Carnival Dream

The Carnival Dream
The Carnival Dream set to debut in September 2009 will be the largest vessel in the Carnival fun ship fleet. This ship will feature new family oriented cabins designed to accommodate five guests. On board you’ll also find the fleet’s largest-ever kids facilities, a two-level miniature golf course, live music and dancing at the indoor/outdoor cafe called, The Ocean Plaza.

Programs for the kids – Camp Carnival for age 2-11, the Circle C for age 12-14, and Club 02 a teen only hang-out for ages 15-17. For the adults, visit the Cloud 9 spa, the resort-style pool, or one of the scenic hot-tubs that hang over the edge of the ship. And if you’re looking for a little privacy, be sure to check out Serenity, the adults only retreat.

After her New York departures, The Dream will reposition to Port Canaveral, Florida, where it will offer year-round 7 day Caribbean cruises starting December 2009. She will alternate weeklong cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

• 130,000 tons
• 1004 feet in length
• 121 feet wide
• Passengers: 3,646
• Crew: 1,369
• Built: 2009
• Total Cabins: 1,367
• Maximum Occupancy per cabin: 5
• Registry: Panama

Carnival Dream Pictures

Carnival Destiny Review

 

Carnival Destiny Review

Carnival Destiny was the first ship to top 100,000 tons and was also the first of five Destiny class cruise ships. The Carnival Destiny has a full range of activities and entertainment for all ages and tastes. The outdoor activities span four decks, with three swimming pools, seven hot tubs, and two swim up bars. Kids and adults alike will enjoy the 214 foot waterslide, and teens on board will enjoy Club 02, a teens only dance club.

Dining

The two main dining rooms – Universe & Galaxy – offer seating at 6pm and 8pm. Breakfast and lunch are open seating, the time for breakfast is 7:45 am – 9:00 am, and lunch is served from 12:00 noon – 1:30 pm. The Sun & Sea grill located close to the main pool is a popular place to grab breakfast or lunch, and in addition to the restaurants mentioned, the Carnival Destiny also serves breakfast every morning until 10am.

• 101,353 tons
• 892 feet in length
• 116 feet wide
• Passengers: 3,360
• Crew: 1,040
• Built: 1996 Last Refurbished 2005
• Inside Cabins: 519
• Outside Cabins: 802
• Balcony Cabins & Suites: 480
• Suites: 48
• Maximum Occupancy per cabin: 5
• Adjoining Cabins: 82
• Wheelchair-Accessible Cabins: 28
• Registry: Bahamas

Carnival Destiny Pictures

Carnival Conquest Review

 

Carnival Conquest

The Carnival Conquest a 110,000 ton, 3,700 passenger cruise ship truly has something for everyone. On board you’ll find that 60% of the cabins feature an oceanview and 60% of those cabins also have balconies. So finding a great cabin shouldn’t be a problem. Many of the public rooms are named after classic painters such as Van Gogh, Degas, Renoir and Manet. Scattered about the ship you’ll find murals copying the works of these art masters.

On each night aboard the Carnival Conquest, passengers can enjoy the Vegas style shows or comedy acts in the Toulouse Lautrec lounge. Younger passengers can have a blast in the supervised programs of Camp Carnival. Also be sure to check out the Nautica Spa where you’ll find a steam sauna and massage rooms, a salon, and fitness center.

Dining

In addition to the dining mentioned below the Carnival Conquest also has breakfast served by room service until 10am. A full breakfast and lunch served on deck, including a salad bar and sushi in the late afternoon, and 24 hour Pizzeria.

Renoir Restaurant & Monet Restaurant are the 2 main dining rooms. Breakfast is open seating from 7:45am – 9:00am, and lunch which is also open seating is served from 12:00 noon – 1:30pm. There are two dinner seatings and both require reservations. The early dinner seating is at 6pm and the late seating is at 8pm.

• 110,000 tons
• 953 feet in length
• 116 feet wide
• Passengers: 3,700
• Crew: 1,150
• Built: 2002
• Inside Cabins: 577
• Outside Cabins: 910
• Balcony Cabins & Suites: 556
• Suites: 52
• Maximum Occupancy per cabin: 4
• Adjoining Cabins: 65
• Wheelchair-Accessible Cabins: 28
• Registry: Panama

Carnival Conquest Pictures

Carnival Liberty Review

Carnival Liberty a 110,000 ton ship has many great attributes. Onboard you’ll find 3 pools, a spa, waterslide, Internet cafe, and a state of the art fitness center. At night you’ll enjoy Las Vegas style shows and/or late night comedy shows. And for those wishing to try your luck, be sure to visit the onboard casino.

Dining

The Carnival Liberty has 2 main dining rooms, the Silver Olympian Restaurant, and the Golden Olympian Restaurant. In these 2 dining rooms there is a set time and table for dinner. The early seating is at 6pm and the late seating is at 8pm. Breakfast is served 7:45 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Lunch service is 12:00 noon – 1:30 p.m. and is open seating for both breakfast and lunch.

• 110,000 tons
• 952 feet in length
• 116 feet wide
• Passengers: 2,974
• Crew: 1,150
• Built: 2005
• Inside Cabins: 577
• Outside Cabins: 910
• Balcony Cabins & Suites: 555
• Suites: 52
• Maximum Occupancy per cabin: 4
• Registry: Panama

Carnival Liberty Pictures

Family Beach Vacation Ideas

 

All across the world, there are several locations you can choose for your family beach vacation.  Below, you will find many different locations, and what they will offer you and your family.

Maui
Throughout the West Coast of Maui, you’ll have many choices for your beach vacation.  If you plan to enjoy golf, the Kapalua Resort is a great choice, as guests will receive 30% lower golf rates than those who don’t stay at the resort.  The resort also includes the Kapalua Bay Hotel, Kapalua Villas, and the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua.

One bay over from the Kapalua Bay is the Napili Kai Beach Resort, which is a low rise family resort that offers comfortable beach front condos.  The Napili Kai also offers complimentary programs for children ages 6 – 12 from mid June to the end of August, during Easter and Christmas.  The condos are seconds away from the beach, and they include kitchens as well as laundry facilities.

If you prefer a more secluded area, the Maui Prince hotel is located in a quiet setting surrounded by two scenic golf courses and a large sandy beach that kids never seem to get enough of.

Mololai family adventures
The island of Molokai is filled with empty beaches, no traffic lights, and few tourists.  Many tourists visits only for a day or so, with some going to the island because they assumed they were going to Molokini (which is a snorkeling site near Maui).

The island of Mololai is accessible by ferry from Maui or by plane from Honolulu.  The island is ideal for those who like the outdoors with a twist of adventure.  When you visit here, you shouldn’t expect shopping or nightlife.

Florida
The Breakers Hotel in sunny Palm Beach Florida has a spa, golf course, and a 1/2 mile sandy beach. There is also a seperate pool for the kids, a family entertainment center, and a kid’s program.  Families can reserve up to five adjoining rooms while children under the age of 16 can stay for free in the same room as their parents.

If you decide to take your beach vacation in Orlando, the Loews Hard Rock Hotel offers you plenty of beach and amusement rides, with a 240 foot slide and a white sandy beach.

California
With several family beach vacation resorts in California, the Hotel Del Coronado is among the most famous.  The hotel offers many different facilities for families, including lessons in kayaking, surfing, tennis, and biking.

Georgia
The barrier islands in Georgia offer ambiance, sandy beaches, and a laid back prospective to life as you know it.  Jekyll Island offers you miles of paved bike path with three 18 hole golf courses, which is perfect for golf enthusiasts.

The 6 Best Beach Vacation Spots

No matter what time of the year, taking a beach vacation is a great way to relax and have fun. With many beaches all over the world to choose from, it’s easy to find one just right for you. With choices like white and sandy, lava rock, or secluded, it may hard to make a final decision.

1. Polo Beach – South Maui Hawaii
With a sandy beach and clear water, the Polo beach located in South Maui Hawaii is ideal for swimming and snorkeling. A great luxury beach resort to consider is the Fairmont Kea Lani Maui.

2. Seven Mile Beach – Western Tip of Jamaica
The longest stretch of white sand in Jamaica is the 7 mile beach of Negril. This beach located on the western tip of Jamaica near Negril is truly an awesome sight to see. It’s a great place to relax under a coconut palm tree and enjoy the beautiful ocean. If you’re looking for a great resort that is close to the beach, you should consider The Caves Resort. The Caves Resort has one and two-bedroom cottages and suites, and even a four-bedroom deluxe villa.

3. The Atlantis Paradise Island – Bahamas
Experience the white sandy beaches of this Caribbean destination. Atlantis Paradise Island has something every beach lover will appreciate. In addition to the beaches, the Atlantis Paradise Resort has underwater tunnels and 9 open-air lagoons where you can see as many as 50,000 sea creatures. Even the best US aquariums can’t offer this many sea creatures in one place. With 100 acres of water attractions, you may want to rest up before you take this truly amazing beach vacation.

4. Heron Island – Queensland Australia
Located right on the Great Barrier Reef, Heron Island in Australia is truly a coral cay. Here you can swim or snorkel right off the beach to see an endless garden of coral that is teeming with fish and marine life. If scuba diving is your thing, Heron Island offers 20 different diving sites.

5. Madeira Island – Portugal
The weather in Madeira is pleasant most of the time, making it a great beach vacation almost all year long. In addition to spending time on the beaches, many people also enjoy scuba diving, and whale watching. Madeira island is one of Europe’s oldest travel destinations and thousands of tourists visit this paradise year after year.

6. Miami Beach – Florida
A great spot to see fashion models and movie stars, Miami Beach offers plenty of white sandy beaches, great restaurants, and all night parties at many local nightclubs. If you are looking for a great place to stay, The Tides is a luxurious hotel that will not disappoint. Miami Beach located in sunny Florida, is one of the best beach vacation spots in the United States.

Popular Cruise Ship Destinations and Ports of Call

 

When considering vacationing aboard a cruise ship, there are many individuals who are unaware of what to expect.  Individuals that have never been on a cruise ship before are likely to be a little bit confused when it comes to cruise ship destinations and ports of calls.  If you are interested in taking a cruise, it is advised that you familiarize yourself with cruise ship destinations and ports of calls. 

A port of call is a termed that is used by many cruise lines.  It is used to describe stops that a cruise ship will make along the way.  If you are interested in booking a vacation aboard a ship that makes multiple port stops, you will want to consider the ports available.  Vacationing on a cruise ship is enough to make any vacation perfect, but selecting the right ports of calls will make your vacation even more enjoyable.

When examining the cruise ships offered by multiple cruise lines, you should automatically be provided with cruise ship stops.  This information will likely tell you where and when the cruise ship will stop.  Information may be available as to how long the cruise ship plans on staying at a particular port.  If the stop is long enough, you may be able to view local attractions. 

All around the world, there are a number of ports that cruise ships regularly stop at.  Many of the most popular ports are found in the Caribbean.  If you are searching for a tropical cruise, you may want to consider the climate of each port before making your reservation.  Popular ports include, but are not 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 only ones that are available.  Vacation cruises are popular all around the world, including in Europe, Canada, and the Northern United States. The ports of call on these cruises may be not be considered tropical, but they still offer many fun and exciting attractions for cruise ship travelers.

In addition to 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 all cruise ships return to their originally place of departure. For prevent unnecessary travel, it is advised that you search for a cruise ship that returns to its original port of departure.

As previously mentioned, cruises ship vacations are popular all around the world.  When selecting a cruise ship to vacation on, you are encouraged to keep this in mind.  In addition to the ports of call and onboard activities, you should consider selecting a cruise ship based on its location of departure. If you are interested in vacationing on a cruise, but while on a budget, you may want to select a port of departure that is located close to your home.  Doing so will likely prevent unnecessary travel expenses. 

Cruise ships depart from ports all around the world.  Popular departure locations in the Untied States include, but are not limited to, Texas, New Jersey, Louisiana, Hawaii, and Florida.  Overseas cruise ships often depart from England, Italy, Germany, Spain, Norway, and Portugal.  Additional departure ports may be available; however, it will all depend on the cruise ship in question. 

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