Cruise Holidays - Attheta Travel

A cruise to the Greek Isles will give you a new understanding of the bright blue and white of the Greek flag: everywhere you look, there will be amazing blue seas and whitewashed villages under a welcoming sun. Still, each island has its own personality and charm, making the cruise a more varied experience than you might expect. It’s possible to cruise the Greek Isles all year long, but the best time is May through October. July and August are the most popular months, and are also the region’s hottest: by cruising a bit earlier or later, you can enjoy smaller crowds and less heat. Many cruises call on one, two or all of the three most-visited Greek Isles: Mykonos, Rhodes and Santorini. Mykonos has charming cobblestoned streets lined with artisans’ studios, shops and cafes. This island, known for gorgeous beaches, has a carefree atmosphere. Try some snorkeling or diving before visiting some of the many art galleries. Or, explore the interesting ruins on the nearby island of De...

Seabourn Cruises will be the next cruise line to expand its reach to all seven continents when it begins sailing to Antarctica next year. Beginning in November 2013, the Seabourn Quest, the luxury cruise line’s newest ship, will sail four cruises, each 21 to 24 days, between Valparaiso, Chile, and Buenos Aires, Argentina. A highlight of each voyage will be a visit to the remote, vast and beautiful continent of Antarctica. While the ship is always an important consideration when selecting a cruise, when cruising to Antarctica it’s especially important. There are three basic types of ships that cruise to the icy waters of the White Continent – small, medium and large – and each provides a different Antarctic experience. Many of the small ships that sail to the Antarctic were originally icebreakers, specifically designed to break through large amounts of ice and sail into remote areas. These ships usually carry 100 to 200 passengers. Some have comfortable but basic accommodat...

As the U.S. economy continues to recover from the global recession of 2008-2009, the cruise industry is doing its part. The industry experienced a strong rebound from 2009 to 2010. And, during 2011, the industry continued to be an economic bright spot with a total impact on the U.S. economy of $40.4 billion, according to an independent study commissioned by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). Spending in the U.S. by cruise lines, their passengers, and their crew members totaled $18.9 billion during 2011, according to the study. Cruise industry employment grew to 350,000 jobs that paid $16.5 billion in wages to U.S. workers. Those wages and salaries showed an encouraging year-over-year increase of 8.3 percent, too. While approximately 80 percent of the economic boost provided by the cruise industry is concentrated in ten states – most of them, not surprisingly, along the coasts – the study said the economies of all 50 states benefit in some way from the North Am...

A leisurely cruise is a vacation to savor, but not everyone has the luxury of enough vacation time to sail away for 10 days, 14 days or longer. The good news is that if your vacation time is limited, you don’t need to rule out a cruise. Many cruise lines are now offering a greater variety of cruises that are seven nights or less.   Shorter cruises appeal to lots of vacationers – and not only those with limited time. There are first-time cruisers who want to “sample” a sea-going vacation before they commit to a longer voyage. There are experienced cruisers who want to try out a different part of the world before exploring it through a longer, more in-depth cruise itinerary. There are vacationers who rely on the value of a short cruise to deliver the most for their vacation dollars; and, those who want to pamper themselves with a brief, luxury-class cruise. Shorter cruises have become an option for more vacationers as the number of home ports has expanded. With ports of emb...

Ghosts of pirates past, creatures from the deep, mermaids and sirens – along with an array of witches, vampires, cowboys and even giant M&Ms – are known to prowl the public spaces of cruise ships each Halloween, October 31. No need to fear: these fantastic creatures are simply your fellow cruise passengers in costume. On a cruise, any night is a good night for a party, but none is better than Halloween. Many ships decorate their public spaces for the celebration – you may see ghosts swooping around the ship’s main atrium and haunted houses popping up on deck. Many ships host costume parties, sometimes with attractive prizes for the most outrageous, beautiful or creative costumes. Given the setting, nautical-themed costumes are popular: in addition to pirates and mermaids, you may see penguins, sharks, sailors and characters from the Love Boat TV series. For efficient packing, you may want to keep your costume simple, or focus on a creepy make-up effect or glamorous mas...