Cruise Holidays - Attheta Travel

Traversed by sailors since ancient times, the Adriatic Sea sparkles between the Italian and Balkan Peninsulas. Today, the Adriatic welcomes cruise ships and passengers who appreciate this relaxed, scenic part of the world. A northern arm of the Mediterranean Sea, the Adriatic has something of a split personality. The western shore – essentially, the long eastern coast of Italy – is known for gentle water and sandy beaches. The eastern shore, shared by Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro and Albania, has dramatic, with rocky islands and cliffs that rise from the water, backed by inland mountains covered with deep green forest. Many cruises of the Adriatic begin or end in Venice, the dreamy city that occupies a series of islands in the delta of the River Po. Ornate bridges and romantic canals link the islands and the landmarks they hold, such as the famous Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square) and its imposing cathedral. Venice is full of historic buildings that appear to float on the...

Rome, Italy, sits on the banks of the Tiber River but depends on Civitavecchia, a small city 50 miles to the northwest, to serve as its port on the Tyrrhenian Sea, part of the Mediterranean. Civitavecchia, a commercial port since the second century, boasts a massive fort – part of it was designed by Michelangelo. Still, you won’t want to spend too much time there when all of Rome is waiting for you. It’s a 20-minute walk from the port into Civitavecchia, but most cruise lines will have shuttles waiting to take you into town. There, you can board a bus or hire a taxi to get to Rome; the ride will take 90 minutes to two hours, depending on traffic. There is also train service, which is a bit faster, delivering you to Rome in just over an hour. A knowledgeable travel consultant will also be able to assist with private transportation options. There’s a lot to see in Rome, and there are a variety of shore excursions to help you make the most of your time there. If you’d like to see...

Travelers who are concerned that simply being on a plane or cruise ship with someone who has been exposed to the Ebola virus could lead to infection should be reassured by Dr. Sanjay Gupta, chief medical correspondent for CNN, who reports that, Ebola is not highly contagious; and, the virus does not travel through the air. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirms that the Ebola virus spreads only through contact with blood or other body fluids from an infected person who is actively displaying the symptoms of the disease. Ebola virus disease is a certainly a serious health concern, especially in West Africa, where the largest outbreak ever continues to claim victims. In an abundance of caution, the travel industry is taking steps to further reduce the extremely low risk of contracting Ebola from a fellow traveler. For example, the Cruise Lines International Association worked with public health authorities to develop guidelines for its member cruise line...

Los Cabos, the delightful Mexican resort area and cruise ship port at the tip of the Baja California peninsula, is rebounding quickly from the effects of Hurricane Odile. The storm came ashore September 14, 2014, as a powerful category 3 hurricane; it was the strongest storm to make landfall on the peninsula in more than 45 years. While Odile temporarily left nearly the entire state of Baja California Sur without power or water, cleanup in Los Cabos began immediately. The small Cabo San Lucas airport had no damage to its runways and was back in operation as soon as the storm passed; the larger San Jose del Cabo International Airport reopened to domestic and international flights on October 3. Most year-round flights from U.S. airports have resumed, and seasonal service from the U.S. is expected to operate as usual beginning this month. Essential services, including power, water, phone, Internet, sanitation and public transportation have all been restored in Los Cabos. Some h...