Posted on December 17th, 2007 by
If you have ever dreamed of visiting the islands of Hawaii, now may be the right time to do so. A great way to see more of Hawaii is to take a Hawaiian cruise. More ships and especially Norwegian Cruise Lines are offering passengers great itineraries in order to see more of the islands of Hawaii.
One of the premier attractions when you are cruising the islands of Hawaii is the active volcano called Kilauea. It is located on the big island of Hawaii. This volcano has been erupting for the past 25 years, and cruise ships like to pass by it in the evening so that the passengers can see the molten lava glowing as it spews from the mouth of the volcano.
Going whale watching is a popular cruising pastime if you visit the islands during December to April. Humpback whales spend the winter in the warm waters of Hawaii. There are said to be between 2000 and 3000 humpback whales migrating from their Alaskan summer feeding grounds each season.
When you cruise to Hawaii, you will be able to visit up to four different islands and only have to unpack your belongings once. There are four main islands and each has a distinct flavor and character. On Oahu, which is often referred to as “The Gathering Place,” you will make port in Honolulu. The garden island of Kauai has its own version of the Grand Canyon with the Waimea Canyon. On Kauai, you will dock at the port of Nawiliwili. Maui has two harbors; Lahaina and Kahului. Maui is known for her black sand beaches and volcanoes. The big island of Hawaii is often referred to as “The Orchid Isle.” You will either port in Hilo, Kailua or Kona.
Cruising the balmy waters of Hawaii is a rare treat in Polynesian culture as well as offering breathtaking vistas. Hawaii is a land rich in history, and all who visit her come away glad that they did.
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Posted on December 9th, 2007 by
Now there is something new to consider when you are contemplating the ports of call to visit on your cruise. Many of the larger cruise lines have their own private islands and cruisers are choosing to utilize this attractive option when booking their trips.
Benefits of Visiting a Private Island
The first benefit should be the obvious one; a private island. This means that only the guests of the cruise line will be on shore. Having a tropical paradise that is safe to explore and fairly empty, as there is usually just one ship anchored at a time, is what many people envision a vacation getaway to be. Many cruisers need a break from crowded beaches and non stop excursions and visiting these private islands offers a restful break.
The islands that are owned by the cruise lines are outfitted with the passengers in mind. Everything is geared to giving the cruiser the ultimate in a tropical island getaway. You can choose from such activities as snorkeling, windsurfing, eating, drinking, soaking in the sun and reading the latest bestseller. Getting to this excursion is simple and costs nothing to you. Of course, there are things you will have to pay for on the island the same as you would on the ship, but there are no added charges for visiting these private paradises.
No matter what you are up to doing, you can do it on one of the cruise lines private islands. Crews are up early preparing the island for guest’s visits by raking the sand and setting up chairs and sun umbrellas. You can shop, play, get a massage, try and catch a fish or simply float in the warm blue ocean. Find out which of the cruise lines offer time on their private islands and plan your trip accordingly.
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Posted on November 29th, 2007 by
Packing for any trip can be tough, but it can be especially daunting for those who are taking their first cruise. You want to look great, but what should you bring? Remember, any essentials you may forget to pack will have to be purchased aboard ship, and things can get expensive quickly.
Things You Absolutely Can’t Leave Home Without
The most important thing you can pack is your airline tickets and your boarding passes for your cruise ship. Leaving these vital items home can ground your trip before it even begins. The night before you leave, be sure you put these important documents along with your passport and ID in your purse or your carry on bag. It can also be a smart idea to take along any medical insurance information in case an unforeseen accident occurs and you need medical attention or medication.
Extras That Will Make Your Trip More Pleasant
Forgetting to pack the sunscreen can be a disaster. Be sure that you bring along plenty so you don’t spend the first few days nursing a nasty sunburn. Bring along a guidebook to make sightseeing and other activities in the ports of call you plan to visit much easier. You may also want to bring along a foreign dictionary or phrase book to make communications with the locals simpler.
If you plan to bring along your cell phone, don’t forget the charger. If you can’t live without being connected, you might want to bring along your laptop as well; but remember, no working, this is a vacation! It is always a smart idea to bring along a pen and a notebook or a pad so you’re ready to jot down any information you want to save. Reading material is a must for all cruisers. You may finally be able to read that novel you have been dying to finish. Check this list out for a complete planner for your cruise.
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Posted on November 23rd, 2007 by
It was only a matter of time before the fuel crisis hit cruise ships. It has recently been announced that because of the sharp increase in the price of fuel several cruise lines will be implementing a fuel surcharge on all passengers cruising the seven seas.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Any bookings on the NCL line made after the 1st of December this year will be charged a fee of $7.00 per day each, for the first two passengers in a stateroom, and a further $3.00 each for any additional passengers thereafter. The CEO of Norwegian Cruise Lines declared that with the prohibitive cost of fuel, this surcharge is a necessity.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
Following suit close behind NCL is Royal Caribbean who announced that it too will begin adding a fuel surcharge to just the first two passengers sharing a stateroom. It will be a fee of $5.00 per day, per passenger, and it has promised not to go above $70 for each passenger on a voyage. The new fuel surcharge is set to go into effect for those cruises that will depart on or after February 1st, 2008. Also included will be Azamara Cruises along with Celebrity Cruises.
What it Means to Cruisers
Though Royal Caribbean is claiming that the fuel charge is only temporary, it seems unlikely that the practice will not continue over the distant future as fuel prices are not expected to drop any time soon. It may also be adjusted depending upon the oil situation, but that too seems unlikely. It is hard to believe that once a charge is added, it will ever be dropped. Toll booths at bridges and highways were supposed to only be temporary too. Tolls were meant to pay for the construction of the highways and byways and then were then to be discontinued. There is no evidence that any bridge or highway ever halted the paying of tolls after the bill for construction was paid.
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Posted on November 20th, 2007 by
There is no denying that for the past couple of years, the new ships that the cruise lines have been cranking out are bigger than gigantic and huger than enormous. Ships such as the Carnival Freedom that is equipped for 2900 passengers, Liberty of the Seas which has a capacity for 4000 cruisers and the Emerald Princess which has room for 3100 passengers were launched in 2007, and the outlook for 2008 has at least one debut of a mega cruise ship on the agenda.
Who are the Mega Ships Good for?
Families with children of school-age and older will derive the most pleasure from these larger than life cruise ships. There is plenty of room to roam and with no where to go, you can feel relatively secure in the knowledge that your children will be safe pursuing their own interests. Kids and parents alike will enjoy such activities as bowling, water parks, rock climbing walls, ice rinks and even surfing simulators. These are activities that the smaller ships can’t support and they are sure to please kids of all ages.
Who Should Avoid the Big Ships?
If your family is still young and growing, you may want to think twice about going on one of the super cruise ships with children who are preschoolers, toddlers or babies. Though there are babysitting services available on board, the little ones will not be able to take advantage of the many activities to participate in and neither will you without the services of a minder. The sheer size of these ships makes it a long way between cabins and other areas such as the swimming pools and the dining room. Lines are particularly long and kids are likely to get cranky.
Visit MSNBC for more information on the cons of cruising on one of these gigantic ships on your next vacation.
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Posted on November 15th, 2007 by
Weddings are becoming an occasion for young couples to experiment with their adventurous side. Cruises have taken a whole to new dimension with more and more weddings being planned on them. The idea of tying the knot and celebrating the most special day of ones life in the middle of the ocean excites many. It is not only a thrilling experience but also an extravagant one too with the entire family and guest list cruising along!
The themes range from a romantic ‘Titanic’ style wedding to getting married on the beaches, or in the lavish ball rooms of the cruise, a casino theme wedding, on the deck when the sun goes down the horizon…the list goes on. Cruise weddings may Read more »
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Posted on November 10th, 2007 by
There are also special interest cruises, which are more niches oriented. These are sometimes called theme cruises too, but there lies a subtle difference. Here, a special interest group books cabins on a mainstream cruise ship, and then sets up an itinerary and books guest speakers. The arrangers of the special interest cruise will then market their package to folks who would enjoy the events
The Right Time
Theme Cruises are not time specific, they are best for people looking to have quick unplanned vacation. Which means that just about any part of a year can be the right time for you to pack your bags and book tickets aboard a theme cruise of your Read more »
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Posted on November 5th, 2007 by
Theme Cruises are fast becoming the new fad as far as vacation ideas go. A theme cruise is something a cruise line creates on board one of its ships for a slated program, an event or series of linked events that often go on for however long the cruise is. Ordinarily all passengers are participants and part of the event. The idea almost sells itself. If you’re a fan of something, there’s nothing better than combining your interest with an exotic vacation.
The origin of themed cruises can be traced to when ships spent longer stints at sea for ocean crossings and didn’t stop at all the ports of call as frequently as they do today. Apart from that, the number of passengers for the cruises was much lesser, whereas today, it might be difficult to find a theme with wide enough popularity that 2,000 or more people will book for a Read more »
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Posted on November 1st, 2007 by
God’s own country is what Kerala is often referred to as. Indeed everyone feels closer to his her faith once the territory is touched. Named amongst 50 must see places by World Heritage and UN, it simultaneously offers historic insight into the rich culture and history of Kerala and its surrounding regions. A cruise to Kerala becomes indispensable because of its scenic beauty and of course the history attached with it. Kerala was named as one of the “ten paradises of the world” and “50 places of a lifetime” by the National Geographic Traveler magazine.
Cruises to Kovalam, Allepy and other favored destination is easily and cheaply available from almost every major port on the west of Indian coast. Cochin is for all purposes the economic hub of the state and attracts foreign tourists in as many Read more »
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Posted on October 17th, 2007 by
Earlier cruise ships ‘Mexican Riviera’ itineraries consisted solely of Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas and Mazatlan, and most of the ships that visited there returned from Los Angeles on 7-day round trips. Acapulco earlier was usually set aside as a stop for relocating trans-canal cruises; Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa was termed as a magnificently exotic port.
Post September 11 incident, Cruise passengers in the West have been set a substitute to flying across the country, a chance to harbor a tropical vacation without actually having to go to the Caribbean.
A hilarious thing occured as these regional cruises became more admired with Westerners. They also were treated as an alternate target to the Caribbean for the rest of the country, and thus, Mexican Riviera cruises never saw a expansion rate of less than 40 percent. Latest, glitziest ships have been deployed by Holland America, Carnival, Princess and NCL to southern California; Crystal has formed it as permanent member of its Read more »
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