Posts Tagged ‘Cruises’

Vietnam Cruises – Explore Bhaya Cruises in Halong Bay

Discover the breathtaking scenery of Vietnamâ??s premier destination aboard a cruise vessel which exudes charm and luxury! The Bhaya is a new boat with an ancient history. A true traveler of his time, the Vietnamese Emperor Khai Dinh (1885-1925) defied the custom of taking thousands of courtiers on a royal trip, and took just twelve of his most trusted followers on a very exceptional trip to Halong Bay.

- 2 days and 1 night (165 USD per person)

Unbeated Rates for Bhaya Cruises in Halong Bay – 1 Night

- 3 days and 2 nights (300 USD per person)

Luxury Cruising on the Bhaya Cruises in Halong Bay – 2 Nights

His ship was one of the best of the wonderful wooden junks that sailed the waters of Halong. Inspired by the romantic landscape of the limestone karst islands rising in the middle of the waters, Khai Dinh commissioned a poem in praised of the bayâ??s beauty to be carved on the cliff of Dau Go Cave. The tale of the kingâ??s trip and the hardy ship he had chosen as his water home circulated among the ship builders of Halong.  Each succeeding generation of shipbuilders dreamed of duplicating Khai Dinhâ??s wonderful boat, but nearly 100 years passed before an 80-year-old master shipbuilder, Nguyen Van Hoa, turned the dream into reality. Master Hoa was born into a highly respected family of ship builders in Quang Ninh Province. From early childhood, his father had filled his mind with stories of this magical kingly junk that no one could replicate. At the same time, under the expert tutelage of his father, Hoa developed into one of the most gifted ship designers of his generation. Night after sleepless night, he studied ancient drawings and scripts describing Vietnamese wooden junks. During the day he devised blueprints for all types of junks that could sail across all sorts of ocean waters.

Still, Hoaâ??s life seemed incomplete. He was always searching for a dream junk â?? the boat that would set his work apart from those of the other shipbuilders of his time. One day, among the thousands of ancient sketches and drawings, he discovered a fragment of the lost drawing of Khai Dinhâ??s matchless junk. Working slowly and carefully, he managed to restore the drawing to its original state. At last, the incomparable boat that had transported Khai Dinh and his courtiers lived again on paper. Now, all that was left was to find the support to build the vessel and, once again, bring the ship to life in reality.

In January of 2005, a chance meeting took place in Halong among Antoine Bertrand, a gifted young French architect from Montpellier, his colleague, Anne Drousie, who wanted to build a luxury boat in the style of the ancient Vietnamese junks, and Master Hoa. At last, more than 125 years after Khai Dinh had set sail, all of the ingredients were in place to finally recreate this magnificent boat.

Fiercely determined, French architects and Vietnamese master shipbuilders toiled for two long years in the heat of the shipyard. Finally, in July of 2007, the Bhaya was launched â?? a perfect blend of the experience and talent of the ancient master and the youthful creativity of the Frenchman and his friend.

The embodiment of an ancient Halong dream, the Bhaya is a flawless combination of traditional eastern delicacy and western luxury and comfort. Sailing in the midst of the wonder and natural beauty that distinguishes Halong Bay, the Bhaya will play a considerable role in the embellishment and protection of this glorious World Heritage Site!

Fully equipped with kayaking equipments and professional service, Bhaya Spirit will be sure to impress. Enjoy 360 degree views of the Halong Bay from foredeck, swim into emerald waters, relax in the sun or participate in a kayaking adventure into hidden lagoons and caves. Experience all that this magnificent Bay has to offer.

2 Accommodation Decks
1 Lounge Deck for Dining and Bar
1 Sundeck
16 Deluxe Cabins
2 Bhaya Suites
2 Royal Suites
1 Massage and Spa Area
1 Boutique Library

Other Amenities

First Aid Kits
Kayaking

Luggage Storages
Emergency Tender boat
Conference and Meeting Equipment
Safety box at the reception
IDD at the reception
24/7 Security

Meetings on Bhaya

There is no better way to avoid interruptions during crucial meetings than holding them aboard one of the luxury Bhaya cruise vessels. The Bhaya dining area is quickly and easily transformed into a board room-environment equipped with comprehensive meeting facilities and space for up to 40 people. Offering a relaxed atmosphere for business and pleasure, Bhaya is perfect for formal or informal gatherings of importance.

Incentives on Bhaya

One of the most worthwhile ways of recognizing your most outstanding staff or clients is an all-inclusive incentive cruise with Bhaya. A wide range of corporate incentive packages and cruise itineraries are available. Daily itineraries can be structured around meetings and team-building exercises, together with plenty of free time for excursions, fun activities and relaxation.

Events on Bhaya

A voyage onboard a Bhaya Cruise vessel creates a memorable occasion like no other. Whether an intimate birthday, a romantic wedding anniversary or an impressive company retreat, this is a unique way to celebrate in style. Bhaya Cruisesâ?? event management team can arrange it all. From a sparkling gala dinner in one of the most stunning caves in Halong Bay to formal dinners or dinner parties â?? all can be catered to ensure a celebration to remember.

Charter Cruise

What could be more privileged than a luxury private charter cruise to explore the legendary Halong Bay. Enjoy the freedom to choose your own private cruise destinations and itineraries. Privacy ensures you can stretch your imagination with onboard activities tailored and themed to suite your own wishes.

Bali Cruises (nusa Lembongan)

Nusa Lembongan is an small Island in south east coast of Bali. The island is popular with surfers for the 3 breaks (Playgrounds, Shipwrecks and Lacerations), day cruise people and overnight tourists. Offering magical white sand beaches with clear blue waters, fish saturated coral reefs and superb views across the ocean of Mount Agung on Bali. This is the watersports capital with great snorkelling and diving, fantastic surfbreaks, topsport for fishing and nature at it’s best.

Nusa Lembongan has several thousand locals, engaged in seaweed farming activities as well as serving tourist needs. Similarities to the Bukit Peninsula create a quiet environment, ideal for relaxation.

Bali Sea Safari Cruises gave package to Lembongan Island by Phinisi Cruises. Here, you enjoy until late afternoon a range of water activities like snorkeling, fishing, diving and we also offer a facultative land tour to seaweeds farming and an underground historical house on the nearby island.

Detail Activity

Transferred from your hotel and embarkation to Sea Safari in Benoa Harbour. Departure at 08.00. Welcome drink will be offered. You are free to use the accomodation for resting.

After cruising through the Badung Strait for more than three hours, you then arrive in Nusa Penida, a small-sized, neighbouring island of Bali that is known for its amazing underwater world.

Here, you enjoy until late afternoon a range of water activities like snorkeling, fishingm, diving and we also offer a facultative land tour to seaweeds farming and an underground historical house on the nearby the island.

Lunch and Dinner will be served onboard. Tea time will also be served onboard in between the activities. At evening, we set off a relaxing trip back to Benoa Harbour. Journey with Sea Safari Cruises has ended but memory lives on.

You will then be transferred to next destination!

If you need other destinations or charter cruise, you can contact sea safari cruises at www.seasafaricruises.com

Cruise South America With Costa Cruises

An adventurous cruise through South America will take in a huge array of wildlife, you could see many natural wonders and some spectacular scenery, and even lost cities along the way. Rich with beauty and atmosphere, a South American cruise truly is a unique experience.

For travellers who are in search of breath taking mountain views, vast tropical rainforests and natural, rugged beauty a South American cruise really is it. The west coast of Chile with deep fjords and icy glaciers is something to behold. In contrast you could experience the tropical atmosphere of a mangrove river in Costa Rica or explore a tranquil fishing village in Mexico. This huge continent covers many thousands of miles and has equatorial tropics and sub Antarctic regions. There are fourteen countries and territories that make up the continent and that means some wonderfully diverse cultures as well as many interesting animals to be seen, from Whales to Penguins and Sea Lions as well as many tropical birds.

This is adventure cruising, and as well as the main cruise itself, you will probably want to take excursions away from your ship in order to truly experience this region. Boat up the Amazon to see the jungle surround you and a wonderful array of wildlife and birds that just can’t be seen anywhere else. Take an excursion to see OIinda, a wonderful Portuguese hilltop town which is now a UNESCO world heritage site. Or sightsee in the exotic and cosmopolitan Rio de Janeiro. You might even take in Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands on your route and experience a little slice of Britain out in the South Atlantic.

Travel round the Cape Horn at the southernmost tip of the southernmost continent, and visit Patagonia, a vast landscape of deserts and mountains that stretch between Chile and Argentina which in it’s gentlest parts looks something like the wildest areas of Scotland, here you can go penguin spotting and visit the national glacier parks, and possibly even see a killer whale. There are so many places to visit in this area that no cruise can take them all in, but whichever route you choose you are bound to experience some wonderful sights, and if visiting Antarctica appeals to you, it is possible to take a day cruise out there from some main cruises, but these can be expensive at around £1,500 per person for this day event. It is however a once in a lifetime experience.

In between visits to exotic places, there is of course the wonder of the South Atlantic ocean to see. From your ship at night you will be able to view the stars over the water in this vast unspoilt area, and there are many aquatic creatures to look out for along the way in the daytime such as the South American sea lion which can be found on the Peruvian, Uruguayan, Argentine and Chilean coasts. So, with fine dining aboard ship and adventurous trips inland to be taken, as well as incredible wildlife and astounding landscapes and seascapes to be seen, most people enjoy cruising this area which is like no other anywhere on the globe.

What You Can Expect From Alaskan Cruises

Thousands of miners left Seattle to pain for gold and fortune in Alaska during the 1890s. Today, more than 835,000 passengers are expected to pass through Seattle on their way to Alaska on Alaskan cruises. Most come for the quiet, untainted scenery or the rare wildlife sightings.

Some visit to learn about the American Eskimo, to take an Alaskan husky dogsled excursion or to feast on Alaskan king crab. With so many quaint port towns and over fifteen cruise lines heading to the glacial waters this season, why not make Alaska your next vacation destination?

“People go to Alaska to see wildlife for a reason, but you see it in many ways and in many circumstances,” said Erik Elvejord, spokesman for Holland America Line. “Don’t expect a lineup of bears when you hit the pier, or pods of whales everywhere the ship goes.” Seeing wildlife in Alaska while on a cruise is all about careful planning, Alaskans say.

While animals won’t be flocking toward the ship, you can visit one of the port stop towns for guaranteed sightings. Carnival Cruise Lines recommends the Sea Otter Quest in Sitka, for example, because there’s a 100% guarantee you’ll see these playful creatures. Holland America recommends the Whale Watching and Wildlife Quest in Auke Bay because humpback and orca feeding grounds are located right amid the Alaskan cruise route.

Bears can be a little more hit-or-miss, wildlife experts say. You can take a $100 “Bear Search” at 7am in Icy Strait Point, although there’s no guarantee you’ll spot one. Or you can take a $300 – $1,600 fly-in adventure to Pack Creek on Admiralty Island, Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park or the McNeil River State Game Sanctuary, where bears reliably come to feed on salmon.

This summer, you can find some great deals on Alaskan cruises if you know where to look! Since so many people flood Europe during the summer, you can find great savings. For instance, Holland America Line offers 7-night premium cruises (with stops in Juneau, the Hubbard Glacier, Sitka, Ketchikan and Victoria), with prices starting at $699, down from $1,629! Summer is actually a great time to visit Alaska because the bears are out catching spawning salmon, there are many summer festivals, the flowers are in bloom, the days are longer and the weather’s mild.

If you’re looking to book Alaskan cruises, then you can choose a mega-ship like Holland America, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises or Royal Caribbean. Or you may want a mid-size vessel like Regent Seven-Seas Cruises or Silversea Cruises. Smaller vessels include American Safari Cruises (36 passengers), Cruise West (120), Discovery Voyages (20), Majestic America (220), Maple Leaf Adventures, Lindblad Expeditions or The Boat Company.

How much are the boat cruises in the Thousand Islands, New York?

We would like to take a trip to the Thousand Islands and need to know the cost of the boat rides through the islands.

New York Cruises: Tips on Scoring the Best Cruise Deals

Copyright (c) 2008 Anne Campbell

A wealthy friend decided to take a one-month vacation with Seabourn Cruises and knew the ship, itinerary, departure date and stateroom she wanted. She decided to conduct an experiment in cruise bargain hunting by calling three travel agents and, after relaying the specifics of her desired voyage, advised each agent that whoever gave her the best price would get her business. She saved thousands of dollars.

The travel agent who won her business did it by rebating. If there is one dirty word in the cruise industry it’s rebating, which means an agent kicks back part of his or her commission (generally 15% of the cruise fare) to pass along a lower fare.

After 15 years of writing about the cruise industry I still don’t see why rebating is bad – don’t real estate agents and car salesmen do the same thing? Isn’t this just basic competition? Still, several cruise lines won’t let any travel agent rebate cruise fares, including Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Sea Cruises and, to a large part, Norwegian Cruise Line.

The remaining cruise lines do allow rebating, but won’t permit travel agents to advertise or promote a lower price to the public. You have to ask.

This means that if your sights are set on a Princess, Holland America, Cunard, Oceania, Carnival and Seabourn cruise, it’s worth your time to ask travel agents if he/she can come up with a lower price than the one you’re first quoted.

Of course your chances are better in some cruising regions. Right now, sales of Caribbean, Mexico and South America are soft. Hence, here you stand a better chance of getting a lower price than on Alaska and Greek Island cruises, which are selling much better this year.

It’s all about supply and demand. And timing. For example, traditionally suites and balcony cabins sell out first. But now that a bad economy is upon us and there’s overcapacity in the Caribbean and Mexico you still may get a better deal on the highest-priced categories. So ask. The only thing a travel agent can say is “sorry, this is the price.”

WHEN NOT TO SHOP AROUND: When you have a wonderful travel agent you trust implicitly, who has steered you towards good deals in the past. To save $100 or so isn’t worth it.

One caveat. Travel agents can only rebate the price of a cruise. There are fixed costs, like port charges, taxes, fuel surcharges and airfare that are never negotiable.

Enjoy Vacation Or Holiday Cruises On The World’s Largest Hotel Resort Cruise Ship

Vacations and holidays should be exciting, fun, and memorable travel experiences.  So why not enjoy your next vacation or holiday on board Royal Caribbean Cruise Lineâ??s Oasis Of The Seas, the worldâ??s most modern, super-sized resort hotel cruise ship, and cruise to the enticing warm waters and white sandy beaches of the beautiful, sun-drenched, Caribbean Islands? 

 

This majestic, colossal cruise ship is brilliantly laid out to maximize every passengerâ??s enjoyment and cruising experience.  It has 16 decks and 2,700 staterooms that range in size from inside staterooms of approximately 150 square feet to the Royal Loft Suites that are over 1,500 square feet with large balconies of about 800 square feet.  Royal Caribbean cruises leads all other cruise lines in the creation of this state-of-the-art ship that can comfortably accommodate well over 5,000 passengers.

 

The Oasis Of The Seas is a virtual miniature city with several â??neighborhoodsâ? running along the center of her outside deck with cleverly situated balconied staterooms or cabins overlooking the bustling activities of the passengers below. 

 

These seven neighborhoods, or themed zones are, in alphabetical order, Boardwalk, Central Park, Entertainment Place, Pool and Sports Zone, Royal Promenade, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, and Youth Zone.

 

Here is a brief rundown of what you will find in each of these seven neighborhoods.

 

To start with, the Royal Promenade, is where cruise passengers board the ship.  It is a virtual mall-at-sea and has a variety of retail shops, cafes, and bars.

 

Stroll along the Boardwalk that features a beautiful handcrafted carousel and experience the atmosphere of Coney Island.  At the end of  the Boardwalk, at the stern of this amazing  cruise ship, you will find a huge swimming pool where throughout the day passengers can swim, relax on deckchairs, sunbathe, or even take scuba diving lessons.  By night the pool is magically transformed into the AquaTheater which features a spectacular water show where numerous nozzles spout pressurized water high above the pool.  These turbocharged towering jets of water are synchronized with a music and light display. 

 

To top it all off, an innovative high-wire Zip Line stretches across the Boardwalk.  Passengers that book strategically located state rooms or who are strolling in this area can watch their thrill-seeking, daredevil fellow passengers soar along this exciting high wire.

 

Central Park is full of fabulous flowers, lush shrubbery, and trees.  This glorious greenery is maintained by gardeners who rotate the numerous flowers and plants to reflect the appropriate season.  In this large neighborhood park you will find a number of upscale and casual themed restaurants and bars for you to unwind and enjoy deliciously prepared food and alcoholic beverages.  

 

The Entertainment Place features the thousand-plus seat Opal Theater, a large dance disco ballroom, a nightclub, a jazz lounge, a comedy club, and of course the worldâ??s largest cruise ship casino.

 

The grand Vitality Spa and Fitness Center is the largest spa on the seven seas.  It will appeal to all passengers that want to relax, unwind, and be pampered in the lap of luxury.

 

The Pool And Sports Zone, which is located high above the Boardwalk, features two surf creating FlowRiders, a pool dedicated to a variety of water sports, a full-size basketball court, a mini golf course, two massive rock climbing walls, and the thrilling Zip Line.

 

And last but not least there is the Youth Zone where trained personnel cater to parentsâ?? babies and toddlers so their moms and dads can have some time to themselves aboard the ship.  For the older kids and teens there are a multitude of fun things to keep them occupied. 

 

If you have never gone on a luxury cruise before, maybe now is the time.  The Oasis Of The Seas has something that will appeal to almost everyone and is a destination in itself.  You will be very impressed.