Although river cruise ships are smaller, they have many have the same amenities as the larges cruise ships. And, many are just as elegant as some of the larger, higher end vessels. Some river cruise ships may resemble five star hotels with luxurious accommodations as well as passenger sun decks, dining rooms, lounges, fitness facilities, swimming pools, casinos and other entertainment facilities. In addition, many river cruise ships offer both onboard and off board tours of everything from museums and galleries to dozens of other historical and exotic points of interest.

Uniworld River Cruises features boutique river cruise ships including Douro Queen, Douro Spirit, River Ambassador, River Antoinette, Rover Baroness, River Beatrice, River Countess, River Duchess, River Empress, River Princess, River Queen, and River Royale. Uniworld River boutique ships navigate the waterways of Europe, Russia, Egypt, and China.

Some of the top European cruises offered by Uniworld include Grand France (Paris to Arles), Paris & Normandy, Paris & European River Romance (Paris to Nuremberg), and Grand European Odyssey (from Paris to Istanbul). Grand France river voyages last 15 days, while Grand European Odyssey voyages last a whopping 31 days. Paris & Normandy cruises are 9 days, and Paris & European River Romance (Paris to Nuremberg) last 11 days.

Uniworld Cruises offer a number of price ranges to suit all budgets. It is possible to find an 8-11 day cruise for under $2,000. For example, Nuremberg to Vienna, Basel to Amsterdam, and the France River Cruise Paris to Paris are all under $2,000. Most other cruises range from $2,000-$5,000 or more.

Sample Parisian Winter Holiday by Uniworld.com

The allure of Paris and Northern France during the holidays is like a dazzling holiday package just waiting to be unwrapped. Visit this magical place at this most festive time of year and create memories you will never forget. Sample traditional Normandy pancakes and cider while in Les Andelys. In the Medieval town of Rouen, browse through the traditional Christmas Market. Later in the day, be enchanted by an ethereal church choir recital at magnificent Rouen Cathedral, which was famously memorialized in Monet’s paintings.

Who will enjoy this cruise: Those with a romantic streak will relish this chance to see Paris dressed up in her finest holiday splendor. Art lovers, history buffs, and shoppers will all celebrate this gift of a winter holiday. By www.uniworld.com

To book a Uniworld River Cruise, visit the official Uniworld website at www.uniworld.com.

Blue Water Holidays offers some of the following specific cruise experiences:

Europe River Cruises: Rhine and Moselle
World River Cruises: River Nile, Egypt
Coastal Cruises: Norwegian Coast
Exotic Cruises: Tahiti and French Polynesia
Yangtze River: Scenic section of Yangtze River
Scottish Highlands and Islands
Cruise the Maldives
River Mekong
Cruises from the UK
Dubai and Far East
South America
Mediterranean
Polar Cruises
Panama Canal
Greek Islands
Alaska Cruises
New England and Canada Coast
Sailing Cruises
Luxury Cruises

Sailing Cruises feature tall ships that sail around the world. Destinations include the Caribbean, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Mediterranean, Greek Islands, and Amalfi Coast. Blue Water Holidays luxury cruises feature 6-star ships with all-suite accommodations, balconies, and butler service. Blue Water Holidays’ luxury cruise selection includes: Russia, Costa Rica, Tahiti, Monaco, Nile, Hong Kong, Caribbean, Lisbon, and beautiful Paris.

Blue Water Holidays offers dozens of cruise deals – too many to mention here. A good example of BWH cruise offers are the exotic and adventure cruise specials. These include early booking, late cruise deals, and special offers for small ship and adventure cruises to exotic destinations worldwide. BWH cruise offers range from free return flights to discounts up to 15 percent on longer expeditions. Exciting locations for exotic and adventure cruises include the Galapagos Islands, River Amazon, Maldives, Tahiti, Far East, Hawaii, Costa Rica and Panama Canal. Also features Polar cruises to the Arctic, Antarctic, and Alaska.

BWH feature cruise ships include Regent Seven Seas Navigator, Orion, Yasawa Princess, Yachts of Seabourn Spirit and Pride, Costa Cruises Romantica, Regent Seven Seas Mariner, Costa Deliziosa. Cruise holidays vary in length, so guests can expect to choose from 7, 10, 11, 14, and even 22-night cruises.

If you are interested in booking a Blue Water Holidays cruise, contact BWH Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. –5:30 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. –4 p.m. at +44 1756 706500. Blue Water Holidays is located at Bridge House, Brook Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire BD23 1PP – 01756 706500. Website: www.cruisingholidays.co.uk/.

Blue Water Holidays Pricing

Blue Water Holidays pricing varies greatly depending on the type of cruise, the cruise ship, and the length of stay. The following are just a few examples of BWH rates.

-Dubai from £699 (US $1,077)
-Arctic from £835(US $1,287)
-2-week Maldives from £1635 (US $2,521)
-20-night Costa Rica from £3295 (US $5,081)
-Windstar Cruises from £1489 (US $2,296)

When reviewing prices, please keep in mind that the Blue Waters Holidays official website features many exclusive specials and discount offers. Some may be weekly, while others may be seasonal or one-time promotions. Please spend some time browsing through all pages on the website for details.

Jobs on yachts or sailing ships are not as plentiful as jobs on larger ships. The crews are smaller and they typically do not hire entertainers, large numbers of cocktail servers or bar staff, or large numbers of retail personnel. This means competition is fierce for jobs on yachts and sailing ships, but if you have what it takes to compete, you have a good chance of landing one of these coveted positions. Potential captains, chefs, and crewmembers should begin the employment process by either signing with a placement agency or contacting the yacht or sailing ship directly.

To contact the yacht or sailing ship directly, visit the cruise ships/line website. You can locate the OFFICIAL website by visiting Ships and Cruises Directory. Once you have located several sailing ships or yachts you would like to work for, visit the website and search around for job postings. Most cruise line websites have a career center or job postings page.

If the cruise line lists job openings, remember 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.

To sign up with a placement agency, you should begin by identifying the top agencies in the industry. Next, you should submit your resume, references, and any certifications or designations you may have. The placement agency will call you in for an interview to assess your background, skills, and needs and match them to positions they may have available or positions they will seek out.

The following list includes top agencies in the field and contact information. Good luck!

CTI Group Inc.
http://www.cti-usa.com/
1845 Cordova Road Suite 215
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
Tel: 954.568.5900
Fax: 954.568.5888

Crewfinders International
http://crewfinders.com/
404 & 408 SE 17th Street
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
Phone: 954.522.2739
Toll Free: 800.438.2739
Fax: 954.522.2725

Delta Marine Personnel Services Ltd.
http://www.deltamarine.co.uk/
Office Suite 2, Lockside Marina
Navigation Road
Chelmsford
Essex. CM2 6HF
Tel: +44 1245 251 377
Fax: +44 1245 495583
Email: enquiries@deltamarine.co.uk

Dohle (IOM)
http://www.doehle-iom.com/index.asp
Fort Anne
Douglas
Isle of Man
IM 1 5PD
British Isles
Tel: +44 (0) 1624 649 649
Email: info@doehle-iom.com

So, what exactly do you have to do to get a job on a riverboat? The information in the following section will tell you how. After reading the following seciton, continue reading to learn more about riverboat cruises around the world.

How to Get a Job on a Riverboat

To look for riverboat jobs, if you have a local riverboat cruise line in mind, visit the cruise line website first to search for job openings. 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 riverboats ships 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 a riverboat 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.

About Riverboat Cruises

Contrary to popular belief, riverboat cruises offer much, much more than hour-long sightseeing tours and romantic dinners. Riverboat cruises are fast becoming the most popular types of cruises for visitors to exotic and historic destinations alike. If you don’t know too much about riverboat cruises or you’re not too sure what to expect on a riverboat cruise, continue reading to get an idea of the types of riverboats available, popular riverboat destinations and how to book a riverboat cruise.

A riverboat cruise is a form of travel that typically takes place aboard a small vessel that navigates the inland waterways of the world. Unlike large cruise ships, riverboats allow the passenger to get up close and personal with the countryside, marine life, nature, and more.

While riverboats tend to be smaller than cruise ships, many riverboats have the same amenities and they can be just as elegant as some of the larger, luxury vessels. Some riverboats may resemble five star hotels with luxurious accommodations along with passenger sun decks, dining rooms, lounges, fitness facilities, swimming pools, and even casinos. In fact, riverboat casinos are quite common in the U.S. In addition, many riverboats offer both onboard and land tours of everything from museums and galleries to dozens of historic and exotic points of interest.

There are so many riverboat cruises on the market today that it’s tough to know which is the best option. Fortunately, there are several popular riverboat cruises on the market today that won’t disappoint. The most popular riverboat cruises include the: Nile (Exotic River), Mississippi (North American River), Yangtze (Exotic River), Mekong (Exotic River), the Danube (European River), Rhine (European River), Seine (European River) and Volga (Russia River).

Mississippi River Cruise, Nile River Cruise, Volga River Cruise

Mississippi River Cruises may include the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers and they are an excellent way to explore the Old South and Wilderness Rivers while listening to jazz and dining on Cajun cuisine. Depending on the cruise itinerary you choose, Mississippi riverboats may also cruise by the Gateway Arch in St. Louis or they may travel rivers to the east of the Mississippi, and visit great cities such as, Chattanooga, Cincinnati and Nashville.

A great way to experience Egyptian history, culture, and architecture is on a Nile River Cruise. Nile river cruises are typically part of a longer Egypt tour itinerary. Most will visit Luxor on the site of ancient Thebes. Here, passengers will see the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, ancient Egypt’s longest ruling female pharaoh, and the Temple of Karnak, the largest temple complex built by man.

Excursions are also offered from Luxor to the final resting place of more than 60 pharaohs — Valley of the Kings. A Nile River cruise, may also take the passenger on a visit to the 2,000-year-old Temple of Horus. Passengers may also hop aboard a felucca, a traditional Egyptian sailing vessel to see the sites. Many Nile River cruises also visit the High Dam at Aswan, one of Egypt’s modern marvels.

Most Nile River cruises will visit the legendary pyramids and Sphinx in Giza, the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities in Cairo and Djoser’s Step Pyramid in Sakkara as well.

Volga River Cruises are typically part of a larger itinerary and they offer passengers the opportunity to visit Russia’s two most important cities: Moscow and St. Petersburg. The cruise combines the Volga River, the Moscow canal and many other waterways as well as visits to medieval peasant homes, Uglich, one of Russia’s oldest towns and the site of the famous WWII battle of Volograd.

Booking a Riverboat Cruise

If you’re traveling abroad and you want to add an exotic riverboat cruise to your itinerary, your travel agent will be able to help you book the perfect river cruise. If you prefer to book on your own, visit www.rivercruise.com for details about more than a dozen riverboat cruises and information on how to book. You can also call 1-800-510-4002 to speak with a riverboat cruise specialist.

River cruise vacations typically take place aboard a small vessel that navigates the inland waterways of the world. Unlike large cruise ships, river cruise ships allow the passenger to get up close and personal with nature and the countryside. While river cruise ships tend to be smaller than bigger ships, many have the same amenities and they can be just as elegant as some of the larger, high-end vessels. Some river cruise ships may resemble five star hotels with luxurious accommodations as well as passenger sun decks, dining rooms, lounges, fitness facilities, swimming pools, casinos and other entertainment facilities. In addition, many river cruise ships offer both on-board and off-board tours of everything from museums and galleries to dozens of other historical and exotic points of interest.

The most popular river cruises on the market today include: Nile (Exotic River), Mississippi (North American River), Yangtze (Exotic River), Mekong (Exotic River), the Danube (European River), Rhine (European River), Seine (European River) and Volga (Russia River).

Mississippi River Cruise, Nile River Cruise, Volga River Cruise

Mississippi River Cruises may include the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers and they are an excellent way to explore the Old South and Wilderness Rivers while listening to jazz and dining on Cajun cuisine. Depending on the cruise itinerary you choose, Mississippi riverboats may also cruise by the Gateway Arch in St. Louis or they may travel rivers to the east of the Mississippi, and visit great cities such as, Chattanooga, Cincinnati and Nashville.

A great way to experience the wealth of Egyptian history, culture and architecture is on a Nile River Cruise. Nile river cruises are typically part of a longer Egypt tour itinerary. Most will visit Luxor on the site of ancient Thebes. Here, passengers will see the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, ancient Egypt’s longest ruling female pharaoh, and the Temple of Karnak, the largest temple complex built by man.

Excursions are also offered from Luxor to the final resting place of more than 60 pharaohs – “Valley of the Kings.” A Nile River cruise, may also take the passenger on a visit to the 2,000-year-old Temple of Horus. Passengers may also hop aboard a felucca, a traditional Egyptian sailing vessel to see the sites. Many Nile River cruises also visit the High Dam at Aswan, one of Egypt’s modern marvels.

Most Nile River cruise vacations will visit the legendary pyramids and Sphinx in Giza, the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities in Cairo and Djoser’s Step Pyramid in Sakkara as well.

A Volga River Cruise is part of a larger itinerary and it offers passengers the opportunity to visit Russia’s two most important cities: Moscow and St. Petersburg. The cruise combines the Volga River, the Moscow canal and many other waterways as well as visits to medieval peasant homes, Uglich, one of Russia’s oldest towns and the site of the famous WWII battle Volograd.

If you are traveling abroad and you want to add an exotic river cruise vacation to your itinerary, your travel agent will be able to help you book the perfect river cruise. If you prefer to book on your own, click here to visit the top River Cruise website for details about more than a dozen river cruise vacations. The site also offers information on how to book your river cruise. You can also call 1-800-510-4002 to speak with a river cruise vacation specialist.

Louis Cruise Lines’ facilities run the gamut and may include any or all of the following: lounges, several restaurant/dining options, buffet, several bars, casino, disco, boutique, shopping arcade, duty free & travel value shop, business center, gym, sauna/massage, beauty salon, at least two swimming pools, mini golf court, fully air-conditioned, telephone, fax, satellite telephone, Internet facilities, photography services, and medical facilities.

Louis Cruise Lines offers cruise vacations ranging from 2-day cruises up to 16-day cruises or more. Depending on the location and duration of the cruise, Louis Cruise Lines guests will visit one or several ports during their cruise vacation. Just a few of the exciting locations on the Louis Cruise Lines menu include: Turkey, Black Sea, Egypt, The Holy Land, Syria, Greek Islands, Rhodes, Lebanon, Adriatic Sea, North Italy, Libya, West Mediterranean, and East Mediterranean. Louis Cruise Lines also offers charters.

Louis Cruise Line Charters
Louis Cruise Lines offers charters aboard four cruise ships, plus the Norwegian Majesty. The four cruise ships, namely, ‘M/V Thomson Destiny’, ‘M/V Thomson Spirit’, S/S The Emerald, and ‘M/V The Calypso,’ are chartered to Thomson Cruises of TUI Travel plc.

Louis Cruise Lines Booking and Prices
Prices for Louis Cruise Lines cruises vary greatly depending on season, duration of cruise, vessel, destination, and number of guests. Prices may range from several hundred dollars for a 2-day cruise up to several thousand dollars for an extended cruise vacation. To book a Louis Cruise Lines cruise, visit the official Louis Cruise Lines website. Just follow the link. Once you are on the website, you can search for cruises. When you have selected a specific cruise, you can scroll through the directory of agents to locate a travel agent near you.

About Louis Cruise Lines
Louis started operating short cruises out of Limassol, Cyprus to the Eastern Mediterranean from the 80s, a programme that is still in force. Louis Cruise Lines, a subsidiary of Louis plc, listed on the Cyprus Stock Exchange, has over the years evolved and expanded its cruise programmes. Today with a fleet of 13 cruise ships, the company also operates cruises from the ports of Genoa and Marseilles to the West Mediterranean, North Africa as well as to the Eastern Mediterranean. From the port of Piraeus, Louis Hellenic Cruises sails to the Aegean islands and the East Mediterranean. Louis Hellenic cruises was founded in 2004 and led to the revival of the Greek Cruising Industry. –From the Louis Cruise Lines website

Louis Cruise Lines Contact Information and Brochure
You can download a Louis Cruise Lines brochure by clicking here or by visiting the website directly. Louis Cruise Lines can be reached through your local travel agent or at:

Louis House
20 Amphipoleos str,
2025 Strovolos, Nicosia

Telephone: +357 22588168
Fax: +357 22442949

Viking cruises typically dock right in the heart of most towns which gives passengers endless opportunities to spend more time touring scenic cities instead of just traveling to the cities. Viking cruise passengers will have a front seat to the ever-changing riverside scenery as well as unlimited access to local nightlife when the ship is in port.

Not to be confused with Viking Cruise Lines (more on this later), Viking River Cruises has been featured on the Conde Nast Traveler Gold List and recognized as the “world’s best” by Travel + Leisure magazine. Viking River Cruises is the worlds largest river cruise line featuring 25 beautiful ships that feel more like an upscale hotel rather than a riverboat. With names like Burgundy, Neptune and Century Sun, Viking River Cruises are available across the globe from Russia to Rome and everywhere in between highlighting the rivers of Europe, Russia, and Ukraine, and China.

In Europe, the Rhine, Main, Moselle, Danube, Elbe, Seine and Rhône; in Russia the Volga; and in China, the Yangtze River. Viking’s deluxe ships average 150 passengers for Europe and just 186 for China.

Viking River Cruises include tours of and stops in and around small towns and villages, cosmopolitan cities, daily trips ashore, historic sites and natural wonders. In Europe & Russia, Viking River Cruises’ Old World Highlights program features folkloric entertainment, lectures and demonstrations and daily shore excursions led by well-traveled, English-speaking guides.

Offering the utmost in comfort and quality accommodations as well as all-inclusive tours, visitors can expect fine gourmet dining with regional specialties, hotel caliber beds with large picture windows in an outside, river view cabin (with private bathroom and shower) and bars & lounges as well as excellent staff and service aboard all Viking River Cruise ships.

Viking River Cruises passengers will enjoy a fully escorted vacation with English-speaking guides, fascinating guided tours and cultural highlights on all China tours.

Interested in booking a Viking River Cruise? For reservations call 1-877-66VIKING or visit vikingrivercruises.com. You can also contact Viking River Cruises by mail by writing to: Viking River Cruises, Inc., 5700 Canoga Ave, Suite 200, Woodland Hills, California 91367. 1-818-227-1234.

Viking Cruise Lines

Viking Cruise Lines or “Viking Line” was established in 1959 when it began sailing the S/S Viking between the Finnish mainland, the Aland Islands, and Sweden. The current Viking Line Abp was established in 1963 under the name Alandsfarjan Ab, and it gained a listing on the Helinski Stock Exchange on July 5, 1995.

Viking Line has seven vessels sailing between the Finnish Mainland, Aland, and Sweden, as well as between Finland and the Baltic States. Besides passenger services, Viking Cruise Lines also offers recreation and cargo carrier services. Viking Cruise Line’s ships include: M/S Amorella, M/S Cinderella, M/S Gabriella, M/S Isabella, M/S Mariella, M/S Rosella, M/S Viking ADCC, and M/S Viking XPRS. M/S Viking ADCC is an environmentally friendly ship that will be delivered to Viking summer 2009 and M/S Viking XPRS is one of the newest vessels in the fleet that combines features of a traditional car ferry and fast catamarans. Traffic for the M/S Viking XPRS started in April 2008.

Viking Lines luxury ships sail from Finland to Sweden and Estonia each day. Passengers can expect a number of excursions to choose from such as guided tours of Helinski and Stockholm as well as historic tours of Tallnin and Turku. Cruises disembark from the Port of Helinski.

Viking Line Ports include:

Finland
City: Helsinki
Port: Katajanokka

City: Turku
Port:Linnansatama

The Ã…land Islands
City: Mariehamn
Port: West port

Sweden
City: Stockholm
Port: Stadsgaarden

Estonia
City: Tallinn
Port: Reisisadam Port

Onboard, passengers will enjoy fine cuisine, relaxing saunas, and entertainment galore. Viking Cruise Lines presents live music performances, dancing, and more!

To book Viking cruises visit the Viking Line website at www.vikingline.fi or you can call +358 (0)600-41577 or Email booking@vikingline.fi. Viking cruises prices depend on vessel, accommodations, season, and destination. Keep in mind that there age limits do apply on Viking cruises as follows:

Turku-Stockholm Route
Departures between Sunday morning and Friday morning 18 years
Departures between Friday evening and Saturday evening 21 years

Turku-Stockholm Route
Daily 21 years

Helsinki-Tallinn Route
Minicruises between Friday evening and Saturday evening 21 years
All other cruise departures18 years

Helsinki-Stockholm and Cinderella Stockholm-Mariehamn
Daily 21 years

Parents (also stepparents), grandparents, aunts and uncles can function as guardians. Three friends of the children may accompany the family onboard.

Route Traffic
No age limits in route traffic, except Cinderella age limit 21 years on all departures. Note: Age limit 18 years also on hotel voyages to the Baltic.

The age limits mentioned above in route traffic do not apply if those under the limits people are traveling with parents or guardians, or if a written proof of a reason for traveling (e.g. visiting relatives, business trip, studies or any such acceptable reason) exists.

While river cruise ships tend to be smaller than bigger ships, many have the same amenities and they can be just as elegant as some of the larger, high-end vessels. Some river cruise ships may resemble five star hotels with luxurious accommodations as well as passenger sun decks, dining rooms, lounges, fitness facilities, swimming pools, casinos and other entertainment facilities. In addition, many river cruise ships offer both onboard and off board tours of everything from museums and galleries to dozens of other historical and exotic points of interest.

The most popular river cruises on the market today include: Nile (Exotic River), Mississippi (North American River), Yangtze (Exotic River), Mekong (Exotic River), the Danube (European River), Rhine (European River), Seine (European River) and Volga (Russia River).

Mississippi River Cruise, Nile River Cruise, Volga River Cruise

Mississippi River Cruises may include the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers and they are an excellent way to explore the Old South and Wilderness Rivers while listening to jazz and dining on Cajun cuisine. Depending on the cruise itinerary you choose, Mississippi riverboats may also cruise by the Gateway Arch in St. Louis or they may travel rivers to the east of the Mississippi, and visit great cities such as, Chattanooga, Cincinnati and Nashville.

A great way to experience the wealth of Egyptian history, culture and architecture is on a Nile River Cruise. Nile river cruises are typically part of a longer Egypt tour itinerary. Most will visit Luxor on the site of ancient Thebes. Here, passengers will see the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, ancient Egypt’s longest ruling female pharaoh, and the Temple of Karnak, the largest temple complex built by man.

Excursions are also offered from Luxor to the final resting place of more than 60 pharaohs — Valley of the Kings. A Nile River cruise, may also take the passenger on a visit to the 2,000-year-old Temple of Horus. Passengers may also hop aboard a felucca, a traditional Egyptian sailing vessel to see the sites. Many Nile River cruises also visit the High Dam at Aswan, one of Egypt’s modern marvels.

Most Nile River cruises will visit the legendary pyramids and Sphinx in Giza, the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities in Cairo and Djoser’s Step Pyramid in Sakkara as well.

A Volga River Cruise is part of a larger itinerary and it offers passengers the opportunity to visit Russia’s two most important cities: Moscow and St. Petersburg. The cruise combines the Volga River, the Moscow canal and many other waterways as well as visits to medieval peasant homes, Uglich, one of Russia’s oldest towns and the site of the famous WWII battle Volograd.

If you’re traveling abroad and you want to add an exotic river cruise to your itinerary, your travel agent will be able to help you book the perfect river cruise. If you prefer to book on your own, click here to visit the top River Cruise website for details about more than a dozen river cruises. The site also offers information on how to book your river cruise. You can also call 1-800-510-4002 to speak with a river cruise specialist.

A Mediterranean cruise is popular for many reasons. Passengers on a Mediterranean cruise will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with dozens of different cultures. Shore excursions will allow the passenger to get involved with the native language, art and history of any given land. Keep in mind that Mediterranean cruises cover an endless number of destinations/ports such as: Venice, Naples, Rome, Greece, St. Tropez, Barcelona, Morocco, Tunis, Tunisia, Alexandria, Egypt and Haifa, to name a few. Among the most popular destinations in the Mediterranean are: the French Riviera, Italy’s Amalfi Coast, the Isle of Capri, Portofino and the City of Dubrovnik in Croatia. Potential passengers can choose from a wide variety of cruise line types including: luxury or budget cruise lines, deluxe or first class and premium.

Luxury cruise liners feature white-glove service and a more formal atmosphere catering to an upscale or sophisticated crowd. Vessels can vary in size from small yachts to large “resort� sized vessels. Budget cruise liners, on the other hand, are much less informal and laid-back and many people describe them as a “resort at sea.� This casual environment attracts families, small groups of friends, retired couples or individuals or anyone looking for an ultra-casual “come as you are� atmosphere.

First Class liners may feature extras like basketball courts, rock climbing walls, ice skating rinks and other activities not found on regular “budget� liners. Premium liners offer upscale, personal services, luxury spas and fitness centers. Many also feature visually stimulating, expensive art collections and gorgeous atriums. Luxury and premium liners may focus on destinations like ancient cities and tropical islands or places that have an abundance of natural wonders like glaciers and waterfalls. Cruises generally last 9, 10 or 12 days (possibly more) and smaller river cruises may be included as part of a day long excursion.

From budget-friendly Carnival Cruise Lines to luxury Crystal Cruises , just about every cruise line sails to the Mediterranean so you will have plenty of options to choose from. To make it easier, consider the following questions. This may help you choose the right Mediterranean cruise line for you.

·Budget or luxury accommodations?
·Do you prefer a casual or formal environment?
·How many days would you like to cruise?
·How many shore excursions are you interested in? Ports?
·How much would you like to spend?
·Romantic atmosphere or festive?
·What activities are you interested in?
·Where would you like to go?
·Would you like an air and sea package?

The price for Mediterranean cruises varies greatly depending on a number of factors including: type of vessel, destination, itinerary, type of cruise line (budget or luxury), package, etc. While some Mediterranean cruises can be pricey, the vast majority of cruises will include meals, ship transportation, cabin accommodations, entertainment, and most social activities. The price may not include: alcohol, laundry and dry cleaning, shore excursions, gratuities, port charges and extra activities like gambling.

A good place to start searching for a cruise line to match your interests is online. Many cruise lines offer virtual tours, lots of facts and information about their cruise line and cruises in general, itineraries and many feature special online discounts and offers. The best time to book a Mediterranean cruise is during the winter months, which is considered off-season. Temperatures are still comfortable and the crowds are thin. Spring-fall is when most cruises set sail, with the majority during the summer months. Prices are much higher in the summer and crowds are plentiful.

To search for a discount Mediterranean cruise, try any of the discount booking search engines listed below.

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

The Cruises Only website has a number of features that can help cruisers select the perfect cruise. The site features an extensive selection of high-end cruise vacations, more than 9,000 customer reviews, and information about cruise lines and cruise ship profiles. Visitors to the Cruises Only website can expect to find information about cruise lines such as Azamara Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines, Viking River Cruises, Windstar Cruises, The Yachts of Seabourn, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Lines, Oceania Cruises, Uniworld River Cruises, Costa Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines, Crystal Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, to name a few. The sire features information about more than 179 cruise ships and destinations such as Alaska, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada and New England, the Caribbean, Europe, and Mexico.

Cruises Only also has a simple search feature that’s easy to navigate and it also offers accurate results. The Cruises Only search feature allows the user to search for a cruise by destination, cruise line, departure date, and/or cruise length. Users have the option to book online or you can book by contacting a cruise expert directly at 1-800-Cruises/1-800-278-4737. More than 300 seasoned Cruises Only cruise experts are available to help you book your cruise 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.

The Cruises Only “About Cruises” section features cruising advice, advice for first-time cruisers, information on cruises by interest, advice on preparing for your cruise, information about shore excursions, and a very informative section dedicated to cruise FAQs.

One of Cruises Only’s most popular features is the “Deals” feature. Visitors can browse through all kinds of cruise deals such as: last-minute cruise deals, luxury cruise deals, family cruise deals, singles cruise deals, holiday cruise deals, honeymoon cruise deals, weekend getaway cruise deals, balcony and suite deals, and even deals on cruises from a port near you! The deals section also features a weekly “Top 3″ and a wide variety of cruise specials such as upgrades and onboard savings.

According to the Cruises Only website, Cruises Only “is the premier cruise brand of World Travel Holdings. Co-founded by Bradley and Jeffrey Tolkin in 2005, World Travel Holdings (WTH) is a multi-brand travel distributor with executive offices in Port Washington, New York and corporate offices in Woburn, Massachusetts. Branch offices are located in California, Florida, and Virginia. WTH has grown since its inception via three strategic brand acquisitions: Creative Leisure International, Cruise411.com, and National Leisure Group (NLG). The company’s owned brands include Cruises.com, Rooms.com, Vacation Outlet, CruiseOne, Cruises Inc., and Villas of Distinction. WTH’s portfolio of licensed partner brands includes BJ’s Vacations, Hotwire.com Cruises, Overstock.com Travel, Priceline.com