Cruise Holidays - Attheta Travel

This past weekend, Princess Cruises invited us to spend two nights on the new Royal Princess.   Of course, Anita said yes! We both wanted to see the new ship.   We were to board the ship, in Ft Lauderdale on October 27, the day the ship arrived in the US from Europe. This is the ship that was christened by Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge.   We always try to travel to a cruise port a day or two before the ship sails.   Too many things can go wrong when you travel on the same day as you board the ship…   This time, we spent two extra days in Ft Lauderdale at the Embassy Suites on 17 th Street.   The hotel was under renovation – and we didn’t know it.   I believe the hotel should have advised us of the construction at the hotel.   We may have stayed there anyway, but we would have made an informed decision.   Better the inconvenience happen to us than to one of our customers. On Friday night, the hotel hosted two wedding rec...

Not long ago, cruise fans looked forward to the annual “World’s Largest Cruise Night,” when special discounts were available from many cruise lines. In recent years, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) decided that one night is not enough. CLIA has announced plans for National Cruise Vacation Week, a full seven days of great cruise discounts, to be held October 20-27. It’s all part of National Cruise Vacation Month, when cruising takes the spotlight in the travel industry.   “There’s no other promotion in the travel industry of the size and scope of National Cruise Vacation Week,” said Christine Duffy, President and Chief Executive Officer of CLIA. Special offers during the week are expected to include two-for-one pricing, free stateroom upgrades, credits that can be used for extra amenities onboard, and more.   So, if you’ve been considering a cruise, National Cruise Vacation Week is an ideal time to book it. The special offers may allow you to: ...

While just a few of the cruise ships bound for Alaska currently call on Nanaimo, British Columbia, this delightful harbor-front town is poised to grow as a port of choice.   Nanaimo is centrally located on British Columbia’s Vancouver Island, almost directly across the Strait of Georgia from the city of Vancouver. The cruise terminal is able to accommodate even the largest cruise ships, and passengers step right off the ship into town.   Visitors enjoy the water and mountain views while strolling on the Nanaimo seawall, which winds along the waterfront. If you walk far enough, you’ll pass quaint shops, a lighthouse, and the Bastion, the oldest free-standing Hudson's Bay Company fort in North America. The Bastion now houses historical exhibits; and, during the summer, the old fort’s cannon is fired daily at noon. Right next door is the impressive new home of the Nanaimo Museum, where you can learn about the island’s early history from the perspectives of First N...

What began as Gastown, a small settlement built around a sawmill and a tavern, is now the vibrant coastal city of Vancouver, British Columbia. Positioned between the water and the North Shore Mountains, Vancouver is a busy port for cruise ships bound for Alaska. Some ships even home port in Vancouver, providing an opportunity to spend a few extra days in the city.   Cruise ships dock at one of two terminals: Canada Place, just steps from downtown’s hotels, restaurants, and attractions; or Ballantyne Pier, just a 10-minute taxi ride away. You can still walk the cobblestoned streets of Gastown , which is now a hip neighborhood of fashion and design boutiques, antique stores and galleries. There are lots of enticing restaurants, as well as clubs that spring to life at night.   Vancouver's Chinatown is the second largest in North America (after San Francisco’s). There’s an impressive China Gate on Pender Street; the historic Sam Kee building, the world’s narro...

Victoria, British Columbia, is a frequent stop for cruises to Alaska that depart from Seattle or farther south. On the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, is a lovely city known for parks and green spaces. Victoria is strongly influenced by its past as part of the British Empire, and there’s a European flair to the grand Parliament Buildings that dominate the city’s Inner Harbor.   Most cruise ships dock at Ogden Point Cruise Terminal, though small ships sometimes dock right in the ­­Inner Harbor. From Ogden Point, it’s a quick shuttle or taxi ride to the Inner Harbor and downtown. But, if the weather is fine (and it almost always is), you may enjoy the 20-minute walk along the shore of the Juan de Fuca Strait, then up Government Street. Be sure to pause now and then to look in the shops that offer treasures like English china, Irish lace and the work of First Nations artisans.   At the Inner Harbor, you’ll see the beaut...

  We were fortunate to arrange an anniversary trip for good friends from Seattle. He is a cruise lover, but his wife wanted the go to Europe! She won... They visited London and Paris on the Trafalgar tour. Enough said by me, here is the trip report from our friends, Ned & Caroline.  Thanks Caroline, for letting us post your journal!     "The adventure began on Aug 25th as we left our house at around 10am and headed to the Seattle airport for departure at 130p.  We enjoyed a smooth flight to Chicago and waited to board a 9pm flight to London.  The excitement builds!  I am going to Europe!  Red eye flights are not a bad option here – the flight was “only” 7 hours but sleeping ate up most of that time.  And then – we landed at Heathrow! (actually on Sep 26) My first taste of Merry Olde England.  We were in the hands of Trafalgar tours. We were taken to our hotel, the Thistle Euston and checked into a comfortable but small room.  Up...

During the past decade, Astoria, OR, where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean, has emerged as a delightful port of call on cruises of the Pacific Coast, as well as cruises that reposition ships from Alaska to warmer locations for the winter. Astoria is at the far north end of Oregon’s gorgeous coastline of dramatic headlands, dotted with beaches, evergreens and lighthouses. You’re likely to be welcomed at the pier by music from a local band, setting a festive tone for your exploration of the area. To discover the area’s maritime history, hop on the colorful Astoria Riverfront Trolley and ride to the Columbia River Maritime Museum. The trolley also glides along the bank of the Columbia River and passes beneath the graceful Astoria-Megler Bridge, which connects Oregon and Washington. If you’re feeling thirsty, Astoria has several craft breweries ready to welcome you; or, visit the Flavel House Museum, a magnificent Queen Anne-style mansion, for a traditional afternoo...