Cruise Holidays - Attheta Travel

One of the world’s most popular cruise destinations is in a surprising location: Bermuda, located more than 600 miles off the mid-Atlantic Coast of the U.S. Bermuda is such a wonderful place to visit that nearly 50 percent of visitors choose to make a return trip to this British territory. Bermuda also ranks as the fourth most popular destination in Cruise Holidays’ 2012 Cruise Trends survey, surpassed only by the Caribbean, Europe and Alaska. Bermuda is an archipelago of about 120 islands, with the eight largest connected by bridges and causeways. Combined, the eight are just 22 miles long and barely 2 miles across at the widest. The islands retain their natural beauty and charm in part through bans on billboards, neon signs and other trappings of commercialization. Much of Bermuda’s open space is devoted to golf: it has more courses per square mile than anywhere else in the world. Cruise ships call on one or more of three ports in Bermuda: Hamilton, St. George’s Town and K...

Many people cruise because it’s such as relaxing vacation. You can get on board, unpack, find a deck chair, and not worry about finding places to sleep, eat or play – it’s all right there on the ship. But, while a cruise can wrap you in insulating comfort and ease, it can also offer an exciting opportunity to learn about cultures different from your own. Sometimes, just stepping onto the ship provides an instant a cultural immersion. For example, MSC Cruises has received awards for the international ambiance on its ships, which is reflected in the cuisine, entertainment, crew and décor. Almost anywhere you sail, shore excursions provide an opportunity to experience local culture with some or all of your senses. Moving to the rhythm of samba during a dance lesson in Brazil, listening to reggae in the Caribbean, learning to prepare fragrant paella in Spain, or walking the Chilkoot Trail toward the gold fields of the Klondike can give you the thrilling feeling of belonging to anot...

Thinking about a fall cruise? The coastline of New England, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the banks of the Saint Lawrence River beckon, for reasons far beyond the region’s traditionally colorful fall foliage. Montreal, Quebec, on the Saint Lawrence River, is a popular stop on many Canada/New England cruises (some passengers are surprised and pleased that an ocean liner can venture so far from the ocean). Take a tour of the city’s charming Old Town, which may feel more like Paris than anywhere else in North America. The Underground City complex offers great shopping and connections to a variety of attractions, but if the weather is fine you may prefer to visit the Atwater or Jean Talon markets to pick up gifts, mementos and sweet treats. For a beautiful view, hike to the top of Mont Royal, situated in the middle of the city. Also on the Saint Lawrence, Quebec City is truly unique. The historic part of town is surrounded by the only remaining fortified walls north of Mexico. Look ...

Imagine cruising the California coastline with Mr. Incredible, Remy, Woody, Jessie and Buzz Lightyear! If you and your family are fans of animated films, you know that these are some of the most beloved characters from Pixar Animation Studios’ award-winning films. And, if you’re a fan of Disney Cruises, you’ll be interested to know that Disney will present a series of four seven-night cruises featuring this wonderful cast of characters from September 16 through October 14. The Disney Wonder will sail round-trip from Los Angeles, calling on San Francisco, San Diego and Ensenada, Mexico. While on board, guests will be able to meet, take photos and even dance with more than a dozen Pixar characters. They’ll also get an inside look at the creative process used to develop a Pixar animated feature or short film, such as the upcoming “Monsters University.” Special events for guests of all ages will include presentations on the art of animated filmmaking by artists and filmmakers ...

If one cruise makes a fantastic vacation, wouldn’t two cruises be better? A growing number of cruise enthusiasts are making a trend out of “back-to-back” cruising: taking two cruises, one right after the other. Some back-to-back cruises are booked on the same ship. This works well if the ship alternates its itineraries – for example, sailing the Eastern Caribbean one week and the Western Caribbean the next. By booking two sequential cruises, you’ll see more of the gorgeous Caribbean – and, you’ll have time to more fully enjoy all of the ship’s amenities. Another back-to-back option is booking cruises on two different ships. This provides an opportunity to enjoy two sets of cruise ship amenities, dining options and entertainment venues while extending your vacation. Back-to-back cruises can also help maximize the value of pricey airfares to Europe. A pair of European cruises – to the Eastern and Western Mediterranean, for example – can help you experience a mo...

Still buzzing from the excitement of the Diamond Jubilee, which honored Queen Elizabeth’s 60 years on the throne, London is now prepared to host the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, July 27-August 12. Always popular with tourists – especially during the summer months – London has made improvements to its public transit systems and constructed new venues to handle the influx of spectators and tourists. Public transit systems will also extend their hours of operation, as will a variety of tourist attractions, restaurants, clubs and other hot spots. If you’re traveling to London for reasons other than attending the Olympics, you can expect to encounter enthusiastic crowds near all of the Olympic venues. The centerpiece of the games is the new Olympic Park, near Stratford in east London, which has revitalized an old industrial area. The park includes the athletes’ village and purpose-built venues for aquatics, basketball, BMX biking, handball, field hockey and more. The south end of the par...

Currently sailing from Barcelona, Spain, Carnival Cruises’ new Dream Class ship, the Carnival Breeze , is the cruise line’s first ship to completely utilize the “Fun Ship 2.0” concept, a fleetwide initiative to present new food and entertainment offerings Launched on June 3, the ship can carry up to 3,690 passengers. It has many of the favorite features of its sister ships, the Carnival Dream and the Carnival Magic , such as a WaterWorks aqua park with a corkscrew slide; an adults-only Serenity area; and Carnival’s private label beer, Thirsty Frog Red, on tap in the Red Frog Pub. The Breeze also offers lots of new amenities, including incredible dining choices. They include Carnival’s first stand-alone sushi restaurant, Bonsai Sushi; and Guy’s Burger Joint, a product of Carnival’s partnership with Food Network personality Guy Fieri. Carnival says the joint served 1,200 beef-and-bun masterpieces on a single day during the Breeze ’s inaugural cruise. Hungry guests can also e...