Unlike aircraft travel where you are guaranteed to feel uncomfortable for the long 20 plus hour flight, a cruise ensures up to five star treatment, with some of the best facilities and personal catering.

And for those who find meeting new people a challenge, fear not, boat cruises have an abundance of people, like-minded, all within a 500-meter radius of each other.

If your personal space is what you like, than you can just enjoy the pleasures on sun baking on the top level of a luxury cruise ship, overlooking some of the oceans natural beauty.

Cruises always do their best to ensure every service and amenity is met to make you feel special.

Along with stunning ocean view balcony suites, a glittering array of entertainment, unique spa and fitness centre, sumptuous cuisine choices, professionally staffed Kids Clubs and 24-hour service, the friendly staff onboard will always be waiting to make your cruise an experience like no other.

Cruises operate in most parts on the world, and in Australia there is a plethora of locations to choose from including the tropical northern regions like the Whitsunday’s, or the capital cities such as Melbourne and Sydney.

Boat cruises can vary from prices and be as cheap as $500 dollars for a few days in an average boat, or more than a thousand for a week in a five star ship.

This fall, the line will offer classes based on Microsoft’s Windows 7®, exclusively available on both ships – a month before the operating system will be available to the public. Additionally, guests aboard Crystal Serenity’s 2010 World Cruise will be able to earn three transferable college credits for various computer courses, and can learn using two different operating systems, Microsoft and Apple.

The Windows 7® classes will be taught by Crystal’s Computer University@Sea instructors, and cover basic computing and valuable tips for mastering the operating system and maximizing ease and efficiency. The collegiate courses aboard the World Cruise, taught by an instructor from Del Mar College, include:
• Components of the System Unit
• Computer Storage Devices
• Database Management
• Privacy and Ethics

“Our guests expect sophisticated enrichment that includes progressive programming and the latest equipment,” says Thomas Mazloum, Crystal’s senior vice president, hotel operations. “We continue to strive to offer the very highest level of curriculum, as well as options to suit virtually any interest.”

Every Crystal Cruise offers complimentary instruction on the Windows 7® operating system, e-mail, website design, digital video editing, digital camera orientation, Photoshop, and even surfing the Web. Other topics include Word, Excel, Access, Powerpoint, greeting and business card design, and various financial research tools and spreadsheet preparation. Private instruction is also available. There is a nominal fee for those wishing to earn collegiate credit.

Renowned for its onboard enrichment, Crystal also offers varied, comprehensive programming on every worldwide itinerary, including keyboard classes through Yamaha and language classes through Berlitz. World Cruise segments feature expanded options, with additional lectures and classes.

The epic 108-day 2010 World Cruise departs Miami on January 11, and visits such exotic destinations as South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and Iran, among more than 40 ports in 37 countries.

For additional information or booking, please contact Miramar Express at +852 3960-0388 or email to mecruises@miramarexpress.hk; visit also the luxury line’s website at www.crystalcruises.com.

The ‘Pink Ribbon Cruises’ will feature Captain Cook Cruises normal cruise itinerary plus exciting extras including a beautician onboard so passengers can be pampered, raffles with great prizes to be won, an NBCF guest speaker, a pink party and formal dinner and NBCF pink ribbon merchandise will also be sold on board.

All monies from raffles and merchandise and a proportion of money from cruise fares and beauty treatments will be donated to the NBCF.

The two night cruise onboard the “MV Captain Cook’s Explorer” kicks off on Friday night with a breathtaking sunset over the sails of the Sydney Opera House, marking the start of the welcome Pink Party where anything pink goes from clothes, cocktails to top hats.

Saturday it’s time to walk off breakfast with an early morning stroll around the Botanic Gardens before cruising up the Parramatta and Lane Cove Rivers. Another dining delight awaits with a seafood buffet lunch, followed by a leisurely afternoon of retail therapy at The Rocks Markets.

The evening’s Individually Formal Captains Dinner has no strict dress code – from haute couture to that favourite little black dress, passengers can wear whatever makes them feel special and enjoy an a la carte three-course meal followed by live music and dancing with the city skyline as the perfect backdrop.

Sunday passengers can do as little or as much as they like. Join one of the headland walks, visit beachside Watson’s Bay, relax and take in the views or indulge in one of the optional beauty therapies. After lunch disembark at Darling Harbour at 3.00pm.

The two night ‘Pink Ribbon Cruises’ cruise departs Friday October 9, 16 and 30 at 6.00pm, with boarding from 5.00pm from No.1 King Street Wharf, Darling Harbour.

Fares start from $470 per person twin share and mention NBCF when booking and receive 10% off. Fares include all accommodation, meals and most activities.

For further information and bookings, please contact Captain Cook Cruises toll free from Australia on 1800 804 843; Int +61-2-9206 1100 or visit www.captaincook.com.au.

For parents there are the usual activities. Your rest, relaxation and rejuvenation is certainly the focus and you can spend all the time you’d like lounging by the pool or on the deck, as well as indulging in a massage or facial. Evening recreation opportunities are plentiful for once the kids are in bed, and it varies from ship to ship. There are also great opportunities for socialising and networking with other parents as well as wine tasting groups, exercise rooms and nightclubs for adults only on most family cruises.

For kids, there are all kinds of activities aboard. Being the focus of a family cruise, kids can enjoy luxurious swimming pools, special gym classes and activity centres focused on entertaining them and keeping them busy while the adults have free time to relax. The crew on board are fully trained and certified in childcare and are more than suitable to mind your children while teaching them to engage in crafts and various activities.

If you have older kids, there are also teen centres aboard some cruise ships. This is becoming a more and more popular trend. In fact Coca-Cola recently teamed up with the Carnival cruise line to bring exciting new teen centres to their fun ships. These teen centres have been created out of extensive market research and include dance floors, jukebox listening stations, a mock bar with non-alcoholic specialty drinks and space for the teens to just hang out. This revolutionary concept has helped to engage teenagers who are not interested in things like craft and swimming with the younger kids purely because they feel like being more independent.

One reason that cruises are a great idea for family vacations is that most of the costs are included in the base price of the trip. While you are on the ship, things like meals and activities are for the most part covered. This is great because you do not have to give your children money you can know up front how much your vacation is going to cost. For an all-inclusive holiday that has something to keep everyone in the family happy, a family cruise is the way to go.

Many people who experienced the close contact with the Alaska glacier will tell you that it is an experience unlike any other. You too will soon learn that a visit to Alaska will involve a close look at something amazing – glaciers. Most of the people who have only seen a photo of a glacier not aware of their beauty, but those who have all agree it is a breathtaking sight to be remembered for years to come.

Although there is often talk in the news that weather conditions are threatening the natural beauty of Alaskan glaciers, there is still a great deal to see on an Alaskan cruise. The glaciers alone sit as lone natural wonders with a rhythm of their own. Simply witnessing their beauty from the closeness a cruise ship can offer will provide you with much greater fulfilment than you could hope to gain from any other cruise.

Being in Alaska, you can expect to see a great deal of exceptional wildlife while on your cruise. The wild animals in their natural habitat are another amazing sight, and something unique to an Alaskan cruise. The entire trip will be a special vacation for you whether you travel alone or with your family. The cruise is an experience in itself and the glaciers and wildlife are phenomenal. An Alaskan cruise will be a fond memory for you to cherish for years into the future.

A Bermuda cruise is the best way to unearth the jewels of Bermuda, the total land area of which is only 35 square kilometres. When it comes to cruise options, there are a variety of kinds for you to choose from: family, business, honeymoon or even singles only. There are also two options for choosing a Bermuda cruise – you either board your cruise from the US itself or take a flight to Bermuda and then embark on your journey.

It is important to know the ports of call in order to plan your tour. Normally cruises will stop at all the three ports of Bermuda. Hamilton, the capital, is the busiest of all the small towns of Bermuda and is a great place for shopping. Also known for its exciting nightlife, Hamilton is bound to entertain all who visit.

Some of the settlements on Bermuda’s east coast are almost four centuries old including the port town of St. George’s, a World Heritage Site listed by UNESCO. And for even more historic tales, visitors can see the Royal Naval Dockyard where they can learn of about a history of British naval exploits through the various forts and museums on site. The three main ports will be your base while on the cruise and from there you can explore the centre, eastern coast and western coast. Horseshoe Bay, South Shore Park and the Cristobal Colon ship wreckage are all must-see places while in Bermuda. You can also choose from various activities to partake in while there, including eco-tourism, golf and water sports. If not, simply lay back on the beach and watch the majestic waves break upon the shore.

Bermuda receives moderate rainfall throughout the year. Tourist influx in the islands is at its highest during the months of April to September and cruise services during the winter months are almost negligible. Many cruises offer huge discounts during the low season so you can benefit from booking early and getting a fantastic bargain. Departures for Bermuda cruises are available throughout the year; so choose a schedule that suits you and your fellow travellers.

Before embarking on your cruise it is imperative to know what activities or charges are included in your cruise package. At all the ports passengers are charged an entry tax so make sure this is included in your fare. Cruise packages often advertise reduced rates; but find out whether it includes additional taxes, the expenses of hotel accommodation on land, city excursions or spa and gambling charges on board. Different price options are available – you can either book for a cruise that will also include your city expenses or you can book for the cruise only while do your own thing once you are on land. Both are flexible options for having the cruise of your lifetime in Bermuda.

Day cruises are similar to traditional cruises, but many are not as glamorous and overnight accommodations typically do no exist. Relaxation on the water and sightseeing are just a few of the many reasons why daylong boat cruises are so popular.

St. Thomas has amazing beaches and beautiful shorelines. If you are interested in taking a daylong boat cruise, it is likely that you will be able to see everything that St. Thomas has to offer. In addition to seeing the shoreline, the clear waters often make it possible for you to get a clear view of the exotic marine life by snorkelling or scuba diving in the beautiful Caribbean waters.

In addition to its wonderful scenery, St. Thomas is a great location to go on a daylong boat tour because of its amazing weather. Known for its balmy tropical weather, St. Thomas is the ideal place to spend a daylong boat cruise. The ideal weather creates a calm, cool and relaxing environment – even better for when you want to relax, wind down and enjoy your time aboard a luxurious cruise ship.

Day cruise ships are usually equipped with all the facilities and amenities you need. They generally have onboard dining facilities and serve you a number of meals throughout the day as well as snacks and beverages. The cost of food and drinks is usually included in the cost of the day cruise, making it ideal for those who want to go travelling and do not want to be confronted with unexpected costs that blow the budget.

In addition to onboard dinning, it is possible that you may find fun onboard activities. These activities most often come in the form of entertainment and dancing venues. A large number of daylong cruises are also referred to as dance cruises. Individuals of all ages enjoy dancing aboard a cruise ship. Almost all daylong cruise ship dances are geared towards individuals of all ages. This means that whether you are vacationing with your partner or your children, everyone can enjoy themselves on a daylong dancing cruise.

Whether you are interested in sightseeing, dancing, or just relaxing on the water, a daylong boat cruise around St. Thomas may be just what you need. And if a day cruise isn’t enough, you will surely be able to find weekend cruises for a little bit more luxury for longer.