Despite the weather, the winter holiday season is one of my favorite times of year. It's when we can wind down a bit from the craziness and take stock of what's most important—family and friends. It's also the time we share memories of our travels and make plans for the upcoming year.As a rule, we try to spend Christmas at home, although Thanksgiving is a favorite time to take a cruise (no cooking for this diva!). With all the tempting ways to celebrate at sea, we may spend a portion of Christmas day poring over cruise line brochures and web sites to plan for next year. While cruise fares for sailing dates that include the actual holidays are somewhat higher, the period after Thanksgiving and up to Christmas is usually available at bargain rates.
In addition to following cruise news and bargains, I've also been closely following the Travel Bloggers' Caravan. What's that? It's a group of top travel bloggers who've banded together to celebrate the season and bring our readers the opportunity to win some great prizes.
Today the Caravan stops right here at the Cruise Diva blog where I'll be giving away a copy of my latest cruising guidebook, Fodor's The Complete Guide to Caribbean Cruises, and a World Grounding Adapter Plug Set from Magellan's. I've been using one of those adapter sets for years and it's an invaluable travel tool. Another handy gadget for the winner is a Solio Classic Hybrid Solar Charger designed to give you power whenever or wherever you need it by using solar energy or a computer USB to charge your mobile devices.
The winner can use The Complete Guide to Caribbean Cruises to plan their next voyage, use the grounding set to plug dual-voltage electronics into those funny round-pronged European outlets in their stateroom, and charge up their iPod while sitting poolside in the sunshine.How to Enter & Win
One lucky reader will be randomly chosen from all Comments on this blog entry between 12:00 am (midnight) and 11:59 pm today, December 11, 2009. You'll need to include your e-mail address so I can make contact if you are the winner. Good luck!
Win More Prizes This Month!
Don't forget to enter the daily Travel Bloggers' Caravan giveaway. The Caravan stops at EllenBarone.com tomorrow, where Ellen keeps travelers in the know and on the go. Visit, comment on the post of the day, and win a Day pack from First Ascent, a new extreme adventure line of gear and clothing by Eddie Bauer and partners, and the ultimate travel ensemble from ExOfficio, including 1 shirt, 1 pair of pants, and a pair of ExOfficio underwear.
If you missed it, see the entire Travel Bloggers' Caravan Schedule.
Good luck and happy holiday wishes to all from Linda the Cruise Diva, her husband Mel, and our attack cat Elvis.
16 comments:
intrigued by the idea of the solar charger...thanks for the chance to win one.
Great way to have discovered your site! I am a cruising
maniac and already I see a ton of stuff to check out!!!
That sounds like a great prize package! I could definitely use the items on some upcoming trips!
Thanks,
Michael
MLW1220@gmail.com
Do you have an recommendations of books, blogs, websites, etc. about traveling as passengers on a freighter US to China?
deut1119@usfamily.net
This looks great. I could definitely use the adapters and I'd love the book.
Noel,
I've never traveled on a freighter, but you might look into Maris at this web site:
http://www.freightercruises.com
I've heard good things about them.
Best, Linda
Linda, thanks for your holiday generosity. Year around enjoy
your exceptional cruise blog, wonderful tips. best, Wes
Colonelwes@gmail.com
I could really use these prizes! Thanks for the chance.
Hi Linda. Hey, you look like a movie star! Well -- I recently took my first cruise; was never sure if I'd like them -- but now I'm hooked! It was really amazing and beautiful -- so much to do and see... a truly unique experience. Now I'm trying to learn all I can. Thank you so much for offering these items. ~ kathy
Interesting prizes! Would love to win :D
Nice blog as well! :)
Glad to know about your blog, CruiseDiva. We've been considering a family cruise for years...maybe you can convince me! Lisa @TheWorldCalls
Wow...Love your blogs! I have yet to take a "real" cruise and am scouring the sites for the best tips, prices and locations. I'm leaning toward a cruise on MSC because they offer "kids sail free" and their prices are competitive. Any suggestions would be great. Looking forward to following you on Twitter and hope to win your great prize package!
tymesgal@bellsouth.net
Hope to go on a Caribbean cruise next year. Happy to have found your blog!
michelejdaley at gmail dot com
Interesting cruise blog... we love to take family cruises (small family- 29 total)... cruises are a great family vacation... you can have both together and ``do as you wish`` time. I will keep checking your blogs.
Some friends have recently had some excellent experiences on cruises, which I never considered before. Now I'm interested. Your site and prize package could be great helps.
aiellop@comcast.net
I still have about a thousand cruises to go before I can consider myself a fellow cruise diva, but I've been halfway around the world on ships and think it's just heaven. I too am interested in a freighter to China, so I'll check out the website you recommend. As for the Caribbean--here I come! And as for favorite cruise ships, The QEII is unmatched but the new Queen Victoria isn't half bad. I always recommend Cunard.
Loralee loraleemacpike@yahoo.com
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