TravelClub

Cruise Vacations Come In Many Different Packages
When choosing a cruise, and cruise line, there are many factors to keep in mind, especially if this is your first time. Before making any selections, be sure you know how much time you have available, the general area, or region, you want to cruise, what your budget is and, if needed, have your passport ready to go. If you have not tried to get a passport since 9/11, this may be the most time-consuming part of all, and I suggest starting that now.

Then you should know there are several different cruising “styles” you will have to pick from. Here is just a short list of some of the choices you will have:
* Senior cruise
* Family cruise
* GLBT cruise (gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transsexual)
* Singles cruise
* Romantic cruise (designed for couples)
* Holiday cruise
* Ocean crossing
* Adventure cruise
* Disabled accommodations
* Luxury cruise

As you can see, there are categories you will definitely fit in, and some you know you will completely avoid, based on your familial situation and lifestyle.

Also be certain to consider what activities are on board. If the cruise IS the adventure and that is where you will be spending most of your time that will be the most important. But, if your main motivation for the cruise is to hit as many ports of call as possible, that may be less important to you. The more ‘at sea days’ you have, the more you may want to have to do on board, rather than off.

Consider also what type of ship and accommodations you would like. Many people prefer to be towards the exterior of the ship so that they may have a window or even a balcony to enjoy the fresh sea air. Especially if you are claustrophobic, do not get a room that is toward the interior, or too small. Rooms are notoriously tight to begin with. If you have any trouble with motion sickness, consider getting a room towards the center of the ship where there is less motion. Rooms toward the bow or stern will experience more motion.

Size of a ship can also be a determining factor for some people. The facilities on board can include such things as full gymnasium, pool/whirlpool/sauna, spas, stores, casinos and all sorts of other facilities custom to the ship you choose. The size is also somewhat determined by the number of passengers a cruise-liner can carry. The larges ones can hold over 3500 people, not including staff, but a more average size is 2000-3000. Some people prefer a more personal size below 2000. Then there are smaller groups of people wherever you go.

Cruise boats often also provide you with alternatives for recreation in the ports of call as well, such as organized bus tours with or without a meal and other sorts of excursions depending on that company’s connections and affiliations at those destinations.

No matter what your final choice of cruise line and destinations, make sure you do your homework ahead of time so you don’t end up with the wrong group or poor accommodations. Any well trained travel agent can assist you to find an excursion that can match your personality and preferences – don’t be afraid to ask for the details!

Looping The Loop In Malta
Laid back and a slow pace of life on Malta might have contributed to the late introduction of low cost flights compared to her competitors, or it could have been politicians and the tourist authorities more interested in protecting the island’s national airline with attitudes that the rest of Europe began to shrug off in the 80’s, but whatever the reason, now that Malta has allowed the low cost airlines, they can’t get enough of them.

The number of visitors to Malta is up nearly ten per cent this year, thanks mainly to the extra arrivals being delivered by the low cost airlines. And the extra holiday makers couldn’t have come at a better time as the island has seen steadily decreasing tourists numbers in recent years - the ultimate factor in the decision to allow the flights in.

With tourism numbers up, tourism chiefs have seen the magic bullet that has driven the statistics, and embraced the concept of low air fares whole heartedly.

While Malta has previously received most of their visitors from the UK, the idea of diversification has become possible as low cost airlines operate from most European countries, and the island is already receiving flights from Germany and Spain.

The country has let it be known that they will welcome applications for flights from Scandanavia and other areas of Europe.

The u-turn is now complete, from a backward looking slow to respond tourist office, to one that sees a quick fix to Malta’s previous declining popularity as a holiday destination.

German tourists make up an important part of the European holiday market, along with the British.

A low cost airline in Germany, Germanwings, started flights from Germany to Malta in late March, and with good bookings is looking to increase the number of flights to the island.

Commenting on the expansion plans, the airline said recently that it was very happy with its Malta route, and that the peak summer months were looking particularly good.

At the moment the flights to Malta are from Stuttgart and Cologne, and they would like to start flying from Hamburg in the autumn. Whether this will be allowed to happen though is problematic as Air Malta already serves the Hamburg route.

If flying from Hamburg to Malta doesn’t prove possible, the airline hopes that it will be able to increase the frequency of the routes it already has for holidays in Malta.

As well as boosting the Malta holidays and hotel market, the arrival of increased numbers of tourists from Germany could also impact the Malta real estate market.

Property inflation in Malta has been high in recent years, with joining the EU a factor, and joining the Euro currency another.

The majority of sales in the past to overseas property buyers have been to the UK and Irish markets. But if German tourism rises it’s possible that this will add presuure to property prices again if the German tourists decide they like Malta enough to invest in a villa or holiday pied a terre.