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Cruises Along with the ability to visit many exotic ports without having to pack and unpack, as well as enjoying the great food and multitude of activities onboard, one of the most attractive features of a cruise vacation is the value for your money when compared to other types of vacation experiences. Cruises are virtually all-inclusive and include features such as accommodations, entertainment, meals, lectures, onboard sports, and activities such as Vegas-style revues and classical theater. The example below clearly shows the value of a cruise vacation: Typical Seven-Day Caribbean Air/Sea Cruise vs. Typical Seven-Day Resort Vacation
Standard Cruises Standard cruise ships are designed to be all-inclusive floating resorts with the types of services and amenities found in a luxury land-based resort. Cruises are offered to suit practically any budget, from economy to super luxury in almost every destination you can imagine. They also offer activities to suit practically everyone: singles, couples, adventurers, and families. There are many cruise companies that offer standard ships. Some of the best known are Royal Caribbean International, Disney Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, CUNARD Line, Costa Cruises, Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), and Carnival Cruise Lines. World Cruise For many, a World Cruise is a once-in-a-lifetime dream vacation! They are usually three to four months in length and visit almost 50 ports along the way! CUNARD Line offers World Cruises on both Queen Elizabeth 2 and Queen Mary 2. Crystal Cruises also offer a World Cruise on Crystal Symphony. If you want to experience almost all of the rich cultures and histories on our planet, a World Cruise is definitely the most luxurious and cost-effective way to go! If you do not have time to cruise around the entire world, you have the option of purchasing shorter segments of a cruise line’s World Cruise itinerary, that average 14 to 21 days in length. You can also purchase more than one segment back-to-back to visit more ports and to extend your cruise vacation. Alternative Cruising There are several lesser-known alternative cruising options available if you are looking for somehting different for your next cruise vacation. From the ultimate in luxury to just the basics, these alternatives are growing in popularity among the more adventurous and those who have "been there, done that". Yacht-Style Cruise Ships Yacht-style cruise ships are designed to be very small and intimate – almost like being on your own private yacht. Many of these vessels are grouped in the ultra-luxury class, since they provide more attentive service, gourmet food and wines, beautifully appointed suites with large windows and private verandas, and lots of pampering! Since they’re built on a much smaller scale and don’t require very deep water to sail in, the luxury yacht-vessels are able to visit small ports where the larger cruise ships can’t go. Seabourn Cruise Line is a cruise company that offers this type of luxury yacht experience. Masted Sailing Ships Do you want to gaze up at towering white masts soaring high above you? If so, masted sailing ships are for you! Modern-day sailing is diverse. These ships might be large ships with computerized sails, or small privately owned schooners where passengers can help sail the ship. They are designed to move under sail or power. Vacationers who sail on masted sailing ships want to experience sailing as it existed hundreds of years ago – but with a few modern luxuries. Barefoot Windjammer A special type of sailing experience called a barefoot windjammer allows passengers to help sail a masted ship and participate in the daily operations of the excursions. Cruise companies that offer masted sailing ships include Star Clippers; Tall Ship Adventurers, Inc; Barefoot Cruises, Ltd.; Windstar Cruises (luxury class); and Yankee Schooner Cruises. River Cruises Rivers are growing to be some of the most popular cruise destinations in the world. Vessels that sail the waters of rivers from the Mississippi to the Danube are small in size and specifically designed with narrow beams and shallow bottoms, which allow them to navigate rivers in most parts of the world throughout most times of the year. They have many passenger services and amenities to make the trip comfortable, and are designed for sight-seeing and expedition-style experiences. River cruise passengers consider these ships to be a means to an end and do not rely on a huge choice of onboard luxuries. Many river vessels offer some of the same amenities as standard cruises but on a much smaller scale. Steamboat A special type of river cruise ship is a paddlewheel vessel called a steamboat. Steamboats are typically designed with shallow bottoms and high ceilings. They are generally used for leisurely scenic tours and casino cruises. Many have a wide variety of onboard services and amenities, with fully appointed passenger cabins, dining rooms, and other public areas. Cruise companies that offer river ships include Abercrombie & Kent (upscale), Delta Queen Steamboat Company (luxury paddlewheel steamboats), and KD River Cruises of Europe. Passenger Freighters Passenger freighters are cargo vessels licensed to carry a small number of passengers when traveling on the high seas. They are unstructured, uncrowded, and appeal to those with an adventurous spirit. They offer surprisingly high levels of comfort and services for their unhurried guests. These vessels have some of the resort-like amenities that are found on traditional ships. They do not, however, have pools, floor shows, casinos, laundry service, or trendy gift shops. Passengers enjoy and unstructured and flexible atmosphere while on board ship, with a lot of passenger space. Contact Us today to begin planning your next Cruise! |
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