Carnival Cruise

Carnival corporation & PLC is one of the largest cruise companies in the world. Carnival cruise lines, Princes cruise lines, Holland America Line, The Yachts of Seabourn, AIDA, Costa cruises are some of the cruise brands included in their portfolio.

Carnival cruise lines was founded by Ted Arison in 1972, which was later acquired by Carnival Corporation PLC, which currently owns and operates the Carnival cruise line. The headquarters of Carnival cruise lines is based in the Doral suburbs of Florida. Carnival cruise lines claims the largest fleet in the entire group. The company currently has twenty two vessels in operation.

Carnival cruise lines was one of the first cruise lines to introduce the concept of less expensive and shorter cruises. There is a wide variety of activities on board these ships, which follow the styles of Las Vegas, in entertainment as well as decoration.The funnel of a ship, which is shaped like the tale of a whale is the trade mark of the Carnival cruise line and is represented in red, blue and white. The mascot for Carnival cruise lines is a character known as "Fun Ship Freddy", which also takes the shape of the funnel.

The vessels are categorized into several classes such as Fantasy Class, Destiny Class, Triumph Class, Spirit Class, Conquest Class, Splendor Class and Dream Class. Carnival Destiny, Carnival Dream, Carnival Splendor, Carnival Glory, Carnival Liberty and Carnival Miracle are among some of the vessels currently aboard on Carnival cruise lines. The lead ship of the Destiny Class, Carnival Destiny, plies the Caribbean waters. This vessel consists of three pools, duty free shopping, a variety of lounges, night clubs and dinning options as well as a
casino. Currently Carnival Destiny offers Western and Eastern Caribbean cruise which last for four and five nights.

The Carnival Dream is the largest ship owned by the cruise line, and has variety of cabins. It is the first vessel in Carnival cruise lines, which features a water park. It also boasts of a miniature golf course. The Carnival Dream also has a promenade deck which has four whirlpool Jacuzzis along the outer side of the deck and an out door restaurant. Carnival Magic and Carnival Breeze are among the vessels that are expected to join the Carnival cruise lines family.

You can easily book your carnival cruise vacation online, by just a telephone call to a carnival representative, through a vacation planner or by using the Carnival travel agent finder.
The Caribbean, Mexico, Bahamas, Hawaii, Alaska, Canada and New England and Europe are among the ports and destinations that Carnival cruise ships travel.
There are special offers for early bookings and all these and many more can be viewed on the Carnival site which could be accessed at www.carnival.com.

Cheap Cruises

Not everyone can travel in luxury cruise liners spending thousands of dollars per night. However, if you still want to have your dream vacation spent on a cruise liner, a list of cheap cruises will most definitely come to your rescue. Finding cheap cruises is all about searching with determinacy. The Internet, travel brochures and getting the services of reputed cruise agents will guarantee you getting the ideal getaway in the sea at the most affordable prices.

The cost of a cruise trip is determined by many factors. The number of nights you plan to spend on board, the cruise liner, what your desired destination is and also the location you would be boarding. For example, if you had to travel long distance to get to the port from which the cruise is sailing, the traveling cost would also add up to the total cost of the vacation, thus denying you the chance of enjoying cheap cruises. The more research you do on available cruise itineraries, the better the chances are of you finding cheap cruises.

While you do your own research, you can also speak to friends and other contacts who travel on cruise liners. They may be able to recommend you a reputable cruise agent, who may do the booking for you, thus taking you even closer to finding cheap cruises. There is not a drastic difference between package costs of different liners. Therefore, direct bookings through websites, may not guarantee you a best deal. However, if your reservations are made through an agent, the agent may be able to get you special offers unique to cruise liners. Some of these offers include coupon vouchers, gifts etc. The value additions you gain through these perks is what ensures your cruise holiday is economical.

Another method to embark yourself in cheap cruises is traveling off season. Needless to say, the demand for cruise liners goes up at certain times of the year (winter, summer), thus increasing package prices. During off season, cruise liners lower their prices. A wise traveler exploits sales trends like these to receive quality deals at a lower price. Additionally, traveling in groups reduces costs compared to solo holidaying.

Some of the cruise liners charge for the on board services like entertainment and spas. When you book online, the price you see on the site may be just the cost for the cruise without the on board services. Being unaware of these gotchas may result you in not being able to enjoy cheap cruises.

There are great online portals that let you compare and contrast prices for cruise excursions with ease. http://www.lowcostcruising.com/ and http://www.cruisecheap.com/ are two top hit websites that may assist you in realizing that dream of spending quality time at sea.

Bahamas Cruise

If you want to treat your loved ones with an invigorating holiday on waters, a cruise trip is a definite must in your travel itinerary. Located to the east of the United States, Bahamas is a popular travel destination to many holiday makers. The sandy beaches and sparkling waters beckon travelers from all over the world. The main attractions in Bahamas include parasailing over island CocoCay, swimming with dolphins, exploring the under-sea life at Predator Lagoon and experiencing the adrenalin rush of the Thriller powerboats. Regardless, what travel plans you have, a Bahamas cruise is an ideal way to explore the deep Pacific waters surrounding the pristine islands. Typical duration of a Bahamas cruise is three-night, seven-night or nine-night. Depending on the service provider, the available packages and prices may vary. Some of the most popular Bahamas cruise booking services are provided by CruiseDirect, Travelocity and Royal Caribbean Intentional.

There are lots of cruise liners operational in the US. Some of them are luxury rated while others are economical yet offer classy services to travelers. Some of the luxury cruise lines are, Azamara Club Cruise, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas. Royal Caribbean International, Carnival, Norwegian Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line and Celebrity X Cruises are some of the more economical cruise lines.

For the year 2011, Bahamas cruise itinerary from CruiseDirect looks very inviting. Eighteen luxurious cruises depart from various ports of the United states, heading for Bahamas. A 3 night Bahamas cruise, courtesy Carnival Cruise Lines leaves from Miami from February through April. Price bands for these cruises are: inside around 300 USD, outside around 309USD and balcony around 450USD. Suites cost around 580 USD to 650 USD. Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) hosts two types of Bahamas cruise packages, a 3 night cruise and a 4 night cruise. Similar to Carnival Cruise lines, NCL Bahamas cruise schedules fall around the months of February through April. Bookings on NCL is more expensive than that of Carnival. In the 4 night Bahamas cruise, inside package costs around 250 USD to 529USD while outside package costs 269USD to 450USD. Suites on NCL are in the price range of 1100USD onwards.

Bahamas cruise packages offered by Royal Caribbean International are quite diverse. They offer 3 night, 4 night and 9 night packages. The 3 night Bahamas cruise and the 4 night cruise depart from Miami, Florida, Port Canaveral, Florida respectively. The 9 night cruise sail from Baltimore, Maryland. Costs per night is greater for the 9 night Bahamas cruise package than 3 night and 4 night cruises.

Advance bookings are always encouraged to prevent late disappointments. All cruise lines give away attractive discount rates and other special offers to their customers, like on board tournaments, concerts and theme cruisers.

Bermuda Cruise

A cruise in the Bermudas is a favorite destination amongst many eager travelers, the cruise ships stay on port for a few days to give the travelers enough opportunity to explore and enjoy the atmosphere of one of the most favorite cruise destinations in the world. In the Bermuda cruise you will be able to enjoy the lush beaches, fine dining , shopping, and sample the world renowned golf courses of Bermuda and of course the many historic sites that Bermuda has to offer. Bermuda cruise are on offer mostly during the season of April through to November. Many vacationers seem to identify Bermuda with the Caribbean when in fact it is just of the North Carolina coast, 600 miles to be exact. The weather there is not exotic as it is thought to be and in fact it rarely becomes exceedingly hot during the summers. The lifestyle of the Bermudas closely resemble the classy lifestyle of the well to do aristocratic Brits, for Bermuda as the Bermuda cruise shall reveal is a very attractive place and fine living is a very common site in this beautiful island.

There many cruse liners offering the Bermuda cruise during the aforesaid season, the cruise line which comes from New York is a popular Bermuda cruise, the cruise liner leaves the port from New York as well as from Boston. The seven day Bermuda cruise generally set sails during May – October period. The Bermuda cruise in the “Norwegian Dawn”, that sails from Boston to Bermuda for seven days sails from May through to October.

The Royal Caribbean’s Bermuda cruises is another Bermuda cruise that set sails from NJ (New Jersey) and Baltimore, this is a five night cruise that set sails from the Cape Liberty (Bayonne), New jersey , this as well as the Bermuda cruise from Baltimore set sail in the seasons of April - November . The carnival Cruise Line on the other hand offers thirteen woyages to Bermuda in the year 2011, they have planned to have Bermuda cruises to set sail from NY, Charleston, Baltimore and Norfolk. The Princess Cruises offers a nine day Bermuda cruise that set sails from NY and you can visit key locations such as Puerto Rico, Grand Turk Island, St Thomas and of course Bermuda. The Princess cruises to Bermuda are available from May up to August.

The Holland American Line has luxury cruises to Bermuda and these seven day cruises will dock at favorite tourist sites such as Hamilton as well as St George’s in Bermuda, the departures to this cruise is from May to October. A Bermuda cruise is a great way to spend your next vacation, and for those who are conscious of your budget, there is a range of discounted cruises available, just check on line or go to www.bermudacruiseguide.com for more detailed information.

Best Cruise Deals

Every brochure, advertisement and commercial in the fascinating world of cruise holidays will tell you how theirs is the best service to sail the high seas. Of course you know better and that is exactly why you are here to do some research on your own and discover what the best cruise deals really are. So let’s get going, shall we?

To begin with let’s understand that where you look and how you look matters just as much as what you look for. Today, the best option for initial research remains the Internet and it is without a doubt the best place to start looking for best cruise deals. Lesson No. 01 is that Bigger is better. Larger travel agents and companies focused specifically on the cruise travel are better geared to negotiate with the service providers. Because they work with larger numbers they are also better able to pass any savings or discounts on to you. Unless you are looking at a niche segment, the best option available to you in finding best cruise deals is to work with a large scale tour operating company. Then look to the pricing and what it entails. The standard cost of a journey will cost pretty much the same. What changes pricing are the add-ons. So look at what you are getting for the price quoted and what you really need. Then negotiate with the operator to secure the best cruise deals to fit your likes and budgets.

Also if you are flexible about your options you could swing the prices around to better suit your budget and get all you want through the best cruise deals. Think about last minute booking options but don’t wait too long and be left disappointed. Research the various routes and you just might find services that offer less well known but spectacular routes instead of the well travelled and popular ones that are obviously going to be in demand and therefore high in price. Then, also consider various comments and reviews by previous customers. They are likely to provide just the kind of information you need to know when making a call on what operator to go with. The kind of information you need to secure the best cruise deals. Finally look at incentives on how you can get the most for what you spend. These involve package deals, airfare options, frequent flyer miles options and so on and so forth. By now you should have a shortlist of tour operators that offer the kind of package that places them firmly in the best cruise deals column. What you need to do next is make a few calls and see how friendly and flexible they are. When all that’s done so will be your search for the best cruise deals. All you will need to do then is to confirm and enjoy the journey.

Hawaii Cruise Guide

When it comes to choosing the right Hawaii cruise, remember that there are quite a few options that are present. What you need to do is to ensure that you make an informed decision. This is of course easier said than done once you know that there are companies that range from good to bad. So how exactly do you end up choosing a Hawaii cruise that is perfect? Well, you are not alone in asking this question. The best way to ensure that you get the right degree of information is to engage in a chat with people who have gone on a Hawaii cruise.

All in all you are assured of finding the right Hawaii cruise to enjoy provided you know what questions to ask. The best source of information can be found on review sites. You need to see what the average rating is and whether it will substantiate a decent Hawaii cruise. You are assured of enjoying something truly excellent but only if you get the proper information straight into your hands. Engage in dialogue and ask all the questions that you really do need to ask. This is sure to help you at the end of the day.

Some of the questions that you do need to ask would deal with price. In addition to this you also need to be assured of what the various facilities and amenities are based on the Hawaii cruise. Of course, there is no sense of vague here. The fact of the matter is that there is a whole heap of information available on this in tour sites where they do offer a Hawaii cruise. Yet this could very well be marketing spiel and you need to see what additional information you can get when it comes to a decent Hawaii cruise.

One would certainly suggest that you thing of gathering information through people who have already gone on a Hawaii cruise. They would offer you a heap of knowledge based on how their experience was. Needless to say, you must ensure that you view all this data as objectively as possible. This is after all something that is based on a human experience. There is no doubt that the more you pay, the higher your list of amenities and facilities will be. But this does not necessarily mean that you will enjoy a holiday experience that is inimitable to say the least.

Everything at the end of the day is based on perception, which is why you need to make sure that you scour as much as you can online for the right type of information. This will help you understand what is needed in terms of financial input.

What Should You Know About Princess Cruise?

Introduced in 1977 as "The love boat", princess cruises have been in operation for over 30 years, and is known to be one of the comfortable and exquisite choices for passengers, who long to get away from their daily routine and stressful life styles.

Princess Cruise line focuses mainly on passenger choice, which is very prominent through its attentive staff on board, as well as in its ship board features. Princess cruise lines provides the passenger with a cruise ‘Personalizer’ facility which enables the passenger to state his or her likes as well as dislikes. A princess cruise line also provides the passenger with the facility of booking show excursions as well as other appointments in advance, through the ‘Personalizer’, in order to avoid disappointments.

At Princess cruise lines, the passenger is allowed to select a cabin of his or her choice. The passenger even has the luxury of selecting a cabin with a balcony. Personalized dining is a another choice offered by Princess cruise lines, where the passenger is allowed to select what he wants to eat at his preferred time, for example if he wishes to have Pizza at mid night, his wish is granted by the attentive staff aboard the Princess cruise ship. Formality is also given importance aboard Princess Cruise ships where a formal dining room is available for passengers who wish to have a formal dining experience.

Princess cruise lines offer well planned, adventurous and award winning itineraries. Cruise destinations range from Alaska, Hawaii, Tahiti & South Pacific, Asia, Mexican Riviera, Australia & New Zealand, Panama Canal, Canada & New England, South America, Caribbean to Europe and the world. Princess cruise lines also offer cruise tours which provide a combination of a cruise, with a land tour, to destinations that cannot be reached by the ship. These cruise tours are currently available for Alaska, Canada & England, Asia, Europe, Australia & New Zealand and South America. Princess cruises also offer the best vacation protection, which will save the passenger from useable risks covering even the cancellation of the trip.

The fleet of ships operated by Princess cruise lines, can be divided into three classes of which the Grand - class can accommodate over two thousand five hundred passengers and the Explorer class accommodates less than seven hundred passengers. Sun Princess, Caribbean Princess, Ruby Princess, Royal Princess, Crown Princess, Coral Princess, Star Princess, Golden Princess, Emerald Princess, Tahitian Princess, Sea Princess, Island Princess, Diamond Princess, Sapphire Princess, Grand Princess, Pacific Princess, and Dawn Princess are the vessels operated by Princess Cruise lines.

Princess cruises can be booked through a travel agent, Cruise vacation planner or simply online. The travel agent locator will be very useful in order to find a travel agent in your region or close proximity. All this and more information can be found on Princess Cruise’s official web site at www.pricess.com.

Alaska Cruise

How about an Alaska cruise? Does the very though send shivers down your spine? If the shivers were of excitement then that’s just what you can expect. But if they were about having to spend time in a cold and harsh climate you might be veering of the truth. That’s because, contrary to popular belief an Alaska cruise does not always entail cold weather. While it is best to be prepared for the cold and take the necessary clothes along, temperatures are known to hover in the ranges of 40 to 60 with lows of 20 also being reported. This is of course between the months of June and August along the route in which the ships travel. So now that we have taken care of the cold weather related topic let’s look at what to expect on an Alaska cruise.

The state of Alaska is quite big; in fact it is twice the size of the state of Texas. This means you can expect double the excitement, both on board and on land. What’s more contrary to perception the state is not only an ideal for senior citizens. In fact it can be a wonderful experience for people of all ages and should be considered as a perfect family oriented time out.

As far as attractions go, the land of the midnight sun is not quite right. Although most people will witness sunsets that happen beyond the times they are used to, for the ultimate experience, one will have to venture to more remote parts of the state. Late sunsets also mean early sun rises and this means you should be prepared for longer hours of light. This will be an interesting and vital piece of information to those who find it difficult to sleep with too much light, so it’s advisable to take pack a sleep mask along for your Alaska cruise. If you are a lover of wildlife you could be in for a spectacular treat courtesy of whales at sea and bears on land. However wildlife is as unpredictable as the wild itself and therefore it’s always best to not have your hopes up too much. Do some research and find the best times for watching wildlife both at sea and land before making a commitment to an Alaska cruise. And be mindful of what is advertised, as not all that is described in beautiful brochures and sales pitches come to pass in real life. Other interesting observations on an Alaska cruise will be the ability to view glaciers and icebergs in close proximity. But more than anything the sheer beauty of the scenery and the wonder of the atmosphere will be a wow factor well worth an Alaska cruise.

Discount Cruise Tips

A cruise is probably the ultimate pleasure trip of our lives. Well for most of us at least. And because of the glamour, excitement and the frills that accompany a journey of this kind, the cost is bound to be high. But this is not always the case and you might actually stumble on discount cruise options that make such an experience seem on par with more traditional holiday options. Plus a journey of this kind is also of relatively short duration and is ideal for those with less time on their hands, which is also why it is natural to not want to splurge too much on an experience of this kind. Thus it makes perfect sense to look out for discount cruise options. Securing one though may be somewhat tricky though not completely impossible.

You may begin your quest for discount cruise options by looking at potential dates. If you have the flexibility of engaging on the journey at any time of your liking then its best you look at an off-peak season. By avoiding the peak and popular time periods on certain routes you could be looking at significant price reductions. Another way of getting the best deals and discount cruise options is by carefully considering the cruise line you wish to sail in. Each vessel will have its own set of pros and cons. For example larger vessels are better equipped with things to do on board while smaller ones will take you closer to wildlife and glaciers as well as gain entry to ports larger vessels cant access.

When you are on the prowl for discount cruise options, be mindful of technically correct but misleading advertising. Certain operators will for example advertise a price saying ‘Discount Luxury Cruise Package for $ 499/-‘, what it won’t tell you however is about the type of cabin you will receive, benefits and privileges you will be entitled to extra. Always compare and back it up with research until you find the most suitable discount cruise option that lets you have the best experience at a reasonable price. Once you have your quotes, and then also make sure the quote also includes port fees, applicable taxes at various points of the journey and any applicable fuel surcharge. This way you will know exactly what you are paying for and how much the whole experience will cost you, with no hidden costs to give you unpleasant surprises along the way. When finalizing and confirming discount cruise ship options, you must also make it a point to check on cabin occupancy and travel insurance. With all boxes ticked off the deals that you are still considering could be the very best discount cruise options to you.

All About Disney Cruise Cost

If you are looking for a getaway somewhere nice, the Disney Cruise will be ideal. Many often question the fact the worthiness of spending an amount to go on a Disney cruise. In reality, the Disney cruise cost is much cheaper than other types of cruises. Unlike other types of cruise liner, the Disney cruise cost is much lower so you will save on your trip. In comparison to other budget cruises, the Disney cruise cost is considerable higher.

The best way to get a good offer off the Disney cruise cost is to book or reserve early. Remember there’s always the early bird discount. You can do reservations online through the Disney cruise website. This website will give you the details pertaining to the Disney cruise cost. It’s a known fact if you reserve in November or February, the cost of the Disney cruise cost will be considerably lower. The Disney cruise cost can vary depending on the times that you wish to go and the cabin that you prefer. There are cruise sites apart from Disney Cruise which will give you details of Disney cruise cost once you choose the date and other details.

Usually the Disney cruise cost covers up to five nights which is lower than of spending a day in New York. The Disney cruise gets busy during Christmas vacations and of the first two months of summer vacation. Children are qualified for discounts at that particular period. During the month of April, children under the age of 17 can get in free in the adults opt for a stateroom. In this case, the Disney cruise cost will only be applied for the adults. This Disney cruise offer is only for European and Mediterranean cruises.

The Disney cruises feature characters off from the Disney world. With Disney cruise you get to sail with your very own loved cartoon characters and even with the Pirates of the Caribbean. The Disney cruise will surely take your breath away.

The Disney cruise cost is sure to come down with the special discounts on offer, free upgrades and add ons. It’s a sure treat for you and your family. The Disney cruise will be user friendly and the environment is safer for your kids to have fun. You do have to fret about them having a dip in the swimming pool as the two pools in both Disney magic and Disney wonder will take care of your kids. The main advantage of Disney cruise ships is that you will find plenty of rooms for not only families but also for the luggages. Unlike other cruise ships, the Disney cruise has a family atmosphere added to it. So you will instantly feel like as if you are in a luxury home. Disney cruise cost is worth the money being invested. After all Disney brings in Magic!

Little Known Disney Cruise Tips

If you’re planning for a cruise trip for the coming season of summer, then you’ve got to plan the right kind of cruise. There may be numerous and endless kinds that would take you and your family all around the world but nothing would ever compare to the truly magical and exceptional experience of the Disney cruise.

It doesn’t matter if you’re cruising for the first time or the hundredth times but if you’ve picked the Disney cruise then whatever the trip, it will be worth every penny. It doesn’t matter if you’re experienced in this area of ‘taking a trip’ because every time is a different time and there is always something new to learn especially when it comes to Disney – so here are a few Disney cruise tips and guidelines that might come in handy.

The number one Disney cruise tip is to make reservations or plan things early while you’re at home. This way, not only will you be able to budget properly but also not be worried about reservations or expenditure while on the cruise or at the last minute. Depending on how many times you have been on the cruise before you would be enrolled into a Castaway Club and this will allow you to book your tickets early.

The second Disney cruise tip would be to learn the ships’ layout prior to boarding, so you can do this at home and months in advance too; simply Google to view the deck plan and review the map as much as you’d like. There are three Disney ships – Wonder and Magic which have been in service since the years 1998 and 1999 respectively as well their new and latest addition Dream which set sail this very month.

As a third Disney cruise tip, it’s wise to also purchase a travel guide that will give you a comprehensive look at what’s in store on the cruise. This of course is optional. If you’d like the activities and adventures awaiting onboard to remain a mystery, so be it. Instead the alternative Disney cruise tip would be to get a hold of the personal navigator. This is a four page spread that will act as your newspaper, television guide, menu, internet and everything in-between. It’s best to have a look at this a month prior to the cruise.

By the fourth Disney cruise tip, as they always say, whether you’re traveling by bus or plane, or as in this instance by cruise, get to the port early. If you’re driving to or flying to Florida, getting there a day early will be worth it; this way you can board the ship in an early group, wander about the ship and even lounge by the pool and relax whilst the rest run about in a hurry planning and booking excursions – which you would have already sorted out!

The fifth Disney cruise tip is something you should be aware of by now – being prepared for sea sickness. There’s nothing you can do to avoid or stop it but just prepare yourself but having a sanitizer or lime to sniff close-by. Here is another Disney cruise tip – well it’s more of a secret but sometimes show cast members ask for volunteers in events. Be sure to get involved whenever you can and make the most of your family trip.

What Should You Know About Cruise Lines?

Cruise lines can be defined as companies that operate cruise ships. Especially here in America there is a whole list of cruise lines that would be noteworthy to look up. While there are certainly some cruise lines that are now defunct, what you must realize is that there is a whole heap of new companies that are offering an excellent holiday experience. Needless to say, it is seriously up to you to see what cruise lines are the best yet there are many other there that would offer you a great experience. One of the best ways to find out whether you can enjoy a great holiday experience on a liner is to refer some of the reviews available.

While sites such as tripadvisor are great to find out reviews on certain hotels, there are sites which do a great review on cruise lines. Yet you must be careful when it comes to these various review on cruise lines. The real fact is some may just be trivial incidents which reviewers are blowing out of proportion. So this is something that you need to be aware of when it comes to cruise lines and the quality that they offer. If you are a person who has never been on a cruise, why not make it your first time.

Going on a cruise is something that can be experienced as being superlative to say the least. There will be a whole heap of experiences aboard a cruise liner. Of course this all depends on what kind of star rating your cruise gets. It also goes without saying that the higher the star rating the higher the price. However, this does not mean that you will have a bad experience rather it will be money well spent on an experience that is both unique and inimitable.

It would also make sense to see what amenities and facilities are on offer on certain cruses by cruise lines. This would certainly mean that you will need to find out what requirements you have that may need to be fulfilled. For instance you could be a diabetic who needs to keep their insulin in a fridge, so you may need to find out whether such a facility is available on the cruise. Small things like this need to be addressed because if you do not offer some form of input you can hardly blame the cruise lines for not being accommodating.

Last but not least ensure that you are aware of what exactly is being offered on the cruise. This can be a reference to the food and recreational activities as well. Some cruise lines will have cruise ships that offer you certain facilities only at a cost.

What Should You Know About Cruise Ship Jobs?

If you have your heart set on roaming the world by sea, cruise ship jobs are what you should be eying at. Cruise ship jobs can be broadly categorized into two groups: on-board and on-shore. On-board cruise ship job opportunities on-board are divided into departments. These departments include: activity/entertainment department, deck and engineering department, service/hospitality department, and personal care department. On-shore cruise ship jobs are mainly located in the cruise headquarters. On-shore jobs include, accounting, clerical, marketing, air operations, and sales. Since majority of offices are are located in New York, Seattle, Los Angeles and Florida, residents living close to those areas would be given more preference for on-shore cruise ship jobs.

As far as activity/entertainment department is concerned, job roles include: casino staff, disc jockeys, dive instructors, gentleman hosts, youth counselors, audio visual coordinators, production managers and so on. These cruise ship jobs require constant interactions with passengers and are at the top of the most demanded cruise ship jobs. Typically, potential employees for these jobs, which are also regarded as entry-level positions, are hired on contract basis. Cruise ship jobs available in deck and engineering department are focused on maintenance of the vessel. Most of the staff in this department are professionals like engineers, electricians, captains and officers. It is the duty of the engineering department to maintain the standards set by the international maritime laws on board the ship. Service/hospitality department focuses on running the restaurants, pubs, gift shops and passenger cabins on board. Cruise ship jobs falling under this department include pursers, chefs, bartenders, cabin stewards and waiters. The service/hospitality department is also incharge of providing hotel services. Employment opportunities in this particular section include, accountants, bellmen, hotel managers, gift shop managers and IT staff. The personal care department features job roles such as, nurses, physicians, beauty therapists, fitness instructors, and massages.

Wages and salaries of cruise ship jobs can be categorized as tipping and non-tipping. Tipping jobs have a smaller base salary compared to non-tipping jobs. Waiters, bartenders, cocktail waiters typically get tipping salaries, but with tips the net salary can go as high as 4000 USD per month. Approximately waiters earn from 2500 USD to 4000 USD per month, while a bus boy or an assistant waiter may earn 1500 USD to 3000 USD. Salaries of bar waiters and waitresses fall in the range of 1000 USD to 2500 USD. Bartenders can sometimes earn up to 3000 USD per month. The non-tipping job holders earn around 350 USD to 500 USD per week. Furthermore, employees earning non-tipping salaries can be promoted to tipping salary positions depending on their experience and performance.

Opportunities for cruise ship jobs are published on a regular basis at recruitment agents, as well as through respective cruise lines. Visa and work permits are absolute essentials for all cruise ship jobs.

What Should You Know About Cruise Ships?

Prior to the introduction of jet planes, ships were the only means by which people and goods could be transported overseas. Hence, shipping was both a necessity and a convenience to people who lived about 50 years ago. Today, after the introduction of the plane which is a cheaper and faster method of traveling from one country to another, shipping has reached a new level. Of course, ships are still used to transport goods in bulk. But today, they are also traveled in for pleasure rather than mere trabsoprtation purposes. Such ships are commonly known as cruise ships. The history of cruise ships is long and vibrant. In fact, ships were first created among the earliest colonies. Written history records the Prinzessin Victoria Luise as the first among cruise ships. This was launched in 1900 and its design was pioneered by Albert Ballin.

It was the growing popularity of the transatlantic crossing during this time that paved a way to commercial scale cruise ships. The world was beginning to head towards the rapid globalization which we are experiencing presently, and many wanted to explore life beyond their homelands. Of course, there are classes in a typical cruise ship (if you remember the 1990 award winning movie Titanic, you would have an idea of what it would have been), where the poor travel to look for work someplace else, but generally the real cruising experience of cruise ships can be experienced only if you can afford some extravagance. Fortunately today, traveling in a cruise ship is not limited to the extremely rich. There are different classes of cruse ships with differing services that you can find.

The history of cruise ships has not been all good. After the initial introduction of aircrafts that transported passengers, the shipping industry faced a rapid decline. Ancient ships could not be used anymore because there were more energy- efficient modern ships in the market. Thanks to the travel and tourism industry, later on, cruise ships were considered an opportunity to relax and explore the vast oceans. Thus today, the cruising industry is stabilized even though not used as frequently as the airplanes, to travel.

A luxurious cruise ship nowadays would be like a five-star hotel experience, with pools, golf courts, theaters, malls, finest restaurants and much much more. The shipping liners have come a long way since the first British White Star fleet produced in the latter 1880’s. As the engine technology increased, cruise ships, just as other ships increased in size, style and comfort. In fact, many would agree that a month’s cruising on a ship is the best holiday experience. It is in fact like a ticket to hide away from the busy lives on land and experience the breathtaking beauty Mother Nature has gifted us with, all this done in style.

What Should You Know About Cruise Agency?

Over the past decade ocean liner cruises have grown in popularity not only with holiday makers but even companies who are looking to treat their employees. Cruises are a great way of vacationing as they provide a controlled environment and a prearranged schedule filled with exciting activities.

A typical cruise ship or a cruise liner is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages. Most modern cruise ships these days feature exquisite amenities. The following facilities are featured in most modern cruise ships: casinos, spas, fitness centers, libraries, cinemas, swimming pools, clubs etc.

Purchasing a cruise use to be a simple task in the days gone by, however with the rapid growth in the tourism sector over the past decade, an array of packages, purchasing options and prices have come into the fray. Thus it is important to do some research before purchasing one.

Before you go about booking a cruise find out which destination you would like go to, which ship and type of cabin, dates you wish to sail and the prices. Compare it across the many cruise agency websites on the internet. This will provide you with a good idea of what to ask the cruise agency once you call them.

A cruise agency provides you with the necessary details on how to go about booking that all important cruise that you have been eagerly awaiting for. Before going about selecting a cruise agency it is important to check on a few details. Most cruise agencies have their own websites through which bookings are carried out. It is vital to check if the cruise agency has a reputed staff that could answer all your questions and how long the cruise agency has been in operation.

Secondly it’s important to check if the cruise agency charges a commission for its services. Most renowned cruise agencies do not charge a commission, but instead offer attractive discounts. A cruise agency may book blocks of cabins from a particular cruise liner and therefore obtain pricing concessions which are passed onto the customer. If you are booking for a large number of people, the cruise agency may offer a rebate for the full fare of one person. Therefore it is important to clarify these details when you talk to the customer service agent at the cruise agency.

Next it’s important to check if the cruise agency offers the cruise line you want to book. Some agencies cater to a set of cruise liners only such as the Royal Caribbean.

Insurance is another important aspect to consider when booking a cruise. A cruise agency may offer free travel insurance for a particular set of cruise liners. However the coverage of the insurance would need to be discussed with the cruise agency.

Finally checking the credentials of the cruise agency ensures a safe booking. Every lawful cruise agency should have at least two affiliations: CLIA and ASTA. It is important that you verify these before you make the booking.