Sunday, October 4, 2009

Cruise Honeymoon

Many dream of a perfect wedding; exchanging vows at the beach, drinking champagne at an exotic place, and enjoying the special moment with family and love ones. So after the ceremony comes the best part: the honeymoon. Well, it is not a personal statement. If you ask most couples what type of honeymoon is the best, many would answer, "cruise honeymoon".And why not?Imagine you and your wife travel anywhere in the world and enjoying the calmness of the sea and enjoying each other's company together with nature at its best. Imagine you have all the time in the world, sleeping at any hour of the day, watching the stars in the sky and relaxing in a luxurious ship that seems to be designed for both of you. Imagine you get all the luxury in the world while witnessing the beauty of it all at the same time and at the same place.Yes, all these you can get if you take the honeymoon cruise.If you can imagine it, then you can get the real sense of it. Booking for a honeymoon cruise is easier and much cheaper nowadays. Many ships have given special attention to newlyweds to enjoy their first days of married life. This result to honeymoon cruise packages. These packages include everything you need; dinner for two, luxurious suite, champagne, and other on-board amenities you need to fully enjoy your honeymoon.Cruise ships are much easier to locate. With the help of the internet, you can locate cruise liners that offer honeymoon cruise. Here are some cruise lines that offer honeymoon cruises and honeymoon packages: Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity, Crystal Cruises, Costa Cruise Line, Cunard Line, Holland America, Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian, Orient, Royal Caribbean, Radisson, SeaBourn, Windstar and SilverSea. All these provide the best honeymoon experience you expect.If in case you want to get married on board, there are several honeymoon cruises that offer this service. Some of these are Disney Cruise, Princess Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean.And if you think of destinations, honeymoon cruises offer a worldwide vacations that suite your desire. You can have tropical cruise, Caribbean cruise, European cruise, Hawaii cruise, and more.The bottom line here is, whenever you want to go, whatever kind of luxury you need, and whatever experience you desire, honeymoon cruise could satisfy every single nerve in your body that would make this once in a lifetime experience worthwhile.






Living On A Cruise Ship Is Catching On

Well, living on a Cruise Ship is catching on.Quite a few couples are now subscribing to world cruises and it is affecting the Cruise Ship industry.In 2006 the Holland America Line is experiencing a 20 percent increase in the number of cruises longer than 12 days. For 2007, the demand for world cruises for Cunard is so great the company is having two world cruises, including the Queen Mary 2's first voyage around the world, an 80-day journey. Silversea Cruises, a very, very exclusive Cruise Line has just launched a series of voyages of 34 to 123 days and is having its first around-the-world cruise in 2007. And Crystal Cruises Inc. spokeswoman Mimi Weisband said that they saw a record number of bookings for this year's 106-day world cruise. Why is this happening?Nobody likes flying anymore. It is not relaxing, you are stuffed like sardines in a tin can, you have to bring your own lunch, and have to take off your shoes.Now think about cruising.You've got your house with you, wherever you go, just like a turtle.You get taken care of, whatever you need. Medical Care is close by, so are 10 bars and 4 restaurants open 24 hours a day in most cases.You don't have to pack and unpack every day as with regular vacations, you can spend leisurely days playing pingpong and shuffleboard and relaxing with longtime friends. The key selling theme for these long cruises is COMFORT.You can see and do exotic things from 10 AM to 12 PM, go for lunch, and do more exotic things from 2 PM till 7 PM and then have a 10 course supper.After supper there is a free show every night.Perfect lifeRather than sitting in a summer cottage staring at the walls, on a cruise you have your social life built in, with 2000 possible friends. Cruise lines say another key attraction is that now you can visit plenty of far-flung destinations - such as Hawaii and Tahiti- without dealing with airport security and other hassles. The funny thing is that these Cruises are no longer exclusively populated by retired Seniors, but are becoming populated by entrepreneurial 40- and 50-people, who can turn the ship into a virtual, floating office. You can successfully run a business from being on a ship, because of Wireless Internet Access worldwide available on these Cruise Ships.Destinations are also being changed by the Cruise Ship industry; more and more exotic itineraries are being visited, because people like change, and if you have never seen the Pyramids, now is your chance on a 12 day Cruise.The costs of a world cruise are no longer prohibitive, in 2005 a 100 day cruise could be had for $16,000 per person, that is $160 a day for travel, food, guided tours, shows and companionship.Some people do this in their 30's, saying that they want to enjoy this while they can.Others do this after they get a divorce, as a consolation prize to themselves.As the demand for World Cruises increases, at some point in time entrepreneurs are going to buy a Cruise Ship at a reasonable price and are going to turn it into Condominiums.








Carnival 2 Day Cruises

Carnival Cruise Lines have shorter cruises available that last from 2 to 5 days. They run the largest short cruise program in the cruise industry. You can take a short cruise on one of 12 ships from 12 North American home ports. A short cruise gives passengers a good idea of what cruising is about so they like it. Carnival has a short New York Cruise to know where you can enjoy excellent service in a relaxing atmosphere. You'll be back to the New York City Port in a few days. A Carnival 2 day cruise is perfect if you don't have time to take a longer cruise. This means you can take a short cruise over the weekend and be home or back at work by Monday. Smelling the sea air, eating fantastic food and watching great entertainment for two days is a nice way to refresh yourself from the routine of every day life. You can exercise at state-of-the-art fitness facilities, go swimming in the pool or get pampered at the spa.Another benefit of taking a Carnival 2 Day Cruise is the low cost. You may have to pay for extra things like spa treatments, games or shore excursions. Carnival has an affordable short cruise that leaves from Miami and Port Canaveral in Florida. There's also a Carnival cruise that departs from Long Beach, California and heads to Ensenada, Mexico. Always, plan a head of time when you schedule a short cruise. Ask about the different kinds of ships. You wouldn't want to go on a ship with partiers if your family is with you or you want to relax.Sometimes, a Carnival 2 day cruise can take you to the same worldwide destinations as the 17 day cruises. You can travel to New England, Alaska, Europe, Caribbean and other places. The Carnival Miracle has short cruises from places like to New York to the Caribbean. On one of these cruise you can experience a little of the things that offered on a longer cruise. There's many international cuisines and the option of made to order at the Carnival Miracle Lido Restaurant. You can dine in the Carnival Miracle Bacchus dining room. Other highlights on this ship are shows at the Phantom, Mad Hatter's Ball, a sing along at Sam's piano bar and Raven Library and Internet Cafe.Book a Carnival 2 Day Cruise early since these types of cruises are popular and fill up quickly. Generally the times of year that short cruises are offered are in the spring and summer. Dress is mainly casual for short cruises but you may have to dress formal for the dining room. If you're a regular cruiser, you may want to take a short cruise between longer cruises. If you're a new cruiser, then you may be able to see one or two destinations on a mini or short cruise. You won't need to worry about lots of luggage or being away to long. It's best not to try to do too many things on a short cruise so you don't become overwhelmed.



For more great information on a Carnival 2 Day Cruise visit our new website www.allmytraveltips.com. And for more great articles visit www.pens-and-pencils.com today.




Singles Travel International Celebrates New Years 2005 on Caribbean Cruise to Key West, Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Nassau

Lockport, IL September 20, 2004 -" Welcome New Year 2005 at sea while savoring the luxurious offerings of Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas, Singles Travel International New Year's Caribbean Getaway, December 27, 2004 - January 3, 2005. Departing from Ft. Lauderdale, FL, this getaway cruise includes visits to Key West, Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Nassau. A Welcome aboard Singles Only cocktail party features hors d'oeuvres and an open bar. Sumptuous dining is yours during each of the six meals a day. The Breakfast Club offers fine food and fun as new friends make plans for each day of adventure. And of course the New Year's Eve party features epicurean delights and champagne to toast new friends and a bright future. This is a cruise with the amenities seasoned travelers have come to expect from Singles Travel International. In fact, Travel and Leisure magazine in its April, 2004 edition named Singles Travel International The choice for singles traveling worldwide. Rates for this New Year's Caribbean Getaway are $1,125 plus tax and airfare.*Step aboard Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas in Ft. Lauderdale and you are swept away to the laid back rhythm and warm, sun-drenched shores of the western Caribbean. Key West beckons with Margaritaville! Home to Jimmy Buffet, Ernest Hemingway and modern day artists, a stroll through its charming Old Town refreshes the senses. The next port of call is Cozumel, Mexico with its underwater treasures. Its reef is considered the second best in the world. Take a dive, or snorkel above and experience the varieties of wildlife teaming just below the surface. Or hunt for gold and silver treasures in the shops of San Miguel. While at sea the pools and Jacuzzis are made for relaxing as is the Ocean View Spa & Fitness Center. And the Casino Royale offers slots, blackjack, roulette and poker for your pleasure. Next Grand Cayman's upscale island shops, unparalleled diving and long stretches of sugar white beaches await you. Nassau, Bahamas is the last stop. The Straw Market, a tour in a glass bottom boat, duty-free shopping or private time on a secluded beach are all possibilities. Singles Travel International escorts show singles the way with informal tours and activities in each port at no additional cost.* Rates are per person based on double occupancy.Singles Travel International: With over 20 years of experience in travel consulting, Singles Travel International provides worry-free travel that meets the unique needs of solo travelers. Every group is accompanied by at least one Singles Travel International escort who is available 24 hours a day to provide assistance or answer questions. Although a Singles Travel International trip is a terrific way to meet people, travelers can be as involved as they would like in their tour activities, spending their time with the group or relaxing and exploring on their own. Singles Travel International takes the risk out of having to pay a single supplement by offering a roommate guarantee program.Singles Travel International Contact: Tammy Weiler, (877) SOLO-TRIP,(877) 765-6874 or www.singlestravelintl.com.Media Contact: Beth Peterson, (708) 383-5989 or beth@petersonmktg.com






Thinking About Traveling?

Warmer weather and long school vacations are ahead. This is the time when everyones thoughts turn to holidays, if not abroad, then definitely closer to home. However, two new threats to your travel plans are creating consternation worldwide. They are, of course, the recession and swine flu. How real are these threats and how long will they last?Looking at the recession first, leaders in the travel industry are already seeing reduced numbers of people moving around the world.Giovanni Bisgnani, director general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) says: Like the rest of the economy, recovery in the air transport sector rests on a rise in consumer confidence and consumer spending. Shedding debt will be a major headwind. US households, for example, are leveraged at 130 percent of annual income. Even bringing this down by five percent erases $500 billion in consumer spending. The challenge for governments is to turn stimulus funds into spending that fuels trade."Recovery also depends on putting people into seats of planes, coaches and trains. To that end, there are some great deals to be had if you want to travel and know where to look. For example, Vacationstogo (vacationstogo.com) is currently offering 75 per cent off some Alaskan cruises, with special deals for those aged 55 and over, firefighters, police, military " even teachers. This may be a great time to consider visiting those snow-capped mountains, enormous glaciers, bottomless fjords and wildlife like whales, bears, eagles, and seals.There are some good deals about in accommodation as well. Orbitz (orbitz.com) will find deals in large hotels internationally. EuroCheapo (eurocheapo.com) is a good site to look for accommodation if you are planning to travel in Europe. Check out their budget specials and dont forget to look at the online recommendations of people who have actually stayed in the places you are considering. Remember too that many places will be happy to do a deal if you suggest one (seven nights for the price of six, for example).The threat of contracting swine flu may mean you are rethinking travel plans. Certainly, Mexico would seem a place to avoid just now, but the World Health Organization has not suggested travel restrictions to any country " including Mexico. Keiji Fukuda MD, who is assistant director-general for health security and environment at the WHO, says countries can set their own policies, but general travel restrictions would not be any use in stopping the spread of the virus.Unless you are elderly, already unwell, or suffer from conditions like diabetes, heart or lung disease, general advice is that its okay to travel so long as you carry out normal everyday health precautions like handwashing. And it may be a good idea to pop that packet of Tamiflu into your hand luggage as well.Travel companies are tending to stay away from worst hit areas: Carnival Cruises has already cancelled stops at Mexican ports for three ships and Transat AT, a tour operator from Canada, has postponed flights to Mexico for the next month.This may just be a time to wait and see. Oil companies share prices, closely linked to the travel industry, have taken a tumble. When they start to move up again, we will know the world economy " and peoples health " are also trending upwards.



SearchPooch.com




Trends In The Travel Industry, Take Advantage Now

If your passion is travel, imagine going it first class for much less then what you are paying for now. Imagine receiving upgraded accommodations, VIP treatment and much more as you travel the world's most exciting destinations.Travel is the largest and one of the fastest growing industries in the world.- Over US$6 trillion is spent on travel annually.- The travel industry is growing 23% faster then the world's economy.- Travel is the number one product sold on the internet.- Approximately 80% of all vacations are booked via word of mouth recommendations from friends, family and co-workers.An explosion is taking place in the travel industry. More luxury cruise ships are being built now then ever before. Resort builders, hotels and other vacation properties are building more properties to accommodate the boom in the travel and vacation market.The travel industry is exploding because of a group of people born between 1946 and 1964 known as the baby boomers. The baby boomers are a billion people worldwide and have been shaping the world's economy for decades. When the were young, they put up companies and factories as they got older. The baby boomers are beginning to retire. In fact one in every eight seconds for the next 20 years to come, giving them their desired freedom.And now the baby boomers are beginning to inherit the wealth of the previous generation, "savings generation". What do you think they will do with the money?Industry analysts state this money will be spent in record amount on travel. There is never been a time for you to get involved in the travel industry.The world is changing and the number of traditional "brick and mentor" retail travel agencies declined worldwide by 11% in 2002 and 19% in 2003, while on-line travel continued to prosper. Travellers are now making bookings at the comforts of their homes as independent travel agents. Being an independent travel agent, you will enjoy fantastic lifestyle benefits. The fantastic discounts you will receive will allow you to travel more then you thought possible. Whether you are traveling the world or journeying on business, as an independent travel agent you will get a world of discounts and savings which include:- Upgrades to first class on airlines.- Get travel agents discounts on hotels.- Save on car rentals.- Discounts on world cruise ships. - VIP attention.- Vacation packages and many more travel perks.- Profits by getting commissions when booking on your own travel, family travel and colleagues travel. And also just by introducing them to be independent travel agents.








Saturday, October 3, 2009

Singles Celebrate Valentine's Day on Queen Mary 2 Caribbean Cruise February 12-19, 2005

Lockport, IL September 20, 2004 -- The opulence of the grandest ocean liner ever built can be yours for an entire seven-day Valentine Holiday cruising favorite ports of the Caribbean. Enjoy San Juan, St. Thomas and St. Marteen while you lavish in the luxury of the world's grandest ocean liner. Gourmet cuisine created by celebrity chef Daniel Boulud is served to Singles Travel International guests in the Britannia Dining Room for each of the six sumptuous meals served daily. Or perhaps you prefer one of the seven alternative specialty restaurants. Master Chef Todd English's Mediterranean Restaurant fashions flavors sure to satiate your appetite and your senses. Exotic Asian cuisine awaits at Lotus. Italian specialties of regional cuisine are served at La Piazza. Then take a culinary spin through the British Style Carvery, The Boardwalk Caf, The Golden Lion, which offers traditional pub fare, and finally the King's Court Buffet is sure to please for breakfast and lunch. Rates for this seven-day Valentine Holiday Caribbean Cruise aboard Cunard Lines Queen Mary 2 start at $1,399 plus tax and airfare.* Of course elegance and excitement are what the seasoned traveler has come to expect from Singles Travel International. In fact, Travel and Leisure magazine in its April, 2004 edition named Singles Travel International The choice for singles traveling worldwide. Of the many elegant amenities aboard Cunard's new Queen Mary 2, a spacious stateroom for your comfort is most important. Then, an amazing world at sea provides for your enjoyment. Jacuzzis, sauna and a Fitness Center offer relaxation. Or try the Canyon Ranch SpaClub for exotic treatments. Entertainment abounds! The Royal Court Theater creates brilliantly staged musical productions. The stylish Empire Casino offers Craps, Slots, Blackjack, Roulette and Poker. Stargaze at the first seagoing planetarium. Or celebrate a fantastic voyage in the Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar, Sir Samuels Wine Bar and G32 Dance Club. Finally, captivate your senses with panoramic views and music at the Commodore Jazz Club. Add to this a full day in port at San Juan, St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands and the incomparable St. Marteen and this Valentine Holiday Cruise can be your cruise of a lifetime!*Rates per person based on double occupancy.Singles Travel InternationalWith over 20 years of experience in travel consulting, Singles Travel International provides worry-free travel that meets the unique needs of solo travelers. Every group is accompanied by at least one Singles Travel International escort who is available 24 hours a day to provide assistance or answer questions. Although a Singles Travel International trip is a terrific way to meet people, travelers can be as involved as they would like in their tour activities, spending their time with the group or relaxing and exploring on their own. Singles Travel International takes the risk out of having to pay a single supplement by offering a roommate guarantee program.Singles Travel International Contact: Tammy Weiler, (877) SOLO-TRIP, (877) 765-6874 or www.singlestravelintl.com .Media Contact: Beth Peterson, (708) 383-5989 or beth@petersonmktg.com .






'Personal Choice Cruising' Aboard Princess Cruise Lines' Love Boats!

From its modest beginnings in 1965 with a single cruise ship traveling to Mexico, Princess Cruise Lines has grown to become one of the world's premier cruise lines. Its fleet carries more than 800,000 passengers each year to nearly 260 ports-of-call worldwide! Princess Cruise Lines prides itself in striving to evolve to meet the desires of today's cruise vacationers.One of the most recognized lines in the world, Princess Cruise Lines was catapulted into the limelight in 1977 when the cruise ship Pacific Princess was given the starring role in the television show "The Love Boat". This television series was instrumental in introducing the millions of viewers to the "new" concept of vacationing on the seas. Even today when many people think of cruises they think of the "Love Boats".The Princess Cruise Lines fleet has grown considerably from its humble beginnings. The well known "Seawitch" logo is now sported on fifteen magnificent cruise ships with more to come.The Princess Cruise Lines' Grand class includes six cruise ships. With seating for over 2,600 guests, this class features some of the most innovative amenities to be found on cruise ships.When debuted in 1995, the Princess Cruise Lines' Sun class set a new standard in cruise ships' designs. Seating over 1,950 guests, the five vessels offered a host of onboard choices.For a small ship atmosphere coupled with today's modern amenities, the Princess Cruise Lines' Explorer class is the choice. The four cruise ships in this class offer seating for about 670 discerning guests.Princess Cruises is one of the dozen or more lines included in the Carnival Corporation. Offering one of the widest number of destinations, they offer more than 150 itineraries that range from seven to seventy-two days. The fabulous cruise ships travel to all seven continents.Today, Princess Cruise Lines' signature emphasis is on "Personal Choice Cruising". Each vessel in the fleet offers its own version with multiple dining choices, varied entertainment selections and a wide range of activities and amenities. Princess guests can create their own personal vacation experience suited to their special preferences and needs.Want to enhance your Princess Cruise Lines experience? All you have to do is take advantage of the lines' "Adventure Ashore" program which features more than 1,500 port excursions. The company is also expanding its cruise/tour itineraries which offer passengers a seamless vacation package adding a full land tour to their cruise.The Princess Cruise Lines has won numerous awards and accolades. Many cruise magazines have awarded them with titles like "Best Cruise Line", "Clients' Favorite", and "Cruise Line of the Year". The individual ships have won many awards as well. Other winning award categories for Princess include Environmental, Safety, Access, Medical, Onboard Features, Itineraries, Marketing, Website and Reservations.Princess cruises offer wonderful itineraries aboard fabulous ships. But are Princess cruises the right choice for your? With so many cruise lines marketing fantastic cruises and cruise ships, how can you be sure? Are you somewhat confused as to which cruise line may be best for your cruise vacation? If you have any questions or concerns, please drop us a note at info@a1-discount-cruises.com, add "cruise question" in the subject line and we will try to help.Brian A Schmidt is the author and web publisher of a1-discount-cruises.com your #1 source for cruise information, discounts and great deals! Visit http://www.a1-discount-cruises.com to book your fabulous cruise vacation! For more interesting articles visit our Article Map pages.






Top Caribbean Destinations For Cruise Vacations

With hundreds of islands to visit, the Caribbean has been a favorite cruise destination for many years. However, the Caribbean is far more than just one destination. In fact, within the "Caribbean" label, there are literally hundreds of islands and many ports of call from which to choose. Each of the destinations has a different and unique flavor, and many cruises want to show you what they are all about. If you are considering a Caribbean cruise for your vacation, take a look at these top Caribbean destinations for cruise vacations.The BahamasThe Bahamas are among the most popular Caribbean cruise destinations of all. The Bahamas offer an international flavor without being too unfamiliar to English-speaking tourists. While you will need a passport to travel to the Bahamas, once you get there the environment will be comfortably familiar. Many Caribbean cruises anchor at Grand Bahama Island, where visitors can take advantage of shopping at Freeport and the casinos and opulent resorts of Nassau.BermudaBermuda is a pastel confection of an island, famous for its pink sand beaches and pastel colored cottages. It is a favorite port of call and Caribbean cruise destination with several cruise ships a day anchoring at St. George's for memorable shore excursions. Visitors to the island can enjoy a round of golf or take a cruise on a glass bottom boat to view the astounding undersea life around the island.ArubaIf you are looking for nightlife with an international flavor, Aruba is the best place to visit. The little island is one of the more developed in the Caribbean, with top-shelf luxury resorts and flashy nightclubs and casinos. Daytime activities include wind-surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, and lying around on their beautiful beaches. At night, the resort comes alive with discos and nightclubs for those who want to party all night long.The Cayman IslandsGrand Cayman, the largest of the Cayman Islands, is the best spot in the Caribbean for spectacular scuba diving and snorkeling. Just offshore, the land drops away creating some of the most amazing and awe-inspiring underwater venues in the world. Grand Cayman is a haven for shoppers who will find dozens of duty free shops lining the streets. For those who want to enjoy the underwater world, there are cant-miss shore excursions that include snorkeling, swimming with the sting-rays, or touring around in a glass-bottom boat, so that visitors can enjoy the scenery without getting too wet.The U.S. Virgin IslandsCharlotte Amalie, the major city on St. Thomas, is easily the busiest port of call in the Caribbean. The pretty little town is one of the most developed in the islands, offering wonderful shopping, lovely resorts and excellent restaurants. Charlotte Amalie features nearly 400 duty-free shops, making it the stop of choice for those with serious shopping addictions. While St. Croix is the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, it is far less developed, and shore excursions to St. Croix often visit historic sites or enjoy eco-tours and bike excursions around the island. The third island, St. John, is the smallest of the three U.S. Virgin Islands, and generally considered the most scenic of all the islands. A large portion of St. John is set aside as the Virgin Islands National Park, making it an ideal destination for hikers and those who love nature.Montego BayPopularized by the catchy song, Montego Bay, Jamaica remains one of the most famous ports of call in the Caribbean. Montego Bay is the second largest city on the island of Jamaica, famed for its white sand beaches and cosmopolitan flair. It offers luxury resorts, world-class restaurants, golf courses and rowdy nightlife that are famed worldwide. One visit to Montego Bay, affectionately called M-Bay in the islands, and you will be singing along with Bobby Bloom in his homage to the hypnotic island town.Trinidad and TobagoThe tiny island nations of Trinidad and Tobago often get short shrift when discussing Caribbean destinations, but they are full of tropical flavor and fun. Trinidad is the home of the steel drum, that quintessentially Caribbean musical instrument with an unmistakably tropical sound. Both Trinidad and Tobago offer long stretches of beautiful beachfront for sports and leisure, as well as tropical rain forests for hiking and sightseeing. Trinidad is famous for its party carnival atmosphere while Tobago is more relaxed and famed for its island nature tours.The cities and islands on the list above are by no means the only destinations for vacation cruises in the Caribbean, but they should definitely be on your short list of ports of call to visit. There are many other islands and cities that your cruise may visit so take time to check over your cruise itinerary and choose shore excursions at the cruise destinations you most enjoy.



Brian Jenkins is a freelance writer who writes about vacationing, often discussing a specific kind trip such as cruise vacations.




Thursday, October 1, 2009

Seeking Discount Vacation and Travel Packages? Book Deep Online Travel Discounts Year-Round

Discount Travel and Vacation Packages are abounding in the recession and There are all sorts of deals offering deeply discounted travel packages, vacation packages, cheap airline tickets, and low-priced hotels. You can save a lot of money on your travel destinations worldwide if you know where to book.Online Travel Discounts are allowing people who were unable to fly before to actually take advantage of popular destinations worldwide using travel packages and vacation packages. These online companies are offering deep discounts and if you ever wanted to travel, this is an excellent time. You would think the prices would rise through the roof, but the effect has been completely opposite thanks to the recession. Prices must be slashed in order to get customers to take a trip using vacation packages, discount airfare, cheap hotel prices and cruises. The entire travel industry is fighting desperately for you to use their travel accommodations so that they do not go bankrupt. This is the best time to travel and the best deals are in the form of vacation packages. This is where you will get the most out of your money.What happens is that when not enough people book regularly priced tickets, the airlines, cruise lines and hotels make deals with online companies to offer the tickets at a discount. That is why you may have found that you can get excellent last minute travel deals sometimes. Usually, the closer to the date of travel you are booking your trip, the higher the price is. If you know which sites have these agreements with the companies, you will find the prices to be very affordable on vacation cruises, vacation packages, low airfare, and cheap hotels if you book it right away. One day can make a huge difference!So, save money on a Discount Travel Reservation Site so that you can have more fun spending what you have saved from discount travel arrangements. Take a trip to relax and revitalize yourself while the discount specials are hot!Enjoy your trip!



Online Travel Discounts Here

Merry R, Author

Travel Consultant

Virtually Work




Can Cruising Survive the Credit Crunch?

One of the most obvious changes in the international holiday market of late is the boom in the numbers of cruise passengers. An increasing aversion to flying; the growth in personal wealth from rising property values; a greying population; all are factors that have helped to fill newspapers' travel pages with adverts for cruises.Cruise lines now have about 40 new ships under construction and ready to come into service by 2012. Many of the new ships are bigger and better than anything that has ever floated before. But is the boom about to go bust with this extra capacity arriving just as the worldwide recession has hit travellers' finances and confidence?The biggest operator is Carnival Corporation. Their chairman says soaring fuel and steel costs, combined with a weak dollar, have made it virtually impossible to put together a new ship building project beyond 2012 for any of the corporation's North American cruise brands Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess, and Holland America Line. This gloomy prophecy was made, ironically, at a press conference for the launch of Carnival's latest ship, Carnival Splendor.Carnival's biggest competitor, Royal Caribbean International, appears more optimistic. The company, which includes Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara, has placed orders for the largest, most expensive ships ever to be built. Yet it's hard to imagine that cruise bosses are as positive now as they were when they placed the orders.Judging by the cut-price offers now being made to entice passengers aboard, over-capacity may already be a big issue. It remains to be seen how long the current economic woes will continue and how deep the recession will become. How will cruise passengers react to all the economic bad news? Will those with money to spare stick with their newly acquired enthusiasm for cruising? Or has much of the recent growth been fuelled by credit that's running dry?In mid-2008, the body that represents the leading cruise companies in Britain, the Passenger Shipping Association, forecast around 1.5 million Britons would take a cruise that year. They expect over 2 million British passengers to be cruising by 2012 and point to an increasing number of affluent older people as the key reason for the growth. Those figures may well have to be revised.The sheer number of cruise passengers has been causing problems in some ports with large cruise ships arriving at the same time, swamping the facilities. Cruise visitors to Barcelona have virtually doubled in the past five years. Figures from MedCruise show a rise from 398,948 in 2002 to 789,409 in 2007. Fortunately, Barcelona, the second most popular Mediterranean port after Naples, is much better placed to deal with the growth, being a large city with good port facilities.In contrast, the Venice Port Authority has announced plans for a new cruise ship berth costing 75 million. It is needed to accommodate 1,000 foot monsters such as Genesis, operated by Royal Caribbean, which can carry 6,000 passengers.Ship numbers and sheer ship size, have brought other problems. Local businesses often do not benefit as passengers have less time to roam around thanks to the longer time spent disembarking and re-embarking. In addition many passengers now go on organised pre-booked tours which means less chance of local shopping and fewer meals taken at local restaurants.Over the next year or so these are the type of concerns that cruise operators would probably love to be dealing with. But filling these monster ships in a recession might be a much bigger problem. There could be some real bargains on the market very soon.



Bob Cartwright writes for TravelSavvy Europe - independent city guide for tourists. For more information visit: short breaks in Europe.




The Travel Guide

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