Breaking Blue : Helping you explore the world!

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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One of the major cruise lines that offer the luxury of superior cruising holidays is Costa Cruises. Bearing the Italian flag, Costa Cruises with its 14 ships, operates across the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean, South America, the Middle East, Northern Europe, and South East Asia.

The length of time they have been in business attests to the quality that they provide those who want to experience a cruise holiday. For 60 years now they have shown and are still showing expertise in the Italian way of luxury cruising. This should not come as a surprise since Costa Cruises is under the wing of Carnival Corporation PLC – a British-American-Panamanian corporation, which is the largest cruise operator in the world. Costa Cruises also boasts of its credentials having been “certified by RINA (Italian Shipping Register) with the B.E.S.T. 4, an integrated system of voluntary certification of corporate compliance with the highest standards governing social accountability.

Costa Cruises ships offer all the comfort and quality you’ll ever ask for from a cruise holiday. The line is also famous for its family-oriented service (they even have a Costa Kids Programme – activity sessions that will keep kids aged 3-17 entertained), friendly and accommodating staff, and sumptuous cuisine from around the globe.  You even have options of dining venue – al fresco, in your cabin, by the poolside, or at the midnight buffet – or having a formal dining experience at a Costa Cruise gala dinner.

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Time aboard a cruise ship can be a great way to spend some time with your family. A lot of cruise lines are offering tours that are appropriate for everyone in the family and are designed to keep the whole family happy during your stay. Should you decide to go on a cruise with the whole family, you should check the itinerary and the amenities that the cruise line has to offer. There are many cruise lines that have programmes designed for each member of the family. Unique amenities are often provided (although they may differ from one ship to another) – like nurseries, ice skating rinks, planetariums, and movie watching activities.

The cabins on family cruises are designed specially for every member of the family, many being child-friendly. It’s up to you decide which will suit the needs of everyone in your family.

It is important to check the minimum age required to sail if you’re travelling with a baby, because the minimum age differs from one ship to another. Disney allows 12-week old babies to sail, while Carnival sets the minimum age at four months old and Princess sets theirs at six months old. Choosing the right nursery is also one of your priorities – you’d only want the best for your baby, after all.

Kids aren’t forgotten either in family cruises. Children’s programmes are offered on board to make sure that the kids are having a great time while sea faring and in port. Some lines offer scavenger hunts, video game sessions, and arts and crafts projects, to name a few.

Teen nightclubs, spa services, and teen-only hot tubs are some of the amenities and services offered to families travelling with teens. Princess has even designed a special evening for teens with a dinner together in the main dining room.

With the right planning, everyone in the family can enjoy their time on board.

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When you decide to go on a cruise you will be expecting to relax and unwind on your holiday for some of the time; that will be no problem. However, if you want to be more active while aboard your cruise ship there are many leisure activities you can become involved in to keep you entertained.

Cruise ships usually post or announce the events for the day and the coming days of the trip. Be sure to read or listen to the announcements about the onboard activities to give yourself the opportunity to select which you will participate in. If you truly are a ‘party-person’, don’t miss the many social gatherings that will be arranged throughout the duration of the cruise.

You will never get bored on a cruise ship because they have such varied forms of entertainment. If you’re a gambler you can chance your money at the casino. If you love music and theatre, you will enjoy the cabaret shows. If you’re a movie buff, you can enjoy the selection of movies provided on the cruise. There are also disco’s or clubs for people who love to dance. Furthermore, talent shows that require the willing and enthusiastic participation of the passengers are also organised on most cruise ships.

If you’re a sports buff and are afraid that you might lose your muscle tone after eating a lot of scrumptious meals onboard, do not fret! There’s a fitness and recreation area available on all cruise ships. Top quality gym facilities are available as well as equipment for games like ping-pong and shuffleboard. Plus, some cruises provide volleyball courts and rock-climbing walls for the fitter and more adventurous passengers.

If you get tired after engaging in any activity onboard, feel free to try the relaxing treatments offered in the spa – massage, facial, manicure and pedicure.  Hair styling is almost certain to be provided.

But do not worry if you are the quiet type and prefer to unwind alone. The libraries, Internet cafes and card games rooms are perfect for you.

No matter what activity or kind of leisure you seek, the activities on cruise holidays will keep you happily entertained throughout your trip.

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Holidaying on a cruise ship can be a fantastic way of taking a break. Many people dream of experiencing the famous Caribbean cruises, Mediterranean cruises, Nile cruises, or one of the many other exciting destinations now available.

Cruise and stay holidays are becoming increasingly popular as they allow some time on terra firma as part of the package.  Why not spend a week in a popular Mediterranean coastal resort or major city before starting a cruise, or at the end of it before flying home.

Many cruise lines now offer cruise and stay holidays that cater for the specific needs of their passengers. Since some people, especially the kids, may get bored after some hours of touring on land, there are now plenty of activities that they can do to enjoy their time onboard.  Women can browse in the ship’s shopping stores, whilst the kids can play in the arcade centres.  Most passengers though will enjoy sunbathing on the ship’s deck and taking time to feel the tropical breeze and enjoy the sounds of waves splashing nearby.

Today’s cruise and stay holidays offer a wide variety of packages for tourists and typical cruise goers who look forward to enjoying the luxury of a cruise without missing the adventure of exploring a new holiday spot. For instance, people can opt to spend a week or more at a destination, such as Hawaii, Orlando in Florida, or Miami, before going on a cruise around the popular waters of the Caribbean or the South Pacific.

There are indeed many available options for cruise holidaymakers to consider when planning their holiday. Though cruise and stay holidays will entail spending a considerable amount of money they are exceptional experiences that you will remember for a very long time.

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Dying to take a holiday that is far from ordinary or eager to take a cruise that will transport you to some of the most exotic places on earth? There are actually many deals to choose from, but here is one that you can consider if you’re looking for the quality of service, convenience and best holiday experience possible.

P&O are generally accepted as being one of the oldest companies in the industry. They offer a range of cruises that is guaranteed to provide the optimum holiday experience. You can enjoy either a modern style holiday or a traditional cruise, but whichever you choose, you are sure to be impressed by the range of amenities on offer.

P&O’s fleet of super-liners feature a variety of entertainment facilities that will make your stay onboard more lively and enjoyable. At night you can choose which bars and lounges to frequent, enjoy live bands and be thrilled with the music on the dance floor. Alternatively, if you’re a keen moviegoer you can try out the cinemas and theatres that feature spectacular shows and classic films. If you want to try your luck, you can visit the casinos and play some of their fun and stimulating games, including roulette, blackjack and bingo.

P&O cruises will take you to visit places you might only have seen in pictures or read about in books, as the cruise line’s ships visit over 200 destinations around the world. You can choose to cruise the Mediterranean or the aqua blue waters of the Pacific and the variety of shore excursions on offer allows passengers to choose their favourite activities.

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Most of us dream of travelling the world and having a great time in one of the safest and most luxurious locations imaginable, a cruise ship. Wouldn’t it be superb to be spending your vacation in a relaxing atmosphere with the best amenities close at hand?

However, most travellers would also like to have more time to thoroughly explore the ports of call. Taking in the rich heritage and stunning sights of these destinations would add that little bit more to an already unforgettable experience.

It was with this in mind that cruise and stay holidays were born. Here are some of the world’s best destinations.

The Caribbean is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world, due to its great weather and stunning scenery. Visitors can enjoy its stunning beaches and go snorkelling, swimming and enjoy many other fun activities.

The Mediterranean is the perfect place for a vacation and a popular destination in Europe. You can explore a country’s rich culture and heritage or just laze around and relax; this is definitely the place to be.

Alaska is a favourite cruising destination among travellers. This cruise takes you on a journey around the coast of Alaska and on to Canada, one of the most fascinating and exciting places in the world. Alaska has great tourist attractions, with grizzly bear spotting tours or white-water rafting. It is perfect for anyone who enjoys wild, untamed nature.

Florida is where most Caribbean cruises either start or finish. It is renowned for having some great shopping, but probably best known for its theme parks and other tourist attractions.

These are just some of the cruise and stay destinations that travellers can try. This type of holiday enables you to enjoy the luxury of a cruise ship, visit some of the world’s most magnificent sights, but perhaps best of all, relax in the most stunning resorts to be found anywhere.

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Many senior citizens want to spend some of their new leisure time travelling, and the internet is proving a great place to pick up ideas. More than ever, ‘silver surfers’ are using the web to learn about new and exciting destinations and book their travel and accommodation. Those over 60 are becoming one of the most prominent forces in the travel industry today and a considerable percentage are booking their travel on-line. In a recent poll, people of retirement age were asked what kind of travel they most enjoy, and although golf tours and city breaks tours ranked well, the most popular choice of all was to take a cruise. This is understandable as cruises tend to appeal to the more mature traveller as they cater to a huge range of interests and provide a variety of leisure activities and entertainment.  On a cruise, there are plenty of opportunities to relax by the pool or you can choose to participate in dancing, wine tasting and cookery classes, sports like tennis or swimming, card games, lectures, musical performances, movies, etc.

Holiday Cruises are organized with your comfort in mind, so you can enjoy a stress free vacation. Most Cruise ships also have fully equipped medical facilities and can accommodate passengers with special needs. There are also many different types of cruise deals to suit all individual tastes. For instance, if you are interested in exploring the ports and cities on shore you could easily arrange to extend your holiday by a couple of days to take in the sights. However, if a more activities based holiday is your thing you can spend most of your time on board ship and still never tire of things to do.

Maybe you have a hobby or interest and would like to go on a specialty cruise? For example, you could take a golf cruise where a game of golf is prearranged at every stop and there is a golf pro on board to help you improve your swing. Besides just cruises, many seniors are taking advantage of their new leisure time to travel to interesting and exciting locations. Many also combine a cruise with a land based tour for several days, for the best of both worlds.

Choosing to go on an organized tour instead of independent travel has many advantages including a greater feeling of security, organized transportation and accommodation, and a guide who will arrange your sightseeing trips. You will also meet lots of other travellers and often make lasting friendships as well.

However, a cruise can also be a let down if you don’t take care to select one that closely meets your travel goals. Before committing try and do plenty of research about your holiday and what it has to offer and check out what the cruise will provide. Some of the following suggestions may be of use:

•Can you organize your own flights or will you be restricted to group travel? A more flexible cruise holiday will accommodate those who want to use their air miles points or extend their trip after the is over.

•Research the hotels where you will be staying in advance. There are many websites that provide honest reviews of hotels around the world, so  you can read up on of the ones on your itinerary to make sure they are up to the standards you expect.

•Will there be enough free time so you don’t become exhausted from the pace of the sightseeing or activities? Too many new experiences in a relatively short space of time can make it difficult to appreciate them. Is your cruise holiday itinerary flexible and does it offer choices of activities? For instance could you go to museum instead, or vice versa? This is particularly relevant if you have restricted mobility for any reason.

•Are you going to be pressured into buying overpriced gifts on “shopping opportunities” or into buying expensive extras like one day trips? A lot of tour guides are often poorly paid and make commission on bringing tourists to shopping areas and factories. Make sure you know and approve all the stops you will make on each part of the cruise.

Whether you are cruising or touring or doing some combination of both, the options for those that have retired have never been greater. Also, many Cruise lines now provide discounts to passengers aged 55 years of age or older. The Internet has made it very easy to seek out those opportunities and great deals. So what are you waiting for? Book that holiday of a lifetime today!

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Cruising around the Mediterranean sea sounds like a very extravagant choice for a holiday destination but actually that is not necessarily the case. In actual fact, Mediterranean cruises probably offer travellers the best value for money these days. This is because of the number of stunning locations that you can visit across a quite condensed time period.

Available destinations include Italy, Spain, Greece and France, and of course the beautiful weather that is likely to accompany your trip is a bonus. You will have the opportunity to get off the boat in all of these fabulous places and experience the differences in the local food, culture, and sightseeing and enjoy shopping from one location to the next. You can also book Mediterranean cruises that focus on specific countries. It is really down to individual tastes.

These are the most standard Mediterranean cruise deals available but there are many others. Some Med cruises will actually journey to inland Europe where you can sail along the Danube or the Main (the river that connects the Rhine with the Danube), and experience such countries as Austria and Germany. Some also run along the North coast of Africa.

You can spend your time onboard sunbathing on the deck while enjoying the stunning scenery that is passing you by, or you can take advantage of any number of organised activities on the ship.

If this sounds like the ideal holiday for you, then why not take advantage of the abundance of last minute Mediterranean cruises which are available daily. You won’t regret it.

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Looking for a truly special cruise holiday? Take a magical Mediterranean cruise and indulge yourself with its natural beauty. Let life move at a much slower pace and pamper yourself with splendid sights and culture-rich cities.

The Mediterranean offers an assortment of fascinating art museums, exquisite beaches, chic boutiques, colourful local markets, and cities rich in history and cultural traditions. On your cruise you will also get to taste both rustic and contemporary cuisine at each destination.

For a romantic or a family cruise, a fascinating and enlightening Western Mediterranean cruise is just perfect. The ship calls at numerous ports, including: Barcelona, where guests get to visit the Gothic Quarter and Gaudi’s Temple of the Sagrada Familia; Monte Carlo, where there are numerous casinos; and ports in Malta, Croatia, and Morocco, where passengers can visit the Marrakech market and the Koutoubia Mosque.

An Eastern Mediterranean cruise is an equally enticing option, offering great sites of antiquity and lost civilisations. Stopovers include Italy; Dubrovnik, which has captivating ancient architecture and ambience; Greece, where passengers can visit Piraeus, Athens, and the Greek Isles; Turkey; and Egypt.

Epic sights may likewise be visited via an Adriatic cruise, whose stops include Korcula, Marco Polo’s birthplace; Dubrovnik; and Venice. It is an inspirational and educational voyage to some of Europe’s most historic destinations.

Cruise lines that travel the Mediterranean include Azamara Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Costa, Cunard Line, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Island Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Ocean Village, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, and Royal Caribbean International.

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