Once upon a time a cruise was not that great of a vacation. You had to follow the ship’s itinerary and rarely had much choice in what went on. Even the activities were scheduled and could be incredibly boring. The cruises available now are nothing like their predecessors. These ships have a full range of services ranging from gambling to a luxury spa for those who want to unwind and relax. Your cruise is made exactly like you want it. No more strict schedules for you. You can choose when you want to eat, sleep or play.

Have you given much thought yet to where you want to go on vacation? What do you want to do? What would pick to do? Would you lounge around in the sun all day or have an exciting adventure? Well, why not pick both and have it be the answer to your vacation dilemma? Cruises are great ways to relax and have fun in the sun. There are many different ports around the world that are just calling out you name. The deals are red hot too! Don’t just sit there. Get started on your cruise itinerary now.
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If you are like a great many people, you have often thought about going on a cruise, but you are hesitant to really give it a try.

Perhaps you do not know if you had enjoy the experience, or maybe you think that it would cost too much or that you had be bored or overtaken by seasickness.

If you are concerned that you may become seasick, here’s a news flash for you - cruise liners have been built for many years with stabilizers that limit the rocking motion of the waves. Some cruise ships even have billiard tables that adjust to stay level, so the waves are not a problem!) And seasick pills are quite effective - you can take them before you have a chance to get sick.
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Are you interested in taking a cruise, if so, you are not alone. Each year a large number of individuals consider vacationing aboard a cruise ship. If you have never been on a cruise ship before, you may be wondering what activities, facilities, and services can be found onboard. The activities found onboard a cruise ship will vary from ship to ship, but many cruise ships have a number of activities and services in common.

Some of the most well known facilities found on cruise ships are dining halls, restaurants, and cafeterias. Large cruise ships may offer a number of onboard dining facilities. It is important to note that many of these dining facilities are considered upscale restaurants. In addition to a sit down restaurant, there area usually a number of small eateries located onboard. Elegant dining restaurants are popular among cruisers. To ensure that you are able to enjoy an elegant meal, you are encouraged to schedule a reservation as soon as you board the ship.
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When choosing a Caribbean cruise you may well come across some islands you never even knew existed. Princess Cays, Labadee and CocoCay are all examples, and they all have one thing in common; they are used exclusively by the cruise lines who own them. So, forget busy ports, hassling street vendors and uncertain territory, and arrive in style at your own private island instead!

The majority of these islands are far too small for locals to reside in, and therefore have been leased out to the cruise companies, providing an exclusive getaway for cruise passengers and a valuable income for the local governments. The cruise lines have transformed the once “dead land” into their own mini paradise islands.
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Are just two weeks a year enough to satisfy your needs to get away and see the world? Or do you feel a holiday could never be long enough?

Each year, mid way through my annual two week cruise I get that ‘sinking feeling’, I know its fast approaching the end of my time away and that can only mean one thing; I will soon be heading back to reality and back to work with no more than a fading tan and a sprinkling of new freckles as the only evidence I was ever away.

You may love to cruise, but realistically, how long do you think you could actually stay onboard? A few weeks, a month or longer? Would homesickness, family or money keep you from straying to a life at sea?
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Many people still believe that cruising is a pricy holiday choice, but when you consider everything that’s included, it really can work out to be excellent value for money.

Along with comfortable serviced accommodation, the cost also includes your meals which are available around the clock, evening entertainment plus use of modern ship facilities such as the gym. So does that cover everything? Not quite.

It’s sometimes easy to forget the “extras” you will be paying in addition to the cruise fare. Shore excursions, drinks, gratuities, port transfers not to mention your spending money are all going to up the bill and need to be considered.
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Have you ever wondered what it’s like working onboard a cruise ship? Below the passenger decks is a whole other world that we rarely see or hear about. Here we give you an opportunity to find out what really goes on down there…

Laura Fletcher, 26, recently returned from her position as shore excursion staff with Norwegian Cruise Lines. She has worked on the Norwegian Star, Spirit and Pearl on itineraries around Alaska and the Caribbean. In our interview, Laura tells us the good, the bad and the ugly of her time onboard.
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2008 is an exciting year for cruising with the addition of 8 new cruise ships to the booming market.

• April – P&O’s Ventura , MSC Poeisa
• May – Independence of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)
• July – Carnival Splendor, Ms Eurodam (Holland America)
• Nov – Ruby Princess, MSC Fantasia
• Dec – Celebrity Solstice

Each ship is being built on the promise that it will be bigger and better than its current sailing rivals, with a heavy focus on innovations at sea. Already we have ice skating rinks, rock climbing walls, F1 simulators, self leveling pool tables, boxing rings, bowling alleys and 4 deck high water slides. So the big question everyone’s asking is; what could possibly be coming next?
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Expect to see a new trend in Caribbean cruises over the next few years as cruise lines develop new ports of call. After years following the same itineraries, cruise lines are seeking out newer, less crowded destinations.

“Most Caribbean cruises follow one of two routes,” says Paul Motter, editor of CruiseMates, “The typical Western Caribbean itinerary goes to Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel; the standard Eastern Caribbean sojourn stops in St Thomas, St Martin and a Bahamian island.”
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Expect to see a new trend in Caribbean cruises over the next few years as cruise lines develop new ports of call. After years following the same itineraries, cruise lines are seeking out newer, less crowded destinations.

“Most Caribbean cruises follow one of two routes,” says Paul Motter, editor of CruiseMates, “The typical Western Caribbean itinerary goes to Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel; the standard Eastern Caribbean sojourn stops in St Thomas, St Martin and a Bahamian island.”

These itineraries lead to a hoard of travelers descending on the same islands.

“Bigger and bigger ships frequently arrive in the same ports on the same day as they service the same itineraries,” says Motter.
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