National Geographic Cruises Offer Adventure and Education

If you want a cruise that is more about exploration and research than simply sitting on a deck working on your tan, sipping mai tais, and competing in the sexiest legs contest, then you may dig the offerings of Lindblad Expeditions.

The small-ship outfit specializes in adventure/educational cruises that also tread lightly on the environment, striving to create an eco-friendly yet enjoyable vacation experience. The cruises are exploratory in nature, and you can expect to find out about destinations first-hand since you'll be accompanied ashore by small teams of naturalists and historians to speak about what your'e seeing.

Lindblad even has a ship called the National Geographic Endeavour that is fitted with advanced research equipment and has an advisory group from the Geographic Society, which aids in creating cruises that concentrate on research, conservation, and have interesting educational initiatives.

As you can expect, the average passengers aren't the party-all-nighters types, and you can expect to be sailing with physically active and intellectually curious folks, often in the 55+ age range. On the downside, prices tend to be hefty, but they are more inclusive than mainstream cruises, with shore excursions all included (and on some dates and itineraries airfare is also included).

Examples of cruise destinations you can visit:

• Galapagos Islands
• Antarctica
  
• Scottish Highlands
• Mediterranean Sea
• Baja/Sea of Cortez

For more information, check out the Linblad Expeditions web site.

Real Estate Investing Cruises

I love the idea of cruises where you can learn something. I've seen everything from cruises with lectures on historical topics relevant to the area you're traveling in to those that will teach you digital camera skills or how to play chess (yes, my heart gets all warm and snuggly at the thought of cruise ships full of geeks).

Well, I was listening the Real Estate Guys (a radio show I catch via podcasts), and they were talking about real estate investing cruises. It sounds like they are a mix of instruction and opportunity (to network and buy). I imagine there are people there trying to sell you the latest and greatest investing strategies and deals you just have to act on right now (snort), so you'd sure have to be careful, but for someone interested in investing in real estate, a cruise sure sounds like a nice way to get an education!

Has anyone out there been on one of these cruises? If so, was it a worthwhile vacation? Were the lectures useful or was it more about people trying to sell you stuff? And if you are an investor, did you write the cruise off on your taxes as a business expense? :P

Higher Gas Prices Mean More Expensive Cruises

With gas prices high everywhere, it shouldn't come as any surprise that the cruise industry is affected as well. Many lines have been forced to increase prices or add special "fuel surcharges" in order to accommodate the greater expense of powering these big ships.

According to a recent Newsday article, "Disney Cruises to add fuel surcharge after May 27," Disney is the next at bat.

"The fee for cruises booked after that date is $8 per passenger per day for the first two passengers in a cabin and $3 a day for additional passengers in the same cabin. Disney was the last of the major cruise lines to respond to higher fuel prices with surcharges."

Fortunately, cruises still remain a pretty good deal when it comes to all-inclusive vacation packages, but if you've been waffling about whether to book now or later, it might be best to book your cruise soon (even if it's for a distant date), since gas prices aren't looking to go down any time soon (but they are expected to keep rising).

Dining Room Etiquette on Cruise Ships

If you're heading off on a fancy cruise, and you haven't been to a lot of formal dining occasions or upscale restaurants, you might be wondering if you'll make an embarrassing goof at the dining room table. Well, here's a short list of tips for proper dining room etiquette on a cruise ship:

• Make sure to arrive on time (the formal sit-down restaurants on board will have posted meal hours).
• If you order wine, offer to share it with others at the table (on many cruise lines, you'll dine with the same folks each night, and they'll probably return the favor).
• Don't start eating until everyone at your table has been served (this, of course, is a display of good manners no matter where you're dining).
• Use the correct silverware (if you start to feel like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, just remember to work your way from the outside in--use the first fork on the left for your first course).
• Dress appropriately for the evening (most cruise ships send around daily bulletins, which should let you know the evening's dress code)
• Don't smoke at the dinner table (most ships these days have non-smoking dining rooms, but if yours doesn't specify, be considerate to those around you).
  

Cruise Canada's Northwest Territories via the Hay and Mackenzie Rivers

If you've already taken an Alaska cruise and you want to experience more of the culture, history, and scenery of the frozen north, then perhaps you'll dig a riverboat cruise in northern Canada. It's a chance to explore the Arctic up close.

The M.S. Norweta is a riverboat that cruises from the Hay River (located on the south shore of Great Slave Lake) to Inuvik, which is on the northern end of Mackenzie River. Total distance? More than 1000 miles.

This is a small ship, too, so if you'd like to experience more remote ports and and live in a quaint family-friendly atmosphere while you're aboard, this could be a nice change from your typical megaship cruise to Alaska.

Here's a blurb from the company's website:

"Historical, archaeological, flora and fauna, wildlife or lunch on shore - whatever the interest - the tour will travel new and ancient sites for everyone on board to experience.

Like any marine adventure, sleeping accommodation are compact but the ship has a large lounge, sundeck, and dining lounge. A combination of the scenic beauty of the North and an abundance of Aboriginal culture and hospitality will ensure the Adventure Traveller a vacation of a lifetime."

M.S. Norweta

Do You Need Money for Food on a Cruise?

Food is a big part of a cruise vacation--it seems like every time you turn around there's someone ready to feed you. If you haven't been on a trip yet, you might have the question, "do we need money for food on a cruise?"

The answer is no--sort of.

Your meals (all you can eat) are indeed included, and you can find plenty of afternoon snacks too. What's not included are your drinks. Expect to pay for sodas, alcoholic beverages, and bottled water.

If you've got kids or you're a frequent soda drinker yourself, you can get an unlimited soda pass for about $50 (for a week). (Alas, there's no similar deal for margaritas and mai tais.)

There are also special "alternative" dining options on board most of the big cruise ships. If you want to partake in something besides the buffets and dining room options included in your ticket price (these restaurants are often themed... Mexican, Asian, Italian, etc.), then you'll pay something like $10-$30 per head to eat there. Your regular (free) dining options are perfectly satisfactory however, so you shouldn't feel compelled to eat at these places.

So, the short answer is no, you don't need money for food on a cruise, but you may for drinks depending on your preferences.

Kenya to Start Cruises to Islands of Lamu and Zanzibar

If you like the idea of a cruise in an exotic area steeped in history, you may enjoy heading to Kenya.

Previously, the country hasn't had the ships to offer cruises to its coastal islands, but according to a recent article, that may change soon.

Kenya: Ferry Services to Launch Cruise Tours mentions that they're hoping to get ships that can handle the ocean waters and take passengers on trips to island destinations such as Lamu and Zanzibar.

Some of these islands have histories of settlement dating back a thousand years. Lamu is Kenya's oldest living town and was one of the original Swahili settlements along the coast of East Africa.

So, if you enjoy a vacation that teaches you about history and lets you experience different cultures, you may want to keep an eye on the soon-to-be cruise industry based out of Kenya.