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Consider River Europe Cruises

River cruises through Europe are a wonderful way to spend some quality time with your partner. You will both be pampered and well taken care of on these more intimate vessels. These ships are smaller in size and will therefore have fewer passengers. While these cruises tend to cost more money many feel they are well worth it. You will get to see locations that very few ever get to see. These river cruises offer you the ability to get up close and personal with small, rustic cities and towns while floating on a 5 star hotel. These Europe cruises ports are unlike any port you will come across on an oceanic cruise. You will immediately feel a closer connection to your partner while on Europe river cruises because of the intimate feel and nature of them. Many prefer to save up for a river cruise as opposed to go with the more popular and less expensive ocean based cruises. For special trips, look for river cruises along the romantic Danube. During tulip season a cruise through Holland will allow you to enjoy the spectacular flower fields spotted with windmills. During winter think about a river cruise in the Rhine region and enjoy the Christmas season from a different perspective.

Most Popular Destinations

Some of the most popular cruises for a romantic European destination include Prague, Venice, Barcelona and Paris. Each of these destinations provides beautiful views of breathtaking cities. These Europe cruises are each known for their romance and charm that will make you fall in love with your partner all over again. Paris, is of course, the city people think of when they think of romance and falling in love. Look for cruise specials to Paris where you can have it all. This city has it all when it comes to romantic and intimate cafes and parks you can walk hand in hand with your partner. Taking a romantic cruise to Paris will provide you with plenty of culture with their shows and plenty of nature with their gardens. There are plenty of beautiful sights to see and romantic things to do with one of these very popular destinations in Europe cruises.

Central Europe Cruise Options

If you and your partner are interested in seeing some of the most breathtaking views in nature, then central cruises to Europe can provide you with this. Their more popular romantic destinations include Switzerland and Austria. Each of these destinations provides you with stunning views of the Alps. Many couples prefer to steer away from the more crowded city streets and enjoy nature together. The best way to do this is to go on a cruise that will provide you with nature as you’ve never seen it before. Switzerland is known for its picturesque mountains and rolling green hills to their quaint and beautiful towns. Europe cruises that take you through central Europe can be perfect for the nature loving couple.

Northern Europe

Northern Europe cruises have a great selection of romantic destinations for you and your partner. The United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales along with Norwegian Fjords and Scandinavia and the Baltic States are just a few of the destinations you have to pick from. Each of these locations is rich in history and culture. You and your partner will be able to learn together about these locations and the way they came to be. Many couples find that the most romantic thing you can do is learn about new cultures and experience new things together. Europe cruises that take you through northern Europe can provide you and your partner with new and enriching experiences.

Eastern Europe

When it comes to romantic getaways, the Mediterranean cruises are the way to go. You will get to see places like Turkey and Greece. A Greek Island cruise is extremely popular among couples. These locations are extremely beautiful and old. You and your partner will get the opportunity to learn about their rich culture and history while taking in the old architecture. You and your partner will get a deep appreciation for history and each other whenever you take the time to go on a Mediterranean cruise. There are plenty of romantic getaways available to you through Europe cruises.

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Dining Options

One of the things that sets Princess cruises apart from other cruise lines is the ‘Anytime Dining’ option. Unlike most cruises where you are given a specific block of time to dine, the Princess cruise ship experience allows you to choose when you want to eat at any of the restaurants between 5:30 and 10:00 pm. This way if you have a shore excursion planned, you don’t have to rush back to the ship by 6:00 to make your dining appointments. You’ll also find traditional cruise fare in the main dining rooms that is always a crowd pleaser. If you want to experience something a little more upscale, you can look at any of the specialty restaurants available on all of the Princess cruise ships. You’ll find Italian restaurants, steakhouses, seafood options, and light cuisine and pastries. The names of the restaurants may vary on each Princess cruise ship, but the same basic options are available on all of them.

Princess Cruise Ship Onboard Activities

You’ll never be at a loss for something to do while cruising with Princess. For longer cruises that will require full days at sea, you can find plenty of day time activities available. Head over to the Sanctuary to enjoy some quiet time. This cabana style outdoor spa is a place to just relax, enjoy refreshing drinks and snacks, and even some chair side massage services. You can also choose to participate in the ScholarShip@Sea program. This allows you to take classes for photography, cooking, scrapbooking, wine tasting, ceramics, and even the history of the cruise ship industry. These classes vary based on the Princess cruise ship you’re on, but each ship will offer something to help enhance your experience and learn some new skills. Every Princess cruise ship also offers an extensive library. Here you can choose from more than 2,000 books ranging from contemporary fiction to classics. It’s a great place to escape and catch up on your reading. If sports are your thing, you can find a golf simulator on each Princess cruise ship. This allows you to get the full experience of playing 9 holes without ever leaving the ship. You can also find ping pong tables, a jogging track, shuffleboard, volleyball and basketball courts.

Lotus Spa

Every Princess cruise ship offers the Lotus Spa. This will allow you to enjoy full spa and salon services without leaving the ship. You can find hair treatments ranging from styling, coloring, and cuts. You can get your nails done. You can even choose tooth whitening services and men will enjoy the barber services available. The Spa offers a variety of services as well. You can find services that include acupuncture, stone therapy, Botox treatments, facials, and cellulite reduction. The Lotus fitness center offers classes such as yoga and Pilates, and even a metabolism test to determine where your body can use additional help.

Youth Activities

Kids won’t be without activities on the Princess cruise ship either. There are plenty of places for them to hang out. Special dinner services broken up by age will allow the children to meet other children in their age group while enjoying food made specifically for them. A teen center offering the latest in video game systems, movies, and even karaoke is available for those who won’t be happy hanging out with the younger crowd. Several television rooms are available that will play favorite cartoons, movies, and other shows just for kids. If you want to spend some time alone you can find kidsitting services. If you plan on taking a port trip that isn’t age appropriate, you can sign the kids up for a separate activity just for them. This supervised trip will be great fun for the kids, and will allow you to get away without feeling guilty.

Princess cruise lines also strives to make their ships affordable for any budget. Regardless of the type of cruise you are looking for, choosing a Princess cruise ship will help enhance your cruise vacation experience greatly.

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DreamWorks Experience

The Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas will be the 4^th ship in fleet that offers the DreamWorks Experience. This allows you to take your family on an unforgettable vacation where the kids and adults will have something to do the entire time. On the DreamWorks cruise you can watch 3D movies on board in the state of the art theater, mingle with your favorite DreamWorks characters, and even watch full production ice shows.

Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas Staterooms

A new cruise ship means brand new stateroom options as well. Royal Caribbean strives to maintain its affordability while offering a comfortable experience for everyone. The interior staterooms are available in 4 different options. The standard interior stateroom offers a spacious 150 square feet of living space and a private bathroom. This is great for 2 passengers. For those wanting to make sure they have a view without spending a lot, the Promenade stateroom may be the answer. This features a bowed window that overlooks the Promenade. The Family interior staterooms offer more space and accommodations for up to 6 people. If you want an ocean view, look at the outside staterooms. These are available in the same sizes as the interior but all offer a view of the open water. For romantic vacations a stateroom with a private balcony may be a better option. These are large enough to be comfortable, and offer balconies with a sitting area. Suites are also available for those who want more room and a touch of luxury. The Presidential Family Suite offers 4 full bedrooms and can accommodate 14 people. The 1200 square foot suite opens up to an 800 square foot balcony. If you don’t need anything quite that big, look at the Royal Suites or the Owner’s Suites. These offer plenty of space, luxurious appointments, and private ocean view balconies. The suites are more affordable than you may think. You can book these from $1,100 per person. When you compare the Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas to other cruise lines, this is extremely affordable.

Dining Options

Along with the traditional cruise dining that the entire Royal Caribbean cruise ships fleet offer, the Freedom of the Seas also offers a few extra choices. The Johnny Rockets 50’s style restaurant offers a ‘greasy spoon’ feel complete with hand dipped shakes and thick burgers. You won’t have to pay a service charge for this restaurant, making it a favorite for families. The on board steakhouse, Chops Grille, is a reservation required restaurant serving upscale steakhouse style meals. Portofino is another reservation required restaurant offering fine Italian cuisine. If you want a quick snack, check out the Café Promenade. Sorrento’s is also a family favorite, serving pizza and more. A Ben & Jerry’s is also available on board to serve your sweet tooth. If you want standard cruise style dining, you’ll have three choices. You can also find Jade Restaurant, an Asian restaurant offering sushi and more. Room service is also available, and you can order take out from any of the restaurants on the Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas.

Bars and Lounges

The Freedom of the Seas also offers plenty for adults. You can find several bars and lounges on board this brand new ship. Check out the Bull and Bear Pub, a British style pub serving pub food and plenty of beer varieties. You’ll also find the Champagne Bar, serving only champagne and wine. Bolero’s is a Latin style dance club that will allow you to dance in to the night. The Crypt is another dance club with a disco atmosphere. The Viking Crown Lounge features five individual lounges that all offer a 360 degree view of the ocean.

For Kids

There is plenty for the younger members of your family to explore while on board the Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas. An Aquanauts area is a place for younger kids, featuring bright colors and plenty of fun to be found. The Explorers area offers art and crafts stations as well as plenty of room for kids to play around. At the Voyagers center you’ll find computers and areas for kids to hang out. The computers are all equipped with parental controls so you don’t need to worry about kids surfing inappropriately. For teens, the Fuel Disco lounge offers a more adult feel without the alcohol. There are also activities available for the entire cruise, including scavenger hunts, dance parties, video game tournaments, and board game challenges.

Outdoor Activities

One of the most known aspects of all Royal Caribbean cruises is the sheer amount of outdoor and sports related activities available. The famous rock climbing wall is available on the Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas ship. You’ll also find a full size boxing ring, a sports pool, volleyball and basketball areas, and a full water park featuring slides, wading pools, and more. Check out the ice skating rink or the FlowRider- an area that allows you to surf while on the ship. You can also find mini golf, and hot tubs that jut out from the site of ship to allow you to soak and feel as though you’re hanging over the open water.

Ports of Call

The Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas will sail exclusively in the Caribbean for the first few years. You can find cruises that will allow you to enjoy the Western, Eastern, and Southern areas of the Caribbean. This can include St. Thomas, the Bahamas, Honduras, Aruba, Jamaica, Belize, Virgin Islands, Haiti, and more.

If you’re looking for a Caribbean vacation that is affordable for the whole family, looking at the Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas may be a great option for you.

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Norwegian Jewel Cruise Ship Staterooms

One of the unique aspects of the NCL Jewel is the fact that the staterooms are among the largest in the industry. The interior staterooms offer an average of 150 square feet of living space. When compared to other cruise lines interior cabins, this is pretty impressive. Ocean view cabins are slightly larger, averaging 165 square feet. Balcony rooms offer more than 200 square feet of living space and a private balcony with seating that will allow you to enjoy the ocean views while feeling the sea air on your face. You can also choose from several suites if you want more room. A basic mini suite will offer almost 300 square feet, and a private balcony. The penthouse suites offer up to 600 square feet, and will sleep 4 people comfortably. The penthouse suites include a separate living area, dining area, and butler and concierge services. For those wanting a truly opulent experience check out the 3 bedroom villa. This suite is more than just a suite. You’ll have almost 5,000 square feet of living space, a private garden with a hot tub, luxury bath, king and queen sized beds, a private courtyard, and a butler. The Norwegian Jewel cruise ship villas are popular for honeymoons and other special occasions where a luxurious celebration is in order.

Dining Options

There are more than 18 dining options to choose from on the Norwegian Jewel cruise ship. You’ll be able to enjoy traditional cruise style dining in the main dining room. Room service is also available the entire time the cruise ship is at sea. Kids will love the Kid’s Café, which offers foods that children will love such as pizza, omelets, soups, and more. For a snack late at night check out the Blue Lagoon. This restaurant stays open all night, and serves burgers, quick stir fry dishes, and more fast and light snacks. Cagney’s Steakhouse offers upscale meals that you may find at classic steakhouses, such as filet mignon, prime rib, seafood, and more. For those who are craving Asian food, hit the Chin Chin Asian restaurant, offering authentic Thai, Chinese, and Japanese menu items. Le Bistro offers fine French foods in an art nouveau atmosphere. Mama’s Italian Kitchen serves authentic Italian cuisine, a full wine menu, and gourmet espresso drinks. For a quick bite in the morning, check out the Great Outdoors buffet. You can get made to order omelets, fruits, waffles, and more. You’ll also find a full sushi and sake bar, a Latin American themed Tapas restaurant, and a Japanese Teppanyaki restaurant. The Norwegian Jewel cruise ship offers more dining options than the average cruise ship.

Salon and Spa Services

The Bora Bora Health Spa and Beauty Salon is a full service salon offering many different types of treatments. You can stop in for a massage, or book a full day of services that include massages, wraps, facials, manicures, pedicures, and more. They offer services for men as well. When you book your Jewel cruise you can book special packages in advance and save money. For instance, if you’re booking a cruise for a romantic occasion you can book couples massages to enhance the experience.

For Kids

NCL cruise lines understand that cruises are just as much about family as they are anything else. Keeping your kids occupied is an important aspect of the cruise experience. It’s not going to be an enjoyable family cruise vacation if the kids are bored out of their minds. The Norwegian Jewel cruise ship has you covered with this. The video arcade has games for kids of all ages, and is open late in to the evening. The Sapphire Kid’s Pool is a small pool designed just for the little ones with lots of fun activities and an on duty lifeguard at all times. Club Underground is designed just for teens, offering a place for them to hang out in graffiti laden atmosphere, lots of music, and even dances and karaoke just for teens. There are also daily activities for kids of all ages, so there will never be a dull moment while on the Norwegian cruise ship.

Available Itineraries

The Norwegian Jewel cruise ship sails several different itineraries. From December through March it sails Caribbean cruise routes. This will give you a chance to explore the Bahamas, Jamaica, Cozumel, Grand Cayman, the Virgin Islands, and more. These cruises are also relatively cheap with, starting at just $399 per person for these NCL cruise options. In September you can take a 15 day cruise through the Panama Canal. A similar cruise is offered in April, offering a 17 day cruise. During the fall months you may enjoy taking the Norwegian Jewel cruise through New England and Canada. A few Alaskan cruises are also available.

You can go online to find up to date Norwegian Jewel pictures on the Norwegian website. You can also get detailed information regarding booking, ports of call, and policies. With the Norwegian Jewel cruise ship offering so many different cruise options, it’s definitely worth considering for your next cruise vacation.

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Staterooms on the Silhouette

One of the biggest drawing points for the all new Celebrity Silhouette is the updated stateroom availability. 85% of the rooms offer veranda views that let you enjoy the open waters every minute of your cruise. The basic interior staterooms offer up to 200 square feet of living space including a sitting area. For a more luxurious experience, look at the plethora of suites available. You can find something simple such as the Sunset Veranda cabin, offering twin beds that convert in to a queen, and a private veranda to enjoy the water. This is a great room for a honeymoon cruise package. If you want something larger, look at the family ocean view staterooms with a veranda. This cabin sleeps 4 comfortably and isn’t overly expensive. The Sky suites offer floor to ceiling sliding glass doors and a private veranda with seating. For a truly spectacular cruise vacation, look at the Penthouse suites on the Celebrity Silhouette. These can’t really be classified as cabins since they offer so much more than a place to sleep. The Penthouse offers more than 1200 square feet of living space with a veranda that is almost 400 square feet. You’ll enjoy walk in closets, marble whirlpool tubs, in suite lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner service, as well as a butler at your service 24 hours a day. The Celebrity Silhouette offers cabins in all price ranges, so anyone can afford to take a Celebrity cruise and not go broke doing so.

Celebrity Silhouette Cellar Masters

The wine lovers will love the addition of a full wine experience. The Cellar Masters is a lounge like area where you can enjoy wine tastings, quiet conversation, and more. You can even take wine classes to expand your knowledge. You don’t need to be an aficionado to enjoy this experience. If you fall in love with a particular wine you can purchase bottles to take home with you as well. They will be held until you leave the ship, but the option is available to anyone.

Sky Observation Lounge

Another one of the newest features offered on the Celebrity Silhouette is the Sky Observation Lounge. This unique lounge has tables and comfortable chairs lined up along floor to ceiling windows. The feeling is having a sunroom on the cruise ship just for you to enjoy. You’ll be able to sit, have a cocktail, some snacks, and enjoy the sunrise, sunset, or just the open waters.

Dining Options

The Celebrity Silhouette offers all the traditional dining you already expect with a Celebrity cruise, plus a few new options. Blu Restaurant is a dining area available to the guests who have booked AquaClass rooms. This restaurant specializes in healthy selections for lunch and dinner. You can enjoy meals that are delicious and won’t pack on the pounds. This is a great restaurant for a light lunch or dinner.

Qsine is another one of the newer restaurants with Celebrity cruise lines. You’ll be able to enjoy food that is prepared to be just as much art as it is a meal. The décor is modern and elegant at the same time, and you’ll be able to enjoy dishes from all over the world.

The Lawn Club Grill is another new specialty restaurant exclusive to the Celebrity Silhouette cruise ship. This is a playful restaurant offering backyard barbecue style food. You can enjoy a juicy burger, rack of ribs, and more. The open air atmosphere is both cozy and comfortable.

The Porch is yet another concept restaurant on the Silhouette. You can enjoy fresh salads, specialty Panini’s, coffees, and more. There is no surcharge to grab something to eat here, but since it’s new there may be a wait if you don’t make plans ahead of time.

You’ll also be able to enjoy the restaurants you’ve already been to on other Celebrity cruises, such as Murano, and the main dining room.

The Hideaway and Artist Studio

If you want to get away to a quiet place to reflect while on your cruise vacation, the Celebrity Silhouette offers a perfect place for this. You can escape to your own private retreat at the hideaway. This is the perfect place to read a loved book, play solitary puzzles like Sudoku, or just catch up on work on your laptop.

The Art Studio is another great addition to the Celebrity line up. You’ll be able to get away and create. You can find classes on painting, jewelry making, cooking, bartending, and more. You can take classes or just escape and enjoy the muse the sea can offer.

The Alcoves

Another area where the Celebrity Silhouette offers innovative designs, the Alcoves offers a camping like experience without leaving the ship. The grassed in area features cabana style retreats for up to 4 guests. During the day you can enjoy the ocean, and by night you can watch the stars and enjoy the fresh sea air. All of the Alcoves are equipped with WiFi, and drinks and snacks come to you by picnic basket. You’ll have to book these quickly as they are already popular and booking very fast.

Itineraries

Starting in July 2011 the Celebrity Silhouette will cruise to Germany, Spain, Rome, and Italy. This 7 night cruise starts at just $1300 per person. The Silhouette will stick to a European cruise path October, then will switch to a Caribbean cruise path. The last European cruise offered will be a Holy Land tour before Celebrity switches gears and repositions the ship. The Caribbean cruises will let you sail for anywhere from 8 to 18 days, and let you visit several of the most popular ports in the eastern, western, and southern Caribbean.

There are plenty of reasons to sail with Celebrity cruise lines. Getting the opportunity to sail on a brand new ship is rare. The Celebrity Silhouette won’t disappoint you.

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All Inclusive Travel Agency Discounts

We’ve all seen the advertisements on billboards or heard the commercials on the radio. These will advertise a vacation that sounds too good to be true. In most cases, they are. You may be able to get a great deal on a cruise vacation this way if you know what to look for. All inclusive typically means something different with a travel agent than it does with a typical cruise line. For a travel agent, the Disney cruise discounts will probably be for a full package including airfare, hotel, and the cruise. This is what you need to watch for. The cruise package may be cheap, but then you may end up paying more for the airfare and hotel than you need to. Don’t go for high pressure sales. If a travel agent offers you a package with a cruise that sounds enticing, ask them for a breakdown of each component. Then you can do some independent research and decide if the cruise package is really a discount. The cruise tickets may be $300 per person lower, but if you end up spending $100 per person more on the airfare, then another $100 for the hotel room for 2 nights, the package isn’t really worth it. You could find Disney cruise discounts directly through Disney cruise lines that will save you the same amount on the cruise, then book your own airfare and hotel through a discount website. This does require more time and planning, but in the end it could save you hundreds of dollars. Typically, if you tell the travel agent what your plans are, they will find other airline seats that are lower, and may be able to throw in some other extras like an upgraded stateroom on the cruise. This could make the discount more than worthwhile.

Disney Cruise Discounts for Birthdays and Celebrations

Did you know that by signing up for Disney’s birthday club you may be able to save on your next cruise package? You may be able to get Disney cruise discounts this way through your favorite travel agent as well. When you let the staff on the ship know you’re celebrating a birthday, they will present a birthday cake by singing wait staff, and the birthday person will get a pin commemorating the occasion. The discounts vary from year to year, but if you sign up with the Disney cruise line you may be eligible for up to 20% off your cruise. When you’re talking about a vacation package that can easily be $1000 per person, this is a big savings! You can also book special birthday packages at resorts all over the world for a discounted rate. This will let you save money on the hotel before and after your cruise. Since it’s suggested that you arrive at least 2 days before the cruise for international cruises (such as European cruises) and then you fly out the day after the cruise ends, having the hotel is necessary. If you don’t want to spend a ton of money, look for packages that will save you on the cruise and hotel. These Disney cruise discounts can be found directly through Disney cruises and through travel agents.

Maiden Voyage and Special Celebration Discounts

Another great way to save money with Disney cruise discounts is to look for specials that Disney is offering for a variety of reasons. Anytime a new ship is introduced the maiden voyage is typically very inexpensive. This allows the cruise line to run at full operation and work out any staffing kinks that may not be planned for. The discounts can run for up to a year beyond the cruise ship being introduced to the fleet. A good example of this is any cruise on the Disney Dream will be discounted through May 2012 since it’s a new cruise ship for the Disney cruise fleet. In 2012 another new ship, the Disney Fantasy, will enter the fleet. If you start looking early you can get Disney cruise discounts for this newer ship well before it sets sail. Walt Disney cruise lines will also offer specials for various milestones. For instance, during the 150 Years of Magic celebration the cruises and theme parks were heavily discounted. You don’t need to wait another century for these deals. Every few years a new milestone promotion is announced, and this can provide you with a great opportunity to take the family cruise you’ve always dreamed of for very cheap.

You want to avoid booking cruises with online agencies that don’t have a solid reputation. Many of these will advertise extremely cheap cruises, but then not follow through. There are plenty of online agencies that do actually stand behind their promises. You just need to make sure you find one that you can verify will have reliable Disney cruise discounts to offer.

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New and Revamped Ship Discounts

The cruise line industry is a competitive one. If the cruise lines don’t keep their ships up to date, they can’t keep people coming back for more. A good way to score a Carnival cruise discount is to look for ships that are new, or have just been rereleased back in to the fleet. Carnival cruises will often be cheaper as they introduce the ship in to the fleet. There are several reasons for this. First, it helps to build the hype and draw potential cruisers to that specific ship. Secondly, it’s not uncommon for a new ship to have new staff. While they have been thoroughly trained, sometimes the only way to really get in to the swing of things is to just get right in and start. It’s expected to have a few kinks on a new itinerary or a new cruise ship. Most people who are experienced cruisers will understand this, and won’t mind paying a little less for the experience. This shouldn’t deter you whatsoever from taking these cruises. In almost all cases everything will run smoothly. The worst that usually happens is slightly longer service for meals as the staff gets acclimated to the new ship. If you are a patient person this is a great method for landing a worthwhile Carnival cruise discount.

Frequent Cruise Programs

All cruise lines have programs set up to reward those who cruise frequently with them. Carnival cruise lines is no exception to this. Signing up for the program is free, and you get points with every cruise you book. As long as you’ve taken at least one cruise with Carnival in the past you’ll qualify for special cruises just for past guests. These can be great discounts. For instance, for 2011 they offer a 5 day Caribbean cruise for less than $550 per person. That’s almost 20% off the standard rate for that cruise. You can also get free upgrades with your stateroom when you book this special. The Carnival cruise discount for these specials rotates out a few times a year, so be sure to check back frequently to see what is available. On top of these specials you can earn different member status levels that will give you perks and discounts based on the number of cruises you take. As an example, those who have platinum member status will enjoy on board credits that represent a certain percentage of the cruise cost. For your 25^th cruise, you’ll get a 25% on board credit. This means if the cruise you’re taking is $1000 per person, you’ll end up with $250 on board credit for each person cruising. This goes up with each milestone. The 50^th cruise will give you 50%, 75^th cruise will give you 75%, and your 100^th cruise will give you a free cruise entirely. While it may seem impossible to earn that many cruises, if you cruise regularly it’s not that difficult. If you take 2 cruises each year with your family of 4, you’ll end up on your 25^th cruise milestone in just a little over 3 years.

Early Saver Savings

The Early Saver Savings program with Carnival cruise lines is probably one of the most popular options for Carnival cruise discounts. These allow you to book cruises early on and save 20% or more on your next vacation. If you visit the Carnival cruise website you’ll see a tab for this. You can choose to search for cruises that are 3-5 days in length, or 6-8 days in length. You’ll also be able to sort the cruise options by departure port, cost, time of year, and more. If you use this option you could book a 4 day cruise for under $200 per person. You won’t find other cruise packages that offer these kinds of prices. Of course, this means you’ll need to book from 6 months to a year in advance, but this isn’t a problem for most people considering work schedules can be hectic.

Cruise to Nowhere and Transpacific Carnival Cruise Discount Options

If you just want to take an extended weekend vacation, finding a Carnival cruise discount on a cruise to nowhere is a great idea. These cruises depart from several points on the US coasts and simply cruise out for a day, then come back. You can choose to depart from New York City, Norfolk, VA, San Diego, CA, or Vancouver, BC, Canada. There are no port calls for these cruises. The idea is just to enjoy everything the cruise ship offers and blow off some steam. You can find these cruises for under $200 per person. The Transpacific cruise is another good option for those who want an extended vacation. This cruise is offered once every year in September. The cruise will depart from Hawaii and end in Australia. The Carnival cruise discount for this cruise is designed to entice people to consider this. This repositioning cruise will give you the chance to explore French Polynesia, the Fiji Islands, and more. These types of cruises are typically very expensive, but with the Carnival transpacific deal you can sail for under $90 per person per day.

Finding cheap cruises is possible if you spend a little time planning and researching. Carnival cruise discount options are out there for the taking if you just take the time to find them.

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Bon Appetit Culinary Center

The latest feature for the Oceania Cruise Lines fleet is the addition of a full scale culinary school on board the Oceania Marina. So far Oceania is the only line that offers anything like this. You can work with world famous chefs hands on to learn to cook some marvelous dishes. Classes are offered several days while the cruise is at sea. You’ll need to book these packages well in advance because there are only 24 cooking stations. You can sign up for single classes that will go over popular and gourmet breakfast foods like smoked salmon and poached eggs, modern Greek dishes like dried fig souvlaki, classic American foods like roast beef with caper sauce, and classic cruise faire such as Cajun Mahi Mahi and fish steaks. You can also book classes that span the course of several sessions to learn how to cook full Southwestern meals, or pasta techniques and dishes that will make your family and friends feel like you’ve been trained professionally. The shorter classes only last around 2 to 3 hours, so you won’t waste an entire cruise, but you’ll have plenty of time to learn to cook some of the best foods and still enjoy the other aspects of the Oceania cruise.

Artists Loft on the Oceania Marina

Another awesome addition to the cruise experience with the Oceania Marina is the Artist Loft. This offers a program where artists, both new and experienced, can get together and create. The Loft is kept stocked with everything you need to paint, with watercolors, oils, and acrylics. You’ll also find instructional classes that will teach you different techniques. The art isn’t limited to just painting. You may find sculpting classes, pottery classes, needlepoint classes, and more.

Afternoon Tea and Wine Tasting

If you love wine, you’ll love cruising on the Oceania Marina. They offer daily tastings that go beyond your typical wine tasting. While a lot of cruise lines offer something similar, Oceania goes above and beyond with their offerings. You can attend fine wine tastings, scotch tasting, champagne tastings, and even cheese and chocolate tastings. The head sommelier attends all of these, so you can learn all about the wines as you relax with other passengers. If you want something a little more relaxing and wine isn’t your thing, you can enjoy afternoon tea each day. High Tea is presented at 4:00 pm every day the ship is sailing. You’ll be able to enjoy finger foods like scones, sandwiches, and other English style appetizers. You’ll also find light live entertainment to help enhance the experience.

Night Entertainment

You won’t ever have a lack of something to do, even in the late hours while on board the Marina. The Monte Carlo style casino is full of slot machines, blackjack tables, and roulette wheels. You’ll find a few video poker machines too if that’s your style. You’ll also be able to enjoy full orchestra performances in the large on deck theater. This allows you to enjoy classical music under the stars while sharing cocktails with friends. If you want something a little more interactive on your cruise vacation, head over the karaoke bar at the Horizons. You’ll also find a dance club, and 9 different options for bars and lounges while cruising on the Oceania Marina.

Restaurants and Dining

One of the other aspects of the brand new Oceania Marina cruise ship is the addition of several restaurants. Standard cruise dining is available in the Grand Dining Room, but you won’t have a typical cruise dining experience. This dining hall is decorated in dark wood, crystal accents, and touches of gold to create a spectacular environment. The menu offers continental cuisine with a European flair. The Grand Dining Room is open for lunch and dinner.

Jacques is the elegant French restaurant designed by Jacque Pepin. This is the only restaurant you’ll find on a cruise ship with any cruise line that bears this name. You’ll enjoy a classic bistro ambiance with dishes that won’t disappoint.

Red Ginger is the Asian inspired restaurant open for dinner and tea. You’ll find upscale versions of your favorite Asian foods, such as braised beef Malay curry and green tea banana cake. The restaurant offers a full wine list, as well as tea and dessert if you want something light.

If you want a great steak while enjoying your cruise vacation, head over the brand new Polo Grill on the Marina. While all of the Oceania ships have a steakhouse, this one is larger and offers more than some of the others. You can enjoy prime rib, filet mignon, and lobster.

Toscana is another one of the restaurants that is available on several of the Oceania cruise ships. However, on the Marina you’ll have a brand new restaurant that is larger and airier. You can enjoy swank Italian dishes such as veal chops, porcini mushroom risotto, and more.

La Reserve is a private dining restaurant that isn’t available on all the ships in the Oceania fleet. This allows you to book a room for up to 24 guests to enjoy seven course meals. This is great for those enjoying a wedding, anniversary, or other celebration where you may have guests to entertain. For a more intimate and exquisite experience, you can book Privee. This is a private room where you and up to 7 other guests can enjoy full service like you’ve never had before.

You’ll also find a bar and grill with a laid back ambiance and classic comfort foods like burgers and hot dogs at Waves. The Terrace Café is another laid back area where you can enjoy pizza and breakfast.

Staterooms

A brand new ship means brand new rooms. While all of cabins are kept up and very well appointed, you’ll enjoy luxuries on the Oceania Marina that you won’t find on other cruise ships. Even the interior staterooms have top of the line linens and are spacious. The standard staterooms are equipped with 700 thread count sheets and a mini bar that provides free soft drinks and bottled water refilled daily. For a more opulent cruise vacation look at the brand new suites on the Oceania Marina. The 2000 square foot Owner’s Suite features 1,000 thread count linens, a full size Jacuzzi bath tub, laptop computer with internet access in your room, 24 hour room service, Bvgari toiletries, robes and slippers, butler service, a private veranda, and much more. You can also find plenty of cabin options in between as well for those who don’t want something over the top but do want more than a standard interior room.

Itineraries

The Oceania Marina will sail several different itineraries, but will focus on the European cruise experience. You’ll find cruise itineraries that range from 9 to 18 days, and will explore a variety of routes, including western Europe cruises, eastern Europe cruises, and Mediterranean cruises. You’ll be able to visit anywhere from Rome to Istanbul, to Spain. The itineraries are planned out and ready to book for up to 24 months in advance. Since the Oceania Marina is a new cruise ship, it’s best to book as early as possible.

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Carnival Cruises- Cheapest Cruises

Carnival cruises are among the cheapest cruises in the industry as it is. They cater to families, but anyone can enjoy a spectacular cruise vacation with Carnival. They offer several transatlantic options that will allow you to see several points in Europe without spending a lot of cash. You can find cruises that start at under $700 per person to go from Europe back to the states. You’ll have to fly to Barcelona in most cases, but you can find discount airfare to help with that.

Holland America Transatlantic Cruise Options

Holland America cruise line also offers transatlantic options. The transatlantic cruises with HAL tend to be geared more towards romance. They may not be the cheapest cruise line, but these can still offer great deals on luxury cruises. You can find cruises that let you explore St. Petersburg, Istanbul, Copenhagen, Lisbon, and more. The 9 day transatlantic cruises start at just $600 per person to New York, or you can choose an 18 day cruise for as low as $1100. If you want to try a cruise in a romantic suite, like a honeymoon cruise, you can book a suite with a private verandah for as low as $1200. This is an excellent way to cruise cheap for a honeymoon, anniversary, birthday, or for no reason at all.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines

Royal Caribbean also offers great rates for transatlantic cruising. The cheapest cruises with Royal Caribbean tend to be these options. You can spend time on the ship enjoying everything the water offers, and explore a couple ports. This is a laid back way to go cruising. You can cruise from Spain to Panama on a 14 day cruise for as low as $500 per person. You can also choose an eastbound cruise from Spain to New Orleans for around the same price. For a more romantic cruise, look for the cheapest cruises from Italy. You can book a 16 day cruise from Italy, through the Bahamas, finally arriving in Galveston, Texas. This is an awesome way to explore both European cruises and more tropical Caribbean cruises in the same vacation. These start at $500, and you get a deluxe suite with a balcony and baby grand piano for as low as $1700 per person. When you’re looking for the cheapest cruise options, you can’t beat the deals offered here.

Princess Transatlantic Cruises

Princess cruise lines also offers some of the cheapest cruises for transatlantic adventures. Princess does tend to lean to the luxury side of cruising, but you can save as much as 75% off the price with a transatlantic option and proper planning. You can book a 16 day cruise from Florida to Copenhagen for around $1200 per person for an interior stateroom. You can also choose to fly to Venice and take an 18 day cruise back to Florida. This will let you see Naples, Rome, Florence, Cannes, Barcelona, Lisbon, and Ponta Delgada as well. This cruise vacation package will start around $2500 per person and go up based on the cabin you choose.

Other Cruise Lines

You can find cheap cruises on just about any cruise line. Most of them do offer transatlantic options. For instance, Cunard offers cruises from New York to England in January and July. If you book these you can save as much as 50% what you would normally pay for a European cruise. Norwegian cruise lines also offers several Transatlantic options. In April you can book an 11 day cruise from Miami to Barcelona, or from New Orleans to Barcelona. You can find return trips later in the year, usually towards the end of September and beginning of October from Barcelona back to the states.

As long as you do some research on the cruise lines you can find plenty of cheap cruise options. Remember that the cost of the cabin won’t include onboard expenses and excursions. Sometimes the cheapest cruises are the ones that cost a little more upfront but offer credits for onboard spending.

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Yorkeys Knob, Australia

On many Australian cruises this is a port of call for a few hours. Named after a famed local fisherman, this port offers tropical beaches that are magnificent. You can also find opportunities to snorkel, windsurf, sail, or dive on the Great Barrier Reef. You’re also just a few minutes from the World Heritage Rain Forests, and many cruise lines that offer a cruise from Australia will include a rainforest trek as part of their excursion packages.

Cruise from Australia Hardy Reef Port

If you love sea life you must find a cruise from Australia that includes a port of call in Hardy Reef. This reef is called home by more than 1500 species of fish. You’ll also find several kinds of turtles. Sharks and barracudas can also be seen at Hardy Reef. You can find excursion packages that will fly you over the reef to enjoy spectacular aerial views of the area. The best cruises in Australia will stop here for at least a few hours, many for longer.

Montgomery Reef

If you want to see amazing tidal movements that don’t happen anywhere else, Montgomery Reef is one stop on your cruise from Australia that you just can’t miss. As the ship ports it may appear that you’re stopping in the middle of the ocean. However, when the tide drops back you’ll see the reef emerge. Anyone who loves sea turtles will have a great time. You’ll have plenty of chances to grab photos of sea turtles, and may even spot a shark or two feeding off the reef.

Elcho Island

Elcho Island isn’t on many itineraries. However, if you find a cruise from Australia that offers this, it’s well worth it. This remote island is still home to an Aboriginal community, and the cruise line will need to get permission to port here. Once that’s done and you’re able to visit this port on your Australian vacation, you can enjoy a large art community. You’ll find basket weavers, jewelers, and painters that use only natural elements for their supplies.

Lizard Island

This is another spot that isn’t on many cruise from Australia itineraries, but if it is you’ll be in for a treat. You can find great access to scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef on Lizard Island. Locals flock to this location since it offers fantastic diving and fishing opportunities. In fact, it’s held as one of the best diving locations in the world. If you’re active and want to enjoy the coral reefs of Australia, this port is a must do.

King George Falls

King George Falls is the tallest waterfall in the Australian region. Many cruise from Australia excursions will include an option to tour this area by helicopter. Whether by air, sea, or land, this area offers breathtaking views. Those who enjoy photography will love this stop on their Australian cruise vacation. A lot of cruise lines will not make this a full day trip, but many will offer several hours at port to allow for exploration and photography.

Raft Point

If you are outdoorsy type person, this port of call for your cruise from Australia will offer you an exciting day. You can hike tough and rugged trails to explore the great scenery. You’ll be able to watch crocodile wrestling, and see plenty of art at the Aboriginal outdoor art gallery. The art depicts how the tribe hunts and lives. It’s only updated by authorized tribesmen, and is only updated every few decades. This is a great stop for anyone who is interested in Aboriginal cultures.

Geelong

Geelong is a small port, but offers a bustling scene. The remodeled bay now offers many restaurants that serve fresh seafood brought in directly from the port. You’ll be able to visit the Ford Discover Center, an interactive auto museum. You’ll also be able to enjoy live performances on the Waterfront. Spotting koalas, rare birds, and kangaroos are par for the course on this cruise from Australia port destination as well.

Any Australian cruise vacation can be an adventure. The ports you stop at while on these cruises will determine what kind of vacation you have. There are tons of ports of call available. You can always check with the cruise line that you’re taking your cruise from Australia with to find out what ports are on the itinerary and what excursions are available.

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