Cruise Holidays - Attheta Travel

Before the winter holidays shift into high gear, take a little time to think about spring – specifically, planning a spring break cruise. Many people don’t think about making spring break cruise reservations until after New Year’s Day, but you should. Experienced cruise fans know that many of the best itineraries, staterooms, and discounts will be gone by January, so it’s smart to make your reservations now. As you plan, here are some things to keep in mind. If you’ll cruise with kids, whether in kindergarten or about to graduate from college, their spring break is probably just a week long. So, cruises that leave from domestic ports to sail the Caribbean, Mexico’s Riviera Maya or Mexico’s Pacific Coast are good choices: you’ll have time to get to the port, cruise in delightful weather for five to seven days, and get back home before school starts again. If you’re not traveling with kids, you can look at longer cruises that set sail from domestic ports or take off for a home por...

Some people think of Thailand as a land shrouded in mystery. In reality, more than six million people visit the Kingdom of Thailand each year, and quite a few of them arrive on cruise ships. Bangkok is a popular port although most ships dock at Laem Chabang, about two hours south. Once you’re transported to Bangkok you’ll be amazed by its mix of glittering skyscrapers and ancient temples (more than 400 of them). The must-see in Bangkok is the Grand Palace, built as the official royal residence and still used for ceremonies and state functions. The palace complex includes the most sacred temple in Thailand, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (actually made of beautiful green jade) and the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, home to a famous statue of a Buddha ready to enter Nirvana. Another popular excursion is the Damnoen Saduak floating market outside the city. A maze of canals is lined with long-tail boats piled high with a dazzling array of fruits and vegetables. It’s mainly a produce mar...

When you cruise, your fare includes everything you really need: your stateroom, dining, entertainment, and the use of many shipboard amenities. In addition, most cruise lines offer additional amenities – at a price. Which of these extras will add to your cruise enjoyment? Here are some to consider.  Beverage packages On a cruise ship, tap water, coffee and tea are usually gratis, but a bottle of water or glass of fountain soda can be $2 or more. A glass of wine starts at about $7. Most cruise lines offer pre-paid beverage packages that include some combination of bottled water, soda, juice, wine, and spirits at a reduced cost versus what you would spend buying one drink at a time. Give them a careful look. Shore excursions When your ship is in port, your cruise line will offer a variety of fun excursions on shore. Unless you’ve been to the destination before and know what you’d like to do, it’s probably best to choose and pay for an excursion in each port. You’ll hav...

Dining is always a great part of cruising – sometimes, it’s the best reason to take a cruise. Many cruises offer truly exceptional culinary experiences, on and off the ship. Fans of “America’s Test Kitchen” can immerse themselves in the popular public television show on some of Holland America Line’s ships. On days at sea, watch live demonstrations by staff from America's Test Kitchen, taking a close-up look at the show’s unique, science-based approach to great cooking. There are hands-on workshops, too, where you can try your hand at the America’s Test Kitchen’s techniques for perfect pasta, yummy breakfasts and more. With an amazing 29 different food and beverage venues on board, Celebrity Cruises’ new Celebrity Edge will bring new, cutting-edge culinary experiences to cruising when it debuts in December. One of the most unusual is Le Petit Chef, a small animated character who inhabits the Le Grand Bistro restaurant. Just before your dish is placed in front of you, Le Petit Chef ...

What’s stopping you from choosing a cruise for your next vacation? If you’ve heard people complain about cruising – about boring food, not enough to do on board or lackluster ports of call – there’s a good chance that the information is outdated. Today’s cruise ships offer enough varied accommodations, creative dining, high-tech services, wellness programs, and exciting itineraries to catch anyone’s fancy. More specifically, here are three good reasons to reconsider, and then book, a cruise. It’s So Easy. It’s fun to learn about the incredible variety of ships, staterooms, destinations and itineraries you can choose from. And, once you make your choice, most of your vacation planning is done. You’ll have no worries about how to get from one port to another, where to stay each night, or where to find a restaurant for dinner. All you have to do is get to the ship on time, check in, settle into your stateroom, then enjoy all of the onboard amenities. Of course, there will be a few ...