Cruise Lines – All You Need To Know
Cruise Lines – All You Need To Know
Who are the people whom you refer to when you plan a pleasure trip with your loves ones on the ship? Whom do you contact to know and compare the prices of various voyage packages? Who are the people whom you contact when you need to make sure that your safety is ensured? Well the answer to all these questions is “cruise lines”!
CRUISE LINEWHO?
A corporation or an organization which operates cruise ships is popularly known as cruise line. They serve two purposes namely transportation and leisure pleasure trips. Apart from the headquartered employees and the administrative officers the cruise line personnel also includes the captain of the ship the cruise crew hospitality staff members and a hotel manager or his equivalent.
Many cruise lines that are operating currently operating are straight from the family of conventional passenger shipping lines. The others originate from the original cruising organizations which were established early in the days of 1960s.
WELLLIKED AND FASHIONABLE CRUISE LINES:
Presently there are 52 major cruise lines that are operating in many parts of the world like Europe United States and Asia among others. And invariably most of the headquarters of all these cruise lines are located in Europe and the United States. So here is the list of the most popular and well known cruise lines:
1. Birka line:
The starting point of this cruise line is Stockholm and its cruise activities mainly take place in and around the Baltic Sea. It is an Albanian cruiser ship and it mainly focuses on cruising activities. It was created post the acquirement of this ship named M/S Princessan was later rechristened as Prinsessan. The first cruise of this ship was between Stockholm and Mariehamn.
In the year 1972 this ship took over the M/S Olav after which it was renamed Baronessan. Many other ships were acquired with the passage of time and passenger ferries and cars have also been introduced in the Stockholm to Helsinki route. One other addition was the M/S Drottningen a train ferry which provides service from Stockholm to Helsinki via the Leningrad route.
2. Carnival cruise line:
The carnival cruise line is one of the ancillaries of the carnival co. which is the largest cruise corporation in the world. They used to be the leader of shorter and cheaper cruises. They have also been the producers of large ships such as the Carnival Destiny which is the greatest passenger ship weighing 101000 tons.
In the first quarter of April of 2006 the company has successfully incorporated two more cruise ships to their already existing fleet. The new ships have been named Carnival Freedom which would be unveiled in the year 2007 and the other one is carnival Splendor which would be getting a spring 2008 launch.
3. Crystal cruise lines:
The crystal cruise line made its debut in the year 1988 with three highend medium sized ships. It is more popularly referred to as Crystal Cruises. The Japanese Shipping giant Nippon Yusen Kaisha owns it. These ships have been placed as one of the best cruises almost every year by the Conde Nast Traveler magazine. They have also been placed in the top twenty in almost all guidebooks.
4. Disney cruise line:
It is held by the world renowned Walt Disney company and has its headquarters in Celebration Florida. Two ships are operated under this line namely the Disney wonder and the Disney magic together with Castaway Cay an island designed as a special port for all of Disneys ships in the Bahamas.
There variation between the two ships lies in the entertainment sections and the restaurants. They have different areas designed as per the likings and preferences of different age groups right from toddlers to children to teenagers to adults.
5. Norwegian cruise lines:
This company has its base in Florida Miami to be precise and was initially known to be the Norwegian Caribbean Lines when it was formed in 1966. It started off by providing voyages in the Caribbean region at lower costs.
The acquirement of the France cruise ship in the year 1979 which was later renamed and rebuilt as the Norway laid the foundation stone for the beginning of the era of huge cruise ships that are available today..
There are a variety of other cruises which would suit every other pocket and would make their voyage one of the great memories in their life.
About the writer: Abhishek is an avid Globetrotter and he has got some great Budget Cruising Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 80 Pages Ebook “How To Have An Unforgettable Cruise Vacation!” from his website http://www.BoatingGuru.com/153/index.htm . Only limited Free Copies available.
Cruise Line Loyalty
Cruise Line Loyalty
To keep their customers coming back the majority of cruise lines now offer some kind of customer loyalty scheme. These vary from each cruise operator and can include future booking discounts invites to VIP parties and onboard privileges such as priority embarkation. But is this enough to keep your loyalty? Or are you really looking for cabin upgrades and onboard credit?
Here is a summary of each cruise lines membership club and benefits to tempt you to come back time and time again…
Royal Caribbean International Crown and Anchor Society
Membership to the Crown and Anchor Society is automatically granted after your first sailing. The club offers discounts and benefits according to the number of cruise credits obtained. These are calculated by the number of days at sea and the cabin grade you sail in. As their sister company you will also receive equivalent recognition in Celebrities membership club. There are 4 tiers within the club escalating from gold to platinum diamond and diamond plus. As a gold member you can expect onboard bonuses such as complimentary wine tasting and a small commemorative gift as well as online booking discounts. As your membership level increases you can look forward to priorities over other customers with check in and waitlisted services such as spa treatments or shore excursions.
Celebrity Cruises Captains Club
Celebritys 3 tier Captains Club offers a slightly more generous loyalty scheme which involves a one category upgrade at the most basic membership level which is also applicable when booking your cruise through a travel agent.
The tiers range from Classic Select and Elite and loyal customers can expect invitations to onboard parties behind the scenes tours and at the highest level guests can take advantage complimentary use of the Thalassotherapy Pool where available and also a private departure lounge.
Norwegian Cruise Lines Latitudes Program
As a past guest NCL do offer some pretty good reductions when rebooking with them aside from this many of the benefits of their club which ranges from bronze silver gold and platinum levels are nothing to get too excited about! Whilst they offer the standard past guest party plus priorities over other guests with check in disembarkation and reservation only restaurants having completed 14 cruises and earned your platinum status all you really get is complimentary dining inthe “Le Bistro” restaurant which would usually incur an additional charge. Oh and you get a latitudes ship pin
Princess Cruises Captains Circle
The Captains Circle club features gold platinum and elite levels of membership with all levels receiving preferential pricing offers on selected itineraries throughout the year. Further standard membership benefits include exclusive events no doubt that will be another captains party then and also a Princess Passport a scheme whereby guests receive stamps depicting the cruise destination which are then signed by the captain and displayed in a Princess Passport.
As membership increases to platinum status guests are entitled to priority boarding free internet minutes and upgraded travel insurance. If the basic level is purchased Guests that reach their 16th cruise or their 150th cruise day with Princess will be members of the elite club where extras such as a complimentary mini bar upgraded bathroom amenities and a 10 discount in certain onboard shops will be applicable.
Costa Cruises Costa Club
Loyal customers will be pleased to hear that Costa offer one of the most rewarding loyalty schemes at sea. Whether you are a basic aquamarine member coral member or their highest pearl member you can receive a 5 discount on any of their cruises. In addition guests at aquamarine level will receive a generous 20 discount on wine packages mini bar drinks and laundry service 10 off Costa merchandise and a cocktail with the captain complete with a souvenir photo.
Membership to the club is achieved through earning points; these are accumulated through cruise days with Costa as well as onboard spending. At higher levels of membership guests will qualify for priority boarding and disembarkation a complimentary meal in the a la carte restaurant a bottle of wine and welcome gift.
PO Cruises Portunus Club
Membership to the Portunus club is automatic after completing your very first sailing with PO Cruises. Throughout the year there will be selected Portunus sailings which give members reductions on standard cruise prices.
At a basic level ruby members are entitled to a 5 discount on onboard spend this increases to 7.5 when you reach sapphire level of membership and gold members can take off an extra 10. At the highest level gold members will also get a dedicated check in service and priority disembarkation.
Members of the Portunus club can also gain points from sailing on Ocean Village Princess Cruises or Swan Hellenic.
Cunard World Club
World Club has 4 levels of membership; silver gold platinum and diamond. Automatic membership is granted after your first sailing with Cunard. After this members are entitled to a 5 discount of further sailings.
Further benefits for guests who have completed 20 days onboard include; a souvenir gold membership Cunarder pin complimentary internet minutes and cocktail party invitation. As guests reach platinum level they can expect in addition to lower level benefits a 20 discount on dry cleaning and laundry service 10 off White Star Luggage Delivery service additional internet minutes and a platinum member Cunarder pin. Diamond members will also receive priority luggage delivery.
MSC Cruises MSC Club
MSCs loyalty club consists of 3 tiers; classic silver and gold. Membership is awarded by a points system which accumulates with the number of cruise days taken with MSC.
At each level members will receive a welcome cocktail a 5 discount on excursions and 5 discount in onboard boutiques. As a classic member you are entitled to a 5 discount on most cruises silver members will receive 8 and gold can take off an additional 10 off their cruise cost.
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines Oceans
Each night spent onboard a Fred Olsen cruise will earn you 1 point. Once you reach 30 points you will qualify for their first level of membership. At this blue level guests will receive 5 off both onboard spending and shore excursions booked prior to departure. As you reach 31 points you enter the silver level where members will receive a 2 cruise discount Oceans cocktail party and usually priority embarkation. Once you have exceeded 100 days onboard a Fred Olsen cruise you will be rewarded with a 4 cruise cost discount personalized luggage labels a welcome aboard gift plus a complimentary shuttle bus pass.
Carnival Concierge Club
After your 10th cruise with Carnival you will enter their membership club at the platinum level then those members who complete their 25th 50th and 75th sailings will receive a shipboard credit representing 25 50 or 75 of their cruise fare. Those who reach an impressive 100th sailing will earn a complimentary cruise of up to 8 days.
In addition all platinum members are eligible for priority check in disembarkation and dining waitlists.
So are the cruise lines really doing enough to keep you coming back? Priority check in early disembarkation and a captains party invite is certainly better than nothing but as a loyal customer would this sway you to rebook with them? Or do you feel that the cruise experience they offer is enough to keep you loyal?
If you have any views on customer loyalty schemes or any ideas on how the cruise lines could improve on them get in touch. Id be interested to hear your opinions.
About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Genna Roberts is web editor at Inside Cruise an online cruise community packed with all the latest cruise news reviews and features.
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Cruise Holidays In Europe And The Mediterranean
Cruise Holidays In Europe And The Mediterranean
One of the many advantages of a cruise is that everything is organised for the tourist if the person wants it to be so. They can also choose how long they want to be away for whether it is a mini cruise a seven day cruise or even longer. Reserve an European cruise in North or South Europe sail to the famous Mediterranean with yachts mouthwatering food mountains lovely historical buildings perfect beaches and friendly folk.
The Baltic Sea area
Starting in Northern Europe do not miss the Medieval Baroque architecture of Norway and Finland and also its dramatic scenery and rich history. Visit St Petersburg Russia s most beautiful city and a most in any tourists itinerary. Enjoy the wild night life of Hamburg or Copenhagen in Germany and Denmark respectively. Explore one of the richest areas in the world and take advantage of the cruises facilities.
Europe
Departing from Southern England visit the Atlantic ports of France and Spain experience the world famous fine cuisine and wine culture! Cruises sail through the Bay of Biscay and the Straits of Gibraltar where tourist can also enjoy the most beautiful ports of Portugal and Southern Spain. Finally some cruises also visit the well renowned Spanish islands including Mayorca and Ibiza.
The Mediterranean
Visit historic places romantic cities and beautiful islands in the Mediterranean but also enjoy the top quality resorts and sandy beaches. The Mediterranean has been divided into three main areas as follows: Western Mediterranean cruises include the French Riviera la Costa Brava and volcanic Sicily. Southern Mediterranean sails through Northern Africa including the most important ports in Egypt and Morocco. Eastern Mediterranean cruises travels along the Aegean Sea covering most of the Greek Islands Turkey and Italy; expect to find amazing ruins from the ancient Greeks Romans and Egyptians
About the writer: Ocean Cruise organise very convenient cruise holidays in Europe and the Mediterranean.
Cruise Holidays As Incentive For Employee
Cruise Holidays As Incentive For Employee
There are 2 main reasons for an employee incentive program. You would want to reward your good performers. You would also want to motivate the whole team and to prevent premature burnout. According to studies all workers will hit a plateau in their work performance occasionally. When productivity drops it is time to intervene and perk up the team. A cruise holiday is one of the best ways to reward your staff. It is also becoming very popular as a mean for teambuilding and for a management retreat.
Many of the major cruise lines offer customized corporate programs. The good thing about cruises is that your employees will be able to relax and rejuvenate themselves. Studies also show that relaxed and happy employees are more productive. What could be more relaxing than a cruise holiday? The combination of the sun sand and the sea would do wonders for anybody.
There are many international cruise packages to choose from. There are cruise packages ranging between 3 4 5 and 7 nights in length. Depending on the itinerary your employees can visit the exciting Caribbean seas or the exotic Southeast Asia countries or even the wild and untamed Alaska.
Your employees will appreciate the fine dining fivestar service and the many activities onboard. You will appreciate the price tags because cruise holidays are getting cheaper with many cruise lines offering special deals.
For the young and adventurous there is the chance to swim among sea creatures in some of the best diving and snorkeling spots in the world. For those who love history there are many routes to historic sites.
For the singles and unattached you may want to organize a special singles cruise. Romance come easy while you are having fun amidst romantic locations. The cruise lines also have special singles cruises where they organize fun activities to allow singles to meet. If your employees do not meet somebody special at least they will have a great time and be appreciative to you for that.
You may also want to give something special for your employee’s family as well. The married employees will really be appreciative of this. Many cruise lines cater for young families with children. There are wellrun programs and activities for children. Many will provide chaperon so that the parents can enjoy their own time.
How About a Free Honeymoon?
Now wouldn’t your employee love you for that? Imagine being newlywed and given a free honeymoon by your boss. Imagine being free to spend time with your spouse in a romantic atmosphere and to explore exciting places. That would be the ultimate employee incentive.
What Your Employee Look Forward to?
There are plenty of things to do during a cruise. While the ship is underway there are many entertainment and activities onboard. One can play volleyball or tennis learn rock climbing or join in the aerobics and yoga classes. At night the ship usually comes alive with live shows and performance and one can party all the way till sun up. Most ships have casino onboard. Besides the activities onboard the port calls and stopovers offer opportunities to dive snorkel hike or even for helicopter tours depending on the locations. Now all these would look really impressive on your company’s incentive program fact sheet.
About the writer: Cindy Heller is a professional writer. To learn more about princess caribbean cruises please visit caribbean cruise vacation.
Cruise Holidays And Its Planning!
Cruise Holidays And Its Planning!
If you are searching for a cruises holiday than you have visited the accurate website because Cruiseholidayplanning.com gives information about various cruises. Cruise Holidays is the oldest and largest chain of cruise specialty stores in North America. We’ll personally guide you through the vast array of cruise possibilities offering knowledge and expertise into creating your perfect cruise experience. In addition you will get more facts related to Alaska cruise holiday Caribbean cruise holiday Christmas cruise holiday luxury cruise holiday discount cruise holiday Europe holiday planning Egypt cruise holiday etc only at Cruiseholidayplanning.com
Carnival cruise holiday gives information about holidays which are spending in carnival. A four or sevennight cruise onboard one of Carnival’s ‘Floating Resorts’ combined with a stay in Florida or the Caribbean is the ideal ten or fourteennight ‘Cruise amp; Stay’ holiday that appeals to everyone. Cruise holiday Nile spend in Nile at Egypt. This cruise holiday Nile is a eight days cruise. Nile cruise with visits to the main sights of Egypt. The most enjoyable attraction is to float serenely down the river Nile. There can be no better way to discover the riches of Egypt than to take a Nile Cruise. You will also get cheap cruises holiday facilities. Cheap cruise holiday means not only low cost cruises but also they offer several holiday packages. Cheap cruise holidays are highly economical and advantageous also. Cheap cruise holiday gives information about the great place to get you those amazing discount cruises. It gives information about delightful cruise ship bargain where you can visit different parts of two of the most beautiful regions of the world; at a price that you may find hard to believe. Alaska cruises holiday operating from beautiful Vancouver to the last frontier Alaska. Alaska cruise holiday bring information for travelers close to the Alaska coastline for wildlife viewing and uncrowded visits to unique Alaska port towns all while providing intimate personalized service. Caribbean is the world’s busiest and most popular cruise area. There are an increasing number of tourists from the centrally located Puerto Rico the US Virgin Islands Barbados and Jamaica. Most exciting vacation for Christmas would be a Christmas cruise holiday. Best Cruises have Christmas Cruises departing from various different ports throughout the world. These Christmas cruise are available in varied ranges as they are available in exclusive Christmas vacation packages that are in accordance with your budget. Luxury Cruise holiday are floating luxury resorts you have unlimited options of entertainment recreation and the comfort of seeing far flung destinations without the fatigue of traveling. Luxury Cruise vacations is best option for both honeymoon and family vacations. Discount cruise holiday gives information about the great place to get you those amazing discount cruises. It gives information about delightful cruise ship bargain where you can visit different parts of two of the most beautiful regions of the world at a price that you may find hard to believe. Europe is not a place it is a destination. From Spain to Poland or Greece to Ireland Europe is as vast as it is diverse. Explore the architecture and food in Rome or the history of Athens. Egypt has a mystical and timeless appeal that has been attracting travelers for centuries. Ancient civilizations have left their impression on the landscape creating what today must rank as one of the most spectacular sightseeing destinations in the world. All this and many more information related to Cruises holiday only on Cruiseholidayplanning.com
So go and start searching for what ever information required. If you require any additional informations which is not mentioned above than please visit our Cruises holiday directory
About the writer: cruiseholidayplanning.com provides Cruise Vacations Guide and the following resources for enhance your knowledge. We provide Cruises Cruises Holiday Planning Holiday Planning Travels and Vacations resources. Provide destination specific information including Travel Guide visa and other information for cruise vacation International destinations around the world.
Cruise From The UK Its Not All Down South
Cruise From The UK Its Not All Down South
Dover Southampton and Harwich seem to be the most favoured UK departure ports for cruise lines. But what about you poor folks who dont live anywhere near these ports? Having to fly drive or take the coach or train to get there can easily add on an extra day to your holiday and not everyone has the time. To help you out Ive trawled the internet to find alternative UK ports of departure for 2008. The majority are round trips with the occasional disembarking at another UK port or flying back to the UK all of which are noted. So take a look. You might be surprised at where you can go.
Liverpool
You have quite a choice if you live near Liverpool thanks to Fred Olsen. You can get a Taste of Portugal or Iberia have a Canary Christmas discover the Secrets of Norway spend Easter in the Med try out Castanets Calvados Portugal Spain and France or have an Adriatic Adventure. All on a round trip from Liverpool. Other Fred Olsen cruises from the home of the Beatles are:
Black Prince The Orinoco Delta Liverpool to Liverpool
Black Prince Canaries Interlude Liverpool to Liverpool
Black Prince Mini Cruise Liverpool to Greenock
Black Prince A British Summer Liverpool to Liverpool
Black Prince Celtic Late Summer Liverpool to Liverpool
Black Prince Canaries Collection Liverpool to Liverpool
Black Prince Eastern Mediterranean Cruise Liverpool to Liverpool
Black Prince The Fortunate Islands Liverpool to Liverpool
Black Prince Pre Christmas Escapade Liverpool to Liverpool
Thomson also offers two roundtrip cruises from Liverpool. You can either get a Taste of Ireland or explore Idyllic Iberia aboard Thomson Celebration.
London
Okay London might not be that far from Southampton or Dover but do you really want to be lugging your luggage across London on the tube paying a fortune for a taxi to get you to a mainline station or getting stuck in traffic trying to get out of London? Fortunately Silversea offers five cruises departing from Tower Bridge although with four of them you fly back to the UK. You can choose to cruise to Stockholm Copenhagen Lisbon or Montecarlo and fly back or go on a trip around the UK ending up back at Tower Bridge.
Yachts of Seabourn also offer a cruise starting from Tower Bridge that takes you to the Grand Harbours of Europe before you fly back from Copenhagen.
Alternatively Transocean have several cruises departing from Tilbury aboard Marco Polo. Explore the majestic fjords in Norway discover the British Isles admire some Icelandic Wonders Northern Isles or enjoy some sunshine in the West Indies. All beginning and ending in Tilbury. Other Transocean cruises from here are:
Marco Polo Springtime Fjordland x 4 Tilbury to Tilbury
Marco Polo Whitsun Fjords Tilbury to Tilbury
Marco Polo The North Cape Explorer Tilbury to Tilbury
Marco Polo Baltic Cities St Petersburg Tilbury to Tilbury
Marco Polo Celtic Explorer Tilbury to Tilbury
Edinburgh
Its quite a journey from Scotland to get to the more popular UK cruise ports but fear not! Classic International Cruises and Fred Olsen both offer four cruises from Leith. Cruise to St Petersburg via the Baltic Cities on Classic International Cruises ship Athena on a round trip from Leith. Alternatively pretend youre an arctic explorer as you head to the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen that lies within the Arctic Circle on Fred Olsens Boudicca also a round trip from Leith. Polarstar Expeditions also offer a cruise to Spitsbergen from Leith but you do fly back to the UK.
Other cruises from Leith are:
Classic International Cruises Athena Norwegian Fjords Leith to Leith
Classic International Cruises Athena Iceland and Northern Isles Leith to Leith
Classic International Cruises Athena North Cape and the Midnight Sun Leith to Leith
Fred Olsen Boudicca UK Mini Cruise Leith to Newcastle
Fred Olsen Boudicca Baltic Cruise Leith to Leith
Fred Olsen Boudicca Summertime in Norway Leith to Leith
Travelscope on the other hand offer a cruise to the North Cape and Land of the Midnight Sun aboard Van Gogh on a round trip from the port of Rosith.
Falmouth
If you live right down in the south west of England Falmouth is the place for you. Want to travel around the world but like me youre incapable of packing light? Well Travelscope have a 93day round the world cruise beginning and ending in Falmouth. Better be quick though it departs 4 January 2008. If you dont have the time to spare to go around the world why not enjoy some summer sunshine around Spain and Gibraltar also with Travelscope on a round trip from Falmouth. Other cruises offered by Travelscope from Falmouth next year are:
Van Gogh Caribbean Sunshine Falmouth to Falmouth
Van Gogh Iberian Costas Corsica the French Riviera Falmouth to Falmouth
Van Gogh Christmas New Year Sunshine Falmouth to Falmouth
Greenock
Glaswegians and their neighbours can depart from Greenock on several Fred Olsen cruises. Catch yourself some sunshine before the nights draw in on the 13night Mediterranean Canvas cruise beginning and ending in Greenock. Or why not discover the delights of Norway on Norwegian Explorer Greenock to Greenock? Other cruises from Greenock for 2008 all by Fred Olsen are:
Black Prince Canaries Panoramas Greenock to Greenock
Black Prince Mediterranean Medley Greenock to Greenock
Black Prince Museums Bistros Greenock to Greenock
Black Prince Norwegian Panoramas Greenock to Greenock
Black Prince Tagines Tapas Greenock to Greenock
Black Prince Greenland Adventure Greenock to Greenock
Black Prince Dublin Mini Cruise Greenock to Greenock
Hull
Dont fancy the long trek from Hull to the south coast? Travelscope offer two cruises that begin and end in Hull. You can either admire The Majestic Fjords of Norway or cruise east to St Petersburg visiting some of the Baltic Capitals along the way.
NewcastleuponTyne
Pray theres no fog on the Tyne as you board Fred Olsens Boudicca or Thomsons Celebration. With Fred Olsen you can cruise to France Spain explore the Baltic spend some Summertime in Norway or discover the land of Volcanoes Vikings.
Thomson offers cruises to Norways fjords and northern cape the lands of the Vikings and of fire and ice and the treasures of the Baltic.
All the Fred Olsen and Thomson cruises from Newcastle are round trips.
Oban
The Scottish isles are beautiful and what better way to explore them than on a cruise. It might be tempting to go abroad on holiday but theres often so much to discover in your own backyard. Hebridean Island Cruises offer a number of cruises around the Hebrides starting and ending in Oban. There are too many to list here but you can get A Taste of the Hebrides go In Search of Bright Waters discover Highland and Island Treasures or find the Secrets of the Western Isles to name but a few. The only cruise departing from Oban that doesnt finish there is Summer in Orcadia which ends in Scrabster.
Portland
If you live near Portland why not go on a cruise with a bit of a difference on the RMS St Helena operated by the St Helena Line. According to her owners this ship is the only oceangoing vessel in the world that still carries the title of Royal Mail Ship. As well as carrying passengers she also supplies goods to the island of St Helena. If you fancy something a bit different there are two cruises that depart from Portland and finish in Cape Town or you can do the trip vice versa.
Hebridean Island Cruises offers one cruise Jewels of the English Heritage which departs from Portland and travels along the south coast to Tilbury where you disembark.
Scrabster
For those who live in the far north of Scotland Hebridean Island Cruises offer three cruises departing from Scabster. If you want a round trip you can explore the Northern Isles from Orkney to Shetland. Meanwhile Home from the Far North takes you to Oban where youll end the cruise via Orkney. Song of Norway takes you surprise surprise to Norway where youll visit some of the countrys highlights before flying back from Bergen.
So you see you dont always have to travel miles before embarking on your cruise. And with the majority of cruises above being round trips you dont have to worry about weight restrictions on your luggage. Just dont forget to tip the poor soul who had to carry your kitchen sink!
About the writer: Susan Bigmore is the web editor for http://www.insidecruise.co.uk a cruise community packed full of articles and discussions as well as http://www.idealcruising.co.uk a specialist cruise travel agent.
Cruise Deals: Six Excuses For Taking A Floating Vacation
Cruise Deals: Six Excuses For Taking A Floating Vacation
Maybe you’re a seasoned traveler who has been reluctant to try a cruise vacation in the past. People who have never taken a cruise have all kinds of reasons for not trying it. Maybe all you need is the perfect excuse! If you can’t think of a good one here are six readymade excuses for booking a cruise vacation right now.
1. I’m saving the environment. Where else can you find everything you could possibly want to do see hear and eat all in one place? Take allinclusive Caribbean cruises for example. You’ll never have to get into a carbonemitting car to go to the casino to the gym to get your hair done or out for a night of dancing. When you get to your destination you’ll find sunshine sand and surf from the first moment you step off the ship.
2. I like saving money on a vacation package. Think floating vacations are expensive? Think again! There are discount cruises available to just about every destination you can imagine. You can increase your odds of finding discount cruises if you aren’t picky about destination and if you are flexible when it comes to travel dates.
3. I don’t mind showing my age. Age is beauty and sometimes age is savings too. There are many cruise deals available to seniors. So if you’re over 65 don’t hide your age use it to your advantage!
4. I enjoy mixing pleasure with pleasure. You can book a cruise vacation that combines the fun and relaxation of cruising with your favorite hobby. There are cruises for scrapbookers antiques lovers golf enthusiasts bridge and chess players and more. Imagine enjoying all of the perks that cruising offers: dancing dining swimming and gaming plus engaging in your favorite leisure activity.
5. Cultural exposure is important to me. There are ships sailing all over the world. No matter what culture tickles your fancy there’s probably a boat sailing in that direction. Are you drawn to Greece Turkey or Egypt? Book a trip on a Mediterranean cruise line. Do you prefer the tropics? Try a Hawaiian island cruise. Do you want to explore the rugged beauty of the mountains? An Alaskan vacation cruise might be just right for you. Besides diverse destinations you can even get a taste of culture right onboard ship. Sample cuisine from several countries. See shows featuring dance styles from different continents. Plus you’ll meet people from all over the world.
6. I think it’s important to see how “the other half” lives at least once in a lifetime. Where else can you go on vacation and have absolutely everything done for you? Imagine no cooking no cleaning no curfew and no demanding schedules. You do whatever you want whenever you want. You’ll never run out of things to do. Or you can do nothing at all.
Now that you have six good excuses to take a cruise it will be much harder to find an excuse NOT to!
About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Thomas DeSimone is an cruise consultant for CRUISEDEALERSHIP which can help you Save on ANY CRUISE ANY ship ANY cruise line ANY destination!Find out how booking CRUISES with us is as easy as 123. Log on at CRUISEDEALERSHIP.COM.
Cruise Deals – How To Get The Best Cruise Deal
Cruise Deals – How To Get The Best Cruise Deal Online!
If you’re planning to take a cruise you want to make sure you get the best cruise deal bargain offered. And there are many ways to save a bunch of money on your next cruise if you know what to do. It isn’t hard to learn the secrets travel agents know when you’re looking for the best cruise deal. You can save as much as 65 scouting on your own or from 1530 from the cruise line brokers and the cruise consolidators as they’re called.
There are many sites that offer clearance specials and last minute cruise deals. Then there are the possibly cheaper but much riskier last minute cruise auctions and classifieds which I won’t go into here. The last minute cruise deals are not hard to find because the cruise lines don’t want to have any empty cabins when they leave port and they make every effort to fill them.
Note that the offers you find on the cruise line sites are NOT going to be as good as those you find elsewhere or from cruise line brokers or the consolidators. So make sure you go to the other sites. Of course you can compare the prices you find with the cruise line’s site.
First of all to get the best cruise deal online you want to look for cruise sites that use the Revelex or OVS cruise reservation systems. This way you can easily compare prices on staterooms for many of the cruise ships at one time. Some of these sites have time limits on their offers so be ready but don’t buy on impulse either. Last minute deals can save you a bundle.
Once you find what you think is a bargain or a good deal you can contact your local cruise travel agent and see if they can meet it or beat it. Some of the cruise lines forbid travel agents to discount their cruises but it doesn’t mean the agents don’t know about alreadydiscounted cruises.
Once you’ve found some good travel websites sign up for their email alerts so you’ll get fast notice on last minute cruise deals package deals or clearance cruise deals or any other special offers that might be floating around out there. Sign up at several sites because you want the ones that are going to email you soon and often with the alerts and some of them may be too slow.
You can ask for a discount even on the final price for any cruise. Ask if they have a senior discount business discount student discount health professional discount or AARP discount or AAA for example. There are also resident discounts or special offers if you live in a particular state.
Make sure to visit several sites and compare don’t just settle on the first one No matter what low rate you find keep searching for a lower rate. The sites that compare several cruise lines at once will often bring up comparisons that make it easy for you to find the best rate.
You want to compare the cruise lines cruise ships and the itineraries besides the price. You’re looking for a bargain the cheapest cruise rates. Make sure to read the fine print on any site so there are no surprises later. It’s absolutely necessary.
Remember that some offers may be for the secondrate cabins. This means the cabins that are near noisy service doors or elevators or under the ballroom floor or near children’s activity areas. You don’t want to find out later that the reason your cabin was cheap was due to the location on the ship. Be aware that the last minute cruise deals or clearance cruise specials may be nonrefundable. Read the contract closely.
It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for a Carnival cruise deal Disney cruise deal. Royal Caribbean cruise deal Crystal cruise deal or any other cruise line or if you and a partner and/or your family plan to go to Mexico the Caribbean Alaska Hawaii or the Bahamas or cruise with celebrities; if you spend a little extra time learning the ropes you’ll not only save yourself a lot of money but you’ll get the best cruise deal online.
About the writer: For more info on getting the best cruise deals go to http://www.GetTheBestDealOnline.com for all types of deals electronics laptops credit HDTV airfare etc. and for tips on the best discounts hot deals low cost wholesale deals and the best deals online or offline. Online shopping tips fraud and security info.
Cruise Deals – How To Get The Best Cruise Deal
Cruise Deals – How To Get The Best Cruise Deal And Save Money Too!
Going on a cruise was once an easy thing to arrange. All you had to do was go to your travel agent and look at a few brochures. But as the industry has grown it has become an overwhelming mix of itineraries cruise packages choices addons and prices. So how do you look through and search for all the available information to find the best cruise deal? The following tips will help you find the best cruise and save you money.
1. The busiest season has always been January through March. This is when the cruise industry books the most cruises. Cruise lines usually make about 38 percent of their yearly sales at this time. This is the best time to find many hot or last minute deals because they offer a lot of incentives.
2. Make sure to start well ahead of your vacation or holiday time if you can unless you want a last minute cruise deal. First of all you should call the cruise line you are most interested in and ask for the cruise line rep about any of their cruises and the staterooms. You can ask about handicappedequipped staterooms then if this is a special need. You can always do this later after you do some research too.
Find out what specials they have running and make sure to tell them how old you are and what state you live in or if you’re traveling with a group of people or another couple or have cruised with their cruise line in the past. Does it include your airfare? Do you need a family deal? This is because your specific situation may entitle you for big discounts. Take whatever the quote given to you by the cruise line rep as your starting price point.
3. Next check out the Sunday newspaper ads in the travel section and look for cruise bargains. The bigger city newspapers and the newspapers located in or near cruise embarkation cities are great for finding good or cheap cruise deals. You can go to your local library to view the ads if they carry those news papers. Some daily newspapers even have there travel ads online.
4. Take a look at the cruise booking Web sites. There are cruise discount agencies that may have the cheapest cruise rates to be found anywhere whether you want a luxury cruise or budget cruise. Huge travel Web sites such as Orbitz Expedia and Travelocity usually have great deals too. You can also find lastminute cruise deals too. The cruise Web sites’ prices are usually fairly similar. And the travel sites are usually similar but somewhat higher. Make sure to ask about any additional secret or hidden fees such as cancellation penalties. These can cost between 40 and 85.
5. Make sure to check with your cruise travel agent. Some people prefer to work with a travel agent or are not savvy about researching online. Find out if they charge a consulting fee before you meet. Some fees are usually refundable if they book your cruise. When you get together with the travel agent say exactly what you want and that you’re comparing prices. Your local travel agent can be very helpful if you have disabilities health problems special needs or need visas or other documents.
6. Think about placing a “cruise wanted” ad on Craigslist online. Be specific and detailed about what you want. Then sit back and wait for replies.
7. Once you have a number of cruise line or cruise package quotes compare them and try to negotiate a lower price extra discounts or some onboard extras.
Note that if you’re getting the same quote from your travel agent that you’re getting from the cruise line then you need to continue shopping for the best quote your travel agent isn’t saving you any money. The best cruise deal is out there that is just right for you and will save you money on your vacation too regardless if you’re going to Alaska Mexico the Caribbean Hawaii the Bahamas or Bermuda. You just need to do a little research and don’t take the first deal you see.
About the writer: For more tips on getting the best cruise deals go to http://www.GetTheBestDealOnline.com for all types of deals electronics laptops credit HDTV airfare etc. and for tips on the best discounts hot deals low cost wholesale deals and best deals online or offline. Online shopping tips fraud and security tips.
Cruise And Stay Holiday: A Great Way To Experience The
Cruise And Stay Holiday: A Great Way To Experience The Joy Of Life
Few years ago only people from rich families could take the pleasure of the cruise but now this is not a big problem at all. This is technology which has given chances to other class people by making these things cheaper in comparison with the earlier. For the good of people cruise lines offer cheap tickets for cruise and stay holiday package which is in demand these days and last minutes discounts as well. By which the demand of cruise and stay packages is increasing day by day among most families. The last minute discounts rule is only applicable when the seats of cruise are not full and some seats are empty. So for filling all the seats cruise lines generally offer last minutes discounts. Cruise lovers who really want to take on a cruise but searching for the cheap can book their tickets at last minutes of booking date thus both cruiser and cruise lines will get the profit.
It is not certain that the cruise lines gives one all facilities and amenities at cheap tickets. So the main downfall of the cheap cruise is that the services and facilities which cruise ships are offering are quite expensive. And because there is no way to come out as a result of this cruiser has to pay these charges.
Generally cruise line are focusing on this type of people and doing their best to increase the number of people on the cruise. This is because they can provide them more facilities according to their budget and in lieu of that they can make more money. Cruise and stay holiday package is a complete vacation package and offer everything which one ever dreamed of in ones life. Basically customers look for excellent amenities in which one likes most such as food stuff amusements adventurous activities and lodging at the cheapest price and these are the main factors of luring the people.
Among the various cruise lines the United States of America is the most popular cruise line in the world. It mainly deals with the Caribbean cruises that get started from various ports such as Ohio Miami and New York.
At last cruise and stay holidays are very common among the cruisers. It attracts people in a great number not only for enjoying various ports and islands but also for staying and celebrating several occasions.
About the writer: Book your next cruise and stay vacation at Cruiseanswers. They features the best discount prices on cruise deals and caribbean cruises.