You can choose to take a cruise on a huge ship with an ice rink, rock climbing wall, Flowrider surf machine, full court basketball, and mini golf course on a holiday through the best Eastern or Western Caribbean islands. Or you can choose to take a very small and intimate vessel on an intrepid and unconventional adventure out to the Galapagos Islands to marvel in the beauty and wonder of some of nature’s most incredible creatures.

You can go for as short as one night on a “cruise to nowhere” just to get a taste of what cruising is like or if you don’t have a lot of time, or you can go on a three month cruise all around the world from America to Europe, sailing through Western Europe to the Mediterranean to Scandinavia, through the Suez Canal and into the Middle East, down past Africa and into Asia, across to South America and back to America. The options are truly limitless, and with a range of different operators such as Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean cruises whatever you choose, your cruises will be amazing.

Royal Caribbean has a range of top-class ships cruising to, and around, several different continents. 

The company goes to 233 destinations in 72 countries, across six continents.  The hardest choice could just be choosing where to go!

Just how do you decide where to go?  Here are a few guidelines to narrow down the choice:

•    What length of time do you have for your cruise holiday?  If your time is limited, a ship leaving close to your home base could be the best.
•    Do you want to spend more time on the ship or more time exploring the ports of call?
•    If your preference is for some, sun, sea and sand then you might like to consider ships that cruse around the romantic Caribbean or the Greek Islands.
•    For stunning beauty, consider a cruise taking in the majestic scenery afforded by an Alaskan cruise.  Perhaps you would prefer an exotic cruise to Asian countries.
•    If you have the time and enjoy sailing on the high seas, consider a round-the-world journey.  What better way to get lost in time.
•    Cost is another important consideration but as most incidentals are covered in the cost, budgeting is easier.

These are just some of the key questions to consider before deciding what cruise to take and where to go.

Here are some guidelines about what to take on your dream cruise.

Cruise hosts want guests to feel comfortable but, like any good restaurant or resort, they also want the experience to remain special for everyone. 

On Princess Cruises, they ask that passengers wear smart casual, similar to the clothing you would wear at a smart resort.  

For women, that means skirts, shirts and trousers.  Mix and match combinations are ideal, as are dresses.  Take shoes to match your chosen outfits and swimwear for relaxing around the pool.  For eveningwear, formal dresses, smart trouser suits or cocktail dresses are perfect.  A wrap or scarf is a versatile addition to keep evening chills at bay and if you need to cover yourself when visiting religious sites.

For men, open-neck shirts and trousers are ideal for during the day and, for the formal evenings, pack a tuxedo, dark suit or a dinner jacket and trousers.

It is always wise to pack some warm clothing, a sweater, or similar, and take some rainwear and an umbrella.  Comfortable shoes are a must for day trips on land and for walking around the deck, some shoes with soft soles are the most suitable.

If you wish to take advantage of the sports facilities on board, then be sure to pack comfortable clothing suitable for the activity.

Royal Caribbean has been in the business of cruise holidays for several years.  In 1988 they launched Sovereign of the Seas, one of the largest cruising ships in the world: in fact, it brought back the trend of building large, mega ships.  Similarly, in 2006, Royal Caribbean launched Freedom of the Seas – another large cruising ship –, which featured the first ever surfing machine on a cruise ship.   Even Empress of the Seas, while being the smallest in their fleet, can accommodate up to 1600 passengers.  In most Royal Caribbean cruise ships each cabin can accommodate two passengers.

Royal Caribbean ships offer some truly outstanding facilities and services.  These ships are also famous for their interior decorations and exceptional artworks with matching backdrops.  Similarly, the ships’ public area is designed with lively and vibrant decors.  The cabins for passengers, however, are subtler and have serene decorations – perfect for relaxing after a busy day’s sightseeing.

There is nothing like enjoying your cruise holiday aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship.  With Royal Caribbean you can not only visit some dream locations – you will be able to do it in style.

The great advantage of exploring the islands of the Caribbean on Royal Caribbean cruise holidays is that you can make full use of your time rather than wasting a big chunk of it on logistics such as getting there and organising transport.  In addition, you’ll have no delays at airports and no traffic jams.  You simply need to be at the point of embarkation on time.  After you arrive, put your feet up in an environment well oiled to cater for your every need.

Nobody in their right mind is going to opt for a fixed hotel when you can have one whose scenery changes by the day, pulling into exotic ports of call to let you explore other ways of living, and that lets you see the sights before moving on to the next port.

There are no unexpected extra costs on cruise holidays.  The price includes everything available to you on board, so you can budget down to the last penny.

Royal Caribbean cruises make for the perfect break, letting you explore the whole of this fabled region at a slow and easy pace, yet taking it all in.  Let others do the work whilst you enjoy your holiday.

Now that skill can be learnt on a cruise holiday.

The cruise lines won’t guarantee you will be another Anton de Beke at the end of your holiday, but trained ballroom dance instructors will be on hand to teach you the basic moves.  It is a great way to keep fit and much more fun than sweating it out in the gym.

Princess Cruises have recognised this and have introduced what they are calling the Ballroom Blitz to some of their cruises.  They even have an end-of-cruise dance evening when passengers can show off their newly acquired skills.

Several other cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean have ballroom dancing instruction as part of their dance entertainment, and most of the instructors are former champions in their particular dance style.  So if you have a passion for the Argentinean Tango, you will probably be getting instruction from a top duo.

If you are a really keen ballroom dancer why not join a specially themed dance cruise?  What could be nicer than waltzing, quick-stepping and cha-cha-cha-ing over the waves to your next port of call?
 
Take a tour through the cruise deals online and find one that specialises in ballroom dancing, and even if you are an absolute beginner you will be sure to find what you are looking for.

Many such amenities are located right out on the decks of the ships. Carnival ships include nine-hole golf courses, as well as the standard swimming pools other cruise lines also have.  Some of their ships include theatres with LED screens to broadcast sporting event, movies and more.

Inside the ships, Carnival places bars, duty-free shops and other amenities.  Like most cruise line, Carnival of course has casinos inside as well.

The fun continues well into the night on Carnival ships.  The casinos are open late.  Even those who do not wish to gamble can find something to keep them up all night.  Bars, clubs and shows entertain well after the sun sets.  The shows range from amateur karaoke hours to performances by professional singers, musicians and dancers.

Carnival makes sure to entertain children as well as adults.  Camp Carnival is aimed at very young children ages 2 to 11, while Circle C entertains 12- to 14-year-olds.  For the teenagers (ages 15 to 17) there is Club O2, which offers video games, karaoke, even pool parties and other sporting activities.

Of course, some people want something more relaxed out of their cruise.  For these travellers Carnival has fitness centres, spas and salons.  You can maintain your daily work out, or get a relaxing spa treatment to help you forget about the tension of regular life.

Many cruise lines offer trips to the Greek Islands.  Holland America Line provides several options, including cruises to the city of Rhodes.  Located close to other destinations, such as Lindos, Rhodes is a city steeped in history.  From the former site of the Lighthouse of Rhodes to the 4th century BC Temple of Athena, the city is an ancient history lover’s dream.

Royal Caribbean also has lines devoted to cruises to Greece.  They cruise the Ionian Sea, stopping in destinations such as Athens, Santorini, Mykonos and Katakolon.  In Athens, you can see the Acropolis, upon which the Parthenon is located, or the Hill of Muses, where legend says Socrates drank hemlock to pay for his views.

Athens is the most popular destination in Greece.  You will easily be able to find a cruise line that can take you to the historic city.  However, there are many other sights that are worth seeing.

Some cruise lines stop in Mykonos, for example.  The city has a beautiful beach and long stretch of scenic coastline where you can enjoy swimming and other beach activities.  Mykonos also has the iconic white-washed, blue-domed look that many think of when they envision the Greek Islands.  You can even take a ferry from Mykonos to the nearby island of Delos, which holds many temples and monuments.

It makes sense that you would want to consider their many offerings before deciding which kind of cruise will suit you.  When you start looking into the variety of things being offered by Costa Cruises you will realise they have destinations dotted all over the world.  To this end it doesn’t matter whether you want to have a break in the Far East, America, the Norwegian Fjords or the Red Sea, you will no doubt find a Costa cruise holiday that will suit your needs.

For starters, you should look through the various destinations they offer and think about how long you want to spend away enjoying your cruise.  You can then find the best offer for you, which should also take your available budget into account.

The cruises offered by Costa Cruises are many and varied, and you will be able to see this once you take a look at their range.  No two are exactly the same and since they have a good range of ships as well, you can pick the cruise that is going to be virtually perfect for your requirements.

In short, Costa Cruises is one of the leading names in the industry for one very good reason.  They know what their customers want and they provide it.

There are currently five ships that provide cruise holidays with Thomson Cruises.  The names of these ships really give you a good feel of the kind of experience you will have on board.  Take the Thomson Celebration for example, or the Island Escape.  They make you feel as if you are just moments away from starting to enjoy your cruise, don’t they?

They also give you a flavour of what to expect once you get on board.  Thomson Cruises aim to give you a sensational holiday experience from the moment you step on board and find your cabin.  Once you are settled in you can start enjoying all the experiences and features that come with any cruise holiday.  Thomson Cruises have put a lot of work into their cruise ships to make sure they offer you the best facilities to use.  You can look forward to spas, sports and a lot more besides.

It is easy to have a more active time on board if you want to or, alternatively, you can sit back and relax for the whole time.  It’s up to you.