Whether you are planning a vacation with your family and friends or solitary; some tips, if followed, can help you have a fun-filled vacation without spending as much. For an all-in-one package, you might consider bagging a last minute cruise deal to your favorite travel destination.

One of the best ways to find an affordable deal in cruise travel is to go on a holiday during slow (low demand) or shoulder (moderate demand) season. Destinations that offer attractive bargains from cruise liners during slow and shoulder seasons include Europe, Bermuda, Alaska, Canada/ New England et al. (more…)

Cruise Vacations can differ from one cruise line to another. Knowing what your personal criteria is before booking a cruise is important.

Are you looking for a party atmosphere or something more serene? Are you looking of the deal of the century or a luxury vacation that you will remember for the rest of your life? Are you bringing children or traveling on a more adult vacation?

Knowing the answer to these questions will help you decide which cruise line, activities and excursions you should choose.

Here is a description of a few cruise lines:

The Disney cruise line is just the thing for anyone traveling with children. The only drawback that some find is that there is no gambling and there are, naturally, a lot of children on these ships.. There are so many activities for kids that your children will be begging you to go away so that they can play longer. So thankfully, there is also an adult area where you can simply relax and unwinde. Disney of course has shows, numerous dining options, on shore excursions and much more. This is a terrific vacation choice if you want your children to have tons to do while you have some time to pamper yourself in a spa or just hang out by the pool, drinking a glass of wine or margherita. (more…)

Cruise vacations are a lot of fun, when everything goes right. What happens though when things go wrong? In most cases you can still have an amazing time, if you are familiar with all of the things that there are to do on board.

When you cruise to the Bahamas, for example, there are certain things that you can expect – sandy beaches, tropical drinks and plenty of time to relax. And you will undoubtedly get all of that if you go during the right time of the year. You just have to be wary of the hurricane season or your tropical getaway could end up as three to seven days aboard a rocking ship. Hurricane season is during the summer months. Most of the time it is not a factor, as the ship captains are trained to go around bad weather. So you may have clear and smooth sailing but not be able to go on any excursions. So your tan will have to come from pool side relaxation. Not bad. You still get the tan and the tropical drinks just not the sandy beaches.

Now if you are worried about motion sickness, simply by Dramamine before getting on board. It works quickly to settle your stomach and keep it settled. So while others may have a bit of sea sickness, you will probably still be headed to the buffet and enjoying all of the fabulous food. (more…)

Trying to decide which cruise line is best is almost like trying to announce the best NFL team in a partisan crowd. So try to remember that this article is based on an unofficial rating of some of the major cruise lines. In fact, the selection of a line depends much on what a particular customer is looking for. Some think the cheapest cruise is the best, or the most luxurious, or the most kid-friendly, or the one providing the finest service. So try to read this article with these concepts in mind. Your top-rated cruise line may not be your neighbor’s. On one web site, cruisers rated cruise lines with the following criteria: Food, Entertainment, Activities, Staff, Accommodations, and Value. I only chose the lines that had at least 25 reviews. Here’s how they ranked: (more…)

When most people think of luxury vacations, cruises rank high on the list, but until you’ve experienced one yourself, it’s tough to know exactly what to expect. This brief overview will fill you in on what the average 7-day cruise has to offer, from your cabin to time spent on the sea to day-tripping at foreign ports.

Accommodations

Cabin sizes vary greatly from ship to ship, and different cruise lines offer a whole range of cabin categories from inside cabins, with no windows at all, to rooms with balconies to suites. Your choice of cabin is an important personal choice, as it will serve as your “home-base” while aboard the ship. Cabin rates can range anywhere from $400 to $3000 per passenger.

Inside cabins are the cheapest type and lack the added space, windows and balconies of more expensive rooms. Inside cabins are good choices for passengers with a tight budget or for those who will likely be spending little time in their rooms. Window and balcony cabins may be well worth the extra cost if you tend to desire a peaceful place to relax in privacy. (more…)