Cruises
The choice of cruising holidays and destinations has grown rapidly
over the last few years and the popularity of travel by grand ocean
liner is seeing a huge revival. Some say that the pinnacle of all
cruises is a Round the World trip aboard the QE2, but if your great
grandmother hasn't recently left you a fortune, there are many other
options, including cruises to Antarctica & Alaska, Cruises around
the Caribbean and Mediterranean cruises.
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Hints & tips for choosing a cruise
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Types of Cruises: The possibilities are endless and very much depend
on the time at your disposal and your personal preferences - you
need to think through the type of ship you would like to travel
on - a large grand ocean liner, a more traditional tall ship, or
a back to basics expedition boat?
Also how long you want to spend away - If you have never been on
a cruise before try out a relatively short trip first - for example
a long weekend - before committing to a 3 month long round the world
cruise.
And finally, where do you want to go and what do you want to see
- from the lush tropical islands of the Caribbean to the dramatic
glaciers of Alaska, from the pyramids and monuments of a river cruise
up the Nile to a cruise through the Panama Canal.
Pick a cruise that caters to your interests - if you want the chance
to really explore the area at each port of call opt for a cruise
that stops for several nights in each destination. Plus consider
picking a cruise package where excursions are included in the price.
If you are covering a number of different countries and destinations
take a small pocket guide for each place to ensure that you don't
miss out on any of the major sights.
Try out the local cuisine in the different places that you visit,
plus find out if the cruise ship you are on has local dishes on
the menu that vary along the way. Most of the larger ships have
several restaurants to ensure that its passengers have a choice
of dining during their trip.
There should be plenty of opportunities to purchase souvenirs and
presents from the different ports of call - from duty free bargains
to local handicrafts.
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Cruising around the Mediterranean
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A possible route
Try a cruise around a few of the Greek islands scattered across
the Aegean sea.
Wonder at the glorious Parthenon on the Acropolis above Athens;
visit the walled city of Rhodes with its colonial charm, spend a
day on the volcanic island of Santorini with its black sandy beaches,
or explore Olympia - the birth place of the Olympic games - where
ever 4 years a temporary truce was declared between warring parties,
to allow the games to proceed.
Specialities include Taramosalata, Souvlaki (Kebabs), Keftedes
(meatballs) and feta cheese. The local wine is Retsina and another
Greek tipple is Ouzo , which has a distinctive aniseed flavour.
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A Cruise down the Panama Canal
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A possible route
The Panama canal still reigns as one of the world's great engineering
feats and a cruise down its 51 mile length passes through 6 locks
and several lakes. Many cruises also include a stop in Costa Rica
and extend up the coast of Mexico.
View the lush tropical plants and exotic wildlife of Gatun lake.
Travel inland from Puerto Caldera to visit the city of San Jose
- set on a plateau 3800 ft above sea level. Stop off along the coast
of Mexico and visit some of the amazing temples and other ruins.
Test your palate out on the local cuisine - which tends to include
a fair portion of chillies. Don't leave Panama without trying the
national dish of Sancocho (an exotic chicken stew), Mexican favourites
include burritos, enchiladas and frijoles (red beans) and Costa
Ricans create a wonderful Sopa Negra.
Call us on 0870 1999 038 for further details
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