posted by admin on Aug 7
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
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>.
Cruise discounts that will make your dream vacation cheaper
About 60 days before the departure of a ship is the best time to look for a discount. This is the last day when people cancel their reservation penalty free. It is a great opportunity for you to buy a ticket, because the cruise company will offer great discount on these leftover places. You’ll be more likely to find a cruise discount off-season. For example, May is good months for a discount cruise in Alaska, because the peak season is in July or August. However, you might experience bad weather in May. Still off-season Caribbean, Mediterranean or Hawaii is always beautiful, so a cruise is pleasant at all times. You will be offered great scenery and you’ll be able to relax. Look for repositioning cruises, these are a gold mine for cruise discounts. These cruises have changed their itinerary and might have caused some inconveniences for the people who have already made reservations, so they sometimes cancel them. The cruise companies find it sensible to make major discounts in order to fill the ship. You can take advantage of this and buy a ticket. Discount cruises are available for those who enjoy eating and having a great time on board. Most of the times the extra activities spent on shore are expensive. If you are flexible about the time of your vacation, you have great chances of getting a cruise discount. Most cruise lines offer discounts on their last few tickets, so if you take the risk, you may even get peak season discounted tickets. When looking for a cruise discount, you can do research in many places. The Internet is one of the top places to find the best deals. The majority of the cruise lines have a web site and they immediately post their bargains on their web sites. Most cruise lines offer great discounts. Even the luxury ships have discounts; so who knows you might end up spending your vacation in a luxury cruise. If you don’t trust the electronic way, go to your closest travel agent. Make a custom of visiting him/her and always ask for some good cruise deals. Also make sure you ask about the cabin selection, you don’t want to end up in a small cabin when you suffer from claustrophobia. Ask about the travel insurance, if it is included in the price, or if you have to cater for that yourself. Make sure you read all the conditions specified on your cruise discount tickets. You most certainly won’t be able to return them later. An inconvenience that goes along the discounted tickets is that you cannot choose the cabin or the ship of the cruise. Don’t be taken in by the most amazing offers that you find on the Internet. Make sure you trust that cruise line and book only if you are certain you are familiar with all the conditions of that certain cruise. You might have to pay extra taxes or fees that are not specified on the contract, so you might not save money after all. But if you are flexible and patient, you will most certainly find a cruise discount that will suit your needs.
For more resources on <a href="http://www.cruise-heaven.com">cruise vacations</a> or getting a deal on <a href="http://www.cruise-heaven.com/Mediterranean-cruises.php">Mediterranean cruises</a> or <a href="http://www.cruise-heaven.com/Alaska-cruises.php">Alaska cruises</a>please visit Cruise-heaven.com
