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The Top Ten Cruise Destinations

It is therefore wise to ask yourself what you expect from a cruise before making a decision. Are you looking for black tie glamour, informal luxury, to travel only with people your own age, plenty of entertainment, beautiful surroundings and nature, a good deal or activity and are you traveling on a shoestring?

That is why the top ten cruise destinations are based on previous experience and include cruise holidays in a variety of temperate zones. In effect, there is something here for everyone:

Hawaii

The Hawaiian Islands are a tropical paradise everyday of the year with its green clad volcanic cliffs and awe-inspiring tropical fauna and flora. Visit the magical Dolphin Cove, the fascinating Sealife Park and of course the Polynesian Cultural Centre.

The Caribbean

The best time to cruise the Caribbean is in January and February as the weather is perfect most days, but there is often threat of hurricanes from Mid June to the beginning of December. You can visit all the Caribbean islands as there is only a short distance between each of them, but the Caribbean is not as tropically lush as Hawaii.

Antarctica

Cruises to Antarctica are usually expensive so not suited to those on a low budget and cruise ships do not operate in the Antarctic winter, from March to September. These cruises combine a unique blend of comfort and adventure with soaring glacier cliffs, icebergs and penguin colonies.

The Mediterranean

The warmest months and the best time for sun seekers to visit the mediterrannean is from May to September. It should be noted that many of the
ports are often very busy during the summer, but there are certainly a large amount of destinations worth visiting, including the Greek Islands, Costa del Sol, Liguria Coast and the French Riviera.

Fjords of Norway

The best time to visit the Fjords of Norway is from June to August when it is not so cold. Cruises around these natural wonders are breathtakingly beautiful and humbling, as you sail inside enormous, yet narrow fjords surrounded by high cliffs.

Alaska

The best time to cruise to Alaska is in the warmest months of June to August, as daylight is longer for sightseeing and taking photographs. It’s a special place to cruise by glaciers and snow caped jagged peaks on your way to numerous photogenic ports.

Mexico

November to April is the best time to cruise to Mexico, as they are cooler, dryer and less humid than the summer months. If you are looking for a relaxing cruise then this is perhaps not the most suitable choice as Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco and the other ports of call on the Mexican Riviera are full of life and music.

South Pacific

The South Pacific covers a broad area and its destinations include the fertile tropical paradises such as Fiji and Tahiti.

Galapagos

The Galapagos Island are home to giant tortoises, seal lions, penguins, fur seals, marine iguanas and are a place that Charles Darwin visited to observe the unique wildlife.

The Baltic Sea

A cruise to the Baltic Sea is not for the faint hearted in the colder months, but June to august is ideal for visiting Tallinn, Helsinki, Copenhagen and Stockholm.

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http://www.directline-cruises.co.uk will provide you with the latest cruise holidays as well as essential information on cruise lines, cruise ships, fat burner pills for diners, ships’ cabins and full cruise itineraries from every major cruise line including Cunard, Carnival, MSC, Norwegian, RoyalCaribbean, Princess, Fred Olsen and P&O cruises.

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Jamaica Golf Provides A Little Something For Everyone
With gorgeous weather and spectacular scenery, Jamaica golf
is the perfect relaxing activity while on vacation.
Although there are only twelve courses to choose from,
there is a wide variety to keep you entertained. Each
course has its own character and distinctive qualities
allowing you to experience something different every time
you play. Read more »

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Travel to Belize on the Caribbean, a Maya Temple Adventure.
An adventurer’s paradise, Belize is your peaceful, English-
speaking neighbor only two hours away from 3 major U.S.
Gateways. With a diversity of adventure opportunities
unmatched by any other country, the Belize people have
protected 40% of the country as parks and natural reserves. Read more »

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I do not know of any perfumist who has created a perfume for cruises although Boston-based perfume maker Neil Morris (http://www.nielmorrisfragrances.com) once told me that he was considering introducing such a scent. Despite the fact that there is no specific cruise perfume that I know about, cruises and perfumes go together.

The cruise lines must think so, too, because most cruise ships feature perfume pretty prominently in their onboard shops. One perk I find in cruising is that you can sample a lot of different perfumes in these shops to really get the feel (and wear) of fragrances you might not normally try.

Cruise lines feature duty-free shopping but the astute woman of fragrance nosing around the cruise shop perfume counter may notice that prices on the perfumes onboard ship are not much different than prices back home at the local department store or online shop. So what’s the big deal about duty-free anyway?

Perfume is one of those things, like diamond rings and the room rate at a Tahitian resort, that just doesn’t go on sale. Most experienced women of fragrance can tell you that perfume prices are stable as the Rock of Gibraltar. The best deal you’ll get from most perfume companies is some sort of packaged set at the holidays or for Mother’s Day.

So don’t expect the $60 bottle of perfume you’ve had your eye on at home or the $100 gift set you’ve been checking out at the Sephora website to be available for much less onboard ship. (You may be pleasantly surprised, but you should not expect to see anything like a major discount.)

The benefit duty-free shopping is that you don’t pay tax (city, state, or federal) on your purchase. For instance, buy that $60 bottle of perfume at your hometown department store, and you can expect to pay about another $5 in sales tax. (That’s based on an approximate sales tax rate in the U.S. of 8%. If you live in Canada, it’s closer to 12% and in Europe, it’s higher than that!)

Most Europeans instantly “get” the concept of duty-free shopping because it is customary in Europe to add the tax to the purchase price that appears on the label. Thus, seeing the price without the tax added in shows the discount quite plainly.

In the U.S., sales tax is a lot more sneaky. It does not appear until you’re standing at the checkout when it is just tacked on to the purchase price.

Buying duty-free eliminates the tax. Of course, in the U.S. you can purchase perfume from online sources that are based out of state and also circumvent the sales tax. However, you’ll get dinged with shipping and handling charges.

Duty-free shopping lets you pay just what the merchandise cost. Even if you don’t get a penny off the retail price of your next bottle of Chanel or Michael Kors or DKNY Be Delicious, you’ll still leave the store paying less than you would have using more traditional outlets.

Another great reason to buy perfume on a cruise ship is that you can really try it before you buy it. You can pop into the cruise shop, get a spritz on the scent you’re considering, and then wear it for the day. We all know that smelling perfume in the bottle (or on those paper strips) is one thing, but wearing it is quite another.

I had that experience with Cinema by Yves St. Laurent. I liked the scent well enough when I used the paper tester strip but there were many other perfumes that seemed more intriguing and interesting. Yet when I did a “test” of wearing Cinema for an afternoon, I found that I loved the scent.

The range of perfumes your cruise ship will carry will depend on the cruise line. Most cruise ships manage to stock a pretty decent range of products. Look for some big names (Givenchy, Chanel, Lancome, and so on) and some newer names (DKNY, Michael Kors, Vera Wang).

You won’t find everything. For instance, on my last cruise, I found the shop had Chanel No. 5, Chance, and Allure from Chanel, but no No. 19. There were many Estee Lauder cosmetics in stock, but no fragrances. Dolce & Gabbana’s Blue was available, but no other scents. You may find some delightful and relatively rare scents (I saw Delices by Cartier and Incanto Charms by Ferragamo) but you cannot expect the cruise line to be a fully stocked perfume shop.

When purchasing perfume onboard, the duty-free purchase counts toward the allowance of merchandise you are allowed to bring back into the country. American citizens are allowed to return from their international cruises with $800 in purchases (per person). If you go over that mark, you have to declare it and you may be asked to pay duty on the overage when you go through customs upon return to the U.S.

What about buying perfume at your ports of call? That depends on whether or not the port charges sales tax and if there are good perfume stores available.

A big surprise for cruising perfume lovers is Cozumel, Mexico. Not only does this sunny Mexican Riveria destination not charge sales tax, there is an outstanding (and very large) perfume boutique in the shopping district immediately near the port. (Just get off the cruise ship and head to the left to the stores …. it’s just a few blocks down.)

European ports charge hefty taxes but may offer perfumes that are not so easy to find in the U.S.

But if perfume lovers go cruising, they can purchase their old and new favorite scents onboard their cruise ship with confidence.

talent management

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Love perfume? Don’t know what to buy or how to buy it? Check out http://www.ThePerfume-Reporter.com and get your free Perfume Profile today. This article was written by Joanna McLaughlin, a regular contributor at The Perfume-Reporter. Her favorite scent today is Cinema by Yves St. Laurent.

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We have been taking a fresh look at the cruise holiday options available recently and there is a pleasantly modern approach from some operators, in stark contrast to the stuffy offerings from some of the longer established lines, who want their clients to fit in with a rigid timetable. I know someone who is going on an old-style cruise this year and she is dreading the thought of having to dine with the same group of people every day for a fortnight. Suppose you do not get on with them or they tell long boring stories every night? The destinations and cruise itineraries from companies like Norwegian Cruise Line appeal to my individualist nature. There are no formal dress codes or fixed meal sitting times, which is far more appealing.

I think that Royal Caribbean Cruise Line also has a lot to offer. Their liners are true floating hotels, with the best entertainment, food and activities to keep you occupied all day and all night. And of course you wake up in a different place every morning. Royal Caribbean visit some of the best cruise destinations in the world, including duty free islands like Bermuda, which is on my list of places to see. If you thought cruises were just for superannuated ballroom dancers, think again - and check out the websites for Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Lines.

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Although you cannot go wrong when selecting Jamaica as a destination, Negril is certainly one of the top tourist attractions. From its stunning beaches to lively culture, there is a little bit of something for everyone. Whether you are looking to have fun or kick back and relax… Negril, Jamaica is a very good choice. Located in western Jamaica, Negril extends from the nineteenth-century Negril Lighthouse at Negril Point all the way to Bloody Bay in the Parish of Hanover. Negril offers spectacular scenery that can be found in very few places around the world. From the dramatic rugged cliffs at West End you can view miles of pristine white sand beaches. Read more »

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Anguilla, A Romantic Small Island For Travel, Vacation And Your Honeymoon

This friendly island invites you to relax, kick off your shoes and enjoy! Imagine a small island that provides a private, pristine retreat for all who seek one — Anguilla. Wrapped in a brilliant turquoise sea, thirty-three stunning, powder-soft white sand beaches await your footprints, friendly people anticipate your smiles, and a world-class vacation is only a short journey away. Here are two resorts one moderately priced and one for the bold, you decide.

The Arawak Beach Inn
For a sand between your toes getaway and a casual relaxed atmosphere, there can be no better place to stay than the Arawak Beach Inn - Anguilla. Comprising of just 17 accommodations painted in pretty pastel shades, at the Arawak Beach Inn a home-away-from-home atmosphere prevails, be it with a distinctly Caribbean flavor. This is a place to relax and unwind, surrounded by all the comforts you will need, in a glorious Caribbean setting. Here nothing is too much trouble and the best place to try this out is at the Arawak?s delightful bar and restaurant, where delicious home-cooked breakfasts are served, and throughout the day and into the evening, traditional Caribbean fare, tasty snacks and international cuisine is available. Priced at $73.00 dollars a day.
Read more »

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The Bahamas, A Great Choice For Travel and Vacations.

This group of 700 islands, beginning sixty miles east of the Florida coast, is dazzling in its diversity. Activities like golfing with your family, world class bone fishing, or just hanging out and relaxing at the beach. For diving and snorkling the Bahamas boast the world’s third longest barrier reef and visibility of over 200 feet. You can also explore the world’s longest underwater cave and cavern system at Lucayan National Park on Grand Bahama. Great shopping, and the resorts start at $33.00 dollars a day up to $300 a day. Read more »

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5 Reasons Your Next Vacation Should Be A Jamaica Vacation

There is no wonder why so many people embark on a Jamaica vacation at some point in their lives. With beautiful weather, white sandy beaches, and a plethora of activities to keep you busy, Jamaica has become one of the most popular vacation spots in the world. Here are 5 reasons why your next vacation should be a Jamaica vacation.

1. Beautiful weather

You simply cannot say it enough… the Jamaica weather is absolutely gorgeous. With Jamaica being in the Caribbean, you will experience weather like none other in the world. It is not too hot and certainly not too cool, which makes for the perfect relaxation while on vacation. You can put on your bathing suit and lounge carelessly at the beautiful beaches Jamaica has to offer. Read more »

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