Travel and Leisure Articles

Spending a vacation on wonderful beach resorts or magnificent star cruises are a lovely experience. Imagine the level of fun and excitement if you combine both cruising and beach vacation in a single trip. It will certainly become a lifetime memory for you. Well, stop dreaming and start acting in this direction to make this dream come true.

Cruise Vacation - Hypnotizing Tourists

You can enjoy heavenly leisure experience of cruising with all the comfort and luxury of this world. You will have on board access to the best entertainment facilities available in the world. Taste of healthy and delicious cuisines from all over the world along with tantalizing drinks enhances the pleasure of vacation. The blue water spread in all direction and blue sky overhead make you feel isolated from the worries and you enjoy the close proximity of your partner or family members. Stars twinkling in the sky at night give an illusion of fairy world.

Beach Vacations - Enjoying Natural Beauty

Everybody likes spending holidays on the loveliest beaches of the world. The diversity of tour packages for beach vacations make it ideal for everybody. Not only couples, but you can also spot elderly people enjoying the beauty of beaches and luxury of beaches resorts with all their family members.

A beach vacation serves different purposes of people. Some people come here to enjoy water sports; some come here for honeymoon, whereas some of them come to experience the spa treatment facilities available on these beach resorts. Whatever is the purpose, a beach vacation serves everything to their willing customers.

The increasing popularity of cruise vacation and beach vacation, several tour planners have started offering all-inclusive packages combining both pleasures. By selecting an all-inclusive tour packages you can enjoy the facility of pay once and enjoy until last moment of your trip without any worries. These are the most cost effective ways of enjoying a royal beach vacation.

The tours, ranging from 10 days to 45 days combines travelling from one place to another (all lovely beaches) via star cruises, and staying into associated beaches resorts on intervals. Such dual packages provide ultimate satisfaction and true return of invested money.

Are you planning to take some vacation this year, maybe somewhere wild, exotic, and as close to nature as possible?

Here’s a suggestion. Why don’t you book yourself for a cruise to the untamed, serene, and mysterious Terra Australis or the Southern Land, the Antarctica, and discover the joys of whale watching?

Most likely, the first thing that popped into your mind, the moment you read or hear the word Antarctica, is vast expanse of seemingly unending land of ice. Miles and miles of ice, as far as the eye can see, nothing but ice.

That description is true to some extent. But you failed to include some very, very interesting details.

Antarctica is home to some very fascinating plant and animal life. Although the climate does not support extensive plant life, more than 200 species of lichens and 50 species of bryophytes such as mosses are found in the continent. Interestingly enough, there are two species of flowering plants which have adapted to the harsh environment in the Southern Land, the Antarctic hair grass and Antarctic pearlwort. There are also at least seven hundred species of algae and phytoplankton.

Animal life in the continent is, for the most part, composed of endemic species and many migratory birds and other vertebrates. One of the most spectacular sights in the vast expanse of ice is the hundreds and even thousands of penguins basking in the southern sun.

There’s one more captivating spectacle in this remote part of the world which is probably one of the most fulfilling experience anyone can have, whale watching.

Whale watching is an experience with wildlife. It is a glimpse of the beauty and magnificence of Mother Nature in one of her most intimate moments. Whales are some of the most impressive creatures of the oceans, not just in mere size but also of physical beauty.

Whales are mammals, just like humans. They are warm-blooded, have lungs and breathe air, have a four-chambered heart, and take care of their young with milk from the mother. However, they are better related to dolphins and manatees which are also marine mammals. Whale watching will make you spot the similarities.

Whales are further divided into two groups: the toothed whales and the baleen whales. The toothed whales (Odontoceti) have rows of peg-like teeth and one blowhole. They feed on fish, squid, and other marine animals. Meanwhile, the baleen whales (Mysticeti) have two blowholes and rows of plate-like baleen they use to filter krill, plankton, and fish. Whale watching will bring you closer to these animals.

There are at least six baleen whales found in Antarctic waters. They are the Humpback, Minke, Sei, Blue, Fin, and Southern Right Whale. Five toothed whales have been documented to be found in the waters off the ice shelves of the Antarctic. These are the Orca or Killer Whale, Southern Bottlenose Whale, Sperm Whale, Southern Fourtooth Whale, and dolphins including the hourglass dolphin and Southern Rightwhale Dolphin.

Whale watching will bring you a close encounter with these magnificent creatures and an experience of a lifetime. These creatures are intelligent with no natural fear of humans so the experience is even more rewarding. An encounter like this is indeed an adventure and a memory to cherish for the rest of your life.

Executing graceful and mesmerizing performance on the ocean’s surface, these gentle giants are the ballerinas of the blue oceans. There are at least six elegant movements to be expected from these wonderful creatures when whale watching. Whales and dolphins are known for their range of graceful movements in the water such as breaching, flipper or fluke slapping, fluke waving, porpoising, spouting or blowing, and spy-hopping.

If that didn’t convince you of a trip to the Southern Land, I don’t know what will.

Enjoy the wonders of a luxury yacht charter on the Mediterranean onboard FOUR FRIENDS luxury yacht, specifically designed for speed and comfort.

The Mangusta 108 is a maxi open with absolutely stunning lines. The 5,400 horsepower of the twin engines awakens your senses as you skim across the Mediterranean Sea at 35 knots… Motor yacht Four Friends has a sporty nature and combines high-performance with the personalization and comfort of a traditional motor yacht. Lunch in the midst of the world’s jet set at the infamous club55, Saint Tropez, an afternoon of jet skiing and water sports, or just relax and be pampered by the onboard masseuse whilst at anchor in a secluded bay. The craggy coast of Corsica, the marvellous beaches of Sardinia, the unsurpassed pure style of Portofino or the beautiful tranquil bays of the islands of Porquerolles are journeys Four Friends takes in her stride.

Absorb the majesty of the Côte d’Azur on board Four Friends. Whether it is corporate entertaining, team building or just pure pleasure for you and your family, Four Friends, ­designed for safety, speed and ­comfort.

Her already tasteful interior was completely refurbished for 2007 to include plush cream soft furnishings creating a luxurious area for relaxation after a day of fun on the French Rivera. Sleeping 6/8 guests in 3 en-suite double cabins, with the option of a convertible double bed in a convertible day cabin/massage room (ideally suited to children), Four Friends is very accommodating. Each cabin is equipped with TV, DVD player and sound system, the master cabin offering large flat screen TV.

The aft deck has ample sunbathing areas along with an outdoor eating area, the perfect setting for your personally designed menus by the on-board chef. Forward you will find a vast sunbathing area with folding hood to ensure total privacy.

The main saloon with seating area is equipped with flat screen Sky TV and DVD player and leads to a further dining area with removable roof section.

Wayne Toohill, a professional and experienced captain will be staying on board for a second season along with the Chief Stewardess, Chef, Engineer and 2nd stewardess/masseuse ensuring the continuation of a successful team. Four Friends makes an ideal base for the Monaco Grand Prix, Cannes Film Festival, MIPIM, MIDEM and many more and is looking forwarded to impressing charter guests this summer.

On board facilities include “state-of-the-art” satellite communications and entertainment systems in all ­cabins, fully equipped galley capable of producing formal gourmet dinner parties for up to 12 guests.

Specifications:

Builder: Overmarine Italy

Type: Mangusta 108

Year: 2003

Length: 33.5 M

Beam: 7.10 M

Draft: 1.22 M

Engines: 2 x MTU 12V 2.735 hp

Propulsion: 2 x Kamewa 63sII Water Jet

Range: Approx. 400 NM

Cruising speed: 35 knots

Maximum speed: 38 knots

Air conditioning throughout

Toys: 2 Jet skis

Cruising area: South of France

Commercially registered at Kingstown SVG and fully compliant for charter use

Max. Nº of guests: 12 cruising - 6 sleeping

Cabins: 3 (1 master, 2 double)

Option to use dayroom

Crew: 4/5 in 4 cabins

What could be more enjoyable than relaxing by a pool

and being served with chilled champagne and caviar

while soaking up the sun under deep azure skies? ItÂ’s

a dream that many people have, but on a luxury cruise

this dream is a reality. If you want high-class

pampering, attentive service that is second to none

and spacious accommodation with all those ‘little

extras’ added in, you’ll simply love luxury cruising.

A luxury cruise really is in a different league. On a

luxury cruise you’ll be offered nothing less than a

spacious ocean view cabin as entry level

accommodation. It will be nicely decorated with plush

furnishings and quality bed linen, along with modern

entertainment equipment such as a TV, video and DVD

player. You’ll have exclusive use of your own private

balcony, as well as a fully-stocked bar and

mini-fridge. Many cruise lines even offer

personalized stationary, desk and writing equipment

as standard in their cabins.

Quality of service is really out of this world on a

luxury cruise. Most luxury cruise ships insure that

crewmembers address customers by name from day one

on board the vessel. Every need is catered for 24/7,

and no task is too small (or too big). If you want

burger and fries at 4 in the morning, then the crew

will get you burger and fries at 4 in the morning!

The cuisine on a luxury cruise is as you would expect

- heavenly! There is a wide variety of menus available

on board, offering an array of exotic dishes prepared

by some of the finest chefs in the world. Champagne

and fine wines are on hand day and night, and you

can even choose to have a first-class dining

experience in the privacy of your own cabin, or

sat out on your private balcony.

Naturally, a luxury cruise ship provides its

passengers with an excellent selection of cruise

destinations and port excursions. Visits to private

islands, secluded beaches and exclusive haunts of the

rich and famous are all part and parcel of a luxury

cruise. Additionally, luxury cruise ships generally

have fewer passengers on board than do regular

non-luxury cruise vessels. This makes for a more

pleasant experience when alighting from the ship at

port on arrival or boarding the vessel again for

departure.

Whether its accommodation, service, cuisine,

entertainment or excursions, you’ll find that a

luxury cruise is a lot more inclusive than a

standard cruise. There will in fact be very little

that you have to pay for in terms of extra cost

while on board - most of it will be covered in the

price that you have already paid for the cruise.

But a luxury cruise is expensive, right? Not

necessarily. When you add in everything thatÂ’s

included in the price you’ll find that a luxury

cruise is a lot more affordable than you think!

Many people now consider Whitsundays sailing holidays as excellent value for money and a good place for families to spend some time together; this has got to be the easiest way to see a variety of Whitsundays islands in a short space of time. You can have everything you want with a different Whitsundays island every day and all the wonderful evening entertainment of a Whitsundays hotel. Some people only take a short break and visit perhaps only a couple of islands as part of a larger vacation but most people are doing a tour of as many islands as they can with some lasting over two weeks.

Vacations like this are about enjoyment and it what these companies do best irrespective of weather or environment, it is your choice; enjoy the on board entertainment or that at each destination. sailing holiday yacht owners are aware of this and have different packages to cater for diverse crowds so the vacation can meet their needs of a dream holiday with a variety of entertainment packages available.

It is always a pleasant use of your time to see what vacations on yachts are available and see what choice of packages there are so why not start at the local travel operator for some advice. Almost every Whitsundays island will receive yacht guests but they can’t call on every one each trip as it would take to long so you need to look for a package that will call at the islands you want.

If your ideal sailing holiday vacation includes partying by the beach or the deck pool, even at a disco well then choose a sailing holiday with plenty of activities and stops at Whitsundays hotels. Even though your tour operator should be able to provide information on the types of Whitsundays sailing holiday packages that are available, there will probably be more advice to be found on the web sites.

One important thing to remember is the type of clothes you pack for your trip as you will have the opportunity to wear all you normal holiday clothes plus those for dressing up in the evening if you go to resorts.

Even if you intend to bring along your children on a family sailing holiday vacation, there are plenty of things to occupy them and they will not have a dull moment.

But Whitsundays sailing holidays can be for adults to and there are those that do not have children on board. Other sailing holiday yacht packages are available and have been created for special occasions like weddings, honeymoons and anniversaries.

The whole idea of a Whitsundays sailing holiday vacation is that you enjoy yourself and just let go for however long you are on board because it may be some time before you go again!

What is Gulet?

Gulet is an all wooden motor sailing yacht built for cruising the coasts in the calm warm waters of the Mediterranean. The meaning of the Gulet name is derives from the French goelette that mean schooner. The classic Gulet is best known for its low-to-the-water profile and roomy hull, rounded aft.

Bodrum and Marmaris are the cities in Turkey famous in gulet building. The building process nearly takes one year.

The Turkish “Gulet” is a traditionally designed wooden motor sailor. She has the heritage of those ancient boats which sailed across the Aegean and Mediterranean seas for thousands of years.The original gulet has the rounded aft but also flat backed style Gulets (Ketch) are existing.

The living areas of a Gulet is consisted of a saloon, some of them have closed aft instead of a saloon and cabins. Charter gulets have more cabins then private use gulets. But the cabin size increases in private Gulets. Charter gulets are easily convertible to private use cabins.

Differences between Gulet and Ketch

Gulet Turkish wooden boat with round stern (cruiser stern). Normally between 14m to 20m. Nowadays she is built up to 35m length

Ketch Turkish traditional wooden boat with transom stern. Normally between 14m to 24m. Nowadays she is built up to 35m length

When you’re buying check the following:

-Year Built (Check the year of the gulet)

-Hull Material (Check the wood type used in building)

-Check the cabins (For charter or private use)

-Electricity (The electricity voltage at the vessel is 12-24-220 V)

Yachts started to sell in the beginning of the 20th century, when wealthy individuals built large private yachts simply for personal pleasure. The first examples of this are the luxury motor yachts known as the MY or simply motor yachts Christina O and MY Savarona. The early designs of these yachts were owned by American Cup classic J class like SY or sailing yachts Endeavour and Sir Thomas Lipton’s SY Shamrock. The Yacht club of New York hosted many of these early luxury sailing yacht events at Newport Rhode Island in the gilded Age.

Luxurious yachts have often been seen in abundance in the Mediterranean and Caribbean seas, although their numbers are increasing, more and more yachts are manufactured and sailed in many other areas throughout the world. With increasing demand for this kind of vessels, there has also been a rise in the demand for custom boat building companies and brokers. They are often found in Australasia, Asia, and Europe. The European manufacturers such as Ferreti dominate the high end yacht building market.

Many yachts are privately owned while others are operated all year round as charter businesses providing high end fun packed or relaxing holidays.

The rates of these luxury yachts are very high, ranging from $840,000 like the MY Annaliesse or up to Euros 20,000. The industry functions effectively due to private owners mitigate their ongoing costs with charter income as well as maintaining their yachts in top running condition.

On the other hand, private charterers charter yachts too because it is inexpensive compared to owning one and is less hassle having to maintain, service and repair. This provides them with many choices to make like yacht class, location and selection of crew.

Yachts can be really expensive, most of the time; they’re much more costly than cars. Selling boats is the job of brokers, especially when it comes to selling luxury models. They are either sold by brokers under a listing agreement or by owner. Some methods don’t give commissions to broker but brokers will tell you probably the correct advice.

It is best to go with a dealer because they will get you a higher selling price than if you did it by yourself. They understand supply and demand, they know what the market is like at any given time. But on the other hand, you also need to give the central agent a commission in the end.

Normally there is a 10 percent commission charge which is an agreed fee which may or may not be given to the list broker. The open listing is the one where the owner agrees to pay the commission in the event that the broker sells it himself. Owners usually select this type of listing for luxury yachts because it offers a greater incentive to a large number of brokers who are more likely to work harder to sell the yacht.

The trawler is an awesome boat. It is known for its roominess and stability. The next best thing to owning one would be to do a trawler charter. It is a great way to sail along some of the wonderful coastlines on earth. Trawler charters are available in the Pacific Northwest and in Florida. You can also hire a trawler charter in the Mediterranean, the Caribbean or in Australia.

Trawler Charters have boats available in various lenghts. One of the most comfortable is the 43 foot trawler. It is luxurious and spacious. While sailing you can watch TV on the flatscreen in the large main salon and enjoy dinner served from the fully equipped galley. Above, there is the spacious flybridge with a bimini cover for added protection from the sun.

As many as three couples or a large family would comfortable accommodated. The three staterooms and two heads, each with its own shower would allow everyone there own space. For recreation, there is an aft deck for sunbathing or fishing. There you will find a large swim platform accessible by the expansive transom door.

With the dark wood of the interior walls and cabinets, down to the well maintained wood flooring, the trawler oozes with charm. Trawler charters are fun and exciting and like no other vacation you have been on before. Coordinating and booking flights to and from the trawler’s location would be the hardest part of the trip. For a little extra, some charter companies will even do that for you making sure everything falls perfectly into place.

Maybe you are a sailor in your own right, with many hours of experience. If so, you can do a bareboat charter putting yourself at the helm. To qualify, most charter companies require prior approval after viewing your sailing record. This is a great way to save money as well as allowing you to alter the itinerary whenever you wanted.

Most of us go on vacation to kick back and relax. All trawler charters have experienced captains whose resumes are impeccable and available for you to review. They know the vessel well as well as all the locations you will be visiting. Leave all the worries to them while you enjoy the view.

The captains will follow a pre-planned itinerary, although you can request to alter it a bit, time allowing. He is very familiar with all the ports of call and will recommend things to do and direct you to points of interest or restaurants where you can enjoy a meal ashore.

If you rent a trawler charter in the Pacific Northwest you would enjoy sailing around the multitude of islands in that area. There is tons of wildlife to experience and photograph. The Pugent Sound is home to bear, whales, deer and eagles. The fishing and crabbin is amazing. Dine on your own fresh catch in the evening after a day of recreation.

If you do not want to go ashore and dine at one of the many restaurants, you can use the fully equipped galley. You also have the choice of leaving your comfortable stateroom and stay ashore one evening at one of the charming island hotels, at your own expense, of course.

Common trawler charters charges would be: the fully equipped trawler, all the linens and towels, the captain, free use of the galley, as well as fuel and dock fees. Any restaurants or hotels ashore as well as taxes are extra. You are allowed to bring your own food and beverages and use the galley.

Cruise travel represents a pinnacle of luxury. Cruising is really all about the journey and while the destination is certainly important, many people find that they cherish the memories they make while on board ship. Cruise prices are going up every year. Cruisers can rate ships from one to five in each of several areas including food, service, accommodations, entertainment, shore excursions, overall condition of ship, children’s facilities and value for money.

Cruise

Some Advantages and Disadvantages of primary advantage of all inclusive cruises, is that all the planning is taken care of for you – right down to the times and places you will stay and eat and be entertained. These cruise packages are put together for people who just want to go and don’t want to worry about the details. They’re finding that when you’re aboard a cruise ship, life slows down and things go and a much calmer pace.

Generally speaking, a cruise in any category of room tends to be a fairly hefty investment. Find an exciting destination that will fulfill your thirst for adventure and enjoy your cruise expedition. Most cruise vacation lines provide plenty of supervised activities for youngsters, especially during school holidays. If your children enjoy swimming, sports, games, movies, and the adventure of new places, theyÂ’ll love a family cruise expedition. Some travel companies have found it helpful to specialize in being cruise travel agents. Their specialty is in gaining the consumer the best deal possible on a cruise.

Cruise

Since cruise travel agents are general book about 90 percent of a shipÂ’s rooms, the cruise lines often work with them to reduce rates. The cruise travel agent often gets better deals for their clients than the cruise line itself may offer. A cruise ship sailing with empty rooms is basically losing money. They would prefer to virtually give rooms away at drastically reduced rates and often work with cruise travel agents to find people to fill them. Also, after booking if you see lower fares donÂ’t be embarrassed to contact your cruise travel agent to see about a refund of the difference.

Another trick agents know is that as with airlines booking early gets you the best price, and for the most part thatÂ’s true; on a cruise ship, however, booking closer to the sailing date through a cruise travel agent is often the better way to reduce the costs. If youÂ’re thinking about taking a cruise vacation, then you definitely want to work with one of the use agencies.

More and more people are choosing a cruise to add a bit of adventure or relaxation into their lives. A cruise expedition is the most popular option for honeymoon vacations. Because of the expedition nature of the cruise, the atmosphere on board was more casual than on other cruises. Safety is First and although expedition cruising is adventurous in its nature; the safety of passengers is paramount.

In the last ten years, luxury Alaskan cruises have become one of the most popular types of vacations for many different kinds of travelers. From retirees to young families, Alaska cruises are becoming one of the most requested types of travel for many travel agencies. And when you look at all the reasons to choose such a vacation, it is not very hard to see why this destination has become number one.

The Sights

Alaska is one of the few untouched wildernesses left in America. The top three reasons that people wish to go on a luxury Alaska cruise are for wildlife, glaciers and mountains. With less than one twentieth of the land inhabited, this state has the most protected land than any other, with over 65% federally held for the preserving of Alaskan wilderness. It is common to see grisly bears, bald eagles, moose, and elk from the comforts of your cruise ship. The ship also takes you closer than other tours to glaciers, and provides you a waterside view that can be replicated no where else. And your cruise line will sail right past the most amazing and picturesque mountains. An Alaskan cruise helps you catch a glimpse of the greatest sights Alaska has to offer.

The Price

Alaska has paved the way for cheap luxury cruises. Alaska sailings are relatively inexpensive. They offer travelers a way to visit a luxury destination at a budget price. With seven day Alaska cruises starting as little as $400 per person, this price includes the chance to sail into different ports and explore Alaska on your own time. Not to mention that this price includes all your food and on board entertainment. With such a good deal, it is no wonder that travelers are choosing to see Alaska on a luxury cruise.

The “Add Ons”

In addition to offering fabulous costal sights, most luxury Alaskan cruises are offering amazing “add ons” to their already great itineraries. For example, the majority of Alaska travelers wish to see the great Denali National Park. Cruise lines, such as Princess Cruises, now offers to combine your Alaska cruise with an exclusive land extension that will take you to the Alaskan interior to see the sights of Denali. When you add on to your cruise, the price is relatively small, and a number of Cruise lines offer exclusive lodges for their cruise guests who want to extend their stay. For travelers who have the need to see a more detailed version of Alaska, combining a cruise and tour with the cruise lines is a great way to get the most value out of your money.

No matter how you slice it, Alaska is best seen through the eyes of a cruiser. On a luxury Alaska cruise, you will most definitely get your fill of wildlife, mountains and glaciers. And with pricing often starting for as little as $400 per person, covering drinks, transfers and on board activities, it is an incredible deal for all travelers. And should you desire to see even more of this last American frontier, you can add on extra tours and interior extensions that will let you take full advantage of great cruise line pricing. So whether you plan to make Alaska your only stop, or if you wish to include it as part of your luxury world cruise, make sure you truly experience the sights of Alaska.