If you’re looking for a longer break this summer then you should consider taking stay and cruise holidays around Florida and the Caribbean. You can take a break from between ten and 14 nights which also include three to four nights stay on land too.

Destinations in this area to stay include Florida, Miami and Orlando, as well as a cruise around the Caribbean, stopping off in countries such as Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Grand Cayman plus many more.

There are a numerous cruise lines which offer stay and cruise holidays such as; Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line, Carnival Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and many more. You just need to work out what itinerary you want to follow and what services and amenities you want aboard your ship.

It’s always exciting to visit the East Coast of America, especially Florida, Miami and Orlando where there are plenty of activities and places to visit for young and old alike. Including a cruise around the Caribbean means that you can visit many tropical destinations on your trip, more than you would if you were going it alone, plus it’s much easier when someone else is doing the navigating.

With a cruise holiday, your every need is taken care of aboard the ship from world class restaurants and places to have a few cocktails, to on board evening entertainment, such as full production shows. During the day you can soak up some rays on deck, keep cool in the pool or relax by enjoying a spa treatment.  And you will also find plenty of activities that can be arranged when the ship is in port, with guided excursions and tours.

For a holiday of a lifetime, why not have a look at a stay and cruise holiday.

Royal Caribbean announced their itineraries for Alaskan cruises in 2012, their ships the Radiance of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas are scheduled to undertake the cruises which will run between May and September 2012. Royal Caribbean are also introducing a brand new series of cruise tours which range from 10 to 18 nights, which incorporate both the land and cruise portions of the vacations, for a total of 20 tours.

Some of the new cruise tours of Alaska include trip to Fox Island and excursions to the Anchorage Museum and Imaginarium, as well as that you can also consists of a six-night Canadian Rocky Mountain cruise tours that include an overnight train journey. They have also opened up a whole range of excursions as well, which offer unique experiences such as a ride down a 1,300 ft. mountainside on the ZipRider, or a family friendly adventure aboard the White Pass and Yukon Railway with a stop at the Klondike Gold Fields where you have the opportunity to pan for their own gold.

Speaking about the new Alaska itineraries, commercial Manager of Royal Caribbean, Adam Armstrong said: “Not only do we have great cruise itineraries on offer, but they can also be packaged with land tours in Alaska and the Canadian Rockies. We call them ‘cruisetours’ and they offer something for everyone – fun, adventure or relaxation – plus once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to see the region’s dramatic cliffs, Alpine glaciers, unique marine life and expansive wilderness.”

When spring is in the air, it’s a great time to get out and about to see all the natural beauty unfolding around us and if you are fancying a spring break then there is no excuse not to book a cruise holiday, especially one on the Norwegian Fjords to see spring in its finest form and it great for romantic holidays for couples.

Norway is known as the Land of the Midnight Sun, due to the fact that in the summer time you get 24 hour daylight, so if you visit in spring you will still get to experience the evenings so you can get a peaceful night’s sleep.  A cruise holiday is a great way to experience Norway as you travel along the Fjords that knife into the steep mountain ranges. Dotted to your sides you will be able to see all the spring time flowers awakening in-between the older villages with their traditional wooden houses.

You can also experience the ever changing landscape of this region with a Norwegian cruise holiday, much more than if you were only based in one place, following the path of the Vikings through the mountains from the colder glacier-covered Svalbard Islands, on the edge of the Arctic down to the warmer climes of Bergen in the south. Also with a cruise holiday, everything here is taken at a slower pace, giving you time to explore Norway and all it has to offer, from rolling green meadowland, to idyllic villages and welcoming towns. You won’t be surprised when you visit that Norway has been recently added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The comfort provided on a cruise means that you can enjoy all of the above easily without hassle, enjoying the amazing views as you eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. Plus you will also find a great host of interesting excursions to take at each port, so you can really experience Norway. Many of the major cruise lines offer great deals to Norway, with a great collection of itinerary’s to choose from, whether you just want a few days away or couple of weeks.

Norway

Picture courtesy of posotivesustainability

Many people choose to spend their holidays on a large luxury cruise ship.  Cruises go to many destinations and are of various durations.  On some you will spend the whole time enjoying the services on board the ship; on others you will stop somewhere almost every day.  This article aims to provide you with information about cruises around the Mediterranean, so you can choose somewhere to go for your cruise holidays 2011.

Italy, Greece and Egypt

You can take a nine night MSC Cruise around the Mediterranean, visiting Italy, Greece and Egypt.  Inside cabins (single or double) are offered at a cheaper price than the outside cabins.  However both types of cabin offer comfortable beds, a spacious wardrobe, bathroom with shower, interactive television and a telephone.  There are also more luxury cabins available at a higher price.

Eastern Mediterranean: Barcelona to Barcelona

An Eastern Mediterranean cruise departing from Barcelona and returning to Barcelona lasts 13 nights on a NCL Norwegian Jade Liner.  A number of different suites exist, including the inside stateroom and penthouse.  This cruise ship stops at various places in Italy and Greece.

Ultimate Mediterranean Cruise

The Ultimate Mediterranean cruise leaves the port of Southampton in the United Kingdom and stops at several places in Spain, Italy and France.  This cruise lasts for 18 nights on the Royal Caribbean International Independence of the Seas.  This luxury liner offers a number of bedroom options, including less pricey inside rooms and more expensive balcony rooms.  The reviews of this ship speak for themselves, with many people recommending it based on the high quality of service.

If you want a memorable way to travel and see the world, as well as taking in lots of culture then you should consider taking a Baltic cruise holiday, for your main holiday this year. There is one problem though with taking a cruise holiday, if you have never taken one before, is that you will get hooked on the whole experience and explore the rest of the world this way.

This is why a good first cruise would be a Baltic cruise, you will be able to visit world-famous cities like Stockholm to take part in some rich shopping and dining experiences, or explore the huge variety of culture available in the ports along the Northern European coast and follow in the footsteps of the Vikings. Many major ports are covered as you set sail along the waters where epic clashes between Russian, German and British fleets vying for control of the seas took place.

There are varying itineraries for Baltic cruises, with stops in Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo, Riga, and Tallinn, but you should find one that covers the placers you want to see and if you can’t you will just have to take another cruise holiday next year to cover the rest! Plus there are plenty cruise holiday deals for 2011 available so you should also be able to find the right cruise for your budget.

The great things about taking a cruise holiday, have to be the fact that you don’t have to worry about the travelling, as the captain of the ship does that for you, you don’t have to think to hard about eating as there is always plenty of choice for meals onboard and it’s easy to find entertainment for those days spent at sea, or on an evening.

Spain is one of the traditional favourite destinations for Brits travelling abroad with millions of families enjoying Spanish holidays over the years; in fact it was one of the first package holiday destinations.  One of the biggest attractions to taking a holiday in Spain is the huge amount of variety available to holidaymakers in the country, with city breaks, beach holidays, golfing holidays, cruise holidays 2011 and resort experiences all readily available thanks to Spain’s large tourism industry. 

Ibiza, Spain

Picture courtesy of Philip Larson

The country is also easy and economical to get to, with numerous flights from a variety of low cost airlines departing daily from most major UK airports and some of the smaller local ones. You can also take a cruise holiday from a UK port or alternately if you want to enjoy a cruise around the Mediterranean and a stay in Spain you could go on a fly, cruise and stay holiday.

One of the most popular places for British tourists in Spain is the south coast of the island, where holidaymakers can find a great mixture of beaches, restaurants, bars and shopping to ensure an action packed and fun break.  This area of Spain also has a large ex-pat community, making sure that home favourites are always close to hand.  The south of Spain, though, isn’t all about busy family holidays as there are also several small villages and towns in the area full of quiet, rustic charm.  Further inland from the busy coastal areas you can find some of Spain’s best resorts and golf courses, offering a more relaxing and serene family experience.

Along with traditional beach and resort holidays, Spain is also home to several great cities for tourists to explore.  Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona, amongst a host of others, are all great locations for Brits looking to combine Spanish heritage and culture with the luxuries and comforts of a cutting edge modern city.

A transatlantic cruise is still one of the greatest cruise routs, harking back to the early days of travel with grand steam liners crossing the Atlantic from the UK to the US. Many cruise lines are still in keeping with this traditional feeling with their cruises none more so than the Cunard Line who still keeps up with the glamour, decor and grand traditions of the by-gone sea faring days.

For some the greatest appeal of a transatlantic cruise is the lack of ports of call so you can actually enjoy the voyage itself and the refined luxury of the cruise ship. When sailing out of the Port of Southampton the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean out in front of you can seem both intimidating and exhilarating. You can also sail westbound from a number of other ports for a transatlantic cruise, such as Barcelona and several other European destinations. If you opt for a eastbound transatlantic cruise then your holiday will start in either New York, Boston, Miami, Fort Lauderdale and some of the Caribbean ports. This means no matter which way you go you can tailor a stay in each port around your cruise and arrange travel from there and really make it a once in a lifetime holiday.

The time frame for a transatlantic cruise can vary depending n routes from any between six days to two weeks. However you shouldn’t despair, many transatlantic cruise ships offer the same level of service and luxury as many other lines around the world, with a superb selection of international cuisine, leisure activities, evening entertainments and kids clubs.

Are you looking for the perfect way to show your loved one how much you care this Valentine’s? Have you considered taking a Valentines cruise holiday? It’s the perfect romantic holiday for couples and a different way to show how much you care. There are a number of different destinations to choose from, it all depends on how long you want to go for and how much you want to spend.

If you really want to push the boat out then you could look at taking a round the world cruise, if you have the time and money. It’s the ultimate holiday experience and a once in a lifetime experience for many, stopping off at the most exciting and exotic locations in the world. There are numerous cruise lines that offer round the world cruises, the most notable and luxurious being the Cunard line, however if you want to disappear for the best part of the year then you should go on the 106 night cruise offered by Fred Olsen Cruise line where you span the globe.

If you don’t fancy venturing around the world and want a shorter cruise a little closer to home then you should have a look at taking a Mediterranean cruise, where you can enjoy a wide range of sights and interests with the bet the Med has to offer. There are a number of different Mediterranean cruises available, each visiting different destinations, it just depends on what you want to see, whether it’s the Eastern Mediterranean or the Western Mediterranean.

The Cruise Passenger Ratings Survey on cruise.co.uk saw Cunard beat off competition to be voted the best cruise line for 2011 and their ship the Queen Victoria was named as the ‘best ship of the year’ after thousands of passengers reviewed their trips on the site.

It is the third year running that Cunard have scooped this prestigious prize, however it is the first year that Queen Victoria has received the best ship accolade.

The timing could not be more impeccable as Cunard only a week ago welcomed their newest vessel the Queen Elizabeth with an event in New York which saw all three ships docked together, which is only the second time in the company’s history that its fleet has been together in the same place at the same time.

Other cruise lines or ships that were celebrating include the Celebrity Eclipse which was awarded best accommodation and P&O’s Oriana was voted the best ship for children. Not surprising Royal Caribbean also received a number of awards for best entertainment on Independence of the Seas and best service on Adventure of the Seas.

Seamus Conlon, managing director of cruise.co.uk, said: “The surprise this year is the number of UK based ships that dominate all the groups. The results show that Queen Victoria has very much established its position within the British market. Also surprising is Celebrity Eclipse, which has performed in the top 10 in all categories. Typically the newer cruise ships don’t rate highly in their first year because of the inevitable teething problems of a new ship launch.”

Next year’s awards should also be surprising with the launch of many new cruise ships including Queen Elizabeth, Allure of the Seas and Disney Dream will be giving passengers a wide range of choice for their cruise holidays 2011.

As guests were enjoying a lavish black tie dinner onboard the £2,000-a-head Spirit of Adventure the vessel was approached by Somali pirates, guests were forced to take cover and barricade door incase shots were fired from the pirates or they tried to board. Crews were also ordered below deck as the captain tried to steer the vessel away from danger, speeding off the liner managed to out run the small dingy forcing it to give up.

In recent years the number of attacks in the Indian Ocean has increased with pirates targeting bigger and bigger vessels. In fact it’s become such a problem that guests on the boat which was travelling from Madagascar to Zanzibar were briefed on what to do in the event of an attack from pirates.

Saga and other cruise lines which offer romantic holidays for couples in this area seem to be fast becoming targets for pirates, last year pirates with rocket propelled grenades approached the cruise ship Discovery and they only left when the crew released razor wire.

Luckily for the 350 guests and crew of 200 onboard the Spirit of adventure, their ordeal was over after 53 minutes and they could resume with their dinner and the rest of their journey. The vessel was about 100miles from Zanzibar as part of a £2,000 two week trip from Mauritius to Mombasa when the captain spotted a small vessel approaching the ship at speed on the long range radar.

A Saga spokesman said: “The Spirit of Adventure was about 100miles from Zanzibar when the captain spotted a small vessel approaching the ship at speed on the long range radar. The Captain put in place well-rehearsed plans for the Indian Ocean, taking on board security measures and alerting the naval authorities. Because the unidentified dinghy appeared to be shadowing the ship, as an extra precaution the evening’s formal dinner was interrupted and passengers were told to go to the main lounge. The mood was calm. All travellers in the Indian Ocean have a full security briefing. The captain sped up to full speed and the vessel went away. The meal was interrupted and then re-started. The soup was warmed up again. At breakfast the following morning the captain was given a standing ovation. It is a very British way of doing things.”

The Spirit of Adventure