Dream Island Cruise Vacation - Best Way To Go ?

Most people who love cruise vacations might also fantasize about going to the idyllic island paradise - miles and miles of gorgeous white sandy beaches, turquoise blue waters, lots of sun, lush tropical forests .. and with hardly a soul on the island.

But is that what happens when you go on an island cruise vacation on a gigantic modern cruise liner ? Sure, the island may be a paradise - great beaches, bluish green waters, hardly any inhabitants, tropical forests and all. But what happens when the ship gets to the island ?

Whoa ! A hungry horde of thousands of tourists from the cruise liner descend on the island in no time ... and wherever you look, all you see are tourists and not the gorgeous beaches ...

Then you start wondering if this is the vacation experience you were so excited about ...

But it does not have to be that way. You see, it is not only cruise liners that go to island ports - commercial freighters do too. These ships sail to some gorgeous islands and dock at ports cruise liners do not . The result is that the port is not deluged by tourists and you may get to see the place in all its natural beauty - the way it actually is everyday ...

And it is becoming increasingly popular for vacationers to travel on board these freighters and get to places that are not on the itineraries of cruise liners.

The accommodation on board may be comfortable, but you would not want to compare it with what would be available on board a luxury cruise liner. And you might get to see stuff like cargo being loaded and unloaded and the other activities that occur on board a freighter. In essence, you will be sharing the ship not with thousands of other vacationers, but with tonnes of cargo, possibly a handful of other tourists and sailors.

If you do not mind foregoing all the attractions on board a modern cruise ship and if you will not miss the elaborate buffets and dinners, then traveling aboard a freight cruise ship may be one option you might want to explore.

By: Gurubhakt

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Sailing on Stena Line ferries can be exciting !

Packing For Kids On A Cruise

Cruises are becoming an increasingly popular vacation choice for families. There are many cruise lines that cater to families. They offer child care for the little ones, clubs filled with activities to keep school age children occupied all day long, and teen lounges where older kids can play on gaming systems, use the Internet, listen to music and watch movies to their heart's delight.

With all of these amenities specifically geared for kids, it would seem that parents shouldn't need to worry much about bringing anything more than a few changes of clothing for their children. However, the child care rooms, kid's clubs and teen lounges aren't open 24/7, and kids do end up spending down time in their rooms with their families. When packing for kids on a cruise, there are many things that parents need to remember to bring in addition to their clothing.

For Infants and Toddlers:
* Diapers, swim diapers and wipes (pack more than you think you'll need – you may be able to purchase them in the cruise ship's store, but you'll pay a hefty premium)
* Pacifiers – bring a few extra
* Ziploc type bags to dispose of diapers – the trash in your room is only disposed of once a day
* Plastic bottles/sippy cups
* Hand sanitizing lotion
* Port a crib; booster seat for dining; stroller for on board or off board excursions – the cruise line may provide these or rent them, find out before hand
* Night light
* Disposable bibs
* Sun hat
* Children's sunscreen
* Prescription and over the counter medications
* Thermometer
* Band-Aids and antibacterial ointment
* Favorite stuffed animals, books, coloring books, crayons and toys
* Inflatable swim aids
* One or two more outfits than you think you'll need
* Portable dvd player, extra batteries, and movies

For Grade School Children – At this age, children should have a hand in the packing of their own entertainment items:

* Night light
* Sun hat
* Sunglasses
* Children's sunscreen
* Prescription and over the counter medications
* Thermometer
* Bandaids and antibacterial ointment
* Favorite stuffed animals, books, coloring books, crayons and toys
* Travel board games
* Inflatable swim aids
* One or two more outfits than you think you'll need
* Portable dvd player, extra batteries, and movies
* Portable gaming systems such as Game Boys or PSP's
* Portable music devices such as MP3 players or CD players
* A disposable camera or two to allow kids to take pictures of whatever they want
* A journal

For Teenagers – At this age, teens should handle the responsibility of packing for themselves. Help them to make a packing list so they don't forget anything important and check their bags once they are packed:

* Protective sunscreen
* Sunglasses
* Prescription and over the counter medications
* Thermometer
* Bandaids and antibacterial ointment
* Favorite books and travel board games
* Portable dvd player, extra batteries, and movies
* Portable gaming systems such as Game Boys or PSP's
* Portable music devices such as MP3 players or CD players
* A digital or disposable camera to allow teens to take pictures of whatever they want
* A journal
* Cell phone – especially if you will be going on excursions off the ship

Making sure that you have these extras will ensure that you have supplies in case of an emergency, protection from the sun, and plenty to entertain your kids on the ship.

By: Ryan Sevale

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

To learn more visit www.grab2travel.com/travel-deals/hot-travel-deals.asp or www.grab2travel.com

Cruise Food: Personal Choice Dining® Makes A Big Splash

In the golden era of ocean voyages, everyone was called to a single seating of dinner in the main dining room of the ship. Whether you were hungry or not, whether you liked liver pâté or not, you came and you ate when and what you were told. Special requests from first-class passengers may have been accommodated, but they were done so at the quiet protest of the chef. Dining aboard cruise ships today has made dramatic improvements in both variety and service.

Cruising is now broadly accepted among the masses as a cost-effective and fun vacation alternative. What was once reserved for only the wealthiest is now available to practically everyone. Catering to the masses, especially families with finicky children, has become the delight of chefs, rather than an insult. Stretching their creativity, most of those on the kitchen staff take pride in developing new dining alternatives that suit their guests.

Options In Cuisine

Princess Cruises is a good example. With the advent of Personal Choice Dining®, Princess has not only taken the restrictions off typical cruise ship dining, it has also expanded options for its passengers. With "Anytime Dining," guests find most of the eight restaurants open all day. Some are open 24 hours. While the main dining room still has two seatings, it is open for Anytime Dining during breakfast and lunch hours. This allows passengers to eat when they are hungry rather than when the cruise line dictates they should dine. But time isn't the only advantage to Personal Choice Dining®.

Options in cuisine have become much more diverse. Making concessions for every age and appetite, Princess offers a little something for everyone. From an onboard, upscale Italian restaurant to a refined steakhouse to burgers, dogs and pizza at the café, adults and kids alike can enjoy what suits their fancies. In addition, guests can curb those midday (or midnight!) snack attacks with a 24-hour buffet, featuring finger sandwiches, aged cheeses, chocolate-dipped strawberries, ice cream sundaes and more.

For those who prefer a more private way to dine, 24-hour room service is available with a full menu. Simply fill out the card provided in your stateroom, and any cuisine you desire from the dining room - including steak and lobster - will be delivered to you at the time you indicate. If you desire to dine on your balcony, your server will be glad to accommodate.

Dressing For Dinner

While the main dining room does have nights where formalwear is required, other dining options onboard allow passengers to dress in whichever attire they choose. Visit the buffet in your swimsuit and flip-flops, throw on shorts and a tank top for the late-night bistro or don your khakis and golf shirt for the steakhouse and other onboard restaurants.

If you've been under the mistaken impression that cruising means tuxedos and entrées with names you can't pronounce, relax! Those days are long gone. Princess Cruises and other lines now have much more casual options you and your family can take advantage of. Eat when you want, where you want, what you want and make everybody happy!

By: Roy Witman

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Roy Witman is Vice-President of Cruise Vacation Center at www.cruisevacationcenter.com offering the best deals including Princess cruises. Visit them today! © 2007, All Rights Reserved

Cruise Travel Tips

Cruise is now one of the hottest vacations around. Why? Because cruising is one of a great vacation values available. You pay for your cabin and all the food you can eat for 3, 4 7, days or longer, of luxurious pampering before you leave on your cruise. That alone should put your mind at ease. Think about it. Not only don’t you have to worry about keeping enough money for lunch or dinner on your fourth or fifth day of the vacation, but you don’t have to worry about trying to find a place to dine.

There are a several choices for dining when you are cruising. On most of the large ships there are a multitude of restaurants to choose from. You can go casual, formal or just have pizza or hot dogs. And don’t forget that there is always room service – 24 hours a day. Picture having your breakfast brought to your room, sitting on your balcony, and dining alfresco while you arrive in a new port. This is quite an exciting way to start your day no matter where you are arriving.

Some people shy away from using this great vacation outlet because they are afraid they will get bored or feel confined while they are having a day at sea. Nothing could be farther from the truth. There are activities all day, every day that cater to everyone’s interest. And the best part of that is, if you want to play bridge and your spouse wants to do aerobics, your both free to do what ever you like and meet up later for a margarita or rum punch at the pool. Now all of the ships have children’s programs so that the kids can go off with other children in their age group, (with youth counselors), and you don’t have to worry about them or if they are having fun. These aspects afford everyone a good time without anyone feeling guilty.

Another bonus to cruising is that you get to visit multiple destinations. If you cruise the Caribbean you will go to several islands, depending on the length of the cruise. At night while you are sleeping peacefully in your bed, the captain and crew are taking you to a new exotic location for you to explore the next day.

If you cruise in Europe (after you have flown to the port of embarkation) you will find yourself in whole new countries from one day to the next. For example, if you cruise the Baltic, you will be visiting Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Russia and either Croatia or Estonia.

If you choose to cruise Asia, some ports you will visit are Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong and China.Alot of nice food and beautiful sights awaits you.

www.cruise-travel-advice.blogspot.com

By: judy sim

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

About the author, judy sim is a freelance fulltime writer. For more information of this article please visit www.cruise-travel-advice.blogspot.com

Holiday Tips While Whitsundays Cruises

Thanks to its location, Whitsundays can be considered to be an experience that is filled with warm tropical weather for the most part of the year. Therefore, you may experience this weather if you decide to take Whitsunday sailing holidays because the winter in this place actually means sun bathing even if it might get colder in the evening. One may experience the fresh winds while taking Whitsundays cruises because the weather is warm almost in every period of the year; summer is to be seen as warm and sultry and the wet months are not likely to happen except for February and March.

Therefore, while you are on Whitsunday sailing holidays, you have to wear light and comfortable clothes during the warm days but the evening wear can get elegant enough in order to prevent you from wearing T-shirts and even thongs can become prohibited from your evening wardrobe. The sarong and the swimmers are not to be forgotten together with an invaluable item called polarized sunglasses. You have to keep safe from the light that is reflected by the water. But you can actually use these polarized sunglasses in order to see in the water because during Whitsundays cruises, you can spot the reef that is likely to become visible.

One may experience the underwater life without having to get wet for this and the Whitsunday sailing holidays are the perfect opportunity when it comes to checking the wildlife that is to be found under the ocean water. You should not forget your sunscreen because the sun during Whitsundays cruises can become very hot and everyone can be caught by its heat. One should avoid the devastating effect that the sun may have on his holiday because higher protection should be chosen instead of the normal one. The sunscreen needs to be a waterproof one because these Whitsunday sailing holidays can become very wet.

You can let yourself be barefoot while on board of the Whitsundays cruises but you have to wear foot wear while on beach because coral cuts or oyster cuts are to be avoided in order not to spoil your holiday. You should not forget about wearing a hat during the Whitsundays cruises because a broad brimmed one is of real help when it comes to providing an extra protection that is actually very useful when you enjoy yourself wandering around the boat. Sitting on a deck can be enjoyed in the proper way while taking Whitsunday sailing holidays if you choose to wear a hat in order to protect your ears.

Usually a boat sailing requires more conditions in order to be transformed in a safe one but not all these conditions are depending upon the technical stuff; you have to be cautious yourself in order to avoid certain undesirable happenings that can occur thanks to your lack of attention or to your restlessness. So, you have to be aware of your own limits when it comes to traveling by water because the technical stuff is not responsible for your misbehaviors; therefore you must respect the conditions that are implied by Whitsundays cruises without relying exclusively on your knowledge.

By: Ckint Jhonson

Atlantic Cruises – How To Choose The Right One

Choosing a cruise can be overwhelming, but it can also be easy once you narrow down what you're looking for. If you're reading this, you've probably already decided that you want to go on an Atlantic Cruise, so you made a step in the right direction. Now – it's time to think about budget, destinations, and the kind of travel experience that you're looking for.

Laying out your budget helps taper your focus. The difference between budget, premium, and luxury cruises often comes down to staff to passenger ratio, age of the ship, included extras, and available on-board services. Another budget consideration is time allowance. If you only have a week's vacation, you can rule out month-long transatlantic cruises.

The next question is 'where'? Are you looking for sun fun on the Canary Islands? To explore the Nordic beauty of the Fjords of Bengal? Perhaps hiking the foothills of Scotland? Or exploring the historical port cities of the Americas? Even if you decide between the Northern Atlantic and the South, you'll tighten your focus.

How you'd like to travel is your last major decision. Some ships cater to families, others to couples or singles. If you're celebrating your 60th anniversary, you may not want to book on the 'Spring Break Party Boat.' Having a clear idea of what you're looking for will narrow your options significantly.

If you're not sure about the character of different Atlantic cruises, try reading reviews on-line. You can find professional reviews as well as those written by regular passengers just like you. Another fantastic resource is a travel agent that specializes in Atlantic cruises. They know about their industry, and can help you discover a tailored experience.

Picking an Atlantic cruise doesn't have to be difficult. Just take a moment to sit down, think through your what, where, when, and how - and the 'who' you'll choose will come to you!

By: Gabriel Adams

Cruise Ships Are Not Designed For Children - Do You Believe This Popular Misconception ?

Many families enjoy summer vacations aboard a cruise ship, but even more don’t consider it as a possibility. If you are looking for a different way to spend quality time with your family, you are urged to at least considering taking a family cruise. Cruise ships are a great location to have your next vacation. If given the opportunity, many parents would choose to take a cruise alone. This isn’t because of a lack of love, but because of a common misconception among parents and cruise ships. Many individuals, including parents, believe that cruise ships are not designed for children, but that is simply not true.

If you believe this popular misconception, you could be missing out on one of the greatest opportunities of your life. There are a large number of cruise lines, each offering different cruises. With all of the cruise ships available, you are sure to find at least one that can offer your family fun on the water.

Cruise ship childcare centers are facilities that benefit both parents and their children. While on a family vacation, even you need a break. For free or a small fee, you should be able to leave your children in the care of a trained and experienced childcare worker. Since a cruise ship is likely to have passengers of all different ages, many childcare facilities are grouped together by ages. As with most other services, you will find that a cruise ship’s childcare policy may vary form another’s. The above mentioned activities, services, and facilities are just a few of the many that are targeted to children, aged twelve and under. If you are satisfied with the above mentioned services, facilities, and activities, you may want to consider scheduling your next family vacation aboard a cruise ship. If you are unable to afford the assistance of a travel agent, you should be able to book your own cruise vacation online. A large number of popular cruise lines, including Celebrities Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Lines, and Disney Cruise Lines, have online websites. These websites can be used to view the activities aboard a particular ship, review the costs associated with booking a cruise, and to make online reservations. Booking your own cruise ship vacation is an excellent way to find the perfect cruise ship for your family and save money at the same time.

By: zhafran