Cruise Holidays - Attheta Travel

If you’re looking for a new destination for a winter or early spring cruise, consider Central America. The peak season runs from November through April, providing a welcome respite from winter’s cold. Many cruises to this region focus on the Panama Canal, the 50-mile ship canal that cuts through a slender isthmus between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Since it first opened in 1914, the canal and its three locks have been one of the world’s most vital trade routes. It’s an engineering wonder that provides a scenic interlude for cruise travelers as well. Today’s larger cruise ships skirt through the locks with very little room to spare, floating through the Chagres River and Gatun Lake – surrounded by tropical wilderness – as they make their way to the other side. As compelling as the Panama Canal is, there’s much more to see on a cruise of Central America. There are a variety of departure ports – including Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle – to choose ...

Caribbean Princess, December 19 - January 2 14 Night Southern Caribbean Explorer RT San Juan We're just getting settled down into routine after our trip, catching up with laundry, etc. I don't think I have to worry about ironing warm weather clothes at the moment since we had another three inches of snow here overnight! Thankfully, it appears to be melting fast. Also thankful we are not dealing with flights through the East and South at this point! All of our cruise flights, including the return, were more or less on time and uneventful. We thoroughly enjoyed the cruises out of San Juan and the itinerary, and also liked the Caribbean Princess ship, although I miss the "indoor pool" which has been re-designed with stadium seating for the movies and sports shows. I found the sound level much too high and was thankful for the small but quieter surroundings of the "Adult only" terrace pool at the stern. (We're probably in the minority, but noise level...

A tip seems like a simple thing – a little extra money given to someone who provides you with a service, with the amount of the tip reflecting the excellence of the service. On cruise ships, however, tipping has become a complex topic. Traditionally, cruise passengers would find sets of empty envelopes, labeled with the names of the specific crew members who served them, in their cabins toward the end of a cruise. Passengers filled the envelopes with tips and distributed them on the last day of the cruise. Tipping became more challenging as ships introduced alternative restaurants and open seating in dining rooms, which meant that passengers might not see the same waiters more than once or twice on the cruise. And, what about the crewmembers at the casual buffet, where many passengers now eat breakfast and lunch? In addition, cruising now attracts more international travelers who may not have the same tipping customs as North Americans. In some cultures, passengers may assume tha...