Colin Hartness

There’s magic in everything that team Disney touches and their cruise line is no exception. Michael Eisner himself commissioned a talented group of ship designers, cruise experts and Disney creators to produce cruise ships that would appeal to adults and children of all ages. The result was two nearly-identical ships, Disney Wonder and Disney Magic.

The ships are distinctively Disney, with the famous mouse silhouette prominently placed on the smokestacks and appearing frequently throughout the ships. That’s not all; a fifteen-foot statue of Goofy is the figurehead on Disney Magic while Donald Duck adorns the front of Disney Wonder. Of course, cast members masquerade through the ship in costumes of the famous Disney characters. Disney art is featured on the walls and images of Disney characters appear everywhere. Disney excels at promoting everything Disney so expect onboard shops to be full of Disney memorabilia.

Disney Cruise Line offers three, four, seven and ten day cruises that sail from Disney’s own Port Canaveral near Orlando to popular spots in the Caribbean, including St. Maarten, Nassau, Antigua, Cozumel, St. Thomas, Grand Cayman Island, St. Lucia, and Key West. All cruises stop at for a day at Castaway Cay, a private island developed by Disney solely for the enjoyment of Disney Cruise Line passengers.

The cruise can easily be combined with a stay at Walt Disney World; passengers can stay at Disney World for several days before or after a cruise for one price that includes transportation on, what else, a Disney bus to or from Port Canaveral. And with the latest technology, tourists check in only once and the key card issued to them unlocks both their hotel and stateroom doors.

As expected, Disney Cruise Line caters to children with activities for all age groups all day long. In fact, more than 15,000 square feet of ship’s real estate is devoted to children. Teens have a private area of the ship dedicated to their interests that offers video games, movies, and a place to listen to CD’s. Supervised teen sports are also available.

Disney Cruise Lines provides quality nighttime entertainment in a 977-seat theatre each evening with, of course, a family orientation. While other cruise lines mimic Las Vegas entertainment, Disney entertainment is similar to shows at Disney World. As might be expected, there is no casino on board the Disney ships. However, adults can find evening entertainment in a number of lounges and nightclubs.

A special feature of the Disney cruises is the dining arrangement. Dinners are served at 6:30 and 8:30 pm in one of three family dining areas. Over a three day period, a passenger will have dinner in a different restaurant each night, thus getting to experience the unique ambiance of each one. For a $10 cover charge, those wishing to avoid family dining can opt to eat at the upscale adult-only restaurant, but only after gaining sought-after advance reservations.

If you or your children adore everything Disney, you will certainly enjoy a Disney cruise.

About the Author

Looking for information about cruises? Go to: http://www.whatcruises.com ‘What Cruises’ is published by Colin Hartness - An excellent resource for Cruises! Check out more cruise articles at: http://www.whatcruises.com/archive

Brian Schmidt

Cruise travel 2006 will see the launch of a number of new ships. Six of the large cruise lines will be offering new ships. Here’s a quick rundown of the six brand new cruise ships for 2006.

Holland America cruise ship Noordam

With an expected launch date of February 22, Holland America will be offering their new Noordam. Expected to be the last cruise ship in the Vista-class series, Noordam will accommodate 1,848 passengers. The new cruise ship is the first to be designed for Holland America’s “Signature of Excellence” program. A number of design enhancements are included to the public areas and staterooms for the pleasure of cruise travellers. Included is the already very popular Explorations Café’, a coffee bar/Internet café’, game room, library all powered by the New York Times. A first in the last few years, the Noordam will spend its 2006 maiden season sailing wintertime cruises from New York to the Caribbean.

Pride of Hawaii – NCL America’s new 2006 cruise ship

The new cruise ship for NCL America is the Pride of Hawaii. This vessel is a sister ship to the Norwegian Jewel and is actually the first new build from the hull up for the cruise line. Launching in June, the 2,224 passenger ship is expected to be the next step in their “Freestyle Cruising” concept. The interior décor is to have a Hawaii theme. Cruise travel departing weekly on Mondays, Pride of Hawaii will travel the islands calling Honolulu home.

Freedom of the Seas – new 2006 cruise ship from Royal Caribbean

Launching in May, the 3,600 passenger, 158,000-ton Freedom of the Seas will actually be 10,00 ton larger than Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 and become the largest cruise ship in 2006. A number of new and enhanced amenities are expected to please passengers. The addition with the most hype is the surf park feature. Whirlpools are also actually cantilevered over the side of the new cruise ship. The H2O Zone is expected to be a hit as well. Freedom of the Seas is expected to sail 7 day cruises to the Caribbean from Miami.

New Princess Cruises ship Crown Princess

Launching in June, the new for 2006 cruise ship Crown Princess will accommodate 3,110 happy cruise travel passengers. The popular Skywalker’s disco has been redesigned, and the Lotus Spa has been expanded. The International Café has been added for pastries and snacks, and a Princess first ever wine and seafood bar. Other expansions and/or changes have been made to the Wheelhouse Bar, Sabatini’s Trattoria, and the Sterling Steakhouse. With Eastern Caribbean stops at Bermuda and Turks and Caicos, Crown Princess will sail roundtrip out of the Red Hook terminal at New York.

MSC Musica

Launching on July 01, the Italian ship Musica brings MSC strongly into the big ship ranks accommodating 2,550 passengers. A full 80% of her 1,275 staterooms will be outside rooms with 65% will have verandas. Featuring a large spa area, several dining options, a three deck high waterfall and a variety of entertainment venues, Musica will sail the eastern Mediterranean from Venice.

CostaConcordia – Costa Cruises’ 2006 new cruise ship

Based in Italy and owned by Carnival Corporation, Costa Cruises is introducing its largest cruise ship in its fleet. The CostaConcordia, launching July 14, has accommodation for 3,000 passengers. The interior décor is themed around European architecture. Even the room names are European oriented – Grand Bar Berlin, Cafeteria Helsinki, and dining rooms Milan and Rome. For those seeking an interesting activity the ship will have a Formula One driving simulator! The new cruise ship will sail year round in the Western Mediterranean for Rome’s Civitavecchia port.

With so much to choose from, it may be hard to know what new cruise ship to try out first for your cruise travel in 2006!

About the Author:

Brian A Schmidt is the author and web publisher of http://www.a1-discount-cruises.com, your #1 source for cruise information, romantic getaways, cruisewear and great deals! Visit A1-Discount-Cruises to book your cruise vacation! For more interesting articles visit our Article Map pages. See our Cruise Wear pages for cruise and swimwear values. Source: www.isnare.com

Colin Hartness

For centuries, the Nile River has been at the center of life in Egypt. The ancient Egyptian civilization relied on the flooding of the Nile to create fertile land for farming in an otherwise desert landscape. Excavations along the Nile have unearthed vast quantities of archeological remnants from ancient times and a leisurely cruise along the Nile takes you through this ancient populated area that is so steeped in history. And remember, you are following a royal route; the pharaohs and Queen Cleopatra cruised the Nile!

A cruise along Nile is an excellent way of visiting scattered archeological sights in a country with less than spectacular roads and airline service. In fact, some quality travel agents recommend cruising as the preferred method of transportation in Egypt. The best time of year to enjoy a Nile cruise is winter, from December to February, due to the hot desert climate.

Think of the romance of a leisurely cruise through such an ancient and historic land. The banks of the Nile are lined with ancient monuments and unusual sites, like banana plantations. Excursions to other famous locations, such as the Karnak Temple and the tomb of Nefertiti in the town of Luxor, are available on most cruises. Other towns that can be touring stops are Aswan, Esna, Kom Ombo and Edfu. Knowledgeable local guides are available and are recommended to explain the finer points of each site.

A Nile cruise can be quite economical. For a three-star ship the cost can be as little as $70 per person per night while a deluxe cruise can cost a mere $130 per person per night, double occupancy. The length of the cruise can vary from 3, 4 or 7 nights. Rooms are well-appointed and meals are included. Of course, deluxe and luxury cruise boats also provide a swimming pool, Jacuzzi, bar and recreation facilities, and gift shops. Air-conditioning is a must for the American tourist who is unaccustomed to the possible one hundred degree heat. And remember, since you are cruising on a river than the ocean, the river cruise ship will be much smaller, with anywhere from 100 to 500 passengers.

Generally, meals on a Nile cruise are served at a specific time, with all passengers being served at a single seating. Expect a full range of cuisine from local to international. Some meals, such as lunch and dinner, may be served buffet style. And, of course, luxury cruise companies employ world-class chefs to pamper the palette.

A cruise is an excellent way for the American tourist to visit a unique and different culture since all services are provided. For example, there is no worry about where and what to eat. Also the cruise company arranges all the tours to the major ancient attractions and provides reputable guides who know Egyptian customs. Thus, you do not need local currency for admissions as these have been paid in advance. By taking a cruise, you are buying a measure of safety in a foreign land, provided that you select a reputable cruise company with a good reputation.

Egypt is an ancient land with fascinating monuments and temples that are adorned with mysterious hieroglyphics. What better way to immerse yourself into this unique culture than to experience it by cruising the Nile like the royal pharaohs.

About the Author

Looking for information about cruises? Go to: http://www.whatcruises.com ‘What Cruises’ is published by Colin Hartness - An excellent resource for Cruises! Check out more cruise articles at: http://www.whatcruises.com/archive

Corsa Roceraz

Vacationing in the Caribbean is something that everyone should experience at least once in a lifetime. From beautiful Belize to the truly amazing St.Barts, the Caribbean islands have tons to offer in terms of rest and relaxation. Whether you are traveling with the entire family or are planning a romantic vacation with your special someone, you can rest assured there is an island resort guaranteed to meet your every need.

When planning your Caribbean vacation, the first thing you must do is determine which island you’d like to visit. While this might seem a grueling decision, you can take comfort in the fact that when it comes to the Caribbean islands, you really can’t make a wrong choice. With crystal clear water on all sides and delicious sunshine bathing each one in warmth and luxury, the Caribbean islands are a wonderful place to spend any vacation.

Caribbean vacations can generally fit just about any budget. Whether you have several hundred or several thousand dollars to spend on your holiday, you can find several Caribbean travel packages to suit your budget. When searching for reasonable travel packages to the Caribbean, the best place to look is the Internet. Conduct a search and you’ll see: there are literally thousands of options from which to choose.

Caribbean vacations are a wonderful experience for people of all ages and cruises are the best way to truly experience everything the Caribbean has to offer. You can find the best deals via the Internet but read on below to find out more.

An Eastern Caribbean cruise is the perfect option for both first-time cruisers and experienced travelers looking for a slow and relaxing pace in comfortable surroundings. They are also ideal for people who have never been to the Caribbean before. Eastern Caribbean cruises are great for families because they visit only a small number of ports, so most of the cruise time is actually spent on board the ship and often with two consecutive days as sea.

There is plenty to do on the islands of the Eastern Caribbean. You can visit the famous beaches and try snorkeling, sailing, and or even golf. Shop for souvenirs and luxury goods imported from around the world including jewelry, perfumes, crystal, porcelain, cameras, electronics and more at tax-free prices at the extensive array of shops. And don’t forget to have a cooling drink at one of the many cafes and restaurants. And if you are a gambler then you don’t get left out either because the islands have the largest casinos in the Caribbean.

There is no doubt that the world’s most popular cruising destination is the Caribbean and one of the most in demand tours includes the Bahamas and the eastern islands that define the border between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. During an Eastern Caribbean Cruise you will probably visit three or four of the following islands: * Nassau * St. Thomas, USVI * St. John, USVI * St. Maarten * San Juan, Puerto Rico * Tortola, BVI * Virgin Gorda, BVI * Cruise Line Private Islands

Eastern Caribbean cruises are very affordable and available year-round for 7 nights. Longer itineraries from 10-12 nights are available during the winter months.

About The Author

Corsa Roceraz is the owner of BYE Cruises which is a premier resource for cruises information. for more information, go to http://www.byecruises.com

corsa@byecruises.com