Making the most out of your cruise tour

The only thing you have to remember when you are on cruise is that you have to have fun and enjoy yourself! You have to make the most out of your trip because this pays for your well earned efforts at work. Having the time and budget to go on a cruise is a blessing in itself. Not everyone is gifted with this chance so you wouldn’t want to spoil it.

When you are on cruise, tour around and look around. Avoid staying inside your room because there is so much to see outside. Explore the insides and outsides of your ship and take photos. This will make you remember the beautiful memories you had while on board the ship.
Experience every single part of the ship you are touring in. Visit the stores, swim in the pool, attend evening parties, and enjoy good food and good music. Mingle around and make friends with strangers. Who knows, your cruise might help you make friends with really nice people you can trust and spend the rest of your life with.

It is up to you to make your cruise magical and exciting. Enjoy your tour by buying souvenir items from gift shops. The souvenir items you buy for yourself will be a constant reminder of how hard you’ve worked for this cruise. Don’t forget to bring home some souvenirs as well. This will make your loved ones feel that you constantly remembered them despite the distance.
To make your cruise even more memorable, spend time pampering yourself with the special amenities that they offer. Spend time at the spa or at the gym just so you can experience everything that you paid for. Relax and have fun. Now is the perfect chance to forget about the demands of your work.

You will surely enjoy your cruise tour most especially if this were your first time. Don’t feel scared of the tides and the waves. Cruise tours are meant to ensure your safety and have but one goal and that is to make you feel relaxed and happy.
You have to remember to take photos! Lots and lots of them! So that your loved ones can see how much fun you had and make them feel as though they were with you on your cruise tour.

Set Sail On The Showboat Branson Belle

If you've always wanted to go on a cruise but would rather stay closer to home, we have the perfect compromise – that you'll be convinced is no compromise – for you! Silver Dollar City's Showboat Branson Belle two-hour lake cruises on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri bring an exceptional cruising experience to the Midwest. The Showboat, an 1880s-style paddle wheeler, features outstanding food, first-class on-board entertainment and beautiful lake scenery the whole family can enjoy. To describe the on-board entertainment as first-class is an understatement.

Todd Oliver, nationally acclaimed comedian and ventriloquist, has appeared twice on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno among other TV shows. And he is a favorite act among Showboat goers of all ages. The thrilling acrobatic adiagio dancing styles of Elena and Vadim Serykh , who together have been recognized for over ten years as preeminent performers in Russia and abroad, is sure to take your breath away! Also certain to take your breath away is the view. Mother Nature paints a beautiful portrait as you journey past lush Ozark Mountains on the crystal clear waters of Table Rock Lake. You're sure to snap a truly magnificent picture of the landscape from any of the three decks on the Showboat, so don't forget your camera! TIP: Need another reason to be sure you've got your camera? A once in a lifetime unique opportunity, the Captain will let your kids "steer" the Showboat! Your child will never forget how it felt to be behind the wheel of the Showboat Branson Belle.

A moment in time you'll definitely want to capture on camera. You can also find the perfect treasure at one of the specialty shops at White River Landing. Ladies enjoy searching through enticing trinkets, specialty candies, coffees and clothing at Layton Mercantile. And for those whose heart is at sea and feet planted in the Midwest, McAdoo's Boatworks is filled with nautical treasures and scrimshaw crafts. Once on board, be sure to visit the Showboat Branson Belle's souvenir shop for something unique to remember your one of a kind experience in Branson, Missouri. The Showboat Branson Belle has amazing dinner shows and noon cruises scheduled through the end of 2008. So be sure to check in often with the panel of moms who run the MomsBlog at silverdollarcityblog(dot)com to get the most up to date information on what's happening on the Showboat. Plus, you can ask your own personal travel and Branson related questions to the Moms themselves.

Holidays on Cruise Ships with Kids

If you're like most couples with young kids, nothing sounds worse than being cooped up with a boatload of geriatrics and your little kids. While the image of cruising is changing, it's still hard to get over this preconception. In reality, a cruise might be a perfect vacation for you and your family.

Here are some key things to think about when planning a cruise adventure.

1. Number one is cost and relaxation. While a cruise with a baby in a small cabin might work, packing 2 older kids in with mom and dad might spoil the relaxation of a cruise. Think of the cost/benefit trade-offs when planning and deciding to take a cruise. For example: No sex for a week, 8PM bedtimes and living in a perpetual mess you have to step over, may not seem like a vacation.

2. Most cruise lines have excellent and FREE child-care programs that will take care of kids 3 or older (2 or older for potty-trained kids on Carnival and Norwegian), which makes even thinking of 4 to a cabin imaginable. Many kids end up preferring childcare to being with mom and dad and it gives parents total flexibility in planning excursions and alone time. However, kids must be potty trained and may even be excluded if they violate "3 strikes" rules.

Additionally, you'll find out very quickly if your child does not like the childcare concept. On a recent cruise to Alaska, our five year old couldn't stay away from her new pals, while the couple we were traveling with could not convince their son to try it more than once.

3. Cruise ship pools do not allow swimming diapers due to different public health rules, so no babies in the pool.

4. Talk to cruise staff about the appropriateness of excursions for your kids. While cruises always try to have you reserve excursions up front, most, if not all, do not get completely booked until the days before they take place, so you can almost always book on the ship after talking to staff with direct experience.

Make sure to ask whether the excursion might be scary for little kids, whether rest rooms are available, and importantly if there's a chance dad might have to carry a four-year-old up 450 steps.

5. Bring a group. Cruising is really a perfect way to travel with extended family or another couple or two with kids. The size of the ship and the number of excursions allow for plenty of separation, while providing lots of opportunities for friends and family to re-unite at dinners or events.

Long travel gives dads the added concern of keeping kids from getting bored on the journey. There are many more ways to do this than the good old portable DVD player. For other travel activities with kids, there are some good ideas you can keep at the back of your mind when the "how much longer?" questions start coming fast and furious.

The Mystery and Majesty of St. Petersburg, Russia

With its long and regal past, St. Petersburg, Russia has seen and survived many of the world's tragedies. Through it all, this majestic city has retained her elegant appearance as well as her vibrant spirit. Today, St. Petersburg offers some of the most dramatic architecture in the world. Here are just a few of the amazing sites you'll encounter upon visiting this stately city.

The Hermitage/The Palace Square/Winter Palace

All parts of the same complex, The Palace Square is the main gathering place for most official performances and city-sponsored festivals. The primary architectural masterpiece within The Palace Square is Winter Palace. This wonder was commissioned by Empress Elizabeth from 1754-1762 who wanted to show off her court. Grand in nature, this structure is graced with decorative columns, gold tracery and huge bronze figures that keep lookout from their positions on the roof. Unfortunately, the death of Elizabeth occurred before Winter Palace was completed.

The Palace has seen its share of discord through the years. It was used as a hospital during World War I. It has been occupied by the Provisional Government and the Bolsheviks and suffered damage courtesy of Nazi air strikes in World War II.

Several rooms within the complex were set aside to house unique and historical objects. These rooms have been titled as the Small Hermitage, Old Hermitage, Hermitage Theater, New Hermitage and other names over time. Today, they are collectively referred to as the State Hermitage.

The other "point" of interest in Palace Square is the Alexander Column. This bronze figure commemorates the victory of Russia over Napoleon in 1812. The angel atop the column is said to be Emperor Alexander and the snake trampled under his foot, Napoleon. At almost 156 feet tall, this is the biggest one-piece monolith in the world. It stands, amazingly, without support clamps.

Although tours are conducted year round, the Palace Square and its accompanying buildings are especially popular during warmer months.

The Admiralty

One of the first buildings built in St. Petersburg (formerly Leningrad), The Admiralty was originally constructed to be a dockyard. Evolving through two renovations after its initial construction, this "H" shaped building was designed in Russian Empire style with rows of white columns and plenty of statues. The gilded spire and weather vane are St. Petersburg landmarks in their own rights. Today, The Admiralty houses the Higher Naval Engineering School.

Saint Isaac's Cathedral

Built in honor of the Romanov family in 1710, St. Isaac's Cathedral is an honorarium to their patron saint. Forty years in the making, massive solid marble monoliths each weighing 114 tons were used in the design of this structure. However, history has not been kind to this beauty.

Sustaining destruction by fire, floods and the incompetence of architects, sections of the Cathedral had to be rebuilt as many as four times. In the end, St. Isaac's is a luxurious accomplishment that is truly grand in nature. It is reported that nearly 88 pounds of pure gold and 1,000 tons of bronze were used in its construction as well as semi-precious stones, granite, marble and other exceptional materials.

There's little wonder as to why it took 16 years to decorate the interior. With reportedly over 380 works of art, sculptures, paintings and mosaics, this cathedral is a masterpiece all to itself.

St. Petersburg is home to dozens of cathedrals and palaces just waiting to be explored. When planning your next cruise vacation, consider an itinerary that includes a stop in this majestic city!
Roy Witman

Yacht Charter in the Whitsunday Islands

The Whitsunday Islands lie off the coast of Queensland, Australia. Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north eastern corner of the mainland continent. It is neighboured by the Northern Territory to the west, South Australia to the south west and New South Wales to the south. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean. The area was first colonised by Indigenous Australians and Torres Strait Islanders, who arrived between 40 000 and 65 000 years ago. Later, Queensland was made a British Crown Colony that was separated from New South Wales in 1859. Queensland is often nicknamed the Sunshine State, since it enjoys warm weather and a sizable portion of the state is in the tropics. Their geographic co-ordinates are 20°18xS, 148°56xE. The Whitsunday Islands are situated between Townsville in the north and Mackayin the south. They are 500 miles north of Brisbane, the capital of Queensland.

The Whitsunday Islands can be divided into four groups; The Whitsunday Group, the Lindeman Group, The Molle's and the Northern Group

The Whitsunday Group includes; Bird Island, Black Island, Border Island, Cid Island, Cowrie Island, Deloraine Island, Dent Island, Dumbell Island, Dungarra Island, Esk Island, Fitzalan Island, Hamilton Island, Harold Island, Haslewood Island, Hayman Island, Henning Island, Hook Island, Ireby Island, Langford Island, Long Island, Lupton Island, Nicolson Island, Perseverance Island, Plum Pudding Island, Teague Island, Titan Island, Whitsunday Island, Wirrainbela Island, Workington Island

The Lindeman Group of islands is located at 20°27'S, 149°04'E. The islands in the Lindeman Group include; Baynham Island, Cornston Island, Gaibirra Island, Triangle Island, Keyser Island, Lindeman Island, Little Lindeman Island, Maher Island, Mansell Island, Pentecost Island, Seaforth Island, Shaw Island, Thomas Island, Volskow Island

The Molle's group include; Daydream Island, Denman Island, Goat Island, Mid Molle Island, North Molle Island, Planton Island, South Molle Island

The Northern Group comprises; Armit Island, Double Cone Island, Eshelby Island, Gloucester Island, Grassy Island, Gumbrell Island, Olden Island, Rattray Island, Saddleback Island

English is spoken throughout the Whitsunday Islands. The currency is the Australian Dollar. Major credit cards are accepted widely.

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the 7 natural wonders of the world. And a divers paradise. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park protects 70% of the region fostering superb coral formations and an abundance of marine life. The tranquil and turquoise waters are home to whales, dolphins, turtles and manta rays. The Great Barrier Reef stretches nearly 1500 miles along the northeast coast of Australia; it is the largest structure on the planet built by living organisms. It can even be seen from outer space. Up close, however it is truly spectacular. New fish species are found in the Great Barrier area every year. There are approximately 4,000 molluscs and 350 hard, or reef-building, corals. One coral chunk the size of a basketball yielded 1,441 worms from 103 species. The Great Barrier Reef is comprised of more than 2,800 coral reefs. The carnival of colourful marine life that call it home provide some of the best diving and snorkelling in the world. Novice divers find it hard to describe the unforgettable encounter of seeing over a 100 fish per minute. Experienced divers will be moved by this ultimate experience.

Sunny tropical weather is almost guaranteed year round in the Whitsunday Islands. Avoid school holidays for off-peak periods. Yacht charters are cheaper and the Whitsunday Islands are not as crowded. At any time of year, there is usually enough wind for a pleasant sail.

Summer runs from December to March and is warm and humid with rain showers. Winter runs from June to September and is warm by day and cool at night. Trade winds usually blow slightly stronger from May to August. There is a risk of cyclones from February to March. Late September to early November are considered by some to be the best cruising weather in the Whitsunday Islands. The average daily temperature of is 27°C. January is the warmest month averaging 30°C and July the coolest month averaging 23°C. The water temperature remains a pleasant 23 - 27°C with the average year round water temperature being an inviting 24°C.

The months from October through to May are "stinger" season. Stingers are jellyfish. Jellyfish are the most common wildlife hazard in the area. There are many species of jellyfish in the area; the toxicity of their stings is just as varied. Jellyfish are a problem during stinger season when swimming is not advised at all. An encounter with one is very painful and can be life threatening. You may want to hire or buy a lycra suit to swim in if you plan to swim in the ocean during those months for safety reasons. A stinger suit is usually a full body lycra suit designed to prevent the effects of jellyfish. In recent years a major element in jellyfish injuries is the Irukandji jellyfish.

Tide will be a major factor in planning your sailing day. The tidal flow floods the area to the South, and ebbs to the North flowing around 3 knots. Where the islands are situated close together particularly at the Solway, Fitzallen and Hook Island passages, the tide flows at around 5 knots.

Each island has it's own fringing reef system and you will need to use your eyes carefully when choosing your yacht anchorage. You should aim to anchor before 16.00 while the light is still perfectly OK and you will be able to avoid the coral reefs. Buoy markers and public moorings are located in sensitive areas in several locations around the islands in order to protect the coral. You will find them in on Hook Island, Hayman Island and Daydream Island. You are required to either pick up one of the many mooring balls or anchor outside of the reef markers.

Many yacht charter companies are based in Airlie Beach, the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands. Whitsunday Coast Airport at Proserpine is situated about 10 milers inland from Airlie Beach. Flying times are a 1 hour and 30 minutes and 2 hours 30 minutes from Brisbane and Sydney respectively. As Airlie Beach is located on a peninsula that stretches out to the Whitsunday passage, it is an ideal base. The colourful beach town is focused on serving the needs of the large number of travellers who gather there to embark on a long yacht charter or just a day sail. Airlie Beach provides many of the essential services for sailors. Shopping areas are open seven days a week for provisioning and there are plenty of dining and entertainment options as well.

Whitehaven Beach is one of the most outstanding xsandscapesx in the world. It is recognized as one of the best beaches in the world it will be a highlight of your sailing holiday. Whitehaven Beach is located on the eastern side of the uninhabited Whitsunday Island; the natural silica sand spans 3 miles. The sand is said to be 98% pure Silica, giving new meaning to xsandy white beachx. This is a popular spot and you are likely to encounter other yacht charters. There are no moorings at Whitehaven Beach but plenty of space for anchoring the yacht.

Hamilton Island is one of the Whitsunday Islandsx most well known resorts and offers a vast range of activities and facilities. Hamilton Island has a fifty-acre fauna park featuring kangaroos, koalas, goannas and other local wildlife. The harbour is very impressive and comprehensive: fuel, water, shipwright, electrical and engineering services and a large range of supplies are all available. It is a good idea to contact the harbourmaster a few days in advance to reserve a berth even though there are many berths for both large and smaller boats. The harbour is located on the western side of Hamilton Island and is relatively easy to navigate. With the largest island airport Hamilton Island is very convenient and some large yacht charter companies have their base on the island.

South Molle Island is just 5 miles from the mainland. Take the walking trail, which brings you through lush forests to hilltop lookouts to enjoy stunning views of the surrounding islands. The many trails will provide opportunities to ponder magnificent views. Anchor the yacht on the eastern side of the jetty being sure to leave enough room for the very large water taxis to manoeuvre.

Hook Island is home to a number of quite, sheltered bays that offer some relief from the multitude of yachts sailing the Whitsunday Islands. In the northern bays of Hook Island public moorings are provided and their use is encouraged. These moorings are there to protect the fantastic coral formations fringing the entire northern coast of Hook Island. Hook Island has some of the best sites in the Whitsunday Islands for snorkelling and diving.

Hayman Island is another popular spot for divers. Dolphin Point offers a great diversity of marine life including clown fish, mackerel and trevally with the occasional hammerhead shark. Blue Pearl Bay is very popular with yacht charter boats and again here is much marine life to see.
By: ken jones

Cruising to Kauai, Hawaii

Kauai is a small island west of Oahu, and what it lacks in size it makes up for in beauty. It is known as the Garden Isle, for it is covered with flowers and vegetation, the pleasant byproduct of a more generous supply of rainfall than received by the other islands. In fact, the summit of Mount Waialeale is one of the wettest places on the earth, receiving an average of 444 inches of rainfall annually. If you are lucky enough for your cruise ship to dock here, you will be swept away by the magnificent scenery, including towering cliffs and jagged peaks, lush green valleys and abundant rain forests, beautiful sandy beaches and swaying palm trees. Kauai has such an exotic beauty that several movies have been filmed here, including "Raiders of the Lost Ark", "King Kong", "South Pacific" and the "Jurassic Park" series. Waimea Canyon, nicknamed the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific" by Mark Twain, is located here, too, and it is almost 3000 feet deep with beautiful red earth cliffs.

Ships dock at Nawiliwili Harbor, which isn't known for much except its fun name. A local law mandates that no building may be constructed taller than the height of a coconut tree, so you won't find glitzy hotels or large shopping centers here. Less than one mile from the pier, you will find some of the best shopping on the island - especially of pearl jewelry - at Anchor Cove Shopping Mall. Just behind the shopping mall is a spectacular beach called Kalapaki Beach, which is supervised by lifeguards and is safe for swimming. Further south you will come to Poipu Beach, which is worth the 15 mile ride for its crystal clear water, pure white sand, and lava rocks. Kauai's most famous beach is at Hanalei, where you can catch surfers riding the waves. There are several shore excursions which bring you closer to the unbelievable beauty of this island, including river tubing, hiking and kayaking. You can even sign up for a zipline adventure, soaring high above the spectacular scenery on a high wire zipline.

If your taste runs more to history than scenery, visit Old Koloa Town, located about an hour's drive from the port. This town has been preserved from the days when waves of immigrants came here to work on the sugar plantations, with its original buildings now converted into shops and restaurants. In the center of town is a small history center, and individual buildings are labeled with plaques detailing their original functions and unique histories.

By: Stephanie Larkin

A cruise to the Galapagos Islands

Lying 600 miles off the coast of mainland Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands are an archipelago of 19 main volcanic islands formed by the periodic eruptions of several volcanoes. Several of these volcanoes are still active and although the oldest islands are thought to be between 5 and 10 million years old, the youngest of the Galapagos Islands (Isabela and Fernandina) are still being formed, with eruptions of their volcanoes as recently as 2007.

Getting to the Galapagos Islands
Generations of backpackers have tried to find cheap ways to get to the Galapagos, but the fact remains that the only reliable and regular way is to fly from mainland Ecuador. Several airlines have daily flights to either Baltra or San Cristobal from Quito and Guayaquil.

Galapagos Tours
Few cruises to the Galapagos Islands take in all 19 of the major islands and access to several of them is prohibited or restricted. Today even on the islands that tourists can visit as part of a cruise, there are strict regulations to control tour numbers in order to preserve the unique and fragile ecosystem. You should make sure when booking any cruise to the Galapagos Islands that you do so with a responsible tour operator so that not only you but future generations can enjoy them!

Galapagos cruises are generally of either 4, 5 or 8 days in length and each yacht has a slightly different itinerary according to the rules set down by the Galapagos National Park and, to some extent, the preferences of the captain. Obviously, the longer the cruise you decide upon, the more incredible wildlife you will be able to see.

Yacht types on your Galapagos Cruise
There are several types and standard of boats operating cruises to the Galapagos Islands. One obvious split is between yachts and catamarans. A yacht is a traditional type of ship, with a single hull while a catamaran has two or more hulls and offers increased yaw stability at the cost of slightly more up-and-down motion. Generally speaking in the Galapagos, catamarans are being preferred at the higher end of the spectrum.

Within both types of ship, there are several classes, from quite basic boats to cruises offering absolute luxury. The grading system can be quite confusing, as every company providing cruises to the Galapagos islands seems to have its own system. At Real Ecuador Holidays, we have opted for a star system like that of hotels, which hopefully keeps things as simple as possible!

Generally speaking, a 3-star yacht will tend to have bunks rather than beds and the cabins may not be air-conditioned. Public areas will be well-equipped but may be a little dated - for example, offering a VCR rather than DVD. A 4-star cruise will give you proper beds, greater comfort levels and often some really nice facililites - jacuzzis, anyone? Finally, 5-star Galapagos cruises give you superb facilities, incredible comfort and boats with real character - a fantastic way to enjoy these fantastic islands.

All yachts have a trained naturalist guide as part of the crew and he/she will act as your tour guide on each Galapagos island. The rule of thumb is that the better the yacht, the better the guide, with 3-star yachts employing Level II guides, 4-star yachts, Level III guides and the 5-star cruises employing the best of all.

Staying on the Galapagos Islands
For those of you who aren't keen on taking a long cruise to the Galapagos Islands, there are other options such as staying on a hotel on either Santa Cruz or San Cristobal (the main islands) and taking day-trips out to some of the other islands to enjoy the wildlife there. This can be quite cost-effective and more comfortable if a cabin on the high seas doesn't sound like its for you. Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruzin particular has some excellent hotel accommodation, as well as all the restaurants, bars and other facilities that you could wish for.

Hopefully all this has been helpful for you if you are planning, or thinking of planning a cruise to the Galapagos Islands - there's obviously a lot to think about but the main thing is to know that whatever type of Galapagos cruise you decide on, you can be sure of seeing one of the most amazing places on earth and coming back with stories (and photos!) that will be the envy of your friends!