Cruises
The following articles might convince you that the time is right - just grab your bags and go!
The Birth of Cruise VacationsAuthor: Jim Monahan Today's cruise industry can trace its lineage back to thenineteenth century, when passenger ships were a means oftransportation, primarily from Europe to the United States andbetween Europe and it's far-flung colonies in Asia and Africa. The arrival of commercial jet airplanes in the late 1950s markedthe beginning of the end for the transatlantic and transpacificliners. Many of the big ships went to the breakers to be cut upfor salvage. But not that long afterward, a new concept tookhold: the cruise ship. Here the ship itself took center stage asa floating resort hotel. By the middle of the nineteenth century, the traffic from Europeto America was so steady that the route across the NorthAtlantic became known as the "Atlantic Ferry." The race was on, literally, as shipbuilders pushed for largerand faster ships. The queens of the line also became more andmore opulent within, at least for the relatively few wealthyfirst class passengers; at the same time, builders crammed moreand more low fare travelers into steerage areas, which wereoften more like bunkhouses than staterooms. Steerage, though,was the source of much of the shipping lines' profits because ofthe sheer number of those passengers. The first commercial steamship to cross the Atlantic was theSavannah, an American coastal packet chip designed as a sailingvessel and 1818, but refitted with an engine duringconstruction. The ship made its first crossing in 1819, a 28-dayvoyage from Savannah, Georgia, to Ireland and Liverpool; theship was never a commercial success. The real beginnings of the Atlantic ferry can be traced toIsambard Kingdom Brunel, chief engineer of the Great WesternRailway way in Great Britain. The rail line between Bristol inLondon was nearly finished in the 1830s, and Brunel decided toextend his company's reach across the pond. The ship hedesigned, the Great Western, left England for New York on April8, 1838. In 1840 the Cunard Line began mail service across the Atlanticwith a quartet of paddlewheel steamers that had auxiliary sales.In 1858 Brunel's company launched the Great Eastern, an ironhulled vessel that approached in size many of today's cruiseships, with a length of 692 feet. For the next two decades,British and American interests competed for supremacy asmerchant marine powers. During the U.S. Civil War, however, muchof the American fleet was destroyed, and Britain regained itsleading role, a position it held for the rest of the nineteenthcentury. About the author:Discover the insider secrets the Cruise Lines and Travel Agentsdon't want you to know. It's simple to book Purchase our custom gift items at the Cafe Press online store
A cruise on a ship like this would make the blues go away, wouldn't it?
River Cruises might be just what you're looking for. For more information, please click here. Have you thought about an Alaskan cruise? The scenery would be magnificent. To read more, please click here. Check out these Cruise Tips before you go. For more information, please click here. Cruises: Choosing the One that's Right for You Author: Kimberly Carlson
These days, cruises are getting to be like everything else. From cough drops to crackers, there are almost too many choices, and it's true of cruises as well. You might feel like going on a cruise would be a perfect getaway for you and your spouse but finding the right one can be more difficult than its worth. Luckily, if you cut down your options by deciding where you want to take your cruise, when you want to take it, and on what cruise line, you probably won't have too many options to choose from and you can pick the best cruise for you.
Where to Take Your Cruise - Part of the reason that there can be too many choices is that there are a lot of options about where you can go on your cruise. Each cruise line sends cruises all over the world. Think of this as a good thing, not something that is going to slow down your decision-making process. All you need to do is sit down and take an hour or two and just decide where you want to go.
The best way to make a decision is to think about what you already love to do and then tailor your cruise destination to match those desires or hobbies. If being on the beach on a beautiful sunny day is your idea of heaven, make sure you take a cruise in the Caribbean. If you like being outdoors, you might enjoy one of the northwest coast cruises that sail all the way up to Alaska. If you're a history buff, take a European cruise. The destinations are what differentiate cruises; each ship is really very similar while you're sailing.
When to Take Your Cruise - Deciding when to take your cruise can be almost as harrowing as where to take it. Most cruise lines offer cruises year around. Some times of the year are very popular but you can get great discounts at other times during the year. For instance, winter vacation may sound like a great time to take a cruise. You can get down to the Caribbean sun and take a break from school or work during the holidays. On the other hand, you might be able to save as much as 40% on cruises if you go in the October or November timeframe. This is an unpopular time to take a cruise and often costs less.
What Cruise Line to Take - It can sometimes seem like there are almost as many cruise lines as cruises. Different cruise lines usually attract different types of people. Some attract families, some attract couples, and some attract singles. Make sure you know what types of people usually use any given cruise line. There are a number of websites that offer reviews of different vacation possibilities, and you should be able to find this information on those. Once you've narrowed down the possibilities in these three categories, you should be left with just a few cruises that you will undoubtedly enjoy.
About the author: Kimberly Carlson is an avid traveller and prefers to do all her own research and bookings on line. She has learned the ins and out on cruise holiday pricing and options. You can find more of her interesting articles at Caribbean Cruises or http://cruiseandtoursonline.com Photo: USNOAA
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