family cruise vacation ideas

Oasis of the Sea: The World’s Largest Cruise Ship

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: cruise, largest, oasis, sea, ship, world — libertees @ 1:07 am December 24, 2011

December marks the debut of the Oasis of the Seas. Royal Caribbean has unveiled the world’s largest cruise ship, weighing five times what the Titanic did. This amazing cruise ship can accommodate 6,296 guests comfortably and it also sports the world’s largest lifeboats, each being able to hold 370 people. This ship is so large that it cannot even make it through the Panama Canal. It departs from Fort Lauderdale, Florida and offers weeklong trips to the eastern and western parts of the Caribbean. This shear outward size of this ship alone is incredibly impressive, but it’s what’s inside that really makes this ship special.

Oasis of the Seas offers a truly unique design. Unlike any other cruise ship, it has been divided into seven different neighborhoods, including one called Central Park. The neighborhoods feature real trees, vines and plants. You can also find high-end and casual dining experiences in each of the distinct neighborhoods. In total, there are 24 restaurants. This ship also sports the first-ever aquatic amphitheater, called the AquaTheater, to be built on a cruise ship. Each day this theater will feature synchronized water acrobatics, along with high dive performances from actual Olympic divers.

As far as entertainment goes, this ship offers it all. For daytime entertainment, there are two rock climbing walls, artificial surfing environments that shoot out 60,000 gallons of water per minute, a zip cord that propels guests over 9 different decks and enormous beach pool where guests can relax comfortably underneath an umbrella. Once night falls, there are plenty of fabulous performances in the Opal Theater, where you can find everything from musicals like “Hairspray” to tribute bands.

This ship truly has it all. You will be so entertained that you won’t even want to get off once you dock in the Caribbean. There is plenty of entertainment for adults and kids alike. Even sleeping will be an amazing experience. This ship offers loft suites with floor to ceiling windows, chaise lounges, couches and an LCD TV. The master bedroom even has his and her shower heads and fog-free mirrors. Storage won’t be a problem either as this ship is equipped with the largest below deck storage unit in the world. You can rest assured that if you even buy a car and some Mercedes Benz parts while on vacation, that it will have a storage spot below deck.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/cruising-articles/oasis-of-the-sea-the-worlds-largest-cruise-ship-1541867.html

Family Fun at Sea With MSC Cruises and Kids Sail Free

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: cruises, family, free, fun, kids, msc, sail, sea — libertees @ 1:02 am November 4, 2011

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (October 7, 2009) – For the perfect vacation that combines a family escape with the desire to discover new places, MSC Cruises has it all.

Plus, kids ages 17 and under sail free on all MSC Cruises’ itineraries when sharing a stateroom with two full-fare-paying adults.

On each MSC Cruises sailing, our friendly staff caters to the specific needs of all ages – including the youngest guests. Each ship has cheerful, colorful, safe play areas. MSC Cruises’ ships are kid friendly, offering daily entertainment and plenty of space for running, exploring, diving, swimming and playing.

Special activity leaders organize age-appropriate fun activities, with ages 3-6 in the Mini Club, 7-12 in the Juniors Club, and 13-17 in the Teenagers Club. MSC Cruises also offers a Teen’s Card. This personalized card, which can be used like a credit/cruise card, allows children ages 12-17 to spend nominal amounts of money on board.

Each card comes with a bonus amount. In the Caribbean, a $30 card purchase comes with a $5 bonus (a total card value of $35); a $50 card purchase comes with $10 bonus, for a total value of $60. In the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, a €30 card comes with a €5 bonus, making it a €35 card, and a €50 card comes with a €10 bonus, making it a €60 card.

Parents and kids will be delighted with the children’s menus. In addition to Italian favorites like pasta and pizza, there are all-American favorites such as hamburgers and hot dogs and numerous tantalizing pastries and desserts.

Knowing the youngsters are with the expert staff, parents can relax and enjoy the sun or the pool, or unwind with a Turkish bath, an aromatic massage or a session at the fitness center.

Cruise-only rates begin at $349 per person, double occupancy for a 7-night Caribbean cruise and $549 per person, double occupancy for a 7-night cruise in Europe. Government fees and taxes for all guests are additional.

Become a fan on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Watch us on You Tube. For more information about MSC Cruises, visit www.MSCCruisesUSA.com or your local travel professional.

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About MSC Cruises:

MSC Cruises has the most modern fleet in the world with ten ships: MSC Splendida and MSC Fantasia (the largest ships built for a European ship owner), MSC Poesia, MSC Orchestra, MSC Musica, MSC Sinfonia, MSC Armonia, MSC Opera, MSC Lirica and MSC Melody. The fleet cruises year round in the Mediterranean and seasonally in Northern Europe, the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean, North America and Canada, South America, the Indian Ocean, South and West Africa. MSC Magnifica launches in 2010. MSC Cruises recently forged a three-year, million-dollar partnership with UNICEF to fund a community project in Brazil while increasing awareness of this cause onboard its ships.

Press author for Mediterranean Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Bill Ospring brings news of MSC to cruise fans. Topics vary from MSC in the industry, new ships, and deals for cruises to the Caribbean, Mediterranean and Europe and theme cruise packages.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/cruising-articles/family-fun-at-sea-with-msc-cruises-and-kids-sail-free-1380214.html

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.

How To Do Useful Travel Research

A lot of people simply avoid thinking about other aspects than passports and plane tickets when going on an international vacation and such an approach is not correct. Any international vacation will require a lot of research in order to have a healthy and safe trip and you do not want to forget anything so that your trip will be perfect.


First off we would like to emphasize on the fact that you need to be informed when thinking about health. You could start with looking at the Center for Disease Control web site to see if there are any disease or outbreak problems you should be worried about. Any doctor in your area could help you in getting the right prescriptions and immunizations you might require. Always know what you need before actually talking to the doctor. The same thing goes for any possible social or civil problems in the country you are visiting. We do not want there to be any conflicts that could put you at risk so tourist guides and the Department of State are also places you need to put on your prior to the trip research list. Combine this with a good knowledge of the location’s customs when talking about dress codes and legal problems.


The next step would be talking to people about your trip. There is a big chance that you will find someone that was already there. You can obtain email addresses or telephone numbers and you can ask various questions about what you might want to know. Word of mouth travel advice is invaluable when talking about any trip and learning stuff from people that were already there once. This is because these people have already been there and they can tell you what is relaxing and what is not, what is thrilling and what is not and so on!


Think about what you need to know when linked with your personality and plan your trip according to what you like doing. If you are a thrill seeker look for attractions you would love and would get your adrenaline levels to skyrocket. If you are fond of shopping look for the best shopping hot spots and so on. It all depends on the individual or the group of people that is going on the vacation. Make sure that there is a bit of everything for everyone so that the trip will provide a good setting for every single person and this is how you should do useful travel research.

Article first written for the Travel Facts blog. Get the Travel Advice you need for a perfect vacation!

Rental Car Vs. Traveling by Bus in Costa Rica

One of the most often asked questions from travelers about Costa Rica besides “How much does it rain in the rainy season?” is: “Do we really need a rental car?”. The answer depends very much on you, but by describing a bit more the conditions I can make the decision easier for you!

Driving in Costa Rica is not as difficult as it seems in some frightening reports. Nevertheless it is true that the Costa Ricans that are known for a laid-back and calm attitude seem to get into a hurry as soon as they sit behind the wheel of a vehicle. They are not alone on the planet with this particularity, the only difference is that in many other places the people seem to be always in a hurry.

The roads in Costa Rica are famous for their potholes and some destinations can only be reached on a gravel road. If you plan only to visit San Jose and Jaco you may be fine with a sedan, but it is highly recommendable to rent a 4×4. In the rainy season you will even have to cross some rivers. Even some of the main attractions for tourists in Costa Rica are only accessible with an all-terrain vehicle. The road to Monteverde is not paved and there are no plans for doing so. The local community wants to protect this unique place and does not want that to make their place accessible for huge tourist buses.

The big advantage of renting a car in Costa Rica is, that you are independent and can make a stop whenever you want. Fruits and crafts are sold along the roads, this is always a good opportunity to have some small talk with the locals.

You better get up early in Costa Rica, because the sun goes down around 6 pm. Driving at night in Costa Rica can be dangerous and is not recommendable. Most of the roads don’t have lights and road marking mostly exists on the main roads.

The alternative to renting a car is to travel with the extensive bus system. This is a good way to see the country and meet the Ticos. There are buses going almost everywhere in Costa Rica, connections between outlying areas are limited. The capital San Jose is the major transportation hub of Costa Rica, sometimes it is necessary to return and switch the bus here. Before you buy a ticket for the bus ask precisely if this bus really goes to the destination where you plan to go. There are several towns in Costa Rica which share the same name! You can assure going to the right Playa Hermosa by mentioning the Province where you plan to travel. There is a Playa Hermosa in Guanacaste and a Playa Hermosa in Puntarenas. There are several other examples like Naranjo and San Isidro.

Traveling by bus is certainly cheaper than renting a car, but is most often slower. There are several hundred bus companies operating in Costa Rica and unfortunately they don’t always work together. This can result in an unplanned overnight stay at a place where you missed your connecting bus.

So the decision is still up to you, but it should be easier for you take it now

Serchenginenews

Beautiful Barcelona – Easy Travel Guide

Filed under: travel — Tags: accessories, Accident, action, advice, Afford, agra, air, airport, airports, allow, amazing, american, amp, ana, ancient, annual, apartment, architecture, around, art, aspects, attractions, Auto, Avoid, away, back, barcelona, bars, beach, beaches, beautiful, become, before, best, bog, Border, born, budget, Build, Building, built, bus, buses, but, call, camp, car, Cars, center, Century, Charge, cheap, Cheaper, chic, choice, choices, choose, christmas, cities, city, colorful, come, comfort, complete, Cost, costa, creation, cruise, cruises, cultural, culture, da, day, days, deal, Design, destination, die, dining, direct, discount, dive, does, drive, Drop, during, early, easy, Eating, eco, Egypt, end, europe, european, eve, event, Every, everyone, Everything, exciting, exclusive, Exotic, Extra, extraordinary, families, family, famous, fare, farm, features, february, festival, festivals, fill, final, find, fish, flight, Flow, fly, food, forms, fort, four, free, Freedom, friendly, friends, fun, galleries, gaudi, going, good, Grand, great, group, guide, Hall, harbour, has, head, here, high, historic, historical, history, home, hopping, hot, hotel, hotels, house, household, ice, idea, ideas, important, inc, Include, increase, information, inn, install, international, jewel, journey, Just, la, land, largest, las, last, le, lead, Leading, leads, Leisure, Less, life, light, line, lines, list, live, local, long, look, looking, lose, lottery, low, mad, magnificent, Major, mane, many, maps, markets, master, may, Mediterranean, men, million, mini, minute, modern, monument, mount, mountain, much, museum, museums, name, nation, new, night, not, ny, offer, offers, old, only, Option, Order, pa, pack, packed, palace, park, part, pass, passion, perfect, PERFORMER, person, plan, plane, popular, Port, ports, Price, progress, quality, quick, rain, rains, range, rate, red, rent, rental, rentals, resort, resorts, rica, ride, right, river, roman, rose, rover, safe, sale, san, sand, sea, seas, seaside, season, see, Sell, Selling, ship, Shop, shopping, Shore, sight, sights, sightseeing, site, sites, Size, sky, small, Source, south, Southwest, Souvenir, spa, space, Spain, spanish, special, spectacular, spring, Star, Start, Still, story, street, Streets, style, Stylish, success, summer, sun, sure, System, taking, target, Taxis, temple, ten, thai, than, thing, things, three, through, Ticket, tickets, time, tip, tips, top, tour, tourist, tours, town, Tradition, traditional, traditions, train, trains, transport, travel, traveling, travellers, trip, two, Under, unique, up, usa, Used, using, vacation, valid, villa, village, visit, visitor, visitors, waiting, war, way, ways, weather, weekend, weekends, welcome, Well, Western, where, will, win, winter, Wish, wonderland, Works, world, year, Years — libertees @ 5:00 pm June 17, 2010

.Beautiful city of Barcelona, capital of Catalonia (a Spain’s province), is situated on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea and bordered at either end by 2 river deltas. Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after its capital city Madrid. Barcelona has a population of 1.5 million, over 4 million including suburbs. The varied, eventful history of the city dates back 4,000 years to the first settlements by ancient farmers. Later it became a Roman colony, the Visigoth’s capital city, and then it came under Moorish rule. It went through sieges, destructions and occupations, finally to become an autonomous democracy 1975. The city has always played an important role in political and cultural life of Spain and it is well reflected in the variety and quality of historical buildings, museums, many other tourist attractions. Today Barcelona is one of the most diverse European cities with unique culture and rich traditions. You can find here a formidable balance of the traditional things and the avant-garde. A cosmopolitan metropolis, Barcelona affords visitors a warm and sincere welcome, being acknowledged worldwide as one of the best tourist-friendly cities in Europe. Barcelona’s organization of the 1992 Olympics provided regeneration of this dynamic city, gave a fresh start to its infrastructure development. WHAT TO SEE AND WHERE: POINTS OF INTEREST – La Ramble is a tree-lined pedestrian boulevard packed with buckers, living statues, mimes and itinerant salespeople selling everything from lottery tickets to jeweler. Pavement cafes and stands selling craftwork, street performers surrounded by curious onlookers, a noisy bird market, Palau de la Virreina, a grand 18th-century rococo mansion, the Gran Teeter del Liceu, the famous 19th-century opera house- these are all colorful parts of La Rambla’s mosaic. La Rambla ends at the lofty Monument a Colom (Monument to Columbus) and the harbour. Barri Gotic – also known as Gothic Quarter, it is the old part of the city. Picasso lived and worked in Barri Gotic from 1895 to 1904 and Joan Miro was born and lived here during his youth. Gothic Quarter is situated on the right hand side of the La Rambla, it contains a concentration of medieval tall Gothic buildings (14-15th century) on narrow cobbled streets and now is home to much of the city’s nightlife. La Sagrada Familia – La Sagrada Familia is one of the most famous and magnificent among Barcelona’s landmarks. The life’s work of Barcelona’s famous architect, Antoni Gaudi, the magnificent spires of the unfinished cathedral imprint themselves boldly against the sky with swelling outlines inspired by the holy mountain Montserrat. Above each facade there are four towers, 12 in total, which are dedicated to the Apostles. The tower in the center, the tallest of all at 170 m., is dedicated to Jesus Christ. Around these there are the towers of the four Evangelists, and the tower over the apse is dedicated to the Virgin. They are encrusted with a tangle of sculptures that seem to breathe life into the stone. Gaudi died in 1926 before his masterwork was completed, and since then, controversy has continually dogged the building program. Nevertheless, the southwestern (Passion) facade, is almost done, and the nave, begun in 1978, is progressing. La Pedrera – Casa Mila (Mila House) is an apartment building, the last example of Gaudi’s civil architecture.It is one of his finest and most ambitious creations, extraordinarily innovative in its functional, constructive, and ornamental aspects. Visitors can tour the building and go up to the roof, where they can see spectacular views of Barcelona. One floor below the roof is a modest museum dedicated to Gaudi’s work. Montjuic – the largest open space in the city, its main attractions are the Olympic installations, the Spanish Village and the hilltop fortress. Montjuic, the hill overlooking the city centre from the southwest, is home to some fine art galleries, leisure attractions, soothing parks and the main group of 1992 Olympic sites. Montjuic is covered in ornamental gardens with water features and is the most popular destination in Barcelona on Sundays. Tibidabo – is the highest hill in the wooded range that forms the backdrop to Barcelona. It has amazing views of the whole of Barcelona, a stunning cathedral, and a family fun park Parc d’Atraccions with old-style rides offering breathtaking views. A glass lift at the park goes 115m (383 ft) up to a visitors’ observation area at Torre de Collserola telecommunications tower. Modernisme – spectacular modernista architectural creations dotted around the city by famous Antoni Gaudi and his contemporaries. Camp Nou – home of F.C. Barcelona, one of Europe’s leading soccer teams, with capacity of almost 100,000 spectators. The Seu Cathedral – Built in medieval times on the site of a Roman temple, La Seu is one of the great Gothic buildings in Spain. Parc de la Ciutadella – Barcelona’s favorite park and a Sunday afternoon rendezvous for families, friends and ducks The Sardana – traditional Catalan dance, performed outside the cathedral and at national festivals, with everyone encouraged to join in.


MUSEUMS – The Barbier-Mueller Museum of Pre-Columbian Art -the only museum in Europe devoted exclusively to Pre-Columbian cultures. Housed in a gothic palace, its collection is one of the finest of its kind and gives visitors an insight into the rich world of the earliest cultures on the American continent. This tiny museum contains one hundred pieces, including wood and stone sculptures, ceramics, tapestries, jade, often found in international exhibitions and prestige publications. The exhibits represented the Olmec, Maya, Aztec, Chavin, Mochica and Inca civilisations. Palau de la Musica Catalana – one of the world’s most extraordinary music halls, it is a Barcelona landmark. From its polychrome ceramic ticket windows on the Carrer de Sant Pere Mes Alt side to its overhead busts of Palestrina, Bach, Beethoven, and Wagner, the Palau is the flagship of Barcelona’s Moderniste architecture. Museu Picasso – is Barcelona’s most visited museum. 3,500 exhibits make up the permanent collection. Picasso spent several years (1901-06) in Barcelona, and this collection, is particularly strong on his early work. Displays include childhood sketches, pictures from the beautiful Rose and Blue periods, and the famous 1950s Cubist variations on Velazquez’s Las Meninas (Ladies-in-Waiting). Gaudi Casa-Museu – Gaudi lived in this pink, Alice-in-Wonderland house from 1906 to 1926, which now houses a museum of Gaudi-designed furniture, decorations, drawings, and portraits and busts of the architect. Fundacio Miro – it was a gift from the famous artist Joan Miro to his native city. The museum opened in 1975, and now it is one of Barcelona’s most exciting showcases of contemporary art.


BEACHES – One of Barcelona’s greatest draws is undeniably its beautiful beaches. Beside world-famous Costa Brava and Costa Dorada which are within 1-hr drive time from Barcelona, there are also several nice beaches over 4 km long within the city boundaries, we will list just several of them here: Nova Icaria- Closest to the Olympic marina, always crowded, this wide swathe of rough golden sand is great for food goers. There are three perfect beach bars and two very popular restaurants on the promenade (Mango and Chiringuito de Moncho) and countless bars and restaurants are just a short stroll away. Bogatell- This beach is twice the length of adjoining Nova Icaria and fringed by a stretch of stone walkway perfect for jogging, roller blading and cycling. Three large informal restaurants on the promenade. Mar Bella (Metro Ciutadella Vila Olimpica, plus 20-minute walk)- Barcelona’s only naturist beach close to a peaceful park – good for a picnic or siesta under the trees. Barceloneta- wide and long, a traditional and popular stretch with locals, crowded, noisy and very jolly.


WHEN TO GO, WEATHER: The best times to visit Barcelona are late spring and early autumn, when the weather is still comfortably warm, around 21-25°C. Summers are usually hot and humid, with temperatures averaging +30 (+ 86 Fahrenheit). Especially avoid the “dead” month of August, when many shops, bars and restaurants close for the month as many local inhabitants head out of the city. Winters are cool with average daytime temperatures around +12 C (+59 Fahrenheit), occasionally rainy.


GETTING THERE AND AROUND: By a direct flight to Barcelona, or through Madrid or via another large European city from almost any major airports in the world. The highest fares are from May to September, the lowest in March-April, October-November and December to February (excluding Christmas and New Year when prices are hiked up). Note also that flying on weekends may increase your ticket cost. If traveling to Barcelona from within Europe you can also chose train, bus or car, though these take much longer than a plane and often work out no cheaper. Many Mediterranean cruises include Barcelona as a port of call.


ACCOMODATIONS: We can offer you a range of choices. You can choose vacation rentals in Barcelona starting from $ 125 USD for a double room in a 4-star apartment hotel. Or you can opt for hotels from $ 65 USD for a double room in a 3-star hotel. Accomodation prices do not change much throughout the year due to the steady all-season flow of visitors to this extremely popular tourist city and surrounding resorts.


DINING: Besides restaurants you can eat at bars where you would have a succession of tapas (small snacks- three or four chunks of fish, meat or vegetables, or salad, which traditionally used to be served up free with a drink) or raciones (larger ones). The bar option can be a lot more interesting, allowing you to do the rounds and sample local specialities. Generally, the average cost for a meal consisting of two dishes and dessert would come to about 25 Euros. Travellers on an extremely limited budget can do well for themselves by using the excellent markets, bakeries and delis and filling up on sandwiches and snacks. Decent restaurants and cafes are easily found all over the city, though you’ll probably do most of your eating where you do most of your sightseeing, in the old town, particularly around La Rambla and in the Barri Gotic. Look for the best and most authentic seafood restaurants in Barceloneta, a seaside neighbourhood. Gothic Quarter neighbourhood is home to some of the oldest and most traditional restaurants in the city. Gracia is a very popular area among young people during the weekend, it leads the way in terms of exotic restaurants (Lebanese, Egyptian, Thai etc.).


TRANSPORT: Barcelona has excellent transport system comprising the metro (subway), buses, trains and a network of funiculars and cable cars. You can find a link to transport maps at the end of our guide. On all the city’s public transport you can buy a single ticket every time you ride, but even over only a couple of days it’s cheaper to buy a targeta – a discount ticket strip. The T-10 targeta is valid for ten separate journeys on the metro, buses and trains. These tickets can be used by more than one person at a time. The metro is the quickest way of getting around Barcelona. For black-and-yellow taxis there is a minimum charge of $ 2 euro. You’ll obviously have a great deal more freedom if you rent a car . Major roads throughout the city are generally good, and traffic is generally well behaved, though Spain does have one of the highest incidences of traffic accidents in Europe. It also has some of the lowest fuel prices on the continent.


SHOPPING: Barcelona, one of the most stylish cities in Europe offers great shopping, from designer clothes and accessories to household items. You will find the city to be quite cheap for a lot of items, especially if you coincide with the annual sales ( rebaixes in Spanish) lasting from mid-January until the end of February, and throughout July and August. The best shopping areas in Barcelona are the old streets off the upper part of the Ramblas. Souvenirs include ceramics, which are widely sold in the streets around the cathedral; leather goods; city’s delicatessens, particularly cooked Catalan meats and sausages; a porron (the long-spouted glass drinking jar); CDs and tapes of Catalan rock and pop, sardana music, Spanish rock or flamenco. If you’re looking for original gift ideas, some of the best hunting can be found in the shops of any of the city’s museums, where you’ll find reasonably priced and unique examples of Catalan disseny (graphic), and other original items ranging from postcards to replica works of art. We wish you a nice and safe trip!


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Discount Cruises to Exotic Locations

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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.

What is the best way to search for ground travel fares, for vacation trips?

Question by BK C: What is the best way to search for ground travel fares, for vacation trips?
I’m considering doing ground travel to a place not too far away from here. Air travel is too expensive (especially since my trip won’t be too far into the future) so I’m considering going by train or even by bus (train is preferred.)

How do I go about searching for travel fare? I’m hoping there is a site similar to Priceline or Travelocity that deals with ground travel of this sort.

DETAILS: I’m hoping to travel a round-trip vacation between Portland, Oregon and Calgary, Alberta (Canada, of course). I’ll be travelling sometime this month.

Once again, I’m looking for help with finding places to get trainfare (or anything with ground travel) be it a Priceline-similar site or anything. I just need a way to find and compare prices for travelfare. Any hints, ideas, suggestions? Any help is much appreciated!

Best answer:

Answer by Victor KZ
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So Many Exciting Choices of Caribbean Cruises

Every year, there are about two million people boarding Caribbean cruises. Why? Simply  because Caribbean cruises offers unlimited benefits of luxury travel, spectacular destinations, preserved islands, harbors, historic places, local cultures and so much more. With no doubt, more and more people are looking for cruising nowadays and definitely will not left out Caribbean cruises in their main options.

When you search for Caribbean Cruises on the net, you will end up with hundreds of exciting choices. You can choose based on the destinations, prices, family or couples, the length of the stay or the type of cruises. For Caribbean cruises, the options are such as the Princess, Cunard, Ocean Village, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, P&O and Costa Cruises. The most common cruise that most people choose are either Eastern Caribbean or Western Caribbean cruises. Both offer seven days cruising. The Eastern Caribbean leave from Florida and you will spend more time on the land. This is suitable to those like shopping. There are also ports to be visited like the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, St. John, St. Thomas and St. Martin. Whereas the Western Caribbean leave either from Florida, Texas or New Orleans and you will spend more time at sea. This is suitable to those like natural beauty, beaches or water activities. Ports of call are such as Mexico, Costa Rico, Dominican Republic, Belize and Jamaica.

The Caribbean areas covers so many beautiful islands and each island is unique in so many ways. Furthermore, each port of calls offers unique culture and hospitality of the locals. Therefore you’ll have hard time to came out with the shortlisted Caribbean cruises list and of course, there are so many routes too to chose from. How long can you spend time with a Caribbean cruise? You can choose from one to two days to over two weeks.

Each specific cruise tailor to a particular needs. For example, if you are taking children along, you might consider Disney Caribbean, as the cruise package comes with so many entertainment activities on the board. If you go with couple, you might want to consider Princess Caribbean, as the cruise offers nice, quite, romantic cruise package and itinerary. If you are looking for luxurious vacation on cruise, you should list high class cruises like Silversea, Crystal or the new Queen Mary II.

The bottom line is, whatever Caribbean cruises that you want to choose, you are advised to do advance booking, as discounted tickets are sold early and do not forget to choose the trusted and authorized cruise agent. For more convenience, you can do your bookings online. If you are concern about the budget, you may want to consider last minutes deals where you might get a discount. Spending time searching the best cruise deals online may save you a few bucks. So good luck in looking the best Caribbean cruises for your holidays!

View amazing Caribbean photos slide show, caribbean cruising tips, and caribbean commercials at my Carribbean Cruises Blog

How To Get The Best Price For A Cruise

You’ve wanted to take that cruise, to experience the excitement
of new ports and places with your family. You’ve daydreamed
about your place in the sun. You’ve made a million excuses to
yourself why you can’t. Perhaps you’ve thought that the cruise
of your dreams is out of reach financially. You’re in for a
surprise.

The cruise industry is one of the fasting growing of the
vacation/hospitality industries today. With the popularity of
sea cruising growing by leaps and bounds cruise lines are
growing and are able to offer more discounts to their customers.
You also have the cruise industry at your fingertips through the
use of the Internet. Every cruise line has a website where you
can check cruises, dates and deals.

Each cruise line offers what they call theme packages. These
packages are mean to attract a people of a certain lifestyle or
age group. If you are traveling with your family you may qualify
for a family discount, or, depending on your age, a senior
discount. Some cruise lines offer honeymoon discount.

It is a little known fact that many cruise lines experience last
minute cancellations. When this happens they are eager to fill
the empty slots. If you are flexible you may be able to get an
excellent last minute deal. Call the cruise line a few days
before the ship is set to sail to see if there are any last
minute deals.

If you become a frequent cruiser you may be able to get a
discount as a repeat customer. Many cruise lines give discounts
and a good percentage off if you book with them year after year,
or, if you are planning more than one cruise in a year, if you
book both cruises at the same time.

Along with checking for cruise deals online, don’t forget that
sometimes a travel agent is worth his/her weight in gold. Check
with an experienced travel agent who may be able to help you get
deals that aren’t offered to online customers. This travel agent
may also be able to help you get the best airfare price .

The cruise of your dreams is out there, and it’s within your
reach. Do your homework. The information is out there, it’s up
to you to find it

This article courtesy of http://www.porsche-monster.com

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