Tour and Travel

Archive for the ‘Cruising’ Category

Mediterranean cruises visit ports from Barcelona to Rome and beyond and generally last anywhere from 7 to 14 days. For many, its the cruise of a lifetime. The sights, the sounds, the atmosphere and cuisine are all among the best in the world. Some of these cruises set sail for the Western Mediterranean, some head to the Eastern Mediterranean and many of the longer Mediterranean cruises visit both areas. So, lets take a look at the destinations, attractions and dining options that make the Mediterranean such an amazing cruise destination.

Destinations: Europe may be small in size but the history of this area is a long and storied tale. A Cruise on the Mediterranean Sea from Cyprus in the east to the Strait of Gibraltar in the west and all points in between offers a fantastic array of visuals. As you pass one of the 13 countries that border this large body of water, youll be thrust into the cultures and experiences of which youve been dreaming. Both large and smaller cruise ships visit ports in Barcelona, Rome, Athens, Istanbul, Livorno/Pisa, Monte Carlo, the Greek Isles, Venice, Sicily and other areas along this gorgeous route. Popular shore excursions often involve visits to famed cities like Naples, Alexandria, Malta and Port Said. Interested in seeing, first-hand, the pyramids in Egypt? Want to tour the Catacombs of Rome? On a Mediterranean cruise, the options are endless.

Attractions: Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, Spain, is one of the most popular attractions for those interested in a Mediterranean experience. Visit La Sagrada Familia (Home of the Poor) the famed church designed by Antonio Gaudi, wander the narrow streets in the Bario Gotico (Gothic Quarter) or take a walk along the Calle Reina Christina, following in the footsteps of Pablo Picasso. In Athens, you can visit the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, a stone theater built in 161 AD. A tour through the Ottoman buildings in Istanbul and a peek at the skyline dominated by Imperial Mosques will remind you that Turkeys architecture is among the finest in the world. While in Pisa, after visiting the famous leaning tower, visit Knights Square, one of the most important landmarks in Italy. Other favorites include the Salle Garnier opera house in Monte Carlo, the waterways of Venice and the Valle de Temple in Sicily, Italy.

Dining Options: Mediterranean cuisines are as varied as the cultures along the Mediterranean Sea. In Spain, tapas plates feature small, yet mouthwatering versions of both new and traditional Spanish dishes. But in Italy, the cuisine is markedly different, with pasta and other regional specialties taking top billing. Fans of Greek food will love the gyro, pork and oven-baked lamb dishes that dominate the dining landscape in Greece. One bite of an adana kebap on flat bread will win over any doubters in the deliciousness of Turkish cuisine. With all of these options, it may be hard to choose the perfect dinner spot while at port but be sure to experiment a bit and enjoy the variety of different tastes and spices of the Mediterranean.

As you can tell, there are plenty of things to see, do and eat during a Mediterranean cruise vacation. Regardless of your choices, youre bound to have an incredible time as you cruise through some of the most historic ports in the world.

If you don’t want a cruise as all encompassing as a full northern European cruise but not limited to just the fjords of Norway, Scandinavian cruises might be just what you are looking for.

The Scandinavian countries are Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland and a cruise to this region will let you see just how the sea has formed the landscape of these countries. These countries are a natural for cruising. Not only can you see their beautiful coastlines including the fjords, but you can also experience some of the most amazing cities in northern Europe.

The Scandinavian cruise season runs from May to August and cruises are available from most European countries that have ocean access as well as from North America.

You won’t find many cruises to Scandinavia in the winter months because of the freezing temperatures. However, there are a few available for the hardy and the most popular of these is a cruise to see the Northern Lights and celebrate the winter solstice. On one of these cruises you can enjoy solstice festivals in small towns that are located near the Arctic Circle.

Naturally, the cruises in the summer season are more popular. Many people who want to see Scandinaviachoose a cruise over a land-based holiday to save the expense of hotels and dining out. Scandinavian cruises are good value and with the right deal can be more affordable than moving from hotel to hotel and eating each meal in local restaurants.

Some of the more popular itineraries for Scandinavian cruisesand the cruise lines that offer them are:

· Cruise and Maritime Voyages offer cruises from Tilbury London that cover other northern European stops as well as the Scandinavian countries.

· Norwegian Coastal Voyage cruises concentrate on cruises around Norway that include smaller ferry trip excursions around the small islands of Norway.

· P&O offer cruises that cover Northern Europe, Copenhagen, Stockholm, and the fjords of Norway.

If you are looking for a cruise that sticks strictly to a Scandinavian itinerary, Holland America offers several. Some are cruises to Amsterdam and Rotterdam that have ports of call in several Norway towns, and in Stockholm, Sweden and Helsinki, Finland.

· Stockholm – The capital of Sweden is a city made up of 14 islands. It has a 700-year history and some of its attractions include the historic old town called Gamla Stan and the Royal Palace on the waterfront. It also boasts the world’s oldest completely preserved ship, the Vasa, that was built in the 17th century as a warship.

· Helsinki – A shore excursion into Finland’s capital features a guided tour of the city where you will see the Temppeliaukio Church. This amazing church was carved and blasted from granite and then topped off with a copper dome. It is one of the world’s most unusual pieces of architectures.

Cruises have the three main categories . Those are mainstream cruises, luxury cruises and adventure cruises. If you are planning to go for a cruise, you need to consider the purpose of your cruise, determine the type of cruise you are looking for and choose the one most suitable for you.

Mainstream cruises are the most popular of all. They offer ice-skating rings, rock-climbing walls, art collections, water parks, spas, restaurants, swimming pools, gyms, etc. They have plenty of activities onboard throughout the day and night. They can be further subdivided into three types: family cruises, party cruises and romantic cruises. Some cruise lines offer specialised family cruises. They have activities planned for all age groups to cater to the needs of all members of the family. Most people booked this kind of cruises during summers, public holidays and school holidays.

Party cruises usually last about three to four nights long. In this kind of cruises, passengers usually enjoy the pool band during the day, and spent the night dancing and lounging by the pool. Cruise lines offering romantic cruises have programmes onboard to help create a romantic mood for couples. The types of cruises being promoted by these cruise lines include honeymoon cruise, onboard wedding, wedding anniversary cruise, etc.

Luxury cruises are usually served by smaller ships. Most of the luxury lines provide superb quality services similar to that of a five-star hotel. They specialised in providing excellent service, fabulous décor, grand accommodations, fine cuisine and exclusive settings. The activities and entertainment offered are more dignified than those in the mainstream cruises.

There are small cruise ships which aimed to provide learning and knowledge about interesting subjects and places.

These are educational or adventure types which usually take no more than 200 passengers to places of interest. The purpose of the voyage is to bring the passengers to the destination and educate them about the place. Onboard educational talks may be included as part of the itinerary. The activities include guided nature walks, lectures, kayaking and walking tours to historical places. Most of these ships sail along the coasts or rivers and there is plenty of nature near the port. Although the ships are smaller, the cost is not necessarily cheaper. In fact, some can be quite costly. Some cruise lines even hold onboard lectures by experts to teach on some specific topics. In some adventure cruises, the ships simply bring you to an exotic place and you can spend your time exploring the place all by yourself.

From the above, you can see that there are various kinds of cruises available. Before you select a cruise line and the cruise you want to book, you need to determine the kind of cruise you are looking for. There are many cruise lines offering various cruises to different destinations. You certainly have a wide range of choices to choose from. For more information, visit Cruise Vacation website now!

What makes Caribbean Cruises popular even in these days of a down economy? Caribbean cruises never seem to run out of patrons because once a person experiences a Caribbean travel by sea, he or she will more than likely come back for more. Aside from that, there are many cheap Caribbean cruises offered and those who seemed to have had a nice experience out of them have all the reasons to keep coming back for more.

Cruise companies actually have a fleet of cruise liners and each liner is called by different interesting names. Most often, the name of the cruise liner matches the type and nature of the cruise destination. Caribbean cruises are no exception and there is a wide range of holiday travels to choose from.

You can select a Caribbean cruise according to the type of cruise liner based on on-board amenities it has to offer. In some instances, interested cruise travelers base their preferences on the cruise itinerary, since this includes the places to be visited. Some others choose their cruise package according to the dates available.

You can even modify your itinerary if you want to, and the cruise ship expert can help you in that area. Certain arrangements will be made for you to transfer to another cruise liner at a specific port of call so you can proceed to your preferred destination. Naturally of course, these types of Caribbean cruises are more expensive.

Now let’s take a look at what each of these Caribbean cruises have to offer:

Eastern Caribbean Cruises

It is said that almost every cruise liner has an Eastern Caribbean cruise. In fact the Caribbean and its many picturesque islands are the most sought after destinations when it comes to cruise travels. An Easter Caribbean cruise visits Nassau, Bahamas, The US Virgin Islands which includes St. Thomas, St John, Tortola and Virgin Gorda. Other ports of call are San Juan, Puerto Rico and St. Maarten. If the cruise line has its own private island, this can also be part of the itinerary.

Eastern Caribbean cruises are popular for having affordable prices and can be taken all year around. However, during winter months, cruise travels may take ten to twelve nights. If you plan to have an Eastern Caribbean cruise vacation, you can check out the ports nearest you at Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Port Canaveral. In some seasons, your cruise liner of your choice can be docked at New York ports. In case you’re nearer to New York, you could probably look for the Caribbean cruise that departs at the New York port.

Southern Caribbean Cruises

Southern Caribbean cruises are basically island-hopping experiences and is said to be the most port intensive of all cruises and is often at a fast pace. They share other ports of call visited by Eastern Caribbean cruises like St. Thomas, St. Maarten for its duty-free shopping and historical sites.

An added feature in Southern Caribbean cruises are visits to some islands with breathtaking views and natural beauty like Dominica where travelers can take a swim underneath magnificent waterfalls. Be at a black sand beach next to a volcano in the isle of St. Martinique or explore the caves filled with limestone in Barbados. Other equally picturesque islands visited are Antigua, St. Lucia, Aruba, Curacao, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Barts, Caracas and Isla Margaritas.

Unfortunately, Southern Caribbean cruises are offered only on a seasonal basis for smaller cruise liner operators. They embark on 7-night Southern Caribbean itineraries during peak winter months only when a lot of those coming from the colder regions are escaping the cold winter months. However, major cruise ships like Royal Caribbean International and Carnival Cruise Lines offer 7-night Southern Caribbean tours the whole year round. The longer Southern Caribbean cruises ordinarily sail at Miami or Fort Lauderdale while some can be boarded at San Juan, Puerto Rico and Barbados.

Western Caribbean Cruises

Western Caribbean cruises are almost resort-on-board types of cruise hence the time spent at sea and in ports are almost even.  State of the art amenities can be found in cruise liners all for recreation and entertainment while the most exotic of Caribbean places are the itineraries. The Grand Cayman coral reefs, and the ruins of the ancient Mayan temples in Mexico and the seaside of Tulum are only a few of the places visited. Others are Jamaica, Key West, Cozumel, Cancun, Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, Roatan and Labadee.

Western Caribbean Cruises are said to be the most affordable, and are offered all year round. Winter cruises can take as long as 8, 10, and 11 up to 14 night itineraries. You can find cruise ships departing in Florida ports while some are found in most ports along the Gulf Coast.

Visit websites that offer cheap Caribbean cruises and you’ll find more hot deals and discount offers for these different Caribbean cruises.

Tom Cruise, born on the third of July

Tom Cruise was born Thomas Cruise Mapother IV in Syracuse, New York, on July 3, 1962. Cruise made his motion picture debut in Endless Love (1981), appearing in the role of Billy. The actor’s annual take from motion pictures is an estimated million.

Here are seven movies no discerning Tom Cruise fan should ever miss. Show me the movies!

A Few Good Men (Columbia, 1992)

Aaron Sorkin wrote the screenplay and Rob Reiner directed. Tom Cruise plays Lt. (j.g.) Daniel Alistair Kaffee, with Jack Nicholson (Col. Nathan R. Jessep), Demi Moore (Lt. Commander JoAnne Galloway), Kevin Bacon (Capt. Jack Ross), Kiefer Sutherland (Lt. Jonathan Kendrick) and Kevin Pollak (Lt. Sam Weinberg) in strong support.

Budgeted at million, A Few Good Men was filmed in California; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; and Washington, D.C. Texas A&M’s University Corps of Cadets Fish Drill Team performed the impressive rifle demonstration at the beginning of the movie.

Cruise turns in an outstanding performance as a young, Harvard-trained Navy lawyer tasked with defending two marines accused of carrying out an illegal Code Red at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba. Cruise is at his best in the climactic courtroom scene, where he grills Jack Nicholson on the stand. “I want the truth!” a strident Cruise shouts. “You can’t handle the truth!” Nicholson replies.

Tom Cruise salary: .5 million
Academy Award nominations: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Nicholson), Best Film Editing, Best Sound
Box-office gross: 1.35 million (#5, 1992)
Great line: “Don’t call me ’son.’ I’m a lawyer, and an officer of the United States Navy. And you’re under arrest you son of a bitch.” – Tom Cruise to Jack Nicholson
On DVD: A Few Good Men Special Edition (Columbia, 2001)

Tom Cruise as Lt. (j.g.) Daniel Kaffee in A Few Good Men (1992)

Born on the Fourth of July (Universal, 1989)

Director Oliver Stone and Ron Kovic penned the screenplay based on Kovic’s 1976 best-selling autobiography. Tom Cruise plays Ron Kovic, with Raymond J. Barry (Mr. Kovic), Caroline Kava (Mrs. Kovic), Tom Berenger (Gunnery Sgt. Hayes), Stephen Baldwin (Billy Vorsovich), Kyra Sedgwick (Donna) and Willem Dafoe (Charlie) in support.

Budgeted at million, Born on the Fourth of July was filmed in Texas, New York, California, the Philippines and Mexico. Oliver Stone, Ron Kovic and Vietnam War protester Abbie Hoffman appear in cameo roles.

Cruise is positively riveting in the role of Ron Kovic, a gung ho marine infantry grunt who is wounded in Vietnam and returns home a paraplegic. The Vietnam War scenes are harrowing, as is Cruise’s stay in a seedy VA hospital. One of the best scenes takes place in Mexico, where Cruise and fellow vet Willem Dafoe engage in a brutal wheelchair fight at sunset.

Tom Cruise salary: Unspecified percentage of the film’s gross
Academy Award nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor (Cruise), Best Director (won), Best Film Editing (won), Best Cinematography, Best Music Score, Best Sound, Best Writing
Box-office gross: .803 million (#15, 1989)
Great line: “Tell them – they have to operate on me. There’s something wrong with me.” – A gravely wounded Tom Cruise to a military chaplain at a MASH unit
On DVD: Born on the Fourth of July Special Edition (Universal, 2004)

The Color of Money (Buena Vista, 1986)

Richard Price wrote the screenplay and Martin Scorsese directed. Tom Cruise plays Vincent Lauria, with Paul Newman (Fast Eddie Felson), Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (Carmen), Helen Shaver (Janelle) and John Turturro (Julian) also on board.

Budgeted at million, The Color of Money – the long awaited sequel to The Hustler (1961) – was filmed in Atlantic City and Chicago. A contingent of professional pool players were used in the production, including Steve Mizerak, Michael Sigel, Howard Vickery, Jimmy Mataya, Keith McCready and Ewa Mataya Laurance.

Cruise excels as a young pool shark who comes under the tutelage of veteran pool hustler Eddie Felson. Cruise (with all that hair high atop his head) is absolutely smashing, performing a dazzling array of trick shots that he had specifically learned for the movie. The film chemistry is extraordinary, with Cruise as the young punk and Newman as the old pro.

Tom Cruise salary: Unknown
Academy Award nominations: Best Actor (Newman, won), Best Supporting Actress (Mastantonio), Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Best Writing
Box-office gross: .435 million (#14, 1986)
Great line: “Yes sir, boss. Rack ‘em up for Mr. Fast Eddie!” – Tom Cruise
On DVD: The Color of Money (Buena Vista, 2002)

All the Right Moves (20th Century Fox, 1983)

Michael Kane wrote the screenplay and Michael Chapman directed. Tom Cruise plays Stefen Djordjevic, with Craig T. Nelson (Coach Nickerson), Lea Thompson (Lisa), Charles Cioffi (Pop) and Chris Penn (Brian) also in the cast.

All the Right Moves was filmed on location in Pennsylvania – Pittsburgh, Conemaugh, Johnstown. In preparation for their roles, both Tom Cruise and Lea Thompson were placed anonymously in high schools. Cruise lasted but one day – outed when another student recognized him from Taps (1981).

Cruise plays an ambitious high school football player in the heart of Pennsylvania steel country. His goal: win an athletic scholarship so he can get the hell out of his gritty industrial hometown of Ampipe. Cruise’s interaction with his hard-ass, disciplinarian coach carries much of the movie. One of the best scenes takes place in the locker room following a heartbreaking loss, where Cruise questions the wisdom of the omnipotent Coach Nickerson.

Tom Cruise salary: Unknown
Box-office gross: .233 million (#42, 1983)
Great line: “You’re not God, Nickerson. You’re just a typing teacher.” – Tom Cruise to Craig T. Nelson
On DVD: All the Right Moves (Fox, 2002)

Tom Cruise as Stefen Djordjevic in All the Right Moves (1983)

The Firm (Paramount, 1993)

David Rabe, Robert Towne and David Rayfield wrote the screenplay based on the 1991 best-selling novel by John Grisham. Sydney Pollack directed with his usual flair. Tom Cruise plays Mitch McDeere, with Jeanne Tripplehorn (Abby McDeere), Gene Hackman (Avery Tolar), Hal Holbrook (Oliver Lambert), Terry Kinney (Lamar Quinn), Wilford Brimley (William Devasher), Ed Harris (Wayne Tarrance) and Holly Hunter (Tammy Hemphill) in principal support.

Budgeted at million, The Firm was filmed in Massachusetts, Tennessee and the Cayman Islands. Once filming ended, Tom Cruise was presented with the same Mercedes his character had received in the movie.

Cruise plays a young attorney fresh out of law school who signs on with a sinister firm in Memphis. The place is tied to organized crime, with “nonconformists” winding up dead. Cruise eventually puts the entire thing together, making for a complex thriller crawling with violence, seedy characters and FBI types.

Tom Cruise salary: Unknown
Box-office gross: 8.348 million (#4, 1993)
Academy Award nominations: Best Supporting Actress (Hunter), Best Music
Great line: “Let me ask you something: are you out of your (bleeping) mind?” – Tom Cruise to FBI agent Ed Harris, who wants him to testify in open court against the Mafia
On DVD: The Firm (Paramount, 2000)

Jerry Maguire (TriStar, 1996)

Director Cameron Crowe penned the screenplay. Tom Cruise plays Jerry Maguire, with Cuba Gooding Jr. (Rod Tidwell), Renee Zellweger (Dorothy Boyd), Kelly Preston (Avery Bishop), Jerry O’Connell (Frank Cushman), Jay Mohr (Bob Sugar) and Bonnie Hunt (Laurel) in support.

Budgeted at million, Jerry Maguire was filmed in California, Arizona and New York City. Rick Reilly of Sports Illustrated nabbed a cameo playing – what else? – a sportswriter.

Cruise winningly plays a high-powered agent whose clients are some of the biggest names in the sports world. An arrogant, selfish, money-grubbing lout, Cruise later changes his ways, leaving the agency and striking out on his own. Cruise’s interplay with Cuba Gooding Jr. is movie magic, with both actors registering top performances.

Tom Cruise salary: million against 15% of the gross
Box-office gross: 3.952 million (#4, 1996)
Academy Award nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor (Cruise), Best Supporting Actor (Gooding, won), Best Writing, Best Film Editing
Great line: “Show me the money!” – Tom Cruise
On DVD: Jerry Maguire Special Edition (Sony, 2002)

Mission: Impossible (Paramount, 1996)

David Koepp and Robert Towne wrote the screenplay and Brian De Palma directed. Tom Cruise plays Ethan Hunt, with Jon Voight (Jim Phelps), Emmanuelle Beart (Claire Phelps), Henry Czerny (Eugene Kittridge), Jean Reno (Franz Krieger), Ving Rhames (Luther Stickell), Kristin Scott Thomas (Sarah Davies) and Vanessa Redgrave (Max) also along for the wild ride.

Budgeted at a whopping million, Mission: Impossible – a loose adaptation of the classic 1966-73 CBS television series – was filmed in the United States, United Kingdom and Czech Republic. Watch closely, as Cruise’s Ethan Hunt accesses the Internet via “Crusenet.”

Cruise delivers a top-notch performance as an Impossible Missions Force agent trapped in a web of deceit. There are plenty of thrills here, with the lean, athletic Cruise infiltrating a CIA vault while precariously suspended by tiny cable wires. The movie is a high-tech spectacular, producing two sequels in 2000 and 2006.

Tom Cruise salary: million through gross participation
Box-office gross: 0.981 million (#3, 1996)
Great line: “My team is dead! They knew we were coming, man.” – Tom Cruise
On DVD: Mission: Impossible Special Collector’s Edition (Paramount, 2006)

Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible (1996)