Building An Authoritative Travel Blog

Authoritative blogs seem all the rage at the moment but what exactly is an " Authoritative Travel Blog ?" Well my understanding of the matter is it is a blog that is not only very informative to the readers but that the information comes from authoritative type people in connection with what they are writing about.

Hopefully my articles below will give an insight on travel and travel related experiences from all over the world from many authoritative writers as they have been there and done that.

Articles will be and are published often and this means current travel experiences and up to date places to visit. If you have also visited these places or wish to comment then please do so remembering this blog is intended to family orientated visitors so please be respectful.

I have seen many fears raised through my article site and feel that any traveller today that, for one reason or another, decides against travel insurance then they are possibly being a little short sighted. We do not want our boats to sink but are happy to carry life rafts. travel insurance is a similar idea. We do not wish to ever claim on it but if things go wrong as they sometimes do it is a benifit to have the insurance.

Monday, December 15, 2008

A Repositioning Cruise - Is It Your Best Holiday Dollar Value?

By Dorothy Yamich

Repositioning cruises are not a new phenomenon, they're just the best kept secret in the cruising industry. Just like migrating birds, many cruise ships leave for warmer climates in the Autumn and return in the Spring. Some sail south for the winter months and then sail back for the summer months. Other cruise ships sail across the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans to "reposition" themselves in warmer weather. Just like most vacationers, these large fleets of ships are seeking seasons in the sun.

These special one-way cruises are offered at incredible savings to attract new and seasoned cruise lovers alike. No cruise line ever wants to have the expense of moving a huge ship over hundreds or thousands of miles of ocean without having any paying cruise passengers onboard. This is an opportunity for vacationers to book a great luxury dream cruise for a bargain basement price.

Repositioning cruises are not just stripped down versions of luxury cruises. They are luxury cruises! All of the passengers enjoy the same meals and entertainment as well as the same onboard privileges. And the deeply discounted tickets, sometimes costing as low as fifty dollars per day, entitle passengers to everything that are usually included in luxury cruises.

The main difference between a standard cruise and a repositioning cruise is that the latter is longer, usually lasting from two to four weeks, with more time spent at sea and fewer, or possibly no ports of call. This means more relaxing days spent at sea and a less hectic itinerary. And on some repositioning cruises certain ships will drop anchor in very unique ports of call that are usually reserved for very expensive world cruise itineraries.

Usually these repositioning cruises take place from September through October, and from March through April. Some destinations in the Winter are Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean, South America including the Panama Canal, as well Asia. The destinations in the Summer are Canada, Alaska, New England, Europe, and the Mediterranean.

Depending on the season, vacationers can sail to or from Europe and North America; Alaska and British Columbia, and the United States southwest coast including ports in Mexico; the northern United States and the Eastern coast of Canada, and a number of southern U.S. as well Caribbean destinations. Some repositioning cruises sail to and from Asia, Africa, as well as the Middle East.

There are a few important things that you should consider if you are planning to go on a repositioning cruise. First is booking an "open jaw" flight where you will fly to the departure port of call and then fly home from the cruise ship's destination port. These air flights can be a little pricey compared to the usual return airfares that travelers are most familiar with. Sometimes it may be possible to book a flight through the cruise line, but not always. Even with the usual extra cost for an open jaw ticket over a regular airline return ticket, a repositioning cruise is still an exceptionable value for your travel dollar. However, if you are fortunate to live near by, or within driving distance of your departure port, then you would only need a one-way air flight back to your departure port and then drive back home.

When you book your flight it may be advisable to arrive at your departure port a day before you sail and stay overnight at a hotel. This will avoid any problem of unforeseen flight delays that can sometimes happen and leave you stranded on the pier waving goodbye to a cruise ship that has left without you.

If you think you would enjoy a long and relaxing luxury cruise then you will love a repositioning cruise which usually is not filled to capacity with passengers and spends more time at sea.

P.S. Don't forget your camera equipment and a wardrobe to reflect the possible weather conditions on your cruise.

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