Stretching Your Cruise Budget
Cruising is always a wonderful vacation, however, if you are trying to stick to a budget, it important that you avoid common hidden cruise “extras ” Be aware of the following ways a cruise will end up costing you more . .Alcoholic Beverages . .If you enjoy having a glass of wine or a cocktail with your meals, this can be very costly However, you can always take advantage of the bartenders drink-of-the-day, usually offered at a lower price than most cocktails Before you sail, it’s a good idea to check your cruiseline’s policy on bringing your own alcohol on board ship . .The Spa . .Luxury cruiselines all have very upscale spa facilities If you would like to pamper yourself while on board, look for the daily specials that your ship’s spa offers Keep in mind the technicians are very skilled at convincing you that you need to purchase expensive spa products If you are prepared for this, you can politely decline when these products are offered . .Ship Photos . .On every cruise, a highlight is walking around to the different locations on the ship to have your picture taken It is very tempting to buy all of these photos, but try to limit yourself to one or two Bring enough film for your camera as well, purchasing photo supplies onboard can be expensive! . .Souvenirs . .All luxurious cruise ships have malls for your shopping pleasure Of course, with luxury and convenience comes the pricetags that go along with it! Try to avoid impulse shopping Your destinations will always have a wide variety of shops where you can pick up some mementos from your trip . .Excursions . .Shore excursions are a very important part of cruising as they allow you to engage in activities you enjoy and get the most out of your cruise destinations The cruise concierge desk will offer you a variety of options for fun activities, and they will suggest that you sign up before you get there I am a definite believer in thinking ahead, but a little education and planning will lead you to a better experience and won’t cost as much, especially if you take advantage of a good discount tour planner . .These are just a few helpful tips to look out for when you set sail so you can get the most out of your cruising experience!.
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Cruise the Whitsundays and Discover an Australian Paradise
The Whitsunday Islands of Australia are one of the most sublime and unforgettable vacation paradise locations in the world Located between Townsville and Mackay, some 900 miles north of Brisbane, it comprises 74 islands of the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s greatest coral reef system off the coast of Queensland This tropical getaway boasts well known holiday locations including Brampton Island, Daydream Island and Hamilton Island . .The name “Whitsundays” was coined by the British explorer, Captain Cook in 1770 and is the largest group of offshore islands in Australia The region’s sparkling azure seas, cradled by the Great Barrier Reef, are dotted with an array of national park islands, coral cays, fringing coral reefs and stunning beaches, all within short distance of each other By far the majority of the Whitsunday islands are designated national park, leaving them uninhabited and in their purest natural state for all to enjoy Of the 74, eight islands are inhabited, with 11 island resorts offering a range of accommodation and attractions . .Tourists can take a romantic cruise ship getaway and for 3 - 6 nights, explore this paradise by sea, while enjoying all the modern comforts you would expect on a cruise ship Cruise ship getaways are a popular choice for this region of the world You can board a charter boat that will accommodate around 40 persons with about half as many air conditioned bedrooms Aboard these fully staffed luxury boats you can tour around the warm tropical islands in air conditioned comfort and enjoy a number of shore recreational activities such as beaches, bushwalking, fishing and scuba diving It is perfect for honeymooners, but equally friendly for families . .A regular feature of these vessels is the glass-bottom, allowing you to view the natural wonders of marine life below They contain large observation and sundecks, a library, cocktail bar and comfortable lounge area You can enjoy sumptuous meals in the dining room and have your laundry taken care of Cabin features include deluxe staterooms with queen-sized beds down to single beds and all have private en-suites . .The Reef Odyssey departs from Shute Harbour for Hamilton Island, sails on to Whitehaven Beach for swimming, beach walking and a hike to Eagles landing at Hill Inlet The next day, passengers explore the coral chasms of Hook and Hardy Reefs The cruiser then visits Blue Pearl Bay on Hayman Island the third day where tourists can go ashore for a walk or to the beach Cruise through breathtaking Nara Inlet to see the aboriginal rock art then to Cid Harbour for overnight anchorage Finally, hike to the lookout at Cid Harbour the following day then cruise via the Molle group of islands before disembarking at Shute Harbour or Hamilton Island .
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Emerald Princess Princess Cruise Lines
One of the newest cruise ships to sail the seven seas, the Emerald Princess is one of the classiest ships I have ever sailed on . .Weighing in at 113,561 gross tons, it measures 946 8 feet long and 118 1 feet wide How a ship of this size can only draw 28 feet of water is beyond me Carrying a crew of 1227 it easily accommodates 3573 passengers It’s diesel electric engines can obtain a top speed of 23 5 knots while burning approximately 89,000 gallons of fuel per day With a total fuel capacity of 908,848 US gallons it has a range of 4834 nautical miles . .With 12 water tanks on board the ship holds a total of 874,502 gallons of water Combine this with a total of 441,000 pounds of food and one is insured of having a good time with a guarantee of 10 days of excruciating heartburn! (judging by some of my fellow passengers, the ship surely must hold as much booze as water ) . .While a person on ground level can see about 2 89 miles, the same person if standing on the 19th level would be able to see 15 2 nautical miles . .Equipped with 18 lifeboats, 6 tenders, 2 fast rescue boats, and marine evacuation systems, this ship is a safe as if one were sitting at home watching TV Adding to that the 823 fire extinguishers, 450 CO2 extinguishers, 634 fire hoses extending 45,749 feet, and numerous fire doors watertight doors, splash tight doors and a ultra sophisticated fire detection system makes this ship as unsinkable as they come . .Living on this floating hotel for 10 days was a total pleasure, based in Port Everglades we embarked on a ten day cruise to Aruba, Bonaire, Grenada,Dominica, St Thomas and Princess Caye Following 2 days at sea, we were eager to disembark in Aruba to stretch our legs and get in some much needed shopping, (my wife’s words) . .Next it was on to Bonaire, I had never been here before,and after a 3 hour tour and shopping, it was back on the ship with our next destination being Grenada Here we enjoyed a great tour where we visited an herb plantation, a park and Fort Frederick Darn, no time for shopping . .Arriving on the island of Dominica, we had a tour arranged to the Ti Tu Gorge, Screw’s Sulphur Springs, and shopping . .All of this was just a warm up, next on the list was St Thomas, the capital of shopping in the Eastern Caribbean! . .One more day at sea and it was time for our final port of call, Princess Caye, Princess Cruise Lines private island After spending a couple of hours on a floating raft tour, it was time to eat and shop, then back to the ship and an overnight trip back to Port Everglades . .It was a really enjoyable cruise with only 2 problems, one was that we had trouble getting our toilet to flush, and there was entirely too much shopping! . .Just kidding, it was a nice cruise and the store owners are a pleasure to meet and deal with, I’m sure we acquired a lot of things that we just couldn’t do without .
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