Category — Blog Posts

By Kris Spealman, Senior Cruise Consultant, The Cruise Web.

When most people hear “cruisetour,” the first places they think of are Alaska and Europe. And it’s no surprise that cruisetours here are very popular because Alaska and Europe are beautiful places to visit. However, there are other destinations that deserve the same attention: South America, Antarctica, Asia, Australia/New Zealand or even Canada and historic America. Historic America? Yep, you can see Washington DC, Gettysburg PA, Philadelphia, and New York City coupled with a Canada and New England cruise. Land and sea at a great value, the best of both worlds! Does that sound like fun to you?

If Canada and historic America are not your speed, then how about a cruise to South America with a tour to Machu Picchu and Iguazu Falls? You can cruise Cape Horn – which some say is just as beautiful as Alaska – with its glaciers and fjords full of wildlife, like penguins and whales. Some tours even allow guests to take a peek at Antarctica while they’re down there. This is very limited stuff and it goes very fast, so book early!!! [Read more →]

By Jennifer Crivelli, Senior Cruise Consultant, The Cruise Web.

Alaska is the largest state in the United States, over twice the size of Texas.  Yet the majority of cruises to Alaska only visit the lower sixth of the state, including the major cities along the Inside Passage.  To truly experience Alaska, you need to head inland, into the wilderness and away from the coast.  The best way to do this is through an Alaska Cruisetour.

I recently visited Alaska on a Royal Caribbean 11-night Alaska Cruisetour starting from Fairbanks, Alaska aboard the beautiful Radiance of the Seas.  Our flight landed in Fairbanks late in the evening and despite the late hour, the sun was shining bright.  After our transfer to the Pike’s River Lodge, we enjoyed a late dinner on the outside deck overlooking a river, while the sun remained high in the sky.  Visiting Alaska makes you appreciate the black-out curtains, provided in our private cabin at the lodge. [Read more →]

A compilation by The Cruise Web employees.

It’s impossible to travel as much as we do and not pick up a few tips along the way. And seeing as ’tis the season for giving, it’s only appropriate that we pay it forward. We hope you enjoy this collection of our favorite travel tips and find them as useful as we do.

Sherry J.
“When getting ready to pack, lay out all your clothes and money on the bed. Take half the clothes and twice the money.”

Caroline T.
“When packing for vacation I have learned to pack my “staple” clothes that I can mix and match to create different outfits along with a few “fun” accessories and “statement” pieces to help vary each outfit. Also, when packing I like to use the shower caps as shoe bags to help keep my clothes clean.” [Read more →]

By Julie Atkins, Manager of Client Services and Group Administration, The Cruise Web.

Cruising with young children is such a rewarding experience – one that I encourage all families to take part in. However, most anyone with kids knows that travelling with youngsters presents its own set of challenges. It’s for this reason that I’d like to share my tips for travelling with young children. What follows is a collection of handy tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way.

My daughter’s first trip was when she was seven months old and I took her to England and Portugal. Erin wouldn’t remember any of it, except she was crawling age and wanted to crawl around the plane! At this age it seems you have every child item, from a stroller to the car seat to the diaper bag full of essentials. I always took an extra pack of diapers above what her normal 24-hour use was. The best items by far were the Similac ready-made bottles, very convenient and great for travel. When traveling by plane it’s a great idea to take several toys to keep babies entertained because at this age they are stuck on your lap for the length of the flight. Erin’s first trip to the beach was in Portugal, she just crawled around eating the sand! On the way back from England one of our flights was cancelled so I ended up with planes, trains and automobiles with a 1-year-old! It was tough getting around with so many items to carry, but I always found people willing to assist. [Read more →]

By Ken Cho, Cruise Consultant, The Cruise Web.

When I was asked to write this article, the marketing folks at The Cruise Web handed me a loaded question: “what’s in store for the future of cruising?”

I’m not a seer with additional insight into the industry and the “future” can mean so many different things. Really, I’m still waiting for the flying cars I was promised 30 years ago. So I think we have to temper any predictions for the “future” of cruising with a foundation of reality but liberally laced with bits of fancy.

So let’s start with the concrete and immediate tangents of what we can expect for the future of cruising: new ships. [Read more →]

A compilation by The Cruise Web employees.

Being a cruise travel agency, it makes sense that our employees would be extremely enthusiastic about cruising. As a matter of fact, it’s not uncommon for at least one employee to be on a cruise at any given moment. For the rest of us back at the office, it’s hard not to think about where we want to cruise next. Read on to see our future cruise plans.

Karolina S.
“I’m thrilled to say that my future cruise plans include a voyage on the Norwegian Epic this New Year’s Eve!  I’m taking my husband and daughter out to sea to bring in 2012 and we can’t wait!”

Mike H.
“I’m looking forward to getting my 1-year-old on her first cruise. I don’t care where it goes… a luxury cruise sounds nice!” [Read more →]

By The Cruise Web, Inc.

A few weeks ago I heard a pod cast of a short story written by Neil Gaiman, featured on the This American Life’s radio program. The segment was all about adventure and how adventure has different meanings to different people. For Gaiman’s family, adventure meant a harrowing experience getting the daily mail. For others, adventure is defined by scaling the perils of Mt. Everest. An adventure of whatever sort is truly seen in the eye of the beholder. [Read more →]

A compilation by The Cruise Web employees.

One of the best aspects of cruising is that you’ll never run out of opportunities to do something new and adventurous (unless you’ve done it all – in which case, stop bragging). Aim to do something that makes your friends back home jealous! Need inspiration? Take a walk on the wild side and explore our favorite adventures!

Heather W.
“I have had many wonderful adventures while cruising. Some of my top memories include snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, caving with glowworms in Dunedin, New Zealand, zip lining in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and skydiving in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Ice-skating in the middle of the Caribbean is always a fun adventure too!” [Read more →]

Courtesy of Saint John Port Authority.

As Canada’s oldest incorporated city, Saint John has been welcoming people from eastern Europe, England, and Ireland for centuries. Each group of immigrants has left their indelible imprint on Saint John culture, architecture, and language. Natural wonders are at the doorstep, and non-stop city activities offer endless possibilities. Saint John, New Brunswick, where natural and historical attractions and the warmth of its people await you.

You will be awed as you descend to the ocean floor and walk where just hours earlier, 200 billion tonnes of seawater covered with churning tides. At low tide, visit and explore the St. Martins Sea Caves or at high tide, kayak above the same very spot. Whether you explore by foot, by car, by pedal, or paddle, the Bay of Fundy delivers an ocean of wonderful-filled adventure. A day’s sail from New York, Saint John offers the old-world charm of a historic seaport and a base for exciting Bay of Fundy eco-adventures. [Read more →]

Courtesy of Halifax Port Authority.

Halifax, Nova Scotia is known for the friendliness of its locals and its scenic beauty. Steeped in history and culture, Halifax offers a number of historic sites to discover, natural areas to explore, cultural events to revel in, shops to browse, and restaurants to dine. With a population of 390,000, it is an ideal blend of big city and down-home hospitality.

Being the largest city in Atlantic Canada and Nova Scotia’s capital, the experiential options are diverse. Explore a myriad of shore-side experiences celebrating the city’s unique and cultural heritage and natural beauty. Just minutes from the cruise ship, you can find a variety of stores and restaurants for any appetite. [Read more →]