Some people believe that cruises and kids don’t mix. They may think that a cruise is too boring for a child or that cruises are intended for more romantic, adult getaways. Well, while parents are entitled to have a private vacation every now and then, cruises can still be an excellent alternative when they are planning a more family-oriented vacation. And the notion that a cruise would be boring for a child is far from the case. This is because most cruise ships offer a wealth of activities specially geared for children and teenagers.

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A cruise excursion can be an exciting and interesting part of any cruise. You get to see the local sights and participate in enjoyable activities. However, people sometimes have trouble taking pleasure in the fun of the excursions because they have not prepared properly. Others have their trips ruined by careless actions while on shore. There are some things you can do to help your excursions run smoothly.

Gather What You Need

It is always irritating when you get off the ship and find that you have forgotten something important. You will do best if you think out what you will need for any given shore excursion. Sunscreen is almost always needed, no matter what the outing. Then, you will have to think about appropriate clothing for the activity.

Image by: hrtmnstrfr

Many people get out and suddenly remember that they have forgotten their cameras. You will want a video record of your trip. Bring your camera or camcorder and if it is appropriate, an underwater camera is a great thing to have. Also make sure you have whatever you need for your camera - film for a 35mm or batteries for a digital camera.

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Here’s a story worth your attention - when a teenage girl’s appendix burst aboard a Princess cruise last week, relief was sent within an hour of the ship sending out its distress call. 

In a show of fairly incredible circumstance (from lowering the medic onto the ship in a basket to getting her onto a medical facility on a nuclear tanker), the 14-year-old girl got the attention she needed in time.

A comfort to those of us who feel paranoid about getting ill onboard a ship, and a great story for the teenager, Laura Montero, to tell for years to come.

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Imagine gathering your favorite eleven people together, and taking a private tour of the Amazon, the Caribbean, or the Arctic in a 5-star expedition yacht. Now, you can do just that with the German-made Hanse Explorer.

Though pricey (the lowest quoted price is £1,999 per person sharing a twin cabin for 9 nights - around $4,000), the private voyages promise to be the height of exploration experience.

The cabins are state-of-the art, and come equipped with lots of electronic goodies, from flat screen televisions and satellite phones to rain shower systems for the luxury of the inhabitant.

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So, you want to know how much cruises cost and whether they’re worth the money.

Really, it all depends on how much of a bargain hunter you are. Cruise costs overall can vary by as much as 200%, but you have to remember that you always get what you pay for. Having a stateroom to yourself vs. sharing a cabin will cost more. Going to a remote destination at the height of tourist season will cost more. Cheap cruises aren’t always what they’re cracked up to be. But there are certainly ways to get great deals for those who know how to shop!

Fortunately, even if you don’t want to spend a lot of time trying to find the best deal, you’re not going to get ripped off or taken advantage of.

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From the great mountains of the Alps to the beaches of the French Riviera, and from the rolling fruit orchards of Normandy to the 1001 castles of the Dordogne there is always something new for the visitor to France to discover.

The most popular way to visit France has long been to stay in a gite - a self-catering holiday rental property. These offer many advantages, including the chance to stay in a typical French house in peaceful surroundings, and the freedom to enjoy the countryside at leisure, with no set meal times to follow.

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On November 23rd, at 5:24am the cruise liner MV Explorer hit ice, causing the haul to create a hole and take on water. There were 150 passengers aboard the MV Exporer and they all had to be evacuated from the ship. Luckily, the NordNorge, another cruise liner, swung by and picked up the passengers. None of the passengers aboard the MV Explorer were injured, but I’m assuming they know what it felt like to be on the Titanic. Brrrr….

Here’s an excerpt from THE INDEPENDENT about the collision:

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Stock up on vitamins before going on your next cruise - apparently the stomach flu that attacked 220 passengers on a recent Hawaiian cruise is one of the most common illnesses to attack cruisers.

Janice Okubo, the spokeswoman for the Hawaii Department of Health is reported to have said that, “Most of the time, people recover.” We assume she means that they recover onboard. We hope so, anyway.

Passengers aboard this particular ill-fated voyage were asked to remain in their rooms for 24 hours while the ship was sanitized, and were given $200 worth of on-ship credit for their inconvenience.

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I suppose this could be included with that classic debate about American tourism and adhering to foreign laws.  

 Apparently, in Grenada, an island sustained in large part by its tourist draw, it is illegal for same sex couples to display affection toward one another.  A law apparently never crossed until a recent gaggle of tourists offended local sensibilities by being gay and on vacation.

  I’d imagine there was some serious hand holding going on in the streets of Grenada.  Perhaps a kiss or two over a golden sunset, because hey, that’s what happens in the Caribbean.  And that’s fine, as long as you’re a heterosexual couple. 

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Coca Cola and Carnival Cruise Lines have teamed up to create an environment especially for teens aboard their “Fun Ships,” with Club 02 (think member’s club, not night club).

Club 02 focuses on cruisers between 15 and 17, and provides them with age appropriate onboard events (like a karaoke lounge and reality show-esque challenges), and off board excursions under a teen group leader where they can experience the ports of the trip with their own age group.

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