Cruising has come a long way since the “Love Boat” days. The regimented schedule a passenger followed left much to be desired. In today’s cruising, the choices are endless!
The all-inclusive resort used to be considered the “budget inn” of travel. Images of a rowdy crowd drinking in the Jacuzzi, bland food, forced group activities and limited entertainment was the norm. Today, the all-inclusive concept has expanded to unlimited activities such as golf on a championship golf course, gourmet meals, and more upscale and intimate resorts.
How many trips can you make to Disney World for that family vacation with the kids, shelling out hundreds of dollars just to walk your family through the gates, standing in line in the hot sun, buying Mickey Ears as a souvenir – then throwing them in the bottom of the closet when you return home? Does this sound like a vacation to you?
Entertainment & Enrichment at Sea
Remember when shipboard entertainment was simply a poolside game led by the cruise director and perhaps the occasional ice carving contest? These days it’s more like surfing on Royal Caribbean’s FlowRider and splashing in Disney Dream’s AquaDuck, the first water coaster at sea. When cruise lines proclaim that a vessel has more activities onboard than most resorts, they’re not kidding. Here’s a sampling of what modern ships have to offer in the arena of entertainment and enrichment.
Ice Bar aboard Norwegian Epic
Not just the vodka is chilled. The bar, tables, stools, and even the walls are made of ice and kept at an arctic 17 degrees.
Cunard Insights aboard Queen Mary 2
Imagine attending a lecture series headlined by such well-known personalities as John Cleese, star of the Monty Python films, or Dr. Ruth Westheimer, television’s famous therapist.
Carousel aboard Oasis of the Seas
Hand-crafted and one-of-a-kind, Oasis’ Carousel is the whimsical centerpiece of the Boardwalk, inspired by Coney Island for the young and young at heart.
Bon Appétit Culinary Center aboard Marina
If you are not satisfied with just feasting on edible indulgences but want to learn to craft culinary excellence as well, try the hands-on instruction provided by Oceania Cruises’ master chefs.
Blue Man Group aboard Norwegian Epic
This award-winning show and concert, once found only in Vegas, will combine music, comedy and multimedia theatrics.
Digital Workshop aboard Nieuw Amsterdam
Powered by Windows, this interactive design studio offers free classes on images, blogs, movies, scrapbooks, and more.
WaterWorks aboard Carnival Dream
With 19,000 square feet catering to kids and families, this ship features an aqua park with the longest water slide at sea. Don’t miss the comedy club and outdoor laser shows.
For more information and to reserve your next holiday, contact Damien Hunting, your Cruise Planners/American Express Specialist, at 907-782-2812 or damien.hunting@cruiseplanners.com.
Honeymoons too often take a backseat to the arrangements and plans of the actual wedding, but you owe it to yourself to give honeymoon planning greater and more careful attention. After all, while the wedding is mainly for your family and friends, the once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon that follows is a private getaway for you and your new spouse to celebrate your marriage. Though you may spend a portion of your vacation relaxing and reflecting on this major life change, the honeymoon is most of all an opportunity to enjoy being a newlywed, spending quality time with your new spouse, and experiencing a romantic and exciting getaway.
Honeymooners have endless options. Following months of wedding planning, couples often retreat to a luxurious resort that caters to their every need, while others trek to an adventurous escape from their day-to-day lives. Whether a beach vacation or a safari, the honeymoon should reflect your joint personality and wishes.
Keep in mind that perfect honeymoons don't just happen, and planning requires thoughtfulness, patience, careful attention to details, and a lot of decision-making along the way. The more homework you do before leaving for your honeymoon, the more you will enjoy your special vacation.
With today’s economy, couples are left with a staycation-type of honeymoon. With our Honeymoon Gift Registry, you can register for your dream honeymoon and friends and family can deposit money into your registry as their wedding gift to you. They can even pick portions of your honeymoon like a couples massage, spa treatments, airport transfers and more. Make this a retreat of a lifetime with the help of your friends and family.
Find out more by visiting my website at http://www.familycruisesandtours.com/pages/registry or contact me for more information.
