Ports like Barbados, St. Kitts, St. Martin, and St. Thomas sound heavenly.
The lure of Greek islands, like Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Santorini, Skiathos, Skopelos, Corfu, Lefkada, Akynthos, and Aegina call with an accent that speaks of flavors and scents both ancient and modern.
The Roman port in Sicily beckons to the island traveler.

Ocean Fronts in Your Own Backyard
Cruising islands closer to home is another option for the American traveler.

Island cruises travel from the southern United States throughout the Caribbean and Mexico.
Southern California is another jumping-off point, with cruises to nearby Catalina Island as well as the Hawaiian Islands.
Another local favorite are Channel Island cruises, as well as cruises out of Washington State through the San Juan Islands. Shore excursions and water sports make every island destination an experience in itself. Often, water skiing, windsurfing, snorkeling, kayaking and excursion boats supplement the opportunities to swim and sun on beautiful shores.

More Exotic Island Cruise Destinations
More exotic island cruises abound.

The western islands of Scotland beckon travelers between the weather-friendly months of March to November.
Other destinations include the warm waters of the Mediterranean, including Greek, Italian, Croatian and Sicilian islands.  Malta is a popular destination as is Cyprus in the beautiful sea.
A dramatic experience off the beaten path awaits travelers who take island cruises to Africa!  Smaller, more intimate cruise ships sail to Southern Africa via Cape Verde, Ascension and St Helens Islands.
Across the Atlantic, island cruises traverse the Tierra de Fuego region and Argentina’s southern tip.  An arctic parka is standard issue on these adventures.
The Galapagos Islands in Ecuador offer another sort of island cruise experience.  Sea turtles and other flora and fauna unique to these islands transport the traveler to another world.
Australia, a huge island in itself, offers its own versions of cruises to local destinations, such as Green Island on the Great Barrier Reef.

Stop struggling with a decision. . . go ahead and say, “yes” to an island cruise.
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Romance is the name of the game for honeymoon cruises.  Room service will bring you breakfast while you are still lounging in your rose petal-strewn bed.  A bottle or two of champagne could await you in your cabin, as well as flowers and tasty tidbits to keep your newlywed strength up.

Depending on which of many tailor-made honeymoon cruises you choose to sail on, you have your choice of many “extras” that could make your honeymoon even more memorable!  Some of the extras include massages, special get-togethers just for honeymooners and even an exclusive table for two in the dining room.

Choices of Cruise Destinations Are Plentiful for Newlyweds

Your floating palace could technically sail on any of the seven seas.  Whether it is an adventure to the beautiful Mediterranean or a voyage to the sandy beaches and volcanoes of Hawaii, the happy newlywed couple can find the cruise that will fit not only their budget but also their need to celebrate their union in marriage.

There are many types of honeymoon cruises you may have to choose from as well as special ports of call.   If the newlyweds choose to go on a shore adventure, there is climbing the ruin of an ancient Mexican city. Of course, snorkeling in the bluish-green waters of the Caribbean does have its appeal. Or, the newlyweds could also explore one of the ports by wandering throughout the quaint streets of that city.

Honeymoon cruises are just the ticket for a memorable start in life together.  So set sail with the love of your life . . . this cruise is all for you!

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This growing trend has resulted in individual cruise lines beginning to battle to exceed the standards of the competition. 

Cruise lines are offering more luxurious state rooms, more exotic destinations, better planned activities, gourmet meals and more exciting entertainment in an effort to convince potential cruise vacationers that their cruise line is superior to the competition. 

This competition is extremely beneficial to the passenger because as the cruise lines compete with each other, they begin to offer better services at lower prices. 

Globetrotting Has Never Been Easier

Exploring the world by way of a luxury liner is becoming an increasingly popular form of globetrotting.  A cruise offers the passengers the opportunity to visit many exotic destinations during the course of their cruise. 

Many cruise lines not only depart and arrive at exotic destinations but they also make numerous stops along the way to visit additional locations.  A cruise is a unique opportunity for passengers to ride the waves of the ocean without fear of navigation errors or the stresses of traveling.  All of the travel arrangements are handled by the captain and crew. 

This offers passengers the unique opportunity to travel, worry free, from city to city and country to country.  Even while they are sleeping the passengers are traveling to their next destination.  This concept makes globetrotting extremely easy. 

Voyaging Into the Unknown

Setting sail aboard a fabulous ocean liner offers the passengers the opportunity to voyage into the unknown.  In fact it offers passengers to voyage into the unknown several times during the duration of their cruise. 

A cruise ship is a floating hotel that is always on the move.  Even while the passengers sleep, the captain and crew press forward towards the next stop along the trip.  Many cruises offer a new port city each day.  This gives the passengers the opportunity to disembark and enjoy a day in a new exotic location. 

With each new day the passengers have a new city with a new culture to explore.  Each city offers a unique perspective and a unique set of challenges to the passengers. 

They may start to understand the vibe of the new city or figure out the best ways to travel within the city and just when the passengers start to get comfortable, it’s time to board the ship and set sail for a new location. 

Each new port offers the excitement of the unknown keeping the vacation from becoming monotonous.  Many passengers find this concept intriguing and it is the spirit of adventure that drives them to embark on a cruise. 

When searching for the perfect cruise ship, you have a lot of options.

If you prefer to travel with a specific cruise line, you will want to research that particular cruise line.  You can visit the cruise line’s website to further educate yourself.

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In your search, it is likely that you will come up with popular cruise lines such as:

Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Norweigian Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, among others.

Carnival Cruise Line is well-known among frequent travelers.   They offer a wide range of cruises; however, their main focus seems to be on “fun” cruises.  When researching Carnival Cruise Lines, you will see that they have over 20 “fun” cruise ships.   These ships target cruise goers who are interested in socializing, partying, and having an adventure over the water.   Popular Carnival cruise ships include, but are not limited to Fantasy, Ecstasy, Celebration Fascination, and Sensation. 

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line is another one of the many well-known cruise lines. They are famous for their international cruises.  Just a few of their many cruise ships include Adventure of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, and Navigator of the Seas.  With twenty-one cruise ships, you are sure to find what you are looking for with Royal Caribbean.

Norwegian Cruise Line, better known for “freestyle cruising,” has a dozen cruise ships and visits international destinations such as Alaska, Europe, Mexico, the Caribbean and South America.

The Disney Cruise Line is one of the most well-known and sought after cruise lines for people vacationing with a family.  If you are interested in scheduling a Disney cruise, you will see that the two cruise ships used are named Disney Wonder and Disney Magic.  Each ship has on-board Disney characters and beautiful décor. 

Once you are able to view the website of each cruise line, you can begin to search for cruise ships with reservations still available.  When browsing through each cruise ship, you will likely be presented with standard information. This information may outline the activities available on-board, destinations, travel stops, and the cost of reserving a cabin.

Researching each cruise line and cruise ships, individually, may take time.  If you are pressed for time you can seek the assistance of a travel agent.  Whichever method of research you select, research is important.  It’s the best way to find the perfect cruise ship for you and your family.

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Step 1 in planning a cruise ship vacation is making the decision to take one . . . 

If you’ve already decided that a cruise vacation is what you want, you will need to find a cruise ship that interests you.  This is where many people run into a problem.

As previously mentioned, there are a number of different cruise lines. Each of these cruise lines operates a number of different cruise ships.  Each cruise ship is likely to travel to different destinations and offer different activities, services, and facilities. 

When searching for the perfect cruise ship, you have a lot of options.

If you prefer to travel with a specific cruise line, you will want to research that particular cruise line.  You can visit the cruise line’s website to further educate yourself.

If you do not have a preference as to which cruise line you’d like to travel with, it may be easier to search for cruises based on themes, destinations, or on-board activities.

Stay tuned for “How to Research Your Cruise Ship Options – Part 2″

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They also understand the stress of having to pack up belongings at the conclusion of each stay and journey to the next destination only to unpack again for another few days. 

None of these concerns exist aboard a luxury cruise ship.

A cruise ship offers all of the amenities of a luxury ‘land’ hotel (lodging, fine dining, entertainment and shopping), but with a twist:  travel to new destinations and well-coordinated shore activities.

The captain and crew eliminate all of the concerns that you might have about planning, traveling and coordination.  They are experts at their jobs and fully understand the needs of their passengers as well as on-board procedures and off shore customs. 

Additionally, an attentive personal service staff is available and on-call 24 hours a day to serve you.  Their duties include maintaining your state room, setting dinner reservations, arranging spa treatments, cooking your meals, planning your activities and in some cases, caring for your children while you enjoy activities in adult-only portions of the cruise ship.

The experience of the cruise ship captain and crew results in a worry-free adventure for vacationers.

So relax and enjoy . . . you’re in good hands.
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• Is there an age limit or requirement for the cruise line?   Sometimes, the cruise ships offer discounts for children and siblings up to a certain age.
• What activities are available for children?  In other words, you want to know if there a devoted play area on the cruise liner for your kids.  Is there dedicated staff to help keep them occupied?
• What about the ports of call?  Are there activities that will capture the attention of children?
• What cabin options are available?  Other things to think about when traveling with multiple generations of people are the cabins where you’ll sleep.  Are there connecting cabins?  What are the fees associated with that?  How about extra cots or beds?  Are they available for your cabin and is there a rental fee?
• What are the food options for children?  Food is another issue for young children since they are notorious picky eaters.  Some cruise line cater specifically to families and accommodate those choosy diners with alternate menus that are sure to please most kids.  If there’s not a separate menu for kids, are there things on the menus that your children will eat? 

Consider all your options when thinking about family cruises.  Because there are quite a few of these floating palaces to choose from, you will either have to do some research or consult with a travel agent to do the work for you.  The right cruise for your family is out there.  You just have to know where to look!
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• A good value . . .  Since most everything is all-inclusive, you don’t have to worry about carrying your wallet everywhere to pay for drinks, food and activities.
• Food, lodging and activities are all under one roof . . .  You cannot lose your family members because you know they are on board somewhere on the ship.
• Something for everyone aboard the ship . . . Experienced staff make themselves available to help with acclimating you to cruising life, whether you enjoy physical activities or you are the more cerebral sort.
• Great for family reunions . . . Because today’s cruise vaations are more affordable, you could even schedule family reunions with all your relatives.

What to Expect on a Family Cruise

Each person in your family, from the children to the parents, will have different expectations of your family cruise.  

Parents may enjoy the gaming or reading and relaxing by the pool while the kids can enjoy many activities geared especially for them – from arts and crafts to movies and games.  Again, the great thing about family cruises is that most everything is all-inclusive aboard the ship and it almost feels like your own personal luxury liner.

One thing to remember . . .

When booking your family cruise is that not all ships setting sail from your nearest port are created equal.  Some cruise ships specifically tailor programs to children’s tastes and have tons of activities for siblings to participate in.  Other ships may have added programs for families almost as an afterthought.  In other words, they do not specifically cater to families who might have young children.

Bottomline, before you book your family cruise vacation, it’s up to you to do some research to determine the best cruise package for your family trip.

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