posted by admin on Aug 7
The Newest Treasure at NCL Freestyle — Norwegian Gem
by Roy Witman © 2007, All Rights Reserved
Norwegian Cruise Lines has announced another dazzling jewel in its fleet: Gem. In the tradition of Norwegian Cruise Line’s Jewel class of ships, Gem is artfully decorated inside and out; specially designed uniquely for NCL Freestyle Cruising with its appealing freedom. Gem will begin with pre-inaugural cruises in the Mediterranean, and will offer seven-day excursions to the Bahamas and Florida.
Aboard Gem
Passengers can feast on delicious cuisine, from French to Asian to Latin and everything in between. Gem has 12 restaurants to choose from, and unique to NCL Freestyle Cruising - dining options with no restrictive schedules or dress codes, so there are no limits to vacation enjoyment. Gem’s unique features include 11 bars and lounges to choose from, offering cocktails from such distinct settings as the basket of a hot air balloon, a martini bar adorned in Art Deco, or an elegant lounge where passengers can savor champagne and wine.
As the sister ship to Pearl, Gem offers the exclusive Courtyard and Garden Villas, experienced only with NCL Freestyle Cruising. Travelers wanting luxurious accommodations will be enchanted with over 4,000 square feet to relax in. The Garden Villas offer a full bath with a whirlpool, and access to the exclusive concierge lounge, including a private courtyard area with pool, hot tub, and sundeck. Butler service and concierge are available to pamper Villa vacationers.
NCL’s accommodations offer the most flexible choices of all cruise lines, with inter-connecting staterooms in nearly every class, making it easy to plan family or group vacations. From lavish Villas to cozy inside staterooms, every passenger will find the perfect stateroom, as affordable as desired, and with all the expected comforts of an NCL cruise. Every stateroom has TV, refrigerator, and hair dryers — and a chocolate on your freshly fluffed pillow each night.
Freestyle Cruising allows family vacations to be enjoyed as never before. A mood lit bowling alley — first ever in the cruise industry; a giant water slide, and arcade. Gem has clubs specially designed so teens can have their own space; and supervised, age-appropriate activities to keep everyone happy.
Passengers planning an enticing vacation for two will have all of the romantic allure of the tropics, casinos, and dancing, or rare, carefree time spent sharing life’s moments. Norwegian Cruise Line anticipates and fulfills passenger desires aboard Gem, with a fitness center, and courts for basketball, volleyball and tennis, as well as an Internet caf , an art gallery, a library, a spa, and a theatre and more - there’s something to entertain everyone.
Itinerary
NCL Gem will be launched with pre-inaugural cruises, from Dover to Barcelona, Rome, Nice, Morocco, the Canary Islands, Gibraltar and Majorca. After crossing the Atlantic, cruises will be available from New York City, New York, with seven-day Bahamas and Florida destinations.
Whether you’re looking for family fun with theme parks in Florida, swimming, and snorkeling in the pristine waters of the Bahamas, or a dream vacation for two relaxing in tropical breezes before an evening at the casinos, NCL Freestyle Cruising allows the freedom to plan it your way, in advance or as you go.
Stops include a day on the private island Great Stirrup Cay where you can enjoy white sand beaches, kayaking, sailing, or simply unwinding in a hammock. Discover charming Key West on a trolley ride, the perfect place to de-stress and relax.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Freestyle Cruising lets you create your ideal vacation with its vast choices in staterooms, major dining flexibility, and complete freedom to control your schedule — or to have no schedule at all. Gem’s addition to the fleet is another radiant jewel in this array of ships that are custom designed for passenger delight.
Roy Witman is Vice-President of Cruise Vacation Center at <a href="http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com">http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com</a> offering the best deals including <a href="http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com/european_cruises.htm"> European cruises</a>.
Destination Spotlight: Fun, Sun and Elation in San Diego
by Roy Witman © 2007, All Rights Reserved
West coast vacationers hoping to hop a slow boat to a tropical paradise are in luck! Effective June 2007, Carnival “Elation” will move her homeport to San Diego, California. Not only does this mean an additional departure destination for cruisers, it also provides the opportunity for pre- and post-cruise getaways in an exciting city.
The 2,052-passenger “Elation” will offer four- and five-night voyages to Baja Mexico calling on Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada.
Visiting San Diego and the Surrounding Area
What can you do while in San Diego? Everything from wild animal encounters to cultural events. And it’s all in or near the port.
The San Diego Zoo
Absolutely one of the most well-known zoos in all the U.S., the San Diego Zoo consists of a 100-acre zoological park that houses 4,000 rare and endangered animals in their natural habitats. In addition, you’ll also find the Wildlife Animal Park encompassing over 1,800 acres. Home to 3,500 animals, the Wildlife Animal Park is an incredibly interesting exhibit, where you can get nose to nose with a lion or elephant: literally! Separated by a glass barrier, safety is ensured: and so is the fun! You’ll find this an exhilarating experience for you and your family.
The Zoo offers creative adventures including a Roar & Snore that allows after-hours tours and viewing of exhibits at night and Balloon Safaris that offer sky-high views of the park. Between the Zoo and Wildlife Park, you could spend an entire day getting lost in the wild!
Balboa Park
If your idea of fun is more sophisticated than wild, venture over to Balboa Park. The country’s largest urban cultural park offers 15 museums of varying sorts, performance arts, stunning gardens, talented musicians, hands-on classes and more.
Theme Parks Galore!
With just a short road trip, you can find several outstanding theme parks that deliver a wide range of excitement. Six Flags Hurricane Harbor and Six Flags Magic Mountain are located in Los Angeles. For a wet, wild escapade, Hurricane Harbor is just the ticket with every type of water ride imaginable (and many you’d never think of in your wildest dreams!).
Six Flags Magic Mountain may keep you dry, but your pulse rate will race just as fast. With 15 world-class roller coasters, you’ll have a scream a minute. Twists and turns, right side up, upside down: you’ll turn every which way but loose.
Quail Botanical Gardens
For those who enjoy beauty and tranquility, Quail Botanical Gardens is both educational and breathtaking. Thirty-five acres of exhibits, including those from several different countries, surround you with magnificence and instill you with tranquility and peace.
Beaches
Of course, San Diego has some of the most exceptional beaches in the world. If water sports or soaking up the sun is on your agenda, visit the world-famous Mission Beach. Upscale homes line the waterfront near the boardwalk that is a favorite people-watching spot for locals. After all, this is the place to see and be seen. With both land and water activities, you can spend the day surfing, swimming, rollerblading, bicycling or playing volleyball.
Pacific Beach has a more relaxed, eccentric feel with taco stands, tattoo shops and Frisbees. Described by the City of San Diego as “ultra-casual, zero attitude,” Pacific Beach is a down-to-earth, but more crowded, alternative to high-fashion Mission Beach.
When it’s time to book your next cruise, consider the advantages of departing from San Diego. With so many fun and interesting activities, combining a shore retreat with a short three- or four-night cruise makes for the perfect vacation.
Roy Witman is Vice-President of Cruise Vacation Center at <a href="http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com">http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com</a> offering the best deals including <a href="http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com/mediterranean_cruises.htm"> Mediterranean cruises</a>.
Best Travel Tips for a fabulous vacation Posted By : sunne
Traveling is such a great experience that we thought we could do this all the time. Unfortunately, we get very less time to travel in this fast & furious world. Mostly of us only get a couple weeks a year (if were lucky) to take our vacations.
Review: Royal Caribbean Launches Liberty May 2007
by Roy Witman © 2007, All Rights Reserved
Even amid sluggish profits, the growth in the cruise industry continues to increase. As it does, cruise lines are rushing to create new, more exciting and bigger ships to accommodate the demand. Royal Caribbean, which launches one ship per year, on average, made a royal splash in 2006 with the introduction of Freedom of the Seas, the largest cruise ship to date. However, 2007 holds promise as well - thanks to the pending launch of Liberty of the Seas this May.
Weighing in at 160,000 tons, Liberty will go nose-to-nose with Freedom in many respects, but will offer passengers a wealth of shipboard and shore excitement to choose from.
Accommodations
With something for everyone, Liberty will present a wide range of accommodation options. Economy-class staterooms with ocean views and ample space can be booked for reasonable rates. For those with more elaborate tastes (and wallets), practically every class of cabin is available all the way to the Presidential Family Suite.
With 1200+ square feet of living space, this suite delivers two master bedrooms, two additional bedrooms, multiple bathrooms, a living area, a dining area and a private, 800+ square foot balcony - perfect for families or other groups.
Onboard Activities
Liberty has one of the most diverse selections of activities of any cruise ship. With innovations including a screening room, a solarium and cooking classes, guests of all ages can find something of interest. But Liberty also follows in Freedom s footsteps with a first-at-sea rock climbing wall, H20 Zone water park, ice skating rink, boxing ring and more. Of course, the popular favorites of day spa, casinos and pools are available with elaborate upgrades from those found on other ships.
And the kids have a world all to themselves with a tremendous lineup of age-specific fun things to see and do. Of course, activities are supervised by Royal Caribbean staff members to ensure safety at all times.
There s also a Royal Promenade complete with cobblestone streets. Filled with shops and restaurants, the entire family can enjoy this active spot. You ll especially enjoy a stop at Ben & Jerry s ice cream shop!
Destinations
Launching May 19, 2007, for her maiden voyage, Liberty will set sail for the Caribbean. Her lineup of itineraries will eventually include Cozumel, Mexico; Grand Cayman Islands; Montego Bay, Jamaica and other well-loved ports of call.
While visiting these popular areas, guests will be able to take part in a world-class selection of land and sea excursions. Horseback riding, mountain bike tours, parasailing, whitewater rafting, flight-seeing tours, golf, water sports of all types and wildlife tours are just a few of the exciting adventures passengers can take part in.
Business At Sea
Lending herself to also accommodate business travelers and those looking to conduct business activities onboard a ship, Liberty will make available a full-service conference center complete with audio/visual capabilities as well as WiFi throughout the ship. Whether you re looking for an innovative place to hold a conference or seminar or just need a way to keep in touch while you re at sea, the business capabilities of Liberty will impress you.
Godmother
Most cruise lines engage a celebrity or other well-known person to be the godmother of each ship they launch. Royal Caribbean, however, takes a new approach by bestowing this honor on everyday people.
Liberty s godmother is a wonderful lady named Katherine Louise Calder. Selected as part of a nationwide search, Calder was given the title due to her service as a foster mom to over 400 special-needs children. What a wonderful representative to have!
Reservations are currently available on Liberty for voyages scheduled for May and after. If you re looking for a massive vacation experience for the whole family, Liberty can certainly deliver!
Roy Witman is Vice-President of Cruise Vacation Center at <a href="http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com">http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com</a> offering the best deals including <a href="http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com/alaska_cruises.htm"> Alaska cruises</a> and <a href="http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com/hawaii_cruises.htm">Hawaii cruises</a>.
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.
Buying A Holiday Apartment
Buying a holiday apartment is a decision many of us will make when looking to invest in property, particularly in property abroad, or as we approach retirement. Unfortunately, it is often quite difficult to find the right holiday apartment for your needs at the right budget, and this can often be the cause of hassle and a lengthy search. Estate agents seem less than helpful, and when you’re trying to get to grips with foreign law, it can sometimes seem like an overwhelming task. In fact, there are many ways in which you can make the process of buying a holiday apartment easier, and a more enjoyable experience for you and your family. In this article we will look at what to look for when buying a holiday apartment, and the ways you can ensure it goes as smoothly as possible. When buying a holiday apartment, the first thing to consider is the location. As many in the industry say, location, location, location is the key to finding a property with lasting value, both in terms of the open market and in terms of providing you with the value you require. Location in the first instance requires you to think about where you want to vacation for the rest of your life. After all, with a holiday apartment you’re going to have to go there frequently to make use of your investment. Alternatively, a good way to think about it may be to select a place that is constantly buzzing with tourists, to allow you to generate a revenue stream from your property when you’re not there. There are plenty letting agents abroad that would gladly handle your rental property throughout the year, making it an ideal investment, both financially and in terms of giving you a relaxing retreat. When buying a holiday apartment it is crucial to find an English speaking real estate agent. This shouldn’t be too difficult, given that even in European countries English is spoken widely, and is used as a language of business and trade. By locating an English speaking agent, you will be able to get to the bottom of all your concerns throughout the buying process, to make for a smoother transaction with less unexpected costs at the end of the day. Additionally, you should ensure the agent comes across as being open and honest, and never be afraid to ask pressing questions before you buy. Buying a holiday apartment should be an enjoyable experience for you and your family, and you should be able to find somewhere to relax and unwind in your spare time. In spite of that it can often be a minefield, littered with problems and costly delays, resulting in an awkward, complicated purchase. However, by using the tips in this article, you should be able to find the right apartment for you, regardless of the obstacles that may, and inevitably will crop up through your transaction, and you will also be better placed to deal with those undesirable circumstances as they arise.
The author Majid Siddique writes for <a href="http://www.apartmentretreats.com">luxury apartments</a>. For more information about <a href="http://www.apartmentretreats.com">5 star apartments</a>, vacation apartments and apartments rentals please visit apartmentretreats.com.