Archive for the 'Cruising Holidays' Category

Alaska Cruise Expert Guide

Friday, June 26th, 2009

An Alaska cruise typically departs from Seattle inWashington State or from Vancouver in British Columbia.Winters are very harsh in Alaska, so the main cruisingseason is confined to the summer months, typicallybetween May and September.

Ketchikan is well worth a visit alone for the TongassNational Forest - the most northerly rainforest on theNorth American continent. It is more than eight timesthe size of the Yellowstone National Park, and offersthe ultimate in adventure tours where you’ll find richsalmon runs and grizzly bears. Ketchikan is also hometo the world’s largest collection of totem poles.These can be found at the Totem Heritage Center Museum.

Amazon Cruise

If you’ve ever wanted to see herds of pink dolphins in theirnatural habitat, or uncover unique medicinal plants foundnowhere else in the world, an Amazon cruise could be justthe type of vacation that you are looking for .

Manaus, at the confluence of the Negro and Amazon Riversrepresents the furthest point upstream that large Amazon cruiseliners can venture. Here, the Amazon is 11kms wide, and it isthe main port from where many of the larger cruise liners set sail.

Carnival Cruise Expert Guide

Sports activities are widely available on a carnivalcruise. Volleyball, basketball, table tennis and evengolf can be played on board the cruise ship. You willalways have access to a well-equipped gymnasium too,along with personal trainers to help maximize yourfitness routine while on the cruise ship. Additionally,there is a plethora of watersports on offer, includingjet-skiing and opportunities to learn how to scubadive.

The nightlife on a carnival cruise is all about havingfun. Casinos, discos, bars and theaters can all befound on a carnival cruise ship, as well as specialistentertainment acts including the likes of comedians,dancers, magicians and theatrical stage performers.You can even learn how to dance ballroom if you want to.

Italy Cruise

Italy cruises depart from several ports around thecountry. Many depart from Civitavecchia - the gatewayport to Rome. However, to get the full Italyexperience it is recommended that an Italy cruisebe embarked upon from the ports of Savona or Genoaon the Ligurian Peninsula and taken all the wayround to Venice, or vice-versa. This way, you’lldiscover that there’s a lot more to Italy than acruise departing from Civitavecchia would be ableto show you.

In Genoa you can discover the birthplace ofChristopher Columbus and marvel at the city’sstunning Gothic architecture. A little furtherto the south Livorno is a port of call worthspending a little time at. Here, you will be ableto arrange shore excursions to see the famousleaning tower of Pisa, as well as visit the grandRenaissance city of Florence - home to Dante,Michaelangelo and the Medicis.

The Nile Cruise

Friday, June 19th, 2009

The history of Ancient Egypt lasted for about 3,000 years. Ancient Egypt declined,  was overrun and thereafter ruled by foreign powers. The Greeks and Romans who ruled after the decline were aware of the great similarity between their own gods and those of the Egyptians. They not only tolerated Egyptian religion, but also expanded existing temples and dedicated new ones to existing cults. Some of the new overlords, Alexander the Great for example, styled themselves as divine priest-kings in imitation of the Pharaohs.

Ancient Egypt was dead for one thousand five hundred years, until the French came across the Rosetta Stone in the nineteenth century invasion of Egypt by Napoleon. This priceless discovery was inscribed in both Greek and Egyptian, and it was the key that allowed the deciphering of Hieroglyphics by Jean-Francois Champollion in 1822. The voluminous literature produced by Ancient Egyptians was now accessible to curious scholars. This rekindled great interest in Ancient Egypt in the West that remains undiminished to this day.

Tips First-Timer Cruisers Need to Know

You will get better deal by booking well in advance of your sailing date or at the last minute. Booking early in advance can save you between 15 to 50 percent and also lock in the cabin category of your choice. If you rather wait to book at the last minute, you will even get a better discount on a ship’s unsold cabin. But of course you will not be able to choose the cabin that you like, whatever is left is available.

If you are a first-timer cruiser, it is better for you to take short-cruise 3 to 4 days on the weekend. In this case, you will be able to “test the water” before you jump-in to the real cruise. There is a good selection of ships sailing on short cruises to various destinations in the Caribbean, as well as along the Mexican Riviera and to New England/Canada.

Cruise Deals That Suit Your Personal Style

Some questions you want to write down are: What appeals to you most in your vacation? What are your likes and dislikes? Are you very active, or do you like to sit on the beach all day and soak up the sun, while sipping on a refreshing cocktail? Are you adventurous? Do you love to shop till you drop? Do you prefer the ship experience, or do you prefer to visit a port a day to take in the endless variety of culture? There are so many other factors you can write down to determine what type of cruising experience is right for you, so grab your paper and pencil and start writing away.

Depending if your traveling alone, with your partner, friends, or family will also be a determing factor on what type of cruise ship, and itinerary you choose. With the growth of the Cruise Line industry, the options are available to you in abundance, and sometimes overwhelming. So take the steps to find good Cruise Supplier’s that can be found online, and view all the great cruising options for your vacation needs.

Family Reunion Cruises

Friday, June 12th, 2009

When that urge strikes (and believe me, it will strike), you’ve got to be prepared with a plan of action. If you mention the idea of a “family reunion” to your family members without a plan, you’ll most likely end up with mayhem on your hands.  The next thing you know you’ll have relatives camping out on every square inch of your floor, piling your sink sky high with dirty dishes, and making executive decisions with your remote control.  In addition, you’ll become far too acquainted with the health problems and bodily functions of some of your senior relatives (Who knew that toenail fungus was so prevalent?).

Cruise ships are the perfect setting for a family reunion.  This is neutral territory, so people don’t feel they are imposing on others.  It levels the playing field and takes away the control that can sometimes come into play when reunions are held on a family member’s “turf.”  Plus, the best part is the cruise line does all the work - the cleaning, the cooking, and the entertaining.  All your family members have to do is relax and enjoy their time together.  Plus, lest we forget to mention one of the most important factors - the variety of activities onboard the ship and at the various ports of call is a perfect fit for groups who want to do some of their activities together and some separately.  In other words, you’re not trapped in “family reunion” bedlam the entire time.  You can take a breather at one of the many bars or lounges onboard your ship, catch a current movie in the ship’s theater, put on your dancin’ shoes for the disco, try your luck at the casino, or simply hide out in your stateroom and order complimentary room service.

Adventurous Guests on a Royal Caribbean Cruise

The activities onboard their ships are endless, and you can spend all day rock climbing or ice-skating if you desire. As you spend your days on deck soaking up the sun or swimming in the pools, you will notice it could not be more casual, and you will fit right in wearing your comfortable sports clothes and resort wear.

The Eastern Caribbean offers relaxing white-sand beaches, and gorgeous turquoise waters. If your looking for a Caribbean adventure, you will find yourself parasailing high above, where you can easily view stunning mountains and unspoiled beaches as far as the eyes can see. For the nature lovers, you can spend the day having hours of fun at the Dolphin Encounter.

Philippines Surfing

With 7,107 islands, the roaring Pacific Ocean bordering the eastern coastline and the South China Sea on the western coastline and attracting more typhoons than most neighboring countries, Philippines surfing is alive and well. In fact the Philippines are not a new surfing destination, with surfers enjoying the waves here since at least the sixties, maybe even earlier.  Let’s face it who wouldn’t want a perfect left or right hander all to yourself.

Philippines surfing can be both temperamental and seasonal, it is important to know when the best time to come is or you may be disappointed, nothing worse that a surfer without surf.

Diving Philippines

The water temperature diving in the Philippines, is similar to diving in your warm bath at home. It is absolutely divine. A balmy 22 C to 25 C during the cooler months of December to March and 25 C to 28 C during the warmer months of April to November. Water temperatures like these, gives you the opportunity of diving in the comfort of lycra skin suits or 3mm wetsuits. When you are use to diving in 5mm and 7mm steamers or even dry suits, this type of diving is pure heaven.

Statistics from the Philippine Department of Tourism indicate that scuba divers visiting the Philippine Islands, return for an average of 10 trips each. If this is not a high recommendation on the quality and health of the scuba diving industry in the Philippines, then I’m not sure what is.

Family Cruises

Friday, June 5th, 2009

There are family cruise agencies out there, ready to help you plan the perfect getaway for you and your loved ones. A trip that will be both fun and exciting yet won’t break your budget. If you are looking for a variety of activities, ones that will allow your family some good interaction or individual activities that are of interest to everyone, it’s all just a click away. There are family cruise specialists that dedicate themselves to bring you the best rates and superior service.

We realize the importance of planning a family cruise is budget. You can save money if you travel during times that school vacations aren’t planned. It is also important to discuss your airfare options with your travel agent. The reason for this is so you don’t get stuck with inconvenient flight times or connections. If you are concerned about traveling with larger families, there are specifications designed to meet your needs on family cruises.

Alaska Up Close and Personal

What if I told you that you could do something truly unique and adventurous, something that the whole family would love? What if I told you that there was a family cruise destination so breathtakingly beautiful and teeming with wildlife that you could spend days captivated at the rail of a cruise ship and still not get enough? Would you be interested? Sure you would.

This natural beauty can be seen from many top tourist destinations of Alaska including Juneau, Valdez, Seward and the Matanuska Valley, but is usually only fully appreciated with an up close and personal view that only a cruise through the inland waterways can afford. From this vantage point you will stand spellbound by tidewater glaciers that reach over 100 ft. in height and the antics of wildlife such as humpback whales, orcas, sea lions, dolphins, brown bears and bald eagles.

Cunard

Cunard has launched nearly 180 ships with enough firsts and foremost to be forever inscribed in maritime history. Canadian Samuel Cunard began his steamship company in the early 1800’s with a vision, but it is unlikely he foresaw ships with the size, speed or cultured, gracious living afforded by the magnificent Cunarders of today.

Cunard Cruise Lines White Star Service can only be described as truly European in that staff attends to every desire with polite, gracious and highly responsive attention - unobtrusive but very much there. When you first come on board, if you half-close your eyes, you will sense immediately that you are on a liner from the twenties or thirties. But open them fully and you will realize at once that the décor is strikingly contemporary.

Alaska Inside Passage Cruises

From the waterway of the passage, one can look upon some of the most magnificent natural scenery to be found such as coastal rainforests, deep blue fjords and tidewater glaciers. Also to be found in the passage are numerous species of wildlife including humpback whales, sea lions and seabirds.Because of the awe-inspiring beauty of the passage and since many destinations along the Alaska inside passage are only accessible by plane or boat, inside passage cruises have become one of the most popular tourist attractions of the state.

Alaska inside passage cruises are also popular for their exotic port destinations. Some of the most popular ports of call on the inside passage are Juneau, Skagway, Haines, Ketchikan and Victoria. Certain cruises even give passengers the opportunity to land on Annette Island and to be greeted by the Tsimshian elders of Metlakatla.

Celebrity Cruise Opulence

Friday, May 29th, 2009

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?

Mexico Cruise Expert Guide

Friday, May 22nd, 2009

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.

Discount Royal Caribbean Cruises

Friday, May 8th, 2009

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.

Radisson Cruises- Six Star Luxury

Friday, May 1st, 2009

The passenger guests aboard the Radisson Cruise experience high standards of excellence in cruising and exciting discovery experiences across the globe. You are able to get some improvements, benefits or special events on a complimentary basis or at a minimal charges and some ‘extras’ with the cruise fares such as gratuities, non-alcoholic beverage all along your trip, wines at lunch and dinner, a wide liquor selection in the suite bar or a welcome wine or champagne upon embarkation. World Cruise and Cruise Liner Society has awarded the ‘Best Cruise Value’ Radisson Cruise for eleven consecutive years.

With Radisson, you experience a difference in cruising with its Seven Seas Mariner and all-suite all-balcony vessel sailing through Alaska. If you are interested to explore quaint fishing villages, colorful markets and ancient cultures - where you go fishing for marlin in Mazatlan, play snorkel in Cabo San Lucas or visit the Puerto Vallarta beaches, the Radisson Mexican Cruises provide excellent service.

World Cruise

With World Cruise, you cover 27 nations on five continents. You navigate through the French Polynesia, Great Barrier Reef of Australia, glacier carved fjords of New Zealand, enchanted China’s landscapes and the forbidden palaces. You pay a visit to bazaars in Hong Kong and the buddhas in Bangkok, the colonial and modern blend in Singapore.

Enjoy exploring Delhi, Jaipur or the Taj Mahal at Agra and the tombs and temples under the ruling King times. The World Cruise even takes you to Antartica -the ultimate destination. It sure is a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the grandeur of Rome, the glory of Rome through the warm waters of the equatorial Atlantic.

Now you can sail in style and comfort- Volga river, Moscow canal, Volga/Baltic canal, the Svir River, the Rybinski Reservoir, Lake Ladoga, Lake Onega, and the Neva River.

The Skipper on a Charter Yacht

You have to admit that the situation where your employee (the skipper) commands you to do something you may not like, is something which does not occur in other forms of business or social life .  But please bear in mind that you are paying this guy to do precisely this. If he doesn’t, then he is not doing his job properly and you must remember that in extreme situations your life may depend on his decisions and commands, and the way you react to them.

It has to be understood that the skipper’s authority is not only confined to emergency situations where you are about to hit rocks (they will certainly accept commands then) but have to cover all the mundane daily tasks involved in living on board.

Maximize Your Cruise Wardrobe

The first thing you need to think about is what type of clothing you will need.  Will you be attending fancy dinners or dressing casual the whole time?  Is there a theme party you would like to attend?  Will you be dancing until dawn in your best dance dress?  Some of these may necessitate bringing special attire and you want to make sure you have room set aside in your luggage for this.

If you stick to a coordinating color scheme, you can get more mileage out of each piece since it will tend to look different when it is paired with a different top or bottom.

Finally, to get more space in your suitcase for clothes, find out if the ship will be supplying beach towels and hair dryers.  If they are then you can leave yours at home and free up some suitcase space for more clothes.

Bingo At Sea

Friday, April 24th, 2009

In addition to being a standard offering on board, many Bingo players get together and cruise together sharing their passion on Bingo specific cruises.  As an example, the 17th Annual World Championship Bingo Tournament and Gaming Cruise takes place in September aboard Holland America Line’s luxurious new “Vista” class cruise ship, the ms Oosterdam, as it sails the Alaska “Inside Passage” from Seattle.  Other Bingo groups may choose the west coast and a 4-day Baja Bingo cruise.  Not only do the ships offer you fabulous Bingo but much much more.

You get all the excitement of the land based gambling halls combined with fabulous food, fabulous ports of call and a world of colorful entertainment and nighttime enjoyment.  And best of all, there is no cover charge, no tickets to buy or reserve, no waiting in line.  Dazzling musical revues salute the very best of Hollywood and Broadway, with advanced lighting and sound systems and spectacular special effects.

The Panama Canal

It is a epic story, appreciated best by transiting the canal by ship, viewing what many historians say changed the face of the industrial world.  This 51 mile water tollway shaved over 7,900 nautical miles off the distance between New York and San Francisco.

As you approach the canal from the Atlantic you travel through 7.2 kilometers of dredged channel.  Your ship then proceeds for a little over 11 kilometers slightly westward before reaching the Gatun Locks. Huge ocean liners are lifted, as if they  were  toys, 85 feet by three sets of locks, to the level of Gatun Lake. This lake resulted from damming the Chagres River and broaching the Continental Divide. This combined with the Gaillard Cut was a feat equal to digging a trench 10 feet deep by 55 feet wide from New York to California.

Keep Cruising and Keep Traveling

Those of us in the travel business began to see numerous cancellations of long planned holidays and vacations, mostly from fear and misunderstanding of security, schedule changes even with the combined will and effort of the cruise industry attempting to keep passengers traveling and enjoying the process.

What changes will you see regarding your cruise experience?  Embark and Disembark may take longer due to additional security measures.  Strict enforcement of required identification and nationality/travel papers.  Boarding will be denied without presenting proper documents.  Your documents must be original - no copies will be allowed.

The Delightful Land beyond Imagination

Radisson’s m/s Paul Gauguin, named after one of France’s greatest painters, is dedicated to Tahiti and the surrounding islands where he spent much of his most productive years.  In fact, Gauguin is quoted as saying, “I have come to an unalterable decision - to go and live  forever in Polynesia”.

In the 1890’s, it took Paul Gauguin two months to reach Tahiti.  Today you can reach your beautiful ship in just seven and a half hours from Los Angeles - only two more hours than flying to Hawaii.

Cruising Glacier Bay

Glacier Bay Mountain ranges with peaks over 10,000 feet, culminating in 15,320 foot high Mount Fairweather within the Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.

Only 200 years ago, the beautiful fjords and cruising areas of “Glacier Bay”, were buried under ice thousands of feet thick. In 1794, Capitan George Vancouver saw the face of an enormous glacier at Glacier Bay’s entrance at Icy Strait.

Entertainment At Sea

Friday, April 17th, 2009

Dazzling musical revues salute the very best of Hollywood and Broadway, with advanced lighting and sound systems and spectacular special effects.

The entertainers vary from ship to ship and line to line however don’t be surprised if Bill Cosby, or Bowser from Sha Na Na or jazz greats Manhattan Transfer are on your ship. The shows will easily rival anything you might see on land. Except that on-board your ship you don’t have to remember your tickets or struggle to find a parking space.

If  You Can Afford A Vacation, You Can Afford A Cruise.

There will be very few times in your life when you are completely free. Free from cares, responsibilities, chores, deadlines, timetables, ringing phones or demanding voices. It’s time to start planning for such a vacation and you feel overwhelmed by all the choices.

Hold on a minute, you might be thinking, I thought cruises were not for me. Not anymore. Dance clubs, sports facilities, live entertainment, movies, classes, casinos and supervised children’s activities are just a few examples of how cruise ships are catering to people of all walks of life.

Luxury Cruising

The right ship or cruise line is one that makes you very comfortable and very special while fulfilling all your vacation desires. You need to look at the size of the vessel, the nature of the experience, the activities available, dining schedules, on board dress code and the style of service.  Equally important are your itinerary, the type of accommodations, and the cost of the cruise, along with the inclusions that may be offered.

Exceptional service will be found on ships that have a ratio of one (or more) crewmembers to every two guests and mirror the warmth and discretion of finest hospitality.  The following unique cruising styles can be celebrated each in its own right - so you can choose to travel elegantly with companions who share your sensibilities.

Alaska By Ship

Imagine your sense of wonder as you glide past glacier after glacier or your first sight of a cresting whale. While we have much to be proud of in our Alberta parks, I think Alaska is mother nature’s most spectacular show piece.

Cruising Alaska offers us breathtaking views of Alaska’s natural wonders, as well as nights of thrilling entertainment, fine dining, pampering service, and an endless variety of activities.

As you cruise along the Glacier route, you will experience a magical, unspoiled land where walls of ice rise up from crystal blue seas and landscapes of wild flowers give way to snow-capped peaks.