family cruise vacation ideas

Cruising Along the Endless South American Pacific Coast

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: american, coast, cruising, endless, pacific, south — libertees @ 1:08 pm December 28, 2011

With an area of 6,890,000 square miles and bordered by the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and the Caribbean Sea, the South American coastline seems almost endless. As the continent is composed of over a dozen unique countries all offering exotic climate, terrain, and cultures, South America is an attractive cruising destination. From dry deserts to tropical rain forests to even cold mountainous air originating from the Andes, South American climate is not constant everywhere. Cruising along the Pacific coastline introduces a sailor to attractive port cities in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Chile.

After leaving behind the adventures of the Caribbean and carefully navigating your boat compass southwards, the first popular sailing destination is Colombia. Considered to be one of the most attractive cities in South America, the coastal city of Cartagena de Indias welcomes many vacationing sailors each year. This colonial city is rich with history, architecture, and shopping opportunities. Its climate is constant with warm and humid temperatures. The city also offers opportunities to visit parks and enjoy ecological trips, engage in water sports, and explore the exciting night life. With plenty of museums, walking tours, and other attractions available, sailors and their families will always find entertainment in Cartagena de Indias.

Sailing just southwest of Colombia brings one to the Ecuadorian coast which reaches from the Andes to the Pacific. Although smaller in size, Ecuador possesses diversity in climate and in its current renewal process. This diversity is illustrated in the city of Guayaquil which lies on the western bank of the Guayas River. Almost 3 million people reside in Guayaquil where the it is also home to the largest shipping port on the Pacific Coast of the continent. Offering hot and humid temperatures throughout the year, Guayaquil is very much similar to Cartagena in its climate. In an attempt to restore the city from past fires, Guayaquil is going through gradual renovation that aims to supply various opportunities for tourists to enjoy themselves. However, history is still preserved in the colonial district of “Las Peñas”, in its various museums, and in the botanical gardens. While it continues it rejuvenation, Guayaquil will be a fascinating new destination to dock at in the coming years.

About 150 miles from Peru’s capital of Lima, lies Paracas also known as “The Galapagos of Peru”. This sailing destination is made up of 700,000 acres of rugged shoreline, desert, and mountains. Paracas is the epitome of an eclectic vacation spot as it offers all different attractions including wildlife, spas, and museums documenting Pre-Incan history. For those sailors with a soft spot for animals, National Reserve is a must-see as it houses several various types of wildlife such as sea lions, birds, and much more. Another attraction is the Spa of Paracas for those sailors looking for relaxation; this spa is just a few miles from the main city. With numerous unique activities to engage in, Paracas is one sailing destination no sailor should miss out on.

Closing in on the Pacific Coast of South America is Chile with almost 2,700 miles of coastline. The country’s climate and temperatures greatly varies depending on the particular location since Chile spans across 2,700 miles. With this said, the country’s climate is diverse with desert, subtropical, and tundra conditions so it is best to dress appropriately with Harken apparel. Before sailing to off to Patagonia or Cape Horn, sailors also dock at Puerto Montt, a port city in southern Chile. The city also acts as a transport center to Lake District and the island of Chiloé. Like the others, the city of Puerto Montt has a wide selection of attractions including national parks, museums, and day trips to islands. Sailors choose this city to dock at because of it entertainment and its proximity to other islands such as Cape Horn.

The Pacific Coast of South America offers the best sailing vacation destinations in Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and Chile. Marked with rich and exotic history, architecture, recreational activities, shopping, and food, sailors and their families can fully enjoy their vacation with these South American cities.

http://www.completesailor.com/

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/cruising-articles/cruising-along-the-endless-south-american-pacific-coast-1556621.html

Cruise ships in Sydney – Pacific Jewel

Filed under: cruise — Tags: cruise, jewel, pacific, sydney — libertees @ 5:02 pm August 12, 2010


Saturday 12 December 2009 at Circular Quay prior to:- it’s departure on Sunday on maiden voyage – Sydney/Melbourne/Burnie/Sydney; and the traditional naming ceremony being conducted by the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia at 5pm, Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC.

Car Rental Tips-Best Places To Drive Your Rental Car In Anaheim

Angel Stadium of Anaheim as seen during a baseball game between the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Colorado Rockies.

Anaheim is located in the state of California, it is a beautiful and gorgeous place. From palm trees to clear skies, there is plenty to see and do. If you are flying to Anaheim, your rental car awaits your arrival at the airport. While driving to your destination in Anaheim, you will be glad you have a rental car. The Pacific coastline is absolutely gorgeous. The sights are truly amazing. Endless ocean, beautiful beaches and cliffs, truly magnificent and stunning. From fine dining to a casual place to eat, the choices are plentiful. Anaheim also has, 42 miles of beautiful coastline beaches, which makes for a very pleasant and amazing drive. While driving the coastline, you may decide to pull over and park at one of the many beaches, so you can take a picture or enjoy all the breath taking scenery. From upscale shopping to souvenir shops, there are plenty of  choices to choose from.

While driving in Anaheim, Disney Land is a wonderful place to visit. With two parks, Disney Land and California Adventure, which are right next to each other. This is one of the funnest attractions in Anaheim. Downtown is located in the same area and offers an array of restauants, clubs and shops.If you like sports, The Angel Stadium of Anaheim is a great place to catch a baseball game or festival.If you are seeking a night of culture and enjoy the arts, the Anaheim Ballet is very enjoyable.The Flightdeck Air Combat Center has flight simulation that offers the opportunity to experience what it is like to be a pilot and fly a fighter jet.

If your destination is Anaheim a rental car is a must. This will enable you to see beautiful California at its best.When you are looking to rent a car in California, Car Rental Giant has over 500 suppliers in 22,000 locations worldwide. Rental cars are available in Los Angeles, LAX, Anaheim, San Diego, San Jose and San Fransisco, just to name a few California locations. Car Rental Giant offers car rental deals, discount car rentals and specials at great low rates. Having a rental car is a very important part of enjoying all the sights and attractions that are available to you while enjoying your vacation. Having your own transportation can make all the difference in having the freedom and flexibility of planning the perfect trip. From luxury rental cars to multi-passenger rental cars, there is something to suit every customers needs.  Visit us at www.CarRentalGiant.com

Cruises: the Best Vacations

We lead hectic lives. Our work demands that we put in as many hours as we can to produce as much as possible. Our families and friends require attention and care as well. This leaves little time for rest and relaxation, which could be just a quiet weekend at home watching TV and sleeping. Rarely do we have the luxury of a true vacation, mainly because of the time and money involved. Fortunately, we have travel deals being offered on the Internet. For your vacations, we recommend cruise travel. You get triple value for your money and the restful combination of sun and sea on a cruise ship, the exciting exploration of the cities in your ports-of-call, and the modern conveniences to ensure maximum comfort and safety during your journey. Indeed, cruises are the best vacations you can take.

DiscountCruiseDeals is an online travel company that offers cruise deals of all kinds to fit your needs, preferences, and budget. It works with first-class cruise lines. DiscountCruiseDeals makes it convenient for online shoppers to choose from a wide array of cruise deals, without the hassle of driving to a travel agent’s office. Their Cruise Express Search allows you to choose the best combination pertaining to your planned destination, preferred cruise line, estimated departure date, and length of time for your intended vacation. DiscountCruiseDeals offers their own discounts, special discounts for certain U.S. state residents, senior citizens discounts, group discounts, seasonal discounts and the DiscountCruiseDeals Cash Reward Program.

The destinations offered range from A to Z, literally. You can go to Asia and Africa, the Bahamas and Bermuda, the Caribbean and Canada, to Europe, to Mexico and even take the Cruise to Nowhere. If you are intrepid and adventurous, DiscountCruiseDeals can arrange for your cruises to all the world’s continents, with the exception of Antarctica. But who knows, there might just be one coming! If your ideal vacation is sun, sun, sun, they can arrange a cruise to the Mediterranean or the Caribbean; if it is a view of the majestic mountains and lush forests, they can book you on an Alaskan cruise; if the Old World excites you, then a European cruise is for you; if you want to discover the United States, a tour to the Pacific coast can be yours to take. Indeed, your ideal vacation can be spent in Australia or in New Zealand, and DiscountCruiseDeals can help you achieve it. They have a veritable alphabet of exotic locations to choose from.

You can choose from 17 cruise lines with state-of-the-art cruise ships. You are assured of the utmost comfort and safety from the interior rooms to the luxury suites, from the private areas to the public lounges. The cruise ship offers the luxury of a modern five star hotel and its professional staff. In fact, depending on your available time and budget, you can choose from short cruises which take 1-2 days, or extended cruises for up to 30 days.

Your best cruise vacation can happen with DiscountCruiseDeals. Visit their website and take that first step on your cruise travel.

Discount Cruises to Exotic Locations

Filed under: cruise — Tags: Across, advance, air, airfare, alaska, alaskan, allow, amazing, amp, ancient, art, ask, australia, available, beach, beaches, beautiful, become, best, better, big, board, book, booking, Border, brisbane, but, cabin, call, car, caribbean, cities, coast, come, copenhagen, countries, cruise, cruises, cruising, culture, da, day, days, deal, deals, destination, destinations, different, direct, discount, discounts, discussing, Dollar, down, during, early, Eastern, eco, enjoy, europe, european, eve, Exotic, expect, experience, experiences, fall, famous, fare, find, finding, four, free, further, going, great, has, head, Help, here, history, hopping, ice, inc, Include, inclusive, Industry, island, italy, Just, la, land, las, last, le, leave, Leisure, Less, life, lifetime, light, like, line, lines, list, live, locations, long, low, many, may, Mediterranean, memorable, might, minute, multiple, my, nation, new, night, north, Northern, Norwegian, not, Number, ny, offer, offers, old, online, only, Order, others, pa, pacific, pack, package, part, pass, passage, person, plan, popular, Port, ports, Possible, Price, red, rent, Rhine, rhodes, rica, rise, river, royal, san, sand, sea, seas, season, see, Sell, seven, ship, Shop, shopping, sight, sights, site, sites, Size, ski, south, special, Specific, Star, Start, step, stops, story, style, Suit, suite, sure, surprises, sydney, ten, thing, through, time, tip, tips, top, tour, tours, town, travel, traveling, trip, turkey, two, up, usa, vacation, vacationers, vacationing, vacations, visit, visits, Want, war, way, ways, website, Well, where, while, will, world, write, year — libertees @ 5:00 pm June 17, 2010

Vacation cruises have become one of the most popular of the “destination” vacations available. While some people are content to step on board a cruise ship and never leave it for the entire length of their vacation, others enjoy cruising to exotic locations where the cruise is only part of the appeal. The best cruises this year include discount cruises to a number of locations that you might not expect to see on a list of cruise destinations.

Cruise the Mediterranean

Mediterranean cruises have always been popular, but this year’s best discount cruises in the Mediterranean include even more surprises. Imagine a ten night cruise that visits seven cities and includes two beautiful days at sea for just over one thousand dollars per person. Eastern European cruises are priced to buy this year with visits to cities such Mykonos, Kusadesi and Rhodes on the itinerary. The Eastern Mediterranean has always been popular featuring ports of call from Italy to Turkey, and stops at ancient ruins and beautiful beaches. An Eastern Mediterranean cruise offers a wide variety of cruise experiences at discount prices.

European River Cruises

Not all cruises to exotic destinations are on the open sea. Europe is famous for its inland waterways, and river tours are among the most popular European cruises. A Rhine River cruise has long been a European rite of passage, but not all that well-known on the other side of the Atlantic. Cruises along the Rhine offer vacationers a one-stop tour of many European countries, with beautiful views, leisurely days and stops at cities such as Strasbourg, Copenhagen and Cologne.

Northern European Cruises

Cruising through the northern waters may not seem like the vacation of a lifetime, but a Northern European cruise is an extremely memorable trip. Visit Helsinki, Copenhagen, Oslo and other Northern European capitals as you take in the remarkable culture and history. One of the most beautiful sights on a Northern European tour is the northern lights and the stunning scenery. If you book your trip early online, you can get multiple discounts and special perks on Norwegian cruises, including free airfare from several regional cities and upgrades on your cabin or overall package.

Australia and the South Pacific

For a decidedly different cruise experience, nothing can beat a tour of the Australian and New Zealand coast lines. The prices for Australian cruises are purely amazing, starting as low as nine hundred dollars per person for a ten night Australian cruise on a Royal Caribbean line, with stops at Sydney, Hamilton Island, Cooktown and Brisbane, Australia. Prices do not include airfare to the departure destination, but when you book online you can often make all-inclusive deals that will cut your prices even further.

Alaskan Cruises

Take a cruise through the chilly northern waters and enjoy some of the most amazing scenery in you will ever see. Alaskan cruises on various cruise lines offer some of the best deals available this year. You can find Alaskan cruises as low as four hundred and fifty dollars per person, double occupancy, for a seven nights that include stops at Seward, Juneau, Ketchikan and other beautiful Alaskan cities.

Shopping for the best cruise deals online is the secret to finding an amazing cruise for a discounted price. There are a many websites that allow you to search across all the cruise lines and many of the larger discount travel sites to pull together the best package deals for cruise vacations. The tips below will help you find the best prices for discount tours to exotic cruise destinations all over the world.

Plan Ahead When Booking a Cruise Online

You can book your cruise several months in advance, and booking early can often get you great discounts. Most cruise lines will directly offer you an early booking discount. Even better, when you book early, you are most likely to get the cabin or suite that you want, on the cruise ship that you want, traveling at the time that you want to go.

Be Flexible

If you are willing to live with a little risk, you can hold out to the last minute to score big discounts on last minute bookings. This is the riskiest method for getting discounts on your cruise, but offers the best possible prices. The down side is that you may not be able to book on the cruise you want if it sells out, or you may have to settle for a less desirable cabin.

Book a Cruise During the Low Season

As with any other industry, prices are apt to be better if you book your vacation during the slow season, which varies for each area of the world. Prices for a Caribbean cruise, for example, will be lower during the hurricane season, while Alaskan cruises will have lower prices during the late fall.

Wesley Pritchard is a freelance writer who writes about vacationing, often discussing a specific kind trip such as discount cruises.

Monterey Hotels Review – Hotel Pacific

Filed under: hotels — Tags: hotel, hotels, Monterey, pacific, Review — libertees @ 4:00 pm May 13, 2010

There are many Monterey hotels to choose from if you are looking to stay in the beautiful central coast. The central coast of California is a great tourist spot and Monterey is a popular town. There is plenty of art, cafes and things to see in the town. You can also spend the day at the beach or play some golf at the famous Pebble beach golf course. The famous five mile drive is also in Monterey.

Monterey Plaza hotel & Spa is a beautiful spa that is right on the water. This hotel is on Cannery row and overlooks Monterey Bay. This hotel is the only four star rated hotel in the area and it has plenty of Mediterranean ambiance. At the hotel there is the Vista Blue spa, the caf? La Strada, Suck Club Grill and the Schooners Bistro on the Bay.

The Hyatt Regency hotel is a great spot for golfers as it is right next to the world famous Pebble Beach golf course. Besides golf the hotel has the TusCa Ristorante, a sports bar and several lounge areas. There is a spa that has a full service salon. Besides golf there are several swimming pools, a health club and a camp that can keep your children active and occupied all day long.

Right by the aquarium on Cannery Row is the Portola Hotel & Spa. The hotel overlooks the bay and is within walking distance of the aquarium and downtown Monterey. There are many spacious guest rooms and luxury suites to stay. The hotel offers high speed internet, entertainment systems and in room coffee service. They offer special aquarium packages.

One of the best luxury hotels in Monterey is the Hotel Pacific. This hotel is located close to the Monterey convention center and is near many other attractions in Monterey. When you stay at the Hotel Pacific you can enjoy complimentary breakfast, feather beds, fireplaces and afternoon refreshments. The hotel offers several package deals throughout the year.

New Monterey Hotels by InterContinental hotel group is the Clement Monterey. This hotel has several different rooms available and each room has a patio or balcony that overlooks the ocean. There are meeting spaces both indoors and outdoors and this hotel is popular for conferences and special events like weddings. Other activities at the hotel include a spa, oceanfront patio, health club, whirlpool, kids club, restaurant, pool and bar.

Marriott has a hotel in Monterey that contains a spa and conference space. You are just a short walk from the downtown areas as well as the Del Monte beach. The hotel also has its own outdoor swimming pool and there are many different activities in the area including surfing, kayaking, horseback riding, scuba diving, sailing, tennis, snorkeling, hiking and many bike trails.

The Hotel Pacific was built in the older adobe architecture style of old Monterey. The suites contain a terrace or balcony, wet bar, fireplace and feather beds. Outside the courtyard has beautiful garden and fountains. Each day you can enjoy continental breakfast and afternoon tea. You are just walking distance from Cannery row, the beach and downtown Monterey.

Want to find out more about the different Monterey Hotels, then visit Monterey Hotels for information about all the hotels and other happenings in Monterey Bay

Extended Tour of the P&O Pacific Dawn

Filed under: cruise — Tags: Dawn, Extended, pacific, tour — libertees @ 4:00 pm May 10, 2010


P&O Pacific Dawn Tour – this video includes cabin tours as well as the facilities onboard. Enjoy your next P&O South Pacific cruise with EasyCruises.com.au with a BONUS $20AUD off per booking quote promotional code YTET08 at the time of booking

Pacific Northwest Travel Advice – Camano Island, Washington

Filed under: travel — Tags: advice, Camano, island, Northwest, pacific, travel, Washington — libertees @ 3:59 pm May 6, 2010

Copyright (c) 2009 Matt Moore

In these tough economic times, who wants to waste their time lodging in expensive hotel accommodations where you’re confined to a small room with little privacy and independence of your own. That’s why vacation rentals by owner make so much sense. When you travel, you want to experience a place as it was meant to be. You want to live like you belong there. You want to feel like you’re in control of your own surroundings. Why not stay in a house with a yard, a barbecue, access to the beach, a sports court, your own private hot tub? With a vacation rental by owner you can have essentially everything you could ever want, right in one place, at half the cost.

If you’re looking for a vacation rental by owner, you may not have given much consideration towards a Northwest Puget Sound vacation by the sea. The Seattle area is filled with culture, unique experiences, and you’ll find good people there who have a great appreciation for the environment with good reason; why would anyone ever want to spoil beauty this great? The activities and entertainment possibilities are endless. I highly recommend renting a place by the ocean on Camano Island. It’s only 45 minutes north of Seattle, yet it seems like a world away. It truly is island life at its finest; Washington style. With glistening waters, green surroundings, majestic mountains, and incredible wildlife, you’d be crazy not to see it for yourself. If you really want to convene with nature and invigorate your connection with the great outdoors than Camano Island is for you! Camano Island sits in the rain shadow produced by the Olympic mountain range. It enjoys a drier climate with less rain fall and more sunshine. Driving onto the island coming from Seattle is an experience in itself. One minute you’re driving along in overcast weather surrounded by Evergreen tress, then the next minute the skies clear up and there’re Madronas hanging out over gorgeous seaside cliffs. Scenic overviews of the Puget Sound with the mountains in the distance surround you from all angles. Even the air seems to change; a deep breath in and you’re senses are engulfed with the fresh aroma of the seaside ocean wrapping around you from every direction.

The best way to experience Camano Island is to do a vacation rental by owner. The place I stayed provided all the fixings for a truly great vacation. It sits high above an ocean bay looking out over the water with the Cascade Mountain Range in the distance. Eagles frequently fly through the air and perch in the tops of the trees right before your eyes. I never thought I’d ever end up so close to eagles as they glide with outstretched wings. The way that this wonderful seaside cabin sits, you get some of the most spectacular views on the planet. There is no doubt it’ll leave you breathless.

This particular vacation rental by owner had wonderful charm and character. You’ll find that to be the truth with most vacation rentals by owner, but always be selective in your accommodations in order to find the best places – where you stay makes a big difference. It was decorated with everything you’d expect from a northwest coastal home. From the wood burning stove in the corner, to gorgeous paintings, and wooden interiors; it’s a feeling no lodge or hotel could ever replicate. There’s tons of space as the cabin is deceptively large. There were three stories with a main floor, a loft, and a downstairs with yet two more bedrooms and a games room. All of which have incredible views looking out over the ocean with large expansive windows allowing you to sit for hours on end just taking it in.

With a vacation rental by owner, you have the whole place to yourself too. The freedom and joy you experience being able to unwind uninterruptedly really allows you to get back in touch with yourself. After being far too engulfed in the daily grind that too often consumes us, this is the type of vacation that makes you feel complete again after leaving. I’ve traveled half way across the world, have been to multiple countries, and I’ve stayed in numerous accommodations, yet I’ve never felt quite as connected to my surroundings as I did in this place.

As someone who loves to travel and experience things for myself, I think I’ll always look into vacation rentals by owner. Camano Island in Washington State is probably one of the most overlooked vacation destinations I can think of. I highly suggest you discover it for yourself. You will not be disappointed!

Matt Moore is a marketing consultant and freelance travel writer who enjoys discovering new places and sharing unique experiences with people.
http://www.camanocabin.com
http://www.4mooremarketing.com

Experience Magical Holidays in the South Pacific

Filed under: travel — Tags: experience, holidays, magical, pacific, south — libertees @ 4:34 am December 24, 2009

Holidays in the South Pacific are well known as relaxing and fascinating experiences. There are many wonderful islands to explore including Cook Islands, Fiji, Tahiti Vanuatu, and Samoa. If your idea of a great getaway involves “fun in the sun” then you should surely consider visiting at least one of the island chains in the southern Pacific region.

While many people may only think about the beautiful beaches when they imagine holidays in the South Pacific there are many other sights and adventures waiting to be discovered. The white sandy shores of the South Pacific islands do hold a magnetic attraction for most guests, and who can blame them? The sands of the beaches are powdery soft and the shores are dotted with tall, graceful palm trees that gracefully sway in the balmy breezes. Clear, jewel toned water laps gently at the edges of the beach. You can walk just a short distance out into the ocean and easily find sand dollars, unusual sea shells and a dazzling assortment of curious, colorful fish.

If you want to find a wider variety of marine life you can grab some gear and go snorkeling or scuba diving. The Pacific Ocean is where you can listen to the magical songs of humpback whales or watch the dizzying dances of playful dolphins. These islands are home to some of the premiere beaches, lagoons and coral reefs in the world. For those visitors who prefer to stay on the surface of the ocean during their holidays in the South Pacific there are many places to rent sailboats, canoes, kayaks and jet skis.

On the South Pacific islands you have the chance to explore many amazing displays of nature. You can wander through exotic rain forests, climb mountains, visit a volcano, or just enjoy the lush green beauty of the landscape that surrounds you. This is also an opportunity for you to discover more about the culture of the islands.

Holidays in the South Pacific have enough magical excitement and fun to keep everyone entertained throughout your stay. There are hundreds of resorts available and you can find one that will suit any taste and budget. Choose a bohemian beach hut as the accommodations for your stay. Or perhaps you may prefer one of the elegant, high-end island resorts where you can enjoy pampering that extends beyond your wildest dreams. For the “high roller” holiday guests there are a number of resorts that feature live shows and busy casinos.

Visit eShores if you looking to create the perfect tailor made South Pacific holidays

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/experience-magical-holidays-in-the-south-pacific-1620133.html

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