Cruise Holidays - Attheta Travel

  Norwegian Cruise Line’s second Prima Plus Class ship, the Norwegian Luna , is now on the waves. Christened in March, Luna has a maximum capacity of about 4,200 passengers and a modern, boutique-hotel vibe. While Luna has a lot in common with the Norwegian Aqua , the ship also has some unique features, beginning with the hull art: a sophisticated dreamscape by muralist ELLE, who is Luna ’s godparent. Luna ’s cabins are another design highlight, with sleek furnishings that contribute to a spacious feel. There’s good storage, including full-length closets, wire basket drawers, deep shelves and convenient wall hooks. And while the thoughtfully designed bathrooms are still compact, they are a little more spacious than on other Norwegian ships. For solo cruisers, Luna has more than 70 studio staterooms specifically designed for one. They come with keycard access to the Studio Lounge, which offers beverages, snacks, and the opportunity to chat with other solo travelers. Luna a...

Hubbard Glacier   Lots of cruise passengers look forward to dining at the ship’s bountiful buffet, and at specialty restaurants that serve elevated cuisine. But there’s another choice that passengers sometimes overlook: the main dining room, or MDR. MDRs are often quite large but also cozy, with soft carpeting, padded chairs, and tablecloths. Usually open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, MDR menus change daily (though some favorite dishes may be repeated). On some cruises, the MDR will feature specialties from the region you’re sailing in. MDRs may offer a choice of set dining times, come-when-you-like dining, or both. You may love the flexibility of dining whenever you’re ready, but a set dining time might be the best choice if you’d like to eat with the same people each day. The dress code in the MDR may be less formal than you think. On many ships, the only real requirement is to change out of very casual attire (such as swimsuits, shorts, very ripped jeans, graphic tees a...

Delali National Park In just a few weeks, we’ll be heading back to Alaska, and this time the adventure includes several ports we’ve never visited before. We’re especially excited because this voyage will be a one-way cruise, sailing southbound from Anchorage to Vancouver. When it comes to seeing Alaska by sea, there are a few different ways to do it: Round-trip cruises , where the ship returns to the original port One-way cruises , which begin or end in Vancouver, BC, and travel either northbound or southbound Cruise-tours , which combine a seven-day cruise with a few additional days exploring Alaska’s parks and wildlife inland Our sailing will be a seven-day southbound cruise, and along the way we’ll visit a mix of familiar favorites and brand-new ports. For us, several of these stops will be firsts, which makes the trip even more exciting. Ports We’ll Be Visiting Valdez, Alaska Haines, Alaska Icy Strait Point, Alaska Wr...

Azamara Quest Every cruise must come to an end, even though we don’t like to think about it. But, a little planning can make the inevitable last morning of your cruise – disembarkation day – go smoothly. Here are some ways to prepare. Before you sail: Make reservations for your trip home, with careful attention to timing. Disembarkation is usually early in the morning, but may be delayed due to port procedures, customs requirements, or other situations. So, don’t schedule your departure from the port city too early. Some passengers even stay in the port city for a night and travel the following day. Have a plan for the time after you leave the ship and before you start for home. You could take a tour of the port city, have a relaxed lunch, or do a little shopping. The day before you disembark: Carefully pack your bags. Then, set them outside your cabin door by the requested time – often before midnight – for pick-up by the crew. But, be sure to keep clothes and shoes to wear ...

Galapagos Islands They are immersive, adventurous, and educational; expedition cruises have all the ingredients of a thrilling and memorable vacation. That’s why expedition cruising is one of the fastest-growing segments of the cruise industry. But, is it for you? Expedition cruises are very different from ocean and river cruises. They sail to remote places that are beautiful, rugged, and undeveloped, with little to no tourism or infrastructure. Destinations include parts of the Arctic, such as Greenland and far northern Scandinavia; the Amazon River; the Galapagos Islands; parts of Southeast Asia; southern Chile and Tierra del Fuego; and Antarctica. Some mainstream cruise destinations, such as Alaska, are expedition cruise destinations, too – but the expedition ships go to more isolated places. Expedition ships are different from ocean and river cruise ships, too. They are smaller and often tougher – their hulls may be reinforced with steel to handle icy waters. Their size makes t...

Total eclipses of the sun are awesome events. And there’s good news for eclipse chasers (a.k.a. “umbraphiles”) who also love cruising: 2026 and 2027 will each bring a total eclipse of the sun that you can experience from a cruise ship. Total eclipses take place when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, casting an impressive shadow. Within the shadow is a narrow “path of totality,” where the light of the sun is completely blocked for a few minutes (a bit of the sun’s corona may still be visible). By the way, always be safe when viewing a solar eclipse, whether from land or sea: be sure to wear special solar eclipse viewing glasses to enjoy the show. If you’d like to experience a total eclipse at sea, one is coming soon. On August 12, 2026, the path of totality will begin in the early afternoon in the North Atlantic, and then will move across parts of southern Europe. Here are some cruise lines that will celebrate this spectacular natural phenomenon by navigating in the pat...