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There were eight of us enjoying the Cunard Queen Mary 2’s 4D Presidents Weekend sailing to the Bahamas on 15-19 February . Here’s the list of favorite things:

photo credit: rrreynoldshome

1. Britannia Restaurant: is the main dining room where the majority of passengers enjoy their meals. This beautiful multi-level room offered great service, selection, and presentation. Plus, Cunard does a great job with the variety of offerings.

2. Cabin Stewards: Excellent, friendly service including tidying up clothes along with keeping the cabin and bathroom very clean.

Over one million people sailed from New York’s three ports (Manhattan, Brooklyn and Cape Liberty, Bayonne, NJ) in 2007, according to the New York City Economic Development Corporation, and that number is expected to increase in 2008.

photo credit: Lauren Murphy

Since 9/11 the number of ships and passengers increased to the point that additional berthing facilities were opened in Red Hook, Brooklyn and Cape Liberty (Bayonne), New Jersey. Today every major cruise line has several ships that home port in New York for extended seasons of voyages ranging from a one-day party cruise to a 100+-day circumnavigation of the globe.

Bodrum Gokova yacht cruises are a favorite of tourists who vacation in the resort town of Bodrum, in Turkey. This highly popular Mediterranean resort is situated on the Gulf of Gokova’s northern coast. Since all Bodrum yacht cruises leave from this marvelous city, there’s no need to choose between the two.

photo credit: bensonkua

The islands off Turkey’s coast are dotted all over the Gulf of Gokova, and a week will fly by as you try to explore all of them. The translucent water allows you to view the marine life beneath the water without difficulty. On Bodrum Gokova yacht cruises you can enjoy swimming, snorkeling, sightseeing, or just basking in the sun with your favorite drink.

Earlier in this blog I talked about how travelers should consider taking their kids with them when they go cruising.  In that article I discussed how most cruise ships have special accommodations for entertaining kids while their parents have their own fun.  Yet, why not consider going on a cruise where kids are the main focus?  You can if you decide to take your family on a Disney cruise.

Many people believe that Antarctica is a continent that cannot be visited by the general public.  This is not entirely true.  While most of the continent’s inhabitants are scientists and researchers, there are a small number of Antarctic cruises that allow anyone the opportunity to experience Antarctica’s wonder.

Most Antarctic cruises can accommodate 48 to 250 passengers.  Additionally, they are much more quaint than traditional cruises.  There isn’t much when it comes to shows, as most of the entertainment is had through bars or libraries.  Food is served in a restaurant-style dining hall at certain times.

Which is better… traveling on land or cruising? Well, having done both I would have to say that cruising is better. With land travel you have to pay separately for your lodging, transportation and food. Of these expenses food can add up, especially if you like eating at fancy restaurants. For this reason during our land trips we decided to eat very light for breakfast and lunch, while eating more lavishly at dinner.

Titanic-Nautical Resources and Cunard Cruises are planning a historic Titanic cruise in 2012. The ship that they intend on using is called “Queen Mary 2.” But besides that the goal is to try to recreate the positive experiences of the Titanic in hopes of remembering the men, women and even children that fought for their lives as the infamous ship sunk almost 100 years ago.

Some of the on-board activities will include: watching classic Titanic movies, listening to the stories of undersea Titanic explorers, gala dinners, custom balls and much more. As far as land excursions, patrons can visit Titanic Museum in Branson, Missouri. They will also get a chance to visit tourist attractions in Southampton, England.

If you find you’re unable to take extra time off from your job to go on a week-long cruise, consider weekend cruising.  With weekend cruises you leave Friday and come back Sunday or Monday.  So, you have a mini-vacation lasting 2 to 3 days. 

Weekend cruises can be really fun, despite how short they are.  You still get the same type of amenities as you would on a regular cruise, including restaurant dining, live shows, buffets, gambling, room service and even land excursions.  In fact, weekend cruises don’t differ in that arena.

If you’ve seen most of the commercials associated with Norwegian Cruise Lines, you’ve probably heard of the term ‘freestyle cruising.’  Yet, what exactly does it mean, and how can you determine whether or not it’s right for you?  Well, simply put freestyle cruising is designed to help you control when and how you eat and watch entertainment. 

For example, when you go on a freestyle cruise, you can eat at one of the restaurants any time you want.  On a traditional cruise, if you want to eat at a restaurant, you have to eat at designated times.  If you want to eat during off-hours, you have to go to a buffet or the pizzeria. 

Have you ever dreamed of having your office on a luxurious cruise ship?  Believe it or not you can… assuming you have specialized skills.  Some higher-level cruise line jobs include captain, onboard doctor, massage therapy, fitness instructor and much more.  A simple Google search of ‘cruise line jobs’ can yield a wealth of information relating to fields in which people can work on cruise ships.

There are also lower-income cruise line jobs, for individuals that don’t have much education or experience.  Some are not as stressful as others.  Examples of these types of jobs could be cashiers, casino operators or shampooers.  These jobs are more competitive, despite the pay.