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Posts Tagged ‘River Cruises’

When considering a cruise holiday you’ll be amazed by the activities available onboard, whether you want to relax in the sun, go to the gym or spa, or bond with your friends over drinks. From river cruises and short haul trips to long haul adventures that span the globe, there is plenty to choose from. And to save some cash along the way consider a last minute cruise as the perfect solution to your holiday budgeting needs.

Cruising down the river

Cruising isn’t just about sailing across vast oceans – river cruises are a popular option for those who prefer to stay closer to land. River cruises are a more intimate version than the ocean cruises and with fewer people on board, you’re going to make friends very quickly. These cruises offer the option to see some of the world’s most famous cities in a relaxing, luxurious way. Enjoy the fact that the waiting staff are probably going to have your favourite drink memorised, with there being less people to serve.

Long haul cruises

Do you want to go globe trotting without all the hassle? Then a long haul cruise might just be the answer. Much more luxurious than travelling long haul on a plane, these cruises are ideal for those who are seeking to enjoy the journey as much as they enjoy the destination when they arrive.

Short haul cruises

If you want to take the family on a cruise, then have a look at the many short haul options available. There are plenty of beautiful destinations within your reach in just 10 days, from a cruise around the Med to island hopping in the Caribbean.

Whichever type of cruise you choose, there numerous advantages to this method of travel, from incredible destinations, to luxury facilities; you’ve got nothing to lose, except your track of the time as you enjoy yourself on deck. Take advantage of cruise holidays available for every need, from adult-only, to family-friendly. All you need to do is select your destination. And with 70 percent of the earth’s surface covered in water, the world is your oyster. You’re bound to be curious after reading about all your options, so start planning today.

Suggest taking a cruise and most people will think of sailing the Atlantic, cruising the Greek islands and the balmy waters of the Mediterranean or the ultimate ambition of the Caribbean cruise.  But long before motorway networks, railways and air travel the rivers of Europe were the arteries of the continent.Liquid freeways that allowed commerce and travel for thousands of years.  The Danube, the Don, the Volga, the Seine and even the Thames were alive with traffic.

No European river is as steeped in this heritage, history and charm as the Rhine.  rhine river cruises are one of the best ways to enjoy the sights or not just one, but four European countries.A journey can begin in the sophisticated city of Amsterdam, with its canals and lively ambience and take you along the Upper Rhine to Cologne and Koblenz where the Rhine meets the Moselle and on to Strasbourg and Basel in Switzerland.

It’s in Germany though that the Rhine gains most of its tributaries and it’s here that the Middle Rhine flows through the stunning Rhine Gorge, travelling into Rhine country past the typical wine village of Rudesheim then to Mainz with the imposing Heidelberg Castle.  The Rhine Gorge must be one of the highlights of any luxury cruise on the Rhine with fairytale castles perched at intervals along the banks of the river.

Few river cruises can compete with the legends that surround the Rhine, such as the famous Lorelei Rock, or the Wagnerian epic of the Rhine Maidens and the Rhine Gold – the mysterious ring that Siegfried discovers pre-dating Tolkien by several decades.The romance and mystery fades a bit when the Rhine enters its lower reaches around the Rhur and the major ports of Holland, but even so the Rhine remains one of the most rewarding waterways in Europe for a river cruise to remember.

Cruises come is all sorts of packages for all pocketbooks.  From the mass market  floating cities that pack them in and cruise the Med  to the intimate, sail-powered Dahabiya cruise vessels that ply the Nile, there’s a cruise package and a range of destinations to suit almost anyone.  Despite the prevailing economic environment, the ultra luxury cruise market continues to prosper, catering to modern, more affluent travellers often in partnership with the world’s most respected luxury brands.

Success in the very high end luxury cruise sector requires a fleet of ships purpose-built for the ultra-luxury market.They tend to be compact, more intimate vessels that can slip into more exotic ports off the beaten path. Small is of course a relative term as these ships can accommodate up to 300 – 400 guests in exquisite luxury.These elite vessels are designed for fewer guests, afford more cabin and suite space and deliver high levels of personal service with a typical crew to passenger ratio of 1:3.  Despite their  smaller overall size  combined with larger and more luxurious dining space and accommodation, these vessels still incorporate the favourite amenities found on larger ships, such as a show lounge for nightly entertainment,  casino, spa and state-of-the-art fitness facilities. Entertainment is not glitzy and Vegas-style – more low-key but very high-class, in keeping with the sort of clientele these ships attract.

Silversea Cruises is one company specialising in the ultra luxury cruise market born out of generations of maritime and travel experience. Established by the Italian Lefebvre family in the early 1990s, it operates some the highest quality ships in the ultra-luxury segment. The modern fleet of small, intimate ships have a very friendly onboard atmosphere and are ideal for the discerning client who wants all-inclusive 5-star quality in an intimate and friendly environment. One word of warning though – the atmosphere and ambience onboard these vessels can be addictive.  After a day or two you get so seduced by the pampering, the first-class service and the warm hospitality that when you reach a port of call it may be hard to actually leave the ship!

For most of us, it’s the romance of the Caribbean that springs to mind when you suggest a cruise holiday and the prospect of sun, tropical islands and beautiful beaches certainly makes the West Indies and the Gulf of Mexico the number one choice for many first time cruisers. Some hardier types are drawn to the icy majesty of a cruise to Alaska, while others plump for the tried and trusted Mediterranean cruise with itineraries that cover Italy, Greece and the Greek islands.  For most of us, the world cruise remains a “one of these days” proposition, provided we retire early or win the national lottery.

River cruises are a great way to see the European continent, with packages covering the Danube, the Volga and, most popular of all, the Rhine. Certainly, very few river cruises can match the spectacular scenery between Bingen and Bonn as the Middle Rhine flows through the stunning Rhine Gorge with its fairytale romantic castles and vineyards towering on top of the steep gorge banks.But how many of us have seriously considered cruising the UK?Britain and Ireland have scenery just as spectacular as that found in Europe, or anywhere in the world for that matter.  It’s true that the weather (or rather its unpredictable nature) is the only element that lets’ the UK down, but a luxury cruise around the British Isles can be rewarding as well as relaxing. The popularity of the recent BBC TV programme “Coast” showed that there is a demand for exploring the romantic and exotic on our doorstep, so why not do that in 5 star comfort and style aboard a modern cruise ship?

Many operators have packages that take in the Channel Islands, as well as the Isles of Scilly before sailing on to Ireland where guests can enjoy the “craik” in Dublin.These same cruise programmes often include trips to the stark beauty of the Hebrides and the Western isles as well as the Orkneys and Shetland, Leith in Edinburgh and the world-class city that is London.  So next time you think of booking a cruise holiday, don’t discount the sheer variety of landscapes, experiences and destinations you could enjoy closer to home.

It’s the romance and the mystique of the Caribbean that probably gave rise to the modern cruise industry. It certainly seems to be the choice of many first time cruise-goers thanks to its beautiful beaches, tropical islands, and guaranteed sunshine.  The Mexican Riviera has also proved a popular short cruise alternative for people who can’t afford the time off work that’s needed to really experience the Caribbean, while some adventurous souls are drawn  to the icy majesty of Alaska.

River cruises are a great way to tour the European continent and the evergreen Mediterranean cruise remains a popular choice. Itineraries in demand cover Italy, departing from Civitavecchia, Rome’s seaport and the gateway for excursions into the Eternal City, Greece and the Greek islands such as Rhodes and Santorini.  Naples is usually a highlight on these cruises with its for its breathtaking architecture, classic museums and Europe’s only active volcano.At the extreme end of the luxury scale, the archetypal world cruise remains a once in a lifetime experience only open to the wealthy retired or the lottery winner.

However, more cruise operators are opening up new destinations, especially in the southern hemisphere, that present a fascinating and exotic line up of winter sunshine cruises.  Oceania Cruises is one company that is introducing many new destinations including Africa, Asia and South America with new ports of call that include Cape Town in South Africa, Walvis Bay in Namibia and Rangoon in Myanmar (Burma).Cruise itineraries include 30-day or 35-day cruises from Istanbul to Cape Town and from Cape Town to Singapore.

South America is also emerging as a new and impressive destination choice for truly outstanding luxury cruises.   Starting in the Argentinean capital of Buenos Aires (often called the Paris of South America)  cruise ships take in Montevideo, cruise the Atlantic and visit Chile where the fjords and  ancient glaciers which have sliced their way between the Andes and the Southern Ocean are as impressive as any in Norway, leaving isolated islands and hidden coves upon their retreat.12 or 22-day cruises also visit the coast of Brazil, while hardier types can cruise to the Antarctic Peninsula and the Falkland Islands.

The summer has been taking on swine flu which is the only reason the figures have been down. It would seem that the summer months are over and with the winter settling in it could be time for the virus to come out.

So with winter on the way how are companies that offer things like luxury cruises going to be able to combat the virus if it hits one of their voyages?

The crew will look at the entire ship and give a nice big clean. Of course they clean the ship anyway but now they seem to be spending a lot more time on everything and using more powerful cleaning products. If this step is actually put into practice early on it is unlikely other people will catch the virus.

If the worst thing happened and an outbreak was to happen then one of two things would actually happen. The people are put into a seperate part of the ship and the rest of the ship is told where those people are being kept. They may actually stop people from leaving to go onto land if the outbreak gets really bad. Although this could potentially ruin your holiday it is very unlikely to happen and your money would more than likely be returned to you so do not worry if you are about to book one of those Oceania cruises

So when booking your river cruises, do not worry about swine flu as everything that can be done to stop it, is being done. Of course there are chances you can still catch the virus but it is often not the companies fault, you just need to make sure you sneeze into tissues and do all the sensible things to prevent giving it to someone if you think you have it.

Of course other means of travel such as air and train are also going through similar procedures so you do not need to worry about catching the virus when going away on holiday.

This is something that has been put forward many times and then dropped again but after reassessing the situation they are actually considering doing this for real.

Why on earth does this happen? It is not known why the country is spending so much money on this when we are currently suffering so badly from the depression? The 2012 games will hopefully bring a bit of a boost to this country as it certainly does need it so why on earth does it even matter where all the competitiors go to sleep, the real answer is that it doesnt in any way at all?

They are no different to anyone else and I do not see why they are treated in a different way as they are just trying to do thier job. It is also unknown why the government are building giant training facilities as surely these countries have their own. The plan for the ship afterwards is most likely to turn it into a museum which of course will be great fun. I do not know a person on earth who would enjoy visiting a place where tired and smelly athletes had slept in? It is truly madness that the government seem to be more interested in pleasing a few visitors for two weeks than the country itself!

There is an idea to build a big hotel for all of the athletes but I really do not understand why they do not just sick them into normal hotels, they are not exactly famous/. What a waste of money is building the hotel, there is certainly a hotel with enough space for these people, why waste tax payers money.

Of course going on a real luxury cruises is a lot nicer than watching the Olympic one being built so why not think about taking one of those river cruises and just going away for a bit.

Five star cruises can be a really nice way to get away from it all, so why not try it.

Even in the depression it would seem that some businesses are doing really well and luxury cruises certainly seems to be one of them.

A 5% increase is what has happened to cruising holidays, how? Cruises, the better ones anyway, are not cheap and with people taking pay cuts and other such things how on earth are they affording to go on wonderful cruises to anywhere in the world?

People do seem to be saving a lot more. How come so many people will choose to save for a cruise.

A major reason is the ship has so many things to do that you can almost fit several other holidays within it. The thing is with these ships they have so much on offer such as gyms, brilliant dining, dinner shows and of course swimming pools.l. To be able to fit all of this in one place is certainly brilliant. But with the depression effecting people this year does it look good for next year’s figures?

Well it would seem so with another massive increase next year set to come in at 6.5%. This is partly due to all of the brand new cruise ships currently coming into the equation next year. The prices seem to be a lot better than they used to be. There are just so many deals out there for people to choose from. Due to all of these new companies starting up with new cruise ships it would seem the prices are going to decrease even further in the next few years. So now is the time to look for a cruise holiday, they are also very relaxing as you are free to do whatever you want, check out the pool, hit the gym or just relax in your cabin.

Of course the percentage increase is just estimation and we might not see as many people taking river cruises as well as cunard cruises like we first thought, however all we can really do is wait it out.