Enjoying your success with cruises to exotic locations
Among the many dreams of what we would do with the cash if we hit the jackpot on the national lottery, a lengthy sea voyage to tropical islands in the winter sun is high on many people’s lists. Caribbean cruises conjure up visions of turquoise seas and perfect sandy beaches. Life is led at a slower pace there and we can imagine ourselves kicking back and relaxing with a cocktail as the sun sets over the horizon. The chances of actually winning the lottery with a single ticket are of course very small. You are apparently more likely to be run over by a bus on your way to buy a ticket than you are to collect the main prize. Of course, someone still has to win it, unless there is a rollover, and that is why so many people still play every week. The experience of sailing on the largest ship on Royal Caribbean cruises is one that many would like to have and a win would certainly help. Shorter voyages are not that expensive these days though and you can have some great holidays without needing an endless supply of money and six months in which to travel the world. Fly across the Atlantic and join a ship in Florida, and you can tour the Caribbean for a few days and be back home by the end of the week. If you have a bit more time then a fourteen day trip with Fred Olsen cruises would be ideal.
Celebrity Solstice Blu Restaurant
"We had been on the ship 2 years ago but still managed to get lost many times as she is so big!!. It was our first time in Queens Grill and was a wonderful experience with great food and waiters to meet your every need." - Kirk, Hemel Hempstead on 13th Jun 2009 (Cunard Cruises)
Making it happen
Planning is half the fun of holidays. With one that involves travelling by sea, there are many things to think about. If you are still working then the first thing to think about will be when you can make time for your break. Then you can have a look at what sort of trips are on offer for that time of year and how long they last. The type of accommodation you want will also be a factor. Princess cruises, for example, have a ship with nine hundred balcony staterooms and a whole deck of mini-suites. If you are determined to experience the unhurried luxury of a round the world trip and you are relying on a lottery win to finance it then maybe you should look at online syndicates as an alternative, or additional chances to get lucky. One of the great advantages of joining a syndicate, apart from the greater chance of winning something, is that you do not have to remember to buy a ticket every week as it is all done for you. You could be enjoying one of the Celebrity cruises to Bermuda before you know it. As you do not have to physically buy the ticket yourself it also means that you can continue to play while you or on holiday or even after you have moved to another country. If you are out of the country a lot then the fact that results can be emailed to you automatically after the draw, will be a help.
Conversation at the balcony
"We sailed from Newcastle - The check in was very efficient, the liner was small but had all the ameneties of a much larger liner." - Adamson, Hull on 13th Jun 2009 (Thomson Cruises)
Out in the cold
Not everybody dreams of laying under a tropical sun and drinking rum punches though. Some would much prefer to explore the beautiful fjords of Scandinavia or the fantastic volcanic landscape and hot geysers of Iceland. Cunard cruises have some very good routes in the area, visiting Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway and many other countries in the Baltic area. You can take shore excursions to cities like Tallinn in Estonia and see the medieval walls and cobbled streets of the old town. Another great place to take in on the way is the winter palace at St. Petersburg or for a completely different vibe, how about the old fashioned pubs of Gothenburg in Sweden? Cruises from Southampton go to these ports, so it makes a convenient choice for people in the UK and is a memorable experience too. If you fancy venturing a bit further afield then maybe the wild landscape of Alaska or Canada would appeal to you. On land you can see glaciers up close and visit gold mines; at sea you can go whale spotting off the coast of Alaska. In Canada you can visit some of the vineyards in Nova Scotia and enjoy the fine wines produced there on a tour of the area. While you are in the area you must try the lobster, caught locally and cooked while fresh. NCL cruises are one of the good options for holidays in these areas. Remember to take warm clothes for these kinds of trips of course.
Costa Luminosa Stateroom
"Superb multi choice, 5 courses every meal is bound to take its toll over 2 weeks and the food is again unbelievable and very special,as is the service." - Barton, North Chailey on 13th Jun 2009 (P&O Cruises)
Island hopping
Sample the delights of many different places in one short voyage by going on an island hopping holiday. The Caribbean is a popular choice for this type of break, there are also the Canary Islands, off the coast of North Africa to consider as well. The Balearic Islands are another option, and are enjoyed by many people every year. It is a chance to taste a life of luxury and relaxation and see if it really would be for you if you came up with the winning numbers for next week’s draw. While you are there you will be able to check your numbers easily as all modern ships on the main lines like P&O cruises have an internet café at the least, with some providing wireless access and even laptop rental if you do not want to bring your own. Typical trips in the Caribbean area visit such places as St. Lucia, St. Maarten and The Bahamas as well as over to the coast of Colombia on some routes. You can combine this type of break with a theme such as one revolving around food. There are onboard tastings, cooking courses and discussions on offer for these type of trips. If you have a look around on the internet you can see which companies are offering what themes at the moment. There are more specific themes that involve studying the stars and astrology available on MSC cruises and other companies have their own special offerings.
Crew of Ventura cruise ship
"Our steward was very pleasant and helpfull, in fact we didnt come across anyone who wasnt helpfull and pleasant." - Broome, Blackborn on 13th Jun 2009 (Cunard Cruises)
