Archive for January, 2010
So, you want to go on a cruise! It’s exciting, it’s fun and it’s your way of enjoying the great life. But how do you make the choice of where to go, when and with whom? There are so many choices with respect to cruising nowadays that it can be very confusing. Here are a few tips to consider helping you decide which cruise is right for you.
Listed below are few examples of the types of cruise you may wish to take:
1. Mediterranean cruise
2. Caribbean cruise
3. an Alaskan cruise,
4. a cruise down the Amazon or Panama Canal
5. a Transatlantic ocean crossing
6. South Pacific or Hawaiian Island cruise
7. River cruises (the fjords in Norway, the Danube in Europe, the Nile in Egypt, the Mississippi in United States)
8. Polar cruises to see the penguins in the Antarctic
9. Russian waterways cruises
10. Galapagos Island cruises
11. New Zealand or Australia
Each can be very appealing but are also very different.
1. The first thing to consider in taking one of these cruises is when you want to go—the time of the year can dictate the type of cruise. Some cruise ship lines do not offer cruises to the Mediterranean in the winter months, but transfer their ships to the warmer waters of the Caribbean. Alaskan cruises only run in certain months also due to weather conditions. Ocean crossing cruises (Transatlantic) take place only as the seasons change so that cruise ship companies can reposition their ships to match the high seasons’ tourist industry.
2. You also have to decide on the length of your cruise. A typical choice is a 7-night cruise, but you can take cruises from 3-4 nights to over a month in length, or more. The length of your vacation time available may limit you, but taking a cruise for the first time may also be a consideration. Limiting your cruise to a manageable shorter cruise may help you decide whether a longer cruise at another time may be more advisable. In other words, do you get seasick? Do you like the variety of visiting different ports? Do you wish to simply stay at one destination and relax? Do you like the busy atmosphere of the many activities on a ship?
3. Next, the ports that you wish to visit can be a great part of which cruise is the right choice for you. Have you always wanted to visit Tortugas, the Bahamas or Cayman Islands? Here is your chance to get a taste of it. Make sure that one of your chosen destinations is on your cruise itinerary, and there are endless choices of various itineraries available. Cruises are great ways to experience various places. Then you can decide which destination you would like to see more of on a future vacation.
4. Another consideration in choosing a cruise is the amount of time you wish to be “At Sea”. For a Transatlantic voyage you are at sea for many days at a time, which limits you to being within the confines of the ship at all times. This can be a bonus if you don’t want the hustle and bustle of visiting different ports, but it can also be a downside if you want a lot of variety on your vacation. Some cruises offer very little time at sea, being in a different port every day, and this flurry of activity can be too overwhelming for some vacationers. I would recommend a bit of both—for a 7-night cruise a good happy medium would be 2 days at sea with the other days stopping at various ports of call.
5. Once you have narrowed down your choice of cruise to when and where you wish to visit, the next hardest choice is the cruise line and size of ship you want to use. The size of ship can dictate the cruise line, as some cruise lines offer significantly larger ships than others. Some cruise lines only use smaller, more intimate ships for smaller groups of people. Other cruise lines offer huge ships with passengers in the thousands. You must decide whether you like a small personal touch or like the larger groups. (We found that even on a larger ship, there were still areas where we could go to get away from the crowds. Crowding on the huge ships was not a problem at all.)
6. Fitting the cruise line to your individual personality is perhaps the most important factor in determining your cruise enjoyment. There are many different types of ship lines that cater to varying personalities. Of course, the Disney Cruise Line caters to families, but others such as Carnival Cruises cater to more of a party atmosphere for adults, or Norwegian focuses on a more conservative group. Discuss with your travel agent which cruise line fits you best. Cruise lines also offer themed or special interest cruises, such as an art collectors cruise, golfer’s cruises or culinary class cruises. These may be great to fit in with the interests in your life-style.
7. Once you have found the best itinerary for you on the cruise line that suits your personality, at the best time of year for you, there are still other choices you need to make. Some cruise lines offer “freestyle cruising”, which simply put means that you don’t have a set dinner time at a set table, but you can choose to eat whenever you wish. On most cruises, however, you have a preset dinner time at an assigned table. You can choose an early dinner (usually around 6-6:30) or a later dinner time (7:30-8:00). In choosing your dinner time, take into consideration your off-ship excursions. You don’t want to have to rush back from your shore excursion just to get back in time for dinner. You also usually have a choice of how many people you wish to sit with (usually from 4 to 8 -10 people at a table.) Our travel agent suggested a table of 8 on our cruise—she stated that if you were at a table for 4 and you didn’t get along with the other couple you were stuck, but a table for 8 offered more chance of finding congenial soul-mates.
8. Shore excursions can also be a major part of your cruise experience. There are many different shore excursion packages available, from visiting butterfly farms, swimming with dolphins, exploring ancient ruins, to snorkelling or scuba diving. Of course, if you wish you do not need to go on any shore excursions. You can simply choose to stay on-board and take advantage of the ship’s amenities, or you can simply walk around and visit or shop in the port-of-call.
Choosing a cruise can seem overwhelming, but the main point is to suit the cruise to what you want to get out of the experience. If you want a whirlwind of activity choose a party cruise line with that in mind. If you want a more relaxed atmosphere, choose more time at sea. If you want to sample various cultures, choose a destination-rich cruise. Different types of cruises offer at of those things, and more. Hopefully the above has given you an idea in the choices you need to make to get the most enjoyment out of your cruise. Happy cruising!
Denny Phillips
http://www.articlesbase.com/cruising-articles/choosing-a-cruise-183063.html
Get it all at the thirteenth annual Sturgis on the River motorcycle rally from June 14 16, 2007. This event in downtown Davenport, Iowa, is the largest gathering of motorcycles in the Midwest. The free event takes place along the Mississippi River on the showgrounds west of the Centennial Bridge, John O’Donnell stadium, and LeClaire Park. The showgrounds are located at 215 S. Marquette Street. All makes and models of motorcycles are welcome.
Join the Big Schwag from the Discovery Channels Monster Garage all weekend at Sturgis on the River as he is the emcee for the three-day event.
You and your group travel club can watch the motorcycle stunt shows of Ball of Steel featuring freestyle motocross and back flip finales. Visit the American Veterans Traveling Tribute Wall. The nation’s largest traveling Vietnam Memorial will be setup in LeClaire Park. In addition, it includes the Vietnam Remembered art collection of 90 original paintings by Norm Bergsma.
There are different rides scheduled for each night to see the most of the area from rides along the river, on the Great River Road, and through the countryside. Ride maps will be available that show attractions, casinos, and places to stop and get a bite to eat. Choose from a 4, 6, or 8 hour ride.
Enjoy powerhouse bands until midnight on all three nights! Sturgis on the River also features over 100 product vendor booths to help complete the perfect setting for a perfect weekend. General gate admission is $5.00 per person or FREE to motorcyclists who ride in.
Hours: 12 noon to midnight on Thursday and Friday, and 10 a.m. to midnight on Saturday. For more information about Sturgis on the River, call 309-799- SHOW (7469) or check out their website at http://www.sturgisontheriver.com
For more information on other events in the Quad Cities and lodging ideas, contact the Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-747-7800 or visit their website at http://www.visitquadcities.com
The Quad Cities is a great group tour, student travel and sports group travel destination, located on the Mississippi River and is made up of the riverfront cities of Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa, and Moline, East Moline and Rock Island in Illinois. The area is just a 2-½ hour drive from Des Moines, Iowa, and Chicago, Illinois. It is easily accessible via I-80, I-74, I-88 and several major state highways.
Rajinder Dogra
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/motorcycle-group-event-paired-with-museum-exhibit-in-quad-cities-86228.html
Long before the online gambling revolution and even before the boost of tribal casinos, a casino cruise was the only legal way to gamble in the US besides Las Vegas and Atlantic City casinos. Nowadays, gambling on a riverboat casino is only one of the many options that the recreational gambler faces when he feels like shooting dice.
The history of casino cruises and riverboat casinos in the United States goes back to the beginning of the 19th century when the Mississippi River was a major trade center for farmers and merchants. The river towns became major attraction for professional gamblers, also known as cardsharps, who were hunting the travelers who used to carry large amounts of cash with them.
When five cardsharps were lynched in Mississippi in 1835, the professional gamblers drove away from the south. The fashion of riverboat gambling remained as an informal routine between travelers. The two decades before the Civil War saw the pick of luxurious riverboat casino gambling.
The public image of the average riverboat gambler has changed a lot in the last century. If during the 19th century riverboat gambling was part of the frontier lifestyle, nowadays, a casino cruise is something you would buy for your grandparents anniversary.
The first State to legalize casino riverboats was Iowa in 1989. Now, riverboat casinos are legalized in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, South Carolina and Texas. In some states, the casino riverboats actually sail along the sea, while others are anchored permanently and never leave the dock. The second type of riverboat casinos enable recreational gamblers to simply hop on a nearby casino and play their favorite casino game for a few hours.
The types of casino games available in riverboat casinos vary from one state to another. You can usually play slot machines and classic table games such as blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat, etc. Some of the riverboat casinos also have poker rooms where passengers can play Texas Holdem against each other. Most of the casino cruises are family oriented and offer other activities besides gambling such as live entertainment for children.
If you are planning to take part in a casino cruise, you do not have to worry about cardsharps or a tough competition around the poker table. Most of the people who join a casino cruise are recreational gamblers who appreciate a good game of craps in between fine dining and sun tanning on the dock. In addition, you would enjoy a much nicer and patient service from the casino dealers and employees than in an average Las Vegas casino.
If spending a weekend on a riverboat casino is too much for you, you can try some of Florida daily casino cruises. If you take Sterling Casino Lines cruise, for example, you can leave at 11 am and be back by 18 pm. Sterling Casino Lines cruises take place on a 75,000 square feet gambling area with more than 1,000 slot machines and 50 table games.
Sterling Casino Line cruise is only one example from numerous options available around the states for those of you who want to gamble at the country rivers, lakes and seas. The variety of casino cruises and dockside riverboat casinos includes the most luxurious Las Vegas styles casinos and simpler alternatives. If you enjoy gambling just for fun and you tend to get sea sick, joining a casino cruise can be an enjoyable distraction for one day or for a whole weekend.
Collin Dowall
http://www.articlesbase.com/online-gambling-articles/riverboat-casinos-and-casino-cruises-then-and-now-96603.html
Downtown New, Orleans, from, the, Mississippi, River, Cruise, Duration : 0:1:4
For those who enjoy participating in outdoor activities, the state of Mississippi has a lot to offer. Named for the Mississippi River, many people sign up for canoe trips, horse rides, fishing trips, biking adventures, and more because of the beautiful landscape, lakes, streams, horse trails, and more that is available. Mississippi is a place where you can go to relax and enjoy being around nature. Old plantations, historic civil war sites, and open fields are places you can go to visit when you want to see a little bit of history.
But there is more to Mississippi than outdoor activities. If you want to meet new people, see the sights, and have fun at night time, you should visit larger cities such as Gulfport. With casinos and other attractions, you will be able to find excitement in the nightlife that surrounds you. Close to the ocean, you can take walks and listen to water from your Gulfport hotel room. The casinos also feature great food, musical acts, and much more. You can choose to stay in the casino hotels or you can find other accommodations if you plan on seeing other parts of Mississippi. If you crave more nightlife, you can always make the short trip to New Orleans from Gulfport.
Biloxi is another city located in Mississippi. This city also has a lot to offer in terms of entertainment and historical places to visit. If you want to visit historical attractions, you will not have to travel too far.
The Biloxi Lighthouse is a place you don’t want to miss. It was built in 1848 and was said to be the first cast metal lighthouse in the South. In addition, while in Biloxi, be sure to check out the Mardi Gras Museum. It features over 300 years of traditional Mardi Gras costumes, history, and artifacts.
If looking for landmarks, you will find everything from old mansions to bridges. There are battlefields, churches, libraries, cemeteries, forts and much more located throughout the state. You will have to decide what to see and plan in advance because some places require reservations in order to see them. If you are traveling with a group, Mississippi is a good vacation destination because of the amount of activities you can participate in.
When you are deciding where to stay in Mississippi, you should consider staying in a campground or resort. These places will have additional information about local attractions, and sites that you will not want to miss. Along the way, you can ask local residents what they would recommend in terms of food, attractions, and other activities. Meeting new people can be the best part of a vacation. In Mississippi, people are very friendly and you will not be afraid to ask for advice on which attractions to visit. Once you have traveled to Mississippi, you will want to return in order to see more of this wonderful state.
G. Chadwick
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/going-down-south-to-mississippi-128878.html
When fishing the waters of Missouri, catfish fishing will produce any number of the three largest freshwater catfish in the country – blues, channels, and flatheads. You’ll find them in all sizes and in several different locations in the state.
Unfortunately, because of a number of environmental concerns (start with soil erosion and add pollution, gravel mining, and reservoir construction) have affected the bullhead catfish population, so while you can find a few bullheads large enough to consider in some of the prairie streams, you should not overly concern yourself with this species in this state.
However, Missouri catfish fishing can be found in almost any area of the state, especially if you are searching for small channel cats. In fact, most people who desire a quite catfishing excursion don’t even have to leave town to find a good catch. Light tackle angling is extremely popular because there are a lot of urban lakes that are stocked with channel catfish that are sizeable enough for harvest several times a year.
Most individuals living in the state are within a bus trip, bike ride, or even walk of a great Missouri catfish fishing locale. Ponds provide some of the best locations to catch small channel cats, with several impoundments provided by the Missouri Department of Conservation, including Binder Lake (Jefferson County), Crane Lake (Iron County), Blue Springs Lake (near Kansas City), and many more.
You should also check out warm water rivers for small channel cats, including the Elk River downstream from Noel, portions of the Mississippi River especially near St. Louis, and Big River in St. Francis County.
For larger channel cats in Missouri, catfish fishing is abundant mainly in the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. While the state record for pole and line channel cat fishing is nearly 35 pounds, you can regularly reel in 10- and 20-pounders in these areas. However, trophy-sized channel cats are minimal and rarely found within the state.
For the best chance of finding one of the larger specimens, fish the lower areas of the tributaries flowing into the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers in May and June. You could also pay a visit to either Lake Jacomo or Nodaway County Community Lake, which are renowned for containing a greater number of large channel catfish than other areas of the state.
If you are searching for blues in Missouri, catfish fishing should concentrate on the Mississippi River, the Missouri River, or the Osage River, since the Missouri Department of Conservation doesn’t stock blue catfish outside of its native habitat any longer.
Find a slow or moderate current with shallow water that is preferably less than ten feet deep, and use river worms or bits of shad to attract the fish. For larger blue cats, target the deepest current-washed holes, using only shad or river herring to attract the trophy-sized catch.
by Daniel Eggertsen