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Showing posts from April, 2015

Celebrate the Summer with a UK Cruise

It’s a busy time for the United Kingdom: William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, are preparing to celebrate their fourth wedding anniversary April 29 while also awaiting the birth of their second child (the baby will be fourth in line to the throne, after his or her grandfather, father and brother). In addition, Queen Elizabeth will celebrate her 89th birthday on April 21. She is on her way to becoming Britain’s longest-reigning monarch; her reign will surpass that of Queen Victoria on September 10. With all of these happy events, the U.K. will celebrate all summer long, making it a wonderful time to cruise this part of the world. The British Isles include Great Britain – England, Scotland and Wales – and lots of offshore islands, as well as Ireland. The coastlines are beautiful, and ships can move from one port to another quickly, giving you more time to explore the ports and take day excursions to inland attractions, such as England’s Stonehenge. A summer crui...

What to Wear on a Cruise

If the thought of meeting a cruise ship dress code is a little intimidating, you’re not alone; no one wants to be the only person who didn’t know that “formal night” calls for a tie, for example. The good news is that while most cruise ships have a dress code, your Cruise Holidays personal cruise expert will help you interpret the code so that you’ll know what to pack. In fact, if a dress code – or the lack of one – is important to you, your cruise expert can guide you to specific cruise lines and ships that match your wish to dress up or down. “Cruise casual” clothing is predominant on many ships – think of sportswear and what you’d wear to play golf or tennis in at a sports club. Men will be comfortable in polo shirts, sport pants or shorts; women in the same, as well as blouses, skirts and casual dresses. With this dress code, bare feet, tank tops, and very short shorts are generally not included. Shorts are fine during the day, but are usually not welcome at dinner. Jean...

Cruising in China

Cruises of China’s mighty Yangtze River have been popular for years; now, ocean-going cruise lines are offering deep-water cruise options for travelers who want to explore this massive, populous and still mysterious nation. China is also a fast-growing market for cruising, so the demand for cruises among Chinese travelers is bringing more ships to the region, too. In fact, Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas will homeport in Shanghai. Several of China’s largest cities are located along the Pacific Coast, and here’s what you could see in a few of them: Beijing . Tianjin is the port for Beijing, which lies about 70 miles inland; some cruises feature an overnight stay in a Beijing hotel, providing more time for you to enjoy the city. Must-see sights include Tiananmen Square, the enormous, historic square that encompasses the Monument to the People’s Heroes, the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong, the Great Hall of the People, and two massive city gates. The square is next to the Forb...

Cruise Options in Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is growing as a cruise destination, with an expanding array of cruise styles and itineraries. You can see this colorful, culture-rich region on an ocean cruise departing from Singapore, Hong Kong or Australia; on a segment of a world cruise; or on a cruise along the Mekong or Irrawaddy rivers. Many deep water cruises of Southeast Asia sail between Singapore and Hong Kong, offering an opportunity to get to know each city through pre- and post-cruise stays. A seven-day cruise can take you to exotic ports in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Malaysia and Indonesia. Longer cruises often include overnight stays in some ports, so you can take extended excursions to historic sites that lie further inland. River cruises take guests more directly to inland destinations, sailing rivers that have served as lifelines in Southeast Asia for centuries. From Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, a combination of Mekong River cruising and land tour will take you to Siem Reap, Cambodi...