posted by admin on Apr 27
You re Guide to Houseboat Sales
Have you thought about the idea of buying your own houseboat to either escape to on the weekends and holidays? or maybe you want to sell the house and live in your houseboat full time. If so a houseboat sale is the best option for you if you are considering this type of investment in such a prestigious and ever growing boating market.
Without a doubt one of the biggest trends to rise up recently is that of house boating. The houseboat industry is gaining in popularity day by day and more and more people are discovering the potential of a houseboat sale as a great way to secure their own unique watercraft for a very reasonable price. To help people such as yourself, I have put this article together for people who wish to look further into buying a houseboat from a houseboat sale and just what exactly you have to look for when you attend a houseboat sale and wish to make a purchase whether you re a first time buyer or an experienced boater.
When attending a houseboat sale you should also check the age of the vessel and also the manufacturer that originally built the boat, do some research to see whether the builder is a popular and reliable builder and doesn t have a bad reputation. Even call the builder up and let them know that you are attending the houseboat sale for one of their boats and verify the background of it. When inspecting the houseboat sale go over the whole thing with a fine tooth comb from checking the engine log books to making sure the oven works properly. Also look for structural integrity and make sure there are no cracks throughout the craft and major parts are not rusting. Check the engine hours and verify the service log books and generally make sure they are in good condition. Also check the hull or pontoons to make sure they are in good condition and have whether or not they have been sandblasted and repainted recently.
Although a houseboat is essentially a marine water craft you still have to approach a houseboat sale in the same way you would a house made of bricks and motor because in hindsight this is essentially what you are buying, a house. So before you get started you should do some research into a houseboat sale and get a good feel for the boating market in regards to price size brands of builders etc. You should also consider the amount of passengers also know as berths that your desired houseboat should have before attending a houseboat sale. You don t want to buy a 5 berth houseboat if there is 6 members in your family do you! There are strict laws regarding how many people you can carry on a houseboat so this is very important.
Jason Rusch is a houseboat enthusiast that writes information articles for www.modernhouseboat.com for more of Jason s great houseboat articles head on over to the site!
Planning A Cruise Vacation For The Perfect Cruise Experience
Cruise vacations are one of the most exciting and fun vacations you and your family will ever have. Planning your cruise vacation is the key to making the most of the cruise experience.
Cruise ships are floating hotels that sail through ocean while you enjoy all the hotel s amenities provided. They have casinos, swimming pools, theaters, restaurants, shopping centers or boutiques, spas, gyms and more.
As great as taking a vacation on cruise ships may seem, you still need to know how to plan a cruise ship vacation properly so you have the perfect cruise experience. You need to know about the different types of packages the cruise lines offer.
When planning a cruise ship vacation you need to know how to choose one that will meet your expectation or tailor to your needs. Here are some guidelines that you can follow to plan your cruise travel and enjoy the perfect cruise experience:
Think of who you want to take with you on your cruise vacation. There are many different packages offered by cruise lines. There are packages for the whole family and there are packages for single travelers.
Will you be taking the cruise vacation with children? Maybe you will take your significant other for a romantic getaway. There are cruise ships that are tailored for children and there are cruise lines that cater to single cruisers and honeymooners. There are even some ships that offer wedding services. What could be better than to get married on the ship and have your honeymoon built in?
Decide how long you want to cruise. If you just want to try it out, opt for a three day cruise. Normally, cruises start at three nights and can go anywhere from seven to fourteen days. But there are also world cruises that can last as long as three months. My advice is if you are going to cruise in Europe you should pick a fourteen day cruise because of the expense and long plane rides to get to your port of embarkation. If you live near a port and you just want to take a long weekend choose of three or four day cruise. Decide what cruise travel is best for you.
Choose the perfect destination for you and your family. Alaska is beautiful but can only be cruised in the summer months. If you live in the colder climes you may want to take a mid winter cruise to the Caribbean or even South America. If you want your cruise travel to be in the Caribbean and you want to spend two weeks on your cruise vacation, choose a line that alternates between the Eastern and Western Caribbean. This cruise vacation takes you to many different islands.
The cruise lines have a variety of destinations to choose from. Visit your cruise travel agent to go over the different itineraries or check out the individual websites of the cruise lines.
Consider the port of departure. Since 9/11 cruises have been emphasizing home port cruising. Now there are many cruises that depart from Bayonne, New Jersey, Galveston, Texas, or Seattle, Washington, not just Miami and Fort Lauderdale.. Depart from the one closest to you and you will save money on expensive airfare.
Speak to a knowledgeable cruise travel agent. Make sure they have personally sailed on many different cruise ships so they can give you an honest opinion on what each cruise line has to offer and which would give you the perfect cruise experience.
A cruise travel agent will also be able to supply you with cruise tips. Scour the cruise reviews for additional cruise tips.
Large cruise lines have a variety of activities and facilities that you can use on the ship. If you like to gamble then choosing a cruise ship with casinos is probably right for you. Or if you are taking your kids with you, a cruise ship that offers activities and facilities for children would be the best choice for your cruise travel. For instance, Disney is, of course, geared toward children but they do not have casinos. So if you are taking the family but you want to gamble steer away from Disney and choose one of the other major cruise lines. Almost all of them have children s programs. If you don t want to be on a ship with children sail on one of the fancier lines that don t cater to children. Here, again, it pays to read as many cruise reviews as you can to pick up additional cruise tips.
Cruise vacations do not necessarily mean that you have to spend all your vacation time onboard. All the cruise ships offer land and shore excursions. The cruise lines offer pre and post cruise land vacations usually for two or three days.
Land excursions are a great way to explore different cultures and destinations when taking a cruise vacation. You can choose from many activities once you reach a port of call. You can go kayaking, scuba diving or go shopping in the markets of the ports of call.
Following these guidelines will give you some ideas on planning your cruise vacation properly. Proper planning will give you a more exciting cruise experience.
Happy Cruising!
Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.
This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.
Mary Hanna has traveled the world by Air and Ship while writing eBooks, Software Reviews and Practical Articles on Internet Marketing, Cruising, Gardening and Cooking. Visit her websites at: http://www.CruiseGold.com http://www.CruiseTravelDirectory.com and http://www.CruisingTips.com
Best Alaska Day Cruise Destinations
In Alaska there is a lot of great sightseeing to be had. Unfortunately much of it must be done by water or air. In this article I will help outline the top destinations for day cruising in Alaska as well as what you can expect on your journey.
When you are going to be on a day cruise it is important to remember to make plans for accommodations after your cruise is over. Each of these destinations does offer many wonderful accommodations options from Hotels to the stylish bed and breakfast. It is however important to make reservations ahead of time because during the peak season accommodations can be difficult to find.
The peak cruising season for each of these destinations is May through August. In May and June you can expect a good chance for the sun to be out. In July it will be on and off again type weather and in August there is a good chance you will find the rain. None the less, whether it is sunny or overcast a day cruise in Alaska is still a lot of fun.
Popular Alaska day cruise destinations:
Whittier ” Whittier is a small town close to Anchorage that is now accessible by car or train. Through Whittier you will have access to all the beauty that can be found throughout the Prince William Sound. It is a well protected port with many amazing Glaciers nearby. There are several day cruise options out of this port and even a ferry that will take you all the way to Valdez if you like.
Valdez ” From Anchorage you can reach Valdez by air, car or the ferry out of Whittier. Valdez also offers access to the amazing Prince William Sound with its crystal clear waters. Out of Valdez you are likely to see Glaciers, whales, puffin otters and more. Being one of the furthest ports from Anchorage can be a drawback of this day cruise destination but the beauties of the scenery will more than make up for it.
Seward ” Seward is probably the most popular cruising port in Alaska. The large cruise ships will dock here because of the easy access. From Anchorage you can access Seward by car, tour bus or train. There are many Alaska day cruise options here including stop on private islands such as Fox Island. You will have the chance to see otters, sea lions, puffins, orcas and humpback whales. At this popular Alaska port there is never a dull moment.
Homer ” Homer is known mainly as a fishing port however, there are still some day cruise options here. Homer can be accessed from Anchorage by car or air. There is a water taxi that will take you from Homer to the secluded town of Seldovia. There are private boats for hire that will allow you access into Tutka Bay and other secluded area nearby. Out of Homer you can expect to see many sea otters, puffin, humpback whales, beluga whales and even the occasional pilot whale.
One thing you will find that all of these great day cruise destinations have in common is the amazing experience to be had by all who participate. You will see sea life, most likely a glacier or two, possibly some orca or humpback whales but for sure everyone will witness the amazing landscapes and scenery Alaska has to offer. A day cruise in Alaska will definitely be an experience to remember.
Ryan T. has compiled a comprehensive <a href="http://www.onlyalaska.com/pages/index.html">Alaska Travel Guide</a> and <a href="http://www.onlyalaska.com/photo/index.php">Alaska Photo Gallery</a> which he credits to his many years in Alaska . Learn everything you need to know and expect from your <a href="http://www.onlyalaska.com">Alaska Travel</a> before you begin your travel.