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In December 2004,
Carnival launched their latest mega-ship, the
2,974-passenger VALOR. Embarking from Miami
year-round, the Valor will alternate between weeklong
eastern Caribbean and western Caribbean
routes. Also unveiled in 2004 is the Caribbean
Princess. Some intriguing features of their new
design are an in-house spa, an outdoor cinema with large
screen that can be viewed even during the daytime hours
and Cafe Caribe, Caribbean-infused buffet fare.
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Those family favorites, Disney Magic and
Disney Wonder, you can now spend a few months in summer
in Mexican Riviera. Or Windstar Cruises,
which left us touring ground of Tahiti to feature
7-night cruises around Central America, stopping in
Honduras and Belize. |
| April to mid-June is a fine time to
cruise Western Europe, especially if you want to
avoid the crowds and like to travel on a budget.
The temperature, however, can be a bit nippy until late
May, especially in the French and English ports.
Your next decision is whether to travel by big ship or
small ship. The larger ships tend to visit the
larger ports like Royal Caribbean's 12-day Brilliance
of the Seas jaunt to Rome, Barcelona and
Venice. Smaller cruise lines, like Crystal Cruses,
will still stop in Rome and Venice, but can also squeeze
into other coastal gems like Monte Carlo and St. Tropez. |
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Cruising with a New York State of Mind
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| While millions
of people dream of visiting New York City one day,
experienced cruisers aspire to sail past great Statue of
Liberty and away from the city. In the world of
cruising, few ports rival the skyline, scenery and
mystique of New York's very own Manhattan. The
opportunity to sail into or out of this famous port can
oftentimes be the deciding factor in choosing a cruise
as the experience alone can be well worth
it. |
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| Item Code: |
A 201 |
| Price: |
$ 20.00 |
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On January 8,
2004, the world's largest cruise ship Queen
Mary 2 (QM2), Queen Elizabeth 2's sister
ship, was launched in Southampton,
England. Add the mystique of this
beautiful luxury liner, you'll feel as
though you are in a dreamlike state.
As you sail past the Statue of Liberty and
Ellis Island, you think of ancestors who
came before. Cruising past lower
Manhattan, one can't help but be moved by
the absence of the former Twin Towers.
The approach of the Verrazzano Narrows
Bridge will keep you guessing whether or not
QM2 will clear the bridge's roadway.
With only ten (10) feet of clearance on the
QM2, the world's largest ship, everyone on
deck holds their breath as the ship passes
safely under the bridge. Click
here to see detail.
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| The cool glaciers and
fjords of Alaska continue to be hot spots for
cruise travel, with over 450 ships to choose
from. As traditional ports start to swell
with all these vessels, new smaller harbors like
Prince Rupert and Haines have been added.
Last summer, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean began
stopping at Icy Strait, a port near Glacier Bay
that can only accommodate one ship per day.
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| The highlight
of any Alaskan cruise are the shore excursions
to view the magnificent scenery and all its
glorious wildlife up close and personal. In
Ketchikan, you can take a 2-hour float plane into
Misty Fjords National Monument, soaring above the
narrow fjords, rainforest and 1,000-foot
waterfalls. In Seward, don't miss the
six-hour catamaran cruise into Resurrection Bay
and Kenai Fjords National Park. Surrounded
by glaciers and snowcapped peaks, you'll spot sea
lions, seals, porpoises, puffins and, maybe a
humpback whale.
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| Hawaii
and NCL America unveiled the first all-U.S. crewed
Pride of Aloha July 4, 2004.
With a bright tropical decor and Hawaiian
entertainers performing at the pool, you might
mistake the 2,002-passenger ship for a Waikiki
Resort. Then again, stuck on Oahu, you
wouldn't have the opportunity to visit the Big
Island of Hawaii, Maui or Kauai on this 7-day
round-trip cruise from Honolulu.
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