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Archive for the ‘Cruises’ Category

Caribbean cruises are always a popular part of the cruise culture.  This part of the world provides lots of opportunities to have a superb holiday, and what better way to get there than to take a cruise?

The great thing is that you can enjoy all the on board facilities on Caribbean cruises before you even get to the Caribbean itself.  And when you do arrive you will see your destination in the distance and you can watch from a vantage point on deck as you finally reach those wonderful islands.

There are some spectacular places to visit as well, which is one reason why Caribbean cruises are much sought after by many holidaymakers.  You could opt for the Bahamas in the eastern part of the Caribbean or try Jamaica in the western part.  Either way there are lots of other destinations and ports you may well end up calling into as well.

There is a certain degree of luxury about the Caribbean as well, which fits nicely with the whole culture surrounding cruises.  If you have never been on a cruise before you could do no better than to choose the Caribbean as your destination.  It gives you the opportunity to explore more than one island in the region, which is another distinct advantage of this type of holiday.

A seven day cruise in this region is the ideal choice for many people, although you can have a longer cruise if you wish.

Some people like the thrill of finding last minute holidays to go on.  Even if it means they have just a day or two to prepare for a trip, they love nothing better than finding a superb deal to take advantage of.

If cruises are your thing you will be pleased to know you can find last minute cruises quite easily with Virgin Holidays Cruises.  Unlike some other providers Virgin has a dedicated section on their website that caters just for those last minute cruises.  The prices to be found here can represent significant discounts on the usual prices as well.

The lowest price is currently listed as £449, so you can see that this could be the best way to get a good value cruise if you are prepared to go with little notice in advance.  You just need to ensure you have your passport and all the other essentials you will need before you book anything.  The last thing you want is to have to cancel your holiday because you aren’t as prepared as you thought you were.

The site has a good search facility as well so it will bring up the latest cruise deals for the part of the world you would most like to visit.  Be aware that if you want to take advantage of last minute cruises it can pay to be more flexible about where you would like to go. 

Whether you are on a cruise or simply taking a ferry from one of the ports across the water, Bari is an international port city of major significance, with a history that dates back to B.C. times when it was the most important Roman port in the empire. As the capital of the Apulia region of Italy, this is a major commercial centre and second in importance only to Naples; it is an entry and exit point for international travellers who prefer aquatic transportation to land-based modes of travel. Bari’s port is continuously busy, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

One of the beauties of Bari is the simple fact that the oldest sections of the city still retain the medieval layout, including some significant Roman and pre-Roman buildings and sites that allow the intrepid adventurer a chance to step back in time. Regardless of whether you are visiting Bari as a port of call on a cruise of the Adriatic, or staying here in one of the many villas or apartments for an extended holiday, there is plenty to explore in the old sections of the city.

But Bari is not just about the history. The modern sections of the city have continued to increase their technological advancements in the 21st century, and there are plenty of bars and restaurants offering food and spirits from after nightfall until daybreak. And if you are a connoisseur of wine and seafood there is no better place to be than Bari, with Primitivo being a local favourite, poured alongside fresh sea urchins and mussels as a local delicacy.

Royal Caribbean cruises offer cruising experiences in some of the world’s most exotic locations in Europe, Asia and South America. From Beijing and Venice to Rio de Janeiro you’ll be enthralled at the experiences on offer, and be well looked after during your cruise by a dedicated staff.

Cruise holidays have a great deal to offer over more traditional holidays, unless you’re a masochist and enjoy all the delays, hassle and screaming, bored kids that can combine to make a holiday from hell.

The kids have ample entertainment, with a range of cinemas and discos, computer gaming halls and other things to keep them fully occupied whilst you take a much-needed break and maybe put some magic back into a relationship.

For couples and singles both there are plenty of things to do, and in fact many singles join cruises looking for the perfect partner, so as well as family entertainment there’s plenty of romance in the air too.

Royal Caribbean cruises will anchor overnight at various exotic ports, and you can come and go as you please to explore some of the world’s great cities. Or just stay on board and enjoy the exquisite cuisine and array of entertainments available on all modern cruise liners.

Cruise holidays beat motoring holidays or travelling by plane hands down, and you’ll find that your break is a lot longer when you’re able to eliminate all the time-wasting and frustration that often accompanies a more traditional getaway.

Cruise holidays are the natural choice if you’re serious about relaxing.

One of the most important aspects of any cruise is the ship you will be staying on.  No matter where you are heading to in the world, you will want to be sure your accommodation and facilities are top notch on your chosen cruise ship.

Princess Cruises has a wide range of cruise ships known as the Princess fleet.  There are fourteen in all with three smaller ships available as well, depending on where you want to go on your cruise. One thing they all have in common is style and class. Take the Ruby Princess for example; this ship offers private balconies in nearly nine hundred of the staterooms on board. You can even get married in the onboard chapel!

The Caribbean Princess is the ship to choose if you want a suite all to yourself.  There are also plenty of venues to select when you want to have a bite to eat, and with a casino on board too you are in for an entertaining night. You can also enjoy a theatre show and there are swimming pools on board to take a refreshing dip in.

Each ship in the Princess Cruises fleet has its own array of features and facilities to look forward to. So whichever cruise you book yourself onto you will find the ship you are travelling on will have everything you could possibly need to enjoy a relaxing and luxurious cruise.

P&O Cruises is Britain’s largest and most modern cruise line. The company has a long history, first inventing modern cruises in 1837. P&O Cruises sail to more than 180 different destinations in 72 countries.

P&O offers cruises throughout the year, departing from Southampton for European and Mediterranean cruises. Overnight stays are available at the De Vere Grand Harbour Hotel, with free transfer to the port. Travellers can fly from most UK airports for cruises to North America and other fly cruises. As well as Red Sea cruises, Caribbean cruises, Far East cruises and Baltic cruises (and Fjords), destinations include Africa, Alaska, Australasia, Asia, the Black Sea, Canada, the Canary Islands and Azores, Dubai, the Indian Ocean, the Middle East, North America, Pacific Islands, the Panama Canal, South America and Europe.

P&O Cruises offers travellers a traditional and relaxed style, with plenty of opportunity to dress up for evening entertainment. Their six modern cruise ships have elegant interiors and acres of deck on which to sunbathe, each one offering something slightly different. The P&O Aurora and Oriana offer a more traditional style of holiday cruise, whilst the Arcadia and Oceana are more contemporary. Some of the cruises are adults only, whilst others are aimed at families, with the emphasis on fun and activities.

On-board entertainment includes comedy, cabaret, quizzes, music and themed nights. Passengers can relax in one of the bars with a drink, or sit on deck under the stars.

P&O has always had a reputation for its quality of dining and high standards of service. Traditionally the menus were mainly British, but with the introduction of menus by Gary Rhodes and Marco Pierre White, the dining experience has become more modern and varied.

P&O cruises are popular with first-time cruisers, and they also offer good itineraries and facilities for families. Cruise weddings with P&O Cruises have become increasingly popular.

The Far East is one of the most fascinating cruise destinations. Steeped in customs and tradition, the Far East mixes the old with the new in perfect harmony. Gleaming high-tech skyscrapers give way to serene collages of paddy fields. The ultra-modern cities bustle with activity, where everyone seems to be on the move – working, eating, buying or selling. In contrast, life in the picturesque rural villages seems hardly to have changed for centuries.

Far East cruises take in the fast-growing cities of Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Manila and Kuala Lumpur, as well as the fast-emerging countries such as Vietnam. Exploring these cities, the visitor’s senses are bombarded with sounds, smells and sights. Bicycles, tuk tuks and rickshaws speed past on the street, bright neon signs create a display of vivid colour, and colourful and vibrant festivals create an air of energy and mystery. The architecture is stunning and innovative, ranging from the latest high-tech soaring skyscrapers to the more traditional and beautifully craved temples.

As frenetic as life can be in the cities, there are quiet oases. Travel the klongs (canals) of Bangkok for views of the extraordinarily ornate temples, and visit the floating markets. Many cruise stops also offer picturesque beaches and stunning clear blue waters.

Bali is a top destination for Fast East cruises, most of which include a visit to the inspiring temple of Tanah Lot, which sits on a rocky outcrop, surrounded by the sea. Beijing is another top destination, where a visit to the Great Wall of China, Tiananmen Square, and the circular blue-tiled shrines of the Temple of Heaven is not to be missed. Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia offer beautiful beaches, lively markets, delicious foods and serene temples.

Far East cruises are offered by many cruise lines, including Costa Cruises, Princess Cruises, P&O Cruises and Carnival Cruises.

Cruise and stay deals give you the chance to enjoy all the delights of a cruise, while still allowing you to get off and enjoy a few days on land as well.  Various companies can offer you cruise and stay experiences, but you should do some research first to find out which companies offer the best cruises for your needs.

Some providers have specific areas on their website that enable you to search for a cruise and stay holiday deal quickly and easily.  A good example comes from the Thomson website. This has a specific tab under their cruises heading which outlines their cruise and stay holidays.  When you reach the page you can view a few sentences describing what each kind of holiday is all about, allowing you to select one which best fits your needs or travelling group

With other companies you may need to do a bit more research to find what you need. For instance the P&O Cruises website has a comprehensive search feature where you can check if they have any cruise and stay deals you would enjoy.

You should also consider whether you want to take the cruise first and then stay for a week or more on land, or do it the other way around.  Depending on the cruise and the company you book it with, you may not have a choice. This is why you should always check out all the available options before deciding on the right cruise and stay deal for you.

Booking a cruise with Costa Cruises couldn’t be easier – except for the fact that you have so many to choose from. They have fifteen cruise ships in total, and with names like Pacifica, Atlantica and Allegra you can see that even the names are exciting.

But what about the cruises themselves; what parts of the globe can you travel to on a cruise from this particular company?

The interactive map on their website show there are countless parts of the world you can head to. For instance you could visit the Mediterranean, head for the Far East or take a transatlantic cruise. Wherever you wish to travel, you are sure to find something that will suit you.

Costa Cruises can also be booked with various excursions that will take you off the ship for a while. This feature enables you to put together the ideal cruise for your needs, no matter which part of the world you are going to. Their website has a search facility which enables you to look for suitable excursions that you can pre-book.

Some cruises will have multiple destinations available. For example you can board the Middle Eastern Odyssey and start your journey in Italy; from there you will cruise to Egypt and see Yemen and Oban, before finally ending up in the United Arab Emirates.

This is just one example of course.  Costa Cruises are available for all areas of the world – it’s up to you where you want to go next.

Most Western Europeans continue to rate the Med as the holiday region of choice. Its enormous diversity, natural beauty and historic cultural heritage draw holidaymakers from across the world, in fact. But if you’d like to experience more of it than a traditional resort holiday could permit, you really ought to consider one of the many superb Mediterranean cruises on offer from leading companies like Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Thomson Cruises and P&O Cruises. With cruise holidays, not only will you see much more of the region than you could imagine in a conventional holiday, you’ll find cruise deals galore from these companies, too.

Whether you chose the Balearic Islands, sauntering gently across the sea from Palma to Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca with their delightful coves and luminous turquoise seas, or the French Mediterranean, gliding majestically from Cannes to Monte Carlo to Nice and St Tropez, you’ll experience gorgeous swathes of Mediterranean life and stunning vistas you’ll never forget.

The prices are exceptionally affordable, especially for those who wait for last minute cruises; and the experience will be both luxurious and invigorating. Many of the bigger vessels in these companies’ fleets have spectacular onboard facilities like surf simulators and rock climbing walls, to keep the more adventurous holidaymaker occupied between ports, in addition to the standard swimming pools, restaurants and evening entertainment. Why not check out the world of cruise holidays this year with a tour of the Spanish, French, Italian, Corsican or Greek shores. After cruises, holiday-making will never be the same again.