There was a brother in a nearby congregation who seemed to be a very spiritual-minded brother who worked as a travel agent, and he would quite often book passages for groups of witnesses to go on cruises as well as Bethel tours. He was also an elder, and used frequently on assembly & convention programs until his health no longer allowed it.

They would have the Watchtower (and at the time Book Study) while on the cruise, so they did not miss out on spiritual food.

The benefit was that they got to enjoy the opportunity to enjoy such a vacation while maintaining good association.

The brother always made sure everything was done in a spiritual and moral way. He did not book "huge groups" but it was still a group.

Perhaps the one the sister you went on was too large to manage and maintain spirituality. (?)

Sadly, the brother of whom I speak succumbed to cancer a couple of years past. The Kingdom Hall at his memorial was packed, with people lining the walls as well as standing outside.

The only cruise I have been on was a regular 4 day cruise, and while some of the entertainment was not immoral, there was some that my wife and I did not participate in due to its questionable nature.

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Drinks, massages, beauty salon, etc. on board were NOT included, but there was a lot that was. It all depends on what you like to do & what your tastes are.

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Those of you who have been lucky enough to have the opportunity to go cruising already know what a wonderful experience a cruise can be. Indeed, it’s more than likely that you probably rate every vacation you take now against the standard set by your cruise.

Even if you’ve never been on a cruise the chances are that you’ve thought of taking one. Unfortunately, deciding to go on a cruise is the easy part. After that you will have a number of important decisions to make to ensure that you pick the perfect cruise for you.

The most important decision you will face after you decide to go on a cruise is where you want to go. When people think of cruises they usually think of the big cruise ships in the Caribbean. Just imagine all that deep blue water and the sun shining down while you sit on the deck and enjoy cocktails. Ahhhh nice! And while that can be a lot of fun, you should keep in mind that you can go on cruises to almost any part of the world. Take a cruise through the Panama Canal, around the Indian Ocean, or follow the western coast of Africa into the Mediterranean.

Keep in mind that you are not just picking which part of the ocean you’d like to see. Almost all cruises will allow you to make side trips inland when the ship stops at a port of call. This can be either on your own or as part of an organized tour group. If you have always wanted to visit Australia, try combining a trip to Australia with a cruise around the Pacific Ocean.

You should also make sure that you can find a cruise that will give you the experience you want. Obviously, a small cruise ship touring around the coast of Alaska will result in a very different experience from a large cruise ship meandering leisurely around the Mediterranean. While there are major differences in the cruising experience, this is not just about picking the right kind of climate for your trip. If you are looking for all night parties and poolside drinks, go on the Mediterranean cruise. If you want a more relaxed trip, curled up under blankets and whale watching, go on the Alaskan cruise.

You should also remember that certain cruise lines focus on different types of customers. There are cruise ships that will cater to those who want to spend all night drinking and dancing, there are cruise ships that focus on retirees and there are cruise ships that cater to a variety of tastes. Families should look for family-friendly cruises. These family-friendly cruises will have children’s activities and places for teenagers to hang out. The Disney Cruise line specializes in family style cruising.

The level of service you will receive is the biggest factor in your final price. If you are on a tight budget, avoid the high end luxury cruise. Instead go with a premium or even mainstream cruise. The location and size of your cabin will also make a difference. If you are really tight for cash, take a small cabin on the inside of the ship. While your food and cabin may not be as grand as fellow passengers on the exclusive decks, you will at least still be able to afford the airfare home. And you will have the same experiences as the higher paying passengers.

If you can afford it, feel free to treat yourself with a luxury cruise and enjoy all the amenities that come along with staying at a fancy hotel. Except this hotel goes to many different and exotic places!!

While cruises are often all-inclusive, there are a number of things you should confirm before leaving home. First make sure that the cruise ship is aware of any special dietary or smoking restrictions. If your cruise ship will be coming into port, inquire if you need to book any shore excursions in advance. And most importantly, ensure that you have a way to get to the starting point and back again when the cruise is over. Some cruises do not end at the same port that they departed from. Ending a wonderful cruise by being stranded at the ship’s last port of call is not the best way to enjoy your holiday! Spending a few days in the last port of call before returning home will top off the perfect end to the perfect vacation. Happy cruising!

Stephen Dolan
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/you-need-to-go-on-a-cruise-87559.html

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Duration : 0:7:12

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If you’ve always wanted to go on a cruise, but were afraid that it would cost an arm and a leg, you might be surprised to find that you can enjoy a cheap trip without missing out on all the fun. The industry is now considering its lower income passengers so that it can provide a vacation destination for a lot more people. By going online and to travel agencies you can find a cheap cruise that will meet all your expectations.

Although prices will vary between each company and its destinations, there are a lot of options out there. You don’t have to settle for something that doesn’t appeal to you. After all you’ve been saving up your money for a great vacation. You just have to do some good research to find a combination of a cheap cruise and a reputable one. If you can be flexible in the schedule, you are much more likely to find a great cheap cruise.

If you have school-aged children that will be traveling with you, it might be more difficult to find a cheap cruise that can accommodate you. The main reason for this is because cruises will typically be more expensive at times when kids are on vacation from school. The companies never want to miss out on a chance to make money and summer time is their best season. So going at a time when there is not a high demand will be your best chance at getting a cheap cruise.

It can also be difficult finding a spot on a ship during prime season due to the large number of travelers. This is true for any cruise no matter whether it is cheap or expensive. So you definitely want to plan far ahead if you want to book in the summer or other prime seasons.

Since it is very easy to end up with cheap cruise that has cheap quality, you may want to consider consulting an expert. That way you are much more likely of getting what you want, rather than being very disappointed.

There are a lot of people who are interested in finding a cheap cruise because of the money they can save for other things. So considering the large market, it is becoming a lot easier to find a cheap trip. Simply looking at all your options online or spending time working with a travel agent you can definitely find a cheap cruise that you will really enjoy.

No matter what type of cruise you want, you can definitely find one that will meet your needs and desires.

Charlie Welf
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/find-a-cheap-cruise-that-has-everything-you-need-89597.html

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To book a cruise you will be required to pay a deposit of between $250 and $350 per person, depending upon the cruise line and the number of days that you plan to cruise. Then you can make payment right on line with your credit card, or make payment through your travel agent with a credit card or cash, or just pay the balance due by the final payment date which is usually 60 to 70 days before the cruise, again depending upon the length of the cruise.

If you would like to travel at the end of the summer, lets say Sept 30 for example, your final payment would probably be due about July 30th. If you are thinking of cruising in the Caribbean remember that June through the end of October is hurricane season in the Caribbean.

Now there are some thing that you need to know about cruising to help you decide.

- There are a number of variables and other things you need to know that affect the price of a cruise including, the number of days you cruise, what type cabin you select, whether you book your cruise very early (many months in advance) or late (last minute), and whether you go on a luxury cruise or a moderately prices cruise line.

- All cruise cabins are sold based on double occupancy and the prices listed will be per person and based on at least two people going on the cruise. You can go solo but you will have to pay a single supplement which is basically a double fare.

- The major price differential of any cruise will depend upon the type accommodations that you choose and there are 4 basic types of cabins on ships; INSIDE (no window), OUTSIDE (a window or porthole), BALCONY/VERANDA, and SUITES. The "FROM" prices you see will always be for an inside cabin.

- Cruises are all pretty much "all inclusive". When you purchase a cruise it includes your cabin, all meals on ship including breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and 24/7 free room service. It also includes all entertainment on ship and free use of all facilities on ship except the spa. You can use the pools hot tubs, gymnasium, sports equipment and all other facilities and equipment free of charge. All ships charge for spa service like massages, hair and nail appointments, and yoga lessons. Some ships also charge a fee for certain services like the pool table, the bowling alley, or for special restaurants not included in your normal cruise price (there may be a $10 to $20 per person gratuity/service fee). Coffee, tea, milk, juices, punch, iced teas are included but you must pay for soft drinks and alcoholic beverages and a 15% gratuity will be added to each check each time you order a drink.

Then you will have to pay for anything you buy on ship like photos or souvenirs and any tours you book from the ship. And lastly you will pay a $10 per day per per gratuity at the end of the cruise. The only mandatory of all of these charges is the gratuity. So after you pay for your cruise the only other charge will be the gratuities.

- There are some differences among the cruise lines. Princess, Celebrity and Holland America have great ships and have more reserved passengers. Holland America has more senior citizens cruising on its ships. Carnival has more first time cruiser and young people who want to party, party, party. Royal Caribbean caters most to families and has the most and best on ship activities.

Next, you need to know that all of the cruise lines give the best price for early bookings that are a year or more in advance. But, you can sometimes find a discount or deal price by searching the cruise lines web sites for their specials. Royal Caribbean’s web site is the easiest to find specials on; the link to its "hot deals" is in red. RC is my favorite !!!

HOLLAND AMERICA
http://www.hollandamerica.com/

CELEBRITY:
http://www.celebritycruises.com/home .

ROYAL CARIBBEAN:
http://www.royalcaribbean.com/gohome.d…..

NORWEGIAN:
http://www.ncl.com/

PRINCESS:
http://www.princess.com/index.html

CARNIVAL:
http://www.carnivalcruiselines.com/

What I recommend is that you go to the cruise lines and click on the link for specials and browse what is available. I have been on Princess, Celebrity, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean ships and can vouch that they are good cruise lines. My advice is not to pick a date and then look for a cruise. Pick a cruise first that has a good price and then go for that date when the price is the lowest. My personal preference is the Western Caribbean cruise and on a Royal Caribbean or Princess ship.

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