Win a Free Cruise!

It's easy for big companies to come up with lavish prize giveaways. But here at Cruise Holidays, as a locally owned business, it's not too often that we get the opportunity to make an offer like this: Join our Facebook community for a chance to win a free cruise for two!
 
All you have to do is go HERE and enter the contest for your chance to win.

The best part is, unlike some online contests that you may not trust, you can be certain this one is the real deal, because it is offered by a local business owner with a vested interest in being part of the community. If you are the lucky winner, we'll contact you and help you plan the cruise to your specifications.

Details:

• Win a free cruise for 2, offered by Cruise Holidays and Royal Caribbean International
• Royal Caribbean will present the winner with a list of cruises to choose from available at the time of the drawing
• Entries accepted until September 30, drawing to take place October 12, 2012
• One entry per person
• More terms and conditions are posted on the Cruise Holidays website 

Whether you join the sweepstakes or not, thank you for your business. And remember, when it is time for you to plan your next getaway, you can "Relax, You're With Us!"

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Cruise the Chilean Coast

A long, narrow strip of land between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, the South American country of Chile has nearly 2,900 miles of coastline. At its northern end is the world’s driest desert, Atacama, a source of copper and gold. Heading south, the scenery becomes greener in the Central Valley, which includes the capital city of Santiago. In southern Chile, the coast becomes a maze of fjords, inlets and islands, backed by forests, lakes and snow-topped volcanoes. Clearly, Chile is a dream come true for fans of scenic cruising.

Arica, just south of the border with Peru, is Chile’s northernmost cruise port. Arica has miles of beaches, and the waves are famous among surfing enthusiasts around the world. The San Miguel Archaeological Museum has an excellent collection of pre-Columbian artifacts and mummies that date back to 5000 BC. Take a short drive through the desert to visit Codpa, a historic village in a narrow, fertile valley filled with fruit trees. Be sure to sample the pintatani wine made from locally grown grapes.

Valparaiso is a centrally-located port built on dozens of steep hillsides overlooking the Pacific. Funicular cable cars take residents and visitors up and down the hills to visit landmarks such as the Iglesia de la Matriz church and La Sebastiana, home of the late Nobel Prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda. Valparaiso is also the port for Santiago, located in a mountain-ringed valley about 60 miles inland. Visit the sights around busy Avenida Alameda, the city’s main thoroughfare, including the Church of San Francisco – the oldest standing building in Santiago, having somehow survived at least three devastating earthquakes. The charming and historic neighborhoods around Avenida Alameda include Barrio Paris-Londres, Parque Forestal, and Bellavista. Visit some of the jewelry shops to look at pieces made with beautiful Chilean lapis lazuli.

Puerto Montt was settled by immigrants from Germany, which explains why you’ll find German-style beer, architecture and food in southern Chile. The abundant natural beauty of this area of lakes, rivers and fjords will tempt you to spend the day outdoors. Take a drive to Puerto Varas, the “city of roses,” situated on shimmering Llanquihue Lake with a view of the impressive Osomo Volcano. More active pursuits in or near Puerto Montt include fly fishing, horseback riding, kayaking and river rafting.

Chile’s summer begins in December, making a Chilean cruise a perfect getaway from a North American winter. For more information on itineraries, ports and things to do on shore, talk with Anita, your Cruise Holidays personal cruise expert.

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Gorgeous Bermuda

One of the world’s most popular cruise destinations is in a surprising location: Bermuda, located more than 600 miles off the mid-Atlantic Coast of the U.S.

Bermuda is such a wonderful place to visit that nearly 50 percent of visitors choose to make a return trip to this British territory. Bermuda also ranks as the fourth most popular destination in Cruise Holidays’ 2012 Cruise Trends survey, surpassed only by the Caribbean, Europe and Alaska.

Bermuda is an archipelago of about 120 islands, with the eight largest connected by bridges and causeways. Combined, the eight are just 22 miles long and barely 2 miles across at the widest. The islands retain their natural beauty and charm in part through bans on billboards, neon signs and other trappings of commercialization. Much of Bermuda’s open space is devoted to golf: it has more courses per square mile than anywhere else in the world.

Cruise ships call on one or more of three ports in Bermuda: Hamilton, St. George’s Town and King’s Wharf. Hamilton is the capital, and you’ll step off the ship right onto Front Street. It’s easy to tour the picturesque town on foot, or rent a horse and carriage.

 St. George’s Town is a World Heritage Site, and the well-preserved buildings around King’s Square make it seem that you’ve stepped back into the 1600s. King’s Wharf has a long history as a strategic naval base, and you can view treasures brought up from numerous shipwrecks at the Bermuda Maritime Museum.

Bermuda’s beaches are well worth visiting. Some have long stretches of Bermuda’s famous pink sand; others lie on the edge of tiny, secluded coves. Any Bermuda beach is delightful, but those recommended for snorkeling include Church Bay Beach on the south shore and Tobacco Bay Beach near St. George’s Town. At Elbow Beach or Horseshoe Bay beach on the south shore, you can rent equipment for water sports.

Part of what makes Bermuda so appealing is that local leaders are careful not to overwhelm the island by allowing too many cruise ships to call on any given day. Still, Bermuda is welcoming more ships than in the past, which gives you a wider choice of itineraries. Ships depart from several East Coast ports, including Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Norfolk, Charleston and Fort Lauderdale. Talk with Anita, your Cruise Holidays personal cruise expert to plan a cruise to warm, sunny, pastel-washed Bermuda.

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Experiencing a Different Culture While Cruising

Many people cruise because it’s such as relaxing vacation. You can get on board, unpack, find a deck chair, and not worry about finding places to sleep, eat or play – it’s all right there on the ship. But, while a cruise can wrap you in insulating comfort and ease, it can also offer an exciting opportunity to learn about cultures different from your own.

Sometimes, just stepping onto the ship provides an instant a cultural immersion. For example, MSC Cruises has received awards for the international ambiance on its ships, which is reflected in the cuisine, entertainment, crew and décor.

Almost anywhere you sail, shore excursions provide an opportunity to experience local culture with some or all of your senses. Moving to the rhythm of samba during a dance lesson in Brazil, listening to reggae in the Caribbean, learning to prepare fragrant paella in Spain, or walking the Chilkoot Trail toward the gold fields of the Klondike can give you the thrilling feeling of belonging to another place or time.

In addition to shore excursions, some cruise lines bring cultural immersion activities on board. Expert speakers, displays of artifacts, naturalist presentations and artisan demonstrations can all prepare you to more fully understand and enjoy what you experience on shore.

Sometimes, a more authentic cultural experience is possible when you visit a destination that’s a little bit off the usual path for cruise ships. For example, a cruise of the Eastern Mediterranean can take you to Turkey, Cyprus or Egypt, where development has not overtaken indigenous culture. Another option is a river cruise in Europe, South America or Asia. River cruise ships are able to reach inland cities and towns that are less known to tourists and fully rooted in their traditional cultures.

For more ideas about how to cruise to a cultural experience that you’ll treasure, talk with Anita, your Cruise Holidays personal cruise expert.

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