Which cruise line offers the best choices for kids

Most family members that choose a cruise as their source of a vacation package, tend to lean toward either a Disney cruise or a booking on the carnival cruise line. These two vessels are known for their partiality towards young children and the commitment to see that they have an enjoyable time throughout the entire cruise. While cruises seem to attract adults more than children, if only because of the great amount of festivities that present themselves, both Disney and Carnival promise to see the children through what could otherwise be a boring trip, as their parents enjoy many fun filled hours. Before you book a cruise, you might want to make sure that the cruise that you book is concerned about the people that plan to travel with them, not to mention the kids and what they really want.

What do you consider as important in air travel

After September 11th, (ten years ago) the airline industry tried several different avenues to increase traffic and help offset what would eventually be a disastrous repercussion of a financial nature. Cheap air travel was being introduced in an effort to encourage travelers to return to the friendly skies. Air travel tickets were not being purchased as often as they were before the disaster and even cheap air travel tickets did not seem to make a whole lot of difference. One of the best opportunities to keep your cost down, is to obtain last minute air travel deals, however, that never takes away from the fear of flying that so many have managed to get embedded in their minds. With the entertainment aspect of travel, some have maintained that they would prefer to have the airline industry concentrate on issues that are important, like security, although they are not always willing to experience the inconvenience that comes along with it.

A Norwegian cruise liner could be named by you

Never has it been said that the cruise line industry was without some imagination. Every single cruise ship I ever boarded was chocked full of entertainment, leaving nothing but pure excitement an dun filled activities. The Norwegian cruise lines came out with a contest for passengers to name a few of the upcoming vessels and as it stands, if you enjoy Norwegian cruising, you could be introduced to a Norwegian cruise liner with a name you picked, in the very near future. Some of the names submitted were Norwegian Journey, Getaway, Escape, Breakaway and Bliss. Look for them in the coming months. I am certain that the plan for these ships are yet to be determined, but I will say that they appear to be quite fitting. It could be a great career opportunity for someone who wants to make it that way.

When its your first time cruising

I never get tired of talking about cruising, especially since it is such a great way to travel. If it is you never sailed on the high seas, you might consider asking someone, what is the best cruise line for your first time. Depending on who you ask, the best cruise will differ, simply because we all differ in our tastes and the things that we enjoy doing to pass the time. The best cruise line, however, will usually have the best deals while they adjust for your flexibility. If you are looking for the best cruises deals, this is where you will need to do the work, because most of these options are tied to you being able to work on their schedule. You will need to attack your vacation as though it will be the last one and you are in the army, in other words be prepared to rise early and expect to have many long days, because sleeping all day is just not an option.

Are gas prices on the rise again

As the summer season turns into fall, we all hope that gas prices will do the same. There is no legitimate reason why high gas prices should still be with us, especially since the events in the middle east are changing for the better. The problem is that when the gas price goes up, so does everything else, a problem that we are probably not willing to accept at this time. With gas prices rising almost every other day, it is difficult to adjust your budget and cost of living allowances. On the other hand, US gas prices may well be in line with much of the rest of the world, with the US numbers being more favorable than many others. With gas prices high in the United states, we can look for less travel on the nations roads, coupled with higher prices across the board. With the stress of everyday living, along with the additional strain of motherhood, one can only wonder when it will begin to fall apart.

When Paradise is on your mind

The many islands of the Bahamas, has offered a host of opportunities to satisfy its visitors on an annual basis. Cruise ships grace its ports on a daily basis, not to mention adventurous sightseers who make the trip by their own steam. I have been to the Bahamas on a variety of occasions, and while my trips were primarily limited to a few hours at a time, due to the fact that my mode of transportation was on-board a cruise ship, I did manage to spend a few days in Freeport on one of those occasions.  For anyone who has seen the make believe version of cruising on the television show known as the love boat, the real life version of the actual cruise is unmatched by any.

When things go wrong, where do we turn

The world that we live in can be a very dangerous one for any of us, regardless of where we happen to call home. In my travels aboard a cruise ship, I have visited several countries, but there was always one thing that I specifically remembered and that was the warnings that we received. Travel in a group and don't go off the beaten path. Recently a man with a toy gun was gunned down, simply because the plastic toy replica that he had looked like the real thing, which might make sense if the red plastic extension at the front of it had been intentionally removed. The reality of it all is that North Miami police must now live with the fact that they gunned down an innocent man due to a misconception. Now that Neil Diamond has turned seventy, he is still looking for love, rather than playing the field, he has decided to tie the knot for the third time.

When the love of flying is replaced by fear

I remember the very first aircraft that I boarded and the experience in general. I was a young adult and had been looking forward to getting the feel of soaring high in the clouds as I went from one airport to another. The way I looked at it, the best part of the vacation was going to be the flight itself. The experience was short lived because the flight took all of twenty minutes, with half of that being executed in the taking off and landing. These days, while the flight could be short, the security would likely extend much longer. My love for flying has drastically changed, and even though I still enjoy the thrill of the flight, the fact that so many people have died because of the action of a few terrorists, has changed the way I look at air travel forever.

Best plans for that up and coming vacation

Whether its just you and your significant other, or a bunch of friends and family, a cruise can have a special effect on the individuals who choose to make it their chosen vacation. Through the years I have heard of many theme cruises, some religious, others designed to help make money, sometimes considered as cruising for a cause. Personally, my favorite form of cruising is when many other friends and family are together on the same holiday. There is nothing better than organizing a family reunion, complete with parents, where the entire family, (including cousins) are able to enjoy each others company, for a seven day cruise to the Caribbean. Now if only we could agree on an itinerary where everyone is happy.

Are we any safer today

As we approach, yet another anniversary of that fateful day in September 2001, most of us can't help but observe just how much we have changed since then. What used to be a simple task to board a flight, has now become a major exercise, especially for international travelers. The question is this, have we managed to address the security issues and how safe does today's traveler feel every time they get on to an aircraft? I don't care who you are, if you have travel plans, you are going to be seriously affected. Should we feel safer after all these security changes, I don't know. The President of the United States will not be concerned  about such matters when he heads off to vacation, however, because we all know what sort of security he travels around with.

When is it smart to purchase travel insurance

I have never been one to consider insurance as anything more than a waste of time and money, until the time I had to cancel my travel plans due to a change in lifestyle. If you are like I was, there is a better than average chance that when you are offered the insurance for the travel package, or that piece of equipment, you will refuse it. If you have money to blow, that is probably not a major concern, after all, easy come easy go. On the other hand, not everyone can afford to lose their annual vacation allocation, especially if they saved awhile for it. The bottom line is this, regardless of where you plan to travel this year, whether your advanced knowledge on possible outcomes tells you that it may not happen, just keep in mind that technology can change the way we see things, just take a closer look at China and you will have a better idea of what I am talking about.

How to plan a trip to South America

Not quite the southern most tip of South America, after you have left Brazil and approached Argentina, you will come across Buenos Aires. Many options to be entertained await you as you prepare to be wowed, whether its Guyana for its reasonably priced food and excellent live music, or La Trastienda with the music is in such high demand that it caters for at least 1000 party goers on the main floor. Step to Teatro de la Ribera, an early seventies theater that can hold at least 600 guests, which was a lot in those days. Don't forget to make room for a visit to the Cumaná, a restaurant that boasts of authentic South American dishes. When planning your trip to this part of the world, remember to choose the safe  way to travel. Not because an airline is on the schedule to fly you there, should you be quick to book with them, always check their safety record first.

How to get the most out of Barbados

There are many ways to get to this beautiful paradise island, whether you are one of over 450,000 passengers that arrive by cruise ship each year, or you arrive through Grantley Adams International airport, on American Airlines, Air Canada or Caribbean Airlines, get ready for a fun time for all. If you arrive on a cruise liner, your stay will be restricted from a few hours to a day, so if you are interested in seeing what the country really has to offer, like the Barbados Wildlife Reserve, or Tyrol Cot Heritage Village, you may wish to forgo the cruise ship and fly in for at least a week. Although some of the Caribbean islands may be prone to socialist leadership, please be assured that this little slice of heaven will never be ready for such a political outcome.

Helping to follow the rule or morality

How long do you suppose it will be before people wake up and decide that the distaste in their mouth is due to their unwillingness to fight for what they believe in? Everything we do on this earth has a reason behind it and you don't have to be religious to understand that. There are laws that we must follow, especially the ones that ensure that our activities remain the same as we should be following. If there are no laws to govern our lifestyle, how are we expected to know what is right and what is wrong. Allowing a select group of people to make an excuse to have these laws removed from sight, is just another step towards anarchy.

Learning the proper way to communicate

I am not sure if it is because of the people we hang out with or because of our being exposed to it as kids, but one thing is for certain, profanity has absolutely nothing to do with the English language. If you really think about it, the only thing that foul language encourages is a poor mentality and one that can be cheered on by an atheist. In fact individuals who choose vulgarity as a method of communication are merely playing to an audience that has no ability to express themselves in any other way. For those who think that it is necessary to spew foul language at every turn, I must say that your grasp on the English language is useless.

Which cruise line should you choose

One of my very first seven day cruises was on the Norwegian cruise lines, the SS Norway. This was an antique vessel if there ever was one and reminded most passengers of the older stately ships like the Queen Mary and others from her era. The experience offered a mixed bag, especially since I had already been on one of the Newer Carnival ships before, the Ecstasy. The trip took us to the Caribbean from Miami and included the US Virgin islands and St. martin. There was a great deal of trust for everyone on board, and other than the creaking of the ship and having to deal with the tenders, it was a great experience all around.

Since that time, Norwegian cruise lines has grown in leaps and bounds and although I have stuck primarily with the carnival fleet, I am very impressed with the changes that NCL has made throughout the years.  One of the more popular vessels is obviously the Norwegian Jade, especially since it is extremely forthcoming and sails across the pond on the European continent. With every new cruise ship built, they seem to be getting bigger and better, with interiors that appear like huge shopping malls and itineraries that are restricted only by size and depth. Cabins are no longer small and cramped, with many that can be easily compared to the average hotel room. Meals are much more enjoyable, with more options than ever before, only to take second place to the safety and comfort of all the passengers.

All good things must come to an end

Unless you have a big backing, (financially) there is a better than average chance that you will not survive in business today. It is sad really when you look around you, as everyone wants bigger and better accommodations, rather than the quaint mom and pop operations. While it may be okay to accept the personal family touch, most people are looking for great deals that give them the best of all worlds in one scoop. Big corporations happen to have greater buying power and that gives them the option of keeping their costs down and their customers coming back for more. The West family have canceled many of their upcoming voyages due to high operating costs and low attendance as they prepare to make their final voyage in the coming months. 


What used to be a great way to reach destinations that were only accessible by much smaller cruise ships, will soon be a thing of the past.  Considered as the mom and pop operation of the seas, the Spirit of Endeavor will soon be no more. Even with the bare necessities, the Spirit of Endeavor will be unable to remain afloat for those passengers who continue to support it with each voyage, and without new money making its way in for repairs and upkeep, it will be going the way of most other small time operations that are pushed to the side. It is a shame really, because this family operated cruise line has been in existence for over 50 years.