Therefore, you are thinking about taking a cruise. Why not cruise vacation is one of the most affordable and hassle free. Unpack your things once and its center is a place to another. It is true that cruise ships began as a vacation for the rich elite retired, but that's not the case anymore. Yes, there are ships and itineraries that still cater to "mature crowds", but there are cruises that focus on individuals, couples and families. Almost whatever your desire, you can find a cruise that fits your needs. But where can you go on a cruise? I think the better question is where you can not go on a cruise. There are cruises that leave from most cities by the sea such as New York, Boston, Baltimore, Miami, Los Angeles, Seattle and even Galveston, Texas. You do not have to fly to Miami or Florida to take a cruise. You can only drive to the nearest port Tues Destinations have changed over the years. Everyone knows that you can browse through the Caribbean, but did you know that you can cruise to Bermuda, Hawaii, Mexican Riviera, Alaska and even the Mississippi River. Yes, there are some wonderful wheel cruise to the central U.S. in Mississippi. With all the choices of routes available, there is no reason to navigate these days. Did you know that the largest cruise ship afloat weighs 225,282 gross tons. To give you an idea, which is five times larger than the Titanic or the same fully loaded Boeing 400 and 747-400. This would be new Royal Caribbean Oasis of the seas. Cruise ships these days are basically floating, all-inclusive stations. Now they have Broadway-style shows, full water parks, resort-style spa, fully equipped training facilities, multiple dining options, and even ice skating and bowling. Yes, bowling! Now, the size is not everything, but the larger the ship on the options. Now, I suspect you already knew most of these things. If you found this article, then you are probably looking for information on the cruise line that best suits your family and hopefully some tricks to find discount. With over 20 cruises under my belt, I've learned a trick or two when it comes to finding the best deals. So, lets get on with it and give you the products you're looking for, right? How to Choose the Cruise Line With all the different cruise lines that is difficult to know what is best for you and your family. There are dozens of cruise lines, but we have a profile of the most popular here. Carnival Cruise Lines Carnival is one of the largest cruise lines and popular. They have 22 cruise ships with a new, Carnival Magic, taking to sea in 2011. Carnival does have the "Fun Ships." They cater to a younger family oriented, with college-age children during the summer and spring. Carnival offers some of the best prices on any cruise line offers for a number of output ports. Celebrity Cruise Lines Celebrity is one of our favorite cruise lines. It's a bit more elegant. It remains the family, but also cater for couples and mature group. You will find that food and service are a notch higher than most cruise lines. Eleven cruise ships operating worldwide. Royal Caribbean Cruises Royal Caribbean is probably our favorite cruise line. They are a blend of the finest vessels, but also offer a range of activities and dining experiences. They control almost a quarter of the world cruise market and currently operate 21 ships as the Oasis of the Seas, currently the largest cruise ship afloat. They are building a sister ship called Oasis of the Seas Allure of it is due to the sea in December 2010. Disney Cruise Line Cruise ships are an extension of Disney theme parks of Disney World. Disney caters to families with a focus on children of all ages. The ships have children's programs that keep the little ones entertained, allowing parents to get away for a while. Operate two cruise ships, the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder. They have a new boat, the dream of Disney, which is expected in 2012. Norwegian Cruise Line also known as Norway, NCL is also one of our favorite cruise line that caters to almost all the crowds. Ships operating in Norwegian Epic tencruise huge now afloat and cruising! NCL Freestyle Cruising is advertised as, allowing you to choose how to eat. Although alternative dining is available in many other cruise lines, NCL was among the first to offer free seats and multiple dining options. Some have a cover charge. Princess Cruise lines Princess is currently owned by Carnival Corporation, but it is a different experience. Like celebrities, they are a little smarter and serve families and couples. We enjoyed our Princess cruise and would rate high among cruise lines. Operate 17 cruise ships departing from ports around the world. You may remember the princess, who was the vessel used for the TV series Love Boat. Crystal Cruise Lines Crystal is a line of high-end luxury caters to a more mature audience. Operate two medium-sized vessels called Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity traveling the world to offer several different routes. Cruise Tips / Secrets Here are some tips and secrets that have been acquired over the years of cruising. Keep in mind when booking your cruise: Resident Discounts - Many cruise lines offer resident rates for cruises departing in your state. These rates may be important, but you may need to ask to get them. Room Reservation guaranteed - When booking your travel, cruise lines sometimes offer what is called "guaranteed rooms." Basically this means, at least you are guaranteed a room upgrade, but are willing to wait for your cabin assignment. In many cases, this may mean that you will receive a free upgrade. We have had great success getting improvements. Cruise cabins - You will find that a lot of cruise cabins are exactly the same, with the only difference that the cover they are doing and if you're in or out. With the exception of the balcony suites, the rooms were typically have a small window. My family has never seen the value in paying a small window where you can always venture to the upper deck and see the landscape. Do not believe in paying to be on a higher deck. There is no special advantage between the covers, so consider booking rooms at the lowest cost available. In addition, you are not in your room much. Check Web Site Cruise line - Most cruise lines have a dedicated website that gives current special offers or hot. These are often the cruise ships are having a tough sell. Do not always easy to find these deals, but look at their work sites as special offers or hot. See our reference site for links. Finally, do not forget your passport - Like most cruise ships in ports outside the U.S., please make sure you have a passport. Today, this even includes Mexico, the Caribbean and Canada. The process can take up to six weeks, less if you pay for speed. We hope this information helps you in planning your cruise. Make sure you have a great time.
