No matter which ship you choose, on every Celebrity cruise you will visit enchanting destinations- starting with your ship itself. Ranging in size from approximately 47,000 tons (Horizon, Zenith) right up to 91,000 tons (Millennium, Constellation, Infinity, and Summit) Celebrity offers greater facilities and more accommodation with verandas than ever before. In fact, we’d say the facilities are nothing short of dazzling. For example, the ethereal Olympic Restaurant on Millennium has the intricate, original walnut paneling from White Star Line’s ship, the RMS Olympic, covering the walls.

Grace and civility are not entirely of the past. Expect seamless, professional, sensitive care from ultra-accommodating staff whose adept handling of the minuscule details are the very definition of unobtrusive blue ribbon service. European-trained dining room personnel are to be particularly admired and you can count on the sommelier to provide the perfect cabernet to accompany your chateaubriand.

Royal Caribbean Cruises

They say it is the journey and not the destination ? and the case can certainly be argued in favor of Royal Caribbean International (known everywhere as RCI). Even the imposing names of the ships are literally synonymous with the experience - Adventure, Grandeur, Rhapsody, and Splendour.

Sparkling, stimulating, sensual, stress-less. You can take a siesta from the world and glory in dinner by candlelight, walks by moonlight, excursions by daylight. As RCI put it: get pampered, get pumped. One of the greatest blessings of a Royal Caribbean cruise is that the atmosphere allows you to go from unassuming to absolute glamour with everything else in between.

Picking a Cruise Ship Cabin

Look at the cruise ship layout and decks online or in brochures.  Know that there are different types of cabins ondifferent cruise ships.  The biggest differences between cruise lines–mainstream and luxury–ships are the quality ofaccommodations.

Know your budget and what you can afford. The price of a cruise ship cabin or stateroom (the terms are interchangeable)is dependent on its size, layout, and location. The cabins on large cruise ships come in standard, ocean view, balcony, andsuite. A luxury line’s smallest cabins are much larger than those on large cruise lines and are either ocean view orbalconied.

The right cabin is a retreat house after a busy day ashore, or just to get away.  A long cruise will have you wanting tospend a relaxing time in your room, watching a TV-movie, or taking a nap.

Know your location. Cabin, balcony size, and cabin location vary significantly within the same price range on any ship.

Yes, there are the obvious questions you should ask: Will I located below the water line?  Will I hear the roar of the shipsengines from my cabin? Will I have enough room to turn around in my cabin?  Will it be the size of a walk-in closet, with nowindows, a tiny bath, and bunk beds?  Will I not be able to tell if it’s day or night without going up several decks?

Restful and exquisitley beautiful with clear blue and turquoise seas, soft white sands and underwater coral gardens filled with a wealth of colour - this is the sparkling of islands know as the Maldives, a paradise for watersports.

The majority of cruise lines operate Mexico cruise round-trips from the ports of Los Angeles and San Diego. The main points of interest (cruise-wise) in Mexico are to be found down the western coastline. Mexican cruise destinations on the Gulf of Mexico side are catered for by Caribbean-oriented cruise vacations departing from Galveston, New Orleans and some ports in Florida.

Ensenada is in Baja California. It is less than 100kms from San Diego and is the third largest city on the Baja Peninsula of Mexico. The city is a tourist hotspot, attracting many people from all over the world to its shops, restaurants, beaches and wineries. One ‘must-see’ attraction here is the La Bufadora natural blowhole, which spouts ocean water a full 35ft into the air.

Panama Cruise Expert Guide

The Panama Canal was initially designed to cut travel time for vessels that needed to cross between the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans. It first opened its commercial doors on 15 August, 1914 and is now used by more than thirteen thousand vessels each year. Along the canal’s length are three sets of locks. The locks act as water elevators, enabling vessels to traverse upslope/downslope across the canal terrain.

Vibrant Panama City with its eclectic mix of architecture, people and culture is an essential excursion to take while on a Panama cruise. The historical district of Casco Viejo is well worth a visit, if only to see the remnants of the 17th century Spanish fortifications there. For sports-minded cruisers there is a world-class golf course located just 20-minutes away from Panama City.

Holland American Alaskan Cruising - New Alaskan Cuisine April 2005.

Holland America launch a new Alaskan culinary experience to its seven ships bound for Alaskan cruising. HAL’s Master Chef Rudi Sodamin has developed a menu of Alaskan salmon dishes. Dubbed “Going Wild for Salmon”, this feature is an extensive menu rotation of Alaskan salmon during each cruise. This Alaskan delight will also include on-board culinary events, cooking demonstrations and seminars.

Chef Rudi and his staff have developed about 50 distinctive Alaskan salmon recipes. Every night, a whole range of Alaskan salmon dishes will be available. The “Going Wild for Salmon” menu choices will be available 5 nights a week on board their Alaskan cruises. Holland America now offers more Alaskan salmon dishes than any other cruise line to Alaska.

Holland America Cruises, Signature of Excellence Program

The award winning Holland America five star fleet of cruise ships will all have the unparalleled enhancements by the end of 2006. Included in the program are enhancements to the impeccable service Holland America guests have become accustomed to as well.

Changes will be made for children and teens cruising with Holland America as well. The program includes newly expanded youth facilities with the “Club HAL” program. For teens, Holland America has included The Loft and The Oasis.

Increasing numbers of property investors and tourists alike are heading to the Macronesian archipelago of Cape Verde as a result of the availability of direct flights to the islands from the UK

If you’ve never been to Bulgaria you won’t know about this country’s breathtaking beauty. You won’t know about its endless, golden beaches, its pine-cloaked mountains and its vibrant, modern resorts.

And you won’t know just what incredibly great value holidays you can enjoy in this sunny country on the coast of the Black Sea. To make it easier for first-timers, there’s a clue cunningly hidden in the names of the country’s best-loved resorts: Golden Sands and Sunny Day just two of the Black Sea resorts where you can enjoy sunny days stretched out on golden sands (get the picture?).

For many tourists, package holidays to Bulgaria are focused on one of the country’s purpose-built tourist complexes. One of the most popular, Elenite, is a beachfront development of considerable charm. Set in a favourable spot between pine clad hills and the azure waters, this is a holiday village which, in typical Bulgarian fashion, has thought of everything. Behind the Blue Flag beach you’ll find a host of sports facilities, supermarkets, sunny terraces and swimming pools.

European cruises depart from most major seaports around Europe. They often cover a specific region of Europe, although some companies do offer a whirlwind tour of the major sites right around the European coastline.

Northern Europe also has its fair share of specialist cruises. You can do a cruise of the Baltic palaces or simply enjoy Norway’s awe-inspiring craggy coastline. A very popular Northern European cruise is a tour up the Scandinavian coastline into the Arctic Circle to view the ‘midnight sun’.

Hawaii Cruise

Golden sunsets, sun-drenched sands and palm trees swaying in the warm gentle breeze await all who take a Hawaiian cruise. Is there anything on Earth that could rival sipping your favorite poison while watching the sun dip down below a watery horizon - all to the gentle sound of wavelets breaking on the golden sands of Hawaii? For many, this is paradise found.

Aside from lazing on the pool deck and soaking up the sun on the beautiful beaches of Hawaii, a Hawaii cruise offers many shore excursions to satisfy even the most restless of vacationers. On the Big Island itself you can turn intrepid adventurer and explore the dormant volcanoes of Mauna Kea or the smaller Kilauea crater. If you don’t fancy the hike you can always do a Circle of Fire tour by helicopter.

Luxury Cruise

A luxury cruise really is in a different league. On a luxury cruise you’ll be offered nothing less than a spacious ocean view cabin as entry level accommodation. It will be nicely decorated with plush furnishings and quality bed linen, along with modern entertainment equipment such as a TV, video and DVD player. You’ll have exclusive use of your own private balcony, as well as a fully-stocked bar and mini-fridge. Many cruise lines even offer personalized stationary, desk and writing equipment as standard in their cabins.

The cuisine on a luxury cruise is as you would expect - heavenly. There is a wide variety of menus available on board, offering an array of exotic dishes prepared by some of the finest chefs in the world. Champagne and fine wines are on hand day and night, and you can even choose to have a first-class dining experience in the privacy of your own cabin, or sat out on your private balcony.

Mediterranean Cruise

A huge clash of cultures await all who opt for a Mediterranean cruise. You can visit no less than 17 different countries, including such nations as Spain, Italy, Greece and Egypt. Each nation has its own unique attractions, all of which you can sample as your cruise ship gracefully sails around the calm blue Mediterranean Sea.

History, culture, grand cities, ancient monuments, romantic islands and breathtaking views are all within easy reach on a Mediterranean cruise. In the Western Mediterranean you can discover the traditional white Andalucian villages of Southern Spain, sample the world-famous Manzanilla sherry in Cadiz and visit the cultural hub of Europe in the shape of Barcelona,before travelling onwards to the French Riviera.

Lying midway between Athens and Africa, Crete is the largest of the Greek islands.

Both its size and its position have considerably influenced its history, making it what it is today - fiercely independent, with its own dialect, customs and music.

Plunging 800 metres into the Atlantic, the Los Gigantes cliffs are among the highest in Europe. They’re a fittingly dramatic edge to Tenerife, one of Europe’s most exciting islands. Few family holidays to Tenerife will take in the spectacle of the cliffs - you can only see them by boat, and as cheap flights to Tenerife offer an easier access to this delightful island, chances are you’ll only fly over them.

The cliffs are a good example of just how diverse and thrilling this island, the largest of the Canaries, really is (and you can embark on a Los Gigantes day trip, should you be suitably tempted). Most package holidays to Tenerife are centred around the island’s excellent resorts and beaches, with their black volcanic sands adding a nice contrast to the island’s more traditionally coloured stretches of shingle. The beach at Los Cristianos, at nearly half a kilometre long, is a great spot for enjoying the warm waters which lap around the island’s coast - where gentle tradewinds create all manner of water sports opportunities.

By night, resorts such as Playa de las Americas and upmarket Costa Adeje come alive with their seafront restaurants and family-run bars offering the chance to make new friends, or enjoy a romantic meal. Children will love the island’s thrilling attractions, from the dolphin shows at AquaPark, to the Aquarium, shark tunnel and colourful parrots at Lorro Parque. But save a day to visit majestic Mount Teidi, Tenerife’s fiery heart - crowned by Spain’s highest mountain, at 3,800 metres above the Atlantic.

With its year-round sunshine, last minute holidays to Tenerife offer your best bet for a much-needed blast of the sun - Tenerife actually experiences the lowest temperature difference between winter and summer than anywhere in the world. So, when do we recommend is the best time to look for cheap holidays in Tenerife? Now.

One tip for the cruise bargain shopper is to consider a weekend trip or short cruise. This is a great way to experience the magic of a cruise vacation even if you don’t have a lot of time or money to spare. On the Internet, you can also conveniently browse the company’s featured cruises for more discounts. This is also the best place to enter sweepstakes and contests run by Royal Caribbean.

One such travel club, Coastal Vacations, offers it members some pretty deep discounts on Royal Caribbean, and many other popular cruise lines.

Australia Cruise

Sydney and its world famous harbor is a good starting point for an Australia cruise, although it is of course possible to start at other Australian ports, and also at ports outside of Australia. For instance, you could join the US to Australia leg of a round-the-world cruise at Los Angeles and find yourself in Sydney, Australia 30-days later. From Sydney you could depart on a smaller cruise around Australia and/or New Zealand.

So, what great treasures await those who adventure to Australia on a cruise? Sydney, Australia’s capital and the jewel in the crown of Australia’s south-east coastline, offers a whole host of sightseeing opportunities just on its own. Sydney harbor, the Opera House, Bondi Beach and Watson’s Bay are among the top attractions. Sydney is also bursting with museums, fine restaurants and excellent shopping facilities. Two hours outside of Sydney is the world renowned Hunter Valley wine region, where you can sample some of Australia’s finest wines.

Bahamas Cruise Expert Guide

Some 700 islands make up the archipelago of the Bahamas, of which only around 50 are inhabited. Cruise lines generally focus on just two Bahaman ports - Nassau and Freeport.

But Nassau is not just about history. It has a vibrant modern side too. Quality shops, fine restaurants and golden beaches, up onto which the inviting warm transparent waters of the Caribbean lap, are all there to be sampled. Activities such as snorkeling, diving and passenger submarine rides make for an exciting time in this tropical paradise. The nightlife in Nassau is buzzing too, with casinos and nightclubs offering the best of Bahamian life.

There are four basic Caribbean cruise routes used by cruise operators. Given this broad assortment of destinations available in the Caribbean, it can be a bit overwhelming when trying to make that crucial decision on which islands to fit into your itinerary. After all, you don’t want to miss out on some true Caribbean gems, do you?

Disney Cruises

All Disney cruises depart from Port Canaveral in Florida through Disney Cruise Lines, and take guests out on a voyage of the Caribbean. Short 3-night cruises are catered for as well as 7 night cruises that encompass a larger number of ports around the Western Caribbean and Eastern Caribbean.

A 7-night Western Caribbean Disney cruise adds Key West, Grand Cayman and the island of Cozumel near Mexico to the list of port stops. At each location a huge variety of shore excursions are offered for both adults and kids.

Castaway Island is Disney’s own private island. It is located near the island of Abacco at the northern end of the Bahamas, and is a true Never Land. Here you can explore paradise - secluded white sandy beaches, warm shallow waters and coconut-laden palm tree groves await, along with a whole host of exciting activities. You can try your hand at snorkeling while on the island, or go on a kayak nature adventure. The glass-bottomed boat tour is sure worth an hour and a half of your time on the island too.

Gullibility is the key to all adventures. The greenhorn is the ultimate victor in everything; it is he who gets the most out of life. G.K. Chesterton 1874 - 1936. There are those who would spend their holiday lying on a beach.

Bali Authentic life

Arts, Culture & Commerce in Ubud Even in the 30s evolved to Ubud village favorite European and American artists. Today Ubud is very touristy but despite all the negative phenomena of marketing is the center of culture and art in Bali worth a longer stay.