Tired of taking the family to Disneyland for vacation? Then why not try an Alaska cruise? They offer beautiful scenery, cruise luxury and Alaskan adventure for those who want it.
But not all Alaska cruise trips are alike. You first need to decide what you want on your cruise. If you like to be pampered in the lap of luxury then you’ll want to take advantage of one of the many Alaska luxury cruises. Here you can relax in the spa, have a wonderful massage and enjoy all the amenities of a first class resort. You will dine on the best foods, available at almost any hour. Just like most cruises, Alaska cruises are the ultimate in pampering guests.
Alaska cruises have something for everyone in the family. Along with the usual cruise amenities of pools, games, exercise, meeting new people and fun, Alaska cruises offer interesting scenery you won’t find at home. On your cruise, not only will you’ll be amazed by majestic glaciers but you might spot brown bears, eagles, humpback whales or sea lions.
If you want adventure, there are many cruise packages that can satisfy your needs as well as offer typical cruise amenities.
One popular Alaskan adventure is sea kayaking. You can pick from tours in choppy waters or, for the more tame at heart, a calmer course is offered. Sea kayaking gives you an opportunity to get outdoors and see a lot of the coastline which is abundant with local wildlife.
Hiking is another popular excursion that you can try once your cruise ship docs. You can choose from any number of guided hikes using different trails and going out for different lengths of time. It’s a great chance to get out in the wilderness and experience nature Alaska style. If this isn’t enough for you, you can even work in some rock climbing while you are off ship.
The best time to take an Alaska cruise is in the summer where you will be able to enjoy Alaska in fairly mild weather. There are 2 basic paths that cruises take one goes through the inside passage which visits Alaskan panhandle ports and the other through the Gulf of Alaska visiting more glaciers and northern points. Be sure that you check the weather and pack accordingly!
Lee Dobbins writes for Travel Cents where you can learn more about budget travel and cruises.
Luxury Cruise Vacation - Some Ultimate Destinations
Date: Sunday February 3, 2008Posted in: Cruises
Make your self pampered with a luxury cruise and feel like heaven while spending your holidays. Thinking of a perfect gift for the ones close to your heart, want to give them relaxation and rejuvenation, a luxury is an ideal gift. Holidays are always enjoyable and loved by every one but cruise vacations makes you feel touched with comfort and value for the money. If we talk about luxury cruise they are the second name of comfort. Cruising is one of the fastest growing industries around the globe. People now consider cruising as one of the most comfortable and affordable holiday options. Due to the chart busting popularity of cruises a lot of cruise lines are operating and offering cruise vacations at very affordable rates. It is an extraordinary experience to stay on cruise ships that have state-of-the-art amenities with the world’s best cuisines and enjoy the life at fullest.
Some of the best cruise lines operating world wide are Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Lines, Crystal Cruises and Princess Cruise Line. Cruises are popular holiday options since the old days and still gaining top positions on the popularity charts. Some of the most popular cruise destinations are listed below. Caribbean The Caribbean islands are the most spectacular cruise destination all over the globe. The Caribbean country is brimming with many islands and port-of-call to visit in the Caribbean, which makes it the perfect and the most thriving cruise destination. Bahamas The Bahamas are just a few hours east of Florida, which makes it a perfect destination for wonderful cruise vacations available. For first time cruisers Bahamas is always been a first choice. Snorkeling, diving, wind-sailing, and swimming with the dolphins and sightseeing are some plus points of the Bahamas
Alaska A glimpse of interesting culture, a huge variety of activities, and an array of scrumptious local dishes takes you to a wonderful cruise vacations to destinations Alaska. Antarctica Antarctica cruise is a medley of abundant wild life and breath taking scenery. An icy voyage to Antarctica is going to become the most unforgettable holiday destination of your life. Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is one of the most uncommercialised and most beautiful holiday destinations worldwide till now. The Maldives beautiful coral atolls and luxurious over-water bungalows, Sri Lanka’s exotic scenery, Mauritius lush tropical beauty and Madagascar’s tropical mountains all are exotic and exciting. Switch off your mobile phone, forget about all your worries and forget about the rest of the world while you are on your luxury cruise vacations. Enjoy the golden sunrise and the marvelous sunset on the cruise with your family and friends.
supplied by http://www.about2cruise.co.uk
Much excitement and mystery surrounds the formal nights on cruises. It’s customary to have one formal night on a 5-day cruise, more in proportion on longer cruises. On my first cruise, I wondered what it would be like, how dressed-up people got, and what I would feel comfortable in. Let me fill you in! I speak on cruise lines, and I’ve been on the Royal Caribbean, Costa, Holland America, Princess and Carnival Cruise lines lately.
Formal wear is officially defined as a tux or dark suit, white shirt and tie for men, and evening wear, cocktail dresses, fancy pantsuits or evening gowns for women.
Luxury cruises give you the opportunity to go formal, if you like to, but not an obligation. Many gentlemen do not wear tuxes. I’ve seen men in the dining room without jackets or ties, too. (Read your particular cruise line materials to see if a tie is required for gentlemen.) If you consider it fun to go formal, this is your chance to shine and you can go as formal as you like.
You can make it a full-meal deal, pampering yourself with a massage, a beauty treatment, a facial and then having your hair done that day. But book early, appointments go fast. Even if you’re cruising in the Caribbean in the summertime, the temperature is always cool in the dining rooms.
PHOTOGRAPHS
A large part of cruising for some people is the opportunity for formal portraits. It will say in your schedule when photography begins. Dress early and you may have to stay in a small line. They happily arrange family groups, even as large as 50. If you need a new professional photo, keep this in mind. They do designer-looking black and white head shots as well, and I wish I had known. I could’ve saved myself the sitting fee here in town, and a lot of time. So consider bringing along a professional jacket for one of the portrait opportunities.
DON’T WANT TO SPEND A LOT ON SOMETHING YOU’LL ONLY WEAR ONCE
There are several options here:
# Plan ahead and shop sales to catch something on special
# Shop in stores such as Ross Dress for Less. I’vee picked up wonderful formal gowns for $20-$30
# Look in resale stores. Their prices run higher, but there are always designer items, and that’s fun, too
# Don’t forget ebay, great deals, and tons of stuff for men
# Rent. Yes, they’ve thought of everything. CruiselineFormalwear for instance, provides a service for cruise guests on Holland America , Disney, Royal Caribbean, and Princess
HERE ARE SOME THINGS THEY OFFER FOR THE GUYS
# Tuxedo rental, delivered to your stateroom
# Tailor on board ship, contact the Housekeeping Dept. No charge. (Try on your tux right away; don’t wait for formal night)
# In case of major fitting problems (which shouldn’t occur if you measure right), there is usually extra inventory on board
# Inquire Instructions on the website on how to measure
# When to order? Call 1-800-551-5091 to inquire about your specific cruise. (Usually 1-2 weeks prior)
# Included is: jacket, pants, two shirts, cummerbund, bowtie, and cufflinks/studs
# Shoes and other optional accessories are rented separately
# Sizes up to 60 X-Long
# The black formal socks with the rental are yours to keep
To place your order you need:
# Name of ship, sail date and port
# Current measurements (height, weight, coat size, chest measurement, pants waist and length (inseam and out seam), shirt neck and sleeve, and shoe size
# Credit card payment information
# If your cabin number, ship or sail date change, YOU must notify Cruiseline Formalwear. The ship won’t
# Limited last-minute tux inventory for rental is aboard ship, but it’s first-come, first-served, and they may not have all sizes
FOR WOMEN
For women, CruiselineFormalwear offers several different items you can rent, including: black velvet, gold, and glitter blouses, black velvet and black crepe long skirts, and black formal shoes.
If you should forget to bring the right jewellery, there are plenty of choices in the ship store. They also offer basic formal wear for women for sale.
FOR BOYS
CruiselineFormalwear also has tuxedos for boys available for rent
AND
You’re on a cruise and there will be food 24/7. Sometimes I’m good and don’t gain 5-10 lbs. Other times, well, I always pack this great pair of beautiful black spandex-type evening pants with an elastic waist to wear toward the end of the cruise. Get the picture?
And remember, most cruise ships have alternative dining if you want to skip formal night altogether. Anyways it’s your vacation; have it your way!
You’ve decided to treat yourself to a luxury cruise, but it’s your first time on one and you’re not sure what to expect. Contrary to popular belief, they are not just for high flyers or millionaires. You are just as likely to find people who may have had a windfall or saved up to treat themselves to what they’d consider a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience. Another image that tends to spring to mind is one of passengers constantly dressed ‘up to the nines’. Not so. Yes, you will sometimes have to be dressed formally, but most ships have several dining options and you don’t always have to wear a gown or a tie. As for the staff, they are trained to provide the best service possible, not to look down on you. As more and more people ‘treat themselves’, staff on luxury cruise ships are used to passengers who have not experienced such first class services before, butlers for example, and are there to help you enjoy the experience.
Hopefully you’re feeling a bit more relaxed now. Here are our top tips for preparing for your first luxury cruise.
Ask the Experts
Your first port of call should be the travel agent, preferably one who specialises in cruises. A good agent can discuss the different cruise lines and ships in detail, for example average age, type of entertainment, shore excursions and dining facilities. Make sure they know what you like and don’t like, such as your preference for dancing in the evenings or listening to guest lecturers, and what you’re looking for. Maybe you fancy glamour, in which case maybe try Silversea Cruises’ Silver Cloud or Silver Wind. Or for something traditional how about one of Seabourn’s three ships?
Don’t Be Shy
Be honest (and firm) with your travel agent about your budget. When they know exactly how much they’ve got to work with they can weed out the obvious no’s and see if they can get you a deal. Double check what is and isn’t included in the price - on some cruise liners the tips are included in the fare and sometimes selected drinks. Cruises on SeaDream Yacht Club’s ultra-luxury yachts, for example, include cocktails, tips, caviar, watersports…
Have an Onboard Budget
With all those wonderful facilities onboard, it can be tempting to splash out on relaxing spa treatments, mementos from the shops or trying your luck in the casino. Difficult for first timers, but decide on a budget and stick to it. Keep a running tab of what you’ve spent so you can keep a careful eye on expenditure and ensure you don’t get a shock at the end of the cruise. Easier said than done we know, especially if you’re onboard a ship like Crystal’s Crystal Symphony or Crystal Serenity with their Feng Shui inspired spa and Caesar’s Palace casino.
Research
A travel agent may be able to tell you quite a bit about the cruise, but the internet is a great research tool. For honest opinions you can find reviews from people who have been on the cruise(s) you’re interested in or even join a forum where you can ask other members for any tips or comments about particular cruise(s).
Relax
Don’t forget, you’re there to enjoy yourself. All the staff are trained to make your cruise as pleasurable as possible and are there to help. Make the most of them. Try not to think of making what you might consider social gaffes - it’s highly unlikely anyone will notice and if they do, so what? Everyone makes mistakes.
So go on, book that luxury cruise and enjoy.
Susan Bigmore is the web editor for http://www.insidecruise.co.uk, a cruise community packed full of articles and discussions as well as http://www.idealcruising.co.uk a specialist cruise travel agent.
