First Time Cruising

There is no better option for a short break away than going on a mini cruise. With a couple of nights relaxing on board the cruise ferry, and time to explore your chosen destination, it’s a short holiday that’s growing in popularity as more and more people seek to avoid the hassle and delay of the airport.

Europe has so many great mini cruise destinations you’ll be spoilt for choice – from the picturesque beauty of Amsterdam’s canals to the old world splendour of Copenhagen, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Sample the local cuisine, check out the shops, and later cool down with a continental beer.

Popular destinations all year round include:

Oslo – Norway’s stunning capital city and a true cultural hub, one of Scandinavia’s highlights.

Amsterdam – Holland’s lively capital city, perfectly situated in the Randstad, offering loads to see and do, with other cities and towns near enough for an easy day trip.

Zeebrugge – Belgium’s popular seafront resort, just down the road from the wonderful medieval city of Bruges.

Belfast and Dublin – what better way to get to Eire or Northern Ireland by this time honoured mode of transport, atop the ocean waves.

Copenhagen – this great city has been immortalized in film and literature, but is a modern and buzzing metropolis while retaining its air of history and grandeur.

Cologne – one of Germany’s biggest cities, Cologne has everything on offer from stunning architecture to world class restaurants, the perfect place to discover the charm of Germany on a short break away.

Utrecht – this historic and picturesque Dutch city is perfect for those who want to venture further into Holland and see that beyond Amsterdam there are many rich and varied places on offer.

As the popularity of mini cruises continues to rise, new themed mini cruises have become available. There are fancy dress cruises to Amsterdam for Halloween, with onboard entertainment and sightseeing in the city, and there are even School Disco mini cruises so you can relive your youth on the high seas and have a dance to some real music! St Patrick’s Day and Valentine’s Day are also covered, so there are plenty of excuses for a party.

Festive cruise breaks are also extremely popular right now – Christmas Markets cruises offering you the opportunity to indulge in a pre-Christmas spree, and festive mini cruises for New years Eve, Boxing Day and the pre-Christmas period.

On board the ferry expect a high standard of service, with great tasting food and drink in the restaurant, lounges to relax in, an onboard shop selling fashion and accessories, and there are even bars and cafes on board for a relaxing drink.

Mini cruises are an inexpensive short break, the perfect way to seek out new cities and experiences.

Everyone interested in cruises should include a visit to the continent of Asia on their list of adventures. The exotic culture is tempting with white-sanded beaches, classical temples, and distinctive cuisine. It is definitely a destination to be enjoyed on a cruise.

The most striking ports are visited along the way, allowing you to visit the rich cultures with stunning entertainment and pristine landscapes unmatched by any other in the world. This scene is drawing more tourists than the usual island tours you find on a cruise. This is for those who wish to step into more exotic climates and fill their curiosities with novelty.

Thailand, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Singapore comprise the area known as South East Asia and among the first to appeal to cruising routes with interesting sites to see. These countries are prepared for the tourist appeal and remain distinctive with their hospitality to the visitors from afar.

Hong Kong is quite a wild environment loaded with retailers selling their foods and gifts, but the environment is still welcoming to the tourist. You can see the awesome site of the Reclining Buddha at an area called Wat Pho in Bangkok Thailand. Either way, you feel like you are a welcome guest.

In order to create an industry boost, The Maldives, India, and Sri Lanka, as well as Taiwan and China have stepped into the spotlight of the tourist trade. Asian industry is developing rapidly and seeks to appeal to the private-public sector partnerships and gain more attention as these regions develop.

Expect to spend at least ten days on a cruise tour of Asia. Your departure point is generally quite a distance from home and you will probably arrive a day early to adjust to the time difference.

Some cruise lines will have it set up so that you have a pre-cruise and arrive early to stay at a hotel while you adjust and rest before your exciting journey begins. Check out some travel manuals and research Asian customs and rituals so that when you visit, you can be respectful of local customs.

This is the largest continent in the world and you will be visiting it. This is a great deal to handle at first, but a cruise will allow you the luxury to visit at your leisure and experience the fascinating wonders and avoid becoming overwhelmed by the culture.

Once thought to be the option only for the rich and famous, luxury cruise trips have grown to be less expensive and therefore common with a bigger crowd. Cruising is so universal now that without doubt one of the most difficult things is deciding where to visit. You’ll find opportunities on rivers and oceans which means there really is something for everybody and here are five of the best opportunities to consider.

Passenger ships crossing the Atlantic coming from East to West used to challenge for the unofficial accolade of the Blue Ribband. Once, the Southampton to New York route on the magnificent QE2 could easily be put together with a return flight on Concorde. Unfortunately, the wonderful plane no longer flys hence individuals get to stay aboard for longer with stops in Rhode Islands, Boston and Ponta Delgada.

The Norwegian Fjords are a impressive sight, best viewed from on board a cruise ship. There are many stops up and down the Norwegian coast and depending on the time of year, you’re able to savour the midnight sun or the striking Aurora Borea lis also known as the Northern Lights.

In the past, pirate ships were frequent visitors to the Caribbean as well as the British and Spanish navys. Today, the region is a top cruise holiday destination allowing people to enjoy5 or 6 different countries in just2 weeks. Barbados, Antigua, Aruba and St Lucia remain desirable vacation spots.

Cruising the River is a long standing favourite of people to Egypt. The mighty river is Egypt’s life blood and on a Nile cruise, holiday makers have a chance to explore many of the most notable cultural locations in the world in both Luxor and on the way to Aswan.

As well as short1 or 2 week cruise trips, you can also sail the oceans for a few months non-stop. It isn’t unusual for World Wide cruises to last three months or more checking out dozens of countries on plenty of continents. A wealth of cities await together with memorable trips in the Suez or Panama canals.

These are just a few of the lots of cruise possible choices available where there really is something for everyone.