Enjoying your favorite form of entertainment while at sea can be a great way to enhance your holiday. For those who like to play the slots, try their hand at card playing or their luck at a variety of other casino games, there are cruise lines that cater for the type of passenger that loves to gamble.

While you are in search of cruise deals, consider an exciting Norwegian cruise. It’s not a secret that Norwegian poker tournaments are some of the most lucrative in the world. While at sea it is possible to participate in some of the most exhilarating card games you will have ever experienced, such as Texas hold’em.

Many of the cruise ships that head to Norwegian waters are the best cruise ships for poker players. Some are well known for their high-rolling Monte Carlo theme nights. Many of these ships are fully equipped with blackjack tables and slot machines. After a great win at cards passengers can enjoy the after-hour bars that includes a cigar lounge and live piano bar.

The UK cruising industry has seen a large increase in demand as the cost of flying continues to rise. It seems many people simply realize the value of taking a cruise, especially when they compare the cost to taking a similar trip by other means. 

There are currently numerous cruise deals from the UK with more being added each year. The main departure ports include Dover, Southampton and Tilbury; however, there are other UK ports with regular sailings.  If you are interested in taking part in a cruise this season your choices are almost endless.  

The Mediterranean is a common choice for those wanting a little sun and warm beaches to shake off the winter blues.  It remains the second most sought after destination. This cruising area is divided into two sections, the Western and the Eastern Mediterranean.  For those wanting to visit Italy, Spain, Portugal and France, you will need to book with a cruise company that travels through the seas of the Western Mediterranean. For those who have always wanted to explore Greece, Croatia, Turkey and other countries east of Italy, book your next cruise with a ship that travels the waters of the Eastern Mediterranean.

The standard cruise months are normally May to October, however it’s not uncommon to see cruise companies offering deals as early as March and as late as November.  Book a 2012 cruises while there are great deals to be had.

Famous cruise line, Cunard, has now announced that its ships will no longer sail under the British flag.

The company’s three ships, (Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria ad Queen Elizabeth) are set to be registered in Bermuda, so that weddings can take place on board the ships. This is against the UK law. Because the ships have been registered in Bermuda, the ships will also no longer have ‘Southampton’ painted across them; instead this will be replaced by Bermuda’s capital, ‘Hamilton’.

It is being questioned about whether the cruise line can even call its self ‘British’ anymore, the company is led by an American giant and does not have one ship now registered in the UK.

The company believes it will be able to generate more revenue by cashing in on the lucrative weddings at sea market as appose to its normal UK cruises.

Wedding’s on ships are not allowed under the UK law, as the UK law states that a wedding must occur in a publically accessible place.

But there is some debate about whether weddings at sea are the real reason behind the change of flag. Britain’s new Equality Act 2010 means that workers from EU countries employed on British-ships must be paid wages equal to those of British citizens, therefore un-registering it’s ships with the UK, means that un-fair EU wages can still be paid.

‘It’s not about weddings, it’s about bottom line.’

Cunards Queen Mary 2 in the Bahamas

Picture courtesy of Tom Mascardo

Although cruising is becoming increasingly popular, many Brits still think it’s too posh for them and only for the wealthy. Research uncovered that that Britons who have never cruised before worry about how much it costs and whether they will actually like been at sea.

travelsupermarket.com, carried out the survey and found that 58 per cent of people believed cruises were too expensive, however now there is huge a wide range available that you can easily find cheap cruises if you are restricted to a tight budget.

Meanwhile 36 per cent were concerned the ships would be like ‘floating holiday camps’ which for larger vessels such as Royal Caribbean’s Oasis fleet might feel like a holiday city many smaller cruises try to make it feel like you’re on a bespoke holiday.

15 per cent of people asked believed cruises were only for ‘posh people’, however many cruises ships cater for all sorts of need and while some lines like Cunard offer cruise holidays like they were in the cruising heyday, they try to make everyone welcome, posh or not.

People who had been on a cruise holiday were also asked to take part in the survey and the researchers found that opinion then changed once they had experience ‘been at sea’. With Nine out of ten cruisers stating that they would recommend the holiday to a friend and two-thirds said the great food was one of their favourite parts of the experience.

It seems though that one of the draws for cruising is the ability to multiple destinations but only having to pack once. Plus a lot noted that it was nice waking up in a new place every day.
Other results found by the survey include 60 per cent of 18 to 35-year-olds who had been on a cruise said they were surprised at how much fun they had. Showing it’s not just for the oldies.

To help travellers who haven’t got their sea legs yet, some cruise companies are not offering ‘taster’ cruises of around three days to get you accustomed to it all and decide whether or not it is for you.

Travel expert from travelsupermarket.com, Bob Atkinson, said: “What this research has found is that many of us still hold outdated misconceptions on cruising. These days cruise holidays no longer need to be expensive, long haul journeys. Cruise holidays are becoming increasingly affordable so if you shop around for the best deal and book as early as possible, you could bag yourself a real bargain.”

The research was conducted to mark the beginning of the fourth annual National Cruise Week, which runs until September 25.

Liverpool has a rich maritime history, the port city over the years has seen hundreds of thousands of ships sail in and out of its Princes Dock and this week the city is celebrating its Mersey River Festival which lasts for six days and celebrates he city’s great maritime heritage. Liverpool is also known as a stop off for cruise holidays, so it’s no surprise that the Queen Elizabeth cruise liner was there to open the celebrations.

Cunard has a long history with the city and the closing festival will also be marked by Cunard’s flagship vessel, the Queen Mary 2. In the 1840’s Samuel Cunard started the shipping line, the company’s headquarters were in the city until they moved in the 1960’s to Southampton. You can still see their original headquarters the Cunard Building is one of the ‘Three Graces’ of the city along with the Royal Liver Building and the Port of Liverpool Building.

Currently Liverpool are trying to remove a restriction preventing the city from being a turnaround port, at the moment cruises cannot start or stop there, and the terminal is only used as a port of call. Cunard and other cruise companies may be persuaded back to the historic city and the Princess Dock if Liverpool is successful which could bring in much needed tourism, jobs and money to the city.

For a cruise holiday destination Hawaii probably wouldn’t come to top my list probably because I have never really thought of it as a cruise holiday destination. It is quite a far flung destination and does require time and patience to get there but when you see the surroundings you will realise that it was all worth it.

Because of the distance and the time it takes to get there you tend to find that Hawaii cruise holidays can be expensive, however like any trip if you shop around you should be able to find some cheap cruises to Hawaii on offer, especially if you book in advance. Hawaii is made up of eighth major islands which are Volcanic and each island is made up of at least one primary volcano. Because of this you will find that each island comes with its own distinct climate and each island has something different to offer.

You will find that taking a cruise holiday to Hawaii will cause you to fall into the islander’s way of life; relatively cut off from anywhere else Hawaii has a very relaxed attitude and atmosphere. You will stop off at many of the region’s major islands Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Kiribati and Ensenada, at all of these stops you will find a whole host of activities to keep you occupied during your cruise such as surfing, hiking and horse riding to name but a few. There is also a wide spectrum of breath taking scenery to take in on all the islands as well as a whole host of culture to enjoy.

Most of the Hawaii cruise holidays will start with you flying into Los Angeles and include a 3 night stay there or even Las Vegas, you can also arrange to fly to Hawaii and enjoy a three night stay in a four star hotel right on the beach, with all your transfers taken care of. Most cruises will last between seven and eleven nights on board some of the most extravagant cruise ships offering sheer luxury, you will then be able to enjoy a cruise round the turquoise waters of Hawaii as well as visiting Ensenada (Mexico) with some itineraries.

Hawaii

Picture courtesy of Ricardo y Marta

There are numerous different cruise companies all looking to fill a niche in the market, Royal Caribbean look to offer fun pact, good quality family cruises, Disney aim to keep children entertained and Silversea look to off six star luxury cruises for the discerning traveller. So if you’re looking for luxurious cruise holidays then you should think about taking a break on a Silversea cruise ship to one of many luxury destinations all around the world.

There are not many cruise lines which can lay claim to offering six star cruise holidays, which is what makes them so special, unfortunately this excess also comes with a hefty price tag, however if you’re looking for a holiday of a life time well this is just one you can’t ignore. The company have six luxurious vessels to choose from and on board each you receive a personalised service. In fact to make it extra special to their guests they introduced a butler service for all guests not just the ones staying their elite staterooms, the Owners, Grand and Royal Suites. Not only that, guests can also decide where they get on and off space permitting for an extra charge.

Their ships can hold between 300 to 450 guests and although larger than some of the other luxury cruise lines, Silversea still manage to offer an attentive service to everyone on board. Their ships offer a more traditional elegance and entertainment is less tacky cabaret shows and more grand piano smooth entertainment. You won’t find on board anything too strenuous or too ‘much’. You can’t forget the fine dining either, with staff trained by the Leading Hotel Schools of the World and the menus have been inspired by internationally acclaimed Grand Chefs of Relais & Chateaux.

Silversea offer cruises around the world with destinations including the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Far East, Africa & Indian Ocean, Alaska, and both Polar regions, with various itineraries’ and plenty of port stops along the way.

When it comes to taking a cruise holiday many people think of far off destinations and exotic locations such as the Caribbean, America or Asia, for some even the Mediterranean is too close to home. However there can be some advantages to taking cruises that are closer to home, and that’s exploring the best of the British Isles.

When you take a cruise holiday around the UK there are so many different places you can visit, it’s one of the best ways to see all the major cities and sights of the UK including Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland. You are also never too far away from the shore line so unless it’s really foggy, then you should always have something to look at, plus because the UK isn’t that big you will find that unlike other cruises you won’t actually be spending that much time travelling by sea.

Many of the larger cruise companies do offer cruises round the British Isles, however you won’t be stuck on a massive liner like you would be to other destinations, and many run their smaller more intimate ships for these types of cruises so you shouldn’t feel swallowed up by a large number of passengers on board.

So if you want to make the most of Scotland and take ion the sights of Edinburgh and Glasgow, or enjoy a Guinness in Dublin and visit the Tower of London then a British Isles cruise may be just for you.

Although we are currently still in the summer holidays, there is no harm looking ahead to your next holiday, if you’re like me and like to enjoy some winter sun then you should check out the cruise deals that are around at the moment. Sometimes it’s nice for those of us without families to get away out of the school holidays and a winter sun cruise holiday offers plenty of opportunity to do that as well as escape the miserable UK weather.

The Caribbean is a top winter sun destination and a two week cruise will be a great way to relax and unwind as well as catch plenty of rays. Cruise lines offer itinerary’s which feature destinations such as Florida, Bahamas, Mexico, Dominican Republic and many, many more. Plus the Caribbean sees some high temperatures around this time of year and you are also out of hurricane season.

If that’s a bit too far for you  to travel, then other destinations that are popular for autumn/winter include; the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. Temperatures in this region are still fairly warm, and obviously much warmer than the UK which makes it an excellent time to get out and explore, without the hot temperatures of summer or the large amounts of tourists that you see.

Keep an eye out on the web for cheap cruises for winter sun or if you are unsure what‘s best for you then speak to your travel agent who will be able to steer you in the right direction for the best deals.

Known as ‘Gateway to the Americas’, Miami is a city that attracts people of all ages and persuasions. With its 15 miles of golden beaches and Biscayne Bay, Miami is a sailor’s delight just waiting to be explored.

Miami is home to one of the largest cruise ports in the US and is referred to as the cruise capital of the world. If you are contemplating a cruise, Miami is the perfect destination. The city offers visitors sunny days, thousands of forested acres, beaches and small islands just waiting to be explored.

Miami’s Miracle Mile may be one of the first places visitors will head. Located in Coral Gables, the Miracle Mile is one of the city’s major shopping districts. Do not miss out on seeing the Freedom Tower that was built in 1924 and remains an important landmark. If you have children with you, your holiday should include a day at the Metrozoo, which is one of the best wild animal parks around.

The entire family may enjoy a day at the Seaquarium. This 38-acre park includes majestic killer whales, sea lions, manatees and porpoises. If you still have room for adventure, add the Everglades National Park to your list. The Everglades are in a category of the world’s largest parks that will take you through marshes and swamps. They are home to countless wildlife, including alligators.

Sun worshippers will want to head straight to North Miami Beach where they will quickly discover more than 7 miles of parks and beaches. This area of Miami consists of four small communities, Bal Harbour, Surfside, Sunny Isles, Haulover Beach and Golden Beach.