The Culture Bank

When most people picture cruise holidays, they are likely to imagine two weeks sailing in the Caribbean or a tour of the Mediterranean Sea.  While these voyages can be wonderful experiences, there are other more unusual options to be found off the beaten track.  These alternatives can be worth considering for your next holiday.

One trip that offers an amazing experience, with spectacular natural scenery, is a voyage around the Arctic Circle.  You will have the opportunity to spot polar bears as you sail amongst icebergs, beneath the breathtaking Northern Lights.  Ports of call often include fascinating destinations in Norway, Greenland or Alaska.

If the cold does not appeal, another option is to sail around South America. Possible tours include seeing the unique culture of Argentina, partying in Rio de Janeiro and sailing around Cape Horn.  It is even possible to begin your voyage in Europe and stop in at Mediterranean cruise destinations before crossing the ocean to Brazil.

Cruise holidays to Vietnam can also be very rewarding, offering magnificent scenery in the Halong Bay area near Hanoi.  Adventurous travellers can immerse themselves in a completely different culture and explore the sights and sounds that this part of the world has to offer; the experience is sure to be extraordinary.

Caribbean cruises are very popular:  who would not love to see beautiful sandy beaches and gorgeous blue seas?  In fact, Caribbean cruise deals are the most widely sought-after cruise destination.  Most cruises will leave from the United States from Miami, Houston or New Orleans.  Places like Barbados and Jamaica are also being added as starting points for these cruises.

When booking a Caribbean cruise, you can choose from cruises that will take you to the Eastern Caribbean, Southern Caribbean or Western Caribbean.  An Eastern Caribbean cruise will take you to the Bahamas, the West Indies and possibly down to Antigua.  This will depend upon which cruise line you book your holiday with.

A Western Caribbean cruise will have you heading for Jamaica and the Grand Cayman Islands.  Panama is another destination that has recently been added to many cruise ships’ itineraries.

A Southern Caribbean cruise is typically a longer cruise and will take you to St. Lucia, Dominica, Trinidad and Tobago.  Some cruise lines are now going north towards Venezuela.

For anyone wishing to take a longer trip, it is possible to book a cruise that circles the Caribbean.  This area is beautiful all year round, but most cruises only sail this area between November and April.   Summer in the Caribbean is normally the time when hurricanes spring up and humidity levels are at their highest.

No matter when you choose to take your Caribbean cruise, your cruise line will take care of you and will always re-route in case of inclement weather.

When planning a cruise, one of the first steps is to decide on the kind of holiday that you want.  Cruises are available to hundreds of exciting destinations, so it is a good idea to consider your options so you can book your perfect break. 

The first thing to think about is the kind of things that you would like to do and places that you would like to see.  Maybe you have a specific destination or area in mind already, or maybe you want a holiday that will give you the chance to do something like rock climbing, adventure sports or to visit cultural sites. 

Next, consider the format of your break.  Maybe you would like to spend more days at sea, allowing you to enjoy the onboard facilities and the open ocean.  You might alternatively like to have several port calls in different areas, so that you can experience many places and see plenty of the area, or you could go for a Cruise and Stay option, where you spend several days on shore at a port to get a real experience of the area. 

Consider how long you want to go for and how you will get to your starting point.  Many people choose cruises where they do not have to fly to reach the port, especially if they are going for a shorter time period such as a week or less. 

Making these decisions will make it much easier to select and book your holiday.  Whether you decide to go for a Cruise and Stay in the Caribbean, or a two week tour of the Mediterranean, you will be able to check which cruise lines offer the type of holiday you want and then you can choose a suitable ship to sail on. 

If you are a seasoned cruiser or are new to the cruise scene, there are always questions to be asked about taking cruises. Sometimes the answers are fun to discover as you take your seaward journey, while other answers are best revealed before getting onboard.  

For instance, it’s a fact that not all cruise ships are created equal. They differ not only in size and by their destination, but also by their décor, cuisine, entertainment, activities and onshore excursions. They also vary in clients. Some ships are designed for singles or adults only, while others are geared strictly towards families.  

If this is your first time cruising then you may not be familiar with how shore excursions work. It is important to know that you can actually book your shore excursion activities ahead of time on your own. You do not have to book them through your ship, however, if you book separately and you are late getting back, it’s unlikely your ship will wait for you.  

Although you can get basic port information from your cruise ship, it is still a good idea to read up on your own. This way when you arrive and find you are on a limited schedule, you’re not wasting time getting lost while you try to find that perfect place you have heard so much about.  

Although it’s common for many people to book their holidays online, there are still advantages to using travel agents. Most travel agents have access to great cruise deals, special offers and travel perks that you may not find advertised online. It is a good idea to look online as well as to check with your travel agent before booking any cruises.

For people who believe a holiday is for relaxing from day one and want to avoid the stresses and strains of airport waiting times and transfers, a Southampton cruise may be just what you are looking for. From the moment you step on deck all the ship’s amenities are available and the holiday begins!  Your luggage is taken care of from the minute you arrive too, so no waiting for weighing or check-in.

Located on the south coast of England, Southampton has always been linked with cruise ships and now offers a bigger choice than ever for cruise holidays 2012. Southampton is well served with transport links too and there are excellent car, bus and train services available from all corners of the UK.  With such a variety of cruise holiday destinations on offer, Southampton looks set to continue its reign as the major UK cruise port.  Southampton is the UK’s busiest cruise port and most of the big-name cruise liners offer cruises from Southampton with year-round cruises and more than 200 ships setting off from Southampton every year.

There is ample choice of luxury hotels at the port too for those who fancy a pre-cruise stay.  If you choose to arrive by coach, the drop-off point is conveniently located outside the port terminal so there are no long distances to manoeuvre luggage.  If you travel to Southampton by car there are ample parking facilities and if you travel by train there are easy rail links provided.  On a Southampton cruise all you have to do is step on board and start relaxing. 

The discerning traveller can choose from a wide variety of cruise options, ranging from the Caribbean islands to the Mediterranean, Scandinavia and Europe and to the Middle East, the Far East and all places in between.

Although there are some fantastic cruise holiday deals for 2012 happening right now, booking a cruise from Southampton does not have to mean long-term planning.  Perhaps you fancy a spur of the moment cruise experience?  If so then remember to check out the last minute cruise deals where you can pick up some really good cruise bargains.

Cruises can provide a relaxing adventure on the ocean, and the United Kingdom is served by some of the best cruise lines in the world.  Travellers have the option to choose from adventure filled holidays, to more relaxing and leisure filled trips.  Here is just a sample of what lines UK travellers can choose from when planning their holiday.

Luxury Cruises

Travellers looking for a little luxury in their life might enjoy cruises offered by Silversea Cruises, Regent Cruises, Seabourn Cruises, Crystal Cruises or Oceana Cruises.  These ships travel the entire world to some of the best destinations, such as Rome, Alaska’s snow-capped mountains and Venice.  Many of these deals offer pre-sail and post-sail hotel stays, and many provide off-ship offers at most ports of call.

Great Deal Cruises

Travellers wanting a good deal on a cruise without losing out on the luxury of a beautiful ship can choose from packages from Royal Caribbean or Disney Cruise Lines.  These lines offer great prices and packages suited to any traveller or entire family.  Both lines offer nightly entertainment, geared to both families and adults, and have various dining options on board. 

Package Deals

Travellers interested in package deals might want to look at Cunard Cruises for some of the best package deals around.  Most packages include a hotel stay before and after the cruise.  Additionally, most packages will accommodate any special requests such as visiting certain attractions onshore. 

Caribbean cruises are a blast for the whole family because there is something for everyone to do. Mum can take it easy, just lounging around in a comfortable lounge chair with a drink in hand and being waited on by the cabana boy. She can catch up on her latest beach reading material and occasionally look up to see brilliantly beautiful sparkling turquoise waters splashing in gentle waves against the pure, soft white or golden sand. If she gets too warm, she can lay her book down and stroll down to the water to have a dip and cool off and work on her suntan for a little while before returning to the shade of the umbrella.

Meanwhile, Dad can take off with the kids and go have a little more action packed sort of Caribbean adventure. Maybe they will go ATV (All Terrain Vehicle) riding or perhaps horseback riding on the beach. In addition to getting to ride along the seaside, some of the destinations that Caribbean cruises visit, such as the Grand Cayman islands, have shore excursions where you can even ride horses in the ocean.

This sort of excursion definitely makes for a really memorable holiday experience and some truly amazing photos. The best part is that everyone gets to do something that is fun for them but still be together.  Caribbean cruises truly have something for everyone.

A cruise is a wonderful opportunity to get away from it all, or dive right into the chance to get active and invested in the things you are interested in. A lot of people will choose to go on cruise holidays because they are tired and stressed from work, kids, school, and all the daily demands of the normal rat race of a life.
 
This sort of holiday is perfect for those people, because once they step aboard every single thing is taken care of for them.  There is no need to worry about planning where to go or what to do next, because your ship will take you right to the best locations, and the tour directors of the ship will present you with a huge menu list of things you can do there. Or you can just as easily opt to do nothing at all and take a nap in your beautiful cabin or on one of the lounge chairs by the pool, or perhaps disembark the ship and go lie on one of the beautiful beaches nearby.

For other people, they will want to go on cruises for the opposite reason, because a cruise enables them to be able to do a whole lot of different activities in a short amount of time. They could go ziplining and scuba diving one day, snorkel with stingrays and go horseback riding the next. The possibilities are as endless as your energy supply. You can do as much or as little as you want and have a great time.

One of the most relaxing and enjoyable holidays that you can experience is going on a cruise. There is nothing like being on board a ship and riding the waves.  Taking a cruise is simple, and you can book it with your travel agent who will help you to decide where to go.

Information for Beginners

For a traveller who has never been on a cruise before, there could be some misconceptions.  For example, many inexperienced travellers believe that most people who take cruises get bored, seasick or never leave the ship the entire time.  These assumptions are completely unfounded.  For travellers prone to seasickness, a river cruise is the best bet, while anyone looking for an adventure can travel on a ship with an on board casino and nightclub. 

Cruises Are for All Ages

A further misconception of cruises is that only older people go on them.  In fact, many cruise lines cater to families, for example the Disney Cruise Line.  Other cruises offer great nightlife, and adventurous off ship activities like surfing, kayaking and diving and shopping trips.  On board many ships, travellers will find rock-climbing, swimming pools, ice-skating and nightly shows that will entertain any crowd.

Departure Times and Ports of Call

Many people believe they will miss out on nightlife onshore by cruising, and it is true that most lines stay in port during the day.  There are lines however that do the opposite, docking at night and sailing by day.  This means that night owls can enjoy the clubs and dining onshore. 

People who reside in the United Kingdom have a distinct advantage over many other travellers who are looking for cruise deals in 2011. Almost every cruise line recommends an early arrival in a port city, often two days prior to a ship leaving the dock. Imagine the luxury of driving straight from home down to the secure car park at the pier or a nearby harbour. Attendants park the car in a safe and secure location then they take the luggage straight aboard the cruise liner.

Southampton ranks as the busiest port in the United Kingdom and most major cruises have a presence here. Many cruise vessels head for the Baltic Sea, the Canary Islands, the Mediterranean regions and the Norwegian Fjords. This is also a busy port of call for cruises headed to the United States, Canada and the South Pacific.

Located on one of the most popular stretches of coastline in the world, the White Cliffs of Dover overlook the busy Dover harbour where 18 major cruise lines operate shipping routes to major European destinations.

Motorcars or trains from the north easily reach Portsmouth, in the south of England. Expect to see polar adventure ships set sail to Iceland and Greenland, while a small luxury cruiser may be heading out on a Caribbean cruise.

Passengers cruising out of Newcastle will enjoy the newly renovated waterfront. This is one port where an early arrival gives travellers time to enjoy the public art displays and charming local eateries. Departing from this northern harbour can save a full day at sea as opposed to leaving from one of the southern ports.