Golden Triangle Guide » Cruises

Cruise Travel – Do Your Homework Before You Set Sail

maureen — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 13:14:47 +0000

Cruise travel will be the focus of this article. Arter reading this article, you will be able to book your cruise vacation with confidence.
Cruise vacations offer something for everyone. Whether you want an exciting adventure or a relaxing vacation, youll find it. Take the time to learn about all your options to make sure you find the right cruise for you.
You are perhaps planning your vacation on a cruise this year. But researching the costs may make you worry that this is beyond your means. There are a lot of ways to save some money on the cruise you want to book. If youre like most of us, you should evaluate all your options. Do some research before you sign up for any cruise. Take the time to do some research about cruises first. If youve done your homework, a cruise can easily fit into your budget.
Your choices are limited by the destinations you would like to go to, the attractions you want to see, and the other things that you want to do. You can increase your savings by keeping an open mind about your choices for the cruise. If you can choose when to take your vacation, its usually best to go in the off season. It is in the winter season that the most attractive offers come by. But luckily, it doesnt have to be winter in the destination youd like to visit.
Especially if youre a northerner, youll really enjoy a winter cruise to a tropical, summery location. If you comparison shop, youll spend less on your cruise. The numerous options available to be booked are often offered at different prices. Notice the fare differences that can be obtained on different websites for the same cruise.
It can break your heart if you decide on the most expensive one without checking around. Take some time to compare prices available. Consider how you will reach your cruise. Your cruise will end up costing more if you have to fly to the cruise port.
If its feasible, think about driving. Check to see how close to home you can board your cruise ship.
You may save a lot on your flight costs if you reduce the mileage this way. Saving money on the cruise you want is always possible. If you can leave on short notice, some cruises offer substantial savings in the off season when theyre not so busy. This can be the absolute best way to save money!

Cruise Travel Close to Home From the West Coast

maureen — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 01:13:53 +0000

Cruise travel from ports close to home is what passengers want now. In almost all of the cruise reviews, cruise travelers have expressed concern with long airline trips to distant lands. Now they want to cruise from ports that are close to home to enjoy a less stressful cruise vacation. The cruise lines have caught on to this trend and are now positioning their ships up and down the United States East and West Coasts and along the Gulf of Mexico. Let’s explore the ports of embarkation on the West Coast starting in Southern California at the port of San Diego and go northward.

If you can take the time before or after your cruise travel, spend some extra time in San Diego. The city of San Diego is blessed with year round warm weather and seventy miles of Pacific Coastline. There are many activities to enjoy while in the city. They have a first class, world famous zoo in Balboa Park. At Old Town State Historic Park learn about the History of California. Near the downtown area there are 15 excellent museums and gorgeous gardens.

A little further up north is Long Beach just 20 miles south of Los Angeles. Here is where the Queen Mary retired to in 1967 and is permanently docked serving as a Hotel. With more 12,000 sea creatures the aquarium is a delightful spot to spend a couple of hours.

If you plan to take your cruise vacation out of Los Angeles there are plenty of sights to see. A pre or post cruise package from the cruise lines will allow you to see the many cultural centers or drive by the star studded neighborhoods of Malibu, Bel Air and Hollywood. Be sure to see Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, Chinatown and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Visit funky Venice Beach and dine in the many excellent restaurants. And don’t forget to at least window shop on Rodeo Drive.

The dazzling Golden Gate Bridge will be what you sail under on you cruise vacation from San Francisco. Many cruise reviews have mentioned this city as one of the favorites from which to start a cruise. You may opt to take a side trip to the vineyards of Napa and Sonoma Valleys for a day. While in San Francisco check out Fisherman’s Wharf, or take a cable car ride through the city. In this city there are numerous excellent restaurants. There is a ferry that will take you over to Alcatraz Island for a glimpse into the life of the prisoners.

Perhaps you have chosen Seattle, Washington as your embarkation port. The lovely Puget Sound area is rich with history of the maritime industries. The Olympic Mountains will leave you feeling awed when viewed from the Space Needle that is 607 feet high. For fun don’t miss the Pike Street Market for fresh seafood and produce. There are many fleets of sport fishing boats for fishing or for whale watching.

Even further up the coast you are now in Alaskan territory. Fairbanks, which was once a booming mining town, is the entrance to Alaska’s interior. If you stay here for a day or two try a really Alaskan adventure and go dog sledding. Maybe you would like to pan for gold, another part of Alaska’s history. If you want to see the Northern Lights plan your cruise vacation for late August or early September.

Choosing a cruise vacation out of Whitter, Alaska will allow you to go whale watching, and look for sea lions and bald eagles. This is a small quaint town that really lets you feel what Alaska is all about.

You will fly into Anchorage for departure from Seward, Alaska. Try to stay a few days to explore the riches Anchorage has to offer. There is the beautiful Denali National Park, where Mt. McKinney offers spectacular scenery. In Seward you can take a cruise to the Kenai Fjords as a day trip.

Any of these cruise ports will make a great start for your cruise vacation. So when planning any cruise travel pick a port that’s close to home and leave some time for exploring the town of embarkation.

Happy Cruising

Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.

This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.

Mary Hanna has traveled the world by Air and Ship while writing eBooks, Software Reviews and Practical Articles on Internet Marketing, Cruising, Gardening and Cooking. Visit her websites at: http://www.CruiseGold.com http://www.CruiseTravelDirectory.com and http://www.CruisingTips.com

Cruise Ships: Benefits And Drawbacks Of All-Inclusive Cruise Travel

maureen — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 13:17:31 +0000

All-inclusive travel, whether aboard a cruise ship or at a resort, definitely has an appeal. There are a limited number of hidden costs (though you never fully escape them) and you can hopefully approach your vacation more assured of close to how much you will have spent in the end – certainly a help to budget predictability. However, there are drawbacks to all-inclusive cruising as well. Keep reading to learn about both the pros and the cons of booking an all-inclusive cruise vacation.
First, what does all-inclusive actually include?
Typically, all-inclusive means that your food, entertainment and sometimes alcoholic beverages are all covered or paid for while you’re onboard the ship. For some cruise lines, “all-inclusive” also extends to shore excursions, child care, spa treatments and other extra services. Just don’t count on too many of those other already-covered “extra services.”
So, what are the benefits of all-inclusive cruises?
The greatest advantage of a cruise that includes it all, as perceived by most travelers, is the ability to fully estimate the cost of a vacation, including food and drinks, before you even begin to book it. This feature is especially helpful for families who are working under a tight budget and need to know very close to how much it’s going to cost to feed, house and entertain three kids and two adults for, say, eight days.
A second benefit is the ability to enjoy your vacation without hauling your wallet around, worrying about handling or losing traveler’s checks, or wondering if your MasterCard will be accepted on the ship. All-inclusive trips, including cruises, will either include most items for which you would ordinarily need to pay or allow you to set up an account for any incurred extra charges.
Sounds great, but what are the disadvantages of all-inclusive cruising?
Typically, the most frequent complaint from all-inclusive cruise travelers is the feeling of being “locked in” to a pre-defined and fairly inflexible schedule of events. Often, a cruise ship will have set dining times, specific buffet menus, or limited and highly organized entertainment options. Some travelers prefer to have a choice of restaurants, no set meal times, free and casual entertainment options and the ability to indulge in as many or as little shore excursions as they want.
Another disadvantage to all-inclusive cruising are the hidden costs. Little items like tips, alcoholic beverages (if they’re not included), extra shore trips, small snacks, room service, casino play, or spa treatments can all add up quickly – taking your “all-inclusive” and affordable vacation way over budget. Remember, it’s easier to sign up for a bunch of little bills when you’re thinking that the whole trip is already paid for. Budget travelers need to be especially careful of this common “all-inclusive” pitfall.
So, which type of cruise vacation should I choose?
There are benefits and disadvantages to all-inclusive cruising. The type of vacation you select depends on you – your style of vacationing, your budget and what you want to experience from your upcoming vacation.

5-Star Around the World Cruise Travel Auctions

maureen — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 13:16:16 +0000

Are you looking for the most luxurious 5-star around the world cruise at the very lowest price? You don’t have to pay an arm and a leg for that five star treatment. Instead you can go onto web sites that specialize in online travel auctions and get a real bargain. These web sites are ideal for finding the vacation of your dreams, because they all collaborate together in order to present the very best in vacation deals and rates for their clientele. Although they are in direct competition with each other, they also in a sense help each other out by comparing prices, causing each travel site to drop their prices in order to have the cheapest rates.
An online travel auction is basically just another type of market or bazaar. The only difference is that the product sold is a 5-star around the world cruise (http://www.amttravel.com/cruise-lines/world-cruises.html). As is true of any auction sellers, these 5-star around the world cruise packages will be sold just one offering at a time. If more than one 5-star around the cruise travel auction is sold at a time then the travel auction is called a Dutch or English auction.
On almost all travel auction sites the seller of the package can set a minimum bid. This is called the reserve price, which is the lowest price that the seller will accept for the deal. Some auction travel sites disclose the reserve-bidding price during the auction and others don’t. Lots of times you can get an incredible deal for a 5-star around the world cruise by just bidding the reserve price.
The bidding for each travel auction both opens closes at a scheduled time. You’ll be alerted via e-mail if someone outbids you, and then its decision time.
The key is to not get too carried away. Decide in advance on the maximum amount you’ll spend on your 5-star around the world cruise travel auctions, and stick to it. Getting swept away by the competitive spirit that is generated by online bidding has led many people to pay more than market value for what is supposed to be a discounted vacation cruise package!
After the bidding closes it is automatically disclosed who the highest bidder is. In the case of sales of multiple lots, the participants with the highest bids at the close of the auction are obligated to buy the cruise that was bid on .
At the close of a successful auction, the buyer and seller communicate, usually by e-mail, to arrange for payment and information about the 5-star world cruise you have won. It is usually at this point that it is revealed exactly where you are going along with any caveats such as blackout dates for travel, fees, taxes and site charges.
Most travel auction sites offer all types of different payment options including credit card, debit card, personal check, cashier’s check, money order, cash on delivery and escrow services. Payment methods are usually thoroughly explained in the FAQ, help or fine print sections on the auction travel web site that is offering the 5-star around the world cruise.

Cruise Travel: the Way to Travel

maureen — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 01:16:20 +0000

When you have selected the places you want to visit on your holiday, whether you want to see sand or fjords, palm trees or pine trees, coconut huts or castles, the next thing to do is decide on the kind of traveling. Do you want a cross-country drive, a train ride, an airplane ride, or a cruise? A cross-country drive involves plenty of vehicle preparation, and while driving you can not enjoy any activities or a relaxed meal. It does not make for a restful holiday. A train or plane ride is too fast to appreciate the scenery and the accommodations do not allow for much comfort or the opportunity to enjoy many activities. Besides, a holiday spent in train stations or airport terminals is no holiday at all. Thus, cruise travel is the better way to travel. You board the cruise ship and your holiday begins immediately. The captain and the crew will take care of everything for you, ensuring your enjoyment of the sights and sounds along the way. After deciding on cruise travel, find a travel company that will offer you the best travel deals. Best deal meaning cruise vacations that combine maximum satisfaction with the best price.

With top travel providers in their network, DiscountCruiseDeals has the best cruise deals in the industry. The website is easy to navigate, the forms are simple to fill in, and it provides assistance through its Cruises Express Search feature to help you find your perfect getaway. Aboard the cruise ship, the food and dining establishments range from the casual pizza places to the elegant gourmet restaurants, so you have plenty of cuisine to choose from. Entertainment and activities onboard the cruise ship cater to individuals and groups, the young and the old. There are bars, casinos, sports centers, spas, swimming pools, Jacuzzis, leisure areas, theatres, onboard activities and shows to keep you entertained. Cruises are an ideal way to travel. Enjoying land activities while cruising the ocean provides an ultimate vacation.

Shore excursions are an option offered directly through a cruise line. Shore excursions offer day trips such as, shopping, sight-seeing, animal encounters, fishing, gold mining, beach trips, and so much more. Activities are designed to meet various physical levels and strive to meet all your entertainment needs. In fact, cruise deals can include on-land activities like guided tours for its passengers. With all these choices, cruise travel is never boring and routine. There are exciting and exotic things to do.

The Discountcruisedeals Cash Reward Program gives customers cash rewards up to 2% of their travel purchase on cruises, hotels, car rentals, flights and vacation rentals. You are still entitled to any credit card rewards, airline miles, or hotel loyalty rewards in programs of which you are a member. There are no limits on how much you can earn and no time limit on when you can earn. Large public companies, privately owned firms and individuals are saving money under this hugely successful program. We believe that you, the customer, are our biggest source of promotion and in appreciation for you doing business with us, we are offering you this amazing Cash Reward Program. This is no gimmick, it is the REAL DEAL!!!

Disabled Travel – How To Arrange Cruise Travel If You Have A Disability

maureen — Sun, 29 May 2011 01:14:45 +0000

If you have a disability, are disabled in any way or have some special needs or a special handicap you can still enjoy a great cruise experience and learn all about disable travel. The first step in planning a cruise ship adventure is to consult with a travel agent who specializes in cruise travel for people with disabilities to make sure you have an accessible trip.
Because the cruise lines are all different you need to compare the cruise lines and all they have to offer; this requires a little research on your part. However travel agents who specialize in cruise travel can really shorten your work and prevent a lot of problems and help you gain the best access. I encourage you to seek out their help and not try to go it alone.
There are many differences in the cruise lines. Some cannot accommodate wheelchairs easily. Most cabins are small and you’ll need to get the dimensions of the cabin to know if your wheelchair will fit.
Some of the larger cruise lines have cabins that have wider doorways. These cabins have bathrooms that will fit wheelchairs that can roll around inside. The closets are usually built so you can reach them from a lower vantage point. But make sure to double-check that the cruise line you’ve picked has these special accommodations. This is another reason a special needs travel agent or travel specialist can help.
Most of the cruise lines have elevators that have control panels within easy reach from a wheelchair.
The cruise lines have collapsible wheelchairs available but I would consider taking my own. It may be a concern if it is going to be uncomfortable in any way. Also there is a remote possibility that they might run out of them. If you bring a motorized or power wheelchair make sure to bring your charger along – one that is adaptable to 110 volts.
Make sure to discuss with your travel agent how your visit to the various harbors or ports of call on the cruise, will be handled. This can make or break your trip. Small boats, which are called tenders, are used to take travelers and disabled travelers from the cruise ship to the port of call. These tenders are not always accessible or even safe for people with disabilities, so make sure you travel agent has had experience with these tenders before you book any cruise travel. And it is just as important make sure to find out if once you reach the shore, that they’ll be able to handle your specific special needs.
In general some of the larger cruise lines will have ADA (American Disabilities Association) compliant rooms on their cruise ships. If you’re deaf or hearing impaired, you can request special accommodations, for example tele-typewriters (TTY) or telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD). Some of the cabins may have the ADA approved kits. These kits include visual smoke alarms and alarms that vibrate and door sensors so you know when someone is at the door.
For blind travelers who bring along their guide dogs or other service animals, they’ll have a difficult time finding the best cruise. Each of the ports of call has different rules and regulations regarding guide dogs and service animals. Service animals may not be allowed to leave the cruise ship.
It’s important to work with a travel agent who specializes in disability travel who knows how to do this and may be familiar with your chosen cruise already.
Special diets are usually easily accommodated on most of the cruise lines. Vegans and vegetarians have fresh fruit and vegetable options and special diets are available for those passengers who need a low fat, low salt or low cholesterol diets. People with celiac disease may need to discus this with the cruise lines to see if their chefs are familiar with how to prepare gluten-free foods. Cruise passengers with lung impairments who will need oxygen can cruise but make sure you arrange to have plenty of oxygen on board.
Make sure that you’re not traveling alone and have someone travel with you who knows your specific needs. Don’t take anything for granted. Check everything out and double check with your travel agent. You may want to call the cruise line yourself too. Make sure your travel agent is experienced and ask for references from someone they have arranged travel for with similar needs.
Don’t forget to check with your travel agent about any discounts, free add-ons, or good deals on cruise travel too. The cruise lines want your business whether you are disabled or not.
As soon as your travel agent books your cruise, make sure the cruise line is notified of your special needs and know of your disability. With help from your travel agent for the disabled or cruise line specialist you should be able to have a worry-free and carefree holiday, vacation or adventure and make you an expert on disabled travel.

Cruise Agent, Travel Agent, etc. What’s In A Name?

maureen — Tue, 24 May 2011 01:15:43 +0000

Travel professionals go by many names. cruise agent, travel agent, trip advisor, travel consultant, cruise planner, trip planner, travel planner and travel advisor are a few such designations. Of course, including the word professional (such as professional travel planner) adds to an already long list.

A key question is whether these descriptions are important to the traveling public. A secondary question is whether the travel professional thinks they are important.

How about you, do you care about the title of the travel professional you use?

Regardless of how you answer, (yes, no, it depends, or it doesn’t matter), the bottom line is whether the services offered met your needs. Are you a “happy camper” at the end of the day? Are you encountering many hassles in planning your trip or vacation?

Did you use a travel consultant?

Or…

…did you use a travel planner? Is there a difference?

Clearly, some titles suggest more of a specialized service, such as cruise agent. Undoubtedly, a travel professional uses a label to show his/her area of specialization. However, no one would suggest that only a cruise agent provides the required services in a superlative way.

A travel professional referred to as a travel agent (or any other designation) may have the capability of doing a superb job, even though that job deals with cruising.

What about the reverse? Can a cruise agent perform the over-all functions of a travel agent, and do so equally well? That depends of course on the background and experience of the agent.

Many travel professionals use multiple designations. Simply because you find a travel professional through the designation of, say, travel consultant does not mean that the same person cannot also be located through the designation of travel agent. You may want to contact a cruise planner, but you may get a great travel agent.

Therefore, it seems the most important question is whether you can identify a travel professional, which is right for you regardless of label.

For information on identifying the right travel professional for you, see the author’s article at EzineArticles.com titled “How to Identify Your Perfect Cruise Agent”.

Note: You have permission to reproduce this article if the entire article is reproduced, the article remains unchanged, the author’s resource box at the bottom is included and all links remain intact.

Travel Documents For Cruises – Do I Need a US Passport?

maureen — Thu, 19 May 2011 13:16:23 +0000

Some confusion exists around what types of travel documents for cruises are necessary.

Pet Travel on Cruise Ships

maureen — Fri, 13 May 2011 13:13:52 +0000

Are you planning to go on a travel cruise? Great! A cruise vacation is one of the most fun experiences you can have in life. Are you worried about your pet during those vacations? Many owners like you are worried because pet travel on cruise ships is not commonly allowed.

Why? Because cruise ships are not suitable places for pets. Companies prefer to stay away from trouble a large amount of pets can carry. Sure, you may find a couple of cruise ships that allow taking your pet, but this comes with an -often high- price!

The most commonly known cruise line that allows taking your pets is Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth 2 this is a small cruise line that helps owners bring their pets. However, the acceptance of pets is limited. Cunard’s QE2 offers many destinations, but regarding the issue of the pets, it is relative to the time of the year you book the cruise and the available on-board kennel.

What are the advantages of pet travel on cruise ships? Pet owners who are very close to their animals are the ones that will be happier, small charters that accept pets help you enjoy your vacations without having to worry about your pet, specially if you don’t have anyone who is willing to take care of your pet.

You have to keep in mind, that your dogs will not be as free as in home. The kennels have visiting where you can spend time with your dog or cat, but they are very strict in order to keep order in the kennel. Finally, don’t forget to bring all the needed documentation to make pet travel on a cruise ship possible.

Hawaii Cruise – Travel by Land or Sea

maureen — Thu, 12 May 2011 13:15:18 +0000

So, you want to plan a trip to Hawaii. There are lots of options to consider when planning your vacation and they may seem overwhelming. A good starting point might be to think about how you are planning to arrive in this tropical paradise. Since Hawaii is, after all, an island there are only two ways to get there: by sea or by air. When calculating time from California, your choice is between five hours in the air or five days by sea. Now, I know there’s a big difference in time, but a Hawaii cruise might be just the excitement and relaxation you’re looking for.

Depending on your preference of travel, a Hawaii cruise might sound much more appealing to you than traveling by plane. It is inevitable that every time you step onto an airplane, even if you did pay top dollar for first class, you find yourself in an overcrowded area, in close quarters with several hundred people, many who are possibly ill.

You probably do everything you can, short of jump off the plane, to pass the grueling five hours. Then once you’re off the plane you spend another hour or more enduring airport security and looking for your luggage before you even begin the trip to your hotel. Wow, doesn’t sound like a great way to start a relaxing vacation. And just think, you get to do it all over again at the end of your trip, too.

Now, visualize yourself heading to your departure point and arriving right at your hotel. No long security lines, no crowded planes. When you travel by ship on a Hawaii cruise it’s just like checking into your hotel and relaxing while you head to your destination. You can put your luggage in your room and head straight to the pool deck, enjoy a cocktail, and spend the first five hours of your vacation basking in the tropical sun rather than dodging someone else’s germs.

When it comes down to it there’s really no comparison. I know I would much rather spend my vacation to Hawaii relaxing on a cruise ship than wasting it in an airport. You will return home relaxed and calm from a week of pampering and luxury instead of stressed to the max from a long flight. The choice is yours, spend you days and nights in a luxurious room, enjoying delicious meals on a cruise ship of your preference, and you will truly enjoy your getaway to the paradise of the Hawaiian islands.