posted by admin on Aug 25
Cruise Ship Dining Explained
There are many cruise ships now that have Freestyle Dining (Norwegian Cruises) or Choice Dining (Prince Cruise line) available. Or on Disney Cruise Lines they have what is called Rotational Dining . They have you and your table mates rotate through the three restaurants each evening. CRUISE TIPS: There is usually open seating for breakfast and lunch in the main dining room. Be adventurous with the menu because if you don t like something you can send it back for a replacement. And if they have two things on the menu that you like ask for both of them. My husband, John, always orders the Filet Mignon and the Lobster Tail when they are served on the same night. Many times he tells the waiter to bring what the waiter recommends for that evening. This means you don t have to choose first or second seating. (First seating is 6:00 to 6:30 and Second seating is usually 8:00-8:30). There can be more than one restaurant where you just walk in when you are ready to dine. Every ship will ask for your dining preference when you book your cruise. You can indicate first, second or flexible dining, whichever will make you more comfortable. The newer ships have a 24 hour dining spot which is always casual so if you don t want to do the formal nights you don t have to, although I find dressing up to be quite fun. You will have many options for each meal. You may have any meal delivered to your room, taken in the buffet restaurant or in the dining room. There is usually outdoor dining around the pool with hot dogs and hamburgers, pizza, salads, even Tacos. There are also alternative dining rooms available on some ships that require an additional fee but the service and food are generally 4 to 5 star and worth it if you want to splurge. In my experience families with young children and people who go to bed early usually dine in first seating. But if you don t want to be on a schedule or want to meet new people every night, go for the alternative dining option. Of course you can always ask for a table for two, but be aware that there are only a few of them. If you make a special request one night, John always asks for blue cheese, your waiter will bring it every night. They pride themselves on remembering your tastes. (This only happens when you choose traditional dining). On one cruise we asked for Melba toast, and you bet, every night we had Melba toast. There is one thing I always make clear to the waiter. I am not a big eater but I like to taste everything. I tell this to them the first night so they don t think I am unhappy with the food. It is their job to keep you happy and they take it very seriously. If you don t want to eat in the main dining room almost all ships have a Lido caf © where it is casual but you order from a menu and are served by a waiter. It s one of the many choices if you don t want to participate in a formal night or if you just want to eat by yourselves. On Carnivals single cruises they encourage this style of dining so the singles can meet more people. There are exceptions to this but not many. On some of the newer ships the Lido is open 24 hours a day. On most of the cruise lines they offer the food of the region that you are visiting. While on Hawaiian cruises expect to be served Hawaiian food. When on an Alaskan cruise you will be given the choices of salmon and Alaskan king crab legs. It makes more fun to dine on the local cuisine. All of the cruise lines offer healthy alternative menus or what they call spa menus. So if you want low-fat, low-salt, low cholesterol, vegetarian or any other type of diet, they are available. It is best however to inform your travel agent of any special needs so they can notify the cruise line ahead of time. If you have special dietary needs make sure the cruise lines knows before hand. For example, Royal Caribbean cruises cater to food allergy, Kosher, Indian, Vegetarian and Gluten Free Diets. To be really safe read all of the cruise reviews and cruise critics sites for each ships food and service ratings. Happy Cruising, enjoy it, we do! 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. Learn from her at: <a target="_blank" href=http://www.PrincessCruises-Caribbean.com">Princess Cruises Caribbean.com</a> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.CruiseTravelDirectory.com">Cruise Travel</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.CruisingTips.com">Cruise Tips</a>
Cruise Like James Bond
If your 45, male and a “gentleman” and your looking for a great cruise bargain, you may want to start brushing up on your charm or visit the nearest “finishing school” before booking your next cruise.
Why? there’s a volunteer dance program called Gentlemen Hosts. Operated by Lauretta Blake Of The Working Vacation, Inc.
Gentlemen Hosts recruits single men ages 45 and over to serve as dance/ social partners for single more mature ladies on cruise ships.
The Company counts Upscale Cruise Liners such as Cunard, Delta Queen Steamboat Company and Silversea as partner cruise liners.
As A “Gentleman Cruiser’ you are expected to be good dancers and excellent conversationalist - think Fred Astaire and Sean Connery
(ok, those dancing shoes might be a tad too big to fill- so work on your brogue instead) Watch your table manners and sorry - no romantic involvement with the ladies.
Gentleman Cruiser’s work about 50 hours a week - Dancing and socializing with guests for three to four hours a week, joining shipboard activities during the day, hosting tables at night and assisting with special events.
While a bit demanding - if your energetic, out-going and well - sociable - this my dashing man - could be your Job.
However it does have some start -up costs, these are:
$75 for a background check
$35 for a dance evaluation
$28 -$39 per day cruising
On the other hand some cruise lines give you a bar and laundry allowance and some will even allow the Gentlemen host to keep gratuities.
So if you Fancy yourself as the 007 of cruise liners - fix yourself a vodka martini ( shaken not stirred) and call 708-301-7535 or visit www.workingvacation.com
“For more insider tips and tricks on discount luxury cruising- visit
http://www.deluxecruisenews.com”
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NCL Freestyle Cruising: Vacations the Way You Always Wanted
by Roy Witman © 2006, All Rights Reserved
NCL Freestyle Cruising is radically different from any other cruise line. Rather than adhering to preset schedules, you actually get to relax and enjoy your vacation. Traditionally, cruise lines are famous for setting schedules and rules for dining, seating arrangements, dress codes, activity times and more. However, NCL Freestyle Cruising set out to break that mold and free vacationers to spend their time the way they wanted to. After all, isn’t that what a vacation is all about?
Stripping the restrictions from the cruise experience, NCL Freestyle Cruising brings a fun, whimsical and unconventional environment to all its ships. With the newest fleet at sea, NCL has either built or recently retrofitted all its vessels specifically for the Freestyle Cruising experience.
While aboard, you’re completely on your own schedule. Eat whenever you like. Sit with whoever you want. Dress however suits you. Do whatever you choose. The clock stops ticking the moment you come onboard. You can be free to enjoy a laidback atmosphere filled with fun, adventure and relaxation just the way you always wanted.
Freestyle Dining
Unlike other cruise lines that make you dine at a specific time, in a specific dining room, Freestyle dining operates just like making a reservation at your favorite spot back home. Restaurants open at 5:30 p.m. and stay open until midnight. You choose the dining room and cuisine that suits you that day and make a reservation, so you can eat when you want to eat. A wide range of menu selections gives you more taste-tempting treats than you might be able to hold. From Italian to French, from sushi to burgers and fries, the choices are all yours.
Freestyle Dress Code
What’s the dress code while NCL Freestyle Cruising? Simply put, there isn’t one! No evening gown and tuxedo are required (unless you want to dress for dinner). For dinner, shows, nightclubs or anything else on the ship, “resort casual” is as dressed up as you will ever be expected to get. For those who like to get decked out for the night, many restaurants offer formal options.
Freestyle Activities
Want to do it all? Or rather do nothing at all? It’s entirely up to you. Get active with a round at the golf driving range. Practice your backhand with a set of tennis. Relax and melt away with a multitude of luxurious spa treatments or just sit on deck and watch the world go by. When it comes to excursions, each port of call offers an exciting array of activities, tours and shopping.
Freestyle Service
While NCL Freestyle Cruising may be drastically different from other cruise lines in many respects, one thing is certain: Service is the top priority. With a premium level of guest services on every ship, you’ll find that the atmosphere is casual, but the attentive pampering you receive is highly rated.
Roy Witman is Vice-President of Cruise Vacation Center. Visit them at <a href="http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com">http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com</a> for the best deals on <a href=" http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com/ncl_freestyle_cruising.htm">NCL Freestyle Cruising</a> including <a href="http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com/alaska_cruises.htm"> Alaska cruises</a>.
Celebrity Cruise Line Review
Every year when I take my vacation, I use Celebrity Cruises. I choose Celebrity Cruises because they never give me any trouble, and they are simply fabulous. Celebrity Cruises aren’t just about cruising, they have enrichment programs, which means I can learn something new on holiday. Last year I took a wine tasting class, and I am looking forward to sampling some of the lecture series, which are either informative or inspirational. The programs are very well developed, and the instructors are experts. My sister learned more computer skills when she took part in the program, and she really liked the instructor. My bridge instructor was also an amazing bridge player, I learned so much. I really appreciate the religious services that are offered on Celebrity Cruises. There are church services every day, and there is always a Roman Catholic priest on the ship as well. I didn’t really use the services, but if you are religious, your needs are well taken care of by Celebrity Cruises. When it comes to shows, Celebrity Cruises is great. There are so many different shows you can see, even one called ‘A Taste of Cirque Du Soleil, I’ve never seen it, but I love Cirque Du Soleil, and I bet the show is great. The shopping is awesome too. I have purchased some mementos from Celebrity Cruises that I treasure very much, like a silk flower arrangement that came from the Emilio Robba store. There’s also always a guide to let me know where to shop at the various ports we visit. The guide is so useful, and its just another way that Celebrity Cruises helps guests enjoy their vacation. When I relax on board, I love to do it at the Martini Bar. They have 26 different Martinis, and they’re always served in a chilled glass. There are several different bars on every ship, and the atmosphere is just brilliant when you visit them. Celebrity Cruises are experts at creating a beautiful ambiance for guests to enjoy.
To read other great articles on all of the different cruise vacation options avaliable to you then check out: http://www.enjoythecruise.com
Best Cruise Lines
Best Cruise Lines What is a mantra of a wonderful vacation? If you believe me, natural splendor, blue waters and white sand make the perfect and most memorable vacations you can have. And if you are really interested in going in for one, then pack your bags and get ready for a sensational trip of the most happening cruise lines. A cruise voyage will give it all right from the sprawling nature to blue waters of the oceans and the white sand on the beaches. And the best part of it, a cruise is your 24 hrs entertainment center where the sun never sets. A cruise is a one stop entertainment for many occasions and events. A cruise allows you to celebrate family cruising and reunions, wedding, birthday celebrations, vacation travel, honeymoon and much more. A cruise trip also allows and offers flexibility in planning various activities. You can plan to travel in the set of destinations from the hundreds of destinations offered by the cruise liners. Do whatever, your cruise trip will be the most cherished experience you will ever have in your life. Cruise trips have gained much popularity in the past couple of years due to which there are many cruise lines which offer the best of services to its travelers. The popularity is so much that it is estimated by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA) that of the more than 10 million Americans who had taken cruises in the year 2004, around 5 million had taken the cruise for the first time. This amazing piece of statistic is a reflection of the fact that cruising can be not only fun, but a tremendous vacation value. This vacation value can be rightly explored once you are on a cruise line. A cruise line offers a quality vacation because it offers a great value in terms of the number of destinations from which you can choose your favorite one. And more value packed just because most of the cruise lines offer world class dining and various on board activities, along with many other activities like surfing, deep water fishing, skiing, kayaking etc which means you can have multiple vacations in one. Also most of the cruise lines offer you the ease of sailing from a port near your city. You can book the cruise line fro a journey onboard and also for some of the most exciting shore and land excursions which may include tours, entertainment, adventure sports and activities and much more that will make the whole lot of cruising a memorable experience. There are many cruise lines around the United States and Europe, which offer the best of the facilities and excursions. It is always to plan your trip ahead and book the cruise in advance as doing this would save you money, which obviously you can spend on some other sneaky extras. When finalizing a cruise line look for their track record and also compare the rates Looking for more information on Best Cruise Lines check out www.cruiselinesbest.com your guide to Best Cruise Lines.
Looking for more information on Best Cruise Lines check out <a href= www.cruiselinesbest.com >www.cruiselinesbest.com</a> your guide to Best Cruise Lines.
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>.
