Cruise Holidays - Attheta Travel

Japan is a nation of islands, which helps make it a fantastic cruise destination. The 14,000 islands of Japan stretch about 1,900 miles, from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the Philippine Sea in the south. While ships call on only a few of the islands, there are many reasons to cruise there, including: The islands are beautiful . Japan is on the Pacific Ocean’s Ring of Fire, and its volcanic islands are mountainous, heavily forested, and often edged by beaches. Japanese gardening is an art form, as is Japanese architecture; both are admired worldwide for their elegant simplicity. The cities are energizing . Much of Japan’s population lives in bustling urban areas on the coastal plains of its major islands. Tokyo offers everything from gorgeous public gardens and museums to incredible shopping. Osaka features an iconic castle, neon-lighted Ferris wheels, and thousands of restaurants. It’s also the gateway to nearby Kyoto, Japan’s cultural capital, with over 2,000 Shinto shrines ...

If you already booked a cruise that will set sail during the upcoming winter holidays, we’re don’t need to convince you to sip a seasonal drink by the pool, enjoy holiday meals prepared by expert chefs (with no need for you to cook or clean up), and otherwise celebrate the season on the open sea. But, we can still offer a few tips for making the most of your time onboard. Preparation for a lovely holiday cruise can begin before you leave home. Consider bringing along your most elegant (but still packable) outfit; you may wish to dress up for a holiday dinner or show. Even if you keep it casual, pack some fun accessories – maybe a Santa hat, holiday-themed jewelry, or some soft reindeer antlers for your head. You can dress up your cabin, too, with a tiny Christmas tree, a small menorah, or some sparkly garland. But, be sure to sure to check your cruise line’s rules: for example, most do not allow decorations that have to be plugged in, candles with flames (battery-operated are usu...

After you spend time carefully packing for a cruise, it’s distressing if your luggage goes astray somewhere between your home and your cruise ship cabin. While we hope this never happens to you, you should know what to expect and what to do in this unfortunate situation. To help avoid a lost luggage event, use at least one way to track your luggage. For example, download your airline’s mobile app and use its luggage-tracking feature. Many travelers also place small tracking devices in their luggage – these devices can share their exact location with your mobile device. And even when you use these precautions, be sure to pack an extra outfit – plus essential paperwork and prescription medication – in a carry-on bag that will stay with you. After you fly to your departure city, If your luggage doesn’t appear on the baggage claim carousel, look around; airport staff may have set it aside. If not, go to the baggage service desk for the airline you arrived on and show your luggage claim...

Some cruise ships are as large and as populous as a small city, so knowing how to find your way around is important. Even on a smaller ship, the number of decks, elevators, and hallways can make things a little confusing. Fortunately, there are a variety of resources to help you get to where you want to be. You can start by becoming familiar with the ship before you cruise. Most cruise lines provide online deck plans for their ships; if you prefer paper, your professional travel advisor can provide a deck plan brochure or printout. Use the deck plan to locate your cabin and see how you can get to the closest elevators, the pool, the dining room and buffet, the show lounge, etc. If the cruise line’s website includes photos of the ship, take a look at them so things will seem at least a little familiar when you get on board. Once on the ship, take a little time to orient yourself and develop a sense of forward (toward the front of the ship) and aft (toward the back of the ship). If y...

The Caribbean is balmy all year long, the water is beautifully blue, and the beaches are legendary. For these reasons, it’s one of the world’s most popular cruise destinations. If you haven’t already sailed there, here’s a quick introduction to the region and the places cruise ships call on. The Caribbean Sea is defined by the Greater Antilles islands on the north, the Lesser Antilles islands on the East, the northern edge of South America on the south, and Central America – plus Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula – on the west. Cruise destinations in the Greater Antilles include Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic (which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti), Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands. The Greater Antilles, made mostly of continental rock, are known for mountainous beauty. Popular ports include San Juan, Puerto Rico (the departure port for some Caribbean cruises); Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; and Georgetown, Grand Cayman. The Lesser Antilles is an a...