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Cruise Tips – 8 Ways to Save Money and Enjoy Your Cruise By Peter Shannon

Here are a few cruise tips to help you plan, save money and enjoy your cruise vacation.

Schedule your cruise during the off-season. This is a simple but very excellent way to save a bundle on your cruise vacation. Cruise lines are like any other travel related business. They have seasonal ups and downs. During the peak cruise season cruise lines charge more. Why? Because they can.

During the slow season the prices drop because there are fewer customers and the cruise lines need to fill the ship to stay profitable. This is basic demand vs. supply economics and you can take advantage of it.

The cost of the cruise itself is only part of your cruise vacation budget. Most travelers will have to fly to the port city where the cruise departs. Don’t assume that you have to pay for this. It is not unusual for a cruise line to offer packages that include airfare.

As you research and plan your cruise, keep an eye out for these airfare-included deals. If you don’t see anything right away, don’t be afraid to ask. You never know what great deals may be available once to dig a little deeper.
Seasickness is a common problem for many people who want to cruise. Did you know that your choice of cabin can actually help with this? The fact is that the rolling up and down ocean movements are much less in the middle of the ship compared with the front and back of the ship. Most people, especially newcomers to cruising, are not aware of this. By selecting a cabin closer to the middle, you can reduce the sea movements that cause seasickness and have a much more enjoyable cruise experience.

Shore excursions are a popular and fun part of cruising. But often these excursions have a limited number of participants. Don’t wait to the last minute, assuming that you will be able to just join in on any shore excursion that interests you. Plan ahead. Find out what excursions are planned and sign up as early as possible so you don’t get left out.

If you are trying to save money, ask during your planning stage about available shore excursions. Many cruise lines offer complimentary shore excursions as part of the cruise package. This can be a great money saver. Always ask about the shore excursion pricing. Don’t assume an advertised excursion is included with your trip.

If you are planning a family cruise, you can really help make the experience the best for everyone by choosing a good family friendly cruise line. Some are better than others when it comes to catering to families. You need to ask. – Caribbean Cruise Line

Many cruise lines have a host of activities geared for kids and a staff dedicated to keeping the kids happy. Other things like kid’s pools, clubs and kid-friendly shore excursions are offered by some cruise lines. On-board strollers and cribs can help make it easier to cruise with a family.

One of the choices you have when choosing a cruise is the size of the cruise line and the ship. With the larger ships you will probably be going to the more popular, well known ports. You will typically have a large and varied selection of fun things to do on-board.

On the other hand, choosing a smaller ship can result in a more slow-paced intimate experience. A smaller cruise ship will be more likely to take you to lesser known, less traveled ports. It all depends on the cruise experience you are looking for. Select the trip that suites your taste.

For some people, cruising is just about general relaxing and sightseeing. But maybe you want more. How about a cruise that combines the pleasure of getting out on the ocean while also focusing on something that you are passionate about?

Many cruise lines offer theme cruises. Maybe you enjoy, or want to learn about gourmet cooking. Maybe you are really into scrapbooking. You can find lots of specialized cruises where you can indulge in your own interests with other people who share your passion. From poker to mahjong, or singles to life healing and yoga, there’s a theme cruise waiting for you.

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Sri Lanka 2010 ( travel report ) www.srilanka.travel www.defence.lk This is a very clear summary of some of the attractions that can be found in Sri Lanka. Everything is touched on from the economy and exports to tourism and culture. Sri Lanka has some amazing sights and with this kind of video the world will be able to see it all. www.nytimes.com

Esfahan. The most beautiful city in Iran, perhaps even the most beautiful city in the world. We were here for three days and we still have the idea we have only seen a few of the sights of this marvelous city. At our first day, we started with a visit of the Friday Mosque. This mosque is like a museum of Islamic Architecture over a thousand years. From the coming of Islam to Iran, every dynasty has added new constructions to the mosque, without destroying the older things. The oldest part was originally a Zoroastrian fire temple.

Some people say the Friday Mosque is the most interesting building in all of Iran. Yes, the Imam Mosque is more beautiful, but this combination of different styles of architecture makes it unique in the world. We made enough photographs to give this mosque its own page, but we decided to keep it down to two pictures on this page.

Our first day in Esfahan was a Friday. On this day of the week, most of the sights of Esfahan are closed, except (curiously enough) the Friday Mosque, the Shaky Minarets where it was too crowded to enjoy the shaking, the Zoroastrian fire temple, the Christian churches in the Jolfa district and the bridges across the river. 

So, this enumeration of open-things-on-a-friday describes about what we saw the first day.

There are about 13 churches in Esfahan’s Jolfa district. This district is where many Christians, most of them Armenians, live. The most famous church is the Vank Cathedral, which is not only a church but also a museum. Anyway, the Vank was closed after all, so we went to see another one called the Miriam-church.

Before the Arabs invaded Iran, there were many fire temples in Esfahan. The Arabs destroyed them all, except this one on top of a hill. We can’t claim the Arabs were wrong, it is a quite a climb. We can imagine that after you have climbed this hill, you won’t have any energy left to destroy things.

Esfahan has many bridges across the Zayandeh river. This Zayandeh is a very strange river. It originates from a spring in the Zagros mountains, then runs for 400 km through the Esfahan province and finally disappears into the ground of the Dasht-é Kavir desert.

The best known bridge of Esfahan is the Khaju bridge. It has two levels of terraces overlooking the water. On a Friday evening, the bridge is crowded with young Esfahani’s having fun.

Mount Nebo is the mountain where Moses was allowed to see the Holy Land… and died. Nowadays the mountain is a memorial site. Here is the “Church of Moses”, built by the first Christians. Ever since the first days of Christianity this mountain has been a holy place and a destination for pilgrimage.

This stone says “Mount Nebo Siyagha. Memorial of Moses. Christian Holy Place.” 

Like Moses, you can have a great view over Jordan, the Dead Sea and Israel. When the weather is clear, you should even be able to see Jerusalem, which is about 60 kilometers away. Unfortunately, there were some clouds when we were there, but the view of Jordan was great. For the best chances of a great view, come early in the morning or late in the evening.

In the nearby town Madaba, there is a mosaic map of the Holy Land and lots of other mosaics.

This particular mosaic can be found in the Greek Orthodox Church in the city center. Information about more mosaics in this area can be obtained in the Madaba museum.

In the Bible
Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the Lord showed him the whole land…. Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendents.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.”

And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said. He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day on one knows where his grave is. –Deuteronomy 34:1-6

Why is the Dead Sea so Salty?

We talked about how the surface of the Sea got down so low in elevation, but why is it so salty? All roads lead to the Sea when it comes to the rivers in the area. The Dead Sea is continually fed water from the rivers and streams coming down off the mountains that surround it. But the kicker is this….no rivers drain out of the Dead Sea. The only way water gets out of the Sea is through evaporation. And boy does it evaporate! This part of the world get plenty hot. When the water evaporates, it leaves behind all the dissolved minerals in the Sea, just making it saltier. In fact, it’s through the dual action of; 1) continuing evaporation and 2) minerals salts carried into the Sea from the local rivers, that makes the Sea so salty. The fact that the water doesn’t escape the Sea just traps the salts within its shores.

Near the Dead Sea is the Spa resort town Hammamat Ma’in. You enter this resort through the Ma’in Gate. We also saw a building called Ma’intenance.

This waterfall is a popular place, but beware: this water is HOT.

dead sea is most spectacular natural and spiritual landscapes in the world, the Jordanian east coast of the Dead Sea has evolved into a major hub of both religious and health & wellness tourism in the region. A series of good roads, excellent hotels with spa and fitness facilities, as well as archaeological and spiritual discoveries make this region as enticing to today’s international visitors as it was to kings, emperors, traders, prophets and pilgrims in antiquity.

The bazaar of Kashan is one of the most beautiful in Iran. It has many other interesting buildings inside it, like mosques, caravanserais, water storages and of course the fantastic mill you see on the picture above. The miller, when he’s not working, is standing in the streets of the bazaar, getting tourists’ attention for his mill (and a few rials).

The Borujerdis Old House is a 19th century merchant house. The building itself is a masterpiece and so are the paintings inside by the famous Iranian painter Kamal ol-Molk. The house is famous for its bad-girs, towers designed to lead the high winds to streetlevel, thus keeping the temperature low: very useful in the hot desert.

We mentioned the rosewater before. The famous rosefields of Qamsar are near to Kashan, so you’ll see rosewater stalls everywhere. This is one of the stalls, just outside of the Fin gardens. Rosewater is used in a lot of Iranian desserts, but the spaghetti-like ice cream is our favorite.

We asked this man if his name was Lulletje, but very predictable he didn’t understand this Dutch joke. It doesn’t translate very good in English and we didn’t even try it in Farsi.

The Shahzadeh shrine is maybe the only Islamic building in Iran with a pointy roof instead of a dome.

The Fin gardens are one of the highlights of Kashan. This garden, with pools and fountains among fruit trees, has a wonderful lazy atmosphere. The fountains get their water from a natural spring. After flowing through the gardens, the water is used as drinkingwater.

Kashan’s architectural sights include:

Agha Bozorg Mosque.
Boroujerdi ha Residence.
Tabatabaie Residence
Ameri-Ha (Amerian) House
Abbasian House
Sharifian House
Al-e-Yaseen House
Sultan Amir shrine and bath
40 Dokhtaran Fortress
Pirouz Nahavandi/Abu-Lu’lu’ah Shrine (the assassin of Islam’s second Caliph)
Fin Garden
Sialk ziggurat
Ghal’eh jalali
Kashan Bazaar
Timcheh Amin-o-dowleh

 Jerash the Romans (strange guys) had a great time. The Roman excavations are of about the same size as the modern part of the town. It is really amazing to see so MANY columns. You can imagine Jerash is sometimes called the Pompeii of the East.

Probably because of its location (only 40 kms from Amman), Jerash has even more visitors than Petra.

Besides columns, there are also two amfitheatres and a couple of temples (with columns, of course).

The Roman famous for the wall between England and Scotland, Hadrian, has built an arch here, called the Hadrian Arch. To see the Arch, you’ll have to go to Jordan yourself, because we didn’t include this picture.

This fascinating city makes a great day-trip from Amman, particularly in spring, when the wildflowers are in bloom. The drive will take you less than an hour, but will transport you 2000 years back in time.

Within the remaining city walls, archeologists have found the ruins of settlements dating back to the Neolithic Age, indicating human occupation of this location for more than 6500 years. This is not surprising, as the area is ideally suited for human habitation. Jerash has a year-round supply of water, while its altitude of 500 meters gives it a temperate climate and excellent visibility over the surrounding low-lying areas.

The history of Jerash is a blend of the Greco-Roman world of the Mediterranean basin and the ancient traditions of the Arab Orient. Indeed, the name of the city itself reflects this interaction. The earliest Arabic/Semitic inhabitants named their village Garshu. The Romans later Hellenised the former Arabic name into Gerasa, and at the end of the 19th century, the Arab and Circassian inhabitants of the small rural settlement transformed the Roman Gerasa into the Arabic Jerash

Sea, sand and sun. Water sports, diving, and desert fun. Warm, crystal blue water throughout the year.

Luxury five-star hotels, nature campsites: you will find it all here. Aqaba is an experience for old and young. Aqaba is the place to be if you like diving. The coral reefs of the Red Sea are famous for their beauty. These pictures of Red Sea Fish however are taken in the Marine Aquarium, which is much easier: you don’t have to buy an expensive underwater camera and … the fish don’t swim away just at the moment you want to take a picture. An employee of the Aquarium told us he thinks the coral reefs are even more beautiful then Petra or Wadi Rum.

But there is more to see. Near the tourist information office you can find this castle. Just around the corner is the city museum.

we at Iran Tour Even if you’re diving in Aqaba and don’t want to see the rest of Jordan (which we can’t imagine), a thing you must see is the beginning of the Desert Highway to Amman. Here you can see lots of burnt-out trucks. The road from Amman to Aqaba is extremely boring, except the last few kilometers. Go and see for yourself.

Whilst visiting Aqaba make your first stop at the Aqaba Tourist Information Centre (TIC) situated at the southern part of Al-Hammamat Al-Tunisyya Street in the centre of town.

Without having to go all around to discover what experiences are available in Aqaba and the surrounding areas, our knowledgeable, friendly and welcoming team are on hand to ensure that you get the most of your visit and is able to deal with any enquiries you may have

Lemesos (the Greek name for Limassol) is a rather nice city – when you don’t count the tourist area to the east. There the hotels, bars and restaurants stretch for about 15 kilometers along the coast. The centre of Lemesos consists of a small harbor with a medieval castle, a mosque, two churches, and of course some shops and restaurants. In the background the Troödos-mountains can be seen.

Usually you find tunnels like those in the cellar. The Cypriots do things different: this one is built on the roof of the castle. The castle looks just the same as the ones in Larnaka and Pafos. They even have the same photo-exhibition.

Amathunda

Amathunda was a city-kingdom, which flourished until Richard Lionheart stopped by at his trips to Jerusalem. There was an argument of some kind, and Richard didn’t stop until he had destroyed every column

Archaeologists have been working here, and they found a remarkable amount of water pipes, for the transport of water to the thermae, and to bring wastewater and rainwater outside the city.

Governors Beach limissol

Not far from Lemesos you can find Governors Beach. The original name is almost forgotten since the British governor went bathing here. It is a place with remarkable white rocks and a pebble beach.

Governor’s Beach is located midway between Larnaca and Limassol and its sandy beach and shallow crystal water it’s ideal for families with children, but also for romantic couples.

Governor’s Beach also offers the spectacular white rocks area for those who like snorkeling, boating, fishing…or have a nice walk in one of the many nature trails on the hills near by, or on the beach watching a beautiful sunrise. There is a grate selection of nice Cyprus restaurants, where you can enjoy your lunch or dinner sitting under the trees… just a few meters away from the crystal water of the Mediterranean Sea.

If you’re thinking of a booking a stres free vacation, Spain would be my first choice. Where in Spain? I’d choose Marbella. Marbella is the ideal place to escape too, miles away from the daily grind of this hectic world we live in.

We are just human, we need a little space and to take time to relax from our busy and hectic work schedules. We’re human, all unique, and one person’s idea of a vacation may be different from the next. Some prefer hustle and bustle over nature and beauty.

Others are into their sports and are more adventurous. Marbella is one of the most luxurious places in Spain.Home to celebs, high-class businessman and multi-millionaires alike.

It’s a great place for nature lovers, and is widely known for its many scenic wonders. If you’re in a hotel you’ll be best placed to enjoy the best of your trip to Marbella.

All of the hotels in Marbella are strategically placed, either in the heart of the city or on the coast. Whereever you stay in Marbella, the views are simply breathtaking.

It’s an expensive place to visit, but you can also get around quite easily on a tighter budget. But there are a wide range of Marbella hotels and lodging houses to fit each visitor’s budgeting needs.

Those looking for at the 5 star luxury hotels will obviously need to have a higher budget than those looking for cheaper options, but the quality of the 5 star resorts is second to none. Golfers will also find themselves in paradise in Marbella – one of the best golf resorts in the Rio real Golf Hotel

They have 40 golf vicinities to choose from for their guests and visitors.Those on a tighter budget can find excellent value Marbella hotels located in the old town area.

Loaded with the basis necessities, you will have access to a nice room, a bath. the room are close to a range of great bars for drinking in too.The hotels obviosuly provide the best standard of living though, as well as an increased level of customer service.

You’ll remember your trip to marbella forever if you choose to stay in one of the many excellent hotels.