Advice and Information for the World Traveller on Many Destinations

Archive for the ‘Cruise Holidays’ Category

Cruises don’t have to mean weeks and weeks at sea. Most cruise companies, including Carnival, Thomson, Costa and P&O offer what are known as mini cruises.

Mini cruises are perfect for anyone wanting to just sample the cruising life or for those just looking for a short break away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. You will have the luxury and benefits of a full cruise, just shorter in length.

Usually, mini cruises last around two to four days, but they can be as long as a week. Most short cruises will depart from a port in the United Kingdom, while those lasting for up to seven days may require you to fly to an international port and meet the cruise liner there. Usually, mini cruises involve Mediterranean itineraries.

You will be offered exactly the same service, on a mini cruise that you would expect to find on a full length one. Meals are included in the package, as are gyms, spas, entertainment and all the usual activities. You can also join any shore excursions that may be taking place at the various ports of call.

Mini cruises are a great way to get a taste for what a full length cruise is like, this may be your first time and if you aren’t sure it’s for you a mini cruise is perfect to get your feet just wet enough to decide whether it’s your type of holiday.

Costa Cruises is a trusted provider of cruise holidays to a plethora of destinations worldwide. Choose from a number of itineraries based around such destinations as the Atlantic Ocean and Canary Islands, Canada and United States, Eastern Caribbean, Eastern Mediterranean, Far East, the Grand Orient, Indian Ocean and Mauritius, Middle East, Northern Capitals, Norwegian Fjords and Highlands, South America, Transatlantic, Western Caribbean and Western Mediterranean.

Costa Cruises offers a variety of cruises and cruise and stay holidays tailored to suit the needs of every traveller, on a fantastic fleet of well equipped and luxurious liners.

Families can enjoy a relaxing cruise holiday together safe in the knowledge that the needs of both parents and children will be well catered to.  The Costa Kids programme is open to children aged between three and 17 and offers a programme of activity and entertainment to keep youngsters occupied at sea, including arts and crafts, sports, games and parties. Run by qualified staff, the Costa Kids programme allows parents to enjoy a bit of well earned alone time safe in the knowledge that their children are well taken care of.

Costa Cruises are also a great option for couples, offering an exciting opportunity to share a wealth of experiences. As well as discovering new and interesting cruise destinations, couples will be able to bond while enjoying a variety of activities from fine dining to relaxing on deck – the stress free cruising travel style will free up time for couples to simply spend some quality time together.

If you are taking your first cruise, it is important to be aware of what will need to be organised for your trip. Cruise holidays involve a little more than simply turning up at the ship and being whisked away on your voyage; there are several arrangements that will need to be made before you set sail.

Booking flights to the departure destination is, of course, the first thing you should look at. Many cruise deals offer packages, which include the cost of return flights in the price, but if you opted to fly separately, it will be well worth your while looking for the best deals, especially if you are going on a long-haul flight. It is also vital that you give yourself plenty of time between the flight arrival and the cruise departure. You should also allow for any potential delays.

Some cruise companies provide transport from the airport to the pier, but the majority will require that you book at least 14 days in advance. They can also look after your baggage, taking it right from the airport to the ship, but it will be your responsibility to ensure that this is done. If arranging your own transport to the pier, porters are nearly always on hand to take your luggage.

Another area that requires attention is the documentation for the trip. As well as tickets it is essential that you have a valid passport that will be accepted at each port of your cruise and stay holiday. Depending on the countries being visited, you may also need to obtain one or more visas.

For smokers, cruise holidays can vary on the do’s and don’ts of lighting up on board. As cruise and stay getaways cover a wide variety of countries across the world, it can be unclear as to what laws will be applicable to passengers.

Some of the major lines have banned smoking indoors, on their ships, altogether. P&O cruises, for example, have prohibited indoor smoking on their Artemis, Oceana and Ventura vessels since 2008 and passengers are only allowed to enjoy a cigarette on their own private balcony or designated outside areas. Guests who don’t abide by the rules could face a fine. Costa Cruises have adopted a similar policy.

However, if you are looking for smoking freedom, Carnival cruises, have a much more relaxed approach and allow smoking in the casinos, piano bars and live music venues, but not dining areas and the main lounges. Princess Cruises have been a little more technical with their handling of the smoking issue and cigarette smoking is allowed indoors, but cigar and pipe smokers will have to go out on the open deck.

Whether you are a smoker or someone who could do without cigarette smoke for their cruise holiday, it will be worth your while reading up on the policies for different ships. Non-smokers should select a room and balcony as far forward as possible, as when the ship pulls off, smoke from other balconies will blow back towards the stern.

Much will also depend on the nationality of the cruise line; local Mediterranean and Red Sea cruise companies often allow smoking on board.

Cruising is the ultimate holiday for the indecisive traveller. The format of a cruise means that guests do not have to commit to any one destination and can, instead, explore the delights of a plethora of places without the stress and strain of constantly changing hotels and organising travel between destinations.

But how does the indecisive traveller choose which cruise is the right one for them? The answer is simply that every potential cruise passenger must carry out their research before booking.

Passengers who want to experience a greater variety of culture along their cruise route might want to opt for an itinerary in European waters, where contrasting countries sit side by side offering travellers a chance to sample something of each in every port.

Passengers with a penchant for nature and natural phenomena may enjoy cruising the stunning shorelines and seascapes of such destinations as Scandinavia and Alaska on a Baltic Cruise or Arctic Cruise – neither of which is recommended for beach bunnies who might prefer to opt for a more traditional Caribbean cruise. For the adventurous traveller Far East cruises are becoming more and more popular.

Those who have a fascination for the past might enjoy a Red Sea cruise, offering opportunities to explore such historic sites as the Valley of the Kings in Egypt.

For those whose interests lie firmly in pursuing the pleasures of the present there is even the option of a “go nowhere cruise” allowing them to take full advantage of the onboard atmosphere without interruption.

For anyone considering a cruise for their honeymoon or romantic break, you can be certain to be spoilt for choice. All the major cruise lines organise holidays aimed towards newlyweds and couples.

You should first look at the destinations offered by each cruise company; the Mediterranean and Caribbean are easily the most sought after for honeymoons. Carnival cruises offer their ship, the stunning Carnival Miracle, which has been a huge hit with couples, regularly scoring high in customer reviews and forums. The famous, Nick & Nora’s Supper Club, is said to be one of the most romantic locations at sea. This medium-size vessel has recently undergone a major refit and comes with a ‘fictional’ theme. It is also highly praised for its spa and fitness centres.

It is even possible to tie the knot at sea, something that is becoming increasingly popular with young couples. Princess cruises and Royal Caribbean are known for their wedding parties and if you are booking a large group, you would be surprised at the money you could save. Remember, if you plan to have your wedding at sea, it will be important to take note of the legal circumstances, as they aren’t as straight forward as when getting married on land.

Last minute cruise deals will always be offered to couples and many of the cruises come with special perks to suit your needs. If you are trying to impress your loved one, there could hardly be a better way than to book a luxury cruise holiday or honeymoon.

Trusted travel operator Thomson Cruises offers a comprehensive selection of cruises and cruise and stay holidays. With a fleet of five luxurious liners, Thomson offers a huge range of cruise holidays tailored to meet all of your travel and onboard needs.

From the informal atmosphere aboard the Island Escape, to the traditional cruise liner luxury of the newest addition to the fleet, the Thomson Dream, there is something to suit all cruising styles.

Choose from family friendly or adult only cruises to ensure you can enjoy the atmosphere best suited to your party, and then simply climb aboard to begin taking advantage of all that the Thomson Cruise liners have to offer.

Take advantage of the carefully selected on board entertainment, from theatrical productions to stand up comedians, deck parties to after dinner speakers – Thomson Cruises have entertainment to suit all tastes at all times.

Holidays are a time to relax, which is why all Thomson Cruise ships offer a wide range of spa treatments designed to pamper and indulge, as well as health and fitness facilities to allow you to work off all your stresses and strains allowing you to fully benefit from the cruise experience.

Thomson Cruises sail to a number of popular destinations worldwide – choose a cruise taking in the tropical delights of the Caribbean, explore the ports of the Canary Islands and Morocco, discover the Western Mediterranean or uncover the Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea – or why not try a Red Sea cruise? 

Wherever you want to go and however you want to go there, Thomson is likely to have a cruise that suits your needs.

Royal Caribbean Cruises promises guests “an undeniable exhilarating onboard experience” and have certainly been trailblazers of the cruise industry, bringing the cruise holiday experience up to date in the 21st century.

The company was the first to incorporate such innovative entertainments as a rock climbing wall and surf simulator into their onboard experience package and continue to strive to serve the changing needs and demands of the modern cruise holiday passenger.

The company operates 22 luxurious liners to and from popular port destinations across the globe.  Their fleet includes such jewels as the Allure of the Seas – offering such features as two story loft style staterooms and a full-size onboard boardwalk carousel, and the Oasis of the Seas, which is cleverly divided into a selection of seagoing neighbourhoods, each with its own distinct character and assets.

Choose to cruise to traditional destinations from Alaska to Asia and everywhere in between. Or why not opt for the innovative repositioning option, joining the ship as it breaks free from traditional itineraries and moves between ports not usually offered as options on a classic cruise? Wherever you go with Royal Caribbean you can take advantage of a great selection of shore excursions allowing you to get the most out of each of your stops along the way.

Wanting to do something different for the holidays? Then why not opt for a holiday cruise holiday? Royal Caribbean offers a great range of festive cruise packages allowing you to get away from it all and enjoy the end of the year.

Imagine romantic and secluded beaches, stunning surroundings and just the two of you to experience the magic of a cruise. Cruises are great holidays to take as a couple and although the cruise liner will probably have hundreds of other passengers aboard, you may feel like you are the only two on the ship.

You can be as sociable as you like on your chosen cruise, but what matters is that you two have the most fabulous cruise experience. You can indulge yourselves in complete relaxation in the onboard spas, dine in the gorgeous restaurants, see stunning parts of the world or just sit and sip fine wine while enjoying the view from your private balcony.

There are plenty of activities to take part in as a couple on a cruise ship, dance classes, cooking classes and various sports to name but a few, if you are an active couple, you will find plenty to do aboard a cruise ship.

You might choose to have your perfect wedding onboard the cruise and the captain can even marry you. Most cruise liners have packages specially set out for your wedding, which will include everything you could think of to ensure the perfect day. To get married on a cruise ship, you must be at port or no more than three miles from land. Whether it is just the two of you or the entire family, a cruise ship wedding is magical for all involved.

A Caribbean cruise would be the perfect way to take a romantic getaway, white beaches, blue seas and multi-coloured cocktails.

The Caribbean is perhaps the area that is most synonymous with cruise holidays and with its stunning range of picturesque and iconic islands, will be the ideal location for an escape to paradise. What’s more is that there are a wide range of airports dotted across the islands so getting in and out couldn’t be easier.

With famous locations such as Barbados, Trinidad and Jamaica waiting to be discovered, it is hardly surprising that this corner of the world is so highly sought after for cruise holidays. You will also be able to find cruise deals all year round; Christmas and New Year are especially popular times to travel.

P&O, Royal Caribbean and Carnival cruises provide a variety of different routes, but with so many inspirational locations on offer, it will be very hard not to pick more than one. The wealth of history, scenery and culture to be discovered on these islands is sure to appeal to any taste and, in true Caribbean fashion, all of the cruise and stay holidays will be moving at a slow pace, allowing you to soak in the atmosphere.

Of course, when to book will depend on many factors. There is no doubt that Caribbean cruises have their peak seasons – around popular holiday periods and the early autumn months in particular – so, it is best waiting to see when the prices will go down. The large cruise companies will always offer special deals, but independent websites and travel agents can sometimes provide exclusive packages that could better suit your requirements.