So This Is Christmas

Merry Christmas is such an infectious feeling I like to feel that way all year around.

So if you are visiting just before Christmas, just after Christmas or even here on Christmas day I am sure you will find something of interest for you and in the spirit of Christmas.

It may be said that Christmas is no longer a celebration but this must be spoken by people that have never had trouble closing their eyes on Christmas Eve in an expectation of what maybe left for them on the carpet under the tree.

I continue to look forward to the surprise on my Grandchild's faces to this day at Christmas events.

Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Can Repositioning Cruises Save Vacationers A Lot Of Money?

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

A repositioning cruise is not just a stripped down version of a luxury cruise. It is a luxury cruise! All passengers enjoy the same meals, the same entertainment, and have the same onboard privileges. And your deeply discounted ticket, sometimes costing as low as fifty dollars per day, entitles you to everything that is usually included in a luxury cruise.

The main difference between a standard cruise when compared to 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 will mean more peaceful, relaxing days at sea and a less hectic itinerary. And on certain repositioning cruises some ships will drop their anchors in very unique ports of call that are normally reserved for extremely 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 want to go on a repositioning cruise. First is booking an "open jaw" flight where you fly to the departure port of call and then fly home from the cruise ship's destination port. These air flights can be pricey compared to the usual return airfares that most travelers are familiar with. Sometimes it is possible to book your 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 incredible value for your travel dollar. However, if you are fortunate to live close by, or within driving distance of your departure port, then you would only have to book a one-way airline flight back to your departure port and then drive back home.

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

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

P.S. Don't forget your camera and a wardrobe that reflects the possible weather conditions that you may encounter on your cruise.

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