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The Four Cruise Classes

March 8, 2011 By npmytrav Leave a Comment

Article by Nicole Scott

There are usually four cruise classes: contemporary/value cruises, which is the largest cruise class; premium, luxury, and specialty cruises. Cruise lines will often offer a variety of cruise classes so that the traveler can plan a vacation to fit their specific needs Cruise pricing includes your accommodations, meals, snacks, 24-hour stateroom service, entertainment, activities, use of facilities including the health and fitness club. Cruise vacation package prices are on the increase since there is heightened demand for cruise vacations.

Cruise

Cruise lines may be able to effectively price discriminate among their customers through use of yield management systems. Cruise lines also try to “fence-in” customers who have booked by ensuring that subsequent promotional offerings are conditioned in such manner that booked passengers cannot cancel and re-book. Premium cruise ships offering the ambience and intimacy not found on mega ships. Premium cruise ships offer upscale facilities such as gourmet style cuisine, art collections and additional guest space. The premium cruise ships are also not as large as contemporary cruise ships, so you might feel more like you are riding the waves. That it was worth the expense.

The top notch cruises are the luxury cruise class ships, which may be smaller, holding around 300 people. The last classes of cruise that you can choose from are the specialty cruises. Most contemporary cruise classes are set aboard larger ships which accommodate approximately 3000 people. The last class of cruise that you can choose from is the specialty cruises. These cruises are unique in that they travel to special places, not the usual ports of Jamaica or The Bahamas. Also the specialty cruises might have exclusive passengers aboard like nudists, gays and lesbians, couples, or elderly citizens. Just as the classes of cruises vary, so do the sizes of the ships.

Cruises

Contemporary/ value cruises give travelers the cost efficient package deals, and are often appealing to those taking their first cruise. Premium cruises are more expensive than contemporary/value cruise, but you also get high-grade service and luxury accommodations for your money. The cost of your cruise will depend on several things including the class of cruise that you choose, length of the cruise, and the time of year that you are traveling. Usually, cruise vacations will include the cost of meals, some activities, and entertainment, but may not include drinks, tips, or side trips that you may want to take.

When choosing a class of cruise to embark on, also be aware that the ship size will also be important to your level of comfort on your trip. There are some other things to take into consideration when choosing a room aboard your cruise ship. Televisions and bathtubs are not usually standard on cruise ships, but may be available at an extra price. Timing is important when choosing when to go on your cruise for several reasons. Sometimes hurricane season effects when travelers plan their vacations, but hurricanes rarely effect the cruises.

About the Author

Nicole Scott is a successful Webmaster and publisher of
www.ExpertsOnCruises.com. She provides more information about

cruise and cruise issues that you can research in your pajamas on her website.

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Planning and Booking a Holiday Cruise from South Africa

March 8, 2011 By npmytrav Leave a Comment

Article by Bobby Buys

When it’s time for a vacation, almost every member in your group will have very strong ideas on what constitutes the perfect holiday. Given the rather mind-boggling range of choices, deciding upon the best destination will be far from easy.

A cruise holiday offers distinct advantages over traditional forms of travel, and allows you to avoid all the stress and hassle of planning a memorable vacation.

Advantages of Cruising

Cruises allow you to visit many ports of call. Depending on your preference, you can visit many different destinations or spend time on-board.

Most cruise ships afford a variety of on-board entertainment facilities, allowing you to interact with people from different cultures and catering to the tastes of each member in your group.

A cruise saves you time. Also, since everything will be taken care of by the cruise-liner, you can spare yourself the agony of having to make travel arrangements, pack suitcases or plan meals.

Most cruise holidays offer great value for money and are inclusive of food and on-board activities. Some services could cost extra, but since you’ll know this beforehand, you’re in control of your budget.

The Biggest Cruise Ships

There are a large number of cruise liners with state-of-the-art facilities. According to the Travel+Lesiure Magazine, the most enviable cruises to be on this year are:

A Mexican Riviera cruise on the Splendor with the Carnival Line.

The Caribbean, Mediterranean, and a journey from Southampton, England to Rome on the Solstice or the Equinox with the Celebrity Line.

Northern Europe, Mediterranean from December, Dubai, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and Oman on the Costa Luminosa;

Rome, Savona, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Tunis, Malta and Palermo on the Costa Pacifica, with the Costa Cruises Line; and

The Baltic region, Canada, New England and the Caribbean on the Eurodam with the Holland America Line.

Most Popular Cruise Destinations

Some of the tried and tested cruises include: Caribbean Cruise; South Pacific or Hawaiian Island Cruise; Alaskan Cruise; Polar Cruises; Transatlantic Ocean Cruise; River Cruises (the Danube in Europe, the fjords in Norway, the Mississippi in United States, the Nile in Egypt); Galapagos Island Cruises; European Cruises: Mediterranean, Northern Europe and Baltic, Greek and Canary Islands; Mexican Riviera Cruise.

South African Cruises: Best Times for a Cruise

While the following months offer the most favourable weather conditions, prices could prove to be steep. If you want cheaper options, travel during the off-season months. Peak season itineraries are as follows: Alaskan Cruise: June to August; Bermuda Cruise: April through Mid-November; Caribbean Cruise: Year round; December through April are particularly good; Mediterranean Cruise: April through November; Northern Europe and Baltic cruises: May to October; Greek and Canary Islands: March to December; Hawaiian Islands: November through February; Mexican Cruise: Year round.

Cruises in South Africa

South Africa is becoming a popular cruising destination and is also a departure point for some lovely cruises. Some of the more popular South African cruises are:

The Barra Lodge Cruise: Spend time on one of Mozambique’s most unspoiled beaches. The Indian Ocean offers great bathing possibilities all year round.

The Christmas Cruise: Enjoy delicious seafood, bask on the sun-kissed beaches, bathe in the turquoise blue waters and consort with the seagulls! Barra Lodge, Maputo and Portuguese Island are covered on this exciting cruise.

Island Discovery Cruise: Stops at Durban, Pointe des Galets, Port Louis, Mayotte Is, Nosy Be, Maputo and Portuguese Island.

Other popular ports are Richards Bay, Cape Town and/or Port Elizabeth.

About the Author

bidorbuy.co.za is South Africa’s largest online marketplace. Buyers and sellers come to bidorbuy to buy and sell virtually anything in auction format or at fixed prices. Contact details: bidorbuy Marketing Department; email promotion@bidorbuy.co.za, web site www.bidorbuy.co.za

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China Regal Cruises Cruise Highlights

March 8, 2011 By npmytrav Leave a Comment

Article by China Odyssey Tours

Regal China Cruises has three ships cruising the Yangtze River; the Princess Sheena, Princess Elaine, and Princess Jeannie. It is the only Yangtze River cruise company to have been recognized with an award from Travel Weekly due to its high standard. The three sister ships were all built in Germany and are the only foreign built ships that cruise the Yangtze River. The ships are very sleek in design and feature state of the art engineering and stabilizers making each cruise quiet and virtually motionless.The ship’s interior is very nicely designed and decorated. Each staircase has a map of the entire ship making navigating it very simple. Each ship has two dining rooms. Both feature similar cuisine served in a buffet style. The buffet is a mix of Western and Chinese dishes. The ship has a bar and an observation lounge /library. Both are located in the bow of the ship and have windows on three sides which gave excellent views of the Three Gorges scenery, while sitting in comfort out of the weather. The bar features a large selection of western alcohol and wine, as well as China’s famous Moutai Alcohol. The ballroom located on the top deck is where all of the performances and parties are held. It features a state of the art sound and lighting system. The performances themselves are excellent. They are performed by the ship’s crew and they are extremely talented. Each deck has its own exterior walkway that encircles the ship, so that visitors wanting a little exercise can walk around the ship. Most ships cruising on the Yangtze to not have this feature and visitors are only able to walk back and forth on each deck. Each ship has three types of rooms; Single, Standard Twin, and Suites. The Single and Standard Twin are small, but very well laid out. Each cabin has all of the amenities found in a 5 star hotel. The Single and Standard Twin each have private bathroom with Western style toilet, air conditioner, refrigerator, television, telephone, large windows, and plenty of storage space. The Suite is much larger, and has a kitchenette, a sitting room, and a bathroom with bathtub.

The crew on each ship is carefully picked. They are chosen not only for their ability to speak excellent English, but also for their enthusiasm and friendly nature. The crew words very hard to make a cruise an unforgettable experience.

The excursions are each carefully chosen to show off China’s rich culture and history. Each excursion has an English speaking guide to allow guests to get the most of their experiences. When applicable, private air-conditioned busses will escort passengers from their ship, to their destination. Each cruise will have its own excursions. Excursions include Shennong Stream, Fengdu Ghost City, the Three Gorges Dam, Shibaozhai (Stone Treasure Fortress), and White Emperor City. Each of these excursions takes two to three hours.

The scenery of the three gorges is one of the biggest draw for visitors to the Yangtze River for good reason. The Three Gorges is one of the earliest tourist destinations in China. It is famous not only for its stunning landscapes, but for the history, and culture. The myriad of ancient temples, villages, and paths add to the splendor of the Three Gorges. Visitors cruising down the Yangtze River can witness life as it has been for centuries by people living on and around the river.

About the Author

China Odyssey Tours offer your discount Yangtze river cruise with other Chinese tours packages.

Passengers aboard the cruise ship Oceanos begin to panic when the ship starts sinking. To make matters worse, the captain and most of the crew have already abandoned ship, leaving them to die.
Video Rating: 4 / 5

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