Fun and Sun cruises

Cruising along the ocean promises a bunch of thrill especially when it’s spent with loved ones and family members. Family vacations and couple’s getaways are becoming popular in Europe and America especially that the cruise ship industry is gearing towards designing more cruise destinations and stopovers to accommodate more demands by the touring clients from all over the world. The cruising part of tourism is one of the much-awaited experiences that every traveler would love to savor. Caribbean Princess Cruise provides a paradise-like trip to whoever gets aboard to seize ultimate fun. Whether it’s seven-day or ten-day exploration to the eastern, western and southern regions via Caribbean Princess Cruise, the blue waters are a remarkable nature’s gifts to catch sight off. To match your desires, there are various kinds of cruising packages for you to pick depending on how long you want to explore and how much budget you are allocating for the entire trip. Families are apparently the bigger bulk of those who go for cruises practically to enjoy some water sports, dip into beautiful beach resorts and swimming pools, listen to great live entertainment and fine dining at the ship, and savor remarkable spa experience. All these are usually integrated in a single package. Caribbean resorts and islands are the most looked forward to spots in any Caribbean Princess Cruise experience. Every single island takes a distinctive essence of naturalness and magnificence. Islands like Willemstad located in Curacao is deemed to be a world heritage spot which makes it a pleasing destination to catch sight of. While some islands enclose colonial towns, there are others that are famed for their tropical underwater jewels. If you are housed in a beach resort, you have the convenient options to go snorkeling, diving and island hopping. You can also rent a vehicle on some islands in order to explore via land travel. Going on a trip during off-season is wise because packages are bargained through travel agencies online.   In a seven-day travel via Caribbean Princess Cruise, you get the chance to explore St. Thomas and St. Maarten. Besides a sumptuous buffer on board, you can enjoy warm accommodation in cabins and balcony rooms, elevator transport system, adult pools and hot tubs, photo ops, live entertainment, karaoke singing, etc. There are around 900 balcony rooms and a whole deck of mini-suites to choose. If you are going to the Caribbean, it’s best not to go when hurricane strikes. The Caribbean surely is a promising getaway destination for you to get hold of. The state-of-the-art facilities of the ships plus the greatness of resorts and islands are hard to resist. If you are counting it for your next trip, you might as well pre-book at your earliest convenience.

The Carnival cruise line features two different Mexico itineraries for travelers to relax and enjoy the warm ocean breezes on. Beautiful deserts, tropical forests, mountainous countryside, untouched pine forests and hundreds of miles of beautiful, sandy, sunny beaches make the cruise to Baja the perfect vacation destination for you and your loved ones. If that doesn’t sound appealing, imagine yourself on a quiet beach watching the sun set over the perfectly blue Pacific Ocean and relaxing after a long day of exploring ancient ruins. That is what you can find on the cruise to the Mexican Riviera.

The Carnival cruises to Mexico offer some of the best food, amenities and entrainment any cruise ship has to offer. During your leisurely cruise to Mexico, you can pamper yourself by scheduling a massage, pedicure or manicure. Remember that haircut you’ve been meaning to get but never got around to? You can do that right on the Carnival ship. If all that sounds like too much work, just spend the day relaxing and detoxifying in one of the cruise ship’s many saunas.

A Carnival cruise to Mexico will introduce you to some of the most exotic and delicious food in the world, even before you reach your first stop! Gourmet chefs cook three meals every day. For those who don’t like to eat on a schedule, the buffet is open twenty-four hours a day. Dinner often includes live music and there is always entertainment to enjoy afterwards; musicals, dancing, concerts and a piano bar include just a few of the evening entertainment options on either of the Mexico cruises.

You’ll never run out of things to do as you travel to either of the Mexican destinations. Carnival cruises offer captain’s cocktail parties, a beautiful gala dinner, a 24-hour pizzeria, Camp Carnival especially for kids, 24-hour room service, brand new movies, outdoor swimming, hot tubs, shopping, shuffle board and more! Families can spend time together at the pool or seeing a musical during the day, and parents can enjoy some alone time in the evenings when children are welcome to attend kid-tailored events with plenty of supervision.

The best way to book your Carnival cruise to Mexico is on the Internet. You’ll get a great deal with a little research, a little patience and some Internet savvy. As the departure date gets closer, Carnival offers up some of its best deals on its cruises to Mexico. Carnival also offers a number of special promotions during the year, including both holiday and seasonal bargains. And the best part is that their staterooms are 50 percent bigger than most other major cruise lines. At a discount price, anyone can find a carnival cruise to Mexico that suits them – from singles, to newlyweds to families.

A Bermuda cruise can be the perfect vacation – or it could be the perfect way to celebrate some of the most special occasions of your life.

A Bermuda cruise is like a voyage to find one of those forgotten places that seem to stay the same, the more they change. It has something to offer for anybody and everybody. Whether you like to lay on the beach and get a tan, or go for long walks on moonlit beaches, or go snorkeling or swimming – no matter what you want, you will find it at the end of a Bermuda cruise. You can even try your hand at jet skiing.

You have plenty of choice when it comes to choosing a Bermuda cruise. There are three main dockyards in Bermuda. Only one is suitable for the larger liners, but the smaller ones can use the other two, as well. The larger one is King’s Wharf. The others are Hamilton and St. George. These docks are not out of the way places – you can step off right into the hub of activity. The public transport system at Bermuda is also commendable, giving you a choice of buses, ferries and taxies.

On shore, you will find plenty to keep you occupied. A scooter tour is one of the most popular activities for people who go on a Bermuda cruise. The beaches are beautiful, and those who like snorkeling will have a wonderful time with all the coral reefs that are still healthy and beautiful.

When you opt for a Bermuda cruise, you also do not have to worry about accommodation. You can come back on board to sleep, if you so desire. You can also have your meals on board, though you might want to try out all the cozy cafes you will find. The accommodation is one thing that could have eaten up into your budget, and that problem can be solved on a Bermuda cruise.

There are also wedding packets available. Bermuda is one of the most romantic places on the planet to say your vows, and there are special deals you can make use of if you would like to. Of course, there will be some paperwork involved if you want to say your vows on Bermuda, once you dock, but this is quite easy. You just have to fill in a notice for intended marriage, and send it on, either to the office of the Registrar General, or a wedding planner, if that is how you prefer it. As long as you leave enough time for the notice, there is nothing to it, and you will have the perfect wedding to remember fondly.

Princess Cruise Lines are part of the biggest cruising companies in the world, although they are still probably best known for the TV series “The Love Boat” from the 1970s.  Princess Cruise Lines began in 1966 when the “Princess Patricia” was chartered by Stanley MacDonald to undertake cruises from Los Angeles to the Mexican coastline. The ship though had been designed for Arctic cruising, and came without any of the necessary features of an equatorial cruise. The “Princess Patricia” was then replaced by the “Princess Italia” a ship designed for the warmer climes, and was truly modern in every aspect. The “Princess Italia” ended up doing Alaskan and European cruises as well. A third ship, the “Princess Carla”, was quickly added to the growing company.  Princess Cruise Lines was going from strength to strength and in 1974 the company was purchased by P&O (the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company), who assed the “Sun Princess” to the fleet. The “Island Princess” and “Pacific Princess” were also built new fro P&O, it was on these two cruise liners that “The Love Boat” was set. P&O already had a large fleet and ships would be transferred between brand names, and the “Sea Princess” sailed for both brands from 1978. It wasn’t until 1984 that the first ship, the “Royal Princess”, was the first liner specifically built for the Princess Cruise Lines Company.  P&O continued to buy other cruise companies and with the purchase of Tour Alaska and Sitmar Line, further ships were acquired and new cruise routes were added to the company. Many ships and routes were added to the Princess Cruise Lines brand. Princess Cruise Lines ended up being separated from P&O in 2000, before Carnival Corporation merged with P&O and all of its separate companies, to incorporate twelve cruising brands.  Princess Cruise Lines is now marketed as Princess Cruises and runs seventeen cruise lines, which include three small ships. All of the liners are designed to provide all of the experiences of a five star hotel, but with what feels like a personal service. Depending on which ship you are on you can expect casinos, theatres and swimming pools. The liners also sail on a wide range of destinations, including world cruises, Alaska, Hawaii, South America, Europe, in fact pretty much anywhere around the world. Cruises from Princess Cruise Lines may not be cheap but they are an unforgettable experience.

2008 is an exciting year for cruising with the addition of 8 new cruise ships to the booming market.

• April - P&O’s Ventura , MSC Poeisa

• May - Independence of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)

• July - Carnival Splendor, Ms Eurodam (Holland America)

• Nov - Ruby Princess, MSC Fantasia

• Dec - Celebrity Solstice

Each ship is being built on the promise that it will be bigger and better than its current sailing rivals, with a heavy focus on innovations at sea. Already we have ice skating rinks, rock climbing walls, F1 simulators, self leveling pool tables, boxing rings, bowling alleys and 4 deck high water slides. So the big question everyone’s asking is; what could possibly be coming next?

Well, the answer is grass. Real growing green grass.

Celebrity Cruises have proudly announced that their latest fleet addition, the Solstice, will feature a grassed lawn area where guests may “enjoy bocce ball and croquet, practice their putting, picnic with a basket of wine and cheese, or simply feel the grass between their toes, while sailing the oceans of the world”. And, if all the grass isn’t too much excitement, you can go and watch the hot glass show, another industry first.

Clever, or just plain dull?

Is this really the best they can come up with? Or, are they taking a brave step outside of the current innovation trend box? In reality, the ice skating rinks are a little on the small side, the bowling alleys only have 4 lanes, and does anyone really want to go boxing? It seems the cruise companies are measuring their success on the uniqueness of their ship innovations, but I wonder if that’s what today’s typical cruise passenger is really looking for.

Pre 1960’s cruising was all about the destination, the ship simply providing comfortable accommodation. Then came more emphasis on the actual voyage itself, with the onboard experience becoming as important as the destination. It seems we may now be facing a u-turn, with more and more cruisers wanting to explore new, “undiscovered” places which offer a more intimate cruise experience which the mega liners just can’t offer.

In spite of this, the cruise industry seems to be confidently striving forward with their bigger is better approach with Royal Caribbean’s mind blowing Genesis project on the horizon. Building by far the largest ships at sea, 2009 will see a vessel that has a capacity of over 5000 passengers with a gross tonnage in excess of 220,000 tonnes, compared to the current largest, the Queen Mary 2 at a mere 160,000 tonnes, it’s a pretty outstanding figure.

Surely there must be concerns over the damage a ship that large may cause. For a long time, cruise ship damage seems to have been ignored, when, in reality, they are one of the world’s largest, uncontrolled sources of air pollution, and surprisingly, more damaging than flying. Sewage, oil contamination and coral reef damage are all becoming increasing concerns.

Royal Caribbean have recognized this and have stated that one of the most important priorities for the new ships is energy efficiency and the minimisation of waste to make the ship as environmentally friendly as possible.

What they can’t control is annoying disembarkation queues, port over crowding and inaccessible ports. But, at least there is a boxing ring to let out all those frustrations, if it’s not already been booked up…

The quintessential vacation destination, Hawaii is situated over 2000 miles away from any continent or other large land mass. As such, the Hawaiian Islands are some of the most isolated islands anywhere in the world. But modern conveniences and luxury also abound, making Hawaii a great place to get away from it all, without forgoing luxury accommodations.

Hawaii cruise packages offer a great way to travel to islands and are rated better than other modes of travel. Cruises offer you the best way to explore the islands and the bounties of enjoyment they offer. And here’s the best part - you need not spend a fortune to enjoy since Hawaiian cruise packages are easy on the pocket.

Many kinds of cruise packages are available. They are targeted at different groups, such as singles or elderly couples. Newlyweds will gain many benefits from Hawaii honeymoon cruises, such as the freedom to visit ports of call whenever they feel like it or to stay in their cabin with a view of the ocean. A newly married couple cannot find a honeymoon destination that is more beautiful than Hawaii.

Some of the best cruise packages are what is called “all-inclusive”, which means they include everything. All of your food, entertaining, and lodging budgets can be combined, because this package will pay for all of those, and even some activities where you go ashore too. This helps you save money, without feeling anxious about your budget while you should be enjoying your vacation like the rest of the passengers. It should be easy to customize your package, and add or subtract those things that interest you most and are essential for your personalized vacation.

By searching online, or asking a travel agent to do the hard work for you, anyone can find Hawaii cruise specials available throughout the year. While it is natural to envy anyone on their way to or from a fantastic trip to Hawaii, it is completely unnecessary. You too can afford to make a fabulous cruise to Hawaii. What could be better than paying less and getting more?

If you’ve been dreaming of basking on soft sandy beaches under a warm Pacific sun this winter while friends and family are shoveling away back home, now’s the time to make your dream a reality. You’ll never regret booking a winter cruise to fabulous Hawaii.

Have you ever thought about taking a singles cruise, but felt that you are out of the usual age range? Think again. As long as you are over 18, there is a singles cruise for you. In fact, there are cruises designed for every age range in the book, where single people can get together and have fun… and maybe even meet the partner of their dreams.

Depending on the cruise, you might be able to take a trip with only other singles from your age group (usually a 10-20 year span) or a completely multi-age cruise where young and not so young mingle. Let’s take a look at what you can expect from each of these.

20-30 Singles Cruises

For this age group, there are often plenty of cruises available and full of fun activities. Because these singles are fairly young, most cruises consist of non-stop partying and may not be as serious as another age group. While this age range can certainly find a serious partner, it’s more likely that this is just going to be a fun time with the possibility of finding your match.

30-50 Singles Cruises

The majority of cruises for singles over 30 tend to be more planned out. Rather than non-stop dancing and all night bar rounds, you can expect to have more interesting games and activities to help you meet others in your age range. These cruises tend to be more about people than about just having fun. Even if you don’t find that perfect someone, you can enjoy making some long lasting relationships on a singles cruise.

50+ Singles Cruises

These days, it really doesn’t matter how old you are, there is a singles cruise for you. In fact, many people hit 50 and find that they are divorced and alone and are frightened about dating again. Joining up with a singles cruise for this age group can be a great way to meet other singles your age, without any pressure. There will be lots of scheduled events and activities to keep things interesting and lively and you will have the chance to interact with a variety of people and make new friends… but who knows, one of them may end up being more than just a friend!

Multi-age Singles Cruises

Not all singles cruises are divided up by age. While the majority of people will prefer to stick to their age group, there are still some cruises that take any age at all. These can be particularly good if you find yourself attracted to much younger or older partners, or if you just want to keep the playing field open. Age shouldn’t be a big deal in romance and that is what these cruises focus on. They offer the opportunity to enjoy company of all ages in a number of different activities and fun settings that will free you up to chat with others and makes some friends while you keep an eye out for that special someone.

Whether you choose to take a singles cruise with a specific age range or one that pays no attention to numbers, you’ll find yourself having a blast while enjoying the opportunity to meet other singles. There’s no stress about liking someone only to find out they are actually married, since everyone is here because they want to meet someone.

Hanging out with like minded singles on a cruise ship is all about having fun and meeting potential partners in a non-threatening situation. What could be more relaxing and romantic than a singles cruise?

At Inside Cruise we like to keep cruisers in the know with all the latest cruise advice. So here are some of our top insider tips to help you get the best deals when it comes to booking your next cruise.

1. Booking your Cruise

It may seem logical to book your cruise directly with the cruise line, but this isn’t always going to get you the best price. You may find a travel agent can offer a discounted price on the same cruise which means great savings for you. But don’t make the mistake of assuming you will get the best quote simply by walking into your high street agent, come on, you have to do a little work to save yourself some money! Which leads me to my next point…

2. Getting Quotes

Accepting the first price you are quoted wont always get you the best deal. The key is to get prices from a few different companies. Travel agents work hard to earn commission on each sale, and the more they have to discount for you, means less money for them. Again, this is where a little hard work now pays off later. It seems just about every travel agent promises to price beat, so, take advantage and hunt around for the lowest price. When you have it, why not go back to the most helpful agent, and see if they can beat it? It’s not always just the lowest price you’re looking for either, P&O, Princess, Cunard and Ocean Village for example will offer onboard credit to selected agents on different dates on many of their cruises.

3. Customer Loyalty

It’s sad but true; loyalty does not always pay off. You may have received a great deal on your last cruise and have gone back to your same agent expecting another. It is still important to be ringing around. As an existing customer, these travel agents know they already have your custom, they also know you are less likely to be ringing other companies for prices. Obviously, this isn’t always the case, some agents will genuinely reward their loyal customers, but it’s always worth checking.

4. Booking Onboard

We have all been there; 13 nights into your fortnight holiday, and it all feels like it’s over far too soon. And, if it’s been really good, all you can think about is when you can come back again. Well, good news - on many cruises you will be given the opportunity to rebook a cruise onboard with the purser or at the future cruise desk. They may be offering discounted prices, onboard spending money and lower deposits to secure your booking there and then. If you do rebook onboard, but feel discounts and onboard credit still isn’t enough, once you get home, why not check a few prices offered by travel agents? If they can offer a further discount, you may be able to get the booking transferred to them. The best part is, you still get to keep any benefits offered to you for booking onboard whilst taking advantage of the lower price.

5. Cruise Only

It is becoming increasingly popular to tailor make your own cruise holiday, this not only gives you the luxury of flexibility with your travel plans, but can be a more cost effective way to holiday. It may be surprising to hear that when booking your cruise package (flights, hotel stays and transfers) with the cruise line, the flight can cost more than the cruise itself!

The idea is to get “cruise only”. This means you are just taking the cruise from the cruise line and will find alternative flights and hotels elsewhere. Your travel agent can then search around for you to find a suitable flight, transfer and hotel stay as required. This can save you a whole lot of money, and allow you to choose your preferred flight and hotel, too.

It isn’t always advisable to do this, particularly if it is your first cruise, or if you are going to a destination that you are unsure of, but for many popular cruise ports including Miami, New York, Barcelona and even Vancouver it is very easy to do yourself.

Importantly, by booking the flight through your travel agent, you will still be covered by their ATOL license which protects your travel plans, (something to check before booking) and, furthermore, they will be knowledgeable about transfer times and can book a flight that will get you to your destination in good time for your cruise.

6. Shore Excursions

My final tip is to do some research on the ports you will be visiting before you go. Yes, I’m afraid it involves a little work on your part, but its well worth doing.

It is easy to play it safe and go along with the sometimes pricy excursions offered by the cruise lines, and in many cases, an arranged excursion is a great, safe way to see places. However, often the destination is at the port, so you can explore yourself, or you may find it cheaper to hop in a taxi and head to places you really want to see and not the places the cruise lines want to take you. Also, be aware that if you pay for arranged excursions before you go, and they are cancelled, due to weather or a change in port of call on the itinerary, you may not be refunded.

Well there it is, enough inside information to make any travel agent squirm… So go out there, do a little work, and make sure you get the very best deal on your next cruise.

Christmas cruises are an easy way to host a full family vacation without losing the spirit of the holidays. Most holiday cruises offer decorations, holiday-centric events and meals that allow you to focus on your family and not the strain of hosting guests, cooking dinner and planning activities.

To learn about the basics of holiday cruise vacations, keep reading for great tips on how to book a Christmas cruise and save money.

Book Early

As Christmas cruising grows in popularity, cruise lines are adding more ships, but they can’t always keep up with the demand, so book early. If you’re planning to cruise with a large entourage like a full, extended family, you may need to book as early as six months to a year in advance.

By booking early you’ll get greater cabin selection and possible early-bird discounts that can save you money.

Look For Kid-Friendly Options

If you’re traveling with children this Christmas, look for a sailing that’s geared toward families with kids. These boats will not only be fully decorated for the Christmas season, but they’ll most likely have a Santa on board along with kid-friendly, Christmas activities.

If you’re traveling with teenagers or older children, a Disney cruise may not be for you. Look for a cruise option that hosts activities that appeal to all age groups. Today, cruise ships offer everything from on-board surfing to rock climbing. If you’re curious about what the ship specifically offers for the holidays, don’t hesitate to call the cruise line directly to ask.

Arrive One Day Early

Depending from where your ship departs, you may need to fly or drive to your port of departure. If you’re traveling with a family or a large group or if you’re all rendezvousing in your departure port city, arrive a day early. December can be a stormy month with storm delays and highway traffic, so don’t get left behind this Christmas.

Have a Point Person

If you’re booking as an extended family, make sure you have one very patient point person in charge of all the details from collecting money to distributing itineraries. Having one responsible family member be in charge of the details keeps all the information in one place and creates less confusion.

Stick to Small Presents

Cruise ships are big, but the cabins are small. Either opt for one small present each or open your presents before or after you depart.

Finally, have fun.

Cruise ship travel is a great vacation option for senior citizens of all ability levels. Safe and secure, cruise ships are able to offer a wide variety of activities, budget-conscious options, on-board medical facilities and a contained environment that’s ideal for many seniors.

Keep reading to learn about senior-specific cruise options, how to get the most out of a cruise when you’re a senior and some tips for traveling that are just for seniors.

Senior-Specific Options

Most cruise lines offer either cruises with age limit restrictions or actual senior-specific cruises.

Age limit cruises will typically restrict boarding to either unmarried individuals over the age of 25 or married individuals over 21. Meanwhile, senior specific cruises are targeted directly toward seniors or travelers 55 years of age and over.

Senior-specific cruises are more likely to offer a wide range of activities including low-impact shore excursions like bird-watching or town tours or more active distractions like on-board golf, tennis or sea-kayaking.

Active Senior Cruises

For a more active vacation, look for a ship that’s geared toward an active lifestyle, but also includes an age-restricted sailing. You’ll get the benefits of access to amenities like rock-climbing walls and full gym facilities without having to wait in line with teenagers.

Always Ask for the Senior’s Discounts

The majority of cruise lines will offer a senior’s discount for its older passengers, saving you anywhere from 10-50%. That said, always check the senior’s rate against the best advertised regular rate to see if you’re really saving.

Many cruise lines will also offer a discounted rate for veterans and their families or spouses. If you or your spouse served, don’t hesitate to ask about a veterans’ specific discount. Remember, you may be required to show proof of your veteran status before booking or boarding.

Prepare for Your Medical Requirements

Purchase an extensive travel health insurance plan that is specifically targeted toward cruise travel. You want a plan that can deal with the legal intricacies of international waters and on and off-board emergencies.

Remember to pack all of your medications, along with spares in case some are lost or an emergency arises. Also, always leave a full itinerary and contact information with a close friend or family member. Finally, almost all cruise ships have an on-board health clinic with either a doctor or an attending nurse or health professional. If you’re concerned, opt for a ship with more extensive health care facilities.