Saturday, December 11, 2010

Top 5 Reasons to Take a Mediterranean Cruise Ship Vacation

Mediterranean cruise travel is booming! In recent years, more and more people have started realizing the excitement of taking a Mediterranean cruise ship vacation and enjoying the region's culture, cuisine and natural beauties.
Consequently, cruise lines had to follow up on the growing need to cruise the Mediterranean sea: the number of ships that cruise in Europe grow with every season and many of them stay throughout the whole year.
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In the past, attainable solely to the young men of privileged families who would embark on their months long Grand Tour of Europe, seeking out the Wonders of the Ancient World is now accessible to everyone, thanks to fantastic Mediterranean sea cruise itineraries!
If you're one of those people who still haven't taken advantage of experiencing the Mediterranean by cruise ship, here's our top five reasons why you should do so:
1. UNPACK ONCE ONLY: It's magic... one day you wake up and you're sailing past the Piazza San Marco in Venice... the next morning you draw back your porthole's curtains and there's the Dubrovnik medieval walls right in front of you! Instead of packing and unpacking, loading your suitcases into taxis, trains and airplanes, you get to party with your Cruise director's staff!
2. EXPERIENCE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF HISTORY:
The Mediterranean is a cradle of Western Civilization and you will have a chance to see the spots that you've only read about all your life!
From seeing where the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World used to stand, to visiting the birthplace of the Olympic games. From the amphitheaters where Saint Paul used to preach, to the streets Marc Anthony and Cleopatra once walked. From the Pyramids of Giza, to the house of the Virgin Mary. When you cruise Mediterranean sea, history and myth will materialize right before your eyes.
Or maybe you have some more personal history to pursue... looking to find that little village on a Greek island where your family's from? Looking to taste the Sicilian cannoli that your grandma used to tell you about? A Mediterranean sea cruise can be a very emotional affair too.
Ships shore excursions are designed that way to take you straight to the must-see spots of your destination.
However, If you're not a big fan of going out in the port with the same people you saw last night in the dining room, with a little bit of preparation, you can easily set off into the ports-of-call by yourself.
3. INDULGE IN THE EUROPEAN CUISINE - What's really exciting when you cruise Mediterranean sea is that you get to taste different food every day! Now, we know your dining room headwaiter and your executive chef are taking good care of you but give them a little break and don't' rush back to the ship to have lunch! Instead indulge in real Neapolitan pizza, taste real Greek mousaka, souvlaki and saganaki, enjoy some apple tea in Turkey, don't miss the fish and seafood in Dubrovnik!
4. GO CRAZY SHOPPING - Europe is the best place to shop in the Universe. Just think of Italy... it's the birthplace of style and fashion! Think of all those handbags and shoes staring at you from the shop windows of some of the most elegant shopping streets in the world. What about butter-soft Florentine leather and 18kt gold? Turkey is the place to get a silk rug that took months to weave by hand. You cannot leave Venice without your Murano glass mirror or chandelier! And Croatia... did you know the Croatians invented the necktie? Dubrovnik and Split are where you will be getting your authentic Croatian silk necktie!
5. ENJOY THE BEACHES - Not all Mediterranean cruise ports are good for a day on the beach, so if it's an important part of your cruise in Europe, pick an itinerary that includes one of these Greek islands: Mykonos, Corfu and Rhodes. However, be sure not to miss seeing the attractions these destinations have to offer downtown. You would kick yourself if you did!

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Activities Aboard a Cruise Ship

There is an endless list of activities you can participate in during a cruising holiday, with everything from sports activities to hobby classes you are bound to find something to keep yourself and your family entertained. Many people purposely choose specific cruise companies due to their activity schedules aboard.
A great tip is to always speak to the cruise company if you can't see an activity mentioned in a brochure or online. Sadly, you can't take for granted that certain activities will be available such as dancing lessons or swimming lessons simply because the facilities are aboard. Before we proceed, also click this link to visit a website with information about Bali cruise.
There are plenty of great websites available that allow you to not only pick up cheap cruise deals but also compare the onboard activities with other offerings of late cruise deals available. Be aware that there are some large differences between cruise companies and their selections of activities, for example those that are interested in gambling will unfortunately be unable to find a casino on any of the Disney owned liners that are currently sailing.
For those that want the ultimate in relaxation many cheap cruise deals feature liners that are fully equipped with spas and gyms, certainly a great feature for those looking to not only pamper themselves but keep in trim. When it comes to health and beauty you can be assured you will find many hairdressers and boutiques aboard your cruise ship to keep you looking glamorous no matter how long your holiday is booked for.
One great advantage of cruising is having everything 'under one roof', there are lots of activities that you would have passed up due to time constraints in the past but due to the holiday atmosphere you feel in the mood to try now. You can find a large selection of instructional classes such as tai chi and aerobics on most cruise holidays; these can be great tasters for those that feel like a change in their routine.
Singing and dancing forms a large part of a cruise holidays entertainment, but why be contented with just watching? Many cruise holidays feature dance and musical workshops to keep yourself and your fellow travellers entertained.
So take a look today at what activities you could be taking part in during one of the many mini cruises available.

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Friday, December 10, 2010

Antarctica Cruise: When Is the Best Time to Travel

If you are intending on taking a cruise to Antarctica, then you have to figure out which is the best time for it. According to experts, the best time to take a cruise to Antarctica is between November and March as this is the period when the region gets sunshine for practically twenty-four hours.

However, from experience it is suggested that you plan for cruise either for November or early part of December. This is the time when spring season begins here and you will see signs of new life emerging. Birds like penguins, giant petrels, skuas, snow petrels and cormorants begin their breeding and start nesting. During this time, you will get an opportunity to see penguins court each other, and it will truly be a remarkable experience that you will never forget.

If you want to see the humpback whales, then plan your cruise to Antarctica during December and January. You will be able to see these magnificent creatures swimming looking for krill, their staple diet. This is also the time when you will be able to see birds like the albatross, petrels and skuas with their chicks. In addition, different species of seals will come on to ice floes and thrill you a great deal.

In February and March, the breeding cycle of the animals and birds comes to an end. The chicks of the birds are become big enough to start exploring their surroundings. If you are not squeamish, then you will marvel at the sight of leopard seals waiting to devour baby penguins who enter the water for the first time. Also, be prepared to spy fur seals, orcas and minke whales, which are a kind of baleen whales measuring about 25 to 30 feet in length. During these months, the days begin to shorten as the region prepares for the winter season, but the sunsets are spectacular and leave you spellbound.

Based on the aforementioned information, you can plan your cruise to Antarctica, depending upon what you want to see and experience.


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