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.

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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For vacationers that don’t like to plan their trips in advance, the last minute cruise might be the answer.  What is a last minute cruise?  It is a type of cruise that is scheduled less than a month in advance.  And, despite what many may believe, the last minute cruise can actually offer a wealth of discounts.  This is because they tend to reflect the vacation packages that cruise liners are struggling to sell.

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A small chink was made in the tension between China and Taiwan on Monday when the ban on Chinese entering the country via sea was lifted for 700 Chinese cruisers aboard the Rhapsody of the Seas.

 Previously, Chinese tourists could enter Taiwan only by plane, and at a limit of 1,000 maximum at any given time.

Could this small concession for Chinese pleasure-seekers be the beginning of a better relationship between China and Taiwan? 

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Cruise ship staterooms are where you stay during the time you are on a cruise.  They come in several different categories.  The cheapest and most basic cruise ship stateroom is known as an inside cabin.  They are small, have no windows but can be quieter than other staterooms, since they are located in the interior of the ship.  If you are low on money and plan on not spending much time in your stateroom, inside cabins are the way to go.

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When most people prepare for their cruise trip, they have to place their pets in a kennel. This is because the majority of commercial cruise ships won’t allow pets, for two reasons. The first is due to health concerns, since it can be difficult getting an animal to relieve itself on a cruise ship in a sanitary manner. The second is in regards to the legalities that arise in allowing animals to enter the ports at which a cruise ship docks.

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Being in the military can earn you a lot of perks, but few are aware that some cruise lines are offering free cruises for military personnel. Discovery Cruise Line is an example. Since 2003 Discovery Cruise Line has given hundreds of free cruises for military personnel. The only requirement is that the person must have served in Iraq or Afghanistan during the year in which the free cruise is being offered.

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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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