Windstar Cruises

Seattle-based Windstar Cruises provides travelers with the opportunity to discover small ports around the world in a luxurious setting, all with Windstar's "Casual Elegance" atmosphere.

Each Windstar Cruise is onboard a carefully designed ship, complete with stunning white sails. Officially designated as motor-sail-yachts (msy), each ship is small enough to provide guests with the feeling that they are on a private yacht.

The newest and largest member of the fleet of four is the 312-passenger msy Wind Surf. The other ships hold fewer than 150 passengers, allowing Windstar Cruises to provide special touches that other cruises cannot. Some of the special nuances found onboard a Windstar Cruise includes open seating at dinnertime and a more relaxed, but still elegant dress code.

Each stateroom comes complete with modern technological conveniences, like new LCD flatscreen TV, DVD, CD player, iPod Nanos and Bose SoundDocks systems, safe, mini-bar/refrigerator, international direct-dial phones. Windstar tops off the luxurious rooms with high-end toiletries and roomy closets.

Onboard, guests also have access to a library and DVD collection in addition to the ability to enjoy complimentary water sports, like water-skiing, windsurfing, snorkeling, and kayaking from the ship's aft Water Sports Platform.

Dining onboard a Windstar Cruise is a casual, but tasty experience, with breakfast being served on the Veranda or in guests' private staterooms. Dinner is an elegant but casual experience in gourmet dining, with unique meals and international themed dinners available on some ships.

In addition to a variety of activities, Windstar Cruises also allows for relaxation in the ships' onboard spas, which feature a variety of treatment options and special touches.

Luxurious Windstar Cruises explore every region of the world, including the Caribbean, Europe, The Americas, the Greek Isles and the Trans-Atlantic.

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Bahamas Yacht Charter

When is the Best Time to Avail of Caribbean Yacht Charters for the Bahamas?

You have two choices. You can go during the off-peak and on-peak seasons. When you want to make sure that you can go cheap on your charter yachts Caribbeanit's a good idea to visit the islands during June until November. By this time, there are fewer people around, so you won't have to be competing with a crowd on the beach or even when availing of a yacht charter Carribean. The latter is also cheaper, since most of the Carribean yacht charter are offered at a discount, even those luxurious yachts, sailboats, and catamarans.

However, you would not really mind spending a lot more during the on-peak seasons. Luxury charter yachts can cost you thousands of dollars every week. For example, a yacht that can accommodate a small group of 8 will cost you 15,000 dollars per week, excluding the expenses. But you will have your own chef, captain, and crew, who can take care of all your needs. Most of all, the temperature in the Bahamas is at its best. Since it's an island much closer to North America, it is a little colder than the other Caribbean island nations. Temperature in the summer can be between 27 and a little above 30 degrees Celsius during the summer. The atmosphere is also cold during the morning and afternoon and cold at night.

Average temperature in the Bahamas ranges from 80 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit (27 to 32 degrees Celsius) in the summer to 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (21 to 27 degrees Celsius) in the winter. The northern Bahamian islands can be even a little cooler. Winds across The Bahamas keep vacations cool in the daytime and help lower the temperatures at night.

Where can you go?
There are a lot of islands that make up the Bahamas, so that means you have wide variety of choices. You can bring your luxury yacht charter:
at the outdoor aquarium, which is located in the Paradise Island. Besides the beaches, there are also lagoons, swimming pools, and waterslides. This is also the home of more than 200 species of marine life. There are also great beaches, where the sands are powdery white and the waters are crystal blue. They are excellent places for inter-island cruising on board a luxury catamaran or a superyacht charter.

There are also boat tours that can take you to the Bahamas, though it's not the be-all, end-all destination. You can ride a Grenadines yacht charter or a BVI yacht charter.

Indeed, the Bahamas is one tropical island that you should not miss. So pick your mode of transport: on board interisland cruises such as yacht charters BVI or superyachts that go directly to the Bahamas.

By: Rumble Romagnoli

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Get Away From It All With A Freighter Cruise

Is the noise, the traffic, the stress of everyday living getting to you? Ever wish you could just get away from it all and forget the economy, the boss, the daily upheavals for a little while? Ever dream about long, sunny afternoons sailing the high seas? Is your idea of a dream vacation a time of solitude, laid-back laziness, and a no-frills, no-nonsense atmosphere?

If you answered, "yes, yes, Yes, YES!" to the questions above, then perhaps a freighter cruise is just the relief you need from your overstressed, overdressed lifestyle. And with a freighter cruise, you can get away from it all while getting somewhere. A freighter cruise would not break the bank, either. But you need to be prepared for a bit more adventure than your average cruise.

Freighter cruises are not fancy. They are not jam packed with activities, or people. Freighters offer you a cabin, meals, a chance to get to know the crew, a lounge or recreation room, visits to various ports of call, and lots of time to just relax and unwind. Freighter cruises can be as short as a week or two, or as long as 18 weeks around the world sailing. Your choices for freighter cruises, destinations, durations and costs are nearly unlimited. With most cruises costing between $90 and $120 per night, they have got the cruise lines beat hands down on prices. In short, there is a freighter cruise for everyone.

Freighter ships cabins can range from bunk-bed-berths-share-the-bath dormitory type rooms to suites that accommodate with a queen-sized bed, refrigerator, bath with tub and large windows rather than portholes. Most freighter cabins are in the "standard" range – meaning they are about the equivalent of the lower-class cabins available on cruise liners. Some freighters cabins were initially designed for the company "big wigs," and can be quite posh. One thing about your cabin – you may find that cabins on lower levels of the superstructure have their portholes blocked by the freight containers being carried by the ship. Just remember, the ships purpose is to carry the goods – you are just along for the ride.

Depending on the ship and the freight company, you may or not have a steward to care for your room. So, be prepared to make your own bed, set out your trash bin and, in general, tidy up after yourself. Unlike cruise lines, most freighter cruises do not penalize the single traveler for occupying a double cabin. In fact, some have gone out of their way to encourage the single traveler in joining them.

Freighter cruise cuisine can vary greatly, too, from ship to ship and company to company. Dining aboard a freighter is informal, so you have no need to pack a suit and tie or fancy dress. There is one and only one dining room aboard a freighter. Meals are generally served at fixed times, in one to two hour windows. Many freighters open the pantry or galley 24/7 for self-serve snacks or refreshment, but you may want to pack some of your favorites, or purchase them in port, just in case there is nothing to your liking. Your cook will be the crews cook, and the cuisine served will be what the crew eats. So, if your freighter is of German registry be prepared to eat German dishes.

On the other hand, if your crew is of mixed nationality, say Filipino, German, French and Scandinavian, you may just be in for a culinary adventure, as the galley tries to satisfy the varied palates. Eating in the same dining room with the crew can pose some adventures of its own, too. While English is the international language of the sea, your formerly East German captain may be more at ease with Russian, while his French First Mate ends up translating everything the Filipino Engineer adds to the dinner conversation. Some things freighters do not normally offer – endless buffets, special meals (vegetarian, diabetic, etc.) or gourmet haute cuisine.

Freighter cruises do not provide much, if any, formal, organized entertainment. There will most certainly be a lounge or recreation room, shared by crew and passenger alike, to provide a place for watching DVDs or videos, playing cards or board games, and a shipboard library of well-read paperbacks. You will definitely want to take along your own entertainment and reading material, though, as your viewing and reading choices may be as multi-linguistic as the dining room. A short wave radio might be a good idea, as AM/FM types do not receive any signals offshore. There is no internet or mobile phone connection either. Some freighter cruises do have a swimming pool, most are indoors but some can be found on deck. Some offer an exercise room, too.

Many passengers spend their time in walks around the deck, or lounging about in a deck chair, catching a few rays. There are long afternoons for napping, chatting, reading or writing. (Did you know Alex Haley wrote much of his groundbreaking bestseller "Roots" while serving aboard a freighter?) Some ships engineers offer tours of their engine room, while bridge visits with the captain or first officer are welcomed by some crews. In short, your shipboard entertainment varies widely from freighter to freighter. What you would not find on a freighter cruise are days crammed with organized nonstop activities, BINGO, casinos, Vegas style shows and trips to the spa.

Port visits with a freighter cruise can be adventures in their own right. First, while commercial cruises run on tight schedules, freighters do not. So that might mean your scheduled stop in port at 8am may not happen until 8pm. Or not happen until next Tuesday, for that matter. Secondly, most cargo docks are well off the beaten path. Be prepared to spend a good bit on taxi or bus fare just to reach "civilization" and even more to get to any tourist-y type attractions. Third, time in port usually depends on the dockhands and port master.

You may end up not having enough time to even leave the ship, if the offloading/loading is completed sooner than originally thought. Lastly, some port visits may be cancelled while en route, depending on the cargo contracts with the freight company. An expected call may not occur at all if the shipping company does not have enough out-going cargo to warrant it.

Freighter cruising may not be for everyone. It is not a glamorous or glitzy way to travel. While it does have its benefits, from a lower price than most cruise lines to a chance to really get away from it all, its drawbacks may put off some who prefer a bit more pampering to a freighter cruises adventurous nature.

By: Ranko Zunic

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Discover the Exotic Turkish Coastline

All the people who like to go on a vacation in the exotic country of Turkey always try their best to spend a few days or even a few hours aboard Bodrum Yacht Cruises because they never miss out the city of Bodrum. This city is known for its exotic nature and though not that famous around the world, it has a lot of be proud of. It is a very popular resort in the Mediterranean area and those who like to spend their holidays in the classic Mediterranean weather always want to visit Bodrum. Located in the Gulf of Gokova, some people feel that either they can visit the resort and spend their time here, or they will not get a chance to see the cruises and this is not a fact. The fact of the matter is that all the Bodrum Yacht Cruises actually leave their port from this enchanting city only and no where else and so people worry over something they do not need to worry about.

This island also known as the island of Gokova is a place which you will not want to leave once you start liking it. The clear translucent waters that keep lapping on the sandy beaches is a treat in themselves. It also allows one to see the rich marine life that lives beneath.

A day on Bodrum Yacht cruises will always be a day full of adventure. One can do just about anything from swimming or snorkeling, fishing or cooking, or if the weather does not permit, just sit out basking in the clear warm sun, a glass of your favorite drink in one hand. The climate is soothing and relaxing and one does not feel like doing anything, but simply wants to laze around doing nothing. This wonderful feeling will always catch you on this trip and will be the perfect way to break a way from the stress that you came to escape from here. The views that surround you are also very beautiful. They will range from exotic scenes of islands, to ancient treasures and ruins of a glorious civilization. Along with this, you will also see a really rare natural beauty of the planet that is perhaps not seen anywhere else. One of the popular stops on the trip will be at Sedir Island which has a unique history behind it. It has pieces of both, the Roman and the Egyptian civilizations and it said that beaches of this island are covered with a rare golden dust that were spread by Mark Antony as a gift to his beloved Egyptian queen, Cleopatra. There are even a few Roman buildings on the island which though lie in a state of gloom, speak volumes about the place and its history.

One can go on Bodrum yacht cruises by themselves or with family and friends or can go on a trip on a bigger one; the days vary from three to seven days. In any case, you will not come back disappointed because you are sure to have the time of your life.

By: Gordon Banks

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Celebrity Millennium Mediterranean Cruise Review

We sailed from Marseille on a Mediterranean cruise with Celebrity, on the Millennium. A business meeting in Dublin caused us to miss the first day of the cruise from Barcelona, but since that was also where the cruise ended, we knew we would see it anyway. Marseille - taxi from airport 40 euros. Arrived in the rain, so tired that we decided to sleep the day away rather than visit Marseilles or nearby Provence.

Dinner companions included a couple from Northern Ireland, a couple from Holland Park in London and another from Miami. Traveling with my best friend was an asset as we moved around the table nightly to talk to the others at the table.

Food. The first night, I was disappointed by the food. Celebrity has such a fine reputation for food that I was expecting more. My cruising experience is not vast to this point, but I was expecting it to be better than Holland America, and it was not. On our first formal night there were only 6 of us rather than 8, and the food was excellent. After a LONG day in Rome, we opted for the buffet dinner, which was fine and filling, but not memorable by any stretch of the imagination. Lunches on board were the usual salads, hot meals, hamburgers and pizza, which the very popular ice cream bar.

Spa: The first day on board, we signed up for everything for our day at sea - classes, lectures, and a pedicure. It was excellent. However, being a day at sea, the only spa appointment to be had was at 8AM, and that early start required that I take a nap (oh the luxury of cruises) late morning to recoup. Our day at sea was event filled, from pedicures to a shopping lecture to an art auction, ribbon rose making, lunch, spa lectures, history lectures and more. We had so many things on our agenda that we missed our Cruise Critic meeting and a few other things as well. Simply too much to do.

Our ports: Villefranche, the port for Nice was alluring, with its typical Cote d Azur landscape of seafront restaurants with their awnings blowing in the breeze, ochre and saffron colored houses stretching up the hillside, citadel and gardens. The charming small town of Villefranche easily occupied us for an afternoon, but fellow travelers marveled at the beautiful hilltop village of Eze, and the ease of taking the train to Monaco or to Nice and Cannes. In half an hour and only for a few euros, you are in the center of Cannes or Monaco.

For Rome, our port was Civitavecchia, well worth a miss on a Sunday. The train to Rome is about an hour and a half from there, but the infrequent train schedule on a Sunday (check Trentitalia before you leave), caused us to wait an hour for the train, and arrive in Rome too late for our appointment at the Villa Borghese, which has Rome's premier collection of masterpieces, including works by Titian, Caravaggio and Raphael.. In any event, by friend was able to talk our way into the fabulous art collection at that late hour, and for free as well. It was raining when we came out, a reason to stay in the museum café and have an overpriced (though typical for Rome) lunch before making our way to St. Peter's. We had both visited previously, so ours was just a quick visit to oogle some of the things we had missed on other occasions.

Afterwards, a taxi to the train station had us arrive, panting, just in time for our train back to the port. A misunderstanding meant that we did not have tickets, and were fined for not having a ticket when boarding, but the whole trip was worth the expense.

Mykonos We docked at 1PM, and took the shuttle to the town for $10 each. We walked around the harbor, mainly browsing the shops, but also seeing the local church and the Catholic church, the windmills, Little Venice, and walking the winding alleyways with the whitewashed houses, agean blue doors and purple bouganvilla. Back on board, the Greek dancers brought on board made the atmosphere more special. We took a shore excursion.

Ephesus - the highlight of the trip. An unusually early departure 715Am for a full day tour that included Mary's House, Ephesus, a museum, and St John's Church. Marys houses was the most solemn and serene place of the day. In the cool air of morning scented by what I believe were laurel trees, it was wonderful. The trek through Ephesus, by contrast was out in the blazing sun (even in May), but was the highlight of our cruise. It was most impressive - from the men's latrine, the library, to the amphitheatre, and more. The museum had many mosaics and statues from the area. St. John's church was interesting as well. I did not care for the rug store we were shown at the end. The vendors in all shops were TOO aggressive.

A lazy day at sea followed, with lectures, art auction, theater, films and more. Palermo. My choice was to give it a miss, and none of the shore excursions sounded interesting. We did explore on pour own, during siesta, when the shops were closed. It was a mistake - I have never seen a dirtier, less friendly city. We walked to the cathedral and the opera house. I should have stayed on board.

By: Ellen Mcnulty

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