Cruise Holidays - Attheta Travel

The next Alaska cruise season begins in May 2014, and while there’s plenty of availability on popular ships and itineraries, they’ll begin to fill up soon. That makes now a great time to book your Alaskan cruise.   What draws so many people to cruise the rugged coastline of Alaska? The coastline itself is a major draw, with thousands of miles of stunning scenery that segues from majestic mountain peaks to rainforest, glaciers, and Arctic tundra. And, there’s beautiful wildlife – including whales, seals, seabirds, eagles, moose and bears – that you can often see from the ship.   In addition, Alaska’s ports of call are fascinating and surprisingly diverse. Ketchikan is a center of Tlingit Indian culture; Skagway maintains the character of a Gold Rush-era town; and Sitka preserves important pieces of its history as a Russian settlement.   While the cruise lines that visit Alaska offer lots of variety in cruise length, itineraries and style of ship, there are tw...

Where will cruisers be headed in droves in 2014? For that, you’ll need to look not only to the turquoise blue waters of the Caribbean, but also the deep blue seas and the rivers of Europe. Here are some of the most interesting cruise trends of 2014 being highlighted by the cruise-specialty agency, Cruise Holidays International. The data was drawn from a survey of more than 130 Cruise Holidays professionals, as well as actual booking data by more than 600 Cruise Holidays cruise experts.   Top 10 Cruise Destinations The Caribbean continues to enjoy the top spot in cruise bookings for the year ahead, by a wide margin. Thanks to its nearly year-round sunny weather and convenient access from the southern and eastern United States, the Caribbean drives the majority of all cruise bookings. Here is the full list of the top 10 cruise destinations being booked by Cruise Holidays professionals across North America:   1. Caribbean (includes Bahamas) 2. European Ocean C...

  In early November, we were fortunate to spend a few days in NYC. It was our first visit to the city since 9/11.   We stayed in the Millennium Hilton, in lower Manhattan – right across the street from the memorial that is still under construction. If you have an opportunity, you really should visit the site of the World Trade Center: so much history, so many memories… The new Tower 1 nears completion, just a short distance from the footprints of the old towers.   I was surprised to learn that seven towers are planned.    New Memorial in World Trade Center   If you want to see the World Trade Center, then consider staying at the Millennium Hilton, it’s in a good location, close to Wall Street, Battery Park, and the subway entrance is outside the main entrance of the hotel. The hotel was clean and the staff was courteous.  One World Trade Center The best way to get around lower Manhattan is by walking or taking the subway.   We took t...

If you have a medical condition, onboard medical facilities are probably part of your criteria for selecting a cruise ship. If not, you may be surprised by how well-prepared cruise ship medical centers are to provide care for minor injuries and illnesses, as well as more serious conditions.   The size of the medical staff depends on the size of the ship, but will include some combination of qualified doctors, nurses and medical technicians. Doctor’s office hours are usually published in the ship’s daily bulletin, and emergency assistance is always available, 24 hours a day. There will be a charge to see the doctor, which varies by ship.   In an onboard medical center, you can expect to see lifesaving equipment such as cardiac defibrillators, external pacemakers, ventilators and respirators. Diagnostic equipment – including EKG machines, X-ray machines and blood testing equipment – are also common, as are well-stocked pharmacies.   Some cruise lines have...

Spring break has evolved from a mid-term break for college students to a generation-spanning vacation phenomenon. College students still revel in the opportunity to party on the beaches of Florida, Texas, Mexico and the Caribbean, but Spring Break is now for all ages: who doesn’t need a “sun and fun” break after a long winter?   And, there’s no better way to enjoy a truly relaxing break than to take a cruise. Spring break cruises offer nonstop fun and terrific value, rolling accommodations, dining and entertainment into one affordable price.   But, the real key to a relaxed spring break cruise is to plan and book early. These popular cruises begin to fill even before the snow starts to fly: if you have a specific ship or dream destination in mind, make your arrangements now. Here are a few things to consider when choosing a spring break cruise:   If you have children under age 12, ask your Cruise Holidays personal cruise expert about cruise lines and sh...

Cruise travel experts from across the United States and Canada met for one of the premier networking and educational events for those in the cruise travel industry: the 2013 Cruise Holidays Annual Convention. It took place November 10 – November 17, 2013, aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Breakaway . More than 200 Cruise Holidays franchise owners, agents and top cruise industry executives were present.   Norwegian Breakaway   The convention is the most important educational and networking event of the year for Cruise Holidays travel agents, which are located across North America, the United Kingdom and Australia. Participants learned about the latest industry trends, networked with other travel experts, and discussed ways to help travelers get the most value out of their vacation. Anita at Trade Show on Breakaway   Those in attendance said the conference reinforced their belief that there is an important place for travel agents in traveler...