Channel : Helping you explore the world!

P&O is a well known name in the cruise industry. They offer cruises to destinations worldwide and can cater for very short two night breaks right up to 98 night voyages taking in 37 ports in 21 countries.

Accommodation onboard is varied and suitable for all budgets, from indoor state rooms to deluxe penthouse suites P&O Cruises caters for everyone. All accommodation has as standard a daily maid service, refrigerator, tea and coffee making facilities, hairdryer, television, radio and telephone, safe and air conditioning. Outside staterooms also have picture windows to make the most of the view.

Evening entertainment choices onboard P&O cruises are varied and as such will have something to please everyone. Casinos and theatres are available for those who do not wish to visit the cocktail bars and night clubs; live bands and classical concerts will entertain those who won’t be joining in with the quizzes. P&O Cruises also run themed fun nights including 60’s and 70’s or Black and White ball themes.

Certain itineraries allow for overnight stay in some ports including New York, Acapulco and Barbados meaning the chance to explore the nightlife and entertainment as part of a shore excursion. Daytime shore excursions include once in a life time opportunities like a helicopter ride over Monaco or exhilarating activities like travelling though the Jamaican rainforest on a zip wire.

As an added extra P&O Cruises also offer weddings and vow renewals. A unique way to spend your honeymoon is to wake up every day in a different port.

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Princess Cruises offer over 120 individual cruise holidays with over 330 ports of call so there is bound to be something to suit everyone’s taste and budget.

Priding themselves on excellent customer service Princess Cruise staff is always on hand to give help and advice to passengers who require it.

Covering all continents including Antarctica, and taking in destinations not covered by most other cruise companies such as the Falkland Islands, Midway Island, Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima, Princess Cruises has some of the most unique holiday destinations covered.

Princess Cruises offers a once in a lifetime world cruise of 107 days taking in 42 ports of call onboard the Pacific Princess (the new version of the famous Princess Cruise lines popular  ‘Love Boat’ from the television series of the same name).

Cruise options range from two days right up to the 107 day world cruise. All 17 Princess Cruise ships adhere to the same high standards, with the same wide range of onboard activities for both adults and children alike.

Princess Cruises also offer Cruise Tours. This is when part of the holiday takes place on land and allows the passenger to enjoy several nights inland to enjoy sights that cannot be accessed by ship.

One fun onboard activity is the golf simulator. You can even take golf lessons while at sea which is perfect for all abilities. While the adults are enjoying sports children can take part in scavenger hunts, themed parties and talent shows. Princess Cruises really are fun for all the family.

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There are other considerations besides money to take into account when planning a cruise. And, with some excellent cruise deals available, it may turn out to have a lower priority than you imagine. The more modest cruises cost around  £70 a day – for an en suite cabin, all meals, evening entertainment and a versatile range of onboard facilities. Are you ‘time rich’ (maybe retired and able to take a more leisurely excursion), or ‘time poor’ (needing to get back to work PDQ)? Do you have young children, or are you a young adult in search of a unique holiday experience? Whatever your ‘demographic profile,’ there’ll be plenty of bespoke cruise holidays out there for you.

Families should generally aim for the biggest ship the budget can accommodate. They come with babysitting services, so you can go for a romantic meal and a dance in the evening, kids’ clubs and plenty of swimming pools for the youngsters. You’ll even find climbing walls, spas, ice rinks and golf driving ranges on some.

Young couples can marry onboard (captains are legally empowered to do this) – the ideal prelude to romantic Caribbean cruises. Why not combine beach and ship by opting for one of the many ‘cruise and stay holidays’ run by industry giants like Royal Caribbean Cruises, Carnival Cruises and Thomson Cruises?

A slightly more modest-sized ship should suit the older cruiser; in addition to being cheaper (especially on last minute cruises), they’ll let you stroll ashore every day as you meander genteelly from port to port.

You’ll soon discover that cruise holidays are no snooze holidays!

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If you are looking for the ultimate spa experience, why not go to sea. Costa Cruises have cruise liners that feature the Samsara Spa; they are the Costa Concordia, Costa Luminosa, Costa Pacifica, Costa Deliziosa and the Costa Serena. These stunning cruise liners have exclusive health and beauty centres, which will leave you feeling rejuvenated and relaxed.

With over 2,000sqm of space, the Samsara Spa experience is set in the most elegant of settings, designed just to help you relax on your cruise holiday. So, if you want to combine hot mineral treatments with steam baths and amazing Oriental relaxation rituals, the Samsara Spa with Costa Cruises is for you.

Some Costa Cruises spa treatments enable you to indulge in floatation therapy, rock sauna, teahouse, solarium and Turkish baths. You can benefit from these amazing treatments and surroundings by booking a cabin on any one of the cruise liners listed previously. If you decide to take your holiday in the spa area of a Costa cruise you will be treated to a Welcome Ritual, which includes a selected variety of treatments and lots of amenities to make you stay extra special. The Samsara Spa also includes an exclusive restaurant that has a menu of specially balanced meals.

Samsara spa is there to envelope you in relaxation and treat you like royalty every day of your stay onboard the cruise liner. From treatments to dinner, your wishes are taken care of by Costa Cruises and their exclusive spa.

Finding your inner self has never been so easy.

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Owned by the Walt Disney Company, the Disney Cruise Line offers a unique transatlantic cruise experience. This luxurious 14 night transatlantic cruise comes with 5 ports of call and 8 full days at sea. The Disney Magic cruise liner features all the amenities expected of a modern transatlantic passenger ship while being the perfect option for families with young children.

The Disney Magic can accommodate 2,400 passengers, with 10 decks of activities and entertainment waiting to be explored. Over 900 crew and cast members are on hand to attend and entertain the ship’s guests.

Shops, clubs, pools, nightclubs and even a spa will be sure to keep adults both relaxed and amused while onboard. As would be expected from a Disney liner, family entertainment onboard the Disney Magic is second to none. With state-of-the-art cinemas, theatres and live shows featuring all of Disney’s best-loved characters, the ship is a paradise for children of all ages.

The westbound transatlantic cruise begins in Barcelona before stopping at Gibraltar and Madeira. Passengers have time to explore both locations before the trip across the Atlantic begins. After 5 days at sea, the ship arrives in the Caribbean and the island of St. Maarten. A day is spent here before the ship heads for Disney’s private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay. Here, passengers can enjoy the exclusive beaches of this stunning resort.

Passengers will finally be taken to Port Canaveral in Florida, the Disney Magic’s home port. Eastbound transatlantic voyages begin from here, stopping off at all the same ports and finishing in Barcelona.

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People who have special dietary requirements may be turned off the idea of spending a cruise holiday on a ship where there is only a small selection of food. This, however, is a myth and cruise ships are now one of the best options for diverse and varied cuisine.

Vegetarians will have a wealth of choice in almost every cruise ship restaurant and it won’t be simply the meat dishes without the meat, as tasty vegetarian alternatives from around the world will be on offer. However, buffets will be less accommodating to the non-meat eaters on board, so it is best to be prepared for a light meal.

Travellers with food allergies can also be accommodated on nearly all the major cruise lines. Those who are on a gluten-free diet or who have nut related allergies will almost always be able to make special request, but it will be up to the individual passenger to make sure that the ship can cater to their needs before they book a holiday.

For anyone requiring kosher meals, the kitchens on cruise will never be fully kosher, but it will be possible to order your meals in advance. Again, you will have to check with the cruise line before you make a booking. Companies such as Kosherica and Totally Jewish Travel organise cruise and stay holidays where all the food served is kosher. Even if you are with someone who is eating in a non-kosher restaurant, you can have your meal brought to you.

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One captivating region in Northern Europe is the Baltic Sea region. The countries forming the Baltic Sea region – Denmark, Sweden, Latvia, Finland, Norway, Poland, Russia, Estonia, Germany, and Lithuania – are very promising for a European tour and Baltic cruise. A region with rich traditions and exciting history, Baltic cruises will surely give you a very memorable experience in Northern Europe.

You will not be disappointed with the wonderful scenery that you’ll get to encounter when you go on a Baltic cruise. Sailing Northern Europe by luxury ship will appeal to your senses as you experience this wonderful journey. Vikings flourished here and St. Petersburg is nearby – Baltic cruises will surely fill your travelling appetite.

One of the places that the Baltic Sea region boasts is Gothenburg. Not only does this place boast of its architectural structures like the Gothenburg Opera House, it is also famous for what the famous opera house has to offer – the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, one of the finest when it comes to classical music.

Baltic cruises also offer you the best of both sea and space. While in Russia, you can visit the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre. You may also try the docking simulator with the Soyuz-TM space vehicle.

If you want to indulge in medieval architecture then Tallinn is the place to go. You’ll find 21st century boutiques on cobblestone roads, and the 13th century Toompea Castle.

Some popular companies that offer Baltic cruises are Royal Caribbean International, P&O Cruises, Cunard, and Princess Cruises. A passenger can also choose to either fly and cruise or cruise from a UK port.

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Whether you want to have fun inside or outside on a cruise, then Carnival Cruises won’t disappoint. You can pass the time away by taking part in various activities, either planned or spontaneous.

Spend the day or evening relaxing at the bar, walking around the stunning ship or taking in the decor, stroll through the gorgeous galleries, displayed impressive artwork, find a book in the ship’s library or spend time in the casino testing your luck. If you love watching the world go by in clubs, bistros and cafes, you can do it all aboard a Carnival cruise ship.

Dining on a Carnival cruise is just as much fun as taking part in any of the other activities that are available. You can start your day with breakfast served in the traditional dining room, your own private stateroom or outside, on the gorgeous lido deck.

For lunch, you could eat inside or go for an alfresco buffet. For a meal that will keep you fuelled until dinner, you can’t go far wrong with the choices on a Carnival cruise. There are, of course, children’s menus such as hotdogs, spaghetti and meatballs, pizza and much more.

The dining rooms and the steakhouses are the perfect accompaniment to the culinary feasts you will be enjoying for dinner. Select you favourite dish, from fresh lobster to prime beef, you will be truly spoilt for choice.

There are also specialty menus to keep you satisfied for the entire voyage, from sandwiches to sushi, ice cream to gateaux, whatever your tastes you are sure to find something to whet your appetite.

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Cruise and stay holidays are a great way of getting the best of both worlds during your holiday period. The cruise and stay format is exactly what it sounds like – guests board the cruise ship of their choice and cruise as far as their chosen destination where they will disembark and transfer to a hotel of their choice to round off their holiday time with a traditional shore based stay.

The beauty of a cruise and stay holiday is that getting there really is only half the fun. Holidaymakers who opt for this sort of split style holiday will get to experience all of the onboard atmosphere of a traditional cruise holiday, relaxing aboard a luxury liner as it carries them at a leisurely and stress free pace toward their final holiday destination, as well as being able to spend time exploring the holiday location of their choice during the second part of their trip.

The cruise and stay holiday – which is offered by most major cruise line operators including Royal Caribbean Cruises, Costa Cruises and Princess Cruises – is also a great option for holidaymakers looking to take a cruise for the first time. First time cruise passengers are often anxious in case they do not enjoy their time aboard the ship – but with a shore based element at the beginning or end of the holiday, travellers can enjoy a traditional holiday at the same time as trying out this new and exciting experience.

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A cruise holiday is a great choice of getaway for lone travellers as it offers a sense of security to singles as well as offering an amazing choice of onboard entertainment. Single travellers often worry about being bored or lonely when taking a holiday alone, but choosing the best cruise for you can help to alleviate these worries.

While singles may want to opt for a dedicated singles cruise if looking for love, a normal cruise can offer opportunities to form friendships onboard as well. As many single holidaymakers choose to cruise, a lone passenger is likely to find likeminded passengers to share their time on board the ship.

With activities and entertainments laid on at all times there is no fear of feeling at a loose end when travelling alone, and singles can choose to take part in onboard activities as diverse as wine tasting and rock climbing, ballroom dancing and book clubs, ensuring there is never a dull moment for the single at sea.

Booking options for singles include some single cabins on newer vessels – most notably on Costa Cruises – or lone travellers can choose to take advantage of a passenger partnering scheme where they will share a twin room with another single seafarer of the same sex.

The latter option can be a great way to find a friend to share the cruise experience with, and many friendships can forged on board. However single travellers should be wary of becoming a cruise stalker, and divide their time equally between those they meet on board.

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