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Go Cruising!

June 4th, 2011 No comments

Go Cruising!

Article by Flight Shop







Cruising is a great way to holiday!

One of the most exciting aspects of a cruise is the variety of exciting destinations you can visit on any one journey. We can take you from the Tivoli theme parks of Copenhagen, to Fairytale cathedrals in St. Petersburg or on a leisurely Rhine or Danube river cruise, or all the exotic sights and sounds of South- East Asia.

Not only it is an all-inclusive option that offers hassle free relaxation in a safe environment but with no driving, no cooking and no traffic jams, a cruise is maximum pleasure for minimum effort!

There is definitely something about watching the mainland disappear from view that melts away one’s stresses.

Follow our cruise planning tips and you’ll soon be watching the mainland disappear from sight along with all your stress. Read on and set sail for new horizons.

Tips for planning your Cruise:

Save time by consulting the experts

With the expanding market and increased competition, cruise companies are consistently offering discounted rates and special deals you can enjoy maximum pleasure for minimum offer especially if you plan and book ahead. Things can get a little confusing, that’s why it’s best to get the advice of an expert – your Flight Shop travel consultant can save you a lot of time in research by offering the right cruise to suit your needs. Some of the tricky areas we can assist in include: early booking or group discounts, last minute specials, choosing the right cabin, options for children and much more.

The journey or the destination?

With so many options for cruising these days, it’s important you know exactly what you are expecting from your cruise. Are you after a floating relaxation tour with the occasional port stop or an activity packed experience across the continents? Do you have three days or three months? There is a cruise holiday just right for you, but you need to decide what interests you.

Consider your cabin choices

Definitely consider spending a few more dollars for a better cabin: having an outside cabin with a window, or better yet a balcony, helps makes the cruise experience much more enjoyable and helps differentiate cruising from a resort vacation.

Cover yourself

All ships have good medical facilities on-board but they are not free. So purchase the best suitable insurance to cover hospital treatment, cancellation, medical evacuation and any activities you wish to participate in while you are away. Your travel consultant can recommend the best policy based on your cruise itinerary.

Consider staying longer

Think about extending your cruise with pre and post cruise accommodation or touring options. Many cruise lines will offer land packages to compliment your cruise or you can book a separate package with your travel consultant to ensure you get the most out of your holiday.

Travelling with the family?

Most large ships have great kids Clubs and activity programs all year round, but double check first. Obtain a program guide and let the kids rate the fun before your hop on board.

Celebrate good times

If you’re celebrating a special occasion during your cruise, let your consultant know in advance. Most cruise lines will treat you to a complimentary cake and chorus of “Happy whatever”, and you can even arrange for a special private party.

Some reasons why cruising may be the best holiday option for you

Value

Nothing beats a cruise for incredible vacation savings. You visit multiple destinations and so much is included, from dining and entertainment to sports, fitness and a range of accommodation options. With so much to save, you may be tempted to make every vacation a cruise.

Variety

There are thousands of itineraries to hundreds of ports available across all 7 continents, so you can choose exactly the holiday you desire. There are also endless activities for every taste, onboard and ashore.

Adventure

You define what adventure is to you! Ice climbing in Alaska, surfing in Hawaii, exploring unique wildlife in the Galapagos, shopping till your drop in Thailand, or finding the very best South Pacific beach- you names it, you’ll find it.

Togetherness

There’s no better way to travel in large groups of friends and family than a cruise. You can dine at the same restaurants onboard; enjoy a Broadway-style show, play sport and so much more. Best of all, there really is something for everyone, be it adults, kids or couples.

Carnival Cruise

Carnival Baja Mexico ex Los Angeles Los Angeles – Catalina Island- Ensenada – Los Angeles

Inclusions:Return airfare4 nights Carnival cruise ex Los AngelesAll meals on boardAll onboard entertainment2 nights accommodation in Los AngelesAirport and cruise port transfers

Deal offered by Flight Shop: 6 Nights / 7 Days From45, 799/-

MSC Cruise

MSC Musica ex Venice Venice – Bari – Corfu – Santorini – Mykonos – Athens – Katakolon – Dubrovnik – Venice

Inclusions:Return airfare7 nights cruise (inside stateroom)All meals on board2 nights accommodation in VeniceDaily breakfastHalf day Murano, Burano and Torcello tourAirport shuttle transfersPrivate Cruise transfers

Deal offered by Flight Shop: 9 Nights / 10 Days From87, 999/-



About the Author

Flight Centre Limited is one of the most successful and fastest growing travel groups in the world. The company is headquartered out of Brisbane (Australia) and provides a complete range of travel services to leisure and business travelers across nine countries.They now plans to bring in a new concept of Travel Stores to India by opening Flight Shops in various Metropolitan cities.

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Prepare to Cruise Wales, Discover Secrets of Anglesey Island

November 20th, 2009 No comments

With increasing numbers of people wanting to cruise Wales along with other UK ports, there is a strong possibility that Wales will before long emulate major European cruise ports as a destination for the big leisure cruise market. This is how the Welsh Affairs Select Committee of legislators in the House of Commons, the British Parliament, concluded their report. It points to strong growth in the UK cruise market over the last ten years or so, and urges the need to secure some growth in cruise ship visits to bolster the economies of Welsh port communities.

Any keen cruise travellers should note that before they make advanced bookings to cruise Wales there is currently a slight difficulty with providing adequate facilities for berthing and Welsh ports infrastructure to service the fast growing fleet of big ships cruising European waters needs to be upgraded. Meanwhile there is a campaign called the “Celtic Wave” led by Anglesey, which has a budget of around $2m and covers ports in Ireland and Wales, with the aim of attracting more cruise visitors to these ports and their wider regional economies.

In Cardiff the Welsh Assembly Government is urging the UK government to offer extra infrastructure investment to get ports like Holyhead on Anglesey, Swansea and Milford Haven up to a quality threshold demanded by the cruise line operators. There is a mega potential boost for local port economies, according to the conclusions of the House of Commons Welsh Affairs Committee, and their regional economies would benefit by making it easier for people to cruise Wales as part of the UK cruising vacation.

Over the longer term the prospects of Welsh ports catching up with Baltic ports is encouraging, an area where a popular cruise market already thrives. From Holyhead in the North West of Wales to Newport via Swansea and Milford Haven, ports in Wales can act as catalysts for economic regeneration when they attract visitors to cruise Wales. In 2009 the first cruise ship visited Newport, close to Celtic Manor which will host the Ryder Cup in 2010. The cruise visitors arriving in Newport had the opportunity to visit Cardiff sites such as the Millennium Centre and the castle.

Similarly, there are many attractions for cruise visitors when their ship arrives at Holyhead, Anglesey, including World Heritage Castles of Wales at Beaumaris and Caernarfon, South Stack Lighthouse and Llynnon Mill, along with the excellent island coastal path, as well as the Oriel Art Gallery and Seawatch centre at Moelfre.

The Welsh Assembly Government is offering financial support to strengthen the facilities for the expected rise in cruise ship visits to Holyhead, most notably to strengthen the jetty used by Anglesey Aluminium Metals (AAM), which offers an ideal anchorage and a perfect disembarkation berth for cruise ship passengers. When finished this improvement will mean this Holyhead Port outer harbour pier will be strong enough to take huge ships like the Westerdam, a 2,000 passengers carrying, 285 metre liner.

The future looks bright and exciting for visitors to the UK looking to cruise Wales as part of their overall experience, and Holyhead port will be ready to welcome them as they look to explore the many island attractions.

The author, David Phillips, comes from the magical island of Anglesey off North Wales, UK and runs an informative website focusing on local news and information. Find out more about preparing to cruise Wales here to help make your holiday more enjoyable.

Family Cruises: A Great Vacation Option

March 23rd, 2009 No comments

If you’re planning a family vacation, the chances are you’re having to consider which places are kid-friendly and just what types of things there will be to do for your kids on the vacation. Nobody likes having to drag their kids from airport to airport or on long car trips.

There’s a very easy solution for any family. Book a cruise and take the kids along. Most cruise lines now not only allow children and teens but they often cater to them, including kid-friendly activities, kids clubs, and even childcare services.

When planning your family cruise, it’s a good idea to begin by researching the larger cruise lines by giving your agent a ring or, simpler yet, looking up the information online. It’s important that you find out not only about the cruise companies but also about the ships themselves, since every ship is constructed with very different types of facilities and services.

As you do your research, you’ll find that there is a good deal of variation of programs and facilities from ship to ship. You’ll want to find the cruise ship that is the best fit for your family’s interests that also both has availability and is sailing on the dates you want to take your vacation.

Maybe the best part of cruising with your kids is that you are able to all be together on the ship while also experiencing such a wide range of activities for both kids and parents. You’ll get to spend lots of quality time together, but you’ll also have ample opportunities to be apart in a controlled, safe environment.

Cruising is also actually quite a bargain for families on a budget. Not only are transportation, room, and all meals included in one price, but most all on board activities are also included. In addition, the cost for kids to cruise is often minimal, adding up to little more than port charges and taxes.

You’ll find that on most ships, babysitting and childcare is offered. Also, most cruise lines offer kids clubs aboard the ships that are staffed by the equivalent of camp counselors. Therefore, parents can be free to enjoy themselves on board and have the freedom to take part in a whole bunch of activities on their own.

It really is difficult to top a cruise for a vacation for your family. There are just so many great things to do on board for no added cost, the price is very reasonable, and best of all, your family can relax as you are taken from spot to spot in the safety and comfort of the cruise ship.

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What To Look For on a Honeymoon Cruise?

March 13th, 2009 No comments

One of the most special times in your married life is the beginning, the honeymoon. It is the start of a new life and an opportunity to spend time sharing romance and passion, feeling good and not caring about anything else.

Going on a honeymoon cruise is one of the preferred ways to spend your honeymoon, and it allows for many possibilities.

If you are seeking for a honeymoon cruise line, you should start by checking the destinations. Thanks to the popularity of cruising, now you can find ships of all sizes sailing across the World. Among the top honeymoon cruise destinations you can find the Caribbean, Hawaii, Alaska and the Mediterranean, all of them beautiful places.

Having a clear destination will help you narrow down your options for cruising. You should look for ships that have a comfortable itinerary coupled with a price that fits your budget. These cruise ships charge an additional fee for the “honeymoon package”.

Each line delivers the package in its own way, but special details are a must: after-hours room service, invitations to romantic dinners, special romantic gifts, room decoration with romantic “touches”, etc.

Another factor to keep in mind for choosing a cruise for your honeymoon, is the amount of things to do inside the ship. They are like moving hotels, and most of them offer options to have fun aboard, like clubs, casinos and parties.

If you have a tight budget, you can find ways to save money inside a cruise or alternatively, find a cheap cruise package that fits your needs. You should find “all inclusive” packages that will ensure you pretty everything is covered so you won’t incur in extra charges.

There’s more to talk about honeymoon cruises, this is just the tip of the iceberg, but know that is an experience full of passion and romance.

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Mississippi Cruise Options For A Fantastic Travel Experience

February 26th, 2009 No comments

You may already be a connoisseur of the pleasures of Mississippi river cruises, or you may be contemplating a trip on the United States’ best-known river for the first time. In both cases, there are a lot of different possibilities to shape your trip, and you should be well aware of them.

There are big differences in terms of the length of possible Mississippi river cruise itineraries. You may be navigating just for half a day as part of a mainly land-borne voyage, or you may spend weeks on the river and visit more than one state and several towns and cities.

As you may well know the Mississippi river is over two thousand miles long and is navigable for most of its course by cruise ships, so there are very different trips that can be made, from the swampy delta of Louisiana to the wooded landscape of Minnesota.

There are different types of vessels that you can take on a Mississippi river cruise, from luxuriously refurbished steamboats of old to newer self-catering houseboats and small modern motor yachts.

There is not dearth of activities on a Mississippi cruise, and these include swimming going to a spa, gambling, visiting the local towns, experiencing river nature, high quality gastronomy, clubbing and so on.

It is a truly ideal environment for all kinds of different pastimes, from a romantic night to cocktail parties, singles parties, tracing the steps of Civil War events, a business symposium, or even a marriage!

A lot of cruises are topical. For instance, there are Mississippi river cruise packages specializing in recreating the showboat atmosphere of the 19th century, and others that are more geared towards the area’s significance for music, especially Bluegrass and Jazz.

The principal ports of departure and arrival are New Orleans, Memphis, Chattanooga, St. Louis, Galveston and Pittsburgh. A Mississippi cruise can be either a round-trip or just one way, between two ports of call.

Just as there are a wealth of options, pricing for Mississippi river cruises is also very different, depending on the amount of pampering and extras that you require. A self-catering boat or a budget cruiser can be had for little money, but if you like lavishness you will have To spend ad much as if you were staying in a top of the line hotel.

On the Internet you will find a wealth of information and tips on how to find the perfect river voyage for you. Once you have all the information you need, you can choose the right option for you at travel agencies, through the Internet or directly at the cruise lines’ offices.

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