You don't have to drive! Hah, sit back, enjoy that margarita while you take in the great music and the warm sun, and let someone else get you to your next destination! Your biggest concern will be which deck do you want to sit on and what will you have at the buffet this time!

Almost everything is included in the price! So, now you look at the price of your cruise, factor in the length of time you will be cruising, then realize that your price includes, your stateroom, your food, your entertainment, and well, except on some shore excursions, your transportation! All you have to pay for are drinks, any gambling you do in the Casino, items you purchase in the duty free shops, and if you have the children with you and you want a night alone, babysitting services and spa treatments. Most cruise lines have a kids camp that is free for everyone during the day but charges a babysitting fee from around 9 p.m. to as late (or early) as 3 a.m. You get excellent food, live entertainment, the chance to meet new people, and a comfortable room for the entire length of your stay!

Wonderful destinations! This is an excellent opportunity to see places in the world that you might never see otherwise. Want to see Alaska? The Bahamas? The Mexican Riviera? How about Europe? Or, what the heck, take a world cruise! Okay, so the world cruise is a little excessive, unless of course you can get a whole year off of work. “Bye guys! I'm on vacation! See you in a year! I'll send you a post card from Italy!” I wish! Anyway, taking a cruise vacation gives you the chance to see areas of the world without the worry about international flights, car rentals, and everything else. Unless you are taking a European cruise, most cruises leave from ports right here in the United States. Go ahead, search for cruises online, you will find a large number of cruise lines and destinations that might even leave from your own backyard! So far I have been to Baja Mexico and the Mexican Riviera. We plan to go to Alaska in the next few years and I would love to take a Caribbean cruise sometime too.

Great for the whole family! It used to be when you thought of taking a cruise, you would think of shuffleboard, and sitting around doing very little. Well, not anymore. Cruise ships have developed some of the most exciting activities for the whole family. You can climb a rock wall, go down a waterslide, try out a surfing pool ( yes, you can actually surf in this awesome new pool!), play golf, tennis, run the track, play fun games with an activities director, and lots more! The funniest game I think I've ever watched on board was the men's hairiest leg competition! And that's only outside! Inside, you've got the Casino, karaoke, dance clubs, card rooms, internet cafes, forum shops, game shows that you can watch or participate in, live music, and more. Got the kids? Check out the arcade, the kids camps, some cruise lines even have a movie theater, for teens there are teen only dance clubs where no adults except the staff are allowed. You can rent Gameboys and strollers as well. Oh yeah, and then there is the spa. You can get your hair done, get a facial, get a massage, get your teeth whitened, or you can exercise in the sports club! Want to see some of these activities for yourself? Carnival Cruise Lines has a fun virtual website you can check out called Funship Island.

Last but not least, Towel Animals! You can have so much fun with these towel animals! Leave a pair of sunglasses in your stateroom in the evening and just see what those creative people with do with them! Have a favorite animal you want to see? Just ask your room steward, you just might be surprised when you turn in for the night.

Each night you cruise you get a different animal! We have had, elephants, snakes, dogs, cats, monkeys, and more! They even made a cow for our relatives staying next door at our request! Have fun with it but remember to leave out a pair of sunglasses and maybe even a hat.

Still not sure? Well, I guess you will just have to go on one. Take a short 3 or 4 day cruise for your first time just in case you don't like it. Remember though, if you do like it, go again and again and again. A little secret, repeat cruisers get higher status each time they cruise. With Carnival, when you get to Platinum status, you get priority everything! They also have this fun thing for repeat Carnival cruisers called a repeaters party. Free drinks, as many as you want, for a half an hour plus great entertainment! So what are you waiting for? Get out there and have fun! Maybe we'll run into each other sometime!

Cruising and the Single Father

We all want to spend time with our children on vacation, but the idea of a vacation is to relax and have some fun, and this includes old Dad, too. Divorced fathers, who usually spend less time with their children per capita through the year, are especially sensitive to showing the kids a good time. Disney World, a trip to the beach or mountains, or state or national parks are all popular destinations, but all have significant drawbacks.

A day at the beach watching your children swim, especially if they are small, is about as relaxing as driving in rush hour traffic; the magic of Mickey & Company has worn perilously thin after the third or fourth time winding through a serpentine line for an hour and a half, waiting to see robotic animals dance to bad music for three minutes. But there is an option available where you can spend quality time with your children and still feel like you had a vacation yourself.

A cruise is one of the best vacation options available to the single father. Most family oriented cruises are rife with entertainment options for the children, from about four or five years of age up to the upper teens. Treasure hunts, tours of the ship, ice cream buffets, group activities by age, play rooms, teen clubs, all serve to occupy your little tax deductions, giving you a chance at some well-deserved personal time and fun of your own. It is, after all, your vacation, too.

The single father who is likely to be reading this will do well to remember his demographic, and his TV history. By my admittedly biased accounting (but based on the experiences of five cruises with my daughter from age seven to fourteen), for every single male on a cruise ship, there are at least two single women, most of whom were raised watching The Love Boat. For single fathers, the number of single mothers per capita is greater still, and you already have something in common to laugh, commiserate, and compare notes about. Like yourself, the single moms want to generate a few fond memories of their own.

If I had a son, there are only two pieces of advice I would give him concerning women. The first is to never be coerced into guessing age or weight (you are lying if you fall shy, and dead in the water if you guess high), and the second is to learn to dance. If you are willing to smile, say hello, and provide a warm body on the dance floor (optional, but very helpful), you almost cannot help but meet someone on a cruise. For whatever vain reason, many men will not get out on the dance floor for fear of the world's discovering that they are not John Travolta. Get over it. You don't have to be a good dancer, although it doesn't hurt; you just have to be willing to get out there. This is not American Bandstand; no one is keeping score.

Cruise lines are very aware that one of the main reasons single people take cruises is that they want a chance to meet other single people in a romantic setting. They promote the idea of new love on the high seas in their advertising, and do all that they reasonably can to perpetuate this image. Therefore, making this easier for you is good business. Sitters are available up into the wee hours, with well-trained supervision and so many activities, games, and movies that the biggest problem is getting junior to leave to go with you at bedtime.

For both you and the kids, this is the time to try new things, have some adventure, and expand your base of experience. For the older kids, a cruise is like a learner's permit for adulthood; they can be given a bit more rein than usual because of the subtle supervision of the ship's staff, and can make friends with people of very different backgrounds. You can kick up your heels a bit, secure in the knowledge that you are very unlikely to see any of these people again unless you want to. You can have the chance of a romantic fling with a nice lady, have something to lie about to your friends, and when the lady in question tells the story back home in Omaha, you are six feet-four and good looking.

Romance aside, there is virtually always something to do on the ship, or on the shore. Depending upon your destination, you can visit exotic beaches, go snorkeling, visit historical ruins, shop, tour the islands, or just kick back and enjoy the amazing service. I was reticent to get up in the middle of the night and use the bathroom on my first cruise, afraid that the bed would be made when I returned. They will cheerfully bring your children a turkey sandwich and soft drink at two in the afternoon or morning, and smile as they watch you track sand onto the ship from the beach. Remember that they work for tips. It is a poor man's chance to be rich for a week.

Prices vary with accommodations and season, but compare very favorably with equal time in Orlando or Myrtle Beach, and you are much more likely to still be speaking to your children after the week is over. You can do as much or little as you like, eat some great food, see a bit of the world, and maybe squeeze in a little adventure and/or romance for yourself. Take a chance; take a cruise. Did you really want to ride that bike with ET again?

You can either book and excursion directly with the cruise line or you can check out private excursions for each island you plan to visit. A good hint: if opt for the private excursion, make sure they are familiar with your cruise line. A good excursionist will know exactly the ships schedule and what time to have you back prior the ship leaving dock. As well, do not pre-pay if they ask you to do so most will ask for payment at the end of the excursion. However, you can pre-pay if you are booking with the ships excursion.

Embarking: You will have to provide ID for each family member. As cruise lines are cashless, you will have to provide a credit card or a cash deposit before you embark. As well the gratuities are pre-paid so you will have to have enough cash or room on your credit card for purchases on the ship. Your room card is used for purchases and you can restrict or limit the cards for your children to any amount you want set.

Gratuities are based on the number of traveling with you. The going rate is about $70.00 per person per week. So for a family of four your will need to set aside $280.00 Trust me when I say that will be money well spent. The staff is trained to wait on their guests hand and foot and the treatment you will receive is second to none.

Don't worry about your luggage; it will be waiting outside your room upon arrival. If your luggage does not happen to be at the door, don't panic, it will get there.

Booking a late dinner time may be a good idea, if you are planning excursions every day.

You won't have to rush to change into your dinner clothes if you have an early dinner time

This way you can get back to the ship and relax on the deck prior to eating.

If you opt for the buffet everyday, then you have no worries. (Quick note: you will gain weight cruising, it's inevitable as there is an endless array of food everywhere)

As well, you can order more then one entrée at your evening meal if the mood strikes you. And be ready to loosen the belt a few notches afterwards.

Taking young kids and teens? Each cruise has kids and teen clubs designed to make it a memorable experience for them. It's a great way for them to meet other kids and it can give you and your spouse some much needed alone time.

Budget how much you want to spend per day and stick to it. It is easy to rack up a huge bill at the end of the cruise, and if you go over your limit or what you put in for deposit, you will have to pay when leaving. Good Hint: Each morning pay off what you spent the day before at the purser's desk.

The Island excursions can be a wonderful experience, however take give yourself some time in the morning to get ready. If you book an early excursion, make sure you have time breakfast as you don't want to be rushed and miss your booking time.

An excursion and also be very tiring as well as you are on time constraints and you want to see and do as much as possible in the time allotted.

Our last cruise took us to four islands, two of which we did an excursion and the other two we took for time to relax on the beach, do some island shopping and site seeing. Ask the cruise director for tips on the best beaches, shopping and restaurants, you will find their information very useful.

Remember most of all to take the time to have fun, enjoy yourself and make the most of everything the cruise ship has to offer you.

1. Watch for repositioning cruises where a cruise line will offer substantial savings just to reposition its ships. For example, cruise lines are gearing up for Europe voyages starting in May so they are offering transatlantic cruises for as little as $34 per night or for Alaska cruises, you can sail to Vancouver from Los Angeles for as little as $173 per person.
2. Forfeit a view by taking an interior cabin. If you are looking for the cheapest fare then stop looking for a cabin with a view. You won't be spending much time in a cabin anyways so save some money and look for interior or inside cabins. If none is available, then look for oceanview cabins that have an obstructed view.
3. Watch the news and look for unpopular cruises. On November 27, 2007, the MS Explorer cruise ship was evacuated and hours later, sunk off Antarctica. In December, Princess cruises slashed their 17-day South American Explorer cruise prices and offered February 2008 passengers an incredible offer, $999 including airfare to Buenos Aires.
4. If you don't mind being a little adventurous or asking for directions in a foreign place then save some money sailing from an unknown or hard-to-get-to port. Choose a cruise that leaves from Savona, Italy rather than from Rome, Italy and save yourself up to $1,000.
5. Wait for last minute cruise deals where cruise lines drastically reduce fares to fill the ship up. Here you can get free upgrades, free champagne and free onboard credits or a whole suite with balcony for the price of an interior cabin.

If you like these tips, please share this with your friends or digg it. trio

Stationed in Miami, Florida Carnival was originally founded in 1972 by Ted Arison as an independent company, but now Carnival is a branded division within Carnival Corporation & plc, a publicly traded company with Micky Arison as the Chairman. Carnival is well known for having the Las-Vegas style décor and entertainment. Carnival calls “Its ships The Fun Ships and offer a wide range of activities offered on board. Its trademark is the smoke stack, or funnel, which is red, white and blue and shaped like a whale's tail. “The mascot for Carnival is Fun Ship Freddy, a character in the shape of Carnival's distinctive funnel.”

Over the last two years I have taken two cruises, both on the same Carnival ship known as the “Carnival Glory”. This ship sails to both the eastern and western Caribbean.

In 2006 my mom, dad, and I took the cruise to the eastern Caribbean, sailing to Nassau Bahamas, St. Martin, and St. Thomas. That first morning when I woke up, I immediately looked out of the window and saw that there was no land insight. My mom and dad told me to get up and get dressed, because we were all going to eat a gourmet breakfast and knew what they would have to offer previous to the first cruise. As we were walking down to the dining hall I could already smell the aroma of coffee. Every morning we had delicious gourmet breakfast plus we would have a three part dinner. In the evening of the seventh day when we were heading back home my dad asked me on the way home if I liked the cruise. I told him “Yes” and I would love for to come back next year.

In 2007 we went to the western Caribbean this time, exploring the islands of Belize, Cozumel, and Nassau. On the cruise I made a couple of friends and hung out with them most of the time leaving my mom and dad alone which lead them to eat dinner and breakfast alone most of the time .

After about the sixth day the cruise ship headed back to Fort Lauderdale Fl for releasing all of the passengers to go home.

Prior to the other cruise the staff had become much more friendly and helpful not to mention every night they left towel animals on your bed with mints. While we had no problems getting out luggage brought to our room and debarking off the ship hasty and managing to stay safe.

I think that if you went on a Carnival cruise you would have a wonderful time due to the cruise lines friendliness, having fun activities the excellent food and service but the most exciting part massive amount of memories you would with your family and the people you might meet.ise Critic” 

 

Party Holidays

If you are young enough to handle seven nights of drinking the chances are you won't be able to afford extravagant holidays. Here are some places you can go for the ultimate fashionable (and yet cheap) party in the sun ideal for students and younger people celebrating finishing A levels.

1. Greece Ios

   This small rock placed in the ocean off mainland Greece is carpeted with bars, clubs and bikinis. The island has no airport so must be accessed by a return ferry from the mainland approx £40.

2. Croatia

   After emerging from former Yugoslavia Croatia is now being recognised as one of the best places to party if you love beaches. There are loads of small islands, and that means loads of beaches and in turn this means loads of parties. You will start off your evening in a chilled café bar and move on at 1am to dance clubs. Brac Island is a good place to start, although because accommodation and transport is so cheap we recommend you island hop as the mood takes you.

3. Florida

   If you can't wait till the summer why not join spring break in Florida during march, here due to great exchange rates you can double your money, if that's not a reason to party I don't know what is. With an average of one wet t-shirt contest a minute this is prime location for you to mingle with US students at their best.

Adventures

As you are reading on I assume you want more to show your folks back home than photos of large piles of empty beer glasses.

1. The Via Ferrata

   This translates literally as "iron roads". These are a collection of ladders and cables draped over cliff faces in the alps to allow snipers in WWII to get into position. No-one took them down and they now provide easy access to some of the most dramatic settings in the alps. The best are to be found in the Dolomite mountains in Italy. www.colletts.co.uk is a good place to start.

2. Over-landing

   Simple great adventure. Find a group of friends, rent a 4x4 vehicle, drive through exotic location camping each night. For instance Delhi to Mumbaim, over the Tha desert, the white city of Udaipur. Roughly £400 for truck rental and accommodation for 14 nights. Best to rent once your out their.

Final Options

If partying wasn't for you and adventures sounded somewhat expensive then consider these, our ultimate budget holiday choices:

1. Volunteer Farm Work

   Spend your days picking fruit, and your nights around a camp fire telling stories, with accommodation and food included farm work can be a great way to literally see the land and meet some new people. 

2. Cruise Ship

   Never a cheap option unless you opt for a job on the aforementioned vessel. When searching for jobs online be careful of scam websites.

3. International Courier

   Fly the world for less by carrying someone else's mail with you. Drop off documents at appointed place to receive huge flight discounts.

I hope this has given you some ideas

If you plan to take the cruise that leaves from Galveston, Texas on April 27th and departs for 13 nights to Barcelona, Spain then take this to heart. When you get to Barcelona, don't just get on the plane and head home. Please don't leave this beautiful city without visiting some of the sights such as the Sagrada Familia, the quirky buildings in Park Guell and the site of the Olympics game.

Being in Barcelona for three days last December, I can tell you that the city has a lot to offer. Don't plan to see it all in less than two days because you won't enjoy it. Staying three days was not enough but we managed to get around the city and take in most of the sights. The best way to see Barcelona is by bus. I recommend the Bus Turista, a double decker bus that circles the city, covering all points of interest including the Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, Casa Mila (or La Pedrera), Casa Battlo, the Olympics site, Montjuic and the Gothic Quarter. Along the route, the bus passes by the University, Barcelona Cathedral and La Ramblas. You can get on and off at any Bus Turista stop with a valid ticket. Tickets may be purchased on board or in advance from tour companies such as the tour company that we are affiliated with.

The bus circles the entire (red) route in an hour but will take longer during busier traffic hours. On the first time around, we decided to stay on board and take in the audio program. When the bus circled around, we decided to get off at the Sagrada Familia for a closer look. Inside, Gaudi wanted the church to resemble a forest of trees, reaching towards the heavens. He was a genius, creating plaster models and leaving drawings behind for today's builders to finish his work. It truly looks like a forest inside, with the columns made out of different materials. A lift is available to take you high into one of the pinnacles, which has been dedicated to one of twelve apostles. The view from up top is spectacular.

The other architectural wonders of Gaudi are equally impressive. The man was certainly ahead of his time when he had designed La Pedrera, Casa Battlo and Park Guell. Be sure to give yourself ample time to visit each of his work which can be found throughout Barcelona.

It's stunning, to be sure, but the best is yet to come. The real beauty of Costa de Oro, translation, “Gold Coast”, lay inside the resort towns and seaports that shine like the rarest gems. It is from their generous hospitality and heart-felt warmth, that this region owes much of its rising popularity.

Although, the Mexican Riviera is the fourth most popular cruise destination in the world, during the past two decades, it has steadily gained a reputation as a Caribbean alternative, especially since it has a year round climate, which is convenient for the cruise line industry. When it's hot, it's hot, and when it's not, it's raining.

Carnival, Crystal, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean and Holland American have Mexican Riviera cruises and the flexibility they offer can't be beat. Los Angeles is the place where most Mexican Riviera cruises begin. But, an occasional departure from San Diego or San Francisco isn't usual, either. Carnival and Royal Caribbean have popular three-night cruises leaving San Diego or Los Angeles, to Ensenada. If you choose their four-night excursion, they include a stop to Catalina. Since these itineraries are rather short, they're perfect for weekend get-aways, honeymoons or family re-unions. But, a seven-day cruise is the usual standard, which can be extended to 14-days, if you choose. Besides, you don't want to miss those rare gems I spoke of earlier.

You'll find “old world” charm and cobblestone streets in Puerto Vallarta. If surfing, scuba diving and snorkeling are what you crave, you'll find Mazatlan, the largest port of Mexico's pacific coast, is the place. Famous for deep-sea fishing, you might try Ensenada. But, if you're really want a thrill, try Acapulco's main attraction. At Quebrada, throughout the day and early evening, young men perform breathtaking dives from a steep cliff into a small cove of water below. Onlookers gasp, and are held in suspense by this feat, until the diver surfaces, only to climb back up the cliff and do it again.

But, I saved the best for last. At the tip of Baja California a discovery awaits against a backdrop of sea, desert and mountains. Welcome to Cabo San Lucas! The most popular of the resort towns, and a frequent celebrity hang-out. During the day you'll find a variety of water sports, parasailing, legendary marlin fishing and championship golf. Hunting for bargains, should prove quite easy here, too.

But, when the sun goes down in Cabo San Lucas, everything changes, so prepare yourself. This is party paradise, so put on your dancing shoes. You don't need a reason or occasion to join in the fun. But, what you do need is a location. Here you'll find them. There are plenty of nightclubs just waiting to quench your thirst for nightlife, until the wee hours arrive. And when you've had enough, and slowly, as daylight breaks and the waiter comes to your table for the last time, and smiles, you'll know what to order.

Easy to access by, cruise ship or plane, its no wonder this tropical paradise is always a favorite around the globe. Especially, for anyone incarcerated by stress and in need of a spontaneous get-away minus heavy-duty planning or language barrier obstacles. In comparison to other destinations, The Bahamas is a breeze.

All the major cruise lines, Carnival, Princess, Royal Caribbean pass through its ports and offer a variety of itineraries and deals to suit any budget. A weekend, a week or two weeks, the choice is yours. If you happen to reside in a cooler climate or an urban dweller longing for the sun and sand during the winter months, the Bahamas is only a day away.

In 1492 Christopher Columbus's original discovery of the New World was on the island of San Salvador in the eastern region. After observing that the water around the islands was shallow, he named the region, The Bahamas or Islands of the Shallow Sea. The Islands Of The Bahamas is actually an array of 700 islands and cays over100,000-sq-mile archipelago that extends over 500 miles of clear blue sea.

But, the beauty is that each island is notably distinct, and because of its individuality there's something unique for everyone. If seclusion is what you seek, solitude is what you'll find, for there are islands where telephones are not to be found. By contrast, if nightlife is your pleasure, the casinos, clubs and calypso won't disappoint you. Tennis, golf, horsebackriding, and yes the country club set, all can be found here, too. Alongside sailing, fishing and a wide spectrum of water sports.

And, if that isn't enough. Just touring the islands, Abaco Bahamas, Andros, Bimini Island, Exuma Island, just to name a few, can in itself be quite an exciting adventure. The diversity of the landscapes, at times leaves you speechless; from white and pink sandy beaches, to emerald pine forests and serene colonial villages, that preserve this land's rich historical heritage and fragrant beauty.

But, far more delightful are the people. Bahamians are friendly, humble and kind. Their warmth covers this precious region and you don't need to stand in the sun in order to feel it. It's there every time you shop, eat or just ask for directions.

And the shopping? Deals, bargains, buys, duty-free and anywhere from 25% to 50% savings off stateside goods.

So when the sun goes down, you'll know your trip was worth it. You'll feast on some of the finest fare, wash it down with rum punch, and put your feet up, Bahamian style.