Cruise Holidays - Attheta Travel

I am proud to be certified by CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) as an Elite Cruise Counselor. The Cruise Counselor Certification Program is CLIA's most comprehensive training which requires agents to successfully complete a number of compulsory training courses and exams, attend cruise conferences, and conduct ship inspections. Anita Thompson, Attheta Travel, dba Cruise Holidays.

Monday, September 26, 2022

Travel Solo - Know Before You Go

Traveling solo can be a thrilling experience that pushes the boundaries of your comfort zone. However, you want to make sure you prepare before venturing off! Here are some “know before you go” on solo travel.

Leave Your Contact Info with Someone at Home

When traveling, especially overseas where communication might be trickier, it’s important to let someone know your travel plans. Let them know where you’re going, where you’ll be staying, and the travel dates. This will keep your loved ones at home in the loop just in case they need to get ahold of you.

Keep Copies of Important Documents

Always keep copies of your important documents, such as your passport, social security card, and other necessary paperwork. These copies can come in handy in case you misplace one during your travels!

Network

Talk to your contacts about where you’ll be traveling to, they may have connections in those places and could connect you with other people in their network. This is great for solo traveling because it can help give you more insight from locals into where you’re going and, if you feel so inclined, you can meet up!

Bring a Book and a Journal

You may face some long travel days, and since you’ll be traveling solo, having a book to read can help entertain you. Journaling is another excellent way to keep yourself entertained; it’s also great to have so you can document your journey! Trust us on this! It’s fun and special to find your travel journals and read back and recall those travel moments later in life.

Learn How to be Alone

Traveling solo means spending time alone. Depending on your personality, this might be the most challenging part of traveling solo. Being with yourself alone in another country is a big deal but learning to slow down can create a lot of growth, and you can learn more about who you are.

You May Never Feel 100% Ready

This one speaks for itself. It’s hard to find the time and energy to commit to traveling internationally with our busy lives. But is there ever really a “perfect” time to go? You might also be thinking that you aren’t ready to travel solo yet, but again, is there really going to be a “perfect” time? If you’re considering traveling alone, take the leap!

Things Will Go Wrong... That's Okay

No matter if you’re traveling alone or with others, something will go wrong. If you’re traveling solo and something goes wrong, it might be stressful in the moment, but it’s going to make great stores to tell and will help you learn to be more flexible. Roll with it!

Keep Emergency Contact Info on You

It’s crucial that you give someone at home your information on where you’ll be traveling, but it's also essential to keep their information on you as well. Ideally, it’s great to keep this information in multiple places, such as your mobile device and your journal. This is important just in case your phone is out of battery or misplaced and you need to call home.

Understand The Cultures You’re Entering

When entering new countries, we highly recommend learning more about the local cultures before visiting. This can help prepare you for anything you might face, such as clothing restrictions or norms and understanding mannerisms.

Stay Someplace Where You’ll Meet Others

One of the coolest parts about traveling solo is the people you meet. Staying at a place like a hostel, situates you perfectly to meet like-minded individuals who might be traveling solo as well. And who knows, the people you meet on your solo adventure might turn into life-long friends!

Know Where You’re Going

It’s always a good idea to create some kind of plan before your travels. This will help give you an idea of any transportation you might need to take and how to visit each place on your list effectively.

Ask Locals for Recommendations

Talking to locals is a wonderful way to learn about the place you’re visiting. They can tell you the best places to visit that you might miss if you’re just going to the tourist attractions, and as an added bonus, they’re likely to be much less busy!

Try Not to Overpack

When traveling solo, you’re in charge of all your bags. Make sure you’re able to carry all your items before you leave and have room left for any souvenirs you might be bringing back with you.

Try to Act Confidently in Public

Acting confident is key, especially if you’re not sure where you are or where you’re going. When you show confidence, it’s less likely someone will try and take advantage of you. We’d like to believe that most people you meet wouldn’t do this, but you can never be too cautious.

Traveling solo is truly an adventure of a lifetime, and we believe it can add so much value to your life. It can be a scary one, but well worth it!

Monday, September 19, 2022

Impressive Stage Shows at Sea

Engaging entertainment abounds on cruise ships. The exact mix of entertainment varies by cruise line and ship, but you may find anything from parties and games to first-run movies, magic shows, musical revues, intimate cabarets, cooking demonstrations, comedy workshops, and dancing to live music. Some ships also stage big-time shows in state-of-the-art theaters, with production values and talent that rival New York’s Broadway and London’s West End. 

 Cruise lines do change their entertainment offerings over time, sometimes with little notice; but, here are some of the biggest, best-known stage productions you can enjoy at sea now. 

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Bliss features “Jersey Boys,” a musical that tells the behind-the-scenes story of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. It’s full of real-life joy and drama, not to mention hits like “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Sherry” and “Working My Way Back to You.” On the Norwegian Encore, you can catch “Kinky Boots” (based on the 2005 film), with music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper. Or, if you like some Tudor history mixed with your musical entertainment, you’ll love “Six” – a modern take on the stories of the six wives of King Henry VIII – on the Norwegian Bliss or Norwegian Breakaway

 Royal Caribbean’s Broadway at Sea program includes a fabulous production of “Mamma Mia!” on the Allure of the Seas. You’ll want to dance and sing along to the catchy ABBA tunes like “Dancing Queen,” “Take a Chance on Me,” and “The Winner Takes it All.” Other Royal Caribbean ships offer more Broadway classics, including the timeless “Cats” (Oasis of the Seas); the ‘50s fun of “Grease” (this version, on Harmony of the Seas and Independence of the Seas, was created just for Royal Caribbean); and the ’60 dance-show groove of “Hairspray” (Symphony of the Seas). 

The ships of Disney Cruise Line feature gorgeous stage shows based on some of Disney’s most popular and beloved animated features, including “The Little Mermaid” (on the brand-new Disney Wish), “Tangled, The Musical” (Disney Magic), “Beauty and the Beast” (Disney Dream) and “Frozen” (Disney Wonder and Disney Fantasy). All of these productions include enchanting special effects, along with wonderful costumes and sets – just what you would expect from Disney. 

 If you choose a ship by the entertainment that’s on board, be sure to check with Anita, your professional travel advisor, on exactly what you can expect to see on your next cruise. 

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Monday, September 12, 2022

Cruising to “The Ice”

Cruises can take you to just about any place on the planet that’s accessible by water, and that includes Antarctica, sometimes known simply as “The Ice.” This vast continent, home to the South Pole and almost completely covered by ice and snow is remote and harsh, fascinating and beautiful. 

 If you want to cruise to Antarctica, you need to ask yourself an important question: do you want to see the White Continent only from the comfort of the ship, or do you want to set foot on it? The answer will guide your selection of a ship and itinerary. 

 There are “viewing only” cruises that sail close to the Antarctic Peninsula, the part of Antarctica closest to the southern tip of South America. On this type of cruise, you can marvel at the spectacular scenery, including glacier-draped peaks and ice floes that glow blue and green. You may also see wildlife in and over the water – whales, seals, penguins, albatross, and more. 

 There are also cruises that sail right up to the peninsula and use inflatable Zodiac craft to take you from ship to shore. Only 100 visitors are allowed to land in the same spot at one time, so it’s a very special experience. If weather conditions are good, you may be able to hike among cold-weather creatures; visit a penguin rookery; go kayaking, climbing, or diving; or even camp onshore overnight. But, you need to be in good shape: the crew will be there to help, but climbing in and out of Zodiac craft and walking icy paths requires strength and balance. 

 Both types of Antarctic cruises use ships that are built to navigate through ice and the often-choppy waters of the Drake Passage. Most are small but quite luxurious, with high-end cuisine and excellent service. Onboard guides and naturalists will help you understand all that you’ll see and do. 

 Antarctic cruises are available from late September through early March: you may be surprised by how many cruise lines, ships and itineraries there are to choose from. However, Antarctic cruises are very popular and can fill quickly. Fortunately, Anita, your professional travel advisor, can help you reserve a spot. They can also provide information on what to expect, what to take with you, how to extend your vacation with a land stay in Ushuaia or Buenos Aires, and how important it is to have travel insurance for this cruise of a lifetime. 

 Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/AtthetaTravel

Monday, September 5, 2022

Living on Cruise Ships

For some people, cruising is more than a wonderful way to vacation; it’s a wonderful way to live. Living aboard a cruise ship is a chance to explore more of the world while enjoying a high level of service. 

 There are a couple of ways to live on a cruise ship, and one option is to purchase an apartment on a residential ship. Currently, The World is the only residential cruise ship afloat, but more are being planned and built. At least three companies – Blue World Voyages, Storylines, and Somnio – plan to launch residential cruise ships in the next year or two. Depending on the ship, starting prices for apartments range from about $700,000 to $15 million. Terms of ownership vary, too; some are for the life of the ship, for the life of the owner, or for a certain span of years. 

 Another other option is to sail on back-to-back cruises that keep you at sea most of the time. With some careful planning, it’s possible to spend just a few nights a year on land. You can stick with a favorite ship or change things up by sailing on a variety of ships with different itineraries.  

 Before embarking on a lifestyle of continuous cruising, here are some things to consider. 

Try it out by taking a long cruise. Book a grand voyage or world cruise to see if long-term sailing agrees with you. Select an itinerary that includes at least one stretch of several days at sea. 

Talk with a financial planner to make sure living by cruising is within your means, and to get advice about managing your financial commitments, such as paying taxes and bills. 

 Talk with a doctor about your health and the best way to manage it at sea. Cruise ships are equipped with medical personnel and facilities, but they may not be able to meet all your needs. You may also need to purchase special health insurance that covers you while you’re sailing. 

Talk with your loved ones so they understand what you’re planning to do. If you intend to sell your current home, you may need their help to sort through belongings, establish a new address on land, re-home pets, and more. 

 Talk with Anita, your professional travel advisor, who can provide more information and advice about living at sea; the ships and itineraries you may enjoy most; and how to qualify for frequent cruiser discounts. 

 

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