New Onboard Cruise Activities

Share

With ships beefing up their activities and amenities, even veteran cruisers will find new kinds of entertainment. From wine tours to political debates, here’s the lowdown.

Food
Cruises continue to step up their culinary offerings with updated restaurants and food-themed seminars. In May, Food & Wine magazine is pairing with tour operator Food & Wine Trails (800/367-5348; foodandwinetrails.com) for a 14-day Barcelona-to-London voyage on Oceania Cruises’ Regatta. On the menu: exclusive wine tastings and chef-led shore excursions in Spain and France.

Cruise West (888/851-8133; cruisewest.com) is giving its new menus a Pacific Northwest twist, serving up wild salmon with an apple-cider reduction, paired with a Washington State Riesling.

The 8,000-bottle cellars on Azamara Club Cruises’ ships Journey and Quest (877/999-9553; azamaracruises.com) now include vintages from boutique wineries, many not available in the United States.

Adventure
Looking for high-action, low-impact excursions? Gap Adventures (800/708-7761; gapadventures.com) has teamed up with the Discovery Channel for a series of environmental expeditions: the six-day Galápagos cruise deploys Zodiacs and dinghies to explore lava caves and wildlife-filled mangroves.

On an ascent up an active volcano in Santorini, Greece—a new eco-excursion from Costa Cruises (877/882-6782; costacruises.com)—hikers get 360-degree views from the summit’s crater.

Quark Expeditions (866/961-2961; quarkexpeditions.com), meanwhile, has travelers pitching tents in Spitsbergen, Norway, home to 3,000 polar bears, in its Arctic shore option.

Spa
With enhancements industry-wide, spas at sea are making waves. Oceania (800/531-5658; oceaniacruises.com) recently joined forces with the Canyon Ranch Spa Club to offer signature treatments in state-of-the-art facilities that include a Thermal Suite with a steam room and thalassotherapy pool.

The Odyssey and Sojourn ships from Seabourn (800/929-9391; seabourn.com) feature 750-square-foot spa villas with oversize tubs, wraparound terraces, and customized treatments.

Come April, Windstar Cruises’ Wind Surf (800/258-7245; windstarcruises.com) will also have a set of spa suites—with organic bath products and bed linens, as well as credits at the ship’s WindSpa.

Multigenerational
With family travel bigger than ever, cruise lines have been developing creative ways to keep everyone happy. Ride a jet boat to Mount McKinley, tour a gold mine, and hike to the historic Savage River Camp on a 12-night Alaska cruise tour from Princess Cruises (800/774-6237; princess.com).

Uniworld (800/733-7820; uniworld.com) has expanded its family programs on the Paris & Normandy and Castles Along the Rhine itineraries, now with more kid-focused options such as hot-air balloon rides over Paris and visits to the Cologne Chocolate Factory.

Disney Cruise Line’s (888/325-2500; disneycruise.disney.go.com) 12-night Baltic itineraries offer exclusive family-friendly port excursions, including a “Royal Ball” in St. Petersburg’s Catherine Palace.

Learning
Seminars and theme cruises are offering innovative forms of onboard enrichment. Science buffs can hop on the Science & Technology cruise from Crystal Cruises (888/722-0021; crystalcruises.com) for lectures on military, space, and medical trends and workshops on the latest personal handheld devices.

Debate U.K.-U.S. politics, history, and culture with academics, politicians, and journalists on transatlantic crossings aboard Cunard’s Queen Mary (800/728-6273; cunard.com).

5 Essential Destinations for your 'Bucket-List'

Share

If you’re putting off making one, don’t, you must get started ASAP! Everybody needs a bucket list, for how could you ever forgive yourself if the worst happened and you’d forgotten your lifetime aspirations? As you grow with age and forget about your youth, it’s possible to forget the fantasies which were once all that mattered and become engrossed in the importance of life.

Just about everything in life is achievable so why not get the most out of it? After all, we’re only here once! Most people will think about things such as running a marathon, skydiving, driving a Ferrari and bungee jumping, but what about the places in life we’ve missed? Wasn’t there always just one special place that you had your heart set on visiting? Here are the top 5 destinations good enough for anyone’s bucket list:


1. Paris-What could be more romantic than overlooking the city from above after ascending the Eiffel Tower, walking along the Seine with your fiancee or sipping fine wine sat in the street of an open-air cafe. With the beautiful language filling the streets, sublime restaurants tempting you to dine and precarious nightspots lining the corners, it’s no wonder that this stimulating city is the most popular tourist destination in the world.

2. Australia-Go beyond your wildest dreams and discover the mysterious Ayer’s Rock where you’ll witness one of the most stunning sunsets ever seen. For a trip you'll never forget, stop off at the sparkling Sydney harbour and surrounding golden sands. This cosmopolitan city offers stylish shops, suave restaurants, the infamous opera house and recognisable bridge. See the Great Barrier Reef with your own eyes and if you get chance, explore the bush for yourself.

3. Maldives-Live the dream on one of these sensational islands spread across the sublime Indian Ocean, escaping reality for at least a week. Relax and unwind on your tropical isle, snorkel the crystal clear waters and swim with the creatures of the deep or laze on your lounger with a good book in hand, absorbing the soaring sun rays. As the evenings draw to an exquisite close, watch the dramatic sunset, head out for some fine food then relax with your loved one under the night’s sky with an ice cold sumptuous cocktail.

4. Florida- Treat the child in you and relive your youth in a Disney filled, jam packed holiday. Visit Walt Disney World to meet the mouse himself, Mickey, explore Universal studios to check out Hollywood’s finest stunts and discover how the astronauts jet off into space at the popular Epcot . Every child will love it and each adult alike, it’s one of those things in life you’ve just got to try.

5. Greece-It’s difficult to pick just one as there are so many stunning Greek Islands! Although one stands out like a rare diamond sitting among dull, dusty stones. Think dreamy days, sparkling shores and relaxing nights and you’ve found yourself in Samos. This shimmering island sits proudly in the Aegean Sea and offers everything you could want from a traditional Greek holiday.

Holidays in Samos boast lush green landscapes and small, local tavernas where you’ll be welcomed with a shot of ouzo and open arms, each time you visit.

Laura Elliott

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_1506283_29.html
http://www.indianoceanholidaysblog.com/