Posts Tagged ‘Cruise Ships’

I want to try putting a bottle of vodka in my suitcase that I’m checking in, since alcohol costs A LOT on cruise ships. Is there anything I can wrap around the bottle of vodka that will let it pass through the x-ray machine undetected? Or any other strategy that might work?

Simple.

buy a bottle of mineral water, open it pour out the water and pour in the vodka close the lid.

its not usual to see someone with a 1L bottle of water, and if you get any issues, explain you are filling dehydrated etc. best thing is to carry it by hand if you can.

If you cover something with lead, you’re bags will be opened. It could be a bomb for all the guards know. That is the kind of actions that will get you thrown off the cruise before it starts

Guards with x-ray machines check 100s of bags i and fairly sure they can detect a tell tail signs of a bottle and metal lid. So a plastic bottle will be fine.

You probably will be able to find something better on the ship if you are concerned about plastic + vodka, for example give a maid a tip and they probably can get a glass container…

Technorati Tags: Alcohol, Bomb, Bottle Water, Cruise Ships, cruise vacation, Glass Container, Lot, Metal Lid, Mineral Water, Ray Machine, Ray Machines, Suitcase, Tail Signs, Vodka, X Ray

So we’re still on a cruise, on our way to some enchanted land. It’s a great weather today, and the air is warm, and so are everyone’s smiles. Here’s more of what you can expect in a ship cruise.

Meals

You won’t go hungry while cruising. All meals are included from morning to night. Most cruises have 24-hour buffet areas where you can eat any time of day or night. Sit-down gourmet dinners include your choice of appetizers, salads, main course, and desserts.

One of the most popular meals is the ships’ midnight buffet. You’ll find pizza parties and finger foods. At most of the bars the children may be treated to ice cream parties. If children have a birthday while on cruise, parties can be arranged and, of course, all the children enjoy the party entertainment. And…if you are still hungry some ships offer 24-hour room service.

In addition to this, there is a Captain’s Cocktail Party, where you have the opportunity to meet and talk to the Captain and his immediate crew. Another highlight of any cruise is being invited to the Captain’s table for dinner. Sometimes this can be for especially invited VIP’s. However, there are times when individual passengers are invited throughout the cruise.

Fitness Centres

If you think you’re going to miss out on your everyday gym sessions while on a ship, then you’ll be pleased to know that cruise ships offer ‘state-of-the-art’ fitness centres for the health-conscious traveller. Gyms include various fitness machines, stationary bikes, treadmills, stair steppers, weights and of course, classes; aerobics, Yoga, and Pilates classes.

Not all classes offered are free, but there are many others from which you can choose. Personal trainers are available and have to be hired on board, for a fee. Remember that all of the classes fill up very quickly so book in a soon as you get on board.

Entertainment

You might ask, ‘…what kind of entertainment can I expect…’ The answer is, well, endless, but for starters, cruise ships include cabaret, that feature elaborate Vegas-style shows, singers, and comedians.

Additionally you will find cinemas that show current movies. There are numerous bar lounges with dance music (yes, complete with dance floor), karaoke bars to sing the night away, and piano bars. There are plentiful deck and pool parties and even dance parties arranged for young teens. In addition, don’t forget the Casinos, which feature high-stakes poker tournaments, (of course your gambling money is not included), so make sure that you budget well for this type of distraction.

Beverages

Most drinks are not included unless they are being served with breakfast, lunch, buffet, or dinner. These included drinks are usually limited to soft drinks, juice, coffee, and tea. Water is always available, though you may have to pay for ‘bottled’ water.

Additional Beverages

Alcoholic beverages are not included in your cruise rate. Furthermore, soft drinks, wine, cocktails, specialty coffees, and bottled water are not included. You may find that your cruise line may have options to buy ‘packages’ for unlimited wine, alcohol, soft drinks and bottled water. Take advantage of this if your beverage consumption is high.

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Jhona
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/the-definitive-guide-to-going-on-the-perfect-cruise-part-two-86593.html

Technorati Tags: Art Fitness, Cocktail Party, Conscious Traveller, Cruise Ships, Definitive Guide, Enchanted Land, Finger Foods, Fitness Centres, Fitness Machines, Gourmet Dinners, Midnight Buffet, Party Entertainment, Personal Trainers, Pilates Classes, Pizza Parties, Ship Cruise, Stair Steppers, Stationary Bikes, Weather Today, Yoga And Pilates

Getting married? There are plenty of wonderful destinations for your honeymoon. But how are you gone get there? Did you ever think of a cruise ship? Believe me – it’s the best way to start your honeymoon. In fact it is the best way to start your marriage!

Every year, thousands of couples get married. If you’re planning your wedding, it is likely that you’ll plan a honeymoon as well. Honeymoons are often looked upon as vacations. In a sense, they are. But there are two major differences. Number one: romance is in the air. Number two: no kids. The bride, the groom and plenty of time. That makes honeymoons fun, exciting and memorable.

As previously mentioned, you have a number of different options when it comes to planning your honeymoon. Many newlyweds schedule their honeymoons at popular beaches, ski resorts, or other secluded areas. Did you know that you can also have a honeymoon aboard a cruise ship? Cruise ships are increasing in popularity, but still many individuals do not consider them as a vacation option. And that’s a shame.

You’ll be amazed!

One of the reasons why cruise ships are rarely thought about when selecting a vacation destination, let alone a honeymoon, is because of their cost. A cruise is considered to be expensive. Well, I´ll let you in on a little secret. They don´t have to be. The competition in the cruise line industry is killing. If you play your card smart, you can be the one that benefits. Do a Google search on discount cruise ship tickets and you´ll be amazed!

Those discount tickets are usually sold fast. So here is the rule. First of all decide where you wane go and set your budget. Then sit down and do your homework on the computer (or with the help of a travel agent). Once you see an offer that fits your needs, do not hesitate. Jump on it and celebrate. You just made a dream reality!

Take it from a pro

Let me raise another question. Are cruises actually pricy? It is important to examine the activities available onboard and the length of the cruise. The longer the cruise and the more services available, the more expensive tickets are likely to be. If you take the time to figure out all the services that are included and the cost of overnight accommodations, you may see that cruises aren’t all that expensive after all. Do the math and – again – you’ll be surprised.

Once you’ve made the decision to spend your honeymoon onboard a cruise liner, you’ll have to book reservations. When examining cruise ship destinations, look for the possibility for romance. As your honeymoon is supposed to be a romantic and relaxing time, you’ll want to select destinations that will keep that spirit alive. Those destinations are all over the world. But take it from a pro: for newlyweds the Caribbean is the place to go. There are over 7.000 islands. Pick a couple. No matter what islands you’ll be sailing for, there will be sandy white beaches, the friendliest people you can think of and lots of rum. You can’t go wrong here.

Amorous and intimate

Before I forget: take a close look at the type of cruise you select. Most cruise lines have ships that are targeted to seniors, risk seekers or families. Stay away from the last two mentioned. Remember: you are searching a private, amorous and intimate setting. Hard to find whit kids all over the swimming pool or adventure junkies bungee jumping from the upper decks…

Capt. Jack Storms
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/honeymooning-on-a-cruise-ship-98684.html

Technorati Tags: Cruise Line Industry, Cruise Ship, Cruise Ships, Discount Cruise, Discount Tickets, Dream Reality, Google, Google Search, Honeymoon Cruise, Honeymooning, Honeymoons, Newlyweds, Plenty Of Time, Romance Is In The Air, Ship Cruise, Ski Resorts, That Fits Your Needs, Vacation Destination, Vacation Option, Wonderful Destinations

It used to be that ocean-crossing vessels were the primary means to getting people from place to place at sea. Now they are hardly used and instead replaced with cruise ships. Just like the ocean-crossing vessel, the cruise ship takes its time going across the ocean. Since air travel is so much faster, crossing by water is used more for relaxation and enjoyment rather than as quick transportation.

To raise interest in the cruise ship as transportation, the ocean-going vessels would leisurely take people on southern cruises in the winter. The first of the trans-Atlantic ships to take people on southern cruises during the cold season on the North Atlantic was the Hamburg-America Line.

Another thing that got the cruise ship more attention was the television show, “The Love Boat.” This T.V. show used the Pacific Princess ship from the Princess Cruise Line. With the popularity that “The Love Boat” brought, the cruise industry began to soar around the 1980s. The famous T.V. show demonstrated that even ordinary individuals could enjoy spending time on a cruise ship for a vacation. Now that the cruise ship was for more than the rich and famous, all types of cruises became available in order to meet the desires of all types of people. Between 2001 and 2006 there have been about eight or nine cruise ships added each year.

Some people would love to visit the Arctic and Antarctic and couldn’t previously afford the means to do so. Now with the cruise ship being so accessible, people can enjoy trips to the Caribbean, to Alaska, and around Mexico.

A Relaxing Journey

Over time the popularity of the cruise ship causes the cruise industry to start using larger cruise ships. Now being on a cruise ship is like staying in a floating hotel considering most cruise ships can hold about 3000 passengers. This number doesn’t even include the large staff needed to take care of the passengers and the cruise ship. When you really dish out the money, you can get on a cruise ship that has more crew members than passengers.

The thing that the cruise ship is known best for is its amazing cuisines that are served 24 hours a day. With so much food to serve, the cruise ship has to have the space to store and cook it. Sometime in a week long trip you’ll find that more than ten tons of beef and almost 30,000 eggs are used in meals.

Although people think of the cruise ship as a place to vacation, the cruise ship has had many other uses as well. During the hurricanes in the Gulf Coast in 2005, cruise ships were called to house displaced victims. Three of the Princess Cruise Line ships were contracted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to house hurricane victims temporarily. Cruise ships have also been used as a place for people to stay during the 2004 Olympics, since there weren’t enough hotel rooms available.

Charlie Welf
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/cruise-ships-on-the-rise-106920.html

Technorati Tags: 1980s, Air Travel, Boat Cruise, Cold Season, Cruise Industry, Cruise Ship, Cruise Ships, Desires, Hamburg America Line, Love Boat, Love Cruise, Ocean Crossing, Ocean Cruise, Pacific Princess, Princess Cruise Line, Princess Ship, Relaxation, Spending Time, Trans Atlantic, Vacation Cruise

So you’ve heard how great cruise vacations are, and now you’ve decided to take to the high seas for a fortnight of luxury and pampering. But there’s a lot to think about. So before you select a cruise line, a cruise ship or even get in touch with a travel agent, there are certain issues that are vital to consider.

1) Who is going on the cruise?

Although this question should be easy to answer, it can have a bearing on the type of cruise line and ship that you ultimately choose.

If you and your partner want to take a relaxing cruise, there are many ships that are aimed at couples. In fact some cruise ships actively discourage or even ban people from taking children onboard.

If you will be cruising as a couple, it’s also important to consider the dining situation. On ships with assigned seating, you will have to specify the size of table that you want. However, on many ships, tables for two are in short supply, so if this is an important issue, this may influence your choice of cruise line and ship. Just make sure that you make this clear to your travel agent or the cruise line when booking.

On the other hand, if you want to take your children or travel with the rest of your extended family, there are certain cruise lines and ships within cruise lines that are specifically tailored with family vacations in mind.

2) How much have you got to spend?

It’s possible to find a cruise vacation to suit almost any budget. So before you go any further it’s important to work out how much you’re willing to spend on your holiday.

But as a general rule, you’ll need to set aside at least $150 per person per day to cover the cost of your cruise. However, bigger cabins in more luxurious ships can cost many times this figure.

However, it is possible to get more for your money if you;

a) Book early: Most cruise lines are willing to give generous discounts if you book your cruise 6-12 months in advance.

b) Book late: Likewise, if you book within 2 months of setting sail, most cruise lines will give you hefty discounts to fill the remaining cabins.

3) How long have you got?

The number of days that you want your vacation to last will determine the type and location of cruises that are available to you.

If you only have a few days, the main option is a one port cruise. This means that the ship leaves port sails around the sea/ocean for two or three days and then returns to the same port. The ship doesn’t call at any other ports, but it does give you a few days at sea. This is a good way to get the feel for a certain cruise ship, or even cruising in general.

If you have a week to spare, this gives you more choices. If you live in the US, this gives you the choice of Hawaii, Alaska, Florida, Mexico or even a Caribbean cruise. If you live in Europe this will give you access to the mediterranean, north africa, or even a nordic cruise.

Alternatively, if you want to increase the number of locations available, you could fly to and from the start/finish location of your cruise or take a one way cruise either flying to the start location or flying home after disembarkation.

If you have two weeks or longer, you can cruise almost any part of the world.

4) What time of the year?

The time of year that you take your cruise will have a major affect on two issues;

a) The Price: As with all forms of travel, your holiday will cost more during the peak season. In contrast, most cruises are cheaper in the spring or fall.

Traditionally, the winter was considered the high season for Caribbean destinations, but due to the weight of supply and demand (people who have to take their vacation during the summer) the summertime costs are almost on a par with the cost of a winter Caribbean cruise.

b) The Locations Available: The time of year that you take your cruise will also determine the locations that are available. Although this won’t make much difference to the more mainstream locations such as the Caribbean or the Mediterranean, certain places have a distinct cruise season.

If you want to go to Alaska or northern Europe, the main cruise season lasts from May till September.

For Antartica, the season is even shorter, running from November to February.

Although the tropical regions are in season all year, there is a great variation in the amount of rainfall throughout the year. Locations such as the Caribbean will have less rain during the summer months and more rain during the winter months.

And finally, although not a restriction as such, some people prefer to avoid places that may be affected by the hurricane season. If a cruise ship encounters a storm it will alter its route to avoid it, which means you may miss certain places that you wanted to visit.

5) What part of the world do you want to visit?

You can cruise almost anywhere in the world, even landlocked countries are often available to explore through river cruises. So it’s no surprise that this is one of the hardest decisions for cruise newcomers to make.

The amount of days that you have for your vacation will narrow your options, but beyond that, consider other issues, such as;

If you want to or have to take your vacation at a certain time of the year, which locations are available?

If you particularly want to use a certain cruise line, which locations do their ships visit?

What type of weather and climate do you prefer?

Are there any particular landmarks that you want to visit?

Are there any activities or adventures that you want to experience?

Now all you have to do it to get in touch with your travel agent.

Kristen Olsen
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/planning-your-first-cruise-things-to-consider-part-1-129768.html

Technorati Tags: 12 Months, Bearing, Budget, couples, Cruise Line, Cruise Lines, Cruise Ship, Cruise Ships, cruise vacation, Cruise Vacations, Extended Family, Family Vacations, Fortnight, Generous Discounts, High Seas, Lot, Luxurious Ships, Money, Partner, Travel Agent