Breaking Blue : Helping you explore the world!

For a truly unique voyage, Baltic cruises are becoming immensely popular for travellers looking to explore the diverse scenery and culture of this fascinating region. The wealth of historical locations along the Baltic coast make it an ideal destination for cruise and stay holidays and there are also plenty of options when it comes to the ships on offer.

One of the first ports of call is the Danish capital, Copenhagen, which is home to an inspiring array of architecture. Equally sought after is the Swedish city of Gothenburg, where you can discover famous sights such as the Älvborgs Bridge and the Goteborg Opera House. Most cruises then move on to Helsinki, which will be a great place to indulge in some retail therapy.

Perhaps the highlight of any Baltic cruises is the captivating city of St. Petersburg, which boasts an unrivalled atmosphere and fascinating heritage. Although only built in 1703, by Tsar Peter I, this former Russian capital has seen some dramatic changes in its 300-year history. The Palace Square and Church of the Saviour on Blood are two inspiring attractions that should not be passed by.

Baltic cruises attract passengers from a wide variety of backgrounds and will be the perfect option if you are looking to entertain a group with differing tastes. Last minute cruises in the Baltic are not as easy to find as those to the Caribbean or Far East, but if you can hold out a while longer and don’t need to plan ahead you could save a substantial amount on the cost of your ticket.

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P&O Cruises are a tried and trusted provider of cruises and cruise and stay holidays.
With an impressive fleet of ships, including such luxury liners as the Arcadia, Azura and Oceanea, P&O offers a great selection of cruise holidays, with something to suit all tastes.

Sailing from Britain’s premiere cruise port at Southampton, passengers can head for destinations both near and far, experiencing the delights of Baltic cruises, Red Sea cruises, Far East cruises and many more.

Or travellers may choose to opt for a fly-cruise holiday, departing from airports across the UK at Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Doncaster, Edinburgh, East Midlands, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, Liverpool, Luton, Newcastle and Stansted – offering the convenience of a local departure coupled with immediate embarkation in your chosen cruise destination.

Holidaymakers who choose to cruise with P&O Cruises can benefit from the company’s obvious eagerness to retain its tag as “Britain’s favourite cruise line”. The on board experience on a P&O Cruise is truly second to none with one member of on board staff to every two passengers – offering a stellar level of service at all times.

All P&O Cruises come with the option of some amazing shore excursions at destination ports, and each trip is carefully planned to help customers make the most of their time off the ship.

For time spent at sea the onboard entertainment on P&O Cruises is as exciting and diverse as their list of destinations, with features such casinos, nightclubs, theatres and cinemas as well as a range of health and fitness and spa facilities.

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Taking a cruise to explore a far-flung corner of the globe is something that is on a lot of people’s wish lists. For many the idea of a cruise embodies a level of luxury that they aspire to attain at least once in their holidaymaking lifetime; many people, however, feel that the cost of a cruise is simply prohibitive.

But the truth of the matter is that, while today’s cruises retain the luxury of the golden era of the cruise holiday format in the mid 20th century (and have even added levels of onboard activity and entertainment that far exceed those offered in the past), the travel market has become a buyer’s market – making it easier and easier to source a great cruise deal to suit both your passions and your purse.

Finding cruise deals online is a great way for potential passengers to grab that cheaper cruise, with a number of sites dedicated to documenting the details of cruise deals and last minute cruises allowing the customer to compare and contrast each cruise before they choose.

Excellent cruise deals are also available from the operators themselves. Large cruise lines such as P&O Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruises and Princess Cruises will offer last minute cruises at a cheaper rate than travel agents. This is due to the fact that booking in this manner effectively cuts out the middle man. For this reason it is always worth checking the price with the operator themselves before committing to any cruise deal.

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Lazing and lounging on the deckchairs by the pool is an image often associated with cruise holidays, but today this couldn’t be further from the truth. Cruise ships are now packed full of exciting activities that will keep you entertained for every day of your trip. If you are the active type of cruiser, we have some handy advice to help ensure you have the best holiday experience.

Firstly, it is not necessarily better to go on a big ship. After all, smaller vessels will be able to take you to places their bigger counterparts are unable to reach, so there could be plenty more options for adventure on land. However, some of the larger vessels have inflatables, which you can take out into the wild.

Expedition cruising is also not what it used to be and from exploring the Antarctic landscape to scuba diving in the Yucatan Peninsula, where you can discover underwater caves, there will be an adventure to suit anyone’s taste.

Another suggestion is to go for a short cruise, as there will more than likely be a higher concentration of younger travellers who will be actively minded. You are sure to meet like-minded passengers who will be looking for the same fun and adventure.

Easily the biggest single factor will be where you decide to take your cruise holiday. Alaska, the Caribbean Islands and French Polynesia are among the highlights for adventure cruises, but it will be well worth looking out to see what else is on offer.

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Dover is located on the south east coast of England, about an hour and a half from London Charing Cross or London Victoria stations, and the ferries are depart from the Dover Eastern Docks. It is the busiest ferry port in Europe and indeed is one of the most active ports in the world.

Currently there are four major ferry operators that transport travellers from the Dover Ferry Port to Dunkerque, Calais, or Boulogne.  They are LD Lines, P&O Ferries, Norfolk Line, and SeaFrance.  On average a ferry departs every 30 minutes between the four operators that are equipped to handle motorcycles, cars, and coaches.
In addition, there some of these companies run freight ferries which can accommodate lorries and unaccompanied trailers.

While waiting at the port there are a variety of provisions for travellers including shopping and refreshment options at the Passenger Services Buildings.  In particular there is a Bureau de Change, Burger King, and a Café Ritazza in addition to some retail shops.

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People used to think of cruises as something to experience once retirement was well under way. This is no longer the case, cruises are starting to appeal to the younger generation and as a result, cruise ships have had to revaluate the activities and places they visit.

Cruise holidays for the younger generation and families alike, are more fun, active and still as luxurious as ever. Children can have lots of fun on a cruise, as they get involved in clubs designed specifically for them. Swimming pools and on-board activities cater to all ages from 5 to 75.

Today, cruise ships boast fantastic activities, such as water parks, rock climbing walls, solariums, stunning spas, celebrity-run five-star restaurants and even ice-skating rinks. Some cruise ships that have bowling alleys, Wii sport activities to keep all ages entertained and fabulous water slides.

Other ships have amazing tours for anyone who is interested in learning about how a cruise ship actually works. Princess Cruise, a premier cruise company, has this behind-the-scenes tour on their ship, the Ruby Princess. Passengers can visit and see in action the control room, the food stores, the theatre, the laundry room and provided they are brave enough, can even climb into the funnel.

The famous television chef, Gary Rhodes, has fantastic restaurants on the P&O cruise ships the Arcadia and the Oriana.

No longer are cruise ships considered boring, they are for all ages and will keep all members of the family entertained. You can eat well, play hard and have an amazing time while taking a cruise holiday.

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If you fancy going on a Royal Caribbean cruise, here is some basic useful information for you to check out before you go on your amazing holiday.

You need to make sure you have packed everything you need for your fabulous cruise. Obviously, you will need to pack your sun tan lotion, your swimsuit and don’t forget your camera. Beyond those basics there are a few things you definitely don’t want to forget or you could find yourself making your way home before you even set foot on the cruise liner.

For your first day, you will need to have a small carry-on travel bag with all your travel documents. Also, it might be useful to pack a clean change of clothes, a swimsuit, any exercise clothes you may need and any medication that you may need to take. The reason for taking all these things in your carry-on is so you don’t have to wait until your main luggage arrives before you start enjoying all that the cruise ship has to offer.

For clothes, you will need a variety of different items to enjoy everything on the cruise. For example, for the ladies, you will need casual clothes to lounge in during the day, such as skirts, dresses, blouses, t-shirts, etc.

If you intend relaxing by the pool, pack a couple of swimsuits so you can have one to wear while the other is drying; flip-flops, sandals or trainers are perfect footwear for lounging by the pool. You may also want to pack a sarong or shorts for walking to and from the sundeck.

There may be some formal nights onboard your cruise ship, which will require cocktail dresses for women and suits and ties for the men.

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Cruises no longer carry with them the cliché of being only for newly-weds or the nearly dead. Cruise ships now cater for families and not only that; they are doing it in style.

Everything is taken care of on a cruise ship when you are a travelling as a family. Of course, you will have to go on cruise liners that are specifically designed for families and by that we mean the food is first-class and suitable all members of the family, there are a range of activities, leisure options, places to go and things to see.

When the time arrives to choose a ship for your cruise holiday, a basic rule of thumb is the bigger the ship the better. The larger cruise ships that cater for families are more likely to have clubs specifically for the children, with trained childcare professionals, services for babysitting, again all operated by trained professionals, so you know your little ones are safe, dining options that can be tweaked to suit your family perfectly and activities for the whole family to get involved with.

On cruise ships that cater for families, you will typically find such things as swimming pools, spas, for the parents of course, driving ranges for the sporty mum or dad and climbing walls for all ages to get active. Some ships even have full capacity movie theatres showing children’s films during the day and films for the more mature audience at night.

The majority of family orientated cruise ships are based in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. These areas allow the family to make the most of the gorgeous weather and the outside activities that take place on the ships.

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A luxurious life on deck is what cruises offer. Both on deck and in port, different cruise lines offer people worlds that they have never imagined – and pampering on a truly dream vacation.

Different kinds of cruises suit different lifestyles; it’s up to the passenger to choose which ship to take and what the destinations are. Most luxury ships, or cruises, have varying programmes that cater to the different needs of individuals.

If you’re planning to travel with the kids, then a family cruise will be for you. Cruise lines that offer family cruises cater to the needs of every member of the family. Disney, for one, is one of the best lines when travelling with children. It has the least minimum age to sail, giving 12-week old babies the experience of sailing early. Family cruise ships also have different programmes for kids, like movies, arts and crafts activities, and video games. Bearing in mind that the younger adult generation might not be interested in such activities, family cruises also ensure that teenagers aren’t forgotten on deck. Special parties and events are arranged for them and them alone.

With the right planning, there’s no way that you can’t enjoy the sweet life on deck.

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Different people have different needs. Should you decide to go on a holiday on a cruise, then you might want to check on the specialties of different providers. A wide array of options are available to those who want go onboard a luxury ship, and these won’t fail you – whether you are someone who seeks adventure or someone who wants to get pampered, single or first time cruiser; many cruise lines can cater to your requirements.

Those who want to go on a different adventure can try out expedition cruises. Unlike other cruises, expedition cruises, or adventure cruises, offer you worlds that you haven’t imagined. From the icy lands of the Antarctic to the wonderful world of Galapagos, you will surely find the adventure right for you. If seeing seals and polar bears is what you want, then this kind of cruise is for you. If you want to see far different creatures, like wingless birds and land tortoises, then an expedition cruise is your best bet.

A trip to the Galapagos Islands will feed the hungry minds of scientists and other people who have eyes for the sciences. Some cruise lines even have professional scientists and historians on deck and in port to help you with your adventurous quest.

If utmost pampering is what you’re looking for, then a spa and wellness cruise is the right fit for you. Crystal Cruises, for one, offers spa services at a high level. They have some of the most extensive facilities onboard and very well-trained staff. Otherwise, you can get on a Royal Caribbean ship and experience rock climbing while at sea. Talk about the best of both worlds!

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