Category — Cruise Destinations

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 →]

By The Cruise Web, Inc.

Appropriately I am writing about green on St Patrick’s Day and everyone around me is sporting their finest green ware.  When they asked me to write about the color green, I am not sure they knew it was my favorite color, but, really, what’s not to love?  Green is the color of spring, of the Super Bowl champions, the Green Bay Packers, and of the wonderful band Green Day.  It is the name of one of the best REM albums.  Green is the color jacket for which every golfer aspires.   A green flag starts car races, even my 2 year old son knows that green means Go!  Green is renewable and fresh.  And, of course, it is the color of money.  Who doesn’t want more green! [Read more →]

By Jacques Botty, Senior Cruise Consultant, The Cruise Web.

It had been a long-time dream of mine to visit Antarctica and I’m proud to say that I finally turned that dream into a reality this past November. Setting foot on the great white icy continent easily tops my life’s greatest experiences. Plus, the trip bestowed upon me an even greater appreciation for the wildlife conservation and research efforts in the Antarctic – something I now strongly advocate and donate to.

My trip, like most Antarctica expeditions, started in Ushuaia, Argentina – a city that prides itself on being the world’s southernmost city. Large mountains and the Tierra del Fuego National Park surround Ushuaia and Patagonia. After spending some time in the city, where popular activities include nature hikes, fishing and horseback riding, we headed out to sea and began our expedition.

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By The Cruise Web, Inc.

This month we’re channeling our inner explorers and looking at ways to re-discover our world. Fortunately for us, many cruise itineraries imitate the routes charted by some of history’s greatest explorers. So if you’re feeling adventurous, pull out your compass, gather your bearings and set out to recreate these famous explorations. Or just find a cruise that will do the hard part for you – leaving you with all of the fun and none of the scurvy.

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By Rosalind Smith, Business Development Manager.

My passion to explore cultures around the world began as a child when my parents took me to a series of outdoor summer cultural festivals in my hometown of Baltimore, MD. This was my introduction to a taste of the world and soon became a running checklist of countries and cultures to explore. I quickly became fascinated with the Far East and, like many Americans, my first exposure to Chinese culture was food, followed by art and jewelry. I soon developed a longing to see the culture first-hand and started planning my own trip. [Read more →]

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

Some of the best deals and exotic itineraries can be found when cruise ships reposition. This is often the case during the fall, depending on where in the world the ship is. For example, cruise ships can relocate from the United States to the Caribbean. This results in bargain prices and unique port of call combinations such as Eastern and Southern Caribbean islands or even Bermuda for the day.

My favorite repositioning cruise was from Vancouver to Los Angeles aboard Sapphire Princess. These repositioning cruises over on the west coast are often referred to as ‘Coastal Cruises.’ Sapphire Princess had finished the summer season in Alaska and was scheduled to do the winter season roundtrip from Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera. My unique itinerary was a five night sailing, which included stops in Victoria, Canada, San Francisco and Santa Barbara (where we had an awesome time at the wineries). We witnessed an incredible sunset as the ship left Santa Barbara for a day at sea, followed by our final disembarkation at Los Angeles, her home port for the winter season. [Read more →]

By Adam Wolf, Senior Cruise Consultant, The Cruise Web.

In the northern hemisphere, fall marks the transition between summer into winter, usually beginning in September and ending in November.  As a former teacher, I have always thought about fall in terms of either going back to school or work, as well as the beginning of football season.  It’s a great time of year to take a cruise vacation, and there are plenty of destinations to consider.  Popular fall itineraries include Canada and New England, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and repositioning voyages.

Leaf peeping in Canada and New England is an annual tradition.  Any area that is covered with trees comes alive in the fall, when cooler temperatures arrive and the leaves begin to change color before winter.  Mountains and valleys can look completely different during this time of year, with a potpourri of colors typically peaking in late September and early October.  Cruise lines offer many fall cruises ranging from 7- to 14-nights out of New York, Baltimore, Boston, Montreal, or Quebec City.  These itineraries sail along the Atlantic Coast of New England and Canada, as well as along the St. Lawrence River.   The best way to see the ultimate fall foliage and visit this region full of history and natural beauty is definitely on a cruise ship. [Read more →]

By Julie Atkins, Manager of Client Services & Group Administration

Taking a baby on vacation may seem more challenging than rewarding, and in my experience it’s a bit of both. I always joke when I get back from vacation with my daughter that I need another vacation on my own! When Erin was six months old we decided to take her on her first cruise.

I chose Holland America because they had the most suitable itinerary, sailing on the ms Eurodam. When choosing an itinerary with babies or young children, the Caribbean is a very good choice. We visited St Thomas, Tortola and Grand Turk which are best known for their soft sandy beaches. We went for 7 nights and traveled in the month of December.

Eastern Caribbean Beaches

When you arrive at the ports of call, the best source of information is of course the locals. So we always ask them where the quiet, family-friendly beaches are and we are never disappointed.

One of the ports of call is Half Moon Cay, Holland America’s private Island. They have an option to book a Cabana on the beach and I would highly recommend doing this. It allowed us to spend the entire day at the beach, it was air conditioned and stocked all day with soft drinks and fruit. They have comfortable cushioned lounges and exclusive waiter service. Priceless! [Read more →]

Warm weather and sunny skies can only mean one thing, it’s time to hit the beach! And with so much cruising experience, it’d just be downright selfish if we didn’t share our favorite beaches. Without further ado, our favorite beaches and beach experiences:

Adam Wolf
My favorite beach is Magens Bay located on the north shore on the Caribbean island of St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands.  Magens Bay beach is a state park…the beach is heart shaped and is approximately 1 mile long, featuring serene turquoise waters, beautiful white sand, and plenty of shaded areas under the trees…typically there are no waves or currents at the beach.  Lifeguards are on duty during the day and there is a bar, gift shop, and great bath facilities…don’t miss eating breakfast there at the snack bar.  National Geographic magazine called it one of the top 10 most beautiful beaches in the world!

Gloria Hanson
I would have to say one of my favorite beaches is in Bonaire. I can’t swim and am not particularly fond of water activities because of this impediment, however, when we cruised to Bonaire and I saw how shallow the water was, it gave me a whole new outlook on water sports. [Read more →]