Cruise Holidays - Attheta Travel

If you’ve ever felt the urge to sample the nightlife in a port of call but had to be back on your cruise ship in time for a 4 p.m. departure, take a look at some itineraries that include overnight stays in a port or two. An overnight stay gives you a chance to become more familiar with local culture – after all, the evening can be the best time to sample the dining and arts scenes in many ports of call. Just imagine a sunset gondola ride on a Venetian canal, or taking in a dinner-and-tango show in Buenos Aires. Here are a few more ideas: Many of Azamara Cruises’ itineraries feature late-night departures or overnight stays. For example, an eight-night cruise of the Iberian Peninsula includes overnight stays in Seville and Valencia, Spain. In Seville, you might explore the Real Alcazar and Sevilla Cathedral by day, then spend the evening sampling tapas – the small, delicious bites served along with drinks in many local bars (Sevilla is where tapas were invented, after all). On the ...

Ocean cruises and river cruises both involve beautiful ships sailing on water, and both provide an exceptional vacation experience, but those experiences are incredibly different. Many travelers enjoy both types of cruises, but there are some reasons you might choose one over the other. Here’s a quick comparison. Ships. Ocean cruise ships generally accommodate at least 1,000 passengers and sometimes as many as 6,000, plus crew. Multiple decks provide space for sunbathing, pools and hot tubs, sport courts, spas and fitness centers, Broadway-style theaters, lounges, and much more. River cruise ships are much smaller – most take on fewer than 200 passengers. They’re built slim and low to fit into small locks, glide under historic bridges and dock in relatively shallow water. Even with the smaller space, many river ships include amenities like a cocktail lounge, library, salon, gym, and perhaps even a small pool. Itineraries. River ships don’t have room for as many onboard entertainmen...

Cruises make wonderful family vacations; today’s family-friendly cruise lines offer large, spectacularly equipped ships with spaces and activities to please family members of all ages. Cruise vacations can be especially great for an age group that is sometimes hard to please: teenagers. Here are a few reasons why teens love cruising. It’s comfortable. Cruising means no one has to climb into the family car, fight for space in the back seat, then endure driving for hours to get from place to place. Instead, there’s space to relax and have fun while sailing from one interesting port to the next. It’s delicious. Growing teens can burn a lot of energy – and that means they need to eat, often. Most of all of a ship’s dining options will be included in your fare, so your teens can eat as much as they need, as often as they like. In addition to the main dining room and specialty restaurants, most larger ships have burger and pizza places open for extended hours. In addition, many ships off...

All by itself, food is a reason to cruise. You can count on delicious food emerging from the ship’s galley on a regular basis, with no effort (or clean up) on your part. But on some ships, passengers who love to cook can do so, learning new techniques and mastering new flavor profiles in the process. Here’s a look at some cruise lines and ships that let passengers watch master chefs at work and get some hands-on instruction, too. Holland America Line’s state-of-the-art Culinary Arts Centers are purpose-built for cooking classes and demonstrations. Some of these are delivered by the ship’s own chefs, and some by guest chefs who specialize in regional cuisine. Just think of learning to make lobster three ways (butter poached, sauced with beurre blanc, and grilled) during a cruise of the New England coast; or creating the perfect mango cheesecake while cruising the Caribbean. Oceania Cruises’ Riviera and Marina offer hands-on cooking schools in their Culinary Centers. You don’t ne...