Posts Tagged ‘Aboard’

Welcome Aboard Thomas Cook Cruises and Cruise Thomson

Desiring to take pleasure in the sun, feeling the wind on your face? Looking for a breathing space to relax at the same absorbing the sights and sounds and ocean adventures? Welcome aboard Thomas Cook Cruises or Cruise Thomson.

For the newcomer, cruises are pleasure trip aboard luxurious cruise ships. Life on board is very much what you want it to be. There is total quiet and peace, cool and the relaxation you always wanted to do. But cruises have also nightlife and entertainment. Here you relax in paradox. It is having the best of both worlds.

Dining at Thomas Cook Cruises is as special as their services. You can have a choice of fine dining, dining al fresco and ala carte. You have the options. As you can also have your choice of cuisine. From Mexican buffet to Italian pizza, it is yours for the asking. Although the right scope of dining options differ from ship to ship.

While in the British Cruise market, Cruise Thomson occupies a distinctive place. Since its inception in the 1990s as a budget cruise operator, Thomson has gradually evolved into more conventional in the cruise industry. It has progressed to improving its ships, amenities and facilities and diversified by widening its itineraries.

Both Thomas Cook Cruises and Cruise Thomson avowed to make cruise life a pleasure to indulge in. Give each ship a personality and particular atmosphere of its own.

Whatever your reason for celebration both cruise companies promise to make it affordable. Reasonably priced celebration of school graduation, honeymoon and anniversaries aboard the cruise ship is all-inclusive.

Onboard experience on Cruise Thomson lies between traditional and modern British cruise system. But the cruise company is predispose to the traditional cruise format very British in its atmosphere and ambiance. The on the ship experience can be overwhelming for first timers. It is like being transported to another age and place.

Thomas Cook Cruises boasts of being the largest cruise retailer in the UK. For the fact that it offers more cruises than any other cruise company. They propose more benefits for your money. They have big discounts, exclusive deals and freebies. Holiday cruise has never been more exciting and real. The cruise company made possible to cater to individual or family needs.

Cruise styles come in a varied of lifestyles. There is cruise style for the disabled, family, luxury cruises, romance cruising and a list of others. Upscale sea travel is a grandiose holiday cruise. But you get exactly what you paying for. Satisfaction to the max.

Information is gathered for your convenience to be able to take a look see at the places in your dream destinations. Activities you decide to do in a particular region. At the same time what kind of cruise ship you are planning to take in your holiday cruise to Asia/Pacific or Europe.

Whenever you need ideas or still o the planning stage of your holiday cruise let the cruise companies help you. Not only the region where you want to go, activities you decide to do, lifestyle you want to celebrate in but more so they will consider the value of your dollar.

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An Alaskan Adventure Cruise Aboard the Island Princess

On one late summer’s day, my journey took me from Valdez to Seaward, Alaska. While traveling I could see the fire weed, bright red and in full bloom along the highway’s edge. According to the locals, winter would be coming soon, ending the short summer Alaska enjoys. My morning had begun in the Port of Valdez and I was preparing to meet Princess Cruise Line’s brand new ship, Island Princess.

As the Princess coach pulled into the Port of Seaward I could see the Island Princess standing tall and sleek. I couldn’t help but think about how incredible this ultra-modern cruise ship is. She is powered by a gas turbine and has a passenger capacity of 1,970. This ship stands tall at 204 feet and is 964 feet in length. She is the new sister of Princess Cruise Lines’ Coral Princess. This 92,000-ton sister is no follower as she has many traits of her very own. I would be onboard for a southbound cruise from Seward to Vancouver, B.C.

As I boarded the ship and began to explore, I was overwhelmed with this ship’s space and layout. In what’s been described as a “design twist”, the Island Princess features two full decks of public spaces, versus the traditional single Promenade Deck. I found the ship’s four-storey atrium to be alive with sophisticated colors and lighting. One visit you’d find a string quartet playing “Yesterday” by the Beatles, and next you’d be entertained by piano music coming from the Crooners Lounge.

If the space in the ship’s public spaces were not large enough, my cabin was in a class of its own as well. I had a mini-suite with a private balcony. This was a treat like none other. The mini-suites with private balcony come with twin beds that convert into a queen sized bed. The private balcony was so large you wanted to invite everyone from home over. It also has two TV’s incase you wanted to watch both the baseball and football game while cruising Glacier Bay. Let us not forget the refrigerator, bath with tub and shower, all wrapped up in 323 square feet including balcony. To say this was wonderful would be a huge understatement.

Our ship was scheduled to depart from the Port of Seward at 10 pm, much later than I had done before. However, I was getting used to the very long days of sunlight Alaska’s summer provided. While in Fairbanks days before, the sun would set around 11:30 pm and rise around 3:30 am. Now as we were farther south in Seward it would be dark for sailing, but still a much longer day than I was used to on the West coast of Florida.

It was dinnertime onboard and we had chosen Traditional Dining for our weeklong cruise. One thing I learned was Princess Cruises views dining as a form of entertainment. Food preparation and presentation is taken very serious. You will find only the best quality food items. Furthermore, the men and women who oversee the ballet of buffets, afternoon teas and formal dining, direct it like a Broadway show.

We chose Traditional Dining but Princess Cruises has what they call Personal Choice Dining. Only Princess offers this innovative approach to dining, enabling guests to dine how, when and with whom they want. Passengers may choose either a restaurant style option that allows them the same flexibility found in shore side establishments, or the traditional cruise dining experience with an assigned dining time, tablemates and wait staff – no other cruise line offers both of these options.

Personal Choice dining also means it is your choice to eat anytime you’d like. This means you have the option to eat in a 24-hour restaurant. This is no “Denny’s of the Sea”, this is great food choices cooked “A la’ Minuet” to provide only the freshest food to its guests onboard. You will also find freshly made pizza served by the slice served poolside at Princess Pizza pizzeria. Many cruise lines have added specialty restaurants onboard. Princess, keeping with their food-loving philosophy, offers more options than any other cruise line. The Island Princess offers two such specialty restaurants. The first being the Bayou Cafe’ where passengers can enjoy traditional Cajun and Creole influenced food and live jazz in the first New Orleans-themed restaurant at sea, with a look and feel straight out of the French Quarter. You’ll find a menu with dining choices such as peel-and-eat shrimp, alligator ribs, gumbos and jambalaya, not to mention the obligatory bevy of exotic cocktails. Cover charge ($8) includes complimentary Hurricane Cocktail. Next, you’ll find Sabatini’s, offering Italian dining and featuring seafood specialties and other traditional favorites served with flair in an authentic trattoria-like setting. Some cruisers feel that the specialty restaurants are not worth the additional fee, or do not want to pay anything “extra” while on a cruise. It’s been my experience that the price is well worth it and most of the fee goes directly to the staff in tips. So please do not pass up on these specialty restaurants, as they are indeed special.

As my first sea day came up, I was really impressed with all the activities to be experienced onboard. The Lotus Spa offered a vast array of treatments and massages at some great rates. The spa was very beautifully decorated, and had a caring staff. My companion, who has cruised many times said the staff was first class and the treatment wonderful. As I further explored the ship I found that the internet café, which is located off the atrium, was great. They even had a table setup with coffee and cream for you to enjoy nearby. I really enjoyed this touch very much. The café has wonderful leather chairs, and flat panel monitors that made reading email or surfing the net enjoyable. The only downside is connections do go down from time to time due to being in Alaska.

One program I found onboard that was most surprising was Princess’ new Scholarship@Sea enrichment programs. The program was started in early 2003 and the Island Princess is only the second ship to offer the program. She follows her sister ship Coral Princess in offering classes in its state-the-art, multi-purpose Universe Lounge. During my cruise I went to a cooking demonstration given by the cruise line’s corporate executive chef Alfredo Marzi. It was just like watching ‘Emeril Live’ or other great cooking shows. This included smell-a-vision since you’re right there in the audience to smell the fresh garlic, wine and spices. I really enjoyed it and have never seen a cooking demonstration like it before. It was both educational and entertaining with a state-of- the- art presentation. Everyone had a perfect view, due to large screen TV’s and the great layout of the Universe Lounge. Later in the week I had the pleasure of attending a lecture given by Princess Cruise Lines’ Fleet Commodore Moulin (ret). I was able to learn about his life at sea, from how it began until his retirement. It was fascinating and I quickly was convinced that I really preferred these types of programs on a cruise. I’ve not been a big gambler, so did not attend Bingo or even the art auction onboard. So having these offerings is wonderful. I was even more surprised when I found out how much more was available. You can choose from approximately 20 courses per voyage (six per sea day) from four core subject areas – Culinary Arts, Visual/Creative Arts, Photography, and Computer Technology. Italian cooking, hand-built pottery, digital travel photography, web page design, estate planning and water color techniques are just a few of the courses offered. All courses are free of charge and passengers can enjoy as many as they wish. If you want to continue your onboard education you can take smaller classes onboard for a $10 fee.

As you may have guessed with all of this entertainment, enrichment and food onboard you might not want to get off the ship. Being onboard the Island Princess was like staying at a luxurious resort. I know many other cruise lines are striving for this but Princess cruises offers it today in the Island Princess. Your days are filled with food, entertainment, ports of call and personal choices.

As the Island Princess ship pulled into Vancouver and under the Lion’s Gate Bridge, I looked back and knew I had experienced something special. Since I had never been to Alaska, this trip was a journey like no other. I found Alaska to truly be a “Wilderness Wonderland” and having a ship like the Island Princess as your platform for discovery is a must do for this cruise addict.

Explore, Dream, Discover

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All Aboard For Your Disney Cruise Vacation

A Disney vacation conjures images of luxury, spectacle and family friendly fun. You can expect those same standards in your Disney cruise. The rooms are larger than on other cruise lines to accommodate your whole family. Each ship has a plenty of choices to fit any size family and budget.
Whether you want to play with your family or with people your own age, you will have plenty of choices. The wide array of choices in activities and entertainment means that you will enjoy every minute of your Disney cruise.
Before you book your Disney cruise you should think about the kind of room or suite you want. There are about twelve different categories of ship accommodations. Choose your rooms based on the number of people you need it to hold, the view you would like and whether you would like a veranda.
Keep in mind that each room needs to have at least one adult. If you are traveling with friends or family, you can link your reservations if you make them at the same time. If you need to make them separately, you will need to speak to a Disney representative. It pays to make your reservation as soon as possible, as the Category 1 and 2 suites tend to sell out quickly.
Your vacation starts the minute you walk on board a Disney cruise. Whether your trip is a couple of days or much longer, you will find no shortage of activities. Parents can enjoy adult pastimes while trained counselors help kids 3-12 enjoy the activities designed especially for them.
When you drop off your kids under ten, you are provided a pager so that you area always a beep away. Your teenagers will enjoy areas designed specifically for their interests.
While your kids are off enjoying their own adventures, you can take advantage of the spa, shopping, or adult-only pools. But there is plenty of fun for your family to enjoy together.
Your Daily Navigator will you keep apprised of all the activities on board your ship so that you can plan your days. Whether you take in the Broadway-caliber shows, the on-board movie theaters, themed deck parties or just lounge in the sun a fun time is almost guaranteed.
The fun is not limited to the interior of your Disney cruise ship. The Bahamas, the Mexican Riviera, the Caribbean, make sure to get out and see the sights at your ports of call.
A Shopping in Paradise Port Guide will give you an historical overview of the port as well as good dining and shopping suggestions. Some cruise itineraries will take you to Castaway Cay, Disney’s privately owned island paradise.
There is so much to do on a Disney cruise it is impossible to recount it all here. The accommodations are so spectacular that you can enjoy yourself without even leaving your room.
But it would certainly be a mistake to miss the amazing adventures that Disney’s entertainment experts have carefully designed with your family in mind.
Of course, the ports of call and Castaway Cay provide additional opportunities for fun. Whether you play together or apart, this is a vacation you will never forget.

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Say “I Do” Aboard Around the World Cruises

Congratulations! Your boyfriend finally proposed, and your beautiful engagement ring is sparkling on your left ring finger. Indeed, the wedding plans are in progress – including finding the right location, perfect floral designer, videographer, photographer, catering company, and so much more!
The mountain of details can be overwhelming, and it is just easy for the bride to agree to anything suggested by the wedding coordinator. Your maid of honor chimes in, suggesting a wedding on a cruise – but she is dismissed by the wedding coordinator.
In fact, the wedding coordinator has argued that a formal wedding in a church is ideal because it makes the ceremony sacred – but it is also easier for her to arrange.
Sadly, the bride misses the fact that her wedding is no longer unique. In the United States, about 80% of weddings are formal, and approximately 85% of all weddings are held in a church, synagogue, or other place of worship.
Consider a unique, memorable wedding
If your wedding is becoming a statistic, then you may want to stop and think for a moment. What happened to the other 15% of weddings? Those brides took the time to think outside the box and visualized a different wedding.
Perhaps you may want a garden wedding, except that your co-worker already had one. Perhaps you could have a wedding on the beach? Your neighbor already did that.
But wait! The bride can take the wedding beyond the beach and onboard a 5 star world cruise ship (http://www.amttravel.com/cruise-lines/5-star-world-cruises.html). Cruise weddings are rare, yet the thought of cruising floods the mind of countless romantic ideas.
The memorable romance of weddings aboard around the world cruises
Enjoy visions of kisses exchanged on deck, witnessed only by the starry night. The soft “I do’s” are carried away by the breeze as the bride and groom stand on a Caribbean shore.
Your maid of honor chimes in, “you don’t have to worry about the catering because all ships have gigantic kitchens and a host of gourmet chefs.” That did not sound necessarily romantic, but it certainly sounded great and convenient.
All around the world cruises offer romantic wedding and honeymoon packages. In fact, all cruise lines have their own wedding coordinators who are highly experienced in arranging cruise weddings. All that the bride needs to do is to pick and choose what features would make her wedding day perfect.
A survey of around the world cruises revealed that cruise weddings offer three basic choices: a destination wedding, an onboard wedding, and a wedding at sea.
Considering your ceremony options for around the world cruises
All around the world cruise packages (http://www.amttravel.com/cruise-lines/around-the-world-cruises.html) offer destination weddings. The bride and groom, along with their guests, will board the ship and sail to a chosen destination, such as the Caribbean, Bermuda, or any other romantic destination that would be the perfect backdrop for the couple’s big day.
Of course, you can solicit suggestions from the wedding coordinator of the around the world cruise ship. For example, Holland America may suggest a private island, called the Half Moon Cay, in the Bahamas, while others will divulge secret beaches perfect for saying “I do.”
Once the destination is selected, all legal arrangements and logistics are organized by the wedding coordinators of these around the world cruises.
Most upscale world cruises offer onboard weddings. Such weddings happen a few hours before the scheduled departure of the ship. The couple and the guests board the ship earlier than the other passengers.
The wedding ceremony will be immediately followed by the reception. Then the guests can disembark, while the couples will stay on the ship, getting ready for the romantic honeymoon at sea.
Only one around the world cruises line can offer a wedding at sea: Princess Cruises. The captains of their ships are legally authorized to perform weddings, and the onboard wedding coordinator offers a variety of wedding packages.
From secluded beaches to romantic onboard ceremonies amidst the ocean breeze, saying “I do” aboard an around the world cruise is a memorable way to celebrate your beautiful matrimony.

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The Purser: A Story of Life Aboard a Cruise Ship

Product Description
THE PURSER

Discover the most intimate secrets of life aboard a cruise ship. Take part in the daily activities of the officers and crew. Meet the passengers who, for better or worse, become part of the ship’s lore. Experience life at sea…!
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The Purser: A recent college graduate joins a cruise ship in the Caribbean as assistant purser with the intention of doing some traveling. “For a couple of years,” he tells himself. As the years pass he becomes used to the life of a seaman, a life he enjoys, a life that provides for all his needs, except for the love and companionship of a woman. One evening he meets a passenger. For the young purser she represents the real world, as … More >>

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