Cruise Holidays - Attheta Travel

Congratulations on deciding to take your first cruise! Assuming you’ve decided where to sail, when, and on which cruise line, here are some additional considerations to think through as you make your very first cruise reservation. Decide what type of stateroom you need. Spacious suites with balconies are very appealing, but what type of accommodation do you really need? An interior stateroom is economical and will have comfortable beds and furnishings, plus a well-appointed bathroom. Some interior staterooms even have virtual windows (screens that show a camera-eye view of what’s going on outside). Chances are you’ll spend most of your time elsewhere on ship or shore, so an interior stateroom may meet your needs very well and leave you more of your vacation budget for adventures onshore and extras onboard. However, if you want to start out with a balcony-equipped suite, by all means, treat yourself! Think about what you want to do onboard. There’s often so much happening on a shi...

At Grand Cayman, the largest of the Caribbean’s Cayman Islands, cruise ships anchor in the harbor and tender you to shore, just steps away from downtown Georgetown. This is a great place to grab a bite to eat and do some shopping. You’ll have a choice of restaurants that serve savory island fare – steamed fish, conch fritters and curried goat – with beautiful views of the water. The collection of shops in Georgetown is eclectic, but there’s an emphasis on jewelry, especially diamonds. You can also browse for antiques, salvaged coins, and all the usual duty-free goods, too. If you’re looking for fresh air and exercise, Grand Cayman is also a great place for outdoor fun. Many visitors head to Seven Mile Beach, a truly lovely (and long) stretch of sand. It can be busy at times, but if you keep walking along the shore you’re sure to find a quiet spot to enjoy the sun and water. If you’re up for snorkeling, head to Stingray City. This area inside the barrier reef is home to doze...

Hurricane Dorian brought heartbreaking destruction to the Bahamas in late August and many travelers have wondered how they can help support recovery efforts. Tourism is a huge driver of the Bahamian economy and officials there say one of the best things you can do to help is to travel there. And, what better way to go than on a cruise ship? Grand Bahama Island and its neighboring islands to the north experienced the worst of the record-breaking hurricane, but the vast majority of the Bahamas had no meaningful damage. For example, the port of Nassau on New Providence Island and its neighbor Paradise Island reopened quickly after the storm. Now, all of the Bahamian cruise ports affected by the storm – including Freeport on Grand Bahama Island – have reopened and are eager to welcome you. Major cruise lines have resumed their regular schedule of Bahamas cruises, too. Because almost half the Bahamian workforce is employed by the tourism sector, your cruise vacation will help shor...

There’s a challenge that comes with planning a European cruise, but it’s a fun one. With such a big variety of itineraries, it can take some time to figure out which one is your top choice. To begin, consider which region you would most like to explore: Eastern Mediterranean cruises often focus on the timeless beauty of the Greek Isles and ports along the Adriatic Sea, such as Kotor, Montenegro; Dubrovnik, Croatia; and Venice, Italy. The Eastern Med is rich in ancient archaeological sites; delicious, rustic cuisine; and stunningly beautiful beaches. Western Mediterranean cruises focus on the coastal cities of Spain, France, and Western Italy – think Barcelona, Marseilles, Nice, and Rome. Here, you’ll find historic architecture, modern sophistication, fine art and some of the very best food and wine on the planet. Western European cruises often include the British Isles and ports on the North Sea, such as Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Bruges. You can explore cobblestoned ...

Cruise lovers eagerly await new ships that promise first-at-sea attractions. Here’s a look at a few features being planned for ships that will debut in 2020. Keep in mind that we never know for sure how many great new features a ship will have until it’s ready to sail: the cruise lines like to keep some things secret, and plans can change while a ship is still under construction. For now, we know Royal Caribbean is getting the 4,198-passenger  Odyssey of the Seas ready to debut in November 2020. It will be the line’s first Quantum Ultra Class ship in North America. Royal Caribbean says the Odyssey’s top-deck SeaPlex will be the most action-packed top deck to date. It will have interactive virtual reality games for individual and group play, augmented reality gaming walls, bumper cars, and glow-in-the-dark laser tag (Yetis vs. Snow Shifters). The SeaPlex will also have familiar (but still exciting) Royal Caribbean features like surf and sky diving simulators, plus a bungee t...

A Caribbean cruise that calls on Barbados actually ventures a little outside the Caribbean. Lying east of the rest of the Lesser Antilles, Barbados is technically in the Atlantic. In fact, there’s not much but water between Barbados and Western Africa; more on that in a moment. Your ship will sail up to the island’s southeastern shore, where the capital of Bridgetown is flanked by stretches of white sand beach. It’s tempting to spend the day relaxing on the sand, enjoying a swim and a lunch buffet, and many visitors do just that. For something a little more adventurous, hop on a catamaran and sail to Turtle Bay, where the wild sea turtles make their nests along the beach. You can swim and snorkel in the bay alongside some of these friendly creatures. If you venture beyond the beaches, you’ll find lots of interesting things to see and do inland. Sugar cane was once the foundation of the Barbadian economy, and while all that remains of many plantations are some atmospheric ruin...

Many adventurous souls dream of sailing the world. If you’re one of them, take a look at the fabulous options for taking a world cruise. What makes a cruise a world cruise? World cruises sail three months or more, visiting multiple continents and immersing you in an array of scenery, historic sites, and modern wonders. World cruises focus on onshore and cultural experiences, and often sail on smaller, luxury ships. The crew makes things easy, taking you from port to port and filling days at sea with learning opportunities and fun activities. Most world cruises set sail in January, with some exceptions. Some literally sail around the globe, making a full circumnavigation. Others don’t, but still visit dozens of ports, including some it’s not possible to see on any other type of cruise. Here’s a look at a few world cruises coming up in 2020 and 2021: A Cunard Line ship completed the first continuous circumnavigation cruise in 1922 and has sailed more world cruises than any other line. Th...