Luxury vacation in Cruises » variety

Popular destinations : Ocean Cruises

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 09:58:18 +0000

Luxury Ocean Cruises are a great means of luxury travel with some fantastic benefits. They make it easy to visit several places in a single trip without the hassle of packing and unpacking; they enable easy access to virtually every continent on earth; and they are the epitome of luxury travel.

For those who have not experienced the joys of luxury cruising, imagine your favourite five star resort. Now, picture waking up each morning and finding your resort has arrived as another exotic or sun-drenched location – all without the challenges of international air travel. Add to that attentive service and you get the picture of what it is like to travel on a luxury cruise.

Popular destinations include: the coasts of Alaska, Scandinavia, South-East Asia, Europe, Australia, and New England; China, Egypt, North America; and numerous other places.

As for ship facilities, all luxury ships have at least one swimming pool and comfortable deck chairs aplenty. Cruise ship entertainment includes: comedians, Vegas style musical shows, magicians, new release movies, etc. Most ships have a complete gym and some ships now offer putting greens, golf simulators, and basketball/tennis courts. For travellers who enjoy a bit of pampering, extensive spa facilities are available on all cruise ships.

All luxury cruise ships have high guest to staff ratios – to ensure discrete attentive service and response to your every whim and need. You also find luxury cruises have greater private space for guests, greater numbers of tables for two as well as on-board hosts to ensure all women guests never are in need of a dance partner to dance the night away.

A daily roster of activities is planned for each ship. These might include art auctions, cooking schools, lectures, language lessons, book clubs, arts and crafts, plus much more. All ships have extensive libraries to while away the hours in comfortable chairs enjoying great novels and non-fiction books.

With regards to food, luxury cruises have exceptional dining choices. You can choose to dine at the main dining room, or one of the more exclusive speciality restaurants on board ship. There are also a number of coffee shops and juice bars on most ships to help cater to those needing high tea or a latte.

Cabins on luxury cruises tend to be generously proportioned, with multi-room suites available with private decks and balconies, exquisite bathrooms, lounge and bar areas, and your own private waiter.

When onshore, the shore excursions office offers a variety of sightseeing tours and activities such as cultural tours, snorkelling, museum tours and more, at each port of call.

There are many fabulous luxury cruise lines to select. Cunard Lines are the most well known for their liners which allow people to travel in supreme luxury.

The Queen Mary 2, the Queen Victoria and the Queen Elizabeth provide the highest class of ocean travel. The interior design and fit outs of each of these cruise ships hark back to a bygone era and complement the on board experience where people dress for dinner in black-tie and cocktail gowns and enjoy elegant soirees with some of the premiere world entertainers. Priceless art works enrich the senses, while Oxford Professors and guest expert lecturers enrich the mind with their seminars and lectures.

Cunard voyages include Transatlantic, the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Northern Europe and luxury Around the World cruises and range from as little as 4 days to extended stays.

For more relaxed elegance you may enjoy travel on Crystal cruises, with all of the amenities of a luxury resort. Teak decks, silk wall hangings, crystal chandeliers and polished marble all add to the ambience.

Silversea Cruises have a well deserved reputation for exquisite dining and all inclusive fares. The meals on Silversea Cruise lines rival the top Michelin starred restaurants in the world, with a non-sell atmosphere common on many other cruise ships.

The Holland America line also provides classic luxury, fabulous food and understated elegance. Teak desks, impressive state rooms, and exceptional service define the Holland America line. It cruises to destinations including Alaska, Panama Canal, Northern Europe, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Australia and the Asia Pacific.

North Star Cruises offers luxury cruises around the remote northern parts of Australia through the Kimberley region, and comes complete with its own private helicopter to allow guests to explore this rugged wilderness in comfort.

Other exceptional luxury cruises can be found on Fred Olsen Cruise lines, The World of Residensea, Wings Nile Cruises, Princess Cruises, Hebridean International Cruises, Regent Seven Seas and Orion Expedition Cruises.

Can I afford a cruise?

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 09:48:54 +0000

Can I afford a cruise?
Some vacations are just more fun than others!
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.
You may be looking for a place the whole family can enjoy. Perhaps a romantic vacation or a place to meet people. At the same time you want great value for your money. Seem like an impossible task? Then maybe you haven’t considered cruising.
With so many destinations and so much to do on today’s cruise ships it is becoming a very popular alternative to more traditional vacations. 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.
One of the main benefits of cruising is it’s all inclusive nature. The cost includes all the meals, 24 hour room service, cabin and entertainment just to name a few. Once you’re on board you’ll be amazed at the variety of activities and land excursions to choose from – or you can choose to do nothing but lounge on the deck.
Get ready to be pampered in a safe and relaxing environment. The high quality and worry free environment will make it a true escape from the “real world”. And what other vacation hotel lets you go to sleep at night and wake up to a new country at your front door every morning?
Enjoy fine dining every night at your reserved table. Go ahead, taste several appetizers. Try more than one soup. If you can’t decide between two salads, have both. Every night indulge yourself with such international entrees as Beef Wellington and Duck a l’Orange.
And never say no to desserts that can include such masterpieces as Baked Alaska. Every meal is an event designed just for you. So satisfy your every craving, and then walk out of the dining room without ever paying a bill.
Oops, eat too much? Staying in shape is easy. Every floating resort has a spa facility featuring state of the art gym equipment and aerobics classes. And you’ll love jogging on deck in the fresh sea air. Then relax, have a massage, steam or sauna or just a dip in the swimming pool.
If you think you’re always surrounded by other guests, think again. On your ship it’s easy to find a quiet corner to contemplate the sea, read a book from the library, hold that intimate conversation or just count your blessings.
Whether you’re a newlywed or celebrating your 50th anniversary, you’ll feel the special magic of being on a cruise ship miles out to sea. Which isn’t to say singles won’t enjoy a sea going vacation. As a matter of fact they’ll have a blast.
Whether you love musicals, hard rock, country or big band you’ll find ships playing your song. In the showroom you’ll cheer the Vegas-style revues. Don’t plan on deep conversation in the high energy dance club; save your talks for the friends you’ll meet at the sing-along piano bar, or for each other as you stroll along the deck before turning in.
Nothing on earth compares to the value of a cruise vacation. Because on a cruise one low price covers just about everything. All your meals are included. Almost every shipboard activity is included. Even the entertainment is included.
Compare that to most land vacations when you’re constantly faced with the added expenses and hassles of reservations, valet parking, buying theater tickets and searching for things to do.
Can you afford a cruise? Absolutely!
And what land vacation can take you from one exotic destination to another while you dance and dine or dream the night away!

“All the world’s a stage”

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 09:42:28 +0000

“All the world’s a stage”, the saying goes! And on your cruise – the ship is the stage for a world of colorful entertainment and night-time 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.
Your entertainment aboard spotlights a variety of marquee performers, including musicians and singers, comedians and magicians. Cruise lines recruit professional performers from some of the best-known stages on land.
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.
Not only will you enjoy Broadway style reviews, musicals, stand-up comics, movies and specialty acts, and guest talent shows, many cruise lines including Norwegian and Holland America offer “theme” cruises from Budd Friedmans famous Improv at Sea to a Bavarian style “Oktoberfest” where, in addition to daily beer tastings, the staff host a Bavarian Beer Garden Party and an authentic German/Bavarian dinner.
On this cruise, Anheuser Busch will provide a broad selection of their turn of the century recipe beers to enjoy all week, albeit at an nominal extra charge! The six man “Die Bier Barons” band will be on board to play traditional “Oom-Pah” and polka music.
Prefer country music? No problem, you can join top-act headliners and other guest performers aboard foot-stomping, knee-slapping country music cruises. Learn the latest line dancing or try not to smile as you two step your way across the Caribbean.
How much would you pay back home to catch a Broadway show, enjoy the midnight buffet and then head for late night comedy before you hit the disco? It’s all included aboard your cruise ship.
Norwegian Cruise Lines treats you to extravagant, full-scale productions of classic Broadway musicals like Grease, 42nd Street, The Pirates of Penzance, The Will Rogers Follies, Crazy for You, and George M! And again, you don’t pay for tickets! Just walk in to the beautiful theatre at sea, and enjoy the show.
Can theatres at sea rival those on land? A three-deck-high showroom, the Palladium, on Carnival Destiny, is home to two showstopping Vegas style productions that combine complex sets, laser technology and awesome talent that leaves you spellbound. And there is not a bad seat in the house!
After the show, visit one of the many lounges to enjoy a jazz ensemble, or 50’s and 60’s music or spend some fabulous times around the piano bar becoming a karaoke star.
Disney’s Magic, is a masterpiece of entertainment at sea. On this ship, amazing diversions are everywhere. You can screen the ocean premiere of a new Disney film in the beautiful Buena Vista Theatre. And in the Walt Disney Theatre, you will view a magnificent tribute to the grand theatrical palaces of long ago that provided the inspiration for three all-new Disney productions-a different show each night of your cruise with state-of- the- art staging, lighting and special effects that only Disney can do!
Between your ports of call, you will be surprised how much there is to do on board your ship. When it comes to nighttime entertainment your choices are as diverse as you want to make them.
From ballroom dancing to late night comedy, from first run movies to dazzling shows, all free and all with guaranteed seating.

Cruise vacation and Dining at sea

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 09:37:08 +0000

If eating fine food is your pleasure, a cruise vacation and dining at sea is for you!
If you get up early enough, go to bed late enough and catch the elevators on your ship just right – you can eat up to 13 times a day on board. And that does not count 24 hour complementary room service.
Fine cuisine and five star dining has always been a part of the cruise experience. On board, you’ll be treated to more options than ever before. As soon as one serving is ending, somewhere on the ship another is beginning.
Today the on board dining experience rivals almost any land based restaurant. Celebrity Cruise Lines cuisine, for example, is acclaimed by food experts, travel authorities and the most discriminating connoisseurs of all, their passengers.
Whether the succulent, broiled lobster tails and coquilles Saint Jacques served on the finest china or fresh pastas and omelets “made to order” from the buffet, an array of exotic dishes and familiar favorites are yours to enjoy.
Menu offerings on Celebrity are created by master chef, Michel Roux, a Michelin three star restaurant owner, and are as outstanding as the setting in which they are served – grand, multi-level dining rooms, with a piano played softly in the background.
Imagine Smoked Salmon Claudine, Pheasant Mousseline with Blueberry Vinaigrette, Consommé with Vegetable Brunoise, Broiled Lobster Tail, Veal Medallions, Coffee Profiteroles with Jamaican Sabayon and Swan Puff with Chocolate Sauce. The price? Included with your cruise as is all dining on board your floating resort.
And there is virtually no limit on what or how much you can order!
If what I just described is too formal for you, how about breakfast in bed, sunrise coffee and pastries on deck. Of course there is always a full breakfast in your ship’s dining room or a relaxed buffet in one of the alternative dining areas.
French toast. Spanish omelets made to order. And Danish, of course. You’ll find them all at breakfast, along with such traditional fare as ham and eggs, fresh fruit and yogurt, a choice of toast and rolls, pancakes and home fries
Lunch? Casual, poolside lunch or full menu in the dining room and on some cruise ships the between meal most popular attraction, 24-hour pizzerias and ever present ice cream bars or buffets.
While the 24 hour room service on some ships is restricted to snacks, cold sandwiches and sometimes hamburgers, other cruise lines offer you a full dining room menu in your cabin during regular dining hours.
Princess Cruises offers true 24-hour dining in their Horizon Court restaurants featuring their own galley which allows it to stay open ALL day and ALL night, offering a full menu of both hot and cold meals. Your dinner is served tableside by waiters from 7:30p.m. through 4:00a.m. and all other meals are available buffet style from free-standing islands designed to eliminate lines.
I do not want to panic the health conscious crowd, so you will be secure in knowing that most ships can accommodate salt-free, low-carbohydrate, kosher or other diet preferences.
The variety of healthy and guilt-free choices will astound your eyes and your taste buds. Almost all Cruise lines offer a “heart smart” section on their menus, including vegetarian entrees at lunch and dinner and fresh fruit and other natural snacks are always available.
And then there is always the expansive fitness areas for you to use and remain ship-shape.
On mainstream cruise lines, you’ll have to choose your dining time when making your cruise plan. There are usually two dinner seatings, one between 6:00p.m.- 6:30pm and one between 8:00p.m. and 8:30p.m. depending on your ship itinerary. The 6:00p.m seating will allow you to work up an appetite for the mid-night buffet.
But some ships have a 1:30a.m. buffet so you can be comfortable going to the late seating. Your table is reserved for you for the entire cruise and your waiter and busboy will become like family, dedicated to making your cruise a dream vacation.
Table size is usually, for 4, 6, 8 or 10 with the occasional table for two. If you are traveling in a group or with friends you’ll want to ensure that your seated together at the same dinner seating.
My suggestion is to always ask for a large table. What a great way to meet new friends from around the world. Unless, of course, your stateroom has a balcony and your significant other wants a private dinner for two!
Personal Choice Cruising
Princess ships offer the line’s innovative Personal Choice Cruising program. An individualized, unstructured style of cruising that provides a “what you want, when you want” atmosphere of onboard choice and flexibility. This is designed to give passengers the opportunity to customize their cruise experience to fit their personal interests, needs, and desires.
Princess’ Personal Choice Dining program offers two main dining options. Passengers can choose between traditional fixed seating, where they will have an assigned dinner time, table, companions, and wait staff, or restaurant-style Anytime Dining, which allows them to dine when, where, and with whom they wish.
Norwegian Cruise Line Flexible Choice
NCL’s cruising concept is the Freestyle Dining component, allowing guests to eat whenever, wherever, and with whomever they wish.
Ten different themed restaurants offer an array of international and regional cuisine, including French bistro fare, trattoria-style Italian dishes, Asian fusion, sushi, teppanyaki, and Spanish tapas.
Vegetarian, low fat, low calorie, and children’s menu items are available at all restaurants, and NCL’s popular “chocoholic buffet” is offered on all voyages. Guests can also order from a 24-hour room service menu.
All of NCL’s full-service and specialty restaurant menus incorporate a variety of regional specialties to allow guests to savor culinary creations that are unique to the exotic destinations visited during their cruise.
Best of all, the one thing you’ll never see on a cruise ship menu is a price! Bon Appetit!