Easy Luxury Vacations

posted by Joyce on Jun 4

With many cruise lines catering to the interests of teens these days, there is no reason to ignore cruising as a possible family vacation alternative.

Your teens can make new friends, participate in activities geared for them, and eat when and what they want. You will not hear them whining that they’re bored and just want to go home.

Here is a brief summary of the options for teens on board various cruise ships.

• Sports Activities

Cruise lines that offer ice skating, swimming, surfing, rock wall climbing are some classes of Royal Caribbean International (RCI) and Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL).

• Teens Only Space

This includes both teen rooms and designated outside areas found on Holland America Line and Disney Cruise Lines.

• Late-Night Snacks

Their options are late-night Pizzerias, Bistros, and snack stations as well as possible 24-hour restaurants. Various combinations of these are available on Princess Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Disney Cruise Lines.

• Favorite Teen Destinations

The Caribbean is a favorite because of the onshore adventures available and Mexico is popular for water sports.

posted by Joyce on Jun 2

While these days pretty much anything goes, there are some general packing tips for being prepared for your cruise.

The weather can change from sunny and warm to windy, cool, and rainy. Afternoon showers are a regular occurrence in the tropics.

Packing for shore excursions

• Short-sleeve shirts and shorts
• Long-sleeve shirts and pants
• Comfortable pants and dress slacks
• Sweater, waterproof and windproof jacket
• Clothes for a day in and around town
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Water shoes or sandals
• Hat, sunglasses and sunblock

• Above all, dress for comfort.

Packing for on board

There are generally three types of shipboard attire.

• Casual or Day Wear

The definition of casual differs according to whether it’s a high-end cruise line, middle-of-the-road, or bargain cruise line.

• Informal Evening Wear

This generally refers to jacket and dress slacks for men, and informal dress or pants and blouse for women.

• Formal Evening Wear

Formal wear means tuxedo, dinner jacket, or dark suit and tie for men, and dressy outfit or formal gown for women.

On some cruises, however, they recommend leaving formal attire at home. Check out the guidelines for the particular cruise you are considering.

Note: If you want the formal dining where you can look their best and enjoy the high standards of decorum and class in the beautiful dining rooms, confirm that it’s an option on your cruise. Don’t assume it will be. Times are changing.

Last, but not least, don’t forget the essentials

• Passport
• Bathing suits
• Workout clothes
• Diary
• Camera with lots of film or big memory cards
• Insect repellent

For more tips on packing for your cruise vacation check out these
Eight Packing Strategies

Happy Sailing!

posted by Joyce on May 8

How do you imagine an ideal vacation? Whatever your taste is, Caribbean cruises provide it. The Caribbean is one of the most desirable cruise destinations.

A Caribbean cruise will provide you with a wide choice of destinations and options from a two-day journey to a longer trip. It depends on what suits you.

Cruise ships have the facilities and services found in luxury hotels. You will enjoy exceptional food, relaxing on the deck, participating in onboard activities, first rate service, and a great view of the natural world.

If you love the sight of nature and want to experience a great vacation in a tropical island paradise, a Caribbean cruise is the ideal vacation for you. The islands are packed with superb maritime life, remarkable coral reefs and great views of the sea.

You will go to a place where abundant floras, striking beaches and thick forests can be found. You will see the natural world in its magnificence; whether it be in Puerto Rico where you can witness the thick rain forests, or at the Bonaire where there are reservations for flamingos.

You will also have the fortune to discover the scenic beauty of St. John’s beaches and Virgin Gorda’s sea caves.

The climate in the Caribbean is ideal for swimming, snorkeling, or simply relaxing on the beach. It is a perfect place to all nature lovers and adventure seekers. You will also have the chance to experience luxury at some of the world’s finest beach resorts.

A shopping spree is also an appealing feature because it includes duty free prices. Go buy yourself a bottle of French perfume in the serene lanes of St. Barthelemy.

A Caribbean cruise will also offer you the seclusion of a hidden port and serene bay. It will take you to a calm and peaceful world outside your usual hectic daily life.

posted by Joyce on May 5

Repositioning or ‘repo’ cruises offer some really great discount opportunities.

A cruise line that is moving a cruise ship from one home port to another will call that voyage a “repositioning cruise”. Generally cruise ships depart and return to the same port.

But sometimes the cruise line will want to maneuver its fleet a bit differently. Alaskan cruise liners might winter in San Diego in order to explore the Mexican Riviera. At any rate, they need to move a cruise ship from the old home port to a new home port.

You can bet the cruise lines want as many paying travelers aboard as possible.

The purpose of a repositioning cruise is getting from Port A to Port B. However, you will have access to all that the cruise ship has to offer just as on a conventional cruise. The only thing is that the cruise is not following a fixed route and lots of fun ports-of-call. In fact, a repositioning cruise may not stop at any ports of call.

That is the reason that you can often get a good bargain on a repositioning cruise. However, you need to be a particular type of passenger to really make this work out for you.

First, you need to be a cruise passenger who enjoys “ship time” more than “port time.” If you like onboard activities, or simply enjoy soaking in the scenery from the deck, this is a perfect vacation for you.

Second, you’ll have to deal with getting to one port to start the cruise and getting off at another to go back home. That means your airfare may be a bit pricier. You’ll be getting two one-way fares.

A fantastic value on a cruise would be a repositioning cruise that starts or stops in a port near your home town.

The advantages of a repositioning cruise are mainly financial. It usually does not offer any new sights or destinations beyond the standard cruise package and it creates a bit of a passenger inconvenience by starting and stopping at different places. However, it is often offered at a definite discount.

You can get information about repositioning cruises from most cruise line websites or travel websites. They are usually listed in among the regular offerings but they should be flagged as repositioning cruise.

posted by Joyce on Apr 30

This Spring, hop aboard a ship to Alaska, Europe, the Mediterranean or the Caribbean and save! Check out these deals. There’s sure to be one to suit your taste and budget.

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But hurry! These offers are for a limited time.

posted by Joyce on Apr 29

Kenya tourism received a boost as luxury cruise ships once again started including Mombasa in their ports of call. Security experts from the American government said that security concerns were misplaced.

Get the full scoop here, More cruise ship tourists arrive

posted by Joyce on Apr 28

1. Collect brochures and flyers from a travel agent or the cruise lines. Check out the cruise features. By doing this, you will be able to get the best idea about fees, destinations, atmosphere, amenities, recreational options, and types of accommodations.

2. Outline places where you want to go. Talk to cruise experts. They can give you lots of helpful information on cruise details. If not, you can also ask your friends for some advice and recommendations.

3. Decide on the length of the cruise. Normally most known cruises last from 5 to 18 days. On the other hand, there are also some companies that offer longer cruising schedules with more things to see and do.

4. Plan how much money you are willing to spend. Your budget will determine what type of cruise you will have. Will your budget allow. . .

• bargain, smaller cruises,
• moderate, mass-market,
• upscale, mass-market, or
• ultra luxury cruises?

5. It is recommended that comparing these types will be a great step in knowing what to expect. By comparing the basic type of cruises you will know which one can make you most comfortable and enjoyable within your budget.

6. Last-minute cruises leave only a short time to book and be ready to go. To do this properly, talk to a “cruise expert”. Do not hesitate to tell the agent about your budget and your needs.

7. With the assistance of the cruise expert, select the most convenient place of departure. Find out if there are still air/sea packages available at the last minute. Compare the prices with what you would pay if you booked your own flight to the ship’s port and back home again.

Don’t overlook the value of a last-minute cruise. All it takes is a little ingenuity to have an incredible time.

posted by Joyce on Apr 26

An early reservation on a cruise ship often provides big discounts. Most of the cruise lines want to fill up their ships with reliable vacationers several months in advance so they know if they have sufficient passengers. On the other hand, there are some really good discounts for last-minute bookings.

But, even though last-minute cruising can offer good discounts, waiting and booking your reservation last minute can be risky.

1. The ship could fill up with early bird cruisers and leave no space for those getting last minute tickets.
2. The last-minute airfare could be very costly.

Waiting until the last moment, if not done wisely, can cause problems.

If you want to get in on those last-minute deals, do your research. Some companies do offer last-minute discounts if the cruise is not fully booked. Look for the best deals with each cruising company.

• Use a travel agent

You could use a travel agent who would do the entire booking for you. If you use a travel agent, know whom you are dealing with and be sure you are getting the best deal. Some travel agents simply quote the same “discount” that anyone could get online or directly from the cruise line. Make sure the travel agent listens and looks for the best option available tailored to your tastes.

• Book online

You can also save a lot by booking online. Do it all from the comfort of your own home or office. But a word of advice here, too. Take time to chat with the company cruise experts or call the cruise line to ask about specific details. One major question to ask is if the deal on their website is the best they can do for you.

While I was on the road the last two months I looked for hotel deals online, but then called the hotels directly to ask if they had any better rates. In a couple of cases, I got cheaper rates. Most of the time, the rates were the same as those advertised on the travel sites, but I did get a better deal twice by calling the hotel directly. Do the same when you are booking your cruise.

• Be flexible

You must also be flexible. You may not always get your preferred cruise line, cruise ship, or destination at the last minute. Or you may not get a flight to the ship’s departure point. Will you settle for a different cruise?

• Be adventurous

Cruising requires an adventurous spirit. If there is a great deal offered by an unusual cruise to a place you have not been to, grab it! You’ll have the opportunity to see places you’ve only read about or dreamt of seeing.

“Have fun and be prepared to do something you do not do in an ordinary day!”

— Bradley J. Edmonds

Looking for a last-minute cruise? Here are some great deals!

• Last-Minute Cruises

• Up to 75% off Last-Minute Cruises

posted by Joyce on Apr 19

Picture a floating, mega, luxury resort with tons to do for everyone in a confined space where you know your kids are supervised and safe.

Many cruise lines offer voyages designed specifically for families, with expanded activity programs and shore excursions for all age groups, and waterslides, ice rinks and climbing walls that keep kids and parents happy for days.

Some cruises have even developed onboard programs that not only feature family together time, but also arrange crucial alone time for parents. Together, parents and kids can participate in mock game shows, story hours, treasure hunts and other activities. Later, adults can schedule a massage or spend time on the sun deck knowing their kids are enjoying a host of supervised games and activities.

Cruises are much like an all-inclusive vacation with the added benefit of being able to explore new and various places.

There are morning-till-night activities for children as young as three on most major cruise ships and plenty to keep adults busy, no matter what their ages. And, because of increased competition in the industry, cruising has never been more affordable.

Even Disney has jumped into the cruise market which can be an especially fun time with your kids!

Booking Your Cruise

As for cruises, experts say to “never, ever” go to the cruise lines or “general” travel agencies. If you’re going with a travel agent, you want to book with a cruise expert, one that specializes in discounting cruises.

These companies get special discounts and upgrades for selling such a large volume of cruises that other sources simply don’t get. But even then shop around before you book, as prices will vary from agency to agency.

Popular Family Cruise Lines

The two most popular family cruise ships we’ve found are Disney and Carnival. Kids will love Disney’s private island – Castaway Cay – and the waterslides aboard Carnival ships will be a big hit!

Both ships offer plenty to do for adults as well, but Disney gears a lot of its activities toward children and teens with special shows, on board discovery activities and special teen nightclubs – no alcohol allowed!

It will depend on when you book your cruise as to what type of savings you can realize.

Money-Saving Tips On Board

When you will be putting out most of your vacation budget buying entry onto the ship, you’ll want to know how to save money once on board as well as during the visits to the ports of call.

• First and foremost, purchase a soda package for the kids. This allows them unlimited soda refills anywhere on the ship – a huge money saver!

• Instead of booking ports of call excursions through the cruise line, rent your own vehicle and explore on your own. Maps of the ports of call are readily available and this allows you maximum flexibility with what you want to see and do.

A note of caution here, be sure to take note of the departure time of your ship and don’t be late! If you’re on your own and don’t make it back to the ship when it pulls out of port, meeting back up with them at the next port of call will be at your own expense.

• On board, they’ll be taking lots and lots of pictures of you and your family. You’ll be tempted to buy these right away, but don’t. Those pictures will still be in the photo shop at the end of the cruise and they will often be discounted then, so buy right before you dock on the last day.

• The same goes for souvenirs and such. Often, the gift shops will discount souvenir merchandise the last day of the cruise. The same T-shirt that sold for $25 at the beginning of the cruise might be $10 at the end, so bide your time and realize savings.

• Check your account balance daily to be sure there are no charges on there that you didn’t make.

• Also, don’t pre-pay your tips. Many cruise lines have this built into the package price, but ask to have it removed then take care of tipping yourself.

Cruising with your family can be a very satisfying experience.