Cruise Holidays - Attheta Travel

If you’re looking for an exceptionally relaxing port of call on your next Caribbean cruise, look for itineraries that mention Anguilla. The island’s very appearance is low-key: while many neighboring islands are mountainous, Anguilla is a low, flat island made mostly of coral. The reefs around the island protect its beautiful beaches and offer wonderful opportunities for snorkeling and diving.   Anguilla doesn’t have a harbor that can accommodate large cruise ships, although smaller ships are able to anchor in Road Bay. However, you can experience Anguilla if your ship calls on St. Maarten/St. Martin (the island that’s half Dutch, half French). You can catch a ferry from Marigot (on the French side) to Anguilla for the day.   From the ferry landing at Blowing Point on Anguilla’s west end, it’s a quick taxi ride to one of the island’s beaches, where you can simply relax on the white sand or rent snorkeling and diving equipment. Anguilla is known as a good place for be...

In a region of beautiful islands, Dominica is prized for its exceptional and unspoiled natural attributes. The island’s lack of commercial development means that much of its mountainous interior is best seen on foot. If you venture along the trails, which range from easy to challenging, you’ll be rewarded by the lush surroundings of rainforests, waterfalls, and natural freshwater pools. As your ship approaches the town of Roseau (larger ships) or the town of Portsmouth (smaller ships), the island may look familiar – it’s had a starring role in a number of pirate movies. But, seeing the island on the movie screen can’t compare with being there in person. Jagged cliffs rise dramatically from the ocean, mango and banana trees sway in the breeze, and whales can be spotted in the deep water around the island all year long.   If you’re up for a fairly strenuous hike, Dominica’s Boiling Lake is one of the world’s largest hot springs (its impressively high temperature is due to h...

The irregular coastline of Antigua offers numerous bays, several excellent harbors and many lovely beaches: in fact, the locals say the island has 365 beaches, one for each day of the year. Having been a British colony for many years, the island also has historic shipyards – once overseen by Horatio, Lord Nelson – that are interesting to explore. The island and its scenic harbors are attractive to modern-day sailors, too: the annual yachting and sailing season begins in December and culminates in a grand regatta each May. Most cruise ships that call on Antigua dock at Heritage Quay or Nevis Pier in St. John’s, the island’s capital. Some smaller cruise ships drop anchor in Falmouth Harbor on the south side of the island and run tenders in to the dock. Wherever you step ashore on Antigua, there will be duty-free shopping, boutiques filled with local crafts, and restaurants close by. If you dock at Heritage Quay, several of Antigua’s cultural treasures, including the Museum of Anti...

If you’re lucky enough to visit St. Kitts and Nevis on your next Caribbean cruise, you’ll enjoy the lush, tropical beauty of these islands. Little wonder that they were fought over by the Spanish, French and British before becoming a long-time part of the British Empire. Since 1983, St. Kitts and Nevis has been an independent nation. Cruise ships, both large and small, sail into Port Zante, St. Kitts, just outside the historic capital of Basseterre. Port Zante is a deep-water port that can accommodate the largest ships currently at sea. Birdrock Port, located just across Basseterre Harbor, is a freight port that can also welcome cruise ships when Port Zante is full. From the port area, it’s just a 15-minute stroll to downtown Basseterre. The 18 th -century buildings that have survived numerous hurricanes, fires and earthquakes give the town a timeless air. The hub of activity is The Circus, an octagonal plaza that’s a smaller version of London’s Picadilly Circus. The much-pho...

When you choose a cruise, remember to include the size of the ship in your decision. Ship size determines not only the number of fellow passengers, but the amount and style of dining spots, entertainment choices, and even the cost of your vacation. Cruise ships of all sizes offer the same wonderful ease of planning, budgeting and sailing between ports: but, small ships deliver a unique kind of cruise experience. While big ships provide an amazing, resort-style vacation that’s memorable even if you never step off the ship, small ships tend to focus on the destination as the main vacation experience. The per-passenger cost for a small ship cruise is usually higher than on a big ship: however, extras such as alcoholic beverages, gratuities, shore excursions and even airfare may be included. While some small ships welcome families, there is often limited or no special programming for children, and some ships are unapologetically “adults only.” Most small ships offer luxurious comfort, w...

A cruise vacation is all about independence from the daily routine and the freedom to do what you like: sail to new places, stay up late, nap in the afternoon, and enjoy everything your ship and ports of call have to offer. Cruises that sail during the United States’ Independence Day holiday often place extra emphasis on independence and appreciation of the freedom. Fourth of July observances vary by cruise line and ship, but you’re likely to find public spaces festooned with American flags and other decorations of red, white and blue. There may be organized games on the sports deck, with classic contests like tug-of-war, sack races and water balloon tosses. You’re likely to be invited to a patriotic deck party, too, so be sure to bring some red, white and blue to wear. Some ships celebrate through the day’s menus, offering all-American favorites – think grilled hot dogs and burgers with all the fixings, potato salad and coleslaw, watermelon and brownies. The elegant dining spots on bo...

  The long Atlantic and Pacific coastlines of South America stretch from equatorial rainforests to the sub-Antarctic: frankly, they are simply too long to take in on a single cruise, so you’ll have a choice of itineraries. It’s possible to embark from the U.S.: some ships sail from Florida across the Caribbean to Manaus, Brazil, a gateway to the Amazon region. But, if you have two weeks or less, look at itineraries that include flying to and from South America.   One popular itinerary sails the Atlantic Coast between Manaus and Buenos Aires, Argentina. Ports may include: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has a spectacular setting of beaches, forests and mountains. Take a cable car to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain or a funicular railway up Corcovado Mountain to the feet of the statue of Christ the Redeemer.   Montevideo, Uruguay, has a relaxed urban atmosphere, with lovely public squares, an 18th-century old town, and gorgeous leather goods and artisan crafts. ...