There are many types of gay cruises, and if you’re trying to decide which one to book, it’s important to know what your options are—not just in terms of destinations, but in terms of amenities, activities and events, and destinations.

For those who have never been on a gay cruise before, cruise directors and travel experts generally recommend that the first you pick should be a group gay cruise. So what does that mean? Basically, a group gay cruise is for those who wish to vacation among their peers while still vacationing on a cruise that doesn’t specifically cater to them on the whole. The other option is a cruise in which the entire ship’s catalog of events and activities are geared toward gay culture, and destinations for entertainment, leisure, and relaxation at ports are sure to be enjoyable and worthwhile.

It’s obviously up to the traveler which is a better fit, but gay and lesbian cruises can be a great time and make for the perfect getaway from work and life on land for those looking for events, activities, and destinations that make them the central focus rather than just another group onboard. Oftentimes, this will mean that gay cruises will take travelers to a resort destination for all gay cruise travel groups.

Among some of the most famous gay cruises in the world has to be the MS Volendam of Holland America. This ship goes to various destinations, but in recent history, an all-gay cruise known as the “Legendary Danube” was one for the record books. Some of the port destinations included Nuremburg, Linz, Melk, Vienna, and Budapest, just to name a few. The Volendam is an exceptional ship perfect for gay cruises. It has nearly a 1,500-person capacity, a superior crew and staff, and all-inclusive packages for dining, events, and other amenities.

Atlantis Travel has to be one of, if not the most well known gay travel planners in the world. In 2011, Atlantis will be treating its travelers to all-inclusive gay cruises to the Caribbean on the Serenade of the Sea operated by Royal Caribbean. This seven-day cruise takes you from the port of Puerto Rico to Curacao, Aruba, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, and back to San Juan, Puerto Rico with plenty of time at sea in between destinations. Ocean view staterooms are available for as low as $1,299, and other fantastic deals for just $100 to $200 more will put you in a balcony stateroom with a private deck.

Gay cruises booked through Atlantis and other likeminded travel planners offer the best in on-land excursions. In addition, many times cruise packages will come complete with deeply discounted airfare and discounts on other amenities. You may also benefit from all-inclusive deals that offer hotel stays and much more. There’s no reason not to enjoy a cruise—from the Caribbean to Europe and beyond, there’s sure to be a cruise to fit your budget while offering exactly what you’re looking for.

Photo via Andrew_Squirrel

Cruises, what I like to call the ‘other awesome vacation,’ because that’s what they really are to me! I have been daydreaming about a cruise vacation for quite some time now, and also have been really looking around to find one that’s right for me. During my online adventures I have been able to compile a short list of top reasons why a cruise vacation is on my to-do list in the very near future.

1. You can easily book cruises for great deals with cheap cruises online: I was looking around online just to see what was out there as far cheap cruises go, and they are just all over the web. I even came across this really sweet site called Booking Buddy that has some hard to top bargains on cheap cruise vacations.
2. There are lots of options with cruise vacations: If you are shooting for a particular theme for your cruise, you are in luck my friends. There is nearly every type of cruises that you could ever think of – and some that you may not have thought of– online. I even was able to find themed cruises, family cruises, like Disney cruises, and even honeymooner’s cruises and couple’s cruises for great deals.
3. All-inclusive cruises can save you some serious dough: If you are looking to save some coin on that next fancy cruise vacation that you book, look no further than all-inclusive cruises. Most of the cruises that I have found offer an all-inclusive upgrade for a very affordable rate. This means that all of your food and drinks (excluding alcoholic beverages and gratuity) are included in the price of the cruise vacation. It does not get much sweeter than that folks!
4. Most cruise vacations have several ports of dock: Some people I have talked are apt to go on a cruise vacation because they think that they will be stuck aboard the ship for the duration of their vacation. However, such could not be any further from the truth. In fact, I was looking at dozens of cruises online today, and they all had a ship itinerary, which showed that they docked in multiple ports – at destination cities – along the way.
5. The open seas, whale and dolphin watching, and getting away from it all with a different kind of vacation: While this one is nearly self explanatory, it has to be said for sake of just saying it here. Who doesn’t want to see whales and dolphins in their natural element? That aside, if you don’t get seasick, the open, blue seas are amazing and bedazzling to the eyes as well. It’s a nice break from airports, rental cars and hotel rooms, for a really different kind of a vacation…if you ask me.

Photo via Cornforth Images

The best way to experience the glory that is Alaska is to take a cruise to this intriguing and breathtaking state.  You can book your 2011 vacation to Alaska now and take advantage of the great packages and deals that are currently being offered.

Celebrity Cruise Line is now offering a seven night cruise leaving from Vancouver, British Columbia with destinations that include cruising the Inside Passage, Icy Strait Point, Alaska, cruising Hubbard Glacier, the cities of Juneau, Ketchikan and returning through the Inside Passage back to Vancouver, British Columbia. This seven day round trip package is available May through September in 2011.

These cruises occur during the height of the Alaska cruise season. Celebrity Cruise Line explains that excursions to Alaska anytime before May or after September will create shorter, colder and wetter conditions; therefore May through September is the best time to travel there.  For the cheapest cruises to Alaska, you will want to book your trip in early May or late September to obtain the lowest prices.

Even if you have taken cruise vacations in the past, your trip to Alaska won’t be like anything you’ve ever experienced before.  The sights you will behold will not compare with other vacations.  On your cruise, it is quite possible for you to see the amazing wildlife that calls Alaska home.  Some of this wildlife include:  moose, caribou, sheep, grizzly bears, seals, and humpback and killer whales.

The scenery is spectacular as you will be able to view seven of the tallest mountains in North America.  If you decide to take one of the many optional shore excursions, you can experience Mt. McKinley located in Denali National Park as well as rafting trips, salmon bakes, horseback riding excursions and fishing tours.  Additional wonders to bestow will be some of the magnificent glaciers that are abundant in this region.  These glacier areas include:  Glacier Bay, Hubbard Glacier, Sawyer Glacier and Mendenhall Glacier.

Most all the major cruise lines offer seven-day excursions to Alaska via Vancouver. These cruise lines include:  Carnival, Celebrity, Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean. However, Celebrity’s Century Cruise ship now offers new accommodations that include over 300 private verandas with 14 additional Sky Suites and 174 new Concierge Class Staterooms.  The luxuries included by booking one of these staterooms include fresh-cut flowers, plush pillows and bedding, upgraded amenities in the bathroom as well as personalized stationary to let your friends back home know what an amazing time you are having.

Photo via Al_HikesAZ

The cruise industry is constantly evolving.  Companies are always coming up with new and innovative ways to entertain and keep customers happy while they are at sea.  Another thing that many cruising companies do is build and launch new ships.  Some of these ships may offer luxury to the highest degree and be very expensive but many are geared towards the growing demographic of people who do not have a lot of money but are very interested in cruising and seeing the world and these cheap cruises are popping up all the time!

The best way to experience a new cruise ship for cheap is to jump onboard an inaugural cruise.  An inaugural cruise is the first sail of a new ship but it is difficult to find these packages as they go very fast.  The alternative is to watch for new ships and if you are not able to get onboard the first sail, watch for future deals on these new ships.  Some ways to find out about them include calling the individual companies and asking about future launches, doing frequent web searches for new cruise ships and signing up for newsletters that will allow you to receive alerts when a new ship is coming.  To get you started on your search, here is a sampling of some of the new ships that will be unveiled in 2011:

1)      Celebrity Silhouette

2)      Disney Dream

3)      Carnival Magic

4)      Marina (Oceania Cruises)

5)      AidaSol (Aida Cruises)

6)      Costa Fascinosa

7)      Seabourn Quest

If you are looking to take a cruise on a new ship after 2011, here are some ships that are set to be unveiled in 2012 and beyond:

1)      Carnival Breeze, 2012

2)      MSC Fantastica, 2012

3)      Disney Fantasy, 2012

4)      Norwegian is set to release two new ships in 2013 and 2014 but they are currently unnamed.

5)      Princess is also set to release two new ships in 2013 and 2014 but they also remain unnamed.

This list of upcoming ships is pretty set in stone but, of course, there are many other ships that are due to make appearances on the seas in the coming years and more and more will be added to the list in the coming months and years.  All ships have something new and different to offer its passengers so when looking for the right cruise for you, it is important to thoroughly research both the cruise line and the ship before making that final booking to ensure they have everything you want and need while at sea.  They also travel to various ports so you want to make sure your ship is going to the ports you want to see.  Cheap cruises are numerous and many of these new ships will be offering great deals so you may want to book as soon as you decide what you want and where you want to go as travelers will be jumping on these many great deals that are coming!

Photo via canomike

If you are one of those spontaneous people, you’re in luck because a cheap cruise is the perfect get-away. Feel like sailing the blue waters of the Caribbean? A cheap cruise at the last minute is now at your fingertips. If you like to relax and kick back why not do it on a cruise ship? Now is the best time for booking a cheap cruise at the last minute. Enjoy these savings sooner, rather than later.

3-Night Bahamas

Leave from the Port of Miami Beach for an exiting three-night cruise aboard the Norwegian Sky, a member of the Norwegian Cruise Line on Nov. 12. Inside rooms start at $169; and go from $199 for an ocean view room. Ports include Miami, Nassau and the Great Stirrup Cay. The ship is one of the newest in the line and offers 10 bars and lounges, a Kids Crew, and a Second City Comedy Show.

4-Night Bahamas

If you can squeeze in an extra day and tack it into your vacation plans, hop aboard the Monarch of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship on Nov. 22. Inside rooms starting at $269; ocean view rooms starting at $299. Ports include: Port Canaveral, Florida, Cococay Bahamas and Nassau, Bahamas. The ship offers Asian cuisine at the restaurant Jade, a state-of-the-art fitness center, rock climbing and a place where you can make your own pizza.

4-Night Bahamas

Another option is to book your last minute cruise aboard the Carnival Imagination, a ship that is part of the Carnival Cruise Line family on Nov. 19 for a four-night cruise to the Bahamas. Enjoy leaving from the Port of Miami, Florida, then sail to Nassau, Bahamas, as well as enjoying a fun day at sea before returning to the Port of Miami. Inside rooms starting at $189; and ocean view rooms from $209.  The Imagination has a 9-hole mini golf course, casino, resort-style pool, and Nautica running track.

Grabbing a last minute cheap cruise this year is something that everyone should try to experience once in their lifetime. If you long for warm sunshine, sparkling swimming pools, delicious dining, and more all under one roof, a cheap last minute cruise to the Bahamas should be in your future.

Photo via thejefferywscott

Disney has a lot more going on than its amusement parks – it has some pretty cheap cruises that you can take advantage.  If you’ve dreamed of taking a cheap cruise with all the amenities that a luxury liner has to offer without the hefty price, look no further. There are a number of cheap cruises to the Bahamas sailing from Port Canaveral in Florida for the remainder of October aboard Disney Cruise Line.

3-Night Bahamas

Enjoy three nights on the high seas heading toward the Bahamas for $1509.00 per person for a stateroom aboard the Disney Wonder.  The Disney Wonder is a family-friendly Disney Cruise Line ship that takes guests of all ages on exciting vacations to gorgeous ports of call in the Bahamas. The ship is distinguished for its modern innovation and sophisticated design, combining sleek style with a splash of fun. Sets sail Oct. 21 for a wonder-filled long weekend for the Isle of Nassau and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay—spending a delightful day at each.

4-Night Bahamas

If you’ve got an extra day, go ahead and book it aboard the Disney Wonder from Oct. 24 to Oct. 28. Enjoy an exhilarating day at each of two island oases— Nassau and Castaway Cay— and an additional relaxing day at sea.  Enjoy a cheap cruise fare at $918.00 per person for an inside stateroom aboard this ship that took its Maiden Voyage on Aug. 15, 1999. The ship holds 2,400 passengers, weighs 83,000 tons and is 964 feet long.

A cheap cruise is a wonderful way to spend time with someone special, or the entire family. Whether you want to sit back and read a book in the warm sun by the Disney’s Wonder’s pools, or engage in the many activities the ship has to offer, you’re sure to have a memorable vacation. Remember these cheap cruises aboard the Disney Cruise Line include: Shipboard accommodations, dining, entertainment, character experiences and select onboard activities.

Photo via s.kelleher

The Land Down Under is a fascinating getaway for cruise lovers.  Going to Australia is not something you want to set aside a few days for; it’s something you want to set aside a few weeks for. But if you can’t go that far, cruises to Australia from many ports of call are available from lengths of two days to fourteen days and more.

If you set advisories on Yahoo Travel or another airfare finder, you can get to Australia for much cheaper than you’d think—in some instances for a third of the going rate when you plan far enough ahead. Cruise liner P&O offers a great range of choices for cruises to Australia, so sailing out from nearly any port of the country is a breeze, and the prices are fantastic as well.

For the weekend warriors, there’s a two-day cruise on P&O’s Pacific Sun departing from Newcastle, arriving in Sydney for just $234 per person. This is a short trip meant to help you catch your breath, recharge your batteries, and be back in the office by Monday… or Tuesday maybe.

Shorter cruises to Australia are the four-day jaunts on P&O’s Pacific Sun as well. The journey begins in Newcastle, but this time the destination port is Melbourne. With an extra two days on the Pacific Sun travelers can take advantage of more amenities—the onboard spa offers some extra special pampering, and there are even wine and coffee tastings, cooking courses, and even dance lessons! Nobody puts baby in a corner on this ship.

Looking for a longer trip? Good idea. Check out a ten-day cruise on P&O’s Pacific Sun. This cruise is loaded with gorgeous destinations, beginning in Newcastle and traveling on to islands of Noumea, Lifou, Vanatu, Vila, Isle of Pines, and Ouvea. This is the cruise of your dreams—coral reefs, white sand beaches, island culture and marketplace shopping, and outdoor exploration, including hiking, swimming, and sightseeing on lagoons and into architectural marvels. The entire package is just about $1000 per person, all-inclusive.

Want to compromise and go right down the middle? How about a seven-day cruise on P&O’s Pacific Dawn? P&O calls this cruise a true escape, and it is. Beginning at the departure port of Brisbane, the ship sails on to Whitsundays, Cairns, Port Douglas, the onto some “scenic cruising” out at Willis Island. Also included on these cruises to Australia are plenty of time visiting the numerous islands of the Whitsundays area, all of which boast gorgeous beaches and scenes right out of international travel magazines. There are also loads of amenities on the ship itself, and a number of both onboard and on land activities and events put together by the P&O cruise staff.

There are many other cruises from P&O from many other ports and with varying days at sea. They truly are the authority on cruises to Australia, and the rates are spectacular.  Just get yourself there, then let yourself go!

Photo via Burkhard_Westphal

If you are looking to really live it up like you did during your college days – which are also far behind me now as well – you may want to take a look at some Mexico cruises to destination cities such as Cancun. From late January through most of February, thousands upon thousands of college students on spring break flock to Cancun to party their heads off. The whole city welcomes them in, offering plenty of nightclubs and parties, and tons of great things to do during the day on the pristine beaches.

The Mayan Ruins Are Amazing

If you do find yourself on a cruise that docks in Cancun, take my word that a must-see sight is the Mayan Ruins. Built thousands of years ago by the ancient Mayans, these pyramids are nearly like the South American equivalent to the Egyptian pyramids. If you have about a half day of time on your hands, you can easily get to enjoy seeing one of the Wonders of the World.

Tons of Things to Do in Port at Cancun

There is plenty of shopping that can be had, as Cancun sees more than 2 million tourists each year. Aside from that, snorkeling, jet skiing, fish watching, speed boating and so much more await you once you are docked in port at Cancun. This easily makes this city a place that never gets dull for visitors like you and me.

Cancun Offers an Exceptional Nightlife Like no Other

With spring break and the hordes of college students also comes an amazing night life, too. Make sure to get tickets to Senior Frog’s – the biggest nightclub in Cancun. If you thought things got crazy in the US, wait until you are drinking out of a two foot tall glass with the thumping of club music and the bright flashes of light in the background.

Cheap Cruises to Cancun Easy to Uncover Online

I was searching online today to find out some information about cheap cruises to Cancun, and I was astounded by how many websites are loaded with amazing deals and offerings. I am currently looking at this all-inclusive cruise hosted by Carnival that stops in Cancun, amongst many other places like Cabo San Lucas that is set to depart from San Diego in early February of next year, right about the time that the college kids transform Cancun into a spring break paradise. So far I have managed to find rates as low as $600 per person, excluding airfare to and from San Diego, from where I live in Phoenix.

Traditionally the Christmas Holiday Season was spent at home or at the home of close relatives.  Dinner was served, presents were opened and families spent time together in the comfort of a familiar environment.  These days, it is much different for many families because many families are spread out all over the world due to work obligations and it is getting harder and harder for many families to get together at this time of year.  Many are now opting out of the traditional holiday family get-together and are choosing to travel to far away lands to celebrate instead.  Many all-inclusive vacation packages are starting to cater to this trend and so are many cruise lines.  When it comes to cruising, there are many cheap cruises that are available during the holiday and the number of destinations and ships involved in this developing trend are endless!

There are many advantages to cruising at this time of year.  In a lot of parts of the world, December usually means snowy, cold weather or at best, damp, cold weather.  Although you have the option to cruise to a colder destination if that is what you prefer, there are many, many options to cruise to warm destinations which means you get a week away from the cold at a time of year when you usually do not get away from it!  Another good thing about cruising this time of year is the excitement that surrounds the Holiday Season.  While onboard a cruise this time of year, you will be met with a festive atmosphere.  There may be Christmas decorations around the ship and festive music may be heard all around.  The other good thing about cruising this time of year is the weather.  Generally, most places down South will still be very warm but comfortable unlike in the summer when the heat is sometimes unbearable!  You will also be cruising during a time of year when storms are less frequent and hurricane season is over.  The other great thing about traveling at this time is the fantastic deals you can get and here is a sample of some of those deals that have been posted recently:

1)      Celebrity Cruises onboard the Celebrity Equinox – Departs Fort Lauderdale December 17th for an eleven-day cruise of the Caribbean for a low price starting at $1147.00.

2) Holland America onboard The Maasdom – Departs Fort Lauderdale December 17^th for a ten-day cruise of the Western Caribbean for a low price starting at $799.00.

3) Hurtigruten onboard the MS Fram – Departs Buenos Aires December 17^th for a seventeen-day cruise of Antarctica and surrounding areas for $9800.00 which is a good price considering where you are going and what you will see!

4) Norwegian Cruise Line onboard the Norwegian Dawn – Departs Miami December 17^th for a ten-day cruise of the Southern Caribbean for a low price starting at $914.00.

5) Disney Cruises onboard the Disney Magic – Departs Port Canaveral December 18^th for a twelve-day cruise of The Caribbean for a low price starting at $1583.00.

6) Princess Cruises onboard the Emerald Princess – Departs Fort Lauderdale December 18^th for an eleven-day cruise of the Eastern Caribbean for a low price starting at $1998.00.

This is just a few of the cruises that are available during the Holiday season this year.  To find more, just search “cheap holiday cruises” in a search engine or speak with various people who are familiar with cruising to find out where they get their deals on cheap cruises.

Photo via CanadaGood

When you are single, it’s hard enough to meet potential partners that are compatible.  It gets even harder as we get older and set in our ways.  However, taking a cheap cruise from the many available cruise packages out there can be a great way for single seniors to meet others.  Whether for dating, friendship or a travel companion, cruising is a wonderful way to mix and mingle and enjoy life while meeting new and exciting people.

You can find cheap cruise packages for a quick weekend get-away or an even longer week-long vacation.  For singles, a multitude of cruise vacation ideas can be found on the website cruisesonly.com.  On this site, they offer the single senior great vacation packages and explain all the amenities that single cruises can offer.

CruisesOnly does a great job in finding the right cruise for the right individual.  Depending on your needs and interests, they will match you with a cruise that will seem perfectly suited for you.  Activities for singles on many of these cruise vacations include rock-climbing wall, surf parks and ice-skating rinks.  Shore excursions are planned to make the most of your singles cruise experience.  CruisesOnly wants to help you meet other singles with similar interests.  Royal Caribbean’s singles cruises offer a wide variety of excursions into the varying ports that will help you to enjoy the ultimate cruise vacation experience and help you meet other single travelers along the way.

There are many opportunities for singles to meet others.  In addition to the shore excursions, many cruise ship packages offer some of the following activities:  enrichment lectures, workshops, parties and “socials” thrown by the ship’s hospitality staff to help all single travelers meet and greet in order to get to know one another and hopefully make long-lasting connections.

If you would like to enjoy a cheap cruise vacation but haven’t allowed yourself to adventure the high seas because of your single status, be sure to investigate all that CruisesOnly.com has to offer.  You can also visit many of the major cruise line websites to see what type of Singles package they offer.  Be bold!  Go have yourself a great vacation.  You may very well meet someone along the way.

Photo via adorienne