Cruise Holidays - Attheta Travel

Cruise lines are always making changes – some small and subtle, some big and bold – to create new opportunities, comforts, and experiences for their guests. What are some of the current trends in the industry? Cruising’s popularity continues to grow. Cruise lines expect a total of 27 million passengers to set sail in 2018, an increase of one million from last year. 2018 will also see the debut of 27 new ships – 17 for ocean cruising and 10 for river cruising. The Caribbean remains a top destination. Long the most popular cruise destination for North Americans, the islands of the Caribbean are expected to continue in that role, as ports damaged by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in the fall of 2017 are open again. On some islands (Puerto Rico, the British and U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Martin and Dominica) you’ll still see signs of damage and rebuilding, but many attractions and businesses are ready to welcome you. Many islands with little or no damage from the storms (Antigua, Martinique, St....

Cruising is a great vacation choice for solo travelers who want to explore the world and let someone else handle the details of getting from one place to another. Still, deciding on a cruise ship and itinerary can take some research. Cruise ships are full of accommodations designed for couples and families, but some have staterooms just for solo travelers, too. You’ll want a ship that has a variety of social spaces where you can get to know fellow travelers, and a good choice of shore excursions where you can explore with a group. And, when you cruise on your own, you might receive spur-of-the-moment invitations to join others on ship or shore; so, you need to think through your cruise wardrobe and be ready for just about anything. How can you pack light but be ready for cocktail parties, shore excursions, deck activities, casual and formal dinners, dancing, beach time and more? Here are some tips: First, everything you pack must coordinate with everything else you pack. ...

While the three hurricanes of September 2017 – Irma, Jose, and Maria – were hard on some Caribbean islands, the island of Antigua came through with only minimal damage, quickly repaired. The island’s residents want travelers, including cruise fans, to know that their island has remained ready to welcome visitors. The dozens of sand beaches on Antigua are still soft and white, and the historic Nelson’s Dockyard – once the most important colonial base of the British Royal Navy – was untouched by the storms. A wide variety of cruise lines make Antigua part of their Eastern Caribbean itineraries of 7 to 14 nights or more. Depending on the cruise line you choose, you can depart from New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Tampa or Puerto Rico. It’s understandable if you want to spend your day on Antigua with your toes in the sand of one of the island’s scenic beaches; they are spectacular. A beach excursion will take you to a stretch of sand dotted by lounge c...

With thousands of miles of coastline, the British Isles are made for cruising. By cruise, you can see beautiful coastal areas punctuated by chalky cliffs, lovely bays and windswept headlands, backed by rolling green countryside or the mountains of Wales and Scotland. The British Isles include Great Britain – England, Scotland and Wales – as well as Ireland and about 6,000 smaller islands: the Isle of Man, the Hebrides, the Orkney Isles, the Shetland Isles, and the Channel Islands, to name a few. With all these islands quite close to each other, most British Isles cruises are port-intensive, with someplace new to explore each day. You can cruise the British Isles at any time of year, with distinct differences between the seasons. Spring is the time to see the countryside in full bloom, with mild weather and few crowds on shore. Summer’s long days bring the peak season and the warmest weather. In fall, the countryside glows with oranges and red foliage. Winter brings the coolest tempera...