Cruise Holidays - Attheta Travel

Shore excursions are a wonderful part of any cruise: they provide the opportunity to learn about a different culture, try a new adventure or simply take in the sights of a port of call. When you and your loved one cruise as a couple, shore excursions offer a chance to explore a destination together.   Couples who appreciate history might enjoy excursions that focus on the fascinating remnants of ancient cultures, such as the former Greek port of Ephesus, just 20 miles from the cruise ship dock at Kusadasi, Turkey. You can view the remains of a massive outdoor theater; the Library of Celsus, which once held 12,000 scrolls; the Basilica of St. John; and the lone column that is all that remains of the Temple of Artemis . Only an estimated 15 percent of Ephesus has been excavated, and work on this vast outdoor museum continues daily.   It takes two to tango, and couples sailing to Buenos Aires, Argentina, have the opportunity to watch experts perform the romantic...

A few weeks ago, I wrote about our 7 day cruise in the Caribbean on the Allure of the Seas.   At that time, I want to clarify my thoughts before writing more on our shipboard experience. In my opinion, I would like to sail an Oasis class ship like the Allure on a repositioning cruise from the US to Europe (a sailing without any/many ports of call).   On a small ship, I get cabin-fever after a few sea days.   On the Allure, I don’t believe it is possible to be bored – too much to do!     If I had children traveling with me, I would love to sail on the Allure to almost any destination.   Again, many things for kids to do, including an ice ring, Flow Riders, cartoon characters, children program… If I were going with an extended group of family members, I would like to sail on the Allure (or the Oasis) for the same reason – lots to do. For the two of us to sail the Caribbean, the Allure is not our favorite ship – it’s too big and carries t...

While most elements of a great cruise vacation are bundled into one base price – including comfortable accommodations, attentive service from the cabin crew, fabulous meals and snacks, nightly entertainment, deck games and more – beverages are usually not part of that base price, other than the basics such as juice, milk and coffee or tea. For the convenience of passengers, many cruise lines offer fountain drink packages that guests can purchase when they come on board. For a set cost, these packages provide unlimited soft drinks, served with a smile. Fountain drink packages are popular, especially with passengers who like to know their costs in advance. Now, to accommodate a wider range of beverage preferences, some cruise lines are beginning to offer packages for alcoholic drinks. Carnival Cruise Lines’ CHEERS! Program is currently available on a limited number of ships, including the Victory , Splendor , Breeze and Dream , on cruises of six days or more. For $42.95 per...

On the evening of January 13, 2012, the Costa Concordia struck rock off the western coast of Italy. Through a gash in the hull, water flooded parts of the engine room, causing the ship to lose power, list to one side and become partially submerged. While the large majority of passengers and crew were successfully evacuated from the ship, there were injuries and loss of life. While accidents like this one are extremely rare in cruising, the tragedy led the cruise industry to review its safety practices and find opportunities for improvement. Less than a month after the Concordia’s accident, the cruise industry announced a new emergency drill policy that requires muster station drills to be held for embarking passengers before ship departs. This policy exceeds legal requirements, which mandate a muster drill within 24 hours of the ship’s departure. Muster drills ensure that passengers are informed of essential safety procedures, including procedures and routes for emergency e...