Chelse asked:


Ok, so next year i am planning on going on vacation on a cruise for my Birth-day/Graduation present, cause i’ll be turning 18. Im excited just even thinking about it. I bet it’ll be awesome. But, I want to know from people who has experienced The Cruise before, because i haven’t. Whats it like? I’ve looked up videos on youtube of the cruise, but it just shows what all the Cruise has and stuff. I want to know from actual people what its like!

Please and thank you,

Chelse Michelle-Mae

Dan

Cindy Heller asked:


The best part of a cruise vacation is being able to relax because almost everything is planned for you. Imagine being pampered with 5 star service with all sorts of entertainment and recreational facilities available. Plus the thrill of visiting interesting tourist destinations. No worry about food for those with special diet need, the children or the plain choosy eaters. All these details are thoroughly studied and catered for by the cruise lines. Some cruise ships have enough restaurants and eating places that you can eat at a different outlet for every meal for the entire trip.

You need not worry about bring your children as many cruise ship are family friendly with great children activity programs. However be sure to check this out before booking. Perhaps the best holiday many young parents can get is simply time away from their children, to be spent renewing their bond as a couple. Some cruise ships have chaperons or special children program run by trained professionals.

If you are going on a cruise vacation as a romantic getaway, you will not be disappointed. The romantic atmosphere of sunrises or sunsets over the sea is something special to share quietly with your love one. Of course, playing and exploring new places together will help to cement your bond as well.

Many cruise ships are targeted at specific group. So do check before booking. Some are ideal for singles while others are for the young family with kids in tow. Some will have parties and 24hrs entertainment. Some of targeted at the highrollers with their casinos. Some are for the adventurous while others are suitable for the aged. Whatever it is, there is something for everybody in a cruise holiday.

For those with money, there is the luxury cruise, which have as few as a hundred passengers and a high crew to passenger ratio. You can expect food from renowned chefs, cooked from fresh ingredients only, great wines and champagne, customized itinerary and generally, luxurious pampering and pandering to your every wish.

Whatever package you choose, a cruise vacation is a great way to unwind and relax. Do your homework before booking your cruise vacation. You can do your research online. Read the passengers reviews and comments before deciding on a cruise package. Check in with your local travel agent because he or she might be able to offer you a discount.



Juan

Sebastian asked:


Taking a luxury cruise vacation throughout Europe offers a unique travel experience that will not be forgotten soon. In fact, you are likely to be drawn to embarking on even more cruises aboard the luxury liners that glide effortlessly across the high seas.

Cruising above the surface of the ocean waters aboard a luxury ship enhances the value of your vacation by offering you amenities that are not usually found with other vacationing options. Doesn’t the chance to see brilliantly-colored sunrises and sunsets without the usual blockage of city skylines sound appealing? How about the opportunity to truly relax, as you listen to the comforting sounds of the rolling ocean waters?

A cruise offers you this and so much more for your vacationing experience. Sailing the seas aboard a luxury liner is a no-hassle way for travelers to see the different ports of the world. Let the Captain and crew worry about navigating to different areas of interest while you spend your valuable time exploring the different cultures found at each new port along the way.

Luxury cruises provide a wide-range of services that appeal to the variety of tastes and interests among its passengers. Everything from taking it easy poolside, experiencing the exhilaration of sighting a pod of whales, taking advantage of all of the onboard entertainment and activities available, delighting the palette with delicious, fine cuisines, to exploring interesting and spectacular destinations.

European cruising vacations are appealing to a vast number of people because of the many interesting destinations available for exploration by travelers. There are a number of different luxury cruise liners, with itineraries to meet the specific needs and interests of vacationers. The internet provides a wealth of information about the different cruise lines, destinations, and package deals can even be found to help make planning your European cruise vacation easy and most affordable.



Franklin

Dean Caporella asked:


One of the best ways to escape a harsh northern winter is a cruise vacation.

Winter time may not engineer thoughts of beautiful sunny days and warm tropical nights; or maybe it does in one’s mind and in recent years, cruise trips have become the ideal alternative for people looking for some respite from the cold.

For people living in Europe and North America heading towards the end of summer, preparation should really begin now. It might be easy to get caught up in the fact the weather is still currently warm but with just over three months to winter, the cooler weather will be upon us quickly.

Best Cruise Vacation Options

It’s no secret cruise lines go through a transitional period during the fall and make plans to move their huge ships to warmer waters. While the mediterranian is popular during summer, Europeans are on the lookout for warmer climates and did you know this is an ideal time to take advantage of extended trips.

In fact, during this transitional phase, cruise vacations can extend up to 1-2 months as the ships head to their fall/winter locations. For Europeans, destinations in the Caribbean and South America are on offer but you’ll need to check with your travel agents on pricing.

Are there any disadvantages with these transitional cruises. To be honest, if you don’t like spending too long at sea then they may not be an ideal holiday alternative as port stops are few and far between.

For those who enjoy the water and like the idea of spending several weeks on a cruise ship, then they are an excellent opportunity for an extended holiday break.

Getting Great Cruise Deals

North Americans have the option of utilizing the many deals on offer to places such as the Bahamas and the Caribbean.

It wasn’t too long ago when cruise vacations were restricted to those with deeper pockets but with the advent of new and bigger ships on the water, pricing has come down making these holidays affordable to the masses.

One of the reasons the period from November to the end of the year is a good time to cruise is most people will in in festivities mode and more than likely not thinking about travelling away during this festive period.

For savvy cruise bargain hunters, it’s an ideal time to shop for a vacation because it almost becomes a buyer’s market.

It’s often suggested to avoid booking directly with cruise lines however, for an outline of what’s available, they are an excellent source obviously for the information you’re after.



Josephine

Pablo Rumpi Pumpi asked:


Alaska is a truly unique and beautiful place and taking an Alaska cruise will provide you with an experience like no other place in the world. Alaska is by far the largest state when it comes to territory yet this expansive juggernaut has the smallest population of any state in the U.S.. Which is why many people consider this to the be the last great frontier in the Country. Many people are drawn to the atmosphere of mystery and challenge. Whether you want to go whale watching fishing just relax an Alaskan cruise could be just what you are looking for.

If you’d rather eat your wildlife than photograph it an Alaska fishing cruise may be just for you. The Alaskan water is well known for the extreme fishing that occurs here. Salmon and halibut are plentiful here. You may even find a cruise that allows you to throw a line over the side during the trip. There are so many packages from which you can choose. These packages range from quiet to extravagant. Amazing scenery intense outdoor sports astounding wildlife are all yours on an Alaskan cruise. All this takes is some research on which vacation package to choose.

The Alaskan waters can boast to contain the most concentrated population of humpback whales anywhere. Traveling to Alaska will allow you to view this beautiful scenery. So many people take their Alaska cruise vacation not quite knowing exactly what to expect from such a majestic and vast expanse of wilderness. They will see the natural interaction of wildlife as it has remained since the dawn of time unfettered by human intrusion. What they will find is natures beautiful habitat and the natural interaction of animals in their surrounding environment which is largely undisturbed by humans or modern technology.

If whales are not really your interest you can find a great variety of animals and birds. A wildlife viewing cruise will allow you to view an beautiful diversity of plants and species. Be prepared for an up close view of bears and mountain goats. What you will discover is that your Alaska cruise will provide you with an amazing cross section of scenery and wildlife and an equally wide variety of ways to enjoy them.

For those interested in a more intense visit you should seek out a cruise to match your energy level. The more placid traveler will find plenty of vacation package options that provide optimum exposure to the tranquility and peaceful qualities that the Alaska coastline has to offer. You will find that there are a number of different resources from which you can choose when it comes to planning for the type of trip you would like to take. No matter if you’re interested in fishing or whale watching or you just want to relax there is a Alaska cruise to meet your needs. All this takes is some research on which vacation package to choose. No matter what type of visit you seek you can find it on your Alaska Cruise.



Carlos

Maalru3 asked:


I am going to go on a sister vacation. away from our kids, just me and sis for first time. She is thinking Vegas, thinks we can get a good package deal. I am thinking more, warm beach tropical type. No cruise, ships scare me. Any good ideas from anyone who has been to a good place warm, that isn’t going to cost a rediculous amount of money. Not looking for luxury, just a nice enjoyable time with my sister in a beautiful tropical surrounding. Thanks a million.

Jeanette

Mary Hanna asked:


You are getting ready for your much anticipated cruise vacation. The best way to maximize your cruise travel is to have some of these cruise tips about the little things you should know. Many cruisers have questions about phoning home, seasickness, laundry facilities, and photography while on their cruise vacation. These are not big items that should concern you during your cruise travel but helpful hints nonetheless.

Phoning home always gives one peace of mind when they are on vacation. It is natural to want to check on your children, or check into the office, just remember that ship to shore phone costs can be very hefty. They can cost up to $15 minute, so I if you must, keep it brief. You can use your cell phone but be aware that in some areas roaming charges will apply. Your cell phone will not work in Europe unless you have universal service.

It is very important that you leave the information on how to contact you at home in case of an emergency. When you receive your cruise packet there will be contact information included. Make sure you leave the name of the ship, the cruise line you are traveling with, and the itinerary that you plan to follow. Make it very clear that it is for emergencies only.

There is a way to get around this expense and that is to buy a phone card and call home from your ports of call. The connection will be far greater and your savings too. Be aware that this is where the crew members make their calls home so you may want to venture further from the dock to find a not so busy public phone.

All of the modern ships are wired for the internet so you can stay in touch with email. This is a much easier and cheaper way to but your mind at ease. On some ships if you are a frequent cruiser the internet time is free. If you are not, connections can run from fifty cents to a dollar a minute. Just keep in mind that they are not high speed hook ups so they will be slow. Compose offline and then send your message. Some ships will offer you package deals to save a little money. Here again, if you can wait until you get to port, internet cafes ashore are relatively inexpensive.

Seasickness is almost a moot point on today’s cruise ships. They are so large that you don’t even know you are moving unless you look out the window or you are up on deck. With today’s technology for weather tracking the cruise lines know in advance if any storms are approaching and therefore can avoid the area. Earlier cruise ships had stabilizers but nothing compared fo today’s technology which enables them to counter act any motion the sea has to offer.

If that doesn’t calm your fears about seasickness and cruise travel there are a number of ways to ensure a very comfortable cruise. Take a cruise vacation in an area of the world that has calm waters on a modern ship with the aforementioned stabilizers. It is best to book a cabin in the middle of the ship on one of the lower levels. If just looking at a horizon that is moving sends you into a tizzy, book an inside cabin. A little known cruise tip is to arrange your beds in alignment with the ship, bow to stern. Rocking is always easier to handle than a rolling motion. Once, you’ve got yourself situated on board go up on deck and stare at a fixed position on the horizon to get your body use to the motion.

Your doctor may have some medication you can take, or try the acupuncture bracelets that go around your wrists. If you do feel queasy eat crackers and green apples to settle your stomach. Ginger capsules have been said to work wonders and are available in your health food store. By all means avoid any alcoholic beverages which will only make your symptoms worse.

On board laundry services are very expensive. Book a ship that has an onboard laundry room for passengers so you can do your own. These laundry rooms will be equipped with an iron and an ironing board. An alternative is to pack a small bottle of laundry liquid and a few clothes pins in you luggage, hand wash them in your stateroom and hang them from the shower line provided.

Photography is always a big question. Should you bring a camera or rely on the ships photographer? The answer is to bring your own. If you don’t want to worry about your expensive digital camera, buy a lot of the throw away types. Pick up a few waterproof ones too for when you take you snorkel adventure. Take twice as many as you think you need. If you don’t use them on this cruise vacation you can always use them at the next holiday or birthday celebration.

You could also opt to pick up a cheap digital. You can buy them for about $20.00 and you won’t have to worry about losing it since your expensive one is at home. These are usually smaller than the pricey ones so they are easier to carry around.

On formal nights you will want to get your picture taken by the ships photographer. These pictures are wonderful memories of your cruise but they are expensive. The ships photographer will take pictures of you all through the cruise. Getting on and off the ship, on deck, in the dining room at your table and when you enter the dining room on some nights. Although these pictures are fun, you are not obligated to buy them. If you are on a cruise vacation for a special occasion like a honeymoon or an anniversary, splurge and buy them, they will be more than just memories.

These are just a few cruise tips for the little things you should know about cruise travel. Having this knowledge before your cruise vacation will help you on the way to clear sailing.

Happy Cruising!

Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.

This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.

Mary Hanna has traveled the world by Air and Ship while writing eBooks, Software Reviews and Practical Articles on Internet Marketing, Cruising, Gardening and Cooking. Visit her websites at: http://www.CruiseGold.com http://www.CruiseTravelDirectory.com and http://www.CruisingTips.com



Miguel

Martin Haworth asked:


When you are preparing for your cruise vacation, it’s vital to have all your plans in place in good time. By

doing this you will ensure that you are comfortable with the whole experience and that lets you enjoy it more!

So here are a few tips to help you get the most out of the planning of it all - selected from a selection of Top Ten Cruising Tips - there’s more at the website below.

1. Get your dates and timescale sorted.

Having this discussion early means there will be a lot less frustration when it comes to making decisions about your cruise vacation. Remember things like school and college dates; other people’s vital birthdays, not to mention other key dates like medical appointments. Remember that the cruise lines will have different rates for different times of the year - a matter of a week could make a lot of difference to the price you pay and the spending money you have on board!

2. Are your dates fixed or are you flexible?

If you are tied to specific times on the calendar, do you have any flexibility around that at all. Whilst no-one likes to take kids out of school at any time, you might find just a snippet of flexibility, like at the end of the summer term when exams are finished, for example, to take your cruise. This can make not just a financial difference, but also a difference to availability as well as how busy the cruises might be as well. A slightly quieter week might be a lot more fun than one when the crew are working at full tilt. Not to mention availability of extras like shore excursions.

3. Is the date the most important; or the cruise line; or the destination?

A vital question! Where do your priorities lie? If you are getting to an age where it’s just the two of you and you have no time constraints (and are maybe prepared to pay the full rate too!), you can afford to be much more selective about the where, the when and the who you decide to spend your money with. It’s a great place to be! So, in this case, whilst timing of your cruise vacation will be important, there might just be other decisions that you can take which will help you get the best from it.

4. Are all members of the party in the same position?

Another important point! Remember that whilst you might be OK, others in your party could be much less flexible, for all sorts of reasons, especially if they have kids and/or businesses to run. If you are the nominated organizer for a large party - say a family reunion - you will have to be where the buck stops. It’s no easy place to be! As the person who has their finger on the ’send’ button when it comes to giving your credit card for the deposit, making sure that you have the dates that suit everyone, is critical to your wealth! There is no easy solution to this from the to and fro negotiating that might have to go on, to get it right for most, if not all. Good luck!

5. The weather!

Don’t forget to ensure that the weather is going to be as you expect. Especially when tripping off to foreign climes, it’s easy to see the brochure pictures and forget that they are not intended to put you off. In tropical climates, that is exactly what they are - tropical! And with that is rain and wind sometimes. That cheaper deal might actually not seem that cheap, if your cruise vacation gets stuck in port for days when Hurricane ‘Nellie’ is expected anytime soon! Check it out.

A little careful thought into the timings of what you want to do will go a long way to ensure that the cruise vacation you are preparing excitedly for is all you want. A memorable experience for all the right reasons!



Ricky

justina f asked:


with family and friends. and fun for both? i was thinking some sort of cruise..

Diana

dash_336 asked:


I think i want to go on a cruise. one of those all inclusive deals. probably for about five days. How much on average would one of those cost? Im thinking a Mediterainian cruise. But that would then i would also need plane tickets, spending money, car parking money. about how much ya think that would all add up to? There would be two of us going so the price would have to be for two of us. Oh yeah and how expensive is it to see a travelplanning person?

Nicole