Cruise Vacation Destinations

By  Joseph L Ryan

Cruising makes for a great vacation, no doubt about it. Cost is reasonable and relaxation is guaranteed, but how do you decide which cruise vacation is best for you? There are hundreds of choices and many decisions to make before you can settle back with your pina colada and watch the ocean glide past.

This article will provide a broad overview of cruising, then you can go online, order printed resources and/or call your travel agent to learn more. I’ll suggest some of the best Internet resources and websites below.

Cruise Destinations

Well, “destination” has got to be your first decision, right? Here are the usual cruise vacation destinations in a nutshell:

Hawaii. Yes, Hawaii really is a paradise, but it’s difficult to see much of it if you go there and stay at a resort. Cruising is the best way to see Hawaii. The Caribbean. Most first-cruisers go here. It’s close, plus it has a touch of the exotic and tropical. I just got back from a cruise of the western Caribbean myself. The weather was wonderful and beaches great. A negative was that some of the islands, like Dominique, were a big disappointment — not very clean, basically nothing much to see or do, very tacky. San Juan PR, however, is a terrific place to make a port of call.
The Mediterranean. Frankly I know little of this first-hand. Please send me some tips on this cruise via the discussion group. I plan to visit here this October (the Aegean). From guidebooks and conversations I gather that it’s extremely beautiful, clean, historical, educational and a great experience. Mexican Riviera. This is the Caribbean for people living on the west coast. Archaelogically interesting, friendly people and great climate. Alaska. For those of us who read Jack London as kids, this one’s a must. Native American cultures, glaciers, mountains, maybe whales. However expect cool temperatures, even in summer.

Choosing a Cruise Line

Each and every cruise line has a unique personality. The goal is to match yours with its. I offer thumbnail impressions below, but you’ll want to research this more on your own.

- Holland America. This line is geared toward seniors. Sedate, comfortable. Everything moves at a slow steady pace on a Holland America ship at sea. Good place to do some serious reading.

- Celebrity Cruises. A good choice for most people. Big, beautiful modern megaships. Attracts mainstream passengers. Cost is about average.

- Royal Caribbean. Hotels at sea in the best sense. Tons of activities for everybody. Moderate cost. Their huge Freedom of the Seas is the world’s biggest boat. If you book this one expect lots of munchkins (i.e., kids). The ship even has a “rock climbing wall” to divert some of the kids’ energies. This is not Holland America.

- Cunard. Another luxury line, very British. I understand they still categorize most passengers according to “class” for dining purposes. This is not my cup of tea but may be yours, especially if you can afford first class.

- Princess. Another British line, and I’ve taken a cruise on their Diamond. This one’s very unstuffy, very well-run and efficient. The ships are beautiful, the dining excellent. Yet moderate cost.

- Carnival. Love Boat unleashed. This line is geared toward the pool party crowd. Discos close at 4 AM.

- Crystal. I myself can’t afford Crystal, I admit it, but if you can I can tell you the experts rave about its great facilities and service. Luxury class, high cost.

- Norwegian. Very good entertainment, very social-oriented, open-seated dining, casual. A good choice for a shorter cruise, 3 or 4 days.

So How Much Does This Cost?

Cruises are famously low-cost vacations. But be careful, you can end up spending a lot more than you planned if you take several tours, gamble, go shopping, etc. All those sorts of things are extra.

If you take a one-week cruise in the Caribbean or Mexican Rivera and go double occupancy, the cost will be around $900 for an inside cabin, or up to several times that for a suite with a balcony. You can take a 3-night cruise for just a few hundred dollars.

For those prices you get your accommodations, meals, entertainment, activities, onboard facilities (e.g., pools, exercise equipment), and transport to ports of call.

You don’t get travel to/from the ship, shore excursions (which can be expensive), bar drinks (usually), gambling losses, tips (though some lines add these unobtrusively onto your bill without asking you) and special services, like massages and educational courses (pottery-making, watercolors, etc.).

Plus all ships offer you innumerable opportunities to spend money onboard on merchandise and baubles.

So, as said, if you’re careful and budget your cruise vacation ahead of time, the cost is likely to be modest compared with, say, staying at a resort. But if you are enticed by the “extras,” the cruise can turn out to be quite expensive.

A Few More Cruising Tips

Smoking is almost always prohibited except in bars and some lounges and on deck or in your cabin.

Norwalk virus. I once caught it and it is terrible for two days (you can’t even sit up in bed) but then quickly resolves. However I caught it not on a cruise ship but at a hotel in Las Vegas. It does happen occasionally on cruises. The best defense is to wash you hands very frequently — dozens of times a day. Wheelchair accessibility. Holland America is a leader in wheelchair accessibility. For information on this for a given line, call their Special Services Department. Best rates. Believe it or not, your travel agent is likely to be your best source for good rates. This can be an online or off-line agent, of course. Note, however, you should not pay the rates most lines advertise in their brochures (with the exception of Royal Caribbean and Celebrity); these brochure rates are much higher than actual prices.

Interested in saving some money? Book slightly offseason (in the so-called “shoulder” periods, right before or after the high seasons). Here are shoulder seasons for popular destinations –

Alaska – April, May, September

Caribbean – September, early December, April-June

Mediterranean – April, May, September, October

Last word: Don’t jump too quickly to make a reservation. Spend some time on the Web before booking. Explore the websites of the cruise lines that interest you (most have outstanding sites, featuring virtual tours of all their ships). Visit some online cruise evaluation/information sites like, cruisecritic.com, or frommers.com
Then you’ll be in a much more informed position for making your choice. Remember, once you’re on the ship, there’s no way off!

By  John Carlsson

Caribbean is a cruising paradise, just made for cruises. No wonder why Caribbean is the most popular destination for cruise vacations in the world. Just picture a tropical heaven with fantastic beaches with palms and clear blue water. The question is what Caribbean cruise destination to choose for your vacation. Should you go to Eastern-, Western- or Southern Caribbean? This article will help you decide which destination is right for you.

Eastern Caribbean
Eastern Caribbean is perfect for you if shopping is one of your interests, or you are looking for fantastic white beaches, and enjoy spending a lot of time at the beach. If you choose an Eastern Caribbean cruise you will have a more time to spend on land if you are going on a normal seven days cruise, because the Islands is closer together than in Western- and Southern Caribbean. This will give you more time for shopping and beach-, and water activities. The popular destination St. Thomas and St. Maarten are particularly great for shopping. Other popular destinations in Eastern Caribbean are the Bahamas, Puerto Rico and St. John.

Western Caribbean
If you are looking for more adventure Western Caribbean have more to offer. The cruise ships visit ports of larger islands like Jamaica and Dominican Republic, and ports on main land in Belize (former British Honduras), Costa Rica and Mexico. Belize can offer many archaeological ruins from the Mayan civilization. You have the chance to learn more about the high culture of the Mayans and their architectural structures. Or what about diving or snorkeling in wonderful surroundings in Mexico? Western Caribbean is preferred by those who want to visit ports that are less crowded by tourists than the more visited Eastern Caribbean ports.

Southern Caribbean
Southern Caribbean cruises often visit ports in Aruba, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados and Grenada. Aruba and Barbados is a clear choice if you want to visit some incredible beaches that are even more fantastic than other Caribbean beaches. Southern Caribbean is also less crowded than Eastern Caribbean ports and are a choice for those who want to avoid the crowds. Trinidad & Tobago are the islands most south in the Caribbean and can offer a animal- and wildlife you can’t see on any other Caribbean island. The many different birds are definitively worth a visit for bird watchers.

The Caribbean have definitively a lot to offer, and your choice should be determined by your interests. The similarities are many, but the differences are worth considering.

If you are planning a cruise, feel free to visit CruiseReviewsGuide to read cruise reviews and get more cruise tips on how to make your cruise vacation better.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Carlsson

By Mike Mccann

Beautiful cruise vacations are often the subject of fantasies for people caught in the daily grind of school or work. But, with the right research and cruise vacations information, a cruise fantasy can become reality because there are many opportunities these days for affordable cruising.

And, if you want to take the whole family along, there are now also many options in family cruise vacations. Spectacular cruise vacations that are geared to every member of the family are becoming more and more common. Many of the cruise lines now feature special activities, and even special designated areas of the ship, that are designed to keep the children entertained and busy while the adults have a chance to go sightseeing. However, there are still many opportunities for family interaction and memorable family experiences on such cruises as well.

When people start to think about voyaging on lovely cruise vacations, what comes immediately to mind are the vivid sights and sounds of their destination, and the cruising in between stops as well. There is no doubt that a cruise to tropical area will encompass stunning sunset, shimmering bright blue seas, and interesting excursions into the various ports-of-call on the itinerary.

Whether you are only able to get away for fantastic cruise vacations of a few days, or if you have the opportunity to be out on the seas for two or three weeks or more, there are many places you can go to partake of the beauty of the island and beach destinations around the globe. Following is some cruise vacations information on some of the locations you may choose to cruise.

Caribbean Cruises: Because there are so many islands and port-of-call to visit in the Caribbean, this is one of the most popular destinations for gorgeous cruise vacations. The scenery is spectacular and the people are warm and friendly and you will be able to choose from an almost endless array of Caribbean itineraries to match your mood.

Bahamas Cruises: Because the Bahamas are just a few hours east of Florida, it is often one of the easiest of the wonderful cruise vacations that are available, especially if you don’t have much time. It’s also a good destination if it is your first time ever cruising, because it gives you a good taste of the advantages of cruising and provides for many popular activities such as snorkeling, diving, wind-sailing, swimming with the dolphins, and sightseeing.

Mexican Cruises: For a taste of interesting culture, a huge variety of activities, and an array of scrumptious local dishes, wonderful cruise vacations to destinations in Mexico have a great deal to offer. Mexico boasts over 20 spectacular stops on their two fabulous shorelines to explore: the east side with the Gulf of Mexico, and the west side with the grand Pacific ocean.

Of course, these are only a few of the many destinations that you might choose from for discount cruise vacations. And, cruising is an option any time of year as well. Some people enjoy taking a break from the grey skies of winter to cruise, while others like to make a cruise part of good summer vacations.

Find out more about the vacations advice [http://www.aboutvacations.net] that provides a wide range of information about various holiday hotspots around the world such as cruise vacations advice [http://www.aboutvacations.net/cruise-vacations/].

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Mccann