Cruise Holidays - Attheta Travel

Social media is a great way to connect with the cruise experts at Cruise Holidays – now, it’s also a great way to win a cruise for two! Cruise Holidays has kicked off its third annual Facebook Cruise Giveaway. Through August 31, visit www.facebook.com/AtthetaTravel and enter to win a 7-night cruise for two in a balcony-equipped cabin aboard a Norwegian Cruise Line ship. If you’re the lucky winner, your Cruise Holidays expert will help you select a ship and itinerary. They can also answer all of your questions and provide ideas for shore excursions, advice on what to pack, ideas for extending your vacation with a pre- or post-cruise hotel stay, and much more. Norwegian Cruise Line is known for its casual and fun approach to cruising. The dress code is relaxed and flexible: many passengers enjoy dressing up in the evening, but there’s no requirement to do so. All Norwegian ships have multiple dining venues, so it’s possible to find everything from a juicy steak to sushi. Top-...

Windstar Cruises, which recently renovated its three masted cruise ships, is adding to its fleet. The first of three new “power yachts” (no sails) is the Star Pride , which carries 212 guests and makes each one feel that they are on their own private yacht. Two more power yachts, Star Breeze and Star Legend , will join the fleet in May 2015. The small ships maintain the Windstar tradition of visiting secluded coves and other places that large ships can’t go. Star Pride is an all-suite ship, and every suite has ocean views. Some have picture windows, some have French-style balconies, and some have private verandas. Each elegant suite also features Internet access, fresh flowers and fruit, and a private bath with granite countertops and a full-sized tub. Like the accommodations, the dining choices are sumptuous. Amphora, the main restaurant, serves Continental cuisine in a relaxed, open-seating venue. Veranda combines buffet-style service with made-to-order grilled items durin...

Venice, Italy, is a truly unique port of call on cruises of the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas. Serene and elegant, with an air of genteel decay, the structures of Venice float just above the water of the Laguna Veneta . It’s a truly pedestrian city, as there are no cars: instead, water buses ( vaporetti ), water taxis and gondolas glide along the canals, taking visitors from one lovely sight to another. The first stop for many visitors is the Saint Mark’s Square, a massive and gorgeous plaza surrounded by some of the most famous places in Venice, including opulent Saint Mark’s Basilica, which is beautiful inside and out. Next door is the impressive Doge’s Palace, another treasure trove of art and history: the palace’s prisons were difficult to escape, but the legendary romantic hero Casanova found a way. The plaza also has a bell tower that you can climb for a wonderful view. After touring, refresh yourself with a cappuccino at one of the plaza’s cafes, where the people-watching...

From north to south, the Irrawaddy River flows nearly straight through the Southeast Asian country of Myanmar (formerly known as Burma). It’s been a vital commercial waterway for centuries; now, the mighty river is the main reason Myanmar is emerging as a river cruise destination. Since a 50-year military dictatorship ended in 2011, Myanmar has been slowly opening up to the rest of the world. However, it’s one of the least-developed countries in Southeast Asia and lacks infrastructure for land-based tourism, which makes river cruising an excellent way to see some of the country’s incredible sights. Most itineraries begin in the former capital of Yangon (formerly Rangoon), still the country’s largest city. There’s lovely architecture left over from British colonial days – check out the restored Strand Hotel. And, don’t miss Shwedagon Pagoda, considered the most sacred Buddhist pagoda in Myanmar. The gold and diamond-encrusted pagoda contains relics of four Buddhas and many colo...

The vibrant city of New York is a capital of serious business, fine dining, top entertainment and great shopping. It’s also a major cruise port. From the cruise ship docks in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Cape Liberty (New Jersey), you can sail a dozen cruise lines to destinations like the British Isles, Europe, Bermuda, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, New England and Maritime Canada. Some destinations, including the Bahamas and the Caribbean, are available all year. At the Manhattan Cruise Terminal, Piers 88 and 90 accommodate some of the world’s largest cruise ships. The terminal is on the Hudson River on the west side of Manhattan, walking distance from Central Park, Carnegie Hall, Rockefeller Plaza, the Broadway theater district and Times Square. Or, head downriver to Chelsea Piers, which have been redeveloped as an entertainment complex where you can bowl, ice skate, practice your baseball swing or rent a kayak. The Brooklyn Cruise terminal is in the historic and revitalized Red H...

With Europe’s 2014 river cruising season well underway, and a record number of river cruise ships traversing the historic waterways, Cruise Holidays International is sharing data indicating Amsterdam and Budapest are now the most popular river cruise destinations its agencies have booked across Europe this year. In addition, Southeast Asia has the most booked river cruise destinations outside of Europe. The information shared by Cruise Holidays is based on actual bookings by its network of cruise travel agencies for river cruises departing in 2014. “Amsterdam is Cruise Holidays’ top river cruise destination for 2014, thanks to its role as the hub for most ‘Tulip Time’ cruises, along with many Rhine river cruises,” stated Kevin Weisner, Senior Vice President, Cruise Holidays International. “In culling the data on our river cruise bookings for 2014, Budapest, Hungary, follows closely behind. Its prime position straddling the Danube makes it a top choice for travelers who want to v...

Knowing that some cruise passengers want to use their vacation time not only to relax and play but to learn something new, many cruise lines offer enrichment programs with expert lecturers on art, history, the sciences, local culture and other topics. Sometimes, these special guests have so much star power that their presence alone is enough to make you choose a specific cruise. For example, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, recently lectured on a segment of Holland America Line’s 2014 Grand World Voyage aboard  ms Amsterdam . As the ship sailed from Durban to Cape Town, Tutu spoke about his role as the first black African to serve as archbishop of Cape Town and about his work on behalf of racial equality throughout the world. Cunard Line’s flagship, the Queen Mary 2 , is welcoming special musical guests during 2014, the ship’s 10th anniversary year. When the grand ship sails from New York on August 27, James Taylor and Band will be on board to ser...