Cruise Holidays - Attheta Travel

Family-oriented cruises can be lots of fun, but at times you may want to sail without children (yours or others) on board, especially if you crave a very quiet, relaxing and/or romantic experience at sea. It’s possible to cruise on ships that welcome only adults, although there are just a few that have an 18+ age requirement. These include the ships of Viking River Cruises and Viking Ocean Cruises; Uniworld River Cruises’ sub-brand, U by Uniworld; and Virgin Voyages. But even on ships that welcome passengers of all ages, there are ways to avoid the younger set. Here are some tips: Book a cruise on a ship that has spaces reserved only for adults, and use them. Many ships have adults-only pools, sun decks, and lounges (some are complimentary, and some charge a small fee). Shipboard spas, exercise classes, and cocktail lounges are often for adults only; in addition, some ships reserve certain specialty restaurants for adults. Note that in any dining venue, the later you’re seated fo...

If you’ve spent some time at sea, you probably know your bow from your aft. But for first-time cruisers – and those who haven’t cruised for a while – here’s a quick list of seafaring terms that may help you navigate around the ship. Aft (also “stern”) – Near or at the rear of the ship. Bow (also “fore” or “forward”) – Near or at the front of the ship. Bridge – The command center where the crew navigates the seas and steers the ship; it’s often high up and toward the bow, and usually off-limits to passengers. Cabin (also “stateroom”) – A living/sleeping room or suite occupied by passengers. Captain – The top officer, in command of the ship and crew. Cruise Director – The officer in charge of onboard entertainment and social events for passengers. Cruise Terminal – A facility where cruise ships begin and end passenger cruises, similar to an airport terminal for planes or a station for trains. Deck – A floor or level within a cruise ship. Gangway – A walkway you’ll use...

It’s great to enjoy the wonderful spaces and activities aboard a cruise ship, and just as delightful to explore in and around the ports you visit. That’s why cruise ships offer shore excursions: fun tours and activities that let you experience local attractions, culture, food, and more. The shore excursions available depend, of course, on your destination. Bus and walking tours, visits to historic sites, and shopping sprees are popular in many ports. But there are also lots of location-specific excursions, like dog sledding in Alaska, exploring remnants of Mayan civilization in Mexico, or taking a backstage tour at the Monte Carlo Ballet. With so many options, it can be hard to choose between shore excursions. Here are some tips for choosing the experiences you’ll enjoy most. Set a budget. On a luxury cruise, shore excursions may be included in your fare, and you can skip this step. But if you’ll pay for each excursion, it can be helpful to set a budget. Know your activity limi...

Cruises are an exciting way to explore new destinations, but they also provide time to indulge in simple pleasures that busy lives don’t always have room for – such as settling into an easy chair to read a good book.     A well-stocked library of books ready to be borrowed was once a standard feature on cruise ships. Now, many passengers bring their own reading material on e-readers, tablet computers or smartphones. As a result, some ships have reduced the size of their libraries, or replaced them with internet cafes and wine bars.     Still, there are still quite a few ships that feature sizable libraries; these include some of the ships of Cunard Line, Oceania Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, and Holland America Line, among others.  ...

Alaska has long been one of the most popular cruise destinations, and for good reasons. There are thousands of miles of stunning coastline, from acres of northern rainforest to massive calving glaciers, set against majestic mountain peaks. Alaska has a rich history and pockets of diverse cultural interest, including the native Tlingit traditions of Ketchikan and the Gold Rush stories of Skagway.      After a pause of more than a year during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, coastal cruises of Alaska resumed in late July for a brief but welcome 2021 cruise season. And, several cruise lines have big plans for upcoming Alaska cruise seasons, which traditionally run from May through September.     For example, Celebrity Cruises has announced that it will expand its Alaska cruise fleet in 2023, when the  Millennium  will join the  Ecli...