Washington is one of the most beautiful states in the country. It contains several magnificent mountains, including Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams, Mt. Baker, and Mt. St. Helens, which erupted in 1980.

The fun city of Seattle is also in Washington, as well as Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands.

I first visited Washington state with my family back in 1972, at age 10. We toured the Olympic National Park and went on several hikes up there. We also visited Mt. Rainier, one of the tallest mountains in the country. I was awed by the mountains and the magnificent beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

From 1974 to 1978 my sister and I went to Camp Norwester, an overnight camp on Lopez Island, one of the three largest islands in the San Juans, a tiny group of islands located in the northwest corner of the states. The islands are quite beautiful, covered with evergreens. Several ferries shuttle between the islands as well as Anacortes, the closest city on the mainland.

Seattle, the largest city in Washington, is a very exciting town. It has a famous fish market, where fish are caught and thrown to the customers. Seattle also has the Space Needle, a tall modern tower which rises over 600 feet above the city. I've been up in the Space Needle a couple times and was quite impressed by the view.

Another place I recall visiting in Washington is Spokane, the second largest city in the state. My family took me there in 1974, when Expo '74 was in progress. I enjoyed the World's Fair quite a bit! This is the only world's fair I have ever attended. I recall that they had some great ethnic food as well as some interesting displays regarding the environment and energy conservation.

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Which Caribbean island is calm and peaceful during the day but exciting and full of nightlife at night?

I'm planning a trip with a few friends and i remember hearing about an island that fits this description. I may be wrong and it could be somewhere else, or its one island that's calm and then have to take a ferry to the second island where all the partying is, i'm not sure. Anyway, any informant ion or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

I can tell you for sure that St Lucia is full of party life. You can go to clubs every night in St Lucia. There are also street Jams all weekend long at various parts of the Island.

You can also find several things to do during the day that would as interesting and fun as partying at nights if you wanted to.

Here's a Video about caribbean island ferries:

Ferry from Culebra Island to Puerto Rico mainland

Cruise ship vacations are available for any type of pocket. One can find luxurious trips which might cost a fortune. Also, there are certain 'budget' trips catering for people with limited money. However, one can enjoy a good cruise vacation and still save good amount of money. For this to happen, some advance planning needs to be put in place. Great deal of money can be saved by taking into consideration time of booking, group size etc. Here are some more tips for saving money on a cruise vacation booking.

The internet is a great source of every type of information about cruise ships. While booking online, one has a chance to get a good deal. However, there is a catch in that. One might be able to lay hands on a good package within his/her budget but lose the most sought after cabin which might be already booked.

One can check for something known as "category guarantee" booking. With this type of booking one can get a specific room category but the exact room would be assigned while boarding or some time in advance. One has the chance to get a room in the higher category at no additional cost but cannot get a room in a lower category than booked.

There are chances to get great deals depending on the season you are deciding to sail. Cheaper packages with all features can be obtained while booking in off-seasons. During the period from starting of September to Thanksgiving the costs are relatively lower owing to school time. Further, one can plan just before Christmas, before the vacation period starts and during early part of the year to have a good inexpensive deal.

Similarly, there are some periods during the year when one can get a great deal for Alaska while paying half of the peak season rates! The off season for Alaska includes early and late season months of May, early June, and September. Another point that can be kept in mind while planning for a cruise vacation is that twice during a year, ships move to new bases. Such cruises are called 'REPOSITIONING CRUISES'. There is a relocation period for ships from Florida and the Caribbean to Europe and Alaska during fall when they reverse their directions. These voyages have a period from two to three weeks but have fewer destinations and larger time is spent sailing. However, there are huge discounts during this period.

Further, one can get cheaper rates while going for group bookings. In such bookings, a number of people are clubbed in larger groups and all of them get good deal in lesser price. But, one's itinerary gets locked with the group. Thus, you don't have personal freedom regarding the choice of activities and travel to locations off the cruise. One should do enough research while planning the cruise vacation. This is important for having a great amusing holiday and having an experience of a lifetime!

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Is it likely that a Carnival cruise during the first week of August will be cheaper near the sail date?

I am currently planning a mini family reunion and some family members were unable to afford the $1111.00 per person fee for a 7 day Caribbean cruise. It was too expensive as they have children and would have to pay for them as well, not to mention the air fare. I was wondering if it would be possible for them to "find" better rates closer to the sail date?
_ Do you think it would be possible? - Where can they look for deals?

-- See we really missed out because all of the "group" discounts were sold out on this ship, ( @$ 780. per person) and being so close to summer I was unable to find another ship with group rates for a 7 day Caribbean cruise.

No. The best deals are usually on trips booked well in advance. Some deals can be found after the 60-day final-payment deadline [i.e. 60 days before the cruise]. However, August is prime cruising time, even though it is hurricane season, because that's when the kids are out of school.

You might check VacationsToGo.com or Travelocity or Expedia, etc. for prices, although prices don't really vary that much among agencies because the cruiselines discourage or don't allow big discounts.

Here's a Video about cheap caribbean sailing:

Sailing Caribbean Breeze; Fast Ride Saturday

Royal Caribbean can arrange the event of your life on board one of their ships. Whether it is a renewal of wows or the first time you get married there are plenty of suggestions for the ceremony and everything around. Depending on your budget you could be offering your guests to come along and combine your special moment with a vacation on the seas.

The wedding doesn't necessarily have to be on the ship. A cruise makes many stops in exotic ports and arrangements can be made that the stop over is long enough for the wedding ceremony to take place on dry land. Or why not skip the formal arrangements of gowns and tuxedos and simply find a private corner on a sandy beach to make those vows on? Imagine it and check it with them, chances is that it can all be arranged.

If you prefer to keep the groom in some kind of formal wear on your wedding day Royal Caribbean can take care of this as well. A tuxedo rental service makes sure that the formal wear for the groom is ready, clean and elegant and it includes the whole outfit from the socks to the tie. The bride can enjoy herself in the ship salon to make sure that she gets a professional make-up and hair-do for the event.

For a couple that chooses to get married on a Royal Caribbean cruise there is really no service missing. The company also provides packages for the proposal which could include things like chocolate covered strawberries, flower petals and other romantic arrangements for the engagement. All it takes is some pre-planning with the staff and then a vacation could turn into something quite different for the surprised partner. A cruise wedding is something special that most people will never experience, except, perhaps, you!

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What is a good all inclusive family vacation for a family with a 10 month old?

My husband and I would like to go somewhere--anywhere with childcare for a 10 month old. He is our only child, so my husband and I don't need lots of activities for children...we are just looking for a few quiet moments and lots of 10 month old fun. I've looked online and found many choices but was hoping someone may have a personal positive experience. We are going in June and need to decide now (Cruises are out since they are mostly booked for June and only a few have childcare options). We would prefer something all inclusive and that wont be so far away that flying will cost an arm and a leg. We live in Arizona so Mexico seems fesable (Ixtapa, Mexico--Club Med, anyone been?). But we are open to any fun US location too. I also wouldn't mind the Caribbean..we love Beaches but not sure which one...again, we need the most bang for our buck. I guess I'm asking for it all. All inclusive, childcare and cheap plane tickets. Maybe I am looking for the impossible. Thanks!

Tyler Place Family Resort is Vermont's original All-Inclusive Family Resort. We have 9 age-staggered kids programs for Infants to Teens, a cozy cottage or family suite with separate parent's bedroom, and awesome, enthusiastic, counselors you'll want to take home with you. We also provide exceptionally good wholesome meals - three times a day - plus snacks, evening meals without the kids - a chance to recharge your marriage, an amazing variety of land and water sports with no waiting lines, and lots of fresh air, green grass, blue water, bonfires and nights full of stars.

Here's a Video about cheap caribbean all inclusive cruises:

Bruce Fougner - Lloyds Travel - Cruises vs. Cheap All Inclusives

Celebrity cruises. Many guests on board luxury liners want to expand their ocean activities to those that include sightseeing and wildlife spotting. To satisfy these interests, Celebrity Cruise packages now offer extra tours for those who want to explore the waters of Australia and New Zealand.

Since you may be heading out to other destinations, these Celebrity trips last very briefly. They give you the satisfaction of an enriching experience even within a short period of time. With the experienced staff and crew of Celebrity Cruise ships, you will be able to enjoy many water adventures and do wildlife sightseeing with many brief yet fruitful stops.

1. Getting to Know the Sydney Harbor:

Your Sydney Harbor excursion will take you to one of the most famous tourist spots in Australia. You will be taking a serene walk along the harbor as you go to your waiting luxury vessel. Once aboard, your tour guide will point to you and explain the important areas of the harbor. You will also get a good look of the luxurious mansions along the shore where the rich and famous of the country reside. As you go further, you will pass by Watson's Bay and the Taronga Park Zoo.

The Harbor Cruise is one of the memorable things to do in Australia so make sure you have your camera in tow to capture every moment. This short trip along the harbor may well be your best opportunity to take an excellent shot of the Opera House and the Sydney Harbor Bridge. The tour package also includes on board coffee, tea, and cookies so that you will be able to enjoy your snacks while taking in the breathtaking view of the harbor.

2. Otago Harbor Wildlife Tour:

You can also go on a Celebrity nature exploration in the Otago Harbor of Dunedin, New Zealand and view the region's exotic wildlife creatures. The ship captain himself will guide you along the trip as you spot interesting bird species and other animals. Keep your eyes open for penguins, dolphins, albatross, seals and other sea birds that you may spot. The captain will then take you to a spot in the sea where there are many seals sprawled across the rocks near the water.

3. The Celebrity cruise package...

...will also bring you to Taiaroa Head* where you will see as many as ten species of birds that are nesting along the walls of a cliff. If you are lucky, you will be able to spot the magnificent Royal albatross. At the end of your trip, you would have already taken many beautiful pictures and wonderful memories with you.

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Which Caribbean Island is right for us?!?

My husband and I are planning a trip to the Caribbean in October! We are hoping that in October the islands wont be so crowded like in the summer. But we are having a really hard time deciding on an island! We would prefer All-Inclusive (but it doesnt have to be), with the clearest, blue waters and the whitest beach. And the best value! We have found some in Jamacia we are interested in. They seem to have the cheapest resorts. Does anyone have any suggestions?

st.lucia baby. it has what you described n more.sandals grande is all inclusive.but i would recomend ladera resort in soufriere.its ideal for vaccation and great for couples.the give you a real taste of the caribbean. my mom works there. many famous people have been there.

Here's a Video about cheap caribbean all inclusive trips:

Dreams Trips - Discount Travel and Cheap Vacations

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What are the best 5 star luxury all-inclusive resorts?

We are looking to have a family vacation to remember this winter. My father is disabled and in a wheelchair so the resort needs to be wheelchair accessible - can't stress this enough!

What are the best 5 star luxury all-inclusive resorts? We are looking in the Caribbean primarily.

The Palace, Riu and Breezes Grand Resort and Spa are among the tops. To learn about more, I recommend checking out the link below with Apple Vacations the all-inclusive specialist and whole seller.

Here's a Video about luxury caribbean vacations all inclusive:

Hotel Meliá las Dunas, All Inclusive at Cayo Santa María, Cuba

I am an experienced cruiser, I have visited many different ports of call on many different cruise ships. I have enjoyed cheap cruises and more expensive ones, and the one thing that they all have in common is that they all want your money.

Of course, the cruise line is a business just like any other, and they are very good at extracting money from you. In a previous article, I outlined the 3 best free things that you can do to enhance your cruise. You should read that article if you have not already. But the topic of this one is to learn how to save money on your cruise by learning where the traps are.

The biggest money trap is obvious, it is the sign and sail card. For those who have not cruised yet, the sign and sail card is issued to every adult on the cruise. You can use it in place of cash on the cruise ship, and just pay the bill at the end of your vacation. You can use it everywhere: In the bar, the gift shop, the casino and coffee shop, just to name a few.

The problem is that it is just like a credit card. Statistically, we will spend 18% more if we only use credit cards because we do not think of it as spending money. The same is true with your sign and sail card. The challenge is that in most places on a ship, you cannot pay cash even if you want to. You cannot hand the waitress any cash on the lido deck, unless you are giving her an additional tip, even the tips are added to the card.

The best way to handle it is to identify the places that you can pay cash and resolve to pay cash there: The casinos, bingo, and tips to the room steward, and dining room waiters are all places where you can and should pay cash.

In addition, I always go to the Pursers desk at least two or three times to pay down my room bill. This reduction in the cash in my wallet is a not too subtle reminder of how much I am spending.

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Help with Allure of the Seas?

I booked a cruise for Allure of the Seas (december 26- january 2 eastern caribbean) I guess when the oasis first debuted, some of the shows were not completely ready, mainly the diving show. Will the shows all be ready to go by the ships third sailing? Also, is allure going to have hairspray or a different broadway show? And are there any differences between oasis and allure? I want to know answers to all these questions but the big on is about the diving show and whether it will be ready or not!
one not on in the last sentence

If this is your first cruise with Royal Caribbean, I understand your concern, and want to set your mind at ease. Simply-put, there is no question all the shows will have their kinks (what few there were back in the summer when Oasis debuted) worked out. Especially the new Diving-show. With the diving-show being a completely new concept in cruise On-Board entertainment, there most-likely were some unforeseen technical issues that could not be resolved until after the ship was beyond it's sea-trials. Because of this, some of the first cruisers on this incredible ship were shorted a little. But I doubt you will have any issues once you board Allure.

As for the stage-shows, well, your best-bet there is to ask RCCL directly or contact your booking-agent. I will tell you this much, prior to Oasis' debut, RCCL was boasting about the new routines they were coming up with for not only Oasis, but the entire fleet, so my guess is you will not be disappointed on RCCL's Broadway-act.

I'm jealous of you!

Make sure to tell the rest of us your experience once you get back!

Bon Voyage

Here's a Video about biggest caribbean cruise ships:

NBR | World's Biggest Cruise Ship | PBS

Most people who love cruise vacations might also fantasize about going to the idyllic island paradise - miles and miles of gorgeous white sandy beaches, turquoise blue waters, lots of sun, lush tropical forests .. and with hardly a soul on the island.

But is that what happens when you go on an island cruise vacation on a gigantic modern cruise liner? Sure, the island may be a paradise - great beaches, bluish green waters, hardly any inhabitants, tropical forests and all. But what happens when the ship gets to the island?

Whoa! A hungry horde of thousands of tourists from the cruise liner descend on the island in no time ... and wherever you look, all you see are tourists and not the gorgeous beaches.

Then you start wondering if this is the vacation experience you were so excited about.

But it does not have to be that way. You see, it is not only cruise liners that go to island ports - commercial freighters do too. These ships sail to some gorgeous islands and dock at ports cruise liners do not . The result is that the port is not deluged by tourists and you may get to see the place in all its natural beauty - the way it actually is everyday.

And it is becoming increasingly popular for vacationers to travel on board these freighters and get to places that are not on the itineraries of cruise liners.

The accommodation on board may be comfortable, but you would not want to compare it with what would be available on board a luxury cruise liner. And you might get to see stuff like cargo being loaded and unloaded and the other activities that occur on board a freighter. In essence, you will be sharing the ship not with thousands of other vacationers, but with tonnes of cargo, possibly a handful of other tourists and sailors.

If you do not mind foregoing all the attractions on board a modern cruise ship and if you will not miss the elaborate buffets and dinners, then traveling aboard a freight cruise ship may be one option you might want to explore.

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Best caribbean destination?

My husband and I are starting to think about next year's vacation. We would like to go sometime in May. It remains to be seen if we will be able to afford Hawaii, which is my first choice of destination. My second choice would be somewhere in the eastern or south eastern caribbean. My only concern about flying in and staying on a caribbean island would be running out of activities and things to do. I am sure we would spend some time laying on the beach...but you can only do that for so many days. I would also want to do alot of sightseeing and possibly be able to rent a self-guided boat (no guide) for a day to go explore on our own. Does anyone know of any islands that have a wide array of sightseeing and activities? I had Turks/Caicos and USVI at the top of my list. Would either of those be good? Thanks!

Puerto Rico has everything! We have mountains, caves, hiking, beaches, amazing historical sights, bio bays, snorkeling, diving, sailing, swimming, surfing, and of course shopping, clubs, restaurants, world class casinos and two botanical gardens. You could be here a decade (like me) and not see it all. We also have two smaller islands off the coast, Vieques and Culebra, that I recommend for the beach portion of your trip. You just can't miss an overnight at least in Vieques for the Bio Bay, as long as there is no to little moon Then you can move around the island for the rest. Rincon has surfing, diving and amazing snorkeling off Desecheo. Old San Juan has the great historical sights, shopping and restaurants. You can see a rain forest, El Yunque, and head out for a day on a sailboat in Fajardo. At La Parguera on the south coast you can rent small boats by the hour or day to explore the protected mangrove cays. Or take a ferry to Caja De Muerto on the weekend, pristine beach and a historic lighthouse are it's attractions. Then when you get back you can feed the pelicans on the docks at La Guancha. My point is that you can never run out of things to do here, and you can find just the things your into whether it's off the beaten path or touristy.

http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/

http://www.seepuertorico.com/

http://enchanted-isle.com/vieques-biobay/

Here's a Video about caribbean islands vacation guide:

Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort and Spa - St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

Crewed motor yachts are yachts that you charter for a vacation without needing to have any sailing experience. With the crewed charters, you don't have to do any work in handling the yacht or navigating the waters of the location you choose. You can choose to have a luxury charter where you have exquisite surroundings and meals prepared by a chef. Waiters bring you drinks and the members of the crew will provide instructions for water sports if you need any. Crewed motor yachts range in size from yachts that can only take 2 passengers to ones that can take up to 12 or more.

A crewed motor yacht charter is an excellent choice for a family vacation. Children are welcome on these yacht charters, but none of the crew will be assigned to looking after them, even with luxury motor yacht charter. Parents are expected to keep the children entertained and to bring whatever they need for enjoyment aboard with them. Crewed motor yachts are perfectly safe for children, but like any location, you do need to keep them within your sight at all times.

When you choose a luxury motor yacht charter, you have a personal chef to prepare your meals. However, before you arrive to meet the yacht, you will already have informed the company about your food preferences through the food preference sheet. This sheet also includes a list of beverages for you to choose from, which include soda, wines and alcoholic beverages. The chefs of crewed motor yachts take great care to prepare meals that you will enjoy and only use the freshest ingredients. In the case of fruits and vegetables, the chef of a crewed motor yacht charter may buy foods at the various locations.

Whether or not you experience any seasickness on crewed yacht charters depends on you. It is probably a good idea to take some form of seasickness medication with you so that you can thoroughly enjoy being on a luxury motor yacht. If you are new to vacationing on a crewed motor yacht charter, be sure to let the crew know so they can choose routes that will cause you less discomfort. If you smoke, you will have to limit your habit to the outside areas of the yacht. Since the interior of the yacht consists of close quarters, yacht charter companies do not permit smoking inside.

With crewed motor yachts you have comfort and style. You do not have to bring anything with you and all the linens, dishes and utensils are there for you to use. Both the exterior and interior of these yachts are roomy so you can sit back and enjoy the charter in comfort. You don't have to worry about the wind because the motor will take you to your destination on time. You can enjoy air-conditioning with luxury motor yacht charters, although most of the charter yachts do have this feature included. Depending on the location and type of charter, some crewed charter yachts include scuba diving equipment, kayaks and other equipment you would need to enjoy a variety of water sports.

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what clothing is needed for a Caribbean cruise ?

Some other tips...

- Consider taking a 2nd swimsuit...the suits never dry and who likes to put on a wet swimsuit day after day?
- For the suit, if you like one pieces, consider a two piece tank type for shore excursions. Some of the bathrooms in the shore excursion locations are not great...
- a swimsuit cover up for shore excursions.
- water shoes are better than flip flops for shore excursions. Flip flops are fine on board.
- a large canvas bag to take on shore excursions or for shopping in port
- if a 7-day cruise, 2 formal nights...you can't go wrong with a little black dress cocktail style. Limit to 1 pair of dressy shoes. Closet space is limited in cabin.
- A lanyard for your cruise id card. They sell the on the ships but they are usually not that great
- shorts, skorts, capris with tees or tanks are great for days at sea. Sundresses, dressy capris are good for the casual evenings.
- club wear if you enjoy the discos

Other items to take along...
- a nightlight or alarm clock w/a light. Cabins are wicked dark.
- a power strip. There is only 1 power outlet in most cabins. Useful when using curling irons, hair dryers, etc.
- sunburn relief...aloe stuff.
- one of those new XXXL Ziploc bags for dirty, sandy clothes.
- plenty of !, 5 and 10 in US dollars for shopping in port, taxies, porters, tips for shore excursion personnel

Here's a Video about caribbean cruise clothing:

Royal Caribbean Mexico Mexican Rivera Cruise Rock Climb

When looking at vacationing aboard a cruise liner, they are many people who are unconscious of what to expect. Individuals that have never had in a cruise liner before are inclined to be a little bit confused when it concerns cruise ship destinations and ports of calls. If you are interested in using some kind of cruise, it is advised that you familiarize yourself with cruise liner destinations and ports of calls.

A port of call is a termed that is used by many cruise companies. It is used to describe stops that a cruise ship will make along the way. If you are curious about booking a vacation aboard a ship that makes multiple port stops, you will want to interpret the ports available. Vacationing on a cruise liner is enough to produce any vacation perfect, but selecting the correct ports of calls will create a vacation even more enjoyable.

When examining the cruise ships offered by multiple cruise lines, you ought to automatically be provided with cruise ship stops. This information may state where and when cruise will stop. Information may be available as to the amount of time the cruise ship plans on staying at a certain port. If the stop is long enough, you it is in a position to view local attractions.

All around the globe, they are many ports that cruise liners regularly stop at. Nearly all the hottest ports are found in the Caribbean. If you are looking for a tropical cruise, you may like to think about the climate of each port before making your reservation. Popular ports incorporate, but aren't limited to, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and St. Thomas.

Caribbean cruises are often viewed as the most popular types of cruises, but they are not the single ones that are available. Vacation cruises are popular all across the globe, including in Europe, Canada, and the Northern US. The ports of call on these cruises may be never be an option tropical, but they still offer many fun and exciting attractions for cruise liner travelers.

In addition ports of call, you will also see information on a cruise ship's final destination. When selecting a cruise ship, the final destination is extremely important. This is because most, but not every cruise ships return to their originally place of departure. For prevent unnecessary travel, it is advised that you look for a cruise liner that returns to its original port of departure.

As aforementioned, cruises ship vacations are popular all across the globe. When selecting a cruise liner to vacation on, you are encouraged to hold this in mind. In addition the ports of call and onboard activities, you ought to interpret selecting a cruise liner dependent on its location of departure. If you are interested in vacationing on a cruise, but while on a budget, you may like to select a port of departure that is located approximately home. Printing so could prevent unnecessary travel expenses.

Cruise ships depart from ports all across the globe. Popular departure locations in the Untied States comprise, but aren't limited to, Texas, New Jersey, Louisiana, Hawaii, and Florida. Overseas cruise liners often depart from England, Italy, Germany, Spain, Norway, and Portugal. Additional departure ports may be around; nonetheless, it will all hinge on the cruise ship in question.

With all of the available cruise liner destinations and ports of call, selecting a cruise liner to vacation on may seem overwhelming. Despite this overwhelming feeling, you are still encouraged to research all of your available options. Taking the occasion to research popular cruise ship destinations and ports of call is the most appropriate way to make the most from your cruise ship voyage.

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Is anyone going on the royal Caribbean cruise tomorrow to Bermuda leaving from somewhere in new jersey?

Or course there are, I'm just not one of them. Ships dont leave empty you know.

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Getting from JFK to the Cruise Terminal

River Cruises are an exploding segment of the leisure travel industry. This former upstart has become wildly popular with reservations coming in at record rates. By comparison there are 15 million ocean cruisers annually. A much smaller number-about 300,000 North Americans are taking a river cruise annually. However, the industry has been growing 20 to 25 percent a year. To meet the demand river cruise companies are ramping up with amazing destinations and new ships.

Most of these ships are small with a capacity of 100 to 150 passengers. You could meet everybody on the ship. Meals are open seating, and all shore excursions are included. Fans of these cruises say its also a much easier way to experience the history and culture of a people and its country than on a big cruise ship. And, they really like that the price is all-inclusive.

If you want a romantic interlude on the water but are looking for something more intimate than a mega ocean cruise liner, than consider river cruising to an exciting destination. Here are three options.

1. Come aboard the Amadolce ship for a new 11-day "Romantic Christmas" itinerary begins your festive holiday journey in fascinating Budapest, for a city tour and visit to Budapest's own unique brand of Christmas Markets. Travel to historic Bratislava and vibrant Vienna, bedecked in holiday décor, and explore the city's lively Christmas Markets. Continue to Melk, known for its famous Benedictine Abbey, and then picturesque Linz and Passau. Visit the scenic Danube town of Vilshofen before disembarking for spectacular Prague, with its glimmering Christmas Markets. The Amadolce is owned & operated by AMA Waterways, one of the leading providers of river cruises. Prices range from $2,000 to $3,000, but add-in the price of airfare because departure is from Prague.

2. The Independence cruise ship's is a brand new 104 passenger ship scheduled to make its maiden voyage in June/ 2010. Destinations include Chesapeake Bay, New England and the coast of Maine. The operator promises, as the ship winds through scenic rivers, sparkling bays and historic harbors you'll discover the undeniable magic found along Maine's coast. The Independence is owned and operated by American Cruise Lines which specializes in a unique style of small ship cruising along the eastern waterways of the United States. Prices range from $3,000 to $11,000.

3. The Orient Pandaw's eight-night "Into the Heart of Boreno" cruise offers departures from early May through December. Borneo, the third largest island in the world after Greenland and Australia, has one of the most diverse eco systems on the planet, its primary rain forest is home to a vast number of species of flora and fauna. Cruise up the Rajang River to Kanowit where you will enter the Kanowit River and cruise deep into the jungle. The Orient Pandaw is owned and operated Pandaw River Cruises which specializes in Southeast Asia and India. The average price is $4500.

There are many more unique river cruises to choose from. Visit your travel agent to get additional information. River cruise lines have state-of-the-art ships, luxurious staterooms, gourmet dining and culturally enriching tours. It's a great option for a romantic getaway.

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What do you think of Royal Caribbean cruises in comparison to others?

I have been on 6 Royal Caribbean cruises, 3 Princess, 1 Celebrity and a 7 Norwegian cruises and I prefer RC to the others.

At one time I liked the Norwegian cruises the best. But after they started the "freestyle" cruising I do not like them as much because I prefer the traditional style dinner seating where I get to know one waiter and his assistant during the cruise, rather than having a different table and waiter each night. I like Norwegians ships but do not think they are as nice as the Royal Caribbean ships I have been on. I think the RC cabins are more tastefully decorated and more comfortable.

The one Celebrity ship we were on, the Constellation, was as nice as any ship we have sailed on. I would rate them about equal with RC.

Princess has, in my opinion, some of the nicest ships around. What I did not like about Princess was the older crowd of people and I don't care for their "personal choice" dinner seating either. Again, I prefer the traditional dinner seatings.

I have been very satisfied with the RC ships we have sailed on and my favorite ships are their Radiance class of ships which includes the Jewel of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas, and Brilliance of the Seas.

Here's a Video about caribbean cruises comparison:

Mariah Carey - Touch My Body New Studio Recording