I enjoyed this trip, excellent to get out of England and have some sun, the gf wasn’t so keen though, mainly because she said there weren’t enough healthy eating options and we were the youngest people on board. That’s true – we were like half the age of most people and some looked like they were in their 90s. No offence but sometimes I thought they were going to keal over in their chairs at the excitement of bingo! Good things were the food which I enjoyed, esp hot dogs before turning in at night! Staff, really friendly and helpful, cabin great as far as I’m concerned, gf thought it was a bit ‘tatty’ but if you don’t spend any time in it, so what? Bad things, the age of the rest of the people, if I’d known I don’t think i’d have booked in January, maybe other times of year they have a younger crowd, and the vibration of the engine which kept us both awake for the first two or three nights. Also the new smoking policy was good only allowed on 1/3 of the open deck, along one side of promenade deck and in 1/3 of Liberties Bar, but they need a sunlounger hogging policy too – some days you couldn’t get a place to lay down unless you were up at the crack of dawn.

Share/Bookmark

Mediterranean, Iberia and the Canaries, North America and Canada

Guest Profile:

1. Average age is 59

2. Married with female generally being the decision maker

3. Read broadsheets and mid market newspapers

4. Interested in gardening, theatre, fine wines, cooking and current affairs.

Type of Holiday:

“No Fly” Roundtrip Southampton Voyages

Short Break Voyages (2-5 nights)

Fly Voyages

Transatlantic Crossings

Transatlantic Combinations and North American Tours

Dining:

1. The classic tradition of pairing an elegant stateroom with an exquisite sea-view restaurant.

2. Britannia Restaurant

3. Princess and Queens Grill Restaurants

4. Golden Lion Pub – traditional pub favourites

5. Alternative Dining

6. Todd English

7. Relaxed Dining

8. Lido and Kings Court

Dress Code:

Formal/Semi Formal/Elegant Casual

Family Facilities:

1. Exciting comlimentary programmes to suit all children and teenagers, aged 1-17.

2. Ceritified British nannies on board

3. Special children’s supper/tea

4. Children’s activities: arts and crafts, sports, competitions, discos, storytime and movies.

5. Teen acitivities; Xbox, dances, late-night movies, basketball and parties

Share/Bookmark

While some Carnival brands have removed their fuel supplements, Cunard, Costa Cruises, and Princess Cruises will actually increase prices. The company says it now has passengers but details of how to claim a refund have not yet been made public. Other UK brands, P&O Cruises and Ocean Village have followed suit with the cuts. The system is complicated – if the price of light sweet crude oil according to the New York Mercantile Exchange Index is $70 per barrel or less at the 14.30 close of business as reported by Reuters on each of the 25 consecutive trading days ending five trading days prior to the guest’s cruise departure date, the fuel supplement will be refunded in the form of a shipboard credit – hardly a straightforward offer. Additionally, if you book a 2010 cruise prior to the end of this month, you’ll be charged the current fuel supplement but will be eligible for a refund of the supplement in accordance with the same fuel price conditions that are being implemented for 2008-2009 departures.

Share/Bookmark

Circumnavigate the San Juan Islands on the Schooner Zodiac with twenty-four ship mates, exploring eight Northwest lighthouses. Sail west from Bellingham past Patos Island Light and south past Cattle Point Light across the Straits of Juan De Fuca to PT. Wilson Light. Explore these eight lighthouses: Patos Island, Lime Kiln, Cattle Point, Smith Island, Wilson, Point no Point, Burrows Island, and Admiralty Head.

Before the advent of Radar and GPS, position was determined by matching information on the charts with lights at specified positions with identifying gongs and horns. Learn how sailors coming in from the sea relied on light houses to determine position at night or in fog and stormy weather.

Shore parties will visit selected light stations with knowledgeable tour leaders.

Join the crew of the Schooner Zodiac for seven magical days in the American San Juan Islands, seeking wind to fill the sails and quiet coves to drop anchor each night.

Our Captain and crew will assist you in your journey. You will become part of the Zodiac crew, taking your turn steering the ship and helping to raise and lower the sails to whatever extent is comfortable for you.

Answer the ancient call of wind and water, and the ringing commands from the quarterdeck: ‘sailing stations’, ‘all hands on deck’, and belay that line’. By crews, each sailor learns to work the sailing station assigned, and stands watch rotating from charts to helm, bow watch and messenger on the quarterdeck.

As the sun slides down the western sky, furl the sails as Zodiac noses into Echo Bay, Sucia Island. Dinner is served when the anchor is set. Fall asleep at the end of an enchanted day in the same bunks where the San Francisco Bar Pilots slept for the forty years the Zodiac worked off the Golden Gate.

Three hearty meals daily are prepared in the galley, including fresh Northwest seafood and the variety of vegetables and fruits adjust to most diets. Soft drinks provided, and you can B.Y.O.L.

The seven days end too soon, about the time the halyards and sheets begin to make sense and the rolling deck seems like home.

Share/Bookmark

Royal Caribbean short cruises begin in the most fabulous places, departing from Barcelona, Oslo, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Southampton and the newest departure port of Malaga. Socruise has put together the Royal Caribbean short cruises you might like to try.

4 night Cork

Sailing from Southampton on board Independence of the Seas

4 night Western Mediterranean

Sailing from Barcelona on board Navigator of the Seas

5 night Riviera Treasures

Sailing from Barcelona on board Navigator of the Seas

5 night Italian Riviera

Sailing from Barcelona on board Navigator of the Seas

5 night French Riviera

Sailing from Malaga on board Navigator of the Seas

5 night Canary Islands

Sailing from Malaga on board Navigator of the Seas

5 night Amsterdam

Sailing from Oslo on board Vision of the Seas

4 night Hamburg

Sailing from Oslo on board Vision of the Seas

4 night St Petersburg

Sailing from Stockholm on board Vision of the Seas

4 night St Petersburg

Sailing from Stockholm on board Vision of the Seas

For prices please speak to one of our leading cruise experts Call socruise: 0844 418 0002

Share/Bookmark

“Cruise companies should have been more aggressive trying to cancel or at least delay the out-year ships,” Kent made the contrast between the downturn in the building industry as the economy worsens.

Cruise giants such as Carnival and Royal Caribbean have billion dollar orders on new ships up to 2012, and Kent also warned cruise enthusiasts saying “people who own cruise stocks should get out now.”

Income expectations for cruise companies “are way too high given the deteriorating worldwide consumer, the massive supply hitting the market, cruise operators desire to fill these ships at any price.”

Share/Bookmark

Ticketamerica.com offers tickets for concerts, theaters and some special sports event tickets like bradley braves tickets, bowling green falcons tickets,
boston college eagles tickets. Ticketamerica.com has NCAA tickets for some great college teams like the Boston College Eagles, and Bowling Green Falcons plus maps for the Bradley Braves seating.

Share/Bookmark

Zenni Optical is one of the most trusted and popular online eyewear retailers that exist today. They have a premium range of eyewear including glasses, lenses, glares and other such stuff to offer to their great number of customers. There are a lot of reasons due to which people prefer to go for this brand of eyewear. For instance, all glasses include an anti scratch coating, full UV protection, a hard protective case for your glasses and a microfiber cleaning cloth for the same, and that too, for free. Moreover, there are glasses to suit every mood and every pocket as well.
The $6.95 prescription eyeglasses are indeed very good value for money. They are round, full-rim and are available in different colours. A spring hinge is attached for the sake of ease and comfort and to avoid breakage. In addition, to meet the need of the hour, Zenni Optical has also come up with a special collection for Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day glasses can now be purchases online at this retailer. There are glasses which are pink, purple and even multi coloured t match the colourful and joyful Valentine’s ambience. This would certainly be perfect to put on a date with your loved one!

Share/Bookmark

We know that cosmetics and beauty are interrelated terms. No woman in this world can get ready for a party or an event without cosmetics. It is quite natural for women to get attracted towards any new beauty product in the market and it is the reason why most of them choose beauty industry and cosmetology as their career. Even though this field is not so popular, there is still lot of competition to get into a top Beauty School. California is a place of Hollywood and when it comes for Hollywood, beauty plays a very prominent role in it. And this shows why there are so many top beauty schools in California. The Beauty School California teaches its students how to do hair cut, how to do hair, nails and makeup and to pursue a degree in this field. Once a student gets certified from a Beauty School In California, he becomes eligible to work in any of the big salons or with famous cosmetologists and dermatologists.
In case you are looking for a beauty school in California, make sure that the school you have chosen is accredited through NACCAS. Also, the reason for choosing the best beauty school is that you need not worry about the placement and career related issues. Hence think wise and choose the best among all.

Share/Bookmark

Bulimia is the number of eating disorders that is characterized by restraining the proper intake of the food over a non specified period of time. The treatment for eating disorders is enhanced so it welcomes back your normal behavior. The consequences and symptoms for this problem are calluses or scarring on the back of hands, constant fluctuations in weight, dehydration from vomiting, chronic gastric reflux, infertility, constipation, peptic ulcers, enlarged neck glands, esophageal inflammation, imbalance of electrolytes, delayed emptying and oral trauma to the lips, mouth and throat. The other symptom of the problem is neglecting the other types of physical activities. Bulimia Treatment is programmed in such a way that you never return home with the same relapse back into the same behavior. The professional staff gives full support to ensure that you achieve the most successful recovery possible while dealing with the problem. They provide with full support round the clock on any day so that you are treated in a proper manner. Bulimia is said to be a dangerous and serious illness that needs to be treated as soon as it is detected. It is this eating disorder treatment that can be given to provide you with healthy, productive and positive attitude.

Share/Bookmark

Drug Rehab is a term used in the medical and psychotherapeutic treatment for dependency on psychoactive substances such as alcohol, prescription drugs, cocaine, heroin or amphetamines, etc. The patients cease the contacts and substance of their social life and avoid their family when they are being addicted to drugs. Inpatient Drug Rehab Center helps them to come out of this traumatic situation. The patients avoid psychological, legal, financial, social and physical contacts with everybody and get abusive in nature. The patients do not get associated with their family and friends and cannot cultivate themselves in the outside world if they are addicted to drugs. The Inpatient Drug Rehab helps them the best to make the patients come out of the addiction. They try to make the patients for stopping the usage of alcohol or other drugs and change their daily habits. At this moment of time the patients should get more support and care from the family and the doctors in order to get well soon. There are many drug rehab centers that provide proper treatment, care and support for the patients. They run various rehab programs like drug treatment programs, heroin drug rehab, etc. The patients are monitored 24/7 by the nurses and medical staff. Florida Rehab ensures quick and healthy recovery for the patients so that the patients can see a healthy and good life in the future.

Share/Bookmark

There are number of online optical shops to purchase all top branded eyeglasses and lens. Zenni optical is one of the best online shop to purchase any type of eyeglasses with or without the prescription. It is one of the best places to purchase Zenni optical Halloween eyeglasses. There is an option to choose the frame which suits the face well and that can be done by uploading the photo. The customers can choose the price rang to purchase the glasses wihtin their budget. They can choose the prescription type whether it is single vision, bifocal or progressive in the option in the official site of Zenni optical. It is a must to enter the pupilary distance to get the eyeglasses at current size. It is the best place to purchase cheap eyeglasses that is $6.95 prescription eyeglasses online. The customers can write their personal experiment in the Zenni blog or they can follow zenni in nay social network. They can choose the style and shape of the glasses. The image of the glasses with the description will be displayed in the site so that it will be easy for them to choose the suitable eyeglasses from the online shop.

Share/Bookmark

The Veendam Antarctic cruise sails three times in 2010. The cruises starting December 21st and January 30th depart from , while the January 10th cruise reverses the itinerary.

These cruises provides a great with strong cultural aspects such as dance and music with scenic cruising that offers wildlife views unparalleled at this time of year. There are stops in Puerto Montt and Punta Arenas, Chile, as well as Ushuaia, Argentina and the rounding of Cape Horn allows the ship to explore Antarctica for three days. The return journey visits Stanley, Falkland Islands, Buenos Aires and Montevideo, Uruguay.

Share/Bookmark

It’s Summer Time. There Are Storms. Don’t Be Late.
While no one plans to take a chance on missing the ship, an amazing number of people ignore the basic adage: get there early. Particulary in the summer. People who worry about blizzards in the winter and wouldn’t think of trying to arrive at the port the day ofdeparture seem totally oblivious to the thunderstorms that play havoc with air traffic in the summer. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that because the cruise line has booked your flight, you have no problem. There is no guarantee that the ship will delay departure for guests arriving late to the port, regardless of whether you made air arrangements through the cruise line or on your own. Insist on getting there a day early.

Don’t Assume That a Higher Category Is Better
While many passengers on Celebrity’s Millennium-class ships have eagerly upgraded to its new Concierge Class staterooms, a number of cruisers have been distressed to find their rooms — located immediately under dining or pool areas — noiser than staterooms on decks that have other cabins above and below. A number of passengers have stated that they would gladly forego the extra amenities associated with Concierge Class for a good night’s sleep

If You Can’t Stand Your Tablemates, Don’t Suffer
It’s the first night, and as you leave the table, you are thinking that jumping overboard might not be so bad if you didn’t have to ever see these people again. Well, there’s no need to apend a cruise suffering in silence. While changing tables was once consider “inappropriate,” you should not go to the Maitre d’ following that first night and request a different table. By some estimates, as many as 20 percent of cruisers now request a table change.

Share/Bookmark

Interesting facts about the animal and plant life. All animals and plants are unique and unrepeatable creation of nature. In the world there are no two similar species of animals, birds or plants. They are all very different from each other. Despite this, they have much in common. For example we can recall how some species of animals are trying to mimic other species. This is especially common among arthropods. In addition to the struggle of each species for their existence can be noted in the types of mutual bolrbe for a place under the sun. Many species enter into a mutually beneficial symbiosis with other species to survive more easily. The third interesting feature of the animal and plant species, of which you can admire more and more is the relationship between plants and animals. Despite the fact that animals and plants as far apart in terms of evolution, the lives of their associated testno. Plants are not only food for the animals, which in principle can be easily explained in terms of evolution, but also the plants are sometimes the animal medicinal plants. Another interesting feature of combining animal and plant life is in the world of molecules. At the molecular level, plants and animals are very similar. Enzymes or enzymes from the English word enzymes almost identical as in plants and animals, even though they are separated by hundreds of millions of years of evolution. On our website we will give a little, or rather try to give the most interesting in our opinion the facts of plant and animal life that show how a huge difference, and the great similarity between different kinds of animals and plants. The site was supported by grant Logistics Cardel . Article Wonders of the living world read 6813 times.

Share/Bookmark

Just a few years back, Hollywood was the only place that was notorious for movie making and the entertainment industry. Multi-stared films were only produced there, and a multi-stared film with item numbers used to create spark and do a very good job at the box office; people were amazed with the techniques that movie creators used in order to bring them a world of fantasy, action or comedy.
Nowadays, however, another famous movie making industry is born, and it has already taken up a lot of Hollywood’s space and sparkle.
Movie makers in Bollywood started using some of the styles and techniques that had only been characteristic to the western movie making industry. Bollywood new movies such as Kambakkht Ishq, Love Aaj Kal, and Blue use many of the techniques Hollywood had become so notorious for; that is why people are starting to like them, and they are searching for these movies.
Many Hollywood stars - actors like Jackie Chan, top models and actresses, musicians and many other famous people are working for Bollywood and the film industry that has developed there. There are many skeptics who say that Bollywood is not as successful as Hollywood; many of the people trying to denigrate the Bollywood movie industry argue that the Bollywood studios only earned half of what a single Hollywood studio earned last year.
However, although it is true that Bollywood does not yet make as much money as Hollywood studios, there is still room for change.
Bollywood is gaining ground fast, and in the next few years the Bollywood studios might become even more famous and successful; Hollywood is enchanted with the Bollywood movie industry, they are charmed with the pictures being made there and they are looking forward to work with Bollywood people.
Collaboration between the two poles of the entertainment business is becoming more and more frequent, as stars and celebrities start shifting from one place to the other and making movies on both sides.
When it comes to debating which of the two is best, the debate can be endless, as both have their bright sides. Hollywood might be well ahead of Bollywood in terms of experience and also in terms of revenue, but the newly emerging industry also has some huge advantages of its own. It has started to use the western style of making movies and of doing business, and it is gaining ground really fast.
At this rate, there’s no telling what will happen in the next few years, as the two mega structures might become associates and start working on movies together. Surely, Bollywood could also teach Hollywood a thing or two about movie making, and its increasing popularity proves that.

Share/Bookmark

Katrina Kaif upcoming movies

One of the beautiful actresses in Hindi film industry Katrina Kaif has started her career as model in London and ten she entered the film industry. Being a British citizen it was easy for her to start her modeling career in London. It is a pride for every model to walk in the ramp of the London fashion week Katrina Kaif was also had this pride because she participated in the London fashion week in her early age itself. Kaizad Gustad is said to be London based filmmaker who had done more number of movies based on London and this let him to discover the beauty from London. He gave Katrina a part in his London based film Boom. Amitabh Bachchan one of the leading actor in Hindi film industry starred the debut film of Katrina but it dint create any impact for the film. She had a very poor comment on the Hindi language and this made the film maker to hesitate to book Katrina as a heroin for their film during her initial stage. So she started concentrating more on modeling than films and then she developed her language. Her number of upcoming movies are the best quote for her success in this industry.

Share/Bookmark

Above is the trailer for Richard Kelly’s new film The Box, which stars Cameron Diaz. Richard Kelly is best know for Donnie Darko and Cameron Diaz is best known for…uh. Hold on a minute I know this one. Ummm…. Shaking her ass? Making people think she’s hot despite the fact she clearly isn’t? Oh whatever I don’t know what Cam…CHARLIE’S ANGELS! She’s best known for Charlie’s Angels. Ha!

Anyway this is the trailer for The Box. In short it is the tale of a struggling couple who receive an interesting proposition. One day a man arrives with a box with has a single button on it and if that button is pressed then the couple will receive a million bucks. But wait there’s more. The only catch is that someone, somewhere that they have never known or met will die. Huh? Got your interest now right?

It is an interesting premise but hasn’t this been done before? Keep in mind that question is rhetorical because I remember this shit. It was an episode of Monsters or the Twilight Zone or something along those lines but I know for certain this has been doe before. I’m just too lazy to Google it. But in the episode (maybe it was Tales from the Darkside? Damn I can’t remember) they push the button get the money and before the guy leaves with the box he tells them that someone, somewhere that they have never known or met will now receive the box. DA DA DUMM…

Slow day headlines
Pretty slow day for movie news today. Unless you are into hardcore midget porn, they had a lot new releases and previews today. Uh…not that I would know anything about that, because I don’t. At all. Ahem.

Moving on.

So since its a slow day just thought I would do a quick breakdown of today’s headlines.

Robin Williams + Bobcat = Dead Son
Robin Williams will star in a film written by Bobcat Goldthwait (I love Bobcat) about a man who has makes his son’s death appear to be a suicide and then becomes a writer. Oh did I mention that his son died of auto-erotic asphyxiation? Should be interesting.

Planet Hulk DVD
Marvel revealed that they would be releasing an animated version of Planet Hulk on DVD. Hey I don’t want to hear it. I know at least one person out there cares about this. Right? Oh come on! At least one! Jeez, anyway check out the trailer below.

Share/Bookmark

I meant to throw this up yesterday but wasn’t really sure if you sexy people would care. However, today I decided that I really don’t care if you care or not.
So above you see the movie poster for Tyler Perry’s latest endeavor I can do bad all by myself. I can appreciate the tagline because it really sums up Perry’s career in my book. He don’t need no stinking help making a piece of crap movie.
But I digress.
The reason I decided to post this (aside from not caring what you think) is because it’s so screwed up once you know the story behind the poster. The concept of the poster is a direct homage/rip off of an old Dustin Hoffman movie called Straw Dogs. The Hoffman film is about a man who seeks revenge after his wife is brutally raped.
Yeah so now you see the oddity. Why on earth would he choose to make his promo poster for a comedy look just like a poster from the 70’s which was about rape? Fact is its Tyler Perry, which means there is no point. Ever. He probably just saw the poster and thought it was “off the hook” or something. I bet under the right circumstances you could convince him that a jar full of spiders is great way to promote a movie.
Ok I’ve rambled on long enough.

Share/Bookmark

George Romero has another “Dead” movie on the way. From CHUDD:
Survival of the Dead is, according to the press release I just got, about a war-weary band of soldiers who are lured to a remote island that promises to be the last paradise on earth, only to discover that even here there is no escape from the appetites of either the living or the dead. If you want to be the first to see it, you best be at the Toronto Film Festival’s Midnight Madness program, as that’s where the film will be premiering
Oh boy I can’t wait! And by “can’t wait” I mean that I can wait. I can wait forever for this crap to hit the screen. You know I just don’t get the whole Romero thing. I just don’t get it. Everyone from slightly overweight special effect wannabes with long hair to skinny androgynous overpaid film critics love Romero.
“Oh man George is the king!” or “Romero masterfully draws subtle yet powerful parallels between our current political environment and circumstances that our unlikely hero must overcome” is the kind of crap these idiots start spewing out of their pie holes every time Romero does anything. It drives me nuts.
Seriously just watch Romero’s Dead movies and tell me they aren’t crap. Take a deep breath and watch it with a clear head, free of ideas or preconceptions and you will realize “Holy Crap! He’s right! They do suck!”
George Romero has been lucky his whole career. End of story.
In a related story I have never written any type of a story and have never tried to direct a movie yet I still cast stones.
I know crazy right?

Share/Bookmark

From January to April 2010, RCI will home-port a ship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Brilliance of the seas will offer seven-night sailings and itineraries for the new cruises from Dubai will be announced soon. The line commits itself to ‘combining distinct onboard amenities with compelling itineraries including the Arabian Gulf’s most popular destinations.’

A spokesman said, ‘We continue to win devotees from throughout the Middle East and are pleased to have exceeded our 2008 sales target for the region, achieving significant growth over last year.’

Share/Bookmark

I have just completed the registration process to attend this years cruise convention in Dover. It will be my first time, but a great opportunity for to get out there and become well know within the cruise community.

The event takes place over 2 days (17th – 19th June 2009) and over 450 agents are expected to attend. Four cruise ships will be in the port which have never been before, Holland America Line’s Prinsendam, Fred Olsen’s Braemar, Crystal Cruises’ Crystal Symphony and Princess Cruises’ Tahitian Princess.

I can’t wait.

The event will enable socruise to do live reports, chat to marketing guys from all the major cruise opperators, take loads of photos for our website, shot some onboard video, network and find out latest trends within the cruise industry.

Then we can’t forget the party in the evening. But can’t be too late to bed, this year there is more of a business approach with sessions looking at specific sectors of the cruise industry as well as the main conference sessions.

Share/Bookmark

Luxurious spa with a fully equipped gym and beauty treatments
Outdoor jogging track
Award-winning Camp Carnival program for kids
Elegant dining in the Truffles Restaurant
Spectacular Vegas-style productions
12 bars and lounges throughout the ship
Club Merlin Casino
Three swimming pools and one kids’ pool
Intimate Nouveau Supper Club
80% of staterooms offer oceanviews
Built for speed, Carnival Legend travels fast enough that it can offer eight-night itineraries on sailings that would usually require 10 nights. Onboard, 80 percent of its staterooms have magnificent ocean views; and of those, 80 percent have balconies. A luxurious spa, exciting casino, and 12 bars and lounges are among the ship’s many highlights.

Wake up to a new day with an energizing workout in the state-of-the-art gym. Or go for an invigorating run on the outdoor jogging track. Ask the ship’s personal trainers to plan an exercise program for you. Or skip the workout and hit the deck. With acres of teak deck space, you’ll find the ideal spot to enjoy the fresh sea air and soothing sunshine. You can also relax in the spa with a massage, steam, or beauty treatment. And kids are sure to love the fun atmosphere of the award-winning Camp Carnival program.

After a full day of fun, enjoy an elegant meal in the Empire Restaurant or relax with casual dinner in La Playa Grille. You many even want to celebrate a special night out in the intimate Nouveau Supper Club. As part of the spa program, the ship also offers dishes that are low in calories, fat, sodium, and cholesterol.

For nighttime entertainment, Carnival Legend brings a bit of Vegas to the sea–catch a spectacular show in Pharaoh’s Palace. Or visit the 12 bars and lounges throughout the ship, including the sing-along Shanghai Piano Bar, the jazzy Club Cool, and the sports fan’s favorite, the Champion’s Bar. Feeling lucky? You might win big at the ship’s casino, one of the largest at sea. Dancers will love the appropriately named club Dancin’, where music plays into the wee hours.
Carnival is increasingly experimenting with dining venues on its ships. The revamp, which falls under the umbrella “Total Choice Dining,” includes a four-tiered staggered dining time arrangement in select ships’ main restaurants — passengers can choose 5:45 p.m., 6:15 p.m., 8 p.m. or 8:30 p.m.

Beyond traditional dining, Carnival is gradually introducing specialty eateries, such as an Asian-themed restaurant, a New York-style deli and a pre-dinner sushi bar. Spirit and Conquest-class ships have an upscale “supper club” alternative restaurant (cover charge applies). Other new concepts include a patisserie.

In the spa arena, Carnival has renamed its Nautica Spa. The new moniker, adopted fleetwide, is SpaCarnival. Other highlights include Internet cafes and the recent introduction of in-cabin amenity baskets.

Editor’s note: The additions vary wildly between vessels with the newer, bigger liners having the more sophisticated accouterments for the most part. Despite much uniformity, this is definitely one cruise line where ship-by-ship research is a good idea if there are particular features that interest you.

Passengers are a broad crisscross of (mostly) middle America; according to Carnival, 30 percent of its passengers are under 35, 40 percent are between 35 and 55, and 30 percent are over 55.

Share/Bookmark

If you are not spending the majority of your life cruising or thinking about cruising, there are likely a number of little things — that perhaps never occurred to you — which can make a major difference in your cruise experience.
First Cruise Tips plans to try to collect these and share them with our fellow cruisers under the heading: Cruise Tips and Traps.

These are for the most part little things — things that may seem obvious now that simply never previously occurred to you — that we intend to bring to your attention in the hopes that they may enhance your cruise experience.

We also invite our readers to submit their own favorite tips (or traps) so we can all share the best of them. We will have a prize (to be determined) at the end of the year for the cruiser (or cruisers) with the most useful hints. Please click on tbe link at the bottom of the page to submit your favorites.

First Cruise Tips’s Tips
School Calendar Is Important If You Don’t Have Kids
Why do cruises tend to be more expensive in June? Because school is out for the summer, and families with kids are ready to set sail. But the weather in many areas tends to be similar in either May or September, and the cruises tend to be better values. You will also want to be mindful of the winter and spring school breaks, which also are peak periods — read higher-fare periods — for the cruise lines.

Last Minute Deals May Not Be a Bargain
A number of cruise agencies are now offering what at first blush are extremely attractive last-minute deals. But they may not turn out to be such bargains if you need airfare. Frequently, the airfares obtained by the cruise line for passengers booking earlier are no longer available. So while you may be able to get a cruise-only price that is a bargain indeed, when you add on the last-minute airfare, the total package me be quite expensive.

Worried About Seasickness? Bigger Is Better
While there are a lot of remedies on the market today designed to prevent or minimize seasickness, there is one very simple way of enhancing your chances of having a mal de mer- free cruise. Book your trip on one of the newer larger, heavier ships. Ships weighing 50,000 tons or more generally provide more stability than smaller ships, and the newer megaliners ranging up to 140,000 tons are better yet. While even the largest ship is going to be moving about in a st orm, this is one case where the generality holds true: bigger is better.

Share/Bookmark

The cruise agencies listed on this page are either ones we personally use, or agencies that have established a good reputation among cruisers for providing value and/or service.
Those with display banners have paid an advertising fee, but no agency gets listed on this page simply by virtue of buying an advertisement. Agencies that we believe provide good value can have a text listing and pay nothing.
Agencies that we conclude are not providing good value and/or service — or which are the subject of repeated or consistent complaints from our readers — will be removed from our listings. Your comments are strongly invited.
Let us also reiterate that we are not travel agents, and make absolutely NO money from your use of any of these agencies to make a booking. And just as we get no credit for your booking with any of these agencies, by the same token, we can accept no responsibility for your decision to book a cruise with any of those listed below.

Some Cruise Agencies for You to Consider

The Cruise Web — www.cruiseweb.com — 1-800-377-9383
CruiseQuick.com — www.cruisequick.com — no phone calls
CruiseDirect – www.cruisedirect.com — 1-888-407-2784

Share/Bookmark

For those who have heard raves or complaints about cruise ships by name, but are not sure what family they belong to, this alphabetical listing will help you identify the cruise ship with the parent cruise line. Simply click on the name of the ship to go directly to the relevant Cruise Line guide..

Share/Bookmark

Documents looks at the paperwork increasingly associated with cruising. In the post 9/11 era, most cruise lines now require that you fill out questionnaires well in advance. And while some Caribbean islands are still pretty casual about travel documents, a valid passport is always a good idea — and in some areas, you want to be aware of visa requirements.

Dress Codes looks at what attire is expected of you aboard ship. While some cruise lines are very casual, others are quite dressy — particularly on formal nights.

Frequent Questions is an archive of answers to the most often asked questions that we hear from first-time cruisers.
Getting to the Ship looks at the choices you have in getting from home to the port of embarkation. While an increasing number of new cruise ports are making it possible for more people to get to the ship by car, most still have to get to-and-from their cruise by air. Should you let the cruise line make air arrangments for you, or are you better off booking the air yourself?

Insurance Choices looks at the question of whether you should buy trip cancellation insurance, and explores the several varieties available. An important add-on may also be insurance that covers medical expenses while on your cruise.

Packing Decisions is an effort to help you find that magic point between not having things that you need, and packing way too much. We look at some of the things that you do not need, as well as some of the things that many cruisers forget.

Preventing Seasickness addresses a couple of the different approaches to dealing with that ancient scourge, seasickness. While there is far less motion on today’s megaliners, a rough sea can still have you wishing you had thought about this in advance.

Shipboard Expenditures acquaints you with the fact that the price you pay for a cruise increasingly is not the total cost of your cruise experience. Extra charges for alternative restaurants, spa classes, and even that Diet Coke can add up to a tidy bill under your door at cruise’s end. We look at some of these extras.

Shore Excursion Choices looks at what is a highpoint for many cruisers: the sightseeing trips during visits to exotic ports. But while many great options are offered by the cruise lines, many cruisers prefer to make shore arrangements on their own. We look at the pros and cons.

Shopping Choices looks at both the shipboard and port shopping possibilities, which can provide opportunities for bargains — and not-so-great bargains — for cruise ship passengers.

Tipping addresses a subject that many cruisers have found both confusing and a source of frustration. We provide you with some hints designed to make this a more satisfying experience.

Upgrade Strategies focuses on the No. 1 question asked by many veteran cruisers: How can you get upgraded to a better cabin? While there is no magic answer, a variety of approaches exist to improving your accommodations — if you are lucky.

Share/Bookmark

With new cruise ships debuting at a rate of one a month, each boasting that it is better than all predecessors, the big challenge for a person thinking about a first cruise is where to start. Like everything else about cruising, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. But one logical point of departure might be to focus on who is going, and how much you are willing to spend. If you are a family with young children, and are operating on a tight budget, the choices you want to consider are very different than if you are a couple in your 50s looking for a high-end cruise.

In our section Cruise Ship Choices, we try to help you narrow down the field to the cruise lines and ships that may be best suited to your family situation and your cruise budget. We then try to walk you through many of the other choices you will face in the following sections:
Booking: How Far Ahead? In the old days of cruising, people generally got the cabin they wanted at the best possible price by booking well in advance. But today, some cruisers get tremendous deals in the days immediately prior to departure. This section looks at the pros and cons of each approach.

Cruise Travel Agency or Cruise Line looks at whether you are better off booking directly with the cruise line, or using a cruise travel agency. And if your choice is to use an agency, should it be one of the Internet agencies, or a local agency where you can sit down and plan your trip with an experienced travel agent.

Destination Choices looks at the decision as to where you will go on your first cruise. Some recommend that new cruisers start by deciding where they want to go, while others view the choice of a ship as more important. And to some extent, your destination choice will be determined by where you live, and how long you have for your trip.

Cabin Choices looks at the question of what kind of accommodations you should choose for your time at sea. While some cruisers want the least expensive inside cabin, planning to spend very little time in their room, others prefer a larger cabin, or one of the many cabins on the large, newer ships that offer private balconies.

Dining Choices focuses on the increasing number of decisions you will have about where and what you will eat. In the old days, the choice was pretty much limited to early or late dinner seating. But today, many cruise lines offer a much wider variety of dining options — including new specialty restaurants that carry with them an additional charge.

Share/Bookmark

Celebrity Cruises is an upscale cruise line offering very good food, highly attentive service, and elegant surroundings without being pretentious or glitzy. It has introduced a variety of features not found on most larger ships, including spa cuisine and most recently accupuncture at sea. Its new Millennium class ships have for the past couple of years dominated the World’s Best Ships survey of Conde Nast Traveler, and the slightly older and slightly smaller Century Class ships also get highly favorable reviews. Even the first generation Horizon class ships have their fans, and these frequently provide cruisers an opportunity to sail on an upmarket ship at an amazingly attractive price.

Share/Bookmark