| It is the time of year the cruise companies saturate the | | | | for. There are no hidden fees at the end of the cruise |
| mail with advertisements for the upcoming year's | | | | because you had two bottles of champagne or a |
| cruises. To get you out of the winter doldrums, their | | | | margarita by the pool every day. Most ports of calls |
| brochures depict turquoise waters, sandy beaches, | | | | are also included. Some may be extra, but as a rule |
| coral reefs teeming with colorful fish; scantily clad | | | | the majority are included in the cruise fee. |
| lovers exploring an underwater world. | | | | Not only is the cruise all inclusive, but many times there |
| It already sounds inviting, and if I was smart I would | | | | are specials that include airfare, upgrades and no fees |
| book a cruise right away and forgo this article, but then | | | | for special ports of calls. These cruises seldom just |
| I wouldn't be able to finish this, and no one would have | | | | visit the Caribbean. It isn't that they don't sail the |
| anything to read. Cruising is a great vacation | | | | Caribbean, but they too are more adventurous and like |
| experience. Bargains can be had on all major cruise | | | | to sail Europe, Mediterranean, China, Baltic Seas and |
| lines, and for the more discerning tastes, if they book | | | | Hawaii to name a few destinations. These destinations |
| an early all-inclusive cruise then the 2 for 1 price usually | | | | take longer to cruise. The average cruise on these |
| applies. | | | | lines is 11 days. Some do offer 7 day cruises, but those |
| But I am getting ahead of myself. As a travel writer | | | | cruises usually means that the end port is where the |
| and agent, I get tons of information on cruises this time | | | | cruiser disembarks and flies home from a different |
| of year. I receive information from the major cruise | | | | destination than their arrival. Seven Seas has a |
| lines, but also get mail from the more exclusive lines. All | | | | wonderful Athens/Monte Carlo cruise that begins in |
| those advertisements whet the appetite of any | | | | Monte Carlo and ends in Athens. Cruisers will book a |
| vacationer, but it is the exclusive lines that take a little | | | | flight into Monte Carlo and the return flight will be from |
| more care in their advertisements to get the attention | | | | Athens. But don't despair; Seven Seas cruises have |
| of the cruise vacationer. | | | | FREE *airfare to Europe, so when you book all of |
| We know that major cruise lines offer something for | | | | those arrangements will be made. |
| everyone. Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and | | | | One of the advantages of sailing with Seven Seas or |
| Norwegian, to name a few, cater to the masses. They | | | | Seabourn is that most, depending on the ship; some |
| have fine tuned their cruises to accommodate food, | | | | feature all of their staterooms with balconies. What a |
| entertainment and ports of call that are popular with | | | | way to wake up in the morning. Imagine enjoying |
| most cruisers. They sail the Caribbean throughout the | | | | breakfast on your balcony while cruising the |
| year, the most popular destination for cruises, catering | | | | Mediterranean, sailing from Monte Carlo with its |
| to the whims of the majority. | | | | breathtaking architect drifting by; cruising through Italy, |
| Carnival caters to the young and adventurous; both in | | | | visiting Vatican city and searching for the lost city of |
| age and spirit. The waterslides, golf range and rock | | | | Atlantis as you sail the waters near Santorini. The |
| wall are a few of the old adventurous standby's. The | | | | staterooms are larger than those on the major cruise |
| surfing pool is an added sport on the newer ships. | | | | lines. A nice 300 square feet compared to 175 on the |
| Carnival still caters to the young family. Carnival has a | | | | major cruise lines. But the longer stay means being in |
| great price to fit any family vacation budget. It has | | | | your own room won't be so bad. |
| added value in that lodging, most meals and | | | | The best time to book a vacation on the all inclusive |
| entertainment are included. Shore excursions add on | | | | cruises is by March and then again around August. |
| extra money, but a family can choose excursions that | | | | Early bookings receive those exclusive deals of |
| do not cost a ton of money. | | | | airfare, upgrades, all shore excursions for free. The |
| Royal Caribbean Cruises is another great way to | | | | cruise itself may be cheaper by booking within 30 |
| vacation. The good thing about RCCL is that not only | | | | days of sailing, but those specials will be gone. |
| does the cruise line give the adventurous something to | | | | Much is being discussed about Australia with the |
| do, but the couple who want a little more quiet time | | | | dream job being posted by Queensland, Why not |
| can also find their niche on cruises from this line. They | | | | cruise the barrier reef on a 15 night vacation with |
| visit the most popular destinations, as well as, Carnival, | | | | Seven Seas. Their Sydney to Singapore cruise is one |
| but are a little pricier, but they do give the cruiser more | | | | of a lifetime adventure. Snorkeling the Great Barrier |
| for their money. | | | | Reef is one of the pastimes on this cruise. Sail through |
| Celebrity and Norwegian, cater to the older | | | | several seas; the tropic of Capricorn, Arafura Sea, |
| generations, or those who want quiet cruises with no | | | | Timor Sea and the Java Sea. The cruise begins in |
| or few children. These cruises are little longer, add | | | | Sydney sails through Indonesia and ends in Singapore. |
| more ports of call, but still stop at the most popular | | | | Ports of call allow cruisers to visit the deep blue |
| destinations. Celebrity's rooms are a little larger and | | | | waters off Newcastle, Australia, or the ancient |
| many feature balconies. The romantic room service is | | | | evolutionary studies of Darwin, in Darwin, Australia. See |
| another way to set themselves apart from Carnival | | | | the Komodo dragon on Komodo Island, Indonesia, and |
| and Royal Caribbean. | | | | experience the wonder of Singapore's food, |
| But there are some adventurous vacationers who | | | | entertainment, shopping and culture before flying home. |
| want more out of their cruises. Cruise lines like Seven | | | | Crystal and Princess Cruise lines also offer higher end |
| Seas, Seabourn, Crystal and Princess give the | | | | cruises to unique destinations. Their prices are a little |
| discerning, adventurous traveler what they want. Most | | | | lower than Seven Seas and Seaborn, but not all of |
| of these cruises are all inclusive. Many Seabourn and | | | | their cruises are all inclusive. They cater to those |
| Seven Seas cruises charge 1 price for the cruise that | | | | looking for longer and more adventurous cruises. |
| is the only fee paid during the cruise. Everything is paid | | | | *Must book before March 31, 2009. |