-land excursion, Alaska touring done right will be sure to please.

About the Author:

Hot Spots to Visit in Mexico: Acapulco, Cancun and Puerto Vallarta

April 27th, 2009 No comments

Now that the spring season is upon us and the summer heat will quickly be here, you are like anxious to start making plans for your well deserved vacation.

One gay destination that is growing in popularity that you will be thrilled to visit is Puerto Vallarta. Exactly what makes this destination so special? To begin with it is awesome. When you combine the wonderful climate, a captivating ocean bay, a lush jungle, excellent beaches and rugged mountains you get the ideal destination for a weekend getaway.

Puerto Vallarta is a small city. But don’t be quick to judge it by its size. Despite its small size, the city is truly a delightful city devoted to serve its visitors. This small city boasts of infrastructures of a modern resort while still retaining its old school Mexican charm.

This little city is home to excellent airports, charming restaurants, modern medical facilities, a supply of good drinking water, and a very safe environment, which makes this vacation destination seem like paradise. If you are a traveler that enjoys quaintness, but cant live without modern conveniences, then you have found your place.

If the benefits mentioned about Puerto Vallarta havent gotten your attention, then perhaps Acapulco is a better choice for you. Acapulco is about clear waters, sunny beaches as well as rugged mountains. It is a scheduled stop for cruise ships, a spring break destination and the perfect destination for gay couples or singles.

Opposite to Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco is famous for its flamboyant gay bars and clubs. Its gay bars may not be that refined or upscale as most big city clubs, but that is what makes Acapulco a unique experience.

The last, but definitely not least, gay destination that you should consider is Cancun. Many travelers agree that nothing compares to Cancun in regards to being one of the best gay travel destinations ever. Cancun is known as a haven for tourists, especially gay tourists.

The prime feature of this island is the nightlife. Upbeat and funky gay bars such as Karamba and Picante bar will light your nights up in Cancun.

The well known Karamba club is Cancuns largest gay disco while the Picante is the oldest gay bar. You will love to party to the tunes of local and international DJ under the stars in the open air disco. The Karamba has nightly performances featuring impersonators that dance to the latest tunes and drag queens that lip synch Broadways tunes. The party gets going nightly at 10:30 and will likely drag on to the wee hours of the morning.

Picante is a hot spot that has been cooking for 14 years. When you go to Picante you will see their Vegas showgirl style strippers, dancers, singers as well as the bar owner and emcee Mother Picante. If youre really lucky you might be able to catch the once a year beauty pageant that takes place during Carnival and be able to witness the crowning of The Queen.

When you travel to Cancun you will never be hungry. The city is filled with wonderful restaurants that serve cuisines of international and local flavors.

To make your gay vacation one that is completely unforgettable, Cancun has an abundance of gay friendly hotels. You can make reservations at resorts like the Melia Cancun, Villas Tacul Boutique Hotel, the Presidente Intercontinental or the fabulous Hyatt Cancun Caribe. No matter what you are looking for in accommodations, you will find it in Cancun.

Start packing your bags and buy yourself a ticket to a tropical paradise. Whether you choose to travel to Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta or Cancun you will definitely have a perfectly gay time.

About the Author: