What Is A Good Nightly Rate For A Cruise?

 

When I start doing research on any particular cruise there are a number of factors (location, time of year ship, etc) that will determine what I am personally willing to pay overall for said cruise. However, my goal is to always try and stay under the $100 per-night (before taxes and port fees) mark.

As with anything regarding a cruise's nightly rate, the $100 per-night amount that I mentioned is based on double occupancy and would translate to $200 per-night. Do keep in mind that I am talking about cruises from “main stream” cruise lines such as Norwegian (the only line I have used so far), Celebrity, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess, etc. I am not talking about luxury cruise lines like Silver Sea, Cunard, Seaborne, etc. Also, keep in mind that I always look for and book the cheapest inside cabin (read my “Is A Balcony Cabin Worth The Extra Cost?” post to see why).

$200 per-night is a good and very workable goal, a 7 day cruise for two would work out to be around $1400 (before taxes and port fees), I would NOT be willing to pay more than that. In reality, I have taken cruises MUCH cheaper than that example, my trans-Atlantic was about $70 per-night for two and the Alaskan one I went on was only about $100 per-night for two.

For your convenience, I am posting a link to a website that I discovered recently that actually lets you search for cruises based on the cost per-night: http://cruisesheet.com. This website will make the “job” of finding a cruise based on nightly rate just that much easier, especially if you are not one given to math.

Around the World in $75,000???

I got this email today from Travel+Leisure (T+L) and it certainly piqued my interest! See a screenshot below:

  

Needless to say I wish that I had the extra $75k to spare. Maybe I can beg on the streets till the departure date, I have till February 3rd of 2017.  Here is some of the details of this adventure provided by Intrepid Travel as quoted from on T+L's website:

"Taking a year off to travel the world isn't as tough as it sounds—if you've got $75,000 burning a hole in your pocket and 365 work-free days to spare. Intrepid Travel, a trip-planning service focused on adventure travel, is offering a year-long tour through 34 countries, starting with Bangkok and ending in Buenos Aires."

"For the full itinerary, head over to Intrepid Travel's website."

  

Read T+L's full article here:

http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/trip-around-the-world

Why Did I Start A Travel Blog?

With this blog nearing it's first birthday, some may ask, "Why did you start a travel blog?"  The answer to that question is two fold: #1: I felt God telling me to do it. #2: I love to travel and I do so fairly often.

However, with those two reasons aside I still did not make a move until I saw the video below. Once I saw the video, I tapped into reasons "#1" and "#2" and just went with it!

 

Thankfulness: From The Other Side of the Wall

This was a post of mine to my personal Facebook account on Thanksgiving of 2014. However, the message is still just as meaningful that year as it is this year. I hope you enjoy and have a very...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! :D

"I have been meaning to write this article for a while but, I have just never taken the time to do so. I feel that there is a good message in this for anyone who is willing to read it. To be totally honest, I do not think that there is a better time of year to write this.

Thankfulness: From “The Other Side of the Wall”

November 27th 2014

Thanksgiving Day is here once again; the year has gone by so fast. So many good things have happened in my life this year, and I am eager for the good that God has planned in my future. I hope you all are having a great Thanksgiving and that you are truly thankful for the blessings you have been granted. However, I hope we can all practice our thankfulness everyday of the year, even on Leap Years.

We often say “Thanks” to God, people and even our animals. However, I think we have all at times taken the word “Thanks,” or variations thereof for granted. So, I wish to say a few words about being truly thankful, to God most of all.

Personally, my life always has been, and till I die, always will be a work in progress. Looking back, I have in only 20½ years, done and seen things that other people have only dreamed of doing or seeing. I realized that tomorrow is never promised, and the fact that I am here is testament to God's goodness towards me. But to truly be “Thankful” for my life? Well, though I was always taught to be thankful, true thankfulness is something that only became most real to me in the last few years.

One day when I was 15, about 2 days after arriving in Brazil for a 2 week mission trip, I was talking with a fellow group member. The topic at hand was a slum (called a "Favela" in Brazil) which could be see on a distant hill from the very nice house we were being hosted in. He basically told me told me, “That is nothing. Go to the upstairs bathroom; stand on the toilet, and look out the window.” Within a few minutes, I did exactly as he suggested I do, I was shocked to say the least. Directly on the opposite side of the house's retaining wall was a “Favela,” up close.

Though I had seen some bad areas of the city on the van ride to our host's house from the airport, I was now seeing one in much greater detail, how the people lived. In the coming days I would eventually go (twice) into a Favela with my group; however, it was at that bathroom window that I first thought about “The Other Side of the Wall.” Really, I don't know what it is about bathrooms that God likes but, he likes to deal with people there.

Arriving back home in “the States” I thought about the things which I had seen while in Brazil. I became more thankful for the things I took for granted. I knew that by any stroke of fate I could be one of those people living, anywhere in this world on “The Other Side of the Wall.” Actually, being born into an extremely poor family, in a small village in Southern Belize, I was born on “The Other Side of the Wall.” If not for God's grace had I would not be simply thinking on the poverty I had seen, but actively participating in it.

Reflecting back even further, to the age of 3 or 4, memories of my trip to Liberia came to mind. Though my memories of Liberia are not as vivid due to my age, I remember one particular time when I went with my mom to visit an abandoned village which had been destroyed in the recent civil war. I remember walking through what seemed to be the former school house; the remains of a geography lesson was still on the wall, and riddle with bullet holes. Another memory from Liberia is that at some point after we saw the village, mom had reason to visit an orphanage. The children, though poor and parent-less, greeted us with smiles, truly glad to see us, they even sang as a "choir" at one point. Their joy and happiness was not due to riches, toys or iPads (LOL, this was in the late 90's). But their joy came just because they were glad to be alive, have shelter, and food. Many had survived the civil war, and who knows what untold horrors they witnessed. But, they still had a joy that can only come from being truly thankful for their very lives, even though there were not on my "side of the wall.”

I say all that to say this: Thankfulness is not just a word to be thrown around like seasoning on a turkey or about the good deals you get for stuff the day after being “thankful” for what you already had. Thankfulness is a true feeling of gratitude that comes only from joy, a joy you can only get when you truly appreciate the life you have been given no matter what "side of the wall" you may see yourself on.

So whether your turkey is stuffed with bread, or with caviar, I pray you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day, one of TRUE thankfulness. Remember: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give THANKS in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

(Seriously, if you have internet and can read this, or anything at all... you have reasons to be thankful!)

What Does Your Suitcase Say About You? - By: Lee-Anne Turley

Are you an airport people watcher? You can tell a lot about people by the stuff they carry around. Every suitcase has a story to tell.

Take a minute to look around the luggage hall. What do you see?

Can you pick the:

• Hoarders from the minimalists?
• Business travellers from the tourists?
• Frequent flyers from novices?

Let's have a little fun. Have light-hearted look around to see what people check in or try to take onboard...

Suitcase Travel Styles

Carry on only

1. The domain of the experienced frequent flyer and business travellers.
2. These are people who have figured out how to plan their wardrobe so that they can fit a week's worth of necessities in a small space. They will zip past the check-in counter with a smart wheelie suitcase in tow.
3. Carry on connoisseurs know the rules when it comes to suitcase size and weight.
4. Those who don't know the rules or don't want to follow the rules, can be seen haggling with the airline staff at the check-in counter. Some will put on quite a show before handing over their small bag for check-in.

The matching luggage set

1. A slightly old fashioned concept in world where loads of 20th century dress codes have gone by the wayside in the name of casual dress.
2. Check to see if they have carefully matched their belt, bag and shoes as well. If the answer is 'Yes' this person is a fastidious traveller who wants to be prepared for all occasions.

  

Big suitcases

1. This person loves to pack for every possible weather event and occasion that may arise away from home.
2. Possibly a hoarder who can't leave home without a substantial selection of shoes, clothes or accessories.
3. Check the bag tags. This may be a frequent flyer taking advantage of their bonus luggage allowance to go on a shopping spree.

Lots of small bags

1. Possibly a carry on fail by a last minute packer.
2. A sneaky attempt to get more on board.
3. An infrequent traveller making do with the bags they have.
4. A family on a vacation where mum, dad and each of the kids has to have their own bag. Bags may be strung together and dragged along like a train by mum or dad. Stacked precariously on a trolley or dragged individually by complaining kids.

Brand names

1. It's all about the look.
2. Status is important to these people and they want to look the part.

Plain Black vs Colours and Patterns

1. Plain black. - De Rigueur for men in business suits.
2. Plain black with coloured tags and ribbons. - A person who does not want to stand out from the crowd who is worried about their nondescript suitcase being picked up by someone else.
3. Bright colours and patterns - the luggage of choice for children and the young at heart.
4. Colours in general - luggage that belongs to women with personality or a gent who's suitcase was purchased by his wife/mother/female friend.
5. Camouflage (patterned, dark green, khaki or brown) - most likely belongs to a male backpacker or adventure traveller. (the adventure traveller will have other over size luggage such skis, surfboard, golf clubs).

Name: Lee-Anne Turley
Blog: Just me please - the adventures and advice of a solo traveller.

Just me please is your travel advisor. Read about my adventures and follow in my footsteps. Use my tips and experience to guide you on your journey, find places of interest and plan your next vacation.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Lee-Anne_Turley/2195948

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9235331