Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Cruise Travel: The ABCs

One of the first things we all learn in school is the alphabet, the foundation for all learning that is to follow. In cruise travel, it's much the same. However, many cruise passengers start out with "C" for Caribbean and advance to "A" for Alaska and "B" for Bermuda.

The Caribbean is a frequent choice of first-time cruisers, accessible year-round and with a wide variety of ships and itineraries available. On the other hand, Alaska and Bermuda are seasonal, with fewer ships and homeports to choose from and are often looked upon as a "move up" cruise. They take just a bit more planning, but are worth it for the diversity of experiences available in both regions. In Alaska, you'll encounter magnificent scenery and the thrill of spotting wildlife; Bermuda is notable for pink-sand beaches and warm hospitality.

To help make your choices, Cruise Diva goes ashore to profile the things to do in ports of call in:

Alaska -- Today’s Alaska cruises offer a little something for every lifestyle, from small excursion vessels offering casual informality and soft adventure to megaships with a dazzling array of activities and options.

Bermuda -- Probably the most popular misconception about Bermuda is that it’s a Caribbean island. It isn’t.

Caribbean -- Sparkling turquoise water, stretches of sandy beach, and the beat of a steel drum band are just the main ingredients of a Caribbean cruise.

To delve even deeper into the ABCs of cruise travel, Cruise Diva suggests the following reading assignments:

Fodor's Alaska Ports of Call
Fodor's Bermuda
Fodor's Caribbean Ports of Call
The Complete Guide to Caribbean Cruises

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