Students Of Success

Presented by Nanny Cay, the BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing festival is an expanded seven-day format that takes avid and novice participants on an exciting multi-class, multi-course event throughout the beautiful British Virgin Islands.

This year the boats were split into fifteen classes and ranged in size from the 75′ Reichel Pugh, Titan XII, supporting a crew of twenty, to the one man Lasers and windsurfers.

Since its inception in 1973, the BVIs Spring Regatta has witnessed tremendous growth in both size and competition with continuing support from racing enthusiasts around the globe. This past weekend 154 boats helped mark the 35th anniversary of the BVI Spring Regatta as the event’s biggest year ever!

The 2006 Sailing Festival – which serves as a three-day warm up for the regatta - kicked off on Monday, March 27 with a welcome party at Nanny Cay. Afterwards participants were able to experience three days of destination cruising, racing, diving and Lay day fun including the Nation’s Challenge Cup, all which led up to the main three-day Spring Regatta that started on Friday, March 31. The four racecourses of the BVI Spring Regatta were held on the south side of Tortola - the sailing stronghold of the Caribbean - and the backbone of the protected Sir Frances Drake Channel.

This year the boats were split into fifteen classes and ranged in size from the 75′ Reichel Pugh, Titan XII, supporting a crew of twenty, to the one man Lasers and windsurfers.

The Racing and Racer/Cruiser classes sailed in the Copper Island course area with back-to-back racing on windward-leeward courses. The multi-start, multi-race format first introduced by the BVI Spring Regatta ensures that time on the water is spent racing.

Performance/Cruiser, Multihull, Bareboat, Jib & Main classes sailed on the Norman Island course area. Such is the geological/topographical nature of the BVI, that many of the marks from the previous regattas have been replaced by islands. On this race area - previously known as the non-spinnaker course – spinnakers were permitted and let those sailors that didn’t want to race back to back, windward-leeward courses, the chance to fly a spinnaker, perhaps with a less practiced or short-handed crew.

Each day of the regatta the weather conditions improved and finally on Sunday, sailors (and photographers) were able to enjoy a picture perfect day with wonderful sunshine and 10-12 knots of breeze.

For additional information, please visit ==>http://www.catamarans.com

During a hurricane your boat can be in severe jeopardy even if the storm doesn’t pass near to you. The most important thing is to make preparations in advance. As a storm grows close the weather can make it difficult to prepare your boat and supplies could already be sold out. There are different strategies you need to be aware of if your boat is moored at a dock or kept in dry-dock on a trailer. If at all possible it is always best to try to move your boat inland and toward high ground.

If your boat is moored at a dock it is important to re-enforce the moorings and double check that the cleats on the boat and dock are secure. Attach double lashings at each of the four points you are tied off to, and make sure to move the attachment higher up on the pylons to allow for the rising tide. During a rough storm the lines will chafe along the boat, which can cause one of the lines to break free and slam your boat into the dock. Cover any points that make chafe with leather, plastic or rubber coverings to prevent a line from breaking free. Old garden hose cut into sections will work well for a line covering. Secure any equipment from the deck down below and pull any outboard engines to be stored. Secure bumpers and tire to the sides of the boat to prevent damage from the dock.

If you are living in a waterfront property and you boat is on davits consider putting the boat on a trailer. If you want to keep your boat on the davits, remove anything possible from the boat (Electronics, outboard motor, equipment) and store them in the house. Cover the boat and swing the davits so the boat in over dry land and set it down on the ground. With heavy ropes secure the boat to the base of the davits and to two points on the other side of the boat if possible. Smaller boats can be filled with water to make them heavier.

If your boat is stored on a trailer make sure to lash the boat down to the trailer at more than one place. Tie the boat down to four different points to secure objects. Follow the advice above in removing any equipment possible and storing anything possible down below. Drain the air from the trailers tires and place chocks (Bricks, wood or cinder blocks) in front and behind the wheels. Strip the boat down as much as possible and try to place the trailer in a secure location with enough distance from other boats.

Find out everything that you should know about hurricanes at http://my-hurricane-guide.info

by Roy Witman © 2006, All Rights Reserved

From a shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, the Crown Princess has been taking shape over the last year. Though you would never know it from seeing construction photos, this massive body of steel beams will soon be sculpted into a luxury vessel boasting a list of firsts including innovative features, fresh amenities and new ports of call that will sail you off into the sunset of your choosing.

Several distinctive differences are noted about Crown Princess. Upon her maiden voyage in June 2006, she will be the first in the Princess Cruise fleet to sail roundtrip Caribbean itineraries from New York (Red Hook, which is located in Brookland). Unique destinations await passengers including the Eastern Caribbean port of Bermuda. Equally fascinating are the added ports of Grand Turk and the Turks and Caicos Islands which have been virtually undiscovered until now.

Along with the Grand Turks port comes 20 new shore excursions. As innovative as the port itself, adventures of all activity levels will be available to passengers from exhilarating Harley rides to relaxing super-sized pools.

According to Princess Cruise Line, “Hop-On/Hop-Off Island Tours are first of their kind island tours that operate as a hop-on-hop-off tour which includes stops at a restored 1800s prison and a historic lighthouse.” Also available: Harleys In Paradise, where passengers to St. Maarten can tour the scenery on Harley-Davidson motorcycles; zip line tours amid the canopy of St. Lucia’s tropical rainforests; river tubing on Grenada’s Balthazar River and more.

If you think you’ve heard the name “Crown Princess” before, you are correct. Initially built in 1990 by controversial designer Renzo Piano, the original Crown Princess has been transferred to a sister cruise line where she serves under a different name. As for the new Crown Princess, she is totally redesigned with cruising in mind and features numerable amenities not found on other ships.

Onboard the Crown Princess you’ll find more firsts including Movies Under the Stars - an exclusive to Princess Cruise Line - where you can view blockbuster hit films outdoors on a gigantic, 300 square foot, LED screen. Passengers can make complimentary chaise lounge reservations for available features. Cocktail specials are available as well as free popcorn and other movie munchies. Atrium dining is also a specialty of Princess Cruises as well as Personal Choice Dining that allows you to choose seating at any restaurant at any time.

From exciting nightclubs to digital golf simulators and a nine-hole putting course, from four pools to a sports court and jogging track, you’ll find something for everyone, including one of the largest casinos afloat.

Kids and teens even get their own special spaces with The Fun Zone, Off Limits Teen Center, a video arcade and the Chill Out splash pool. That’s the perfect place for them to hang out while adults visit the Sanctuary - a quiet poolside area of the ship just for adults to relax and unwind.

According to Princess officials, Crown Princess’ summer season will include 12 departures from New York between May 12 and September 6 on the Eastern Caribbean. Ports include Bermuda, San Juan, St. Thomas, St. Maarten and Grand Turk. In fact, her inaugural season is expected to be such a success that a second season in New York has already been slated.

Departing from New York in June 2006, the all-new Crown Princess offers a host of firsts designed to captivate passengers and provide exciting new adventures on and off the ship.

Roy Witman is Vice-President of Cruise Vacation Center based in Yonkers, New York. Visit them online today at www.cruisevacationcenter.com for the best deals on
Alaska cruises and
Hawaii cruises. You’ll find their service exceptional and their attention to detail second to none.

Crewed motor yachts are yachts that you charter for a vacation without needing to have any sailing experience. With the crewed charters, you don’t have to do any work in handling the yacht or navigating the waters of the location you choose. You can choose to have a luxury charter where you have exquisite surroundings and meals prepared by a chef. Waiters bring you drinks and the members of the crew will provide instructions for water sports if you need any. Crewed motor yachts range in size from yachts that can only take 2 passengers to ones that can take up to 12 or more.

A crewed motor yacht charter is an excellent choice for a family vacation. Children are welcome on these yacht charters, but none of the crew will be assigned to looking after them, even with luxury motor yacht charter. Parents are expected to keep the children entertained and to bring whatever they need for enjoyment aboard with them. Crewed motor yachts are perfectly safe for children, but like any location, you do need to keep them within your sight at all times.

When you choose a luxury motor yacht charter, you have a personal chef to prepare your meals. However, before you arrive to meet the yacht, you will already have informed the company about your food preferences through the food preference sheet. This sheet also includes a list of beverages for you to choose from, which include soda, wines and alcoholic beverages. The chefs of crewed motor yachts take great care to prepare meals that you will enjoy and only use the freshest ingredients. In the case of fruits and vegetables, the chef of a crewed motor yacht charter may buy foods at the various locations.

Whether or not you experience any seasickness on crewed yacht charters depends on you. It is probably a good idea to take some form of seasickness medication with you so that you can thoroughly enjoy being on a luxury motor yacht. If you are new to vacationing on a crewed motor yacht charter, be sure to let the crew know so they can choose routes that will cause you less discomfort. If you smoke, you will have to limit your habit to the outside areas of the yacht. Since the interior of the yacht consists of close quarters, yacht charter companies do not permit smoking inside.

With crewed motor yachts you have comfort and style. You do not have to bring anything with you and all the linens, dishes and utensils are there for you to use. Both the exterior and interior of these yachts are roomy so you can sit back and enjoy the charter in comfort. You don’t have to worry about the wind because the motor will take you to your destination on time. You can enjoy air-conditioning with luxury motor yacht charters, although most of the charter yachts do have this feature included. Depending on the location and type of charter, some crewed charter yachts include scuba diving equipment, kayaks and other equipment you would need to enjoy a variety of water sports.

To find out more about Yacht Charters visit Peter’s Website Your Sailing Vacation and find out about Crewed Yacht Charters and more, including Caribbean Yacht Charters, Luxury Yacht Charters, Bareboat Charters and Florida Charters.

As your guests are heading back to the swim platform on the wave runner, you can see in their eyes that they are not thinking about a single thing that you told them about docking before they left. They have just been skipping across the surface of the water at 60 Knots, and driving personal watercraft is not something they do everyday, as a matter of fact, they have probably only done it once before. As they get close to the platform they slow, the wave runner rolls a bit, so you grab for the hand grip to stabilize it. We all know what happens next. As you grab for the wave runner, the guest pulls you in to the water. Luckily this time you didn’t have your radio on your belt, but you are soaked just the same.

On most yachts it is inappropriate for the crew to work among the guests bare chested. It is part of that invisible line of professionalism between crew and guests. Now you have to go and change your soaked khaki shorts and polo shirt for a fresh uniform. The addition of a wet uniform to a crew member’s ensemble is the best solution to this problem. There is already an “off charter” uniform for work projects, a “day uniform” for guests onboard and a “night uniform” or “dress” for evenings with guests. The advent of the wet uniform keeps the deck department looking sharp even when they are soaked, because nobody looks professional in wet khakis and polos.

Some yacht crews started wearing rash guard shirts during wash downs, to keep from getting completely scorched in the midday sun. Then a few yachts started buying them for the crew, for their water sports activities. The main problem was size availability and style continuity. Rarely could a Chief Stewardess go into a surf shop and purchase 10 of each size in a particular style and color. These shops stock one or two of each usually. Then the problem becomes the logos. Most rash guards on the market are covered with advertising for their manufacturers. Lastly there is the continuity problem; companies like Quicksilver, Billabong, Rip Curl, Oneill etc…almost never have the same design available from year to year. How is a Yacht then to reorder uniform pieces for a new crew member or to re supply worn items? The answer to all of those problems is Wet Effect, Inc.

Wet Effect was started by former yacht crew to solve these issues and take the wet uniform to the next level. Wet Effect has its own line of fast drying and comfortable Board Shorts and Rash Guards. All of these products are manufactured to the highest quality and without logos. This lets the yacht crew put their logo or boat name anywhere on the uniform. Logos can be applied by the yacht’s uniform supplier, or it can be handled by the staff at Wet Effect.

Fred Lemon is Co-Owner of http://www.weteffect.com This company manufactures Custom Rash Guards and Custom Board Shorts. Wet Effect also manufactures Custom Fight Shorts

If you don’t have someone to take with you on a cruise vacation, you may just find that someone instead, on an adult singles cruise. The cruise lines today are realizing that there is a huge market of singles that would like to get to know others in a friendly fun atmosphere, and so they are arranging for all kinds of cruises that cater to singles. These can include cruises for black singles, cruises for jewish singles, cruises for christian singles and much more. They often try to theme the cruise as much as possible to help singles meet others that they may have more in common with.

All of the cruise lines have different offerings available for singles, and that is why it is good to check with each line to see what they offer that could appeal to you. If you want to save money while you cruise, several lines allow shared usage of the staterooms by persons of the same sex and then each one pays the per person rate for that room. That essentially cuts the costs of an adult singles cruise in half for each individual, which leaves them more money to spend on having fun instead.

While on the cruise there are often special activities and programs to help singles be able to meet others including singles cocktail parties, group shore excursions, wine tasting and much more. This allows singles the opportunity to meet and greet others and get to know them on a social basis while the trip is taking place.

Of course, some singles don’t really want to meet someone else special while cruising and that’s alright too. There is plenty on board to keep a single person busy and involved without having to mingle socially including the beautiful swimming pools, spas, jacuzzis, elegant dining and more.

So if you always thought that you couldn’t go on a vacation cruise because you were single, that is just not true anymore. There is plenty that modern cruise lines have to offer both singles who want to meet other singles, and those who are just want to stay single but still have a great time.

Thad Pickering writes on many consumer related topics including vacation travel. You can find out more about royal carribean cruise lines and adult singles cruises by visiting our Vacation Guide website.

Traveling famously on a Transatlantic crossing or cruising the world on a stately Cunard has been the exemplar of the good life for 163 years. Cunard’s rich legacy of lustrous White Star Service™ and realm of privileged indulgence are the gold standard by which others are measured. Few thrills compare…

Cunard has launched nearly 180 ships with enough firsts and foremost to be forever inscribed in maritime history. Canadian Samuel Cunard began his steamship company in the early 1800’s with a vision, but it is unlikely he foresaw ships with the size, speed or cultured, gracious living afforded by the magnificent Cunarders of today.

The onboard ambience attracts a loyal following of guests with similar interests and values - the opportunity to socialize with peers who share so much in common is one of the great joys of “traveling Cunard.”

Cunard Cruise Lines White Star Service can only be described as truly European in that staff attends to every desire with polite, gracious and highly responsive attention - unobtrusive but very much there. When you first come on board, if you half-close your eyes, you will sense immediately that you are on a liner from the twenties or thirties. But open them fully and you will realize at once that the décor is strikingly contemporary.

Civilized pleasure of afternoon tea, complete with crumpets, scones, berries and clotted cream. QM2 and QE2 each have an authentic English pub offering an incredible variety of beverages ranging from single malt whiskies, special brandy and cognacs, to beer from around the world. Guests can watch sports programs on satellite TV and enjoy time honored pub food.

Each Ship Is A Virtual City At Sea!

Each ship is a virtual City at Sea featuring every pleasurable pursuit found in the most cosmopolitan metropolis. There are sports activities, fitness classes, spa treatments, and exquisite boutique shopping and stimulating enrichment programs, from round-table discussions with eminent scholars, to a wide variety of classes and workshops.

In the tradition of the great ocean liners of the past, accommodation is matched with reserved tables in one of the main dining rooms, most with single seating dining. Cunard’s Queens Grill and Princess Grill restaurants are recognized as providing the finest epicurean experiences on the globe. And there are many complimentary alternative restaurants as well.

Evenings are filled with excitement with gala balls and dazzling theme events providing the opportunity to dress to the nines - an increasingly rare treat in a day and age governed by the monotony of “country club casual”. Add dancing to a live orchestra in the ballroom, fine liquors and smokes in the cigar bar, cabaret, film festivals, superb performances in the grand show lounge (QM2’s Apassionata, as just one example, is a dance extravaganza with styles from Glen Miller’s Swing to the tantalizing Argentinean Tango). It is not to be missed.

Cunard’s goal with the introduction of QM2 is to acquaint a whole new generation of travelers with the joys of a Transatlantic Crossing. You could fly across by air in six hours, but six rewarding days at sea give you the gracious gift of time - the opportunity to do wonderful things that you never have time for at home. Freedom at last!

More grand news! Plans call for another magnificent Cunarder, the Queen Victoria, to be delivered in 2007. At 85,000 tons she will carry 1,850 guests, and will be in the style of QM2 and QE2.

Queen Mary 2 (QM2)

A magnificent cruise experience on board the world’s most prestigious ocean liner, Cunard’s renowned White Star Service, Sophisticated and extravagant, yet paradoxically, an intimate, casual ambience, accommodation paired with distinctive sea-view restaurants, Ten restaurants. From lavish dining in baronial splendor to your tasty local pub fare…with absolutely everything in between!

Superb gustatory celebrations by Mediterranean master Todd English, 24-hour room service, Largest wine selection afloat, Acres of poolside decks and promenades. Full scale Illuminations Planetarium, Afternoon tea accompanied by a string quartet in the colonial-style Winter Garden, and a 20,000 square-foot Canyon Ranch SpaClub® brims with therapies and facilities.

Fitness center with 50 pieces of card equipment, weight room, Deck sports, Canard connections, and QM2’s academic and enrichment programs. On the Transatlantic Crossings the renowned University of Oxford will present their fascinating Oxford Discovery Programs, as well as a Grand West End style cinema, Ballroom dancing, jazz and champagne clubs.

Fine wine bar, G32 for rock and disco, cabaret in the Chart Room, casino, Royal Court Theatre for brilliantly staged shows and West End-caliber productions. Gallery of shops, the largest library at sea, Computer Center (classes too), The Play Zone - supervised “kids camp”, Gentlemen hosts, Facilities for pets.

She’s like every Cunarder before her. The stupendous QM2 is a ship of opulence and splendor where classic Cunard hallmarks weave throughout. Sweeping staircases, towering dining salons, a grand ballroom and an unprecedented cache of innovations include a virtual college-at-sea, Cunard ConneXionssm. ConneXions are a cultural campus with a full syllabus of mini-courses, seminars, workshops and eminent guest lecturers selected by the University of Oxford. You can learn about everything from film-making to the marvels of the cosmos, even take a ride through outer space in a “Search for Life” at IlluminationsSM, QM2’s planetarium.

If you want to get physical, there are five pools (one with retractable dome), golf simulator, shuffleboard, paddle tennis, a 360 degree promenade for walking and jogging, plus a fitness center which features personal trainers and panoramic views. Then reward yourself in the 20,000 square foot Canyon Ranch SpaClub®, brimming with therapies and a wondrous thalassotherapy pool.

Evenings bring out the best in QM2 - and her guests. Beaded gowns, black ties, laughter and applause. Crystal chandeliers preside over dancers sweeping across the largest ballroom at sea. Guests sip from long Waterford flutes in the Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar. Wine enthusiasts sip Bordeaux in Sir Samuel’s. Jazz sets the tone in the Commodore Club.

You can dine on cuisine created by Boston superstar Todd English, darling of the food critics, and after dinner, enjoy a superb musical production in the Royal Court Theatre or a play performed by actors from London’s famed Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). Then how about rolling the dice in the Empire Casino, or enjoying a nightcap in the Chart Room where a cabaret singer croons Some Enchanted Evening…which, in fact, occurs nightly aboard QM2. You’ll feel like one who has caught the golden ring.

Accommodations

Nearly 80% of QM2’s staterooms are ocean view with over 94% of these offering spacious balconies. Accommodation choices range from the merely commodious to the shamelessly extravagant, such as the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth Suites with elevator access reserved just for you.

Queens Grill Accommodation (Q categories) is the ultimate in luxury living. Marble baths with whirlpool tubs, fully stocked en-suite bars, private butlers and concierge service. Choices range from duplex apartments to grand duplexes, to the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth Suites and the Queen Anne and Queen Victoria Royal Suites. Guests enjoy single seating in the renowned Queens Grill. The elegant Queens Grill Lounge and a private sun terrace are also reserved exclusively for Queens Grill guests.

Princess Grill Accommodation (P categories) is on Deck 10. The spacious 381 square foot Junior Ocean-View Suites feature a large balcony, bath with tub and shower, sitting area with sofa, TV, walk in closet, concierge service. Guests enjoy single-seating dining in the elegant Princess Grill.

Britannia Accommodation (B, C and D categories). The Deluxe Balcony Staterooms, Premium Balcony Staterooms, Oceanview Staterooms, Inside Staterooms with Atrium View and Inside Staterooms found in B, C and D categories are anything but ordinary (more like the deluxe staterooms on other ships). Guests in these accommodations have a reserved table in the Britannia Restaurant.

Atmosphere

“Untold elegance and grace”. Magical and worldly where glamorous, bejeweled women in beaded gowns and men in black tie or tails are in their element. Soft music, quiet murmurs, excited laughter and friendly banter around the tuxedoed croupiers at the roulette wheel. A string quartet and freshly brewed tea in the Winter Garden, premier cru Bordeaux in Sir Samuel’s, jazz in the Commodore Club, cabaret in the Chart Room. Dancing on moonbeams. Shangri-La really!

Dining

The centerpiece of the QM2 experience. Superb award-winning gustatory celebrations inspired by Mediterranean master Todd English. Owner of the internationally famous Olives of Boston among others, Todd English is one of America’s leading chefs and the darling of the food critics. He has been named both “Rising Star Chef” and “Best Chef: Northeast” by the James Beard Foundation. His beautiful restaurant on board QM2 overlooking the Pool Terrrace has been designed with intimate alcoves and exquisite architectural detailing - the perfect setting for his highly interpretive Mediterranean cuisine.

The best restaurants in the land are now at sea and the Queens and food critics as the premier dining experience afloat have chronicled Princess Grills. Gourmet delicacies are staples in QM2’s ten restaurants. Feast in baronial splendor. Superb amid genteel chatter in The Carvery. Dine al fresco on contemporary Mediterranean cuisine. Fans of dim sum, tuna tartar and nouvelle cuisine, even pub food (accompanied by televised sporting events) have not been forgotten. QM2 is the first Cunard ship to debut a “Chef’s Galley” Restaurant where chefs will teach guests how to prepare their meal just prior to dining. Chef’s Galley features both Cunard chefs and guest appearances by world famous chefs sponsored by Gourmet Magazine.

Entertainment and Activities

Brilliantly staged West End calibre shows in a state-of-the-art show lounge with tier seating, cabaret performances, ballroom dancing in the Queen’s Room, the Empire Casino, G32 Nightclub for rock and disco.

At Cunard ConneXions enjoy workshops, seminars and lectures conducted by historians and scientists, college professors and top diplomats (as well as cooking classes, wine appreciation courses, foreign languages and photography spotlights as examples). On Transatlantic Crossings, the renowned University of Oxford will present their fascinating Oxford Discovery Program.

London’s prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) will perform plays and lead a variety of readings and workshops, including acting classes. In addition to seminars led by graduate students, QM2 guests will have the rare opportunity to see talented performers on the threshold of their careers in plays seldom seen in the commercial theatre.

Public Rooms/Facilities

Grand lobby, restaurants galore, including the Queens Grill, Queens Grill Lounge, Princess Grill, and Britannia Restaurant. Todd English Restaurant, King’s Court with an Asian restaurant, an Italian trattoria, the Carvery, and the Chef’s Galley (24-hour room service too). There’s even a full-scale planetarium dubbed “Illuminations” where you can view the stars and other visual spectacles or take a course on celestial navigation.

Cunard World Club

World Club is Cunard’s Past Guest Program. World Club guests enjoy on board parties, priority check-in and embarkation, recognition gifts, additional savings, quarterly Cunard World Club Newsletters and periodic mailings. Guests will be automatically enrolled after completion of their first Cunard voyage.

Cunard’s Connoisseur Collection

For a truly grand holiday, guests can combine a QM2 Transatlantic Crossing with a leisurely European exploration before or after their voyage.

Cunard’s fabulous selection of European land tours offers something for everyone. Guests can choose from a London Holiday, a Paris Holiday, a London & Paris Holiday, a Glimpse of Ireland, Royal Scotland, a Wimbledon Tennis Holiday, and the ultimate QM2 holiday. In New York guests may select Broadway Up-close. These tours may also be requested in conjunction with Caronia, and QE2 cruises.

About the author:
William Lezubski (Accredited Cruise Counsellor (ACC), and Certified Travel Counsellor(CTC) - William is a professional in the Travel Industry and is the owner and author of “Discount Caribbean Vacations Web Site” available at http://www.discount-caribbean-vacations.com/index.htm

We all want to please and impress that special someone in our lives with a romantic gift. Millions are spent every year trying to accomplish this feat. We may peruse the jewelry store and spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on beautiful trinkets. Perhaps a night over at an elegant resort is a consideration for your romantic gift idea. But consider this…

A lasting impression can be imprinted on our special someone if he/she is treated to an unforgettable experience. For the price of a fine pair of earrings, you can treat your romantic partner with a dinner cruise along one of the waterways near your corner of the world. For the price of a necklace and earring set, you can book an elegant cruise of four to eight days aboard a magnificent cruise ship. How impressive is that for a romantic gift?

Consider your options here. An afternoon cruise near your home for less than the price of an elegant dinner can provide for a memory of romance and togetherness. For a few dollars more, an enchanted evening of romantic cruising with a lovely dinner and a bottle of fine wine will be lastingly remembered.

Romantic vacation gift cruises can cost as little as $500.00 per person. These romantic experiences can provide you with a lifetime of memories. Envision exotic ports of call, majestic landscapes, sipping a glass of vintage wine on your private balcony, enjoying an exquisite meal in an elegant dining room and dancing into the night… All of this can be yours each day of your cruise!

Would a fabulous gift cruise conjure up a vision of romance? Picture it… Is that a romantic gift idea? Of course it is! No matter what type of romantic gift cruise you choose – afternoon river cruise, evening dinner cruise, four day Caribbean vacation cruise, seven day Alaskan cruise, intriguing Mediterranean cruise or exotic South Seas cruise – you will not be disappointed!

Don’t consider yourself selfish if you’re thinking “with this romantic gift, I’ll get a gift vacation as well”. Your special someone will want you to be as happy as they will be. That’s part of the beauty of romance. Each partner wants the other partner to be happy and to enjoy each others’ company. What better way than to break away from the traditional romantic gifts than to offer your company aboard a floating resort with pampering service and elegant surroundings while visiting exotic, intriguing, majestic and exciting ports-of-call!

Romance is what we are all looking for here. Throughout the ages, the sea has been synonymous with romance. Cruise ships have become synonymous with romance as well since the television weekly “The Love Boat”. What better romantic gift idea is there than a romantic getaway aboard a magnificent cruise ship?

For more interesting articles related to romantic getaways, gift ideas, cruises, and cruising, visit a1-discount-cruises.com, your #1 source for cruise information and great cruise discounts! Don’t put it off. Check out some of the special deals from our merchants. Your romantic gift could cost less than you think. But you must act fast as cruises are very popular and do sell out. Get some quotes and compare. Then all that’s left to do is to book your romantic gift cruise on-line and get excited!

- Brian A Schmidt is the author and web publisher of A1-Discount-Cruises.com your #1 source for cruise information, discounts and great deals! Visit Romantic Getaways to book your fabulous romantic gift cruise vacation! For more interesting articles visit our Article Map pages. If you have any comments or questions regarding choosing the right cruise line for your romantic cruise vacation, contact us at info@a1-discount-cruises.com using the subject line “Cruises”.

Why Take a Royal Caribbean Cruise Vacation? Well, with all the different cruise ships in their line, all the destinations,and the affordable price range, there are cruises to please every traveller, no matter how jaded.

In our fast-paced society, Royal Caribbean offers a very cost-effective and time-efficient way to take a holiday. Think about driving all day through holiday traffic to a far-away destination, packing and unpacking at every hotel, and trying to find restaurants and personal services. On a Royal Caribbean cruise you don’t drive anywhere for weeks at a time. Even on a tour bus , it’s you personally who must handle all the luggage and repack at each new destination. On a cruise, your bags arrive with you when you check in and the staff transports them to your cabin, stateroom, or suite. You are at home immediately and don’t have to move until the cruise ends. And cruise ship cuisine is legendary in both quantity and quality. Each Royal Caribbean ship has world class restuarants staffed by award-winning chefs, and the cruise price includes the cost of the food. At every port, guided tours are available so you won’t miss any of the spectacular attractions. You can take a holiday from parental duties as well, since supervised activities and games are available to keep children occupied. And at the end of your holidy staff will arrive to pick up your luggage and take it to the intended pick-up point. Cruise ship facilities free you from so many of the worries and strain associated with traveling, and allow you to relax and actually enjoy your vacation time.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines offers the some of the best deals in the travel industry. Conde Nast Traveler consistently rates Royal Caribbean Cruises as one of the world’s best cruise ship lines. Services include informative lectures about your location, upscale boutiques, and Broadway-style entertainment. Some ships even have facilities for ice-skating shows. Try your luck in the Casino or even collect fine art at the onboad auction. Enjoy exotic nightlife at clubs with various themes.

You’ll never feel neglected at the onboard spa. Try a deluxe manicure and pedicure, a luxurious facial or even a relaxing massage. You’ll leave glowing and invigorated.

But Royal Caribbean isn’t just for the adult traveller. Royal Caribbean features an Adventure Ocean Youth Program and Fisher-Price Aqua Babies and Aqua Tots to occupy younger passengers. When the ship reaches port, adults have the opportunity to take cultural tours by themselves without hauling along bored and unwilling children . And the the younger set can enjoy vigorous, noisy activities such as a rock-climbing wall without wearing out the parents. One ship under construction, Freedom of the Seas, is being equipped with onboard surfing!

Age or disability do not hamper cruising. Modern cruise ships are specifically designed to accommodate the needs of aged and mobility-impaired passengers, and staff is always ready to help with the special medical needs of passengers. Nowadays most major cruise lines accommodates those who require dialysis or supplemental oxygen, and more medical services are available if requested beforehand. An emergency clinic with CPR equipment is available on each ship, saving you the trouble of finding an English-speaking doctor in a foreign country.

Dinner is a major form of entertainment on a cruise ship, a practice dating back more than a hundred years to the era when cruises were for nobility and the wealthy who expected elegant formal meals. With today’s laid-back lifestyle the old-fashioned elegance is optional, and for those who enjoy casual dining, meals can be obtained around the clock from room service and cafeterias. However, what is a cruise without glamour? It can be a lot of fun to go to a ritzy event where ladies show off their best attire and jewelry, and gentlemen wear tuxedos.

And don’t forget the cruise destination itself! Royal Caribbean docks at a different port of call every few days, depending upon distances and sailing time between local ports. Aside from the caribbean, these ships sail all around the world, to Hawaii, Mexico, the Panama Canal, New England, Alaska and many European ports. It’s up to you whether you want to explore onshore or lounge aboard the ship all day. You are free to investigate each destination on your itinerary as long as you arrive back at the dock in time for departure.

Optional activities are offered for a slight extra cost, and Royal Caribbean offers adventures geared toward the unique features of every destination. There are cruisetours, a combination land/sea package to further explore inland in Alaska, the Canadian Rockies, Whistler Resort and Europe.

With all these pleasing and unique services available at such affordable prices, why not think about a Royal Caribbean Cruise for your next sea vacation?

Frank Hague is interested in Cruises. www.royalcaribbeanreview.com www.celebrity-cruise-now.info www.condo-cruise-ship.com www.boating-holidays.info www.lake-tahoe-now.info www.2qz.com/condo-cruise-ship

If you’re the “outdoorsy” type, prefer to work on a team, have a positive attitude and are a confirmed “people-person,” you may fit right in as part of a yacht crew. Though jobs on most yachts are seasonal or part-time (depending on when someone rents it for a cruise), you will gain an incredible amount of experience while sailing your work days away.

A few yacht crew jobs include the following:

Chef/Cook
Diesel Mechanic
Flotilla Skipper
Host/Hostess
Sailing Instructor

You can apply for positions with private yachts; exploration ships that travel far and wide; commercial vessels; or megayachts and superyachts, liners or tankers. But, where do you find these jobs, anyway?

There are several yacht crew-finder services for vessel owners and employers around the world. Remember, this is a global industry, and though you’ll have full decision-making authority on things like what kind of vessel you’d like to sail on and when you’re available to crew, things like salaries or whether you will work a working holiday yacht cruise or as a voluntary crew member are largely non-negotiable, particularly for entry-level jobs.

You can also work on shore-based jobs related to the yachting industry, such as outfitters or suppliers for deck and overall yacht needs like linen services or glassware.

And think about this: You pretty much get to decide ahead of time whether you’d prefer to work on Carver yachts, Catalina yachts, Seaward Yachts, Pershing Yachts, or pal up with a few friends on the ship of your choice. The other good thing about yacht employment is that, because it is seasonal work, for the most part, there is a lot of turnover, so you won’t have to “paddle the waters” very long while looking for a job!

Another good tip to know is that vessel owners are usually very generous and pay their crew very good (tax-free) wages, along with job “perks” such as the obvious, like travel expenses and great accommodations, plus a free vacation!!

David Dunlap is the owner and founder of Only For Yachts, an online resource for everything related to yachts. Visit http://onlyforyachts.com to get information on yacht charters, yachts for sale and also sign up for the free yachting newsletter.