Cruise Holidays - Attheta Travel

From creating napkin art to flipping the perfect crepe to mastering the basics of a new dance step – or a new language – it’s simply amazing what you can learn while on a cruise. Of course, a cruise is also a wonderful time to do nothing at all, but most offer some terrific onboard learning opportunities.     For almost 20 years, Princess Cruises’ ScholarShip@Sea program has offered multiple learning courses on each voyage, including at least six on every day at sea. Some of the more unusual courses include Navigation@Sea, which covers the history of navigation and how it’s done today; and, classes in hand-thrown pottery on the  Coral Princess  and the  Island Princess .      Cunard Line’s ships ...

In cruise travel, Wave Season is the time of year that brings the very best discounts and special offers the cruise lines can dream up. When you book a cruise during Wave Season, you may be able to cruise longer, farther, and more luxuriously than you ever dreamed.     And, Wave Season 2022 will come ashore soon. It takes place from January through March, which is traditionally the most popular time of year for cruise bookings.     With so many deals available, sorting through and comparing them can be a challenge. So, Wave Season is a perfect time to contact your professional travel advisor; they can help you consider the options and make the best choices.     Still, you might want to do some initial Wave Season browsing on your own....

If you have future cruise credits (or “FCCs”), you’re not alone – many have been issued since March 2020, when cruise lines began rescheduling cruises due to the COVID-19 pandemic.    So, what’s a future cruise credit? It’s like a credit you receive from a retail store when you have to return something you purchased there. In place of a cash refund, FCCs let you apply the cost of a cruise you can’t take to a future cruise on the same line.     Today, fewer cruises are being rescheduled due to the pandemic, but some lines are still issuing FCCs to passengers who are unable to board a ship when pre-boarding tests come back positive for COVID.     If you have FCCs, carefully check their expiration dates; once they expire, they’re gone fore...

In November, we boarded a cruise ship for the first time since December 2019.   We did not expect COVID to make such a difference in our lives. Prior to boarding the Celebrity Constellation, we were required to take an Antigen test for exposure to COVID.  The test needed to be dated two days before boarding the ship - not earlier and not later than the two-day window.  We had to take our negative results with us to the pier.  We used a local clinic to get the tests and I was impressed with their efficiency.  Easy… We flew to Tampa the day before we were to board the ship and stayed at an Embassy Suites near the airport for one night.   We were surprised to learn the hotel bar and restaurant closed at 10PM on a Saturday night.  This was caused by a staff shortage.  Again, COVID.   The next morning, our breakfast was served on disposable plates, and we were given plastic utensils.  Celebrity gave us a specific time to arriv...

You can cruise to most parts of the world that are accessible by water, but some destinations are truly best seen via cruise ship. Why? Sometimes, the scenery is most breathtaking from the sea; along some rugged coastlines, travel on the water is easier than travel on land; and, cruise ships may offer more comfortable or affordable accommodations than you can find on land.     Here are some destinations where we think cruising is the best way to go:     Galapagos Islands. The islands are 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, so you must fly or sail to reach them. A few islands offer hotels and campsites, but a cruise ship will move you effortlessly to multiple islands, so you’ll see more of this prist...

There are many people who work hard to provide you with a great cruise experience; each cruise ship has hundreds or thousands of crew members who perform their duties with skill and dedication. Some interact with passengers every day, while others work behind the scenes to provide a high standard of service to guests.     So, who are the most important crew members to know during your cruise? Here are our picks:     Cabin Stewards. Cabin stewards make sure that your cabin is clean and fresh. They are happy to answer questions about your cabin and the ship. They can also fulfill many special requests, from shining your shoes before dinner to finding an extra pillow, and sometimes do these things even before you ask.     Servers. Table and buffet servers are very knowledgeable about the dishes they serve, and they can a...

The festive season will arrive soon, and you may be thinking about how to celebrate with family and friends. A cruise is a wonderful way to bring everyone together for the holidays; in fact, a cruise can be a fabulous holiday gift to yourself and those you love. Just imagine relaxing on deck with a refreshing drink, enjoying delicious meals complete with traditional holiday favorites, and joining in holiday-themed parties and games. Best of all, you won’t have to cook or clean up!     While a holiday cruise is wonderfully carefree, it’s good to do some advance planning. Here are a few things to think about:     Select a ship and itinerary that will let you celebrate the holidays as you choose. This is especially important if your cruise includes Christmas Day whe...