7 Day Bahamas Diving Adventure

Do you love the water? Do you like walking on beaches without footprints, and snorkeling protected waters where fishing isn't allowed?

If seven days of diving, snorkeling and hiking remote beaches sounds like your type of fun then this trip is for you. A 102' catamaran with a 35' beam, which accommodates 22 guests in 11 outside view cabins, will pamper you and take you exploring in the Caribbean. You will dive remote wrecks, reefs and walls of the Exumas, much of which has been protected from collecting, spearfishing and fishing for 30 years. You will be able to sit back when you want to or choose between fishing, sunbathing, diving, snorkeling, kayaking some of the most unspoiled reefs in the world. Plus you will have time to walk sugar sand beaches without footprints!

Nassau can be reached by plane or you could pick up a small shuttle cruise out of Miami, Florida.

It is recommended that you bring your own diving/snorkeling gear but rental gear is available. Full certification diving courses are available during the cruise. Beach walking and snorkeling excursions are available.

There aren't a lot of details to provide you on this trip until I personally make it myself.

Here is your itinerary:

Day 1 - Board ship about 6 p.m.

Day 2 - Cruise to Exuma Islands

Day 3 - 7 Dive, Snorkel and enjoy desolate Caribbean beaches and islands

Day 8 - Disembark at 9 am

What this itinerary description leaves out is that many hours each day will be spent exploring desolate beaches, reefs, walls & blue holes. Truly a great vacation for someone who loves the water and being around others who love the water.

Costa Rican Cruises

Some people want to take the slow boat to China deal by doing a cruise to Costa Rica leaving out of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida with stops in Costa Maya, Limon, and Colon, Costa Rica and you can spend 8 days on a Carnival Cruise down to Costa Rica and experiencing port of calls along the way. This is a lot more exciting than being cramped on a flight when you can spend all the time relaxing and having a good time before you get to the ports of call, which is on days 3,5 and 6. Each stop is approximately one day long and there's only one stop in Costa Rica that is on day 5 of the trip.

You can just sit back and look out on to the ocean and take in the next breath of air so clean you forgot you're not in the city. Part of the fun about a cruise is the nighttime sky when you can walk out on to the deck and look at the clearest sky around. Most tourists enjoy that where they can go walking around the deck at night and the cost doesn't come cheap you're looking at about $3-5 grand for a week and a half or longer that's why tourists need to plan their trip well to make sure you can get the most of out of it financially.

Carnival cruises is one of the lines that does have stops in Costa Rica as their port of call and usually there's a trip through the Panama Canal, but it's just straight down south winding your way through the Caribbean islands and stopping in some places, but you spend more time out on the water than you do stopping on land. Sailing instead of flying just buys you more time to relax comfortably instead of being squashed up inside a plane for a few hours when you can spend a few days chilling out on the deck and enjoying a drink while taking in some rays. There are a lot of cruise ship websites out there that can tell you when you should book your trip since like the airlines prices change quickly in a matter of a day.

So it's ideal to get email notices about the fares so you can book them quickly. Doing your homework can ensure you get the best fare possible for your money since it's not exactly cheap to go on a ship. The average person spends a couple years saving up for a cruise and booking when the price is not so high since like flying cruises are costly at certain times of the year.

Booking a year early is your best bet in getting the dates you want so you're not paying full fare when the reduced rate is offered to you in advance to give you a chance to book your cabin. Cabins are booked by level and are priced differently. The most expensive would be towards the front.

Know The Ins And Outs Of A Cruise Vacation

So you are looking into learning more about cruises. Let me be the first to tell you, that if you haven`t gone on one yet, you really need to. They are without a doubt a great time. For me I ventured on 5 cruises in my life, my wife even more. She is the one who got me into them in the first place.

What cruises do is give you the adventure of stopping in multiple places on the same location. I personally have always looked at cruises as a way to get to know each island stop, just a little bit, and then if I really liked one of them, my wife and I can go back for a longer stay at a later date.

There are a ton of choices when it comes to cruising. How long you should go, where you should go, what excursions should you go on and a slew of other questions. I will do my best to answer these questions for you from my own experience.

First things first, where ya goin'? For this you just need to ask a few more questions. Is it just you and your spouse or significant other, are there kids going, how about the in-laws or grandparents. Once you know who is going, then you can tailor your cruise after the party involved. For example, if it is an adult only cruise, you could do something in the Mediterranean, or Alaska (great cruise by the way). The Caribbean of course is always fun.

If there will be kids, Disney now offers cruises, and although I personally I have not been on a Disney cruise, I understand they are a great time, especially for the kids.

When you think of cruising, most people think of warm destinations, the Caribbean, Hawaii and so on. Don`t rule out European cruises, as they have a lot to offer as well.

Once you choose your destination, which may or may not dictate the next question, you need to figure out, just how long you want to go for. I have gone on 4 and 7 days cruises. For me, 4 days is just way, I am mean way to short. A 7 seven day cruise is the norm, and perfect if you are a first time cruiser. I am looking forward to doing a 9 to 15 day cruise. At the end of 7 days, I am always feeling like there should be just one more day.

If you are new to cruising, I suggest 7 days. its a perfect amount of time to get you acclimated to this fun past time. Any longer on your first trip and you just might burn yourself out. Give yourself a reason to go back for more.

OK, so you know where you are going, who you are going with and for how long. But which cruise line should you pick. Honestly, it doesn`t matter, but you should check to see which ones are better suited for kids, how big are the ships going to the destination you have chosen and so on. Remember bigger isn`t always better. More people on a ship could translate into longer lines at the buffet or shows, and ugh, no seats by the pool! So if you aren`t much of a crowd person, stay away from the bigger mammoth ships.

Sailing The Seven Seas With World Cruises

There is a whole world out there just waiting to be explored, and pictures and videos cannot do justice to some of its beauty. If you long to see the white cliffs of dover, or the pristine, clear waters of the Caribbean, then maybe you should take a cruise around the world - or at least to a few parts of it! The contrast between the icy North Atlantic waters, and the warmth of the Caribbean will make you wonder at how varied and exciting the world can be.

Sightseeing Around the World

A world cruise could take you from New York to Normandy, and from there to the Ivory Coast where you can marvel at the Himalayan mountains. Since a huge amount of the earths surface is covered by water, you can see a massive amount of the world on a cruise - almost anywhere is accessible, either by calling in to port, or a short land excursion.

The Experience at Sea

A World Cruise is a luxury experience - with all the amenities of a five star hotel. Gourmet cuisine is served in the restaurants, and the staff aim to make sure your every need is catered for.

The liners have lots of facilities - including spas, bars, clubs, a pool, gym, and even libraries and computer centers.

There are lots of activities to enjoy, and plenty of on ship entertainment. You could spend your time scuba diving, joining in karaoke competitions, or just lazing on the deck and getting a nice sun tan.

Sometimes cruises will make a day long stop at a popular destination, letting you get a better feel for the culture and atmosphere of the city. They often have planned excursions, with different activities for different interests.

Trips typically last up to two weeks or longer, and prices range from between four hundred dollars for a basic cabin, to under three thousand dollars for a luxury suite. The price depends on the itinerary, the length of the cruise, the ship, and the kind of facilities or accommodations you want.

Some cruises focus on a certain part of the world, others try to fit in a variety of different destinations. With any cruise, however, you will enjoy the chance to see the world, experience things you would not otherwise get the chance to, and be able to relax in a luxurious cabin at the end of each day. World cruises offer the absolute best experiences you can imagine.

Alaska Cruise Guide - Ports And Possibilities

Alaska cruises are scenic and relaxing vacations, and feature some pretty obvious highlights. Where else but an Alaska cruise could you spot a Grizzly Bear, witness the 'calving' of a giant ice berg, and bear witness to the incredible display of the Northern Lights in a single day? While the wildlife and scenery are huge draws, too few travelers realize the possibilities offered by the many ports of call an Alaska cruise makes along the way.

Use this brief guide to whet your appetite to the possibilities offered by Alaska's small towns and cities.

Ketchikan - The "Salmon capital of the world" is a quaint town at the southern end of the Inside Passage. From your docking point it's a short walk to "Creek Street", the downtown area. Pick up a souvenir at the historic wooden shops that overhang the crystal-clear stream, or, if your timing is right, stop to gape at the hundreds of salmon who've returned to the creek to spawn. A highlight outside of town is the Misty Fjords National Monument wilderness preserve, known affectionately as the Yosemite of the North.

Sitka - Arguably the most picturesque town on the Inside Passage, Sitka sits on a rugged island surrounded by Alpine peaks and fronted by a scenic harbour. Sitka is less frequently visited than other Inside Passages town, so doesn't boast the number of tourist packages. What it does offer is a number of insightful tours into the area's heritage, a unique combination of Native Tlingit and Russian cultures.

Juneau - One of the most beautiful capital cities in the world, Juneau combines a visually stunning setting at the base of high Alpine mountains and the pristine waters of the Inside Passage. A big city, Juneau also hosts most of the major cruise liners and therefore offers plenty of packaged activities like trips to Mendenhal Glacier, wildlife tours to Admiralty Island, and a ride up the Mount Roberts Tramway.

Skagway - A memorable stop for anyone with the remotest interest in history, Skagway has the same great scenery of most Alaskan town as well as boasting the colourful history of the Gold Rush. Striking for its isolation, this tiny outpost drew thousands of men pursuing gold in the 19th century. Once a point of transition for prospectors, Skagway now offers travelers the opportunity to explore the region's history, go further afield and visit the neighbouring Yukon, or tour glaciers and wilderness by train.

Cruising Is The Best Holiday One Can Have

I remember well the Union Castle Line mail ships that plowed South African waters in the sixties. A short trip to Port Elizabeth or Durban was a regular event in those days. Today the gargantuan liners of 70 000 tons and often much more, seem almost futuristic compared to the tiny, but elegant 15-20 000 tonne ships of the past.

People often cite their fear of sea sickness as a reason for not cruising, but unless you're determined to sail the choppy and petulant waters off the South African east coast at certain times of the year, you will hardly notice you're at sea. In some ways for old sea-dogs like me, this is a pity - there is nothing like a rough night at sea! The modern liner is a Goliath, some with more than a dozen restaurants on board, mini golf courses, live theatre and movie houses. You might be forgiven for thinking you were in a small city or giant shopping mall. Running a few times around the 600 meter deck on one of Holland America's ships is enough exercise before a jacuzzi, a shower and then drinks in the highest observation lounge, with 270 degree views.

Only older people go on cruises, is another excuse. This might be the case with an average age of 45 on Holland America's Volendam, but other ships rock from the time you set foot on board; some even cater almost exclusively for kids. If you do have kids, make sure they can read, have an electronic cabin card around their neck, then say goodbye for 7 days; trust me, you won't see them if you don't want to! Find out the cruise profile first before you book.

For the price of a week at a cheap resort, you can get 5 or even 6 star luxury, 24 hour room service, facilities second to none, and food seldom equaled anywhere in the world. I have eaten in Paris, London and Vancouver, but nothing came close to the meals on the Volendam Alaskan cruise. While my wife enjoyed the full course meal each night, I always enticed my taste buds with three small main courses, reveling in the flavours from around the world. And, then, added to this they're actually taking you somewhere! My best friend recently took his family to France for two weeks - their daily budget for food alone for the four of them came to more than the price of my entire cruise on a luxury liner and a trip to enticing Alaska!

It is easy to remain speechless while sailing quietly up to the edge of a glacier; such a place is hallowed, and the primeval and seemingly untouched environment leaves one with hauntingly beautiful memories.

What about the mystical and breathtaking islands of the Mediterranean? Greece is a perfect place for a peaceful cruise. Don't even think about excluding Santorini - it has the world's most beautiful sunsets - imagine sailing into one of them, having just visited the birthplace of mankind. I envy those who live in the Northern Hemisphere; but for long distances and expensive air travel from the tip of Africa, I would be cruising every single year!

Sail the Panama Canal and marvel at this great human achievement

This incredible piece of human engineering, dreamt up by the ambitious King Charles V of Spain, took around 75,000 workers over 10 long years to complete and throughout the construction was beleaguered by a range of problems, from financial bankruptcy, very poor project management and serious outbreaks of malaria that killed many of the workers.

It was eventually finished however, to worldwide applause and with the enormous gratitude of the thousands of ships that still pass through in huge quantities - some paying up to 30,000 dollars for the privilege. The incredible network of dams and locks spans 50 miles at the shortest point between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, allowing ships to cut out an enormous and treacherous stretch of coastline around South America.

The canal is located just 80kms north west of Panama City on the Pacific side and Colon on the Atlantic side. You could have the unique and once-in-a-lifetime chance to jump aboard one of the many fantastic cruise ships and set sail along the length of the canal, preferably between December and April.

Lindblad Expeditions runs the 64 passenger MV Sea Voyager through the canal and then continues along the Pacific coast of stunning Costa Rica.

An expedition on board the Sea Voyager around Panama is an adventure replete with rewards thanks to the biological diversity and unique opportunities it presents. Wildlife is plentiful and varied and thanks to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, it is are the only passenger ship permitted to overnight during the Panama Canal transit to explore Barro Colorado Nature Monument.