Let us take Bermuda, for instance. This is one of the most popular destinations on the cruise menu, making cruises to Bermuda accessible and affordable. Just think, the summer of 2007 saw the highest number of cruise ships sailing to Bermuda in history.

Bermuda attracts more than half a million visitors each year. It’s 120 islands offer something for everyone, from couples to singles to families and groups of friends alike. Bermuda’s largest (and most festive) islands include: Bermuda (Main Island), Boaz, Ireland North, Ireland South, Somerset, St. David’s and St. George’s, and Watford.

Bermudas islands are all connected by bridges and causeways, so no matter where you find yourself, you can always hop over to the next island, and the next in a relatively short period of time. Shore excursions feature opportunities to go shopping, sailing, surfing, swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, sunning, and sipping cocktails on the beach at sunset. Bermuda is also golfer’s paradise. It is estimated that Bermuda has more golf courses per square mile than anywhere on the planet.

Most Bermuda cruises depart from the Eastern Seaboard (Baltimore, Ft. Lauderdale, New York, Norfolk, VA, and Philadelphia). Some of the most popular cruise lines for Bermuda cruises include: Crystal Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, and Norwegian Cruise lines.

Passengers can choose itineraries lasting from six days to fifteen days or more at sea. Just a few popular Bermuda cruises include:

-Bermuda-only cruise: features overnight stays in Hamilton, St. Georges or King’s Wharf
-Extended Bermuda cruise: guests spend one day in Hamilton, King’s Wharf, or St. George’s with several Eastern Caribbean ports of call
-Repositioning cruise: combines Bermuda with the Caribbean or Europe

Before you book your Bermuda cruise there are several things to consider. The Bermuda cruise season runs from April through the end of October. Keep in mind that Bermuda’s location puts it right in the Atlantic hurricane belt, so be careful about booking around storm season, which is between August and October. Average temperatures during cruise season range from 66-77 degrees April-June, and in the 80s July-October.

To book a Bermuda Cruise with any of the cruise lines mentioned above follow the links below. You can also contact your local cruise travel agent to get the best deals or visit any of the booking search engines listed below. Good luck!

CheapTickets.com
VacationsToGo.com

For 2010-2010, Princess Cruises will offer Wine Country Coastal Cruises, California Coastal Cruises, Pacific Coastal Cruises (Los Angeles/Vancouver), Pacific Coastal Cruises (San Francisco/Vancouver), Pacific Coastal Cruises (Los Angeles/Vancouver), and Pacific Coastal Cruises (Vancouver/Seattle). Wine Country Coastal Cruises feature seven days aboard Sapphire Princess as she travels through California wine regions of Santa Barbara and San Francisco. The cruise will also visit the microbreweries of Astoria, Oregon. Guests can expect wine tastings, demonstrations, and special meals. This cruise departs from Los Angeles and sails to Vancouver with calls at Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Astoria, Seattle, and Victoria.

The California Coastal cruise sails for five days. Guests will stay aboard Sapphire Princess as they sail from Vancouver to Victoria, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Besides visits to exciting destinations, Princess Cruises’ California Coastal journeys offer variety in pricing and itineraries. If you cannot afford a five day or seven day cruise, you can take an overnight cruise starting at only $99 per person, based on double occupancy.

About Sapphire Princess

At 115,178 gross tons, Sapphire Princess has the capacity to hold 2,670 passengers. The vessel is 945.964 feet (288.33m) long, it features 18 decks, and 1,337 staterooms. Nine-hundred and sixty are outside and 377 are inside. Twenty-eight suites have private balconies and two family suites offer interconnecting cabins. Sapphire has 186 mini-suites with private balconies and 532 outside cabins have private balconies. Seven hundred and forty-eight cabins have third and fourth berth accommodations and most suites have amenities such as balconies with hot tubs, fireplaces, wet bars, dining rooms, computer stations, and marbled bathrooms.

Guests aboard Sapphire can choose from a large selection of nightlife activities. Sapphire is home to a casino, Club Fusion, Skywalkers Nightclub, Wake View Bar, Churchill Lounge, Crooners Martini Bar, Terrace Pool, and Wheelhouse Bar. Dining options are endless and include the International Dining Room, Santa Fe Dining Room, Pacific Moon Dining Room, Savoy Dining Room, and Vivaldi Dining Room.

Sapphire is also home to the Fun Zone. The Fin Zone is a place where children can play board games and video games. Children can also watch movies, and participate in arts and crafts. Outside of the Fun Zone, activities for adults include the Calypso Reef Pool (with hot tubs), Neptune’s Reef and Pool, Terrace Pool, and Oasis hot tubs.

Guests will also enjoy a jogging track, nine-hole golf simulators, Lotus Spa, gym and fitness area, art galleries, 24 hour Internet Café, and a library and writing room. The ship also offers a number of high end boutiques and other retail shops.

How to Book a Princess Coastal Cruise

If you would like more information about Princess Cruises New Pacific Coast Routes, you may contact the cruise line directly at 1-800-PRINCESS. If you are ready to book, you may make arrangements online at www.princess.com or contact your local cruise travel agent.

FYI: Pre-reserving for cruise tours and excursions is highly recommended, as spots tend to fill up rather quickly. You can pre-reserve shore excursions up to 120 days before your departure date.

Princess Cruises Fleet

Princess cruise ships are ranked among some of the most luxurious vessels in the cruise industry. The Princess Cruises fleet features 17 vessels that appeal to people of all backgrounds. Princess Cruises’ fleet of 17 ships include: Caribbean Princess, Coral Princess, Crown Princess, Dawn Princess, Diamond Princess, Emerald Princess, Golden Princess, Grand Princess, Island Princess, Pacific Princess, Royal Princess, Ruby Princess, Sapphire Princess, Sea Princess, Star Princess, Sun Princess, and Tahitian Princess.

Some of the world’s top international cruise lines include:

Celebrity Cruises
Costa Cruises
Crystal Cruises
First European Cruises
Holland America Line
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC Cruises)
Norwegian Cruise Line
Orient Line
Princess Cruises
Regent Seven Seas
Silversea Cruises
The Yachts of Seabourn

Collectively, these international cruise lines cover every corner of the world. Guests of international cruise lines will travel to Turkey, Italy, Spain, France, Black Sea, Egypt, Israel, Canary Islands, Portugal, Baltic, Russia, Scandinavia, North Cape, Honduras, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Africa, Asia, South America, Indian Ocean, Australia, and Canada.

If you are interested in sailing with an international cruise line, choose one or more of the cruise lines from the list above and visit the website. You can locate the official website for all of the cruise lines listed above by visiting Ships and Cruises Directory at www.shipsandcruises.com. Each website will offer all of the information needed to select the best international cruise for your budget. You may also book your cruise on line.

Please feel free to browse our archive to read about other cruise lines, get cruise news, and discover some of the most popular cruise destinations today.

According to the Alaska Cruise Association, “Alaska has some of the most stringent marine environmental standards in the world. In addition, the cruise lines have voluntarily adopted higher standards than those required by law spending more than $200 million in environmental upgrades in recent years. In fact, the industry has been recognized by the U.S. Coast Guard for its efforts to safeguard Alaska’s environment.” As an employee of an Alaskan sightseeing cruise ship, you have your work cut out for you.

To become a member of an Alaskan sightseeing cruise team, many of the required skills will depend on the type of job you are interested in. For example, for food service positions that require cooking, management, or say, advanced wine knowledge, you may have to have no less than an associate degree in a related field plus several years of experience working in hotel restaurants, cruise ship restaurants, or stand alone restaurants.

If you would like to become part of the deck and engineering department, you will also have to have no less than an associate degree (all upper level positions require a bachelors degree or higher), plus knowledge of Alaska’s strict environmental laws, and experience working on cruise ships. Once you begin your search for positions, each job posting will offer a detailed description of the skills and requirements the ship is looking for. Please read through the descriptions carefully and follow the application procedure to the letter. If the job posting requests an online application and copies of any relevant certifications or licenses, submit the application and documentation promptly. Visit the Ships and Cruises Directory for official cruise line listings and contact information.

In some cases an Alaskan cruise line, or a cruise line that makes frequent trips to Alaska and other locations around the U.S., will list a few job openings, but not the openings you are looking for. In some cases, but not often, a cruise line will offer contact information only and no job postings page. If you cannot find job postings for the cruise line you are interested in, you can handle the situation this way:

Send a polished cover letter and resume to the cruise lines Human Resources Department. The Human Resources Department is typically located at the cruise lines headquarters. This information is usually listed on the cruise line website. It is important to include the position you are interested in so that it can be directed to the appropriate department manager.

Tip: The more flexible you are, the better your chances of landing a job on an Alaskan sightseeing cruise. Applicants willing to work any time of the year, any itinerary, whether extended or a few days, are most attractive to employer’s.

Top Cruise Lines for Alaskan Cruises

Celebrity Cruise Line
Princes Cruises
Royal Caribbean
Holland America Line
Norwegian Cruise Line
Oceania Cruises
Disney Cruise Line

At the other end of the spectrum is Carnival Cruise Lines. Carnival Cruise Lines is one of the world’s most affordable cruise lines. It’s a top choice for families, groups of friends, and anyone looking for a fun and festive atmosphere. Couples looking for romance might choose a luxury line like Costa Cruises, while groups of friends interested in a more “adult-friendly” atmosphere may choose Holland America Line. The following list includes the top ten cruise lines for traveler’s and cruise jobs!

1. Carnival Cruise Lines
2. Princess Cruises
3. Royal Caribbean International
4. Holland America Line
5. Costa Cruises
6. P & O Cruises
7. Norwegian Cruise Line
8. Celebrity Cruises
9. Cunard Line
10. Star Cruise

Carnival Cruise Lines
Carnival cruise lines may very well be the most popular cruise line in the world. With more than 20 vessels in it’s fleet, dozens of cruise vacations to choose from and outstanding values, its no wonder Carnival is the first name that comes to mind when you hear the word ‘cruise’. With so many cruise vessels and vacation types to choose from, how can you pick just one?

One of the ways to help narrow your choices down is to take a look at the vessels in Carnival’s fleet. Are you looking for a small ship or a large one? One that travels to a handful of destinations or to all destinations? Do you prefer newer ships or older ones? Chances are, you’ll have no problem finding a Carnival cruise ship to fit your style taste and budget.

Carnival cruise ships ‘Fun Ships’ run the gamut with names that speak volumes about each individual vessel. Carnival cruise lines fleet includes: Carnival Conquest, Carnival Destiny, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Glory, Carnival Legend, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Miracle, Carnival Pride, Carnival Spirit, Carnival Triumph, Carnival Valor, Carnival Victory, Celebration, Ecstasy, Elation, Fantasy, Fascination, Holiday, Imagination, Inspiration, Paradise, Splendor, and Sensation.

Each Carnival fun ship has spacious accommodations, swimming pools, dining, shopping, entertainment and gambling, but some may have a few added extras that may appeal to you. Carnival Conquest is one of Carnival’s megaliners and features a spa, golfing/lessons, dancing shows and numerous activities for families while the brand new Carnival Freedom features ‘Carnival Seaside’, a 12-foot-high, 22-foot-wide LED screen for movies, sports and more. Carnival Conquest sails from Galveston, Texas to the western Caribbean and Carnival Freedom sails the eastern and western Caribbean. Carnival Freedom also makes frequent voyages to Europe and it also offers transatlantic cruises from Miami, Florida, Ft. Lauderdale, and Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy.

If you like to spend your days splashing about in the pool or taking in the views from your balcony and your nights dancing, Carnival Glory is the perfect Carnival cruise ship for you. Carnival Glory has a 214-foot waterslide, loads of nightclubs and spacious staterooms with 80% featuring ocean views and 80% with private balconies. Carnival Glory sails from Port Canaveral (Orlando), FL to the eastern and western Caribbean.

While Carnival cruise ships are synonymous with fun for the whole family, many cruisers prefer a laid back environment that will allow for a bit more R&R. Carnival’s Ecstasy features 3-4 day getaways aboard a vessel that offers a slower pace, spacious staterooms for relaxing, large lounging areas designed specifically for taking it easy and numerous pools and whirlpools. Ecstasy also offers both formal and casual dining options, so romantic dinners are easy to come by. Carnival’s Ecstasy sails from Galveston, TX to the western Caribbean.

Cruise vacations come in all shapes and sizes and luckily, Carnival Cruise Lines has the perfect vessel for just about any type of cruise under the sun.

For more information about Carnival cruise lines and its fleet, visit www.carnival.com or call 1-888-CARNIVAL.

Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises is a luxury line, a big ship line, and a small ship cruise line all rolled up into one. This makes it easy for passengers with a wide variety of tastes and budgets to find the perfect cruise through Princess Cruises. A Princess Cruise offers an abundance of options in the way of amenities, destinations, ports of call, ships, and excursions. There are a dozen destinations to choose from, hundreds of ports of call on the menu, 17 cruise ship options, and hundreds of shore excursions and cruisetours to choose from.

Princess cruise ships are considered some of the most luxurious vessels in the cruise industry featuring ships that appeal to the traveler looking for an intimate atmosphere or those looking for more people to mingle with. Princess Cruises fleet of 17 ships include: Caribbean Princess, Coral Princess, Crown Princess, Dawn Princess, Diamond Princess, Emerald Princess, Golden Princess, Grand Princess, Island Princess, Pacific Princess, Royal Princess, *Ruby Princess, Sapphire Princess, Sea Princess, Star Princess, Sun Princess, and Tahitian Princess.

With room for 3,100 passengers and 900 balcony staterooms, Princess Cruises; largest ship is the Caribbean Princess. Caribbean Princess sails to Princess Cruises’ many exciting destinations ranging from Alaska, Asia, and Australia to Europe, Hawaii, and Tahiti. Of course, Caribbean Princess also sails to the Caribbean, as well as Canada, New England, the Mexican Riviera, and South America.

Island Princess falls somewhere in the mid-range on the size scale with room for 1,970-passengers with 90% ocean view staterooms, and more than 700 balconies

The 670-passenger Pacific Princess and the 670-passenger Tahitian Princess are two of Princess Cruises’ smaller ships. Both ships offer a peaceful, small ship environment with big ship amenities. Each vessel features more than 200 balcony staterooms. The Pacific Princess frequents Alaska, Asia/Orient, India/Asia, and Tahiti and Hawaii, while Tahitian Princess will take you to Tahiti, and Hawaii as well, and Polynesia.

Princess Cruises’ *Ruby Princess made her debut in 2008 and features 900 staterooms, all with private balconies.

Princess Cruises sails to a wide variety of destinations across the globe, with hundreds of exciting ports of call on the menu. Princess Cruises sails to Alaska, Australia & New Zealand, Canada & New England, the Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii & Tahiti, the Mexican Riviera, the Panama Canal, and South America. Ports of call depend on the destination, but expect to visit off-the-beaten path ports such as Dominica and Roatan, Honduras, as well as historic ports such as Alexandria, Egypt; Santorini, Greece; Naples/Capri, Italy, and Cartagena, Spain.

There are so many shore excursions and cruisetours available during your Princess Cruise that it would be impossible to list them all here. So here is an example of a typical list of offerings on one of Princess Cruises’ Panama Canal cruises.

Panama Canal: Huatulco, Mexico

Highlights of Huatulco Tour
Rural Communities & Traditions
Mexican Cuisine Cooking Demonstration
Las Brisas Resort Beach Break
Eco-Walk & Birding Adventure
Princess Golf at Tangolunda Golf Course
Mountain Bike Excursion
Huatulco by Land & Sea Tour
Huatulco River Float
Deep-Sea Fishing Tour
Huatulco Sail & Swim Tour
Five Bays by Catamaran Swim

To book a cruise on any Princess Cruises ship, you can contact the cruise line directly at 1-800-PRINCESS. You can also book online at www.princess.com or contact your local cruise travel agent. FYI: Pre-reserving for cruise tours and excursions is highly recommended, as spots tend to fill up rather quickly. You can pre-reserve shore excursions up to 120 days before your departure date.

Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean Cruises is the second largest cruise line in the world offering 170 destinations worldwide and more than 140 ports of call. Established in 1968, Royal Caribbean Cruises is also one of the most trusted names in the cruise line industry today. The Royal Caribbean Cruise International fleet features a variety of vessels to accommodate everything from large families and low-key couples to party animals, the mature set and singles.

Royal Caribbean International Fleet

The Royal Caribbean International fleet includes the: Freedom Family, Voyager Family, Radiance Family, Vision Family, and the Sovereign Family each with its own special amenities and amazing extras.

Freedom of the Seas is the latest addition the Royal Caribbean family. Freedom is the largest in the Royal Caribbean Cruise family with a maximum capacity of 3,634 passengers. Passengers can enjoy a day spa, rock climbing, ice-skating, a fitness center and a full-service casino as well as Wi-Fi services and flat screen TVs in every stateroom. Just a few of Royal Caribbean Cruises exciting destinations include: Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Jamaica, and Hispaniola, to name a few.

The Voyager Family includes: Adventure of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas. Passengers can enjoy pubs and promenades or restaurants and nightclubs while exploring the Eastern, Southern or Western Caribbean, Bermuda, the Mediterranean or the Transatlantic.

Whether you’re interested in touring Barcelona or Istanbul, Scandinavia or Russia or the Greek Isles, Venice or the Hawaiian Islands, the Radiance Family was built to suit some of the most extravagant tastes. The Radiance Family ships include: Brilliance of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas. Each vessel features glass walls and elevators offering guests a front seat to all the beauty the sea has to offer. Glass solariums, day spas, a country club and adventure programs for kids are just a few amenities the Radiance Family has to offer.

For the party animal in you, the Vision Family features lounges and bars galore, non-stop nightclubs, mini-golf and beautiful spas for relaxation during the day. The Vision Family includes: Enchantment of the Sea, Grandeur of the Sea, Legend of the Sea, Rhapsody of the Sea, Splendor of the Sea and Vision of the Sea. The Vision Family travels to Alaska, Belize, Costa Maya, the Greek Isles, Iberia, Italy, Mexico, Portugal, Turkey and anywhere in the Caribbean.

Each ship has the capacity to hold in excess of 2,200 passengers per ship. Great for couples and families alike, the Sovereign Family includes three ships: Majesty of the Seas, Monarch of the Seas and Sovereign of the Sea. Sovereign ships feature complimentary adventure programs for kids along with great restaurants and casinos as well as a nightclubs and large outdoor pools. These vessels can hold anywhere from 2,700-2,850 passengers and destinations range from Baja Mexico to the Bahamas. The Sovereign Family is also extremely popular for holiday cruises.

Couples looking for a little romance should consider Royal Caribbean’s Empress of the Seas. With a maximum capacity of 2,020 guests, the Empress is the smallest and most intimate ship in the fleet. The facilities include: a day spa, a world-class fitness center, a romantic Italian restaurant called ‘Portofino’ and a Latin themed lounge called ‘Boleros’. Ports of call are located throughout the Caribbean and Bermuda and cruises range anywhere from 3-11 nights.

Things to know before you go
Royal Caribbean Cruises will include: meals, accommodations, snacks, access to fitness centers, entertainment and 24-hour room service. Keep in mind that the price does not include tips. In general, guests should tip the stateroom attendant, suite attendant, dining room waiter, assistant waiter, and the headwaiter. Guests should also figure port charges and excursions into their budget as well.

Prices for Royal Caribbean cruises vary greatly and depend on a wide variety of factors. Destination, ship size, ports of call, type of accommodations and time of year will determine how much or how less you will spend on your Royal Caribbean cruise. Typically, deluxe suites and rooms with balconies or ocean views cost more, with interior rooms costing considerably less.

The best deals are typically offered in January, September-December and late spring. Prices may range anywhere from $400 up to $5,400. The higher prices are usually for deluxe accommodations aboard any of the ships in the Radiance Family. If your interests lean more towards excursions rather than ship activities, it’s best to select and purchase your excursions online far in advance as tours tend to fill quickly. In general, you have 10 days prior to departure to purchase excursions online; otherwise you’ll have to purchase them on the ship or with a tour director, if available.

Canoeing, deep sea fishing, hiking through rainforests, shopping, land or landmark tours, scuba diving and cave exploration are just a few of the many tours and activities Royal Caribbean cruise passengers can enjoy during their Royal Caribbean cruise vacation!

To book a Royal Caribbean cruise visit the official Royal Caribbean website www.royalcaribbean.com or contact your local cruise travel specialist.

Holland America Line
No matter how you say it, ‘Holland American Cruise Lines’, ‘Holland America Line’, or ‘Holland American Cruises’, Holland America Line (HAL) is considered one of the world’s top luxury cruise lines.

Holland America Line has more than 130 years of experience in the cruise industry. This luxury cruise line covers all seven continents, offering nearly 500 cruises from more than 25 homeports. Because it sails to so many places, Holland America Line has the means to offer itineraries ranging from two days to a whopping 108 days. Its no wonder Holland American Line is the most well-respected and highly recognized name in luxury cruising.

Holland America Line destinations include: Alaska, Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, New England, the Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, the Pacific Northwest, the Panama Canal, and South America. Some of Holland America Cruise Lines most popular cruises include: Australia/New Zealand, Asia sailings, the world cruise, the Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico, and Europe. Holland American Cruise Line also offers winter sailings to the Caribbean from its homeport in New York City. Winter sailings typically take place aboard Holland

1,918-passenger ms Noordam (introduced in early 2006).

Including the ms Noordaam, Holland America Line features a five-star fleet of 14 stunning ships ranging from the small and intimate to the large and luxurious. Holland America Linefamous fleet includes: ms Amsterdam, ms Eurodam (to be delivered in summer 2008), ms Maasdam, ms Oosterdam, ms Prinsendam, ms Rotterdam, ms Ryndam, ms Statendam, ms Veendam, ms Volendam, ms Westerdam, ms Zaandam, and ms Zuiderdam.

Excursions run the gamut from sightseeing and flightseeing to adventure tours, snorkeling, shopping trips, glacier tours, and more. Because there are so many ports of call for each destination and hundreds of land excursions, it would be tough to list them all here. But a good example of HALs exciting offerings is the Alaska cruise. Ports of call include: College Fjord, Glacier Bay, Haines, Alaska, Hubbard Glacier, Juneau, Alaska, Ketchikan, Alaska, San Diego, California, San Francisco, California, Seattle, Washington, Seward (Anchorage) Alaska, Sitka, Alaska, Skagway, Alaska, Tracy Arm, Alaska, Vancouver, B.C., and Victoria, B.C.

Land tour excursions cover places such as: Alyeska, Anchorage, Fairbanks, Whitehorse, Yukon, Denali, Homer, and Dawson City, to name a few. Passengers will tour a plethora of parks and highlights such as: Gates of the Arctic National Park, Kenai Fjords National Park, Kluane National Park, Nome and Kotzebue, Alaska, Prudhoe Bay, and Alaska Tombstone Territory Park.

All Holland America Line excursions are on a first-come, first-served basis. Many tours have very limited availability, so advanced booking is highly recommended to avoid any disappointment. Requests for excursions that are fully booked are placed on a waiting list.

Prices for Holland America Line cruises vary greatly depending on a variety of factors such as season, destination, vessel, accommodations, length of cruise, departure port, excursions, number of passengers in your party and more. Accommodations play an important part in pricing, so it is important to keep in mind that there are plenty of accommodation types to choose from. The following list ranges from the most expensive room type to the least expensive.

• Penthouse Verandah Suites
• Deluxe Verandah Suites
• Superior Verandah Suites
• Verandah Staterooms
• Large Outside Staterooms
• Large Inside Staterooms
• Large Standard Staterooms

While some suites are more spacious and luxurious than others, all staterooms offer different levels of luxury and include: fine linens, Egyptian cotton towels and bathrobes, massage showerheads, and flat-screen televisions.

To book a Holland America, contact the cruise line directly at 1-800-426-0327 or you can book with a Holland America Travel Professional online at www.hollandamerica.com. Contact your local cruise travel agent or any of the booking search engines listed below for possible discounts and deals on a Holland America cruise.

Kayak.com
Expedia.com
Orbitz.com
Travelocity.com
CheapTickets.com
VacationsToGo.com

Costa Cruises
Costa Cruises is the largest cruise company in Europe featuring more than a dozen ships that travel to more than a dozen exciting destinations. Costa Cruises’ fleet includes a wide variety of ships to suit varying tastes, styles, and budgets. Some are large and luxurious, while others are small and intimate. The fleet includes: Costa Serena, Costa Magic, Costa Victoria, Costa Romantica, Costa Marina, Costa Concordia, Costa Fortuna, Costa Atlantica, Costa Europa, Costa Classica, and Costa Allegra.

The two largest (and longest) ships in Costa Cruises fleet are Costa Serena and her sister ship Costa Concordia. Costa Serena features a Samsara Spa that spreads over two decks, more than 500 cabins with balconies, 13 bars, five restaurants, four swimming pools, and spacious decks with panoramic views. Costa Classica, the most popular ship, features a modern design, art and sculptures throughout, a ballroom, and a theater on two decks.

Costa Cruises luxury doesn’t stop with the interior of its ships, this cruise line is all about pampering, and entertaining its guests. Passengers may personalize their cruise by selecting from a list of offerings such as Costa’s red and rose wines special, floral arrangements, a variety of cabin comforts such as chocolates or a fresh fruit basket daily, gift sets, champagne and sparkling wines, white wines special selection, and beauty/spa packages.

Costa Cruises destinations include: Atlantic Ocean and Canary Islands, Eastern Caribbean, Eastern Mediterranean, Far East, Grand Oriental, Indian Ocean, Middle East, Northern Capitals, Norwegian Fjords & Highlands, South America, Transatlantic, Western Caribbean and Western Mediterranean. With so many exotic destinations to choose from, you can bet the itineraries this cruse line offers are even more spectacular. Sample itineraries include: Bahamas, Bermuda, Antilles, Canary Islands, Spain, (24 nights); Dubai, Oman, Yemen, Egypt, Italy (16 nights), Mauritius, Seychelles, Kenya, Madagascar (14 nights), Italy, Corsica, Tunisia, Malta (five nights), and Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Shetland Islands (14 nights), to name a few.

You’ll find a wide variety of shore excursions no matter what your itinerary or length of stay may be. Costa Cruises offers shore excursions specifically designed to allow the passenger to become fully immersed in different cultures, environments, and habitats. Guests will have three different levels to choose from including: Easy, Moderate and Hard — all specially designed to provide something for all tastes and abilities. For example, you will find natural and cultural tours that are designed with age in mind. Some are suitable for older guests, while others will suit younger guests. In addition, active and sports-oriented excursions are also available for individuals who are on the adventurous side.

Costa Cruise vacations are available 365 days a year and booking far in advance is highly recommended as space tends to fill up rather quickly. To book a Costa Cruise, you can contact the cruise line directly by phone at: 020 7940 5398, or visit the cruise lines’ website at: www.costracruise.com. You can also contact your local cruise travel specialist to help you book a Costa Cruise.

Please follow the links below for articles and profiles for P & O Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Cunard Line, and Star Cruise.

• www.allaboutcruisesandmore/po-cruises
• www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/ncl-cruise-lines
• www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/celebrity-cruise-line
• www.allaboutcruisesandmore.com/cunard-cruise-lines
• www.starcruises.com

If you want to increase your chances of landing a job on a cruise ship, look no further than the Big Four. The Big Four are the top four cruise lines for job opportunities. They include:

Royal Caribbean International
Princess Cruises
Carnival Cruise Lines
Norwegian Cruise Lines

These cruise lines have the largest fleets in the industry with state-of-the art spas, salons and fitness centers and dozens of options for entertainment and dining. Cruise lines that offer these types of amenities and features usually have to best and the highest number of job opportunities. Several smaller, specialty cruise lines are also ripe for the picking. These include: Delta Queen Steamboat Co. and Lindblad Expeditions.

Continue reading to learn more about the different departments on cruise ships and how to apply for a cruise job.

Cruise Ship Departments
Jobs on cruise ships will fall under several categories: Activity/Entertainment Department, Deck & Engineering Department, Service & Hospitality Department, Personal Care Department and Office Positions.

Jobs on cruise ships in the Activity/Entertainment department are considered some of the most glamorous jobs aboard the ship. These positions deal with anything relating to passenger entertainment. This department includes: DJs, Production Managers, Photographers, Managers, Casino Staff, Host/Hostess and Cruise Consultant, to name a few. Those best suited for jobs in this department are typically enthusiastic and extroverted.

The Deck & Engineering Department is one of the most important departments on the vessel –without it the ship would never set sail. This department is responsible for maintaining and running the vessel. Please note that the positions in this department are not typically entry-level positions, especially on large ships. The department consists of deckhands, maintenance workers, engineers, and officers. These positions help to motor or sail the ship, attend to the physical maintenance needs of the ship, and keep it in accordance with fleet regulations and international maritime laws. Officers are in charge of passenger safety as well.

Staff members in the Service/Hospitality Department or Hotel Management Department have the responsibility of managing the bars & restaurants and passenger cabins, as well as shipboard retail concessions like gift shops. Just a few Service/Hospitality positions include: Hotel Manager, Cabin Stewards/Stewardesses, Accountant, Executive Chef, Wine Steward, Chief Purser, Purser Staff, Chief Purser, Bellman, Pastry Chef and the list goes on and on. Most service positions such as bartenders, waiters and cocktail servers can earn a good amount of extra money from tips.

No cruise would be complete without a department devoted to helping passengers pamper themselves. The Personal Care Department includes spa, fitness, beauty and medical services. It helps manage hair stylists, manicurists, massage therapists, fitness instructors, beauty therapists, spa attendants, nurses and physicians all dedicated to the well-being of passengers.

Most office positions are onshore — employees typically work in the main office performing administrative tasks, arranging cruises or performing general office tasks. Office positions generally fall under the following categories: Accounting, Administrative/Clerical, Air Operations, Marketing/PR and Reservations/Sales.

How to Apply for a Cruise Job
When you are ready to apply for a cruise job, locate the big four cruise lines’ websites first by visiting the Ships and Cruises Directory for official listings. Once you have located the official web address, visit the website and search around for job postings. Most cruise line websites have a career center or job postings page in plain view. If the cruise line lists job openings, be sure to follow the application procedure to the letter. Applicants that do not follow directions are typically passed over in favor of those that do.

If the cruise line does not list job openings on its site, send a polished cover letter and resume to the cruise lines Human Resources Department. The Human Resources Department is typically located at the cruise lines headquarters. This information is usually listed on the cruise line website. It is important to include the position you are interested in so that it can be directed to the appropriate department manager.

Employees of Alaskan cruise lines will visit these exciting ports of call during work trips, but in some cases, you will have the opportunity to explore when the ship is docked – especially if your position does not require you to be on call 24/7. If you’re interested in a position on an Alaskan cruise line, continue reading to find out how to get started.

Before you being your search for a job on an Alaskan cruise line, decide which department and position you would be most interested in. Jobs on cruise ships can be found in the following departments: Activity/Entertainment Department, Deck & Engineering Department, Service & Hospitality Department, Personal Care Department and Office Positions. One of the nicest perks, no matter what department you plan to work in, is in most cases, all standard living expenses are covered including room, food, health coverage, etc., which means the majority of your earnings can be saved. Compensation varies depending on position, the cruise line, etc.

Jobs on cruise ships in the Activity/Entertainment department are considered some of the most glamorous jobs aboard the ship. These positions deal with anything relating to passenger entertainment. This department includes: DJs, Production Managers, Photographers, Managers, Casino Staff, Host/Hostess and Cruise Consultant, to name a few. Those best suited for jobs in this department are typically enthusiastic and extroverted.

The Deck & Engineering Department is one of the most important departments on the vessel –without it the ship would never set sail. This department is responsible for maintaining and running the vessel. Please note that the positions in this department are not typically entry-level positions, especially on large ships. The department consists of deckhands, maintenance workers, engineers, and officers. These positions help to motor or sail the ship, attend to the physical maintenance needs of the ship, and keep it in accordance with fleet regulations and international maritime laws. Officers are in charge of passenger safety as well.

Considered the “Hotel Management” Department, staff members in the Service/Hospitality Department have the responsibility of managing the bars & restaurants and passenger cabins, as well as shipboard retail concessions like gift shops. Just a few Service/Hospitality positions include: Hotel Manager, Cabin Stewards/Stewardesses, Accountant, Executive Chef, Wine Steward, Chief Purser, Purser Staff, Chief Purser, Bellman, Pastry Chef and the list goes on and on. Most service positions such as bartenders, waiters and cocktail servers can earn a good amount of extra money from tips.

No cruise would be complete without a department devoted to helping passengers pamper themselves. The Personal Care Department includes spa, fitness, beauty and medical services. It helps manage hair stylists, manicurists, massage therapists, fitness instructors, beauty therapists, spa attendants, nurses and physicians all dedicated to the well-being of passengers.

Most office positions are onshore — employees typically work in the main office performing administrative tasks, arranging cruises or performing general office tasks. Office positions generally fall under the following categories: Accounting, Administrative/Clerical, Air Operations, Marketing/PR and Reservations/Sales.

How to Locate Positions On Alaskan Cruise Lines

To look for Alaskan cruise line jobs, if you have an Alaskan cruise line in mind, visit the cruise line website first to search for job openings. Some of the top Alaskan cruise lines include: Silversea Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Celebrity Cruises, Cruise West, Princess Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Carnival Cruise Lines, and Norwegian Cruise Lines. Most cruise lines have an entire section devoted to careers in cruising. Once you have located a position, simply follow the submission directions to the letter. If the cruise line says apply online, do just that. If the cruise line prefers a hard copy of your resume and a cover letter, then send a professional resume and well-thought out cover letter directly to the address and contact person provided.

If you do not have a cruise line in mind, visit the Ships and Cruises Directory. SCD is a directory of all official cruise line website listings. Once you have located the site, visit the website and search around for job postings. Again, most cruise line websites will have a career center or job postings page.

If the cruise line does not list job openings on its site, send a polished cover letter and resume to the cruise lines Human Resources Department. The Human Resources Department is typically located at the cruise lines headquarters. This information is usually listed on the cruise line website. It is important to include the position you are interested in so that it can be directed to the appropriate department manager.

For more information about jobs on Alaskan cruise lines visit Cruise Ship Jobs online. Here, you can download the 2010 cruise ship employment guide; you can read through cruise line profiles; you can find out which ships are hiring and for what positions — and you can even apply for an Alaskan cruise job right online.

When you finally receive the call for an interview, remember to “Be Professional” and always bring a hard copy of your resume, references, and any requested credentials.

Best Alaska Cruise Lines

Some of the best Alaska cruise lines also happen to be some of the world’s most luxurious cruise lines. These include: Silversea Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Cruise West, Princess Cruise Line, and Holland America Cruise Line. Before we discuss ratings, here is a bit of information about some of the top Alaska cruise lines and their best Alaska cruise ships.

Silversea Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, and Celebrity Cruises offer the utmost in pampering, spas, accommodations, and cuisine. And one of the best things about these premium Alaska cruise lines is the view as most cabins have private balconies. These luxury lines offer the best Alaska cruises for the sophisticated traveler with money to burn. Silversea Cruises offers all-suite luxury on four magnificent vessels including the Silver Cloud and the Silver Wind, as well as the Millennium Class Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper, and a wide variety of Alaska enrichment voyages and explorations. Guests can even personalize their Alaska voyage.

Regent Seven Seas also features all-suite cabins with private balconies aboard the luxurious Seven Seas Mariner, and world-class cuisine as well as enrichment programs with an Alaska theme, and adventure excursions. Celebrity Cruises is excellent for pampering as Infinity and Summit feature AquaSpas with thalassotherapy pools and a wide assortment of beauty treatments. Art aficionados on their way to Alaska will also appreciate the Celebrity’s impressive art collections as well. Guests aboard any of Celebrity’s 11 ships can expect an endless number of unforgettable cruises filled with excursions highlighting culture, wildlife, history, and geology. Alaska excursions will include all highlights along with everything from flightseeing and flights to the Arctic Circle to dog sledding.

Cruise West is perfect for Alaska adventure seekers interested in small ships cruising. Small ships allow the visitor to get up close and personal with marine life, nature, and the elements. Small ships cruises also offer the most ambitious itineraries. The smaller the ship, the more remote the destination will be. This basically means that guests will visit places big ships just can’t reach. The focus of Cruise West Alaska cruises is adventure, enrichment (lectures, learning activities), and tours led by naturalists and historians. Cruise West offers the very best opportunities for whale watching, canoeing and kayaking, wildlife viewing (bears, eagles, seals), and glacier exploration.

Princess Cruise Lines and Holland America Cruise Line are considered some of the best Alaska cruise lines for their excellent cruisetours. These cruise lines currently lead the industry in interior voyages (Alaska and Yukon Territory) and Holland has exclusive passage into the Yukon’s Kluane National Park, as well as Tombstone Territorial Park. Princess Cruise Lines’ 7-day Gulf of Alaska cruise should be noted as well.

The majority of the major cruise lines for Alaska cruises mentioned above are kid-free, so there are several cruise lines that top the list for families interested in an Alaska cruise. Carnival Cruise Lines and Norwegian Cruise Lines feature special shore excursions for kids and teens, as well as onboard activities that will keep kids busy during long days at sea.

Cruise Ratings

Just about every cruise website under the sun has cruise line reviews and/or a cruise line ratings system in place to help potential cruisers determine which cruise lines are among the best. On some websites, cruise line ratings may be determined by the opinions of a small group of reviewers while other sites may have a more complex system in place. These complex systems for rating cruise lines typically involve large groups of reviewers from varied backgrounds.

Some of the more complex cruise line ratings systems may determine cruise line ratings through evaluating or calculating several areas including: specific aspects, value index and quality rating. Reviewers’ comments also make up a portion of the final cruise line rating.

In the most complex rating systems, cruise ship ratings evaluations are generally based on 12 or more specific aspects from passengers who have sailed on each specific ship. Passengers report on a volunteer basis and they are required to rate their experience in the 12 or more specific aspect areas, assigning each area a score, usually between one and 10.

The value index may combine as many as 30 or more separate factors that directly affect the cruise experience and weighs these factors against the per person/day cost of a standard outside stateroom. These separate factors may include issues such as passenger/crew ratio or say, passenger/space ratio. Other individual factors such as onboard entertainment are weighted according to how relevant it is to the type of cruise. For example, onboard entertainment may be weighted more heavily for a resort type cruise ship than it would be on a sightseeing cruise ship. This formula is designed to ensure the highest standards of fairness.

A cruise line with a high value index typically means that it offers “more bang for your buck.” In other words, a cruise line rating with a high value index is definitely a great bargain. Please note that the value index is price sensitive and it is based on full retail rates. Sales, promotions, discounts and other rate reductions greatly affect the value of the cruise a potential passenger may purchase.

A high value index measurement is typically weighed against a cruise ship’s total quality rating. Passengers who are looking for specific amenities or qualities such as world class cuisine, excellent spa facilities or top notch entertainment should balance the overall measurement against its scores in the categories of importance to them on a personal level.

The quality rating consists of the average of the individual category scores from the volunteer reviewers. In the quality rating, all specific aspects carry equal weight. The quality rating represents the reviewers assessment of the ship overall, typically carrying a maximum value of 10.0. In most cases, a quality rating of 8.0 or more represents a superior level of overall passenger satisfaction.

Because of the nature of cruise line ratings and Alaska cruise ship reaings the possibility of receiving a biased rating, it’s best to seek out sources that have a more complex ratings system in place. This way, passengers can be sure that the final published review will be well calculated using a proven formula.

Interested in cruise ship ratings and cruise reviews? Some of the top sites for cruise ship ratings and reviews are:

·Cruisecritic.com
·Cruisereviewsonline.com
·Cruisereport.com
·Cruisedirectonline.com
·Cruisemates.com

Cruisecritic.com offers more than just reviews, this site has several search functions to help you find everything from bargains and discounts to theme cruises, and exotic itineraries. The site also includes features, news, planning tools, and a variety of cruise message boards where fellow cruisers can exchange stories and information.

Reviews, ratings, rankings, and popularity contests — at Cruisereviewsonline.com find out which cruise ships are at the top and which ones are not. Get other information on cruise lines, as well as information, ratings and rankings on embarkation ports, and ports-of-call.

Cruisereport.com offers the lowdown on cruise lines from A to Z. Unbiased reviews, cruise searches, quotes, and feature articles are just a few of the sites extras. You can also search for “the perfect cruise,” and browse through news pieces about cruising. After checking out their ratings and reviews, you can also search for discounts and deals. With more than 50,000 visitors per month, Cruisereport.com has information on roughly 8,500 current sailings.

Cruisedirectonline.com relies on reader surveys to help keep reviews & ratings in check. In addition to cruise ship reviews and ratings, visitors to the site will find top ten and top thirty lists, as well as feature articles about the best of the best in the world of cruises. The site has other information about discounts, as well as information on roughly 12,000 sailings. Cruise Direct Online has been featured in Frommer’s Budget Travel Magazine, and on MSNBC, CNBC, MSN Money, and more.

Cruisemates.com offers short reviews and ratings. The two types of ratings include: star ratings and value ratings. Star ratings are based on one question — “how good is this ship?” One star is the worst, five stars is the best. Cruisemates.com takes everything from age and accommodations to food, service, and entertainment into account when rating the worlds cruise ships. Value ratings or “thumbs up” ratings are all about the “Bang for your Buck.” Five thumbs up means the ship is an excellent value while one thumb up means you won’t find much of anything that resembles a value here.

Cruise lines will do anything to book their cruises way in advance, so you may enjoy hot cruise deals such as special incentives, credits, and cash back just for booking far in advance. If you’re one to procrastinate – you too may be rewarded! If a cruise isn’t booked several weeks or so before the cruise departure date, prices are slashed. If you book last minute, you may enjoy savings up to 75 percent!

Other ways to enjoy hot cruise deals include: booking off-season, booking with a group, taking advantage of package deals, booking online, and booking with popular cruise lines. Some of the world’s most popular cruise lines include: Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Seabourn Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas, SilverSea Cruises, and Windstar Cruises.

If you want to book off-season, you’ll find the most hot cruise deals in year round destinations. For example, slow or “shoulder” seasons for say Alaska, may differ from the Mexican Riviera. Here is a list of destinations and their slow seasons: Alaska, May and September; Bermuda, April-May and September-October; Canada/New England, July-August; the Caribbean, late April-May, September-early January; Hawaii, late August, late November, and February; Mexican Riviera, early January and May, October-November; Eastern and Western Mediterranean, March-April and September-November. Expect plenty of perks during these times as well.

Besides hot cruise deals for groups and families, just about every cruise line features special rates for seniors. The only catch is, to lock in special senior rates you can’t book online. You must call a cruise travel specialist or book directly with the cruise line. Keep in mind that a senior is typically defined as a person who is 55 or older and proof of age is required.

For more hot cruise deals visit any of the following popular discount booking search engines’ websites to check out some of the best hot cruise deals, to shop and compare, and you can even book your cruise right online!

Kayak.com
Expedia.com
Orbitz.com
Travelocity.com
CheapTickets.com
VacationsToGo.com

Top Ten Cruise Lines

Depending on the source, the top ten cruise lines list may vary greatly. There are so many categories to consider that it’s tough for top reviewers, websites, and travel guides to offer a simple top ten cruise lines list that will appeal to all. What cruise review/discount websites such as Cruisedirect.com do offer is top ten cruise lines lists in a number of different categories ranging from top ten cruise lines for staterooms or dining to top ten cruise lines for service or entertainment. That being said, there are a number of reliable sources that do offer their honest opinion about which lines deserve to be included on a top ten cruise lines (overall) list, but you won’t find the usual suspects on these lists. What you will find is top ten cruise lines with a common theme – the cruise lines listed are among the most expensive and luxurious cruise lines on the market today – and most carry 400 passengers or less.

According to Gayot.com, a well-respected source of reviews for hotels, wine, spas, movies, automobiles, cookbooks, fashion, aviation, and contemporary culture, the top ten cruise lines or rather “The World’s 10 Best Cruise Lines” are: Abercrombie & Kent, Butterfield & Robinson, Crystal Cruises, Hebridean Island Cruises, Lindblad Expeditions, SeaDream Yacht Club, Silversea Cruise Line, Viking River Cruises, Windstar Cruises, and The Yachts of Seabourn. Gayot.com (pronounced guy-OH), based its picks on the level of personal service, luxury, facilities, amenities, gourmet restaurants, staterooms, and size.

Sites such as Traveltruth.com are right in line with Gayot.com, with several differences. Traveltruth.com’s top ten cruise lines list includes: Silversea Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas, SeaDream Yacht Club, The Yachts of Seabourn, The World of Residensea, Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Oceania Cruises, Azamara Cruises, and Windstar Cruises. Traveltruth.com also recommends the following cruise lines: Sea Cloud Cruises, Hebridean Island Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Lindblad Cruises, and surprisingly, Disney Cruise Line.

Not everyone loves small ships. In fact, large ships are the preferred type of vessel for families, large groups of friends, and for theme cruisers. Travel+Leisure listed its “Top Ten Large-Ship Cruise Lines” and its “Top Ten Small-Ship Cruise Lines” in the world for 2007. And the winners in the large-ships category are: Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Oceania Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Cunard Line, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line, Orient Line, Princess Cruises, and Royal Caribbean International. For small-ships, Travel+Leisure lists the top ten cruise lines as SeaDream Yacht Club, The Yachts of Seabourn, Silversea Cruises, Abercrombie & Kent, Windstar Cruises, Grand Circle Small Ship Cruises, Avalon Waterways, Majestic America Line, Clipper Cruise Line, and Peter Deilmann Cruises. Keep in mind that the majority of vessels in large ship lines carry more than 400 passengers, and small-ships carry less that 400.

If you’re looking for more information about the top ten cruise lines, visit any of the links included in this article or visit sites such as Expedia.com to check out which cruise ships are best sellers. For links to all cruise websites listed in this article visit: ShipsandCruises.com.