By Andy Gustafson, Cruise Consultant, The Cruise Web.

The Olympics. The name stirs memories of sporting legends. Jim Thorpe, Jesse Owens, Carl Lewis, Mary Lou Retton, Dorothy Hamill, Michael Phelps, Dewan and Dave. Dewan and Dave? Well, yes. Last year these two put on a sporting exhibition that will have people talking for years.

I arranged a cruise for some 30 of my friends last spring (because a cruise is just that much better with friendly faces aboard). Shortly after boarding and discovering all of the games available to passengers, two of my friends decided to find out which one of them was the better athlete. Aboard the wonderful ship, these two held their own decathlon. The rules were simple, they each chose 5 events, whoever won the most was the winner. [Read more →]

While the Olympics and cruising may seem completely opposite at first glance, a closer look reveals the two are quite similar.  Both the Olympics and cruising celebrate the world and its many people and cultures. The Olympics celebrate the world by bringing people across the globe together to showcase the skill of highly trained athletes. Cruising celebrates the world by taking a group of people and introducing them to different nations and cultures across the globe.

With this in mind, it is easy to see how the two completely different events share the commonality of celebrating the world.  And what’s more is that it is easy to combine the two into one incredible vacation!  While you may not actually cruise during an ongoing Olympics, you can visit many of the cities that hosted previous Olympics and even visit the birthplace of the Olympics themselves.

Mediterranean
The region from where the Olympics originated has continued the tradition that started in Athens so long ago.  Athens was host to not only the original Olympics but also to the 1896 and 2004 Summer Games. A discus’s throw across the Adriatic Sea and you come to Rome, which hosted the Summer Games of 1960. And last, but not least, across the Mediterranean Sea from the original Olympic site is the host city of the 1992 Summer Games, Barcelona, located on the eastern shore of Spain. You can hit one or all three of these previous Olympic sites during a Mediterranean cruise. [Read more →]

By Rosalind Smith, Business Development Manager Charter, Incentives and Meetings, The Cruise Web.

The wave of the future is here for conducting business at sea; sales meetings, team building retreats and company events alike. Nearly 80% of North America has yet to cruise, according to Cruise Lines International Association. However, 70% of the earth’s surface is water.

Gone are the days of “business as usual.” Planning a business meeting, corporate incentive or product launch has never been easier or more cost effective. This year we will welcome 15 new vessels into the cruising industry, with facilities to accommodate 264 to 5,400 guests. The cruising industry has listened and is attracting the most demanding corporate event planners.

TOP REASONS TO CONDUCT BUSINESS AT SEA:

1.  SAVINGS
Your bottom line and return on investment (ROI) are of primary concern. However, sacrificing the quality of your business meeting is not necessary. Conducting business at sea will save 25-45% as compared to a land-based hotel or resort. Cruise ships are continually designed with the meeting professional in mind. [Read more →]

By Arthur Balin, Asst. Sales Manager, The Cruise Web.

I cannot believe it has already been three years since our wedding on board the Crown Princess. Looking back, I must say that it was a truly great and stress-free experience.

My wife Yelena and I knew at the onset that we did not want the big traditional wedding. Hosting such a big event and especially planning for it was not something that appealed to us. Having been in the cruise industry for a short while already, I knew how popular cruise ship weddings were. After doing some research, we agreed: there is no better way to celebrate our love than to get married in the middle of the ocean surrounded by our family and closest friends. We loved the idea as it gave us a chance to have the small, intimate wedding we wanted, allowed all of us (our guests included) to have a nice relaxing vacation, and the whole package was surprisingly affordable. [Read more →]

By Jennifer Crivelli, Cruise Consultant, The Cruise Web.

Before “The Love Boat” ever aired its first episode in 1977, cruises have long been intertwined with romance. Understanding the important relationship between cruising and romance, today’s cruise lines provide a variety of ways to turn an unforgettable vacation into the unforgettably romantic vacation of a lifetime.

Set sail to exotic destinations while enjoying the sunset over the ocean.  Enjoy a late night walk on the Sun Deck under the stars, as the moon glistens off the ocean below.  Dance the night away in one of the many onboard lounges or cuddle on the pool deck while enjoying a movie under the stars.  For those passengers still looking for that special someone, the singles meet and greet cocktail party is a great way to meet the man or woman of your dreams.  And once you step ashore, the romance begins almost immediately: a gondola ride on the canals in Venice, strolling in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, or walking along white sand beaches a Caribbean Island hand-in-hand. [Read more →]

A compilation from The Cruise Web employees.

Near the end of every year, people reflect on the year that has passed and start to plan for the New Year ahead.  And one of the many ways people begin their plans is with a New Year’s Resolution. Sometimes the resolution is a summary of all the things someone wishes to accomplish in the coming years, and others are simple phrases or statements that help people stay focused on their new or continuing goals. While not every person practices making New Year’s resolutions, below is a collection of some of The Cruise Web’s employees who do.

Adam W., Cruise Consultant
Spend as much time as I can cruising.  I’d like to spend as much of my vacation time as possible on the water. Where will I cruise? That’s half the fun–planning where to go next!

Raquel G., Cruise Consultant
My resolution is to finally take my Commodore cruise with Cunard; I would really like to do the Transatlantic Crossing on the QMII or QV! [Read more →]

By John Tarantino, Senior Cruise Consultant, The Cruise Web.

Food… cruising… food… cruising… food… cruising. Everyone associates cruising with food. “Oh my, I ate so much on my cruise.” “I gained 5 pounds on my cruise.” “When I moved from the front to the back of the ship I think I felt the ship tip a bit.” There is always an abundance of food choices on a cruise.  From the vast breakfast buffets to the elegant gourmet dinners, a cruiser is faced with an endless parade of goodies!! Fear not, you can enjoy it all and NOT gain weight. [Read more →]

By Jennifer Crivelli, Cruise Consultant, The Cruise Web.

Two of my favorite places to shop when I cruise are the Caribbean and Mexican Riviera. In addition to the warm sun and sandy beaches, I love the great shopping opportunities that are in each destination. So, what is there to buy in the Caribbean and Mexican Riviera? It all depends on where your cruise takes you.

St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands and St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles
These two Eastern Caribbean destinations are a Mecca for jewelry shopping. Whether you are looking for diamonds, precious gem stones, or watches – there is a wide variety of stores in each of these ports-of-call that will vie for your business.  Also, check out the following jewelry stores for unique items, found only in the Caribbean: St. Thomas – Bernard K. Passman, home to hand carved black coral jewelry; and in St. Maarten – Majesty Jewelers, home to the Kabana Collection, gorgeously inset mother of pearl. [Read more →]

Collected from the experiences of The Cruise Web employees.

There is something exciting about shopping while traveling. It is the physical act of being able to take a piece of the places you have visited with you.  This, of course, is a popular activity while cruising because your purchases turn into a physical map of the many ports and countries that you have visited along the way. 

Below is a great variety of ports, shops, cities, countries and vendors our cruise consultants have discovered to help you the next time you “make” your map.

Linda I., Senior Cruise Consultant
Silver Exposure, Cabo San Lucas.  There is a very unique silver jewelry here and it is designed by locals.  VERY reasonable prices and if you pay cash it’s an additional 10% off.  I definitely helped her out.

John T., Senior Cruise Consultant
Whenever we go to the Caribbean, in any port you can find bottles of Vanilla.  Eastern, Western, Southern… they all have it and it is very good.  The bottles are usually decorated with a Caribbean theme specific to the country in which it was bought.  My wife has them displayed on our counter top.  She uses them for various recipes and they come out GREAT!!!

 Carol T., Cruise Consultant
My shopping treasures are rarely found in a store or shop.  I like picking up small paintings, sketches, and various other forms of artwork directly from artisans I encounter in nearly every port on every cruise itinerary.

Look for these folks in easily accessible public spaces or on sidewalks near prominent attractions.  Outside of the [Read more →]

Collected from the experiences of The Cruise Web employees

Regardless of how many times you cruise Europe, you really never see it the same way twice. With so much history and culture and food to experience, each cruise offers a completely different experience, even if the itinerary is the same! But the true way to experience Europe is by finding those “off-the-beaten-path” places that enable you to experience the culture (and usually food) of the area without all the tourist traps. Below are just a few of these hidden gems that our cruise consultants (and their family members) have discovered during their European cruises. [Read more →]