Relax in Luxury on a Cruise...

Thomson know all about luxury cruises, on which you will be pampered and surrounded by pure luxury on board some of the most fantastic cruise ships in their fleet.

People usually choose, when on holiday, to either be adventurous or to relax. They can, of course, do both; usually at different times and cruise holidays are no different. You don’t always have to be taking part in sports or enjoying a show on a cruise, you can also relax your way to serenity.

Whether you choose to go on a Mediterranean or Caribbean cruise, you can chill out while sipping cocktails by the outside pool, lazing on loungers whilst listening to music or read the latest bestseller while the world, quite literally, drifts by.

If you fancy some real ‘me time’, book into the spa and have the most fantastic massage, manicure or facial that will relax you more than you could have ever imagined.

Of course, not only you will be completely pampered, you will also be wooed by the sense of luxury onboard your Thomson cruise ship. You can arrange a deal and stay in the best accommodation the cruise ship has to offer or enjoy a few ‘extra’ luxuries that will make your cruise holiday even more special.

Enjoy benefits like priority check-ins, having your luggage delivered to you before anyone else and enjoy Thomson Cruises exclusive concierge service. You can also book special extras that will really make you want to make cruising the only type of holiday you ever go on; anything from chocolate-dipped strawberries to a bouquet of flowers sent to your loved ones cabin.

Cruise holidays for groups...

In order to obtain the best cruise deals, there is no better way than to be part of a group. Every major line knows the importance of catering to group cruises and if your party is large enough, you can almost have entire ships all to yourself.

Theme cruises are a popular way of discovering different parts of the world and are often aimed at groups. There is no better way to boost camaraderie and moral than booking a themed cruise holiday and even if you book with friends and family you could stand to save a substantial amount on the listed ticket price.

Music, sports, lifestyle and gay and lesbian cruises are just some of the themed holidays on offer. Whether you are planning a big family reunion or taking your club or society on a big bonding break, theme cruises are highly recommended.

Also popular are the many excursion cruises that are available. Antarctica, Alaska and Caribbean cruises are just some of the sought after options in this category, but you can rest assured that you will be able to find a suitable adventure to suit everyone’s tastes.

Some solo travellers organise groups especially for cruise holidays and this is a great way to bring down the cost of your holiday, as well as meet new people. There will always be special cruises deals available for groups, but last minute cruise deals, may be less easy to find.

Cruising with Royal Caribbean Cruises...

Royal Caribbean cruises are nothing short of perfect and by sailing with them you will have a massive choice, with pleasure and excellent service being guaranteed at all times.

Royal Caribbean have a fleet of 21 ships and as they operate one of the world’s freshest, youngest and extremely innovative cruise fleet, they are extremely proud of the service they offer each and every customer.

With amazing itineraries to the most beautiful destinations, fantastic activities events both on and off the ship, your time as a guest of Royal Caribbean will be unforgettable.

Independence of the Seas is royal Caribbean’s newest addition to their already massive fleet. This is currently the world’s biggest cruise ship and features 15 decks of show-stopping activities to pass the time between ports. Sailing from Southampton, the Independence of the Seas will be operating in the Mediterranean and around Europe.

Royal Caribbean Cruises believe that you shouldn’t be spending most of your holiday flying to ports of departure or arrival, which is why they have more departures from the UK and around Europe than other cruise companies.

The onboard experience on Royal Caribbean ships will have you playing brilliant games of bingo, singing classic hits at karaoke nights, busting those moves you have just learned at the dance classes and with many more activities to take part in, you will never be short of something brilliant to do.

Sailing with Royal Caribbean is a breeze and also promises fun for all the family.

Saving on Your Cruise Holiday...

Many holidaymakers can be a little wary of the cost of going on a cruise, but if you know when and how to spend your holiday cash, you might be surprised by how much you can bring down the cost. As always, preparation is the key to success and knowing what to expect will make reducing your cruise holiday expenses so much easier.

Before you book, rule number one is that you never pay the brochure price. The major companies always release fancy brochures with sample pricing for their cruise holidays, but if you shop around for deals you will see that these are significantly over-estimated. Also, if you have some spare time and a lot of friends who you can rely on, it’s even possible to get a free cruise. ‘Group Planners’ who get at least 16 passengers signed up for a cruise are often rewarded with their own cabin, free of charge.

Another area to look at is what destinations are covered en route. Of course, the majority of cruise ships will visit tourist-focused destinations with high prices, but if you do your homework, you will be able to hunt down better deals and also stock up on necessities, instead of paying higher prices on board the ship.

Lastly, wining and dining is an expense that can quickly eat into your holiday budget. Many holiday cruises now provide drink-discounts, whereby you can have a bottle of wine or champagne for each day of the trip for a set price. It is also possible to find offers for non-alcoholic beverages.

Disney Cruises – ideal for families...

Travelling with the Disney cruise line, you can experience superb parts of the world and the magic of all things Disney. A Disney cruise really is the pinnacle in fun, entertainment and adventure for all the family.

For both the young at heart and the young, Disney will offer a cruise experience no one will ever forget. With entertainment shows that rival Broadway, Disney cruises will capture your heart and your imagination.

Adults will still enjoy a relaxing cruise, with spa treatments, great meals and quiet parts of the ship, while the children, of whatever age, will love the magic of Disney. Younger children can take part in stimulating activities in safe areas, while the teenagers enjoy playing all the latest video games or chill in a New York style lounge club.

There is something for everyone on a Disney cruise and it is the finishing touches that make it really special. For example, there are digital portholes that show you some familiar faces along with sea views, Disney characters onboard the ship and other fantastic features that will help to make this a most magical holiday.

There are a number of fly cruises and fabulous itineraries available on Disney cruises, which will show you the most amazing parts of the Caribbean and the Bahamas. Most of their cruises take you to Castaway Cay, a magical and picturesque retreat that is exclusive to Disney.

Lose yourself in the magic of Disney onboard a stunning cruise ship and give your family a holiday that they will never forget.

Cruise Ships Divide Passenger Opinion About Haiti...

Opinion amongst passengers aboard the 4,370-berth Independence of the Seas, owned by Royal Caribbean International is divided as to whether they should have disembarked cruise holiday passengers at the heavily guarded resort of Labadee on the north coast on Friday the 22nd January; a second cruise ship, another Royal Caribbean International cruise liner the 3,100-passenger Navigator of the Seas is due to dock shortly. The highly respected cruise line leases a picturesque wooded peninsula and its five pristine beaches from the Haiti government for passengers to “cut loose” with activities such as water sports, barbecues, and shopping for trinkets at a craft market before returning on board before dusk.

Although the ships are taking in a certain amount of food aid with the Caribbean cruise liners pledging to donate all proceeds from the visit to help the stricken victims of the earthquake many of the passengers are unhappy. One passenger writing on the Cruise Critic internet forum said “I just can’t see myself sunning on the beach, playing in the water, eating a barbecue, and enjoying a cocktail while there are tens of thousands of dead people being piled up on the streets in Port au Prince, with those survivors stunned and looking for food and water.”

A spokesman for Royal Caribbean International is reported as saying that the question of whether or not to “deliver a vacation experience so close to the epicentre of an earthquake” had been subject to considerable internal debate before it decided to include Haiti in its itineraries for the coming weeks, believing it would be beneficial to the recovery of the country. Using Labadee in the itinerary is critical to Haiti’s recovery; hundreds of people rely on Labadee for their livelihood,” said John Weis, vice-president. “In our conversations with the UN special envoy of the government of Haiti, Leslie Voltaire, he noted that Haiti will benefit from the revenues that are generated from each call and we have tremendous opportunities to use our ships as transport vessels for relief supplies and personnel to Haiti. Simply put, we cannot abandon Haiti now that they need us most.”

Friday’s call in Labadee went well, everything was open, as usual and the guests were very happy to hear that 100% of the proceeds from the call at Labadee would be donated to the relief effort. The Independence of the Seas delivered forty pallets comprising rice, beans, powdered milk, water, and canned foods, further supplies are due on two subsequent ships. When supplies arrive in Labadee, they are distributed by Food for the Poor, a long-time partner of Royal Caribbean in Haiti. Royal Caribbean has also pledged $1m to the relief effort and will spend part of that helping 200 Haitian crew members.

Why go on a Cruise...

A cruise is not only a trip to some amazing and exotic destinations, but it’s also a journey you will never forget. You only have to unpack once when on a cruise and you can relax knowing everything is taken care of.

Believe it or not, your money often goes further when cruising than on a land-based holiday. Everything you could ever wish for is included in the one-time price of your cruise. Food, drinks, entertainment and stunning locations are all part and parcel of your cruise holiday.

Companies such as P&O, Carnival Cruises, Thomson and others, all want your cruise holiday to be as special as possible. That’s why they include what would normally be charged as extras on a ‘normal’ holiday; spacious and luxurious staterooms, mouth-watering food, entertainment both day and night, youth programmes, qualified babysitters, children’s clubs, fitness centres and more, are all included in the price of your cruise.

When cruising for the first time, the first thing to do is to narrow down exactly where you want to go. Select a suitable itinerary, the length of holiday and your port of departure and arrival.

After that, you can book your stateroom, choose the location of the cabin, depending on where on the ship you wish to be and arrange for connecting rooms if you are travelling in a party.

After that comes the easy part, book the cruise holiday of a lifetime and wait for the departure date to come around. You can book through your travel agent, online at reputable holiday dealers or direct with the cruise company.

Chartering Your Own Ship...

Chartering your own cruise ship may seem a little farfetched, but you may find that many cruise companies will be happy to offer a whole ship for you and your group. However, it is also possible to reserve only half the ship, so if the cost of a full vessel will be above budget, this will could be an ideal alternative.

You will find that booking a full ship for your society or corporation will require a minimum number of guests. Large cruise ships will require passenger numbers in the thousands; Carnival cruises, for example, require at least 2,000 for short cruise holidays and 3,000 for longer trips. The price tag for a large ship could be anywhere from £700,000 to £4 million, so it easy to see that the majority of us will be out of the market.

However, partial chartering offers great value in comparison to reserving an entire ship. Cruise lines can give away 20, 40 or 50% of their cabins to a group or corporation, but as payment will be required in advance this is not a recommended option for smaller organisations where there are likely to be cancellations.

For smaller groups it is best to block-book your cabins through a travel agent, who will usually return the favour and pass on any discount from the cruise line. No matter how many people you choose to travel with, this will be a great option to save on the cost of your tickets.

Find a luxury cruise with Carnival Cruises...

If you are looking to save on your cruise holiday this year, Carnival will come highly recommended. Not only can they offer all the popular destinations of other cruise operators, but you can often find the same cruise for a significantly cheaper price – provided you book at the right time of course.

Carnival cruises have one objective on mind – fun. Each ship of their impressive fleet can provide an exhilarating selection of activities and entertainment that is sure to appeal to all members of the family.

Their ships are separated into different classes, to differentiate between size and capacity, and there are some truly spectacular boats on display.

One of the highlights is the Carnival Valor, which is part of the Conquest Class. The Ivanhoe theatre is easily the glamorous centrepiece, but other attractions include the Twister waterslide, the Carnival Valor Shogun Club Casino and the Valor Spa.

If you are looking for a cruise holiday for the family that will also give you some time to yourself, the Valor will be the perfect choice. As well a host of clubs and venues that are strictly ‘kids-only’, there are some real luxurious restaurants and bars that will be perfect locations to while away an evening.

Carnival Cruises know that the cruise market is changing – more and more young travellers are being attracted to holidays on the seas. However, they can still appeal to experienced cruisers and know exactly what to provide for an unforgettable experience. Carnival will be a great choice to suit everyone’s requirements.

Red Sea Cruises – explore this historic part of ...

For captivating scenery, history and plenty of sunshine, few cruise and stay holidays can offer as much as the Red Sea. Cruises in this fascinating corner of the world are sure to provide any traveller with inspiration and excitement and will be the ideal choice for any fans of Egyptian history.

The list of historical attractions on Red Sea cruises is truly impressive. From Cairo, the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx, to the ruins of the city of Petra, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, there will be an abundance of sights that cannot be passed by. Of course, as these civilisations have been here for thousands of years, you will never run out of inspiring sights.

Another must is the Sinai Peninsular, which is said to be the point where Moses crossed the Red Sea when guiding the Israelites out of Egypt. Nearby is Mount Sinai, where it is believed Moses received the Ten Commandments. However, Red Sea Cruises aren’t all about culture and history, as there are a wide variety of relaxing beaches and resorts that will be ideal for basking in the stunning surroundings.

Thomson cruises cover many of these enchanting destinations and are always a recommended choice for any traveller. Guided shore excursions are organised by the cruise lines, but it will be well worth your while searching for your own local tour operator, as they offer better value. No matter where you choose to visit for your cruise and stay holiday, there will excitement and inspiration for every day of your trip.