If you fancy having a cocktail by the pool you need to have the cash to fulfil that request. When you are on vacation it is nice to have a couple of drinks by the pool to unwind. Frozen cocktails are particularly tasty in hot weather. Even a nice bottle of wine to accompany your three course meal is a logical request. You will have to pay for each and every one of those drinks and they are not cheap. The prices quickly add up and when you are on holiday the last thing you want to be doing is monitoring every bill.

An all inclusive resort could provide a better alternative for you. If you aren’t particularly interested in seeing a variety of islands, then your best bet might be to find an all inclusive holiday resort. All your food, your drinks and nightly shows will be paid in full. You can lounge by the pool or venture down to the beach, soak up that sunshine and sip your frozen cocktail without a worry in the world. Of course, when booking these all inclusive holiday resorts you should note the fine print. Some places don’t include all the drink options or food items that you may want during your holiday.

Last minute cruises are ideal if you aren’t too worried about where you will be going.  Some people aren’t worried about going to a specific destination; instead it is the holiday itself they are most concerned about.  They want to make sure they have a good time and provided they can relax nothing much else matters.

Last minute cruises are readily available to many destinations and the best place to look for them is online.  You can sometimes get a better deal because the cruise company wants to fill up as many cabins as possible.  To do this the company will sell off any remaining cabins at a lower price if you are willing to book at the last minute.

And sometimes it really can be at the last minute too.  One recent online listing was for a 14 day cruise that was leaving in just two days time!  Obviously this may be too soon for some people, but if you are well organised and prepared to pack and head off at a moment’s notice, this could well suit you.

A lot will depend on how many other people might be travelling on the cruise with you.  If you have to arrange it for several people you may not have the time to make it work unless you have a couple of weeks notice.

Tenerife is a popular tourist destination and the largest of the Canary Islands. As well as a rich Spanish history, the island also offers many stunning attractions, including the breathtaking Anaga Massif and gorgeous valleys such as Valle de Güímar, known for its wines. Also worth visiting is Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the island’s capital, which offers a thriving nightlife and the famous Santa Cruz Carnival.

For those who love nature, Lanzarote is worth exploring. The fourth largest of the Canary Islands, Lanzarote is known for its wide selection of plants and wildlife. There are a variety of fascinating locations to explore, including Timanfaya National Park, which is known for its rare plants. Also worth visiting is the Lanzarote Aquarium, which houses many fascinating creatures.

Gran Canaria is worth a visit for those looking for an idyllic location. Famous for its sandy beaches and stunning villages, Gran Caneria has much to offer. The second largest of the Canary Islands, Gran Caneria’s many attractions have made it one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world. The island also has a large shopping centre and a bird park as well as an archaeological park and a botanical garden.

The beautiful views and attractions offered by the Canary Islands are sure to make your holiday cruise a memorable experience. 

You will find you have lots of options to choose from as well, so you may want to consider taking a two week cruise (or longer if you can) to really make the most of it.  Imagine an itinerary which benefits from stops in San Juan, Grenada, Dominica and many more exotic and exciting locations.  These are the kinds of destinations that regularly pop up on Caribbean cruises, so if you can afford to go on one you should definitely make a booking.

Of course there are other more familiar destinations on offer as well.  If you like the sound of visiting St Lucia or Jamaica, for example, you can make these dreams come true on board Caribbean cruises as well.  The best way of visiting such places is to approach them from the sea, because you can sit back and watch as your next stop gradually comes into view as you sail towards it.

There is no doubt that Caribbean cruises offer an amazing degree of luxury, both in their destinations and the surroundings on the cruise ship.  All the cruise ships that visit this part of the world offer sensational facilities to enjoy as you prepare to see your first slice of the Caribbean.  Which port will you call into first?

Antarctica is one of the last great wildernesses on Earth and because of the extreme climate and dangerous terrain holidaymakers can only go as part of an organised cruise. Experts in the wildlife of the area, who are also very experienced in travelling through and surviving in such an extreme environment, always accompany these cruises.  The ships’ crews are also very experienced in navigating these waters.

Despite its inhospitable climate Antarctica is a beautiful place to visit with its majestic icebergs and unique wildlife including colonies of penguins and seals, seabirds and whales.  Most cruises head to the Antarctica Peninsula region, which may also include South Georgia and the Falkland Islands. There are also cruises that go to the Weddell Sea, the Ross Sea region and East Antarctica. These cruises generally include visits to historical settlements, emperor penguin colonies, the Dry Valleys and other remote areas.

As Antarctica is a protected area there is a limit on the number of people who can go ashore at any one time. Some people will take a cruise to Antarctica and never leave the cruise ship. However, a number of cruises do offer zodiac cruising in small boats which gives tourists the opportunity to see the icebergs up close and to spot Humpback whales or Minke whales. Trips to one of the research stations located in Antarctica are also possible and give an interesting insight into life on a modern research station.

The best place to look is on the internet because this will provide you with the most up to date information about the latest cruise deals.  Sometimes you can get last minute deals that offer superb value for money.  It pays to be more flexible when looking for last minute cruise deals because there may only be room left on a limited number of cruise ships.  The most popular ones tend to get booked up well in advance in many cases.

You should also have a firm idea of the kind of cruise you want.  This will cut down the amount of time you will spend searching for the best deals.  Alternatively you can be open to anything, and in fact this can be better because you can watch out for the best cruise deals from all providers and in all parts of the world.

Try looking for cruises run by different companies as well.  For example don’t just stick to P&O – look at cruise deals offered by Costa Cruises and Thomson Cruises as well.  This will provide the largest number of options and give you the best chance of getting a great price.

In short, if you want to enjoy a discount cruise holiday, make sure you check online first for the best possible prices.

As such you can also book a cruise to go on by yourself.  You don’t have to be part of a couple to go on a cruise, and there are some cruise holidays that are especially designed for singles only.

This opens up the opportunity of cruising to other destinations to everyone.  The fact that everyone on board is single means you have a chance to make new friendships as you settle into life on board.

You can, of course, quite happily spend time exploring various ports you call into on your own as well.  But it is good to know that there are lots of other people on board who have also elected to have a break on their own.  Regardless of whether you are going to meet new people or just to get away from cruise holidays that are packed with families, you can have a great time.

Singles holidays like this also travel to various parts of the world.  No matter where you would like to travel to you can look forward to taking the exact cruise you have always wanted. Some people think being single precludes them from enjoying cruise holidays.  But as you can see nothing could be further from the truth.

Sometimes cruise lines have a number of cabins left unsold before a sailing, which will be sold at heavily discounted prices. However, they will not publicly advertise these deals. The only way to find them is to join the e-mail list of a travel agency specialising in cruises.

Look for agencies that are preferred sellers for particular cruise lines, and if you receive an e-mail about low rates, do respond. Sometimes this will simply be a gimmick, but at other times you may get a very good deal on a cruise.

These deals are for last-minute cruises and only available for a limited time, so you will need to book quickly and be able to make travel arrangements at short notice. Also, be prepared to accept that the cabin you get may be the one that other passengers have complained about.

Travel agencies buy group space on cruises well in advance of the cruise date. The travel agency often pay a deposit, and as they work hard to establish a good relationship with the cruise line. They are often given a lower price, typically 10 to 40 percent less than the standard price. These savings are passed on to their customers. These deals are available to those who can book early, preferably more than 90 days prior to sailing. To take advantage of these cruise deals, you need to know your travel agent, so they can tell you if it is a good price, or if the price is likely to go lower closer to sailing. However, you can cancel or change your booking at a later date without incurring high penalties.

The warm waters of the Mediterranean surround some of the world’s greatest holiday destinations. Chic harbours, historic cities and beautiful beaches can all be enjoyed on a Mediterranean cruise. Western Mediterranean cruises visit ports in Portugal, France, Italy and Spain. The fascinating antiquities of Cairo, Marrakech and Tunis in North Africa may also be included. Visit the smart seaside resorts of St. Tropez or Monte Carlo, marvel at the ancient wonders of Rome, or enjoy the flamboyant, spirited Barcelona with its quirky architecture designed by Antoni Gaudi.

Central Mediterranean cruises visit the Adriatic, which has some of the most beautiful coastline in the Mediterranean. Visit the historic cities of Slovenia, Montenegro and Croatia. Many cruises include the Greek Islands of Cephalonia and Corfu, as well as the wonders of Venice. Visit the beautiful walled city of Dubrovnik or the incredible Diocletian’s Palace in Split. Wander through the maze of passages and canals that make Venice unique. Unwind on the beautiful beaches of Corfu and Cephalonia, enjoy a drink at a local taverna, or wander through the winding streets of Greek villages.

Eastern Mediterranean cruises travel around the stunning Greek coastline visiting its many islands. Sun-drenched beaches, ancient treasures and dramatic shorelines make for a memorable holiday. Other cruises visit Malta, Turkey, Cyprus and the Black Sea coastal resorts. Visit the wonders of Athens, or Malta, with its fascinating World War II sites, and churches. Explore Istanbul, and cruise through the Dardanelles on route to the Black Sea port of Yalta. Synagogues, minarets, mosques, and the golden domes of the Orthodox churches slip by as cultures converge.

All of the major cruise lines, such as Royal Caribbean Cruises, P&O Cruises, Costa Cruises, Princess Cruises, Thomson Cruises and Carnival Cruises offer Mediterranean cruises.

If your inner killjoy tells you that you’ll be bored or sea-sick (or both), ignore it and take a serious look at what’s on offer. For example, on board Royal Caribbean Cruises’ gargantuan ‘Oasis of the Seas’, as with many of the larger vessels, you can relax with a spa treatment after working out in the gym, ride a carousel with the kids, climb a rock wall, have a round of golf and take a whirl on a superb surf simulator. Then you could go shopping in an onboard high street – all before you take in a live Broadway musical or comedy show, watch or take part in a karaoke evening and dine in a range of restaurants to suit every taste (and budget).

Sea sickness is largely a myth – modern ships, from the modest to the extravagantly huge, are equipped with very effective stabilisers. And if you really worry about this, why not begin your cruise experience with one of the many river cruises now available?