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NCL Freestyle's Newest Ship - Norwegian Pearl
by Roy Witman © 2006

The youngest fleet at sea. That’s the goal of NCL Freestyle, and they are continuing in their efforts with the call to service of Norwegian Pearl. Purpose-built to deliver Freestyle Cruising, Pearl is currently sailing through the Inside Passage of Alaska and to the southern and western Caribbean.

Shipboard Amenities

Several features set Pearl apart from other ships including her 14 bars and lounges, more than any other cruise line. Making use of an innovative Bar Central concept, Pearl offers a martini bar, champagne and wine bar, and a beer and whiskey pub all connected.

Exclusive to NCL Freestyle Cruising are Garden Villas. With shared access to a private pool, hot tub, sun deck and workout facility, families that opt for the Garden Villas can take advantage of a private staff of five butlers who are at your beck and call.

Families choosing NCL Freestyle Cruising have more options than the Garden Villas. Connecting rooms in almost every class make for family-friendly vacations regardless of budget. For those cruising as couples, other accommodations are available including value-minded inside staterooms that allow you to make the most of your vacation dollars. Each cabin includes TV, refrigerator, safe, duvet and hair dryer.

Another unique aspect of Pearl is her rock-climbing wall - a first on a NCL Freestyle cruise ship. Positioned high atop Deck 14, you can see for miles once you reach the top of the wall. But, the most innovative feature by far is her bowling alley at sea - a first on any cruise ship! Included within an entertainment complex called Bliss, passengers will be able to use the four-lane, 10-pin bowling alley during the day. This sports bar will also feature sporting events via television, air hockey, foosball and other arcade games. At night, however, Bliss will be transformed into a high-energy lounge with videos and music.

Destinations

Pearl is making her way through the frigid waters of Alaska’s Inside Passage. Sailing from Seattle, Pearl calls on ports including Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan, Alaska, plus Victoria, British Columbia.

While in the 49th US state, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to participate in excursions, including dogsled adventures, rainforest canopy and zip line exploits, whale encounters and wilderness kayaking.

If warm and sunny sounds more appealing to you than cold and frosty, then board Pearl in Miami for a southern or western Caribbean tour. Spending nine days flirting with the sun in balmy Barbados, Antigua or St. John is the perfect way to de-stress. Five-day cruises to Cozumel or Belize are also available.

Kid-Friendly Vacation

Of course, Pearl has plenty for the kids to do. With numerous age-appropriate group activities, kids of all ages can have a blast while at sea. The Kid’s Crew program provides a t-shirt (for painting), mom and dad’s night out, a chef’s hat (for cooking class), Crew News and more. Junior Sailors (ages 2-5), First Mates (ages 6-9) and Navigators (ages 10-12) all have special, supervised games and activities. Children under 12 are not allowed to leave the area unless picked up by a parent.

Teens also get special treatment onboard Pearl. With their own disco, movie events and teen parties, they’ll have a wonderful time meeting kids their own age.

NCL Freestyle Cruising allows you to choose how you dress, when you dine, who you dine with and what you do. This new freedom in cruising is only expanded with the addition of Pearl to the fleet of the youngest ships at sea.

Roy Witman is Vice-President of <a href="http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com">Cruise Vacation Center</a>. Visit them online today at <a href="http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com">http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com</a> for the best deals including <a href="http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com/alaska_cruises.htm"> Alaska cruises</a>.

Experience An Alaska Whale Watching Cruise
An Alaska whale watching cruise is one of the most unforgettable experiences of your life. When you take this cruise, not only will you view the some of the most majestic sites in the world, you will also see some of the world’s beautiful whales in their natural habitat.

The largest schools of Orca, Humpback, Beluga and gray whales are found in the waters of Alaska. On an Alaska whale watching cruise, you can see these incredible creatures frolicking in their native waters. Although all these types of common to the Alaska waters, only the Orca and Humpback whales can be seen frequently.

The Humpback whale has a long tail flipper with edges that are oddly shaped. Their color is usually black with a white patch on their throats and bellies. Their size is extremely large, and when they are seen with humpback whales whose favorite trick is to jump in the air, it is a sight to behold.

Orca whales are also known as killer whales. They can be recognized from a distance from their black and white markings and their tall dorsal fins. They can also be identified from a distance by the vapor that is present when they surface.

When you are out on an Alaska whale watching cruise, it is almost a certainty that you will see the whales do some tricks while they are frolicking. A trick that the whales perform often is called skyhopping. This trick is done when the whale projects itself into the air nose first from the water to stand vertically in the air. If the whale is really strong, it can hold up half of its body weight.

Another trick that you are likely to see on an Alaska whale watching cruise is call lobtailing. This is when a whale lifts its massive tail and slaps the water to create a large splash. This is similar to what dolphins do.

Another favorite trick that whales perform is to do a breach or lunge. This is completed when the whale lunges out of the water and slams the surface of the water on its side. Lunging generates more power then the other routines performed.

Although whales are what draw curious tourists to take an Alaska whale watching cruise, there are many other types of natural Alaska wildlife to see. You will see bears and moose grazing in their favorite fields to millions of birds in the nesting habitat. Sea lions and otters are abound in Alaska; you will enjoy watching their playful games. You will find interested and exotic wildlife wherever you turn.

One of the most unforgettable sites that you will see is the incredible glaciers in Alaska. These magnificent mountains of ice will capture your attention with their beautiful reflections of the suns rays.

When you are planning the perfect Alaska vacation, do not forget that there are plenty of recreational activities in Alaska. The favorites being kayaking and fishing.

An Alaska whale watching cruise is one of the most unforgettable experiences that you will ever have. It offers you the sites of all of nature’s creatures both big and small living together in harmony and beauty.

An Alaska cruise is the experience of a lifetime. With the fresh, natural landscapes and wildlife, Alaska cruises continue to grow in popularity. In fact, Alaska is one of the most popular cruise destinations of all the cruise lines worldwide. Read more about <a href="http://www.enjoythecruise.com/alaska_cruise.htm">Alaska cruises</a> here => http://www.enjoythecruise.com/alaska_cruise.htm

Carnival Elation Cruise Review
The Elation is a ship that was put together in 1998 for Carnival Cruise Lines. It was the primary cruise ship to have the azipod propulsion system. Everything you read about the Elation will include a diminutive blurb about the azipod system. You may wonder which the heck that is so I’ll tell you. It’s much like having front wheel drive on your car. Instead of the energy source pushing the cruise ship it pulls it instead. This makes piloting the cruise vessel much easier so you can be doubtless there won’t be any listing or tipping over of the ship on your cruise. Also it reduces those vibrations that cause nausea in passengers like myself. Enough about mechanics though because Carnival’s got the fun don’t they? Yessirree they do. The Carnival Elation has three swimming pools. One with a 214 ft water slide! This is where the music is and the pool games. Expect it to be overoccupied the beginning few days. My favourite pool is the one at the back of the ocean liner on verandah deck seeing that it takes new passengers about 3 days to find it so for the first couple days of your cruise it is uncrowded. The last pool is the kiddie pool on promenade deck at the mega liner’s aft (back). This pool is a bit like swimming in a toilet with all the babies in their swim diapers-which are not allowed. If gambling rocks your world then head down to the Cassablanca casino. There are more than 200 slots to favor from including several megacash machines that are linked with other Carnival vessels fleetwide. The biggest jackpot that I have seen was over a million bucks won on the now gone Carnival Jubilee. I stick to the slots, I figure it’s the quickest way to lose my alloted gambling coin then I can get on with the rest of the cruise. If you are a more complicated gambler than I there is also roulette, black jack and Caribbean stud poker to play. Free drinks on a cruise, doubtful you think. Not so. You can attend wine tastings or as we do go to check out the art an hour before the famed art auction where they pass out able wine and cheese. If you have been on more than one cruise with the same line you can attend the past guest party. Don’t dismiss this as a waste of time if you like to imbibe the drinks are free and plentiful and all you have to do is watch a short spiel where the cruiseline pats themselves on the back for giving you a great vacation. There is usually one evening where the liquor is able for tasting in the shopping area. If you are into healthier pursuits then you can head up to the jogging track on the Elation’s Sun deck or to the gymon the Sports deck. The Carnival Elation has a half court basketball court for your exercise and they do supply the basketball to play with. Elation has a full service spa onboard. I confess I have never been to the spa but I know they do mete out foot massages for about 20 dollars and everything up to a couples massage for $220. It sounds steep but just contemplate how relaxing it would be to have a message and after you don’t have to massage someone else! For the kiddies there is Camp Carnival. Our son has gone to Camp Carnival on many many cruises and loves it everytime. The kids are categorized by age groups and have activities planned for those ages. I recommend that your offspring goes to the earliest night where you can sign them up for the camp. They are introduced to each other and socialize a little. It doesn’t mean they ever have to go again and there is no extra charge although we usually tip the staff seeing that they can make of break your kid’s cruise experience. kids must be signed up to participate at any time so it is easier to just do it at the start and then they are free to join in at any time minus preamble. Our child went to an activity called swimming under the stars where the pool was not to be used at night except to kids in the program and so they had the pool and slide to alone. You just drop your child off for whatever activities they would enjoy. For small children you will be supplied with a pager so the employees can contact you in case your child wants to leave. Their activitiestake place inside kids’s World which is an area of 2500 sq ft filled with computers and toys and games. Activities for older kids take place in different areas on the cruise vessel-for example pizza preparation takes place in Tiffany’s. On the last night there will be a farewell party For the kids. Get there on time or you may not get in. All the kids receive a parting gift at this party ie a backpack or CD case. As for my personal favourite chunk, the art of gastromony there are a rich vein of choices. The two formal dining rooms on Carnival Elation are the Inspiration and the Imagination named after sister ships in the fleet. You will be assigned one of these with a specific dining time. I frequently check the menu early in the day so I can decide if I want to show up at my appointed time or eat elsewhere at my leisure. The other places to eat aboard the Elation are Tiffany’s which is the buffet restaurant that changes the menu everyday and is different for lunch than dinner or the snack bar on Lido deck where fries and burgers are handy for lunch. Tiffany’s lunch menu’s are called taste of nations where one day may be Mexican food with salsa and chips and another may be American BBQ where fried chicken and potato salad are offered. There was also Indian and Italian that I can recall. At the far back on the right hand side of Tiffany’s you will find Carnival’s famous pizza being made fresh all the time. You can order a whole pizza and choose your toppings of get a slice fresh from the oven. At the same location deli sandwiches are made. This is a wonderful spot to eat early on in the voyage as your fellow passengers won’t know about this yet therefore there will be no lining up for you. Sushi is served on promenade deck every evening. There was no raw fish (sashimi) the week we sailed but many varieties of fresh made before your eyes sushi to select from. Of course wasabi and pickled ginger and soy sauce were all on hand as well. There is also never a sushi line I presume as no one seems to realize that this also is included in your cruise fare. Needless to say we went there every single evening. Tortillas chips and salsa were served on Promenade deck on Mexican day in the night while a mariachi band played for us. Room service, room service how do I love thee, let me count the ways. Room service is able but a tip is in order. Pretzels or chips can come with any sandwich - a tasty midnight snack. Room service was invariably speedy and correct. You can also order cookies, crudites, fruit and salad. At your service 24 hours a day. If you need to keep in touch the Internet cafe offers internet usage at 75 cents a minute and different packages up to 250 minutes for 40 cents a minute. You can bring your own laptop and incorporate it in the cafe but not in your cabin on the Elation. You pay for usage wheather you use theirs or your though. Not sure if that makes it worth lugging it around. Speaking of cabins, we had an ocean view cabin category 6C. We had three people in the cabin and we fit comfortably. This cruise ship has only 26 demi suites (category 11) and twenty eight suites (category 12). It really doesn’t matter to me which deck as there are elevators to take you up and down. Virtual World video game arcade is right beside the Mikado lounge-a perfect spot to let your teen hang out while you catch one of the Las Vegas style shows in the lounge. There are the usual driving games and shooting games. The video games take tokens that are bought right inside the arcade. You can incorporate your sign and sail card to buy tokens. At some point during your cruise there will be a video game tournement For your rugrats in this case the games are free. It is a bit of the Camp Carnival program. The Mikado lounge is where all the shows take palce. There was a comedy show, a magician, a hypnotist, dancing show girls-rated G. There are musical shows too. The week I sailed there was a special guest announced at he end of one musical show. After much preamble Mr Stevie Wonder was brought onto the stage. Persons went running from the lounge theatre to get their peers and family to see Stevie Wonder. There was screaming that I thought only the Beatles could elicit. Being a pale face from Canada I’m not too clear on the likeness of Mr Wonder but I was pondering which cabin would Stevie Wonder stay in On the Carnival Elation. Don’t get me wrong the Carnival Elation is a appropriate ocean liner but someone of this caliber on my ocean liner , how could it be? The lights dimmed, I could hardly see. As I stepped forward to get a better look at our famous vesselmate I fell down the stairs. I tumbled head over heals down several flghts. Not one person turned or helped me up so enthralled were they to catch a glimpse of this celebrity. In the end “Stevie” took his wig off so that it may be revealed that it was only a celebrity impersonator. Everyone groaned that they knew it all along and they were never fooled. The next day I looked like I had a run in with the UFC star Tito Ortiz. The Mark Twain library is a bit of a misnomer. There doesn’t seem to be a convenient way to get at any books so bring your own. It is beautiful and usually quiet. Romeo and Juliet lounge is an elegantly styled room which was used for private parties some nights and for karaoke on others. Salsa dancing was popular night activity here. The Cole Porter lounge has folk and country music playing and dancing. I only passed by here on my way to the ocean facing massaging chairs. Duke’s is the piano bar named after the talented Duke Ellington. It is a jazz club with a striking entrance modelled on the Triumphal Arch from Washington Square park. This is an ideal place for photos around the white baby grand piano. We saw a wedding reception being held here. The Jekyll and Hyde disco is the place to party. Monitors show your fellow cruise mates dancing to the scintillating beat. The giant Jekyll and Hyde heads move to the music too-a bit creepy but cool after you’ve had a couple drinks. The Carnival Elation is a gorgeous ship. Somewhat muted by Carnival standards. It’s decor is of copper and inlaid woods. If you are hesitent to aim Carnival Cruise Lines then this is the mega liner to aspire primary. The service was 2nd to none. The price of a Carnival cruise is frequently reasonable but by booking way in advance, about eight months we got an even better deal some would call it a cheap cruise. Don’t be scared off by Carnival’s old reputation for being a bunch of party ocean liners. They are The Fun vessels after all. There is partying for sure if you want it but there are dozens of places to read or sit quietly on the Carnival Elation. Nothing is more peaceful than sitting on a chair atop the teak deck on the Carnival Elation looking out at the ocean passing slowly by. Whatever your concept of fun is they grant it. Believe them when they say Carnival’s got the fun.

A <a href="http://www.cruise-travel-review.com">Carnival Elation Cruise</a><br> is the experience of a lifetime. With the soft powdery beaches and duty free shopping, Caribbean cruises continue to grow in popularity. In fact, the Caribbean is one of the most popular cruise destinations of all cruises worldwide. To learn more please visit => http://www.cruise-travel-review.com or post your own reviews in our forum at =>http://www.cruise-travel-review.com/forums

Have You Considered A Weight-Loss Theme Cruise? Get Ship Shape In Cruising Style
We all know that a relaxing vacation is just what you need to eliminate many of your life stresses, and if you have currently been on a mission to lose unwanted pounds, did you ever think of taking a Theme Cruise to lose your weight? If you have always wanted more information on a themed cruise, basically it s a specialized sailing with an itinerary focused on the theme established for that cruise, and in this case it would be a theme on weight-loss to help individuals lose their desired weight levels. This method of weight loss may appeal to you, and if so, your first step is to contact your local area travel agency to see if there is a theme cruise for weight-loss already established, and all you would have to do is sign-up, give your deposit, and you re on your way to shedding those pounds in a fun and relaxing holiday atmosphere with exciting cruising style! Your Local Travel Agent And Weight-Loss Clinic Can Easily Assist You! Your local travel company, or weight-loss clinic can be the first step in finding the right cruise options for you, and they can help you in creating your theme if there is not already one established by them. Who knows, you may create enough enthusiasm with your travel agent and diet counsellor to help you establish a group theme cruise on your behalf, and there are many perks involved when escorting your own personalized group themed cruise. Cruises Offer All The Top Amenities That Can Help You Drop Those Unwanted Pounds! Think about this for one moment, because right now all you re telling yourself once you get on that cruise to the Caribbean, or the Mexican Riviera, you re going to gain more weight than lose, due to all the food onboard these ships. This may be true for the majority of cruisers, but for you it s going to be different for many reasons, one being your frame of mind and your goal on this cruise. Plus many other factors that I will break down for you below: When you contact your travel service company, or go online to find the desired cruise line you want to sail with, you re going to find out which cruise ship offers a variety of healthy eating plans, and health related menu options. If you have any restrictions on what type of food you can eat, or you have food allergies, you re going to find out which cruise ship is going to accommodate your needs the best. If you find an established ship that is tailored to your weight-loss program, then they will already have a menu in place, and provide you the desired options ahead of time. The next step is to get as much information on the fitness facilities available, and also find out if there are professional fitness & health instructors onboard that will provide you the personal assistance when needed. Again, with pre-arranged themed cruises, they will have all this on their specialized itinerary with the contact information of these instructors to contact them with any questions you may have prior to going on your cruise. It s recommended to arrange your theme cruise to have as many port stops as possible. This will not only keep you occupied, but also it will expand your culture and destination experiences. Last but not least, find out all the activities that are available on the ship, and depending whether you cruise on Carnival, Royal Caribbean, or the Norwegian, each ship will have different activity levels available. You want to be on a ship that offers a wide variety of cruise activities that you re interested in, and you know you will enjoy. For individuals that have not taken a cruise before, you re going to experience incredible temptations, and when you view the spectacular laid-out buffets and the variety of gourmet cuisine in the many well-established restaurants available, you may be thinking, what the heck am I doing here? Believe me when I say this, you re going to experience the best meals that you would find anywhere in five star or higher culinary establishments. The one special note to consider is that the chefs onboard these cruise ships are very knowledgeable to many dietary requirements you have, and their cooking styles and mouth watering tastes will amaze you, while keeping those uncontrollable calories down! Your discipline and desire to lose weight while on your cruise is what s going to make your theme cruise a success, and if you re still wondering how you can do it, don t worry, because when you set your mind to achieve your goals, you will do it with ease. You booked your theme cruise for one reason to lose weight, so this proves that you re committed to shedding the pounds, and the commitment is your key to successful weight loss. Having all your onboard fitness programs in place, and your excursion itinerary pre-planned off the ship, you will be amazed at how easy you can shed the pounds, but have fun doing it in cruising style!

William Lezubski (Accredited Cruise Counsellor (ACC) is a professional in the Travel Industry and is the owner and author of Discount Caribbean Vacations Web Site available for you to view at: <a href="http://www.discount-caribbean-vacations.com/index.htm" target="_blank">www.discount-caribbean-vacations.com</a> Planning on <a href="http://www.discount-caribbean-vacations.com/product%20pages/caribbean-cruises.htm"target="_blank">cruising in the Caribbean</a>? How about you cruise on by our vacation site to easily compare our list of online cruise vacation suppliers, and let them help you find the best Caribbean itineraries and ships, even if you're searching for <a href="http://www.discount-caribbean-vacations.com/product%20pages/last_minute_deals.htm"target="_blank">last minute deals</a>.

Carnival Cruise Line Introduces Fleetwide Upgrades
by Roy Witman © 2006, All Rights Reserved

Carnival Cruise Line has always offered excellent value in cruising, but, these days, passengers will find even more to love. Carnival Cruise Line has recently announced several fleetwide upgrades, including more comfortable beds, shipwide WiFi service, a new loyalty program and more.

Carnival Concierge Club

As a way to reward past cruisers for their loyalty to Carnival, the new Carnival Concierge Club has been unveiled. For passengers who are platinum cardholders and have sailed with Carnival 10 times or more, certain privileges and perks are available, including:

One delivery of petit fours and/or canap ©s to your cabin
Personalized stationery
One specialty Carnival logo item
Guaranteed dining or supper club reservations
Waiving of $20 entry fee to blackjack tournament
Priority reservations and free treatment upgrades at Spa Carnival
Free wash-and-fold laundry service
Preferential embarkation and debarkation
Fully staffed concierge desk, at your service
and more!

Carnival Comfort Bed Sleep System

Developed exclusively for Carnival, this sleep system will all but guarantee you the best night’s sleep you’ve had in a long, long time. With a premium Bonell-spring inner core and high-density foam, these quilted-top mattresses can only be described as plush and luxurious. Add to that a set of high thread count, ring-spun, ultra-soft cotton sheets and fluffy faux down pillows that cradle your neck and head, and you’ll drift away to dreamland in sheer extravagance every night.

Personal Cell Phone Usage

For some people, getting away from it all means turning off the cell phones and every other form of communication to enjoy complete rest and relaxation. For others, not having access to a cell phone just creates more stress in their lives. That’s why Carnival has taken special measures to afford guests the ability to use their own personal cell phones while onboard any Carnival ship. This service is currently installed on the Carnival Triumph and will be retrofitted on the other 21 ships by early next year.

Provided your call plan allows coverage in the areas in which you are cruising, you can place and receive calls using your own mobile phone throughout your cruise.

Wireless Internet Access Fleetwide

Another technological advancement is the “100% bow to stern” installation of wireless Internet access (WiFi) on all Carnival ships. Whether on the deck by the pool, in the casino rolling the dice or relaxing in your suite, you’ll have full wireless Internet access to use with your wireless-enabled laptop. This project is roughly 75% complete. Shipwide WiFi will be fully installed on every Carnival ship by the end of 2006.

Recognizing its guests’ needs and making every attempt to accommodate requests for new features, Carnival is certain these new upgrades will thrill its past and future passengers. The Fun Ships are now also the most comfortable and most technologically advanced ships at sea.

Roy Witman is Vice-President of Cruise Vacation Center based in Yonkers, New York. Visit them online today at <a href="http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com">http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com</a> for super deals including <a href="http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com/hawaii_cruises.htm">Hawaii cruises</a> and other destinations from <a href="http://www.cruisevacationcenter.com/carnival_cruise_line.htm">Carnival Cruise Line</a>. You'll find their service exceptional and their attention to detail second to none.