Cruise Holidays - Attheta Travel

Nutmeg trees and rainforest cover the mountainous landscape of Grenada, a Southern Caribbean island known for its aromatic spices. After a devastating hit by Hurricane Ivan in 2004, this island nation has emerged stronger and perhaps even more beautiful than before. Your cruise ship will dock in the historic capital of St. George, where the colorful buildings reflect a blend of colonial British, French and West Indian culture. Some consider it to be the prettiest harbor town in the Caribbean. Market Square bustles every morning with a variety of vendors who sell local produce, spices and crafts. For beautiful views of the city and harbor, visit Fort George; for an even more expansive view, venture up to Fort Frederick. In addition to nutmeg, the enticing spices of Grenada include cinnamon, cloves, ginger, mace, allspice, and citrus peel. The island has been rebuilding its nutmeg production ever since about 85% of the nutmeg trees were destroyed by hurricane Ivan – the replacement ...

Cruising is a great choice for older travelers who want to explore new places without the uncertainty that can come with traveling on your own. Shore excursions, as well as cruising itself, are group activities, and there is  greater safety and security venturing out in a group than exploring a new place alone. Of course, you also want to good care of yourself while you’re cruising. Here are our top three tips for mature cruisers: Mind Your Health . If you have physical limitations or special dietary needs, let your cruise line know; your Cruise Holidays personal cruise expert can help with this. The crew will do whatever they can to accommodate your needs. While you’re packing, double-check that you have all the medications you may need. Bring a little extra just in case your flight home is delayed. Pack them in the bag you’ll carry with you, not in the luggage you plan to check. While you’re on the ship, don’t leave your medications out on your desk or bathroom count...

The term “expedition cruising” carries a promise of adventure. These cruises provide an exciting experience and a sense of exploring off the beaten track of tourism. Interested? Here are a few tips about preparing for an expedition cruise: Have realistic expectations. Expedition ships are small and purpose-built, with limited onboard amenities; the focus the cruise will be the onshore experience. Your stateroom will be well-equipped and comfortable, perhaps even luxurious. But, don’t look for multiple restaurants, big theaters or a social director. Onboard programs are usually led by naturalists or scientists who help immerse you in the environment, history and culture of your destination. Get in shape. You don’t need to be an Olympic athlete, but most expedition cruises require a certain level of agility. Often, you’ll need to step from the ship into a Zodiac craft – a type of small, inflatable boat – to reach the shore (this may also involve getting a bit wet). In addition...

The beautiful national of Belize lies just south of Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, nestled between Guatemala and the Caribbean Sea. Belize has a forested mainland and dozens of islands, cays and coral reefs. When your ship docks in Belize City, you can head for a variety of historic, cultural and natural attractions. Some cruisers select a Caribbean itinerary that includes Belize specifically because they want to snorkel or dive along the impressive barrier reef. Some of the best sites are near Ambergris Caye; you’ll see lots of colorful coral and marine life. If you would rather just soak up the sun on a Caribbean beach, there are plenty to choose from on Ambergris Caye and other islands, including Goff’s Caye, Southwest Caye, and Half Moon Caye. There are Mayan cultural sites throughout Belize, and two of the most popular are Altun Ha and Xunantunich. Altun Ha was an important trading post and ceremonial site, with imposing temples and tombs. At the Temple of the Sun, with a ca...

Cruise lines are always making changes – some small and subtle, some big and bold – to create new opportunities, comforts, and experiences for their guests. What are some of the current trends in the industry? Cruising’s popularity continues to grow. Cruise lines expect a total of 27 million passengers to set sail in 2018, an increase of one million from last year. 2018 will also see the debut of 27 new ships – 17 for ocean cruising and 10 for river cruising. The Caribbean remains a top destination. Long the most popular cruise destination for North Americans, the islands of the Caribbean are expected to continue in that role, as ports damaged by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in the fall of 2017 are open again. On some islands (Puerto Rico, the British and U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Martin and Dominica) you’ll still see signs of damage and rebuilding, but many attractions and businesses are ready to welcome you. Many islands with little or no damage from the storms (Antigua, Martinique, St....

Cruising is a great vacation choice for solo travelers who want to explore the world and let someone else handle the details of getting from one place to another. Still, deciding on a cruise ship and itinerary can take some research. Cruise ships are full of accommodations designed for couples and families, but some have staterooms just for solo travelers, too. You’ll want a ship that has a variety of social spaces where you can get to know fellow travelers, and a good choice of shore excursions where you can explore with a group. And, when you cruise on your own, you might receive spur-of-the-moment invitations to join others on ship or shore; so, you need to think through your cruise wardrobe and be ready for just about anything. How can you pack light but be ready for cocktail parties, shore excursions, deck activities, casual and formal dinners, dancing, beach time and more? Here are some tips: First, everything you pack must coordinate with everything else you pack. ...

While the three hurricanes of September 2017 – Irma, Jose, and Maria – were hard on some Caribbean islands, the island of Antigua came through with only minimal damage, quickly repaired. The island’s residents want travelers, including cruise fans, to know that their island has remained ready to welcome visitors. The dozens of sand beaches on Antigua are still soft and white, and the historic Nelson’s Dockyard – once the most important colonial base of the British Royal Navy – was untouched by the storms. A wide variety of cruise lines make Antigua part of their Eastern Caribbean itineraries of 7 to 14 nights or more. Depending on the cruise line you choose, you can depart from New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Tampa or Puerto Rico. It’s understandable if you want to spend your day on Antigua with your toes in the sand of one of the island’s scenic beaches; they are spectacular. A beach excursion will take you to a stretch of sand dotted by lounge c...