Bahamas

The islands of the Bahamas are just a two hour plane ride from Atlanta, which is easy enough to get to from anywhere in the U.S. Besides English being the main language on the islands, the Bahamas is also a wonderful vacation spot because there are a variety of resorts from which to choose. The Sheraton Cable Beach is a great lower to mid priced option. The Sandals resort is a wonderful romantic getaway for couples only and boasts their own private island and the all inclusive structure for which Sandals has become famous. But the mother of all places to stay is the Atlantis Resort with loads of swimming pools, exciting water slides, a giant kids play area and splash pad, dolphin encounters, an underwater archaeological dig of the lost city of Atlantis, and a massive casino. I took some sales guys from our Atlanta insurance office to Atlantis recently for an incentive trip and they didn’t want to go back home.

St. Kitts & Nevis

Home of the famous green monkeys, St. Kitts and Nevis are located in the Eastern Caribbean Ocean right next to each other. Both islands offer a very relaxed atmosphere. But for the adventurer, there are also plenty of activities like golf, a volcano tour, surfing lessons and a casino. Plus, Nevis is world renowned for it’s Four Seasons Resort which has won countless awards and is highly regarded by travelers as one of the best island resorts in the world.

Anguilla

Located adjacent to the Dutch and French island of St. Maarten, Anguilla is the place to see and be seen. It’s even known to be a celebrity draw in the Winter months. Cap Jaluca is quite possibly one of the most romantic places to stay on the island. Each lavishly appointed room opens directly to the beach, which is as private and quiet as any you’ll find in the Caribbean. Of course, if you’d prefer to stay active, you can always take a snorkeling trip or water ski just off shore. There is also a dolphin encounter facility not far from the resort. And the food is magnificent with every detail considered in its preparation and presentation. And, should you want a taste of the more urban Caribbean scene, the island of St. Maarten is just a short ferry ride away. There, you’ll find a bustling outdoor marketplace, a fine selection of restaurants, and plenty of boutique shops to keep you busy.

Conclusion

There is no question that the Caribbean Ocean holds some of the finest gems in the travel world. The Bahamas, St. Kitts & Nevis, and Anguilla are hands down the three best tropical vacation spots you’ll ever visit.

Travel Pillow

Women started this fad, but many men now use them too. Cross country and international flights are a perfect time to use a travel pillow since they allow passengers to catch some sleep during the flight. The best travel pillows are the ones that wrap around your neck providing total support for your head. They’re great for business travelers who often must go straight into meetings from the airport and need to feel their best when they arrive after a long flight.

Dopp Kit

Traditionally used by men, Dopp kits are essential for carrying toiletries like shaving cream, toothbrushes, hair brushes and cologne. The most popular style is a leather Dopp kit with a zipper top opening. Look for one that has side pockets which are great for carrying smaller things like dental floss or toothbrushes

Luggage

Luggage is something everyone needs when they travel. Keeping it lightweight is important. You don’t want the person carrying it to have to do extra work just to pick it up or roll it through the airport. Try and choose something other than black so it’s easier to spot in baggage claim. And make sure you get a set of luggage with good wheels that turn freely for easier rolling. Finally, make sure you buy a set that has a variation of sizes, large for checking and smaller roller bags to help them get quickly to their gate and easily store under their seat of overhead compartment.

Conclusion

If you have someone in your life who is constantly on the go, consider giving them travel gifts. Travel pillows are great for long flights. Dopp kits allow passengers to carry toiletries in style. And luggage is essential for anyone who wants to wear more than just the clothes on their back when they arrive at their destination. They’ll be happy you took the time to give them something thoughtful, and you’ll feel good knowing it’s sure to get a lot of use in the future.

More Space

It’s no surprise to everyone who has ever walked through first class while boarding a plane that the first class cabin has more space. The seats are larger. There’s more leg room. You simply don’t feel cramped like you do in coach class. But what many may not have seen is just how much space there is once you recline those plush leather chairs. That’s right, on some flights, especially international ones, those seats fold back almost horizontally! If that’s not worth the money on a transcontinental flight, I don’t know what is.

More Service

Sure, everyone has heard the flight attendants announce that first class passengers will be served a meal in flight while the cattle in the back get peanuts. But it’s not just the fact that there are meals that makes first class special. It’s the detailed service that accompanies those meals. The hot hand towels to clean your hands and face. The fact that each passenger may choose what they would like to eat from a list of options. Not feeling fishy? Have the chicken instead. Especially on international flights, service includes mid-flight snacks, not peanuts. You actually dine on cheeses and grapes and hot tea and coffee. Am I tempting you yet?

Faster Boarding

Finally comes what I like to call the walk of shame. No, not for the first class passengers. Its the coach passengers who all must walk through first class with their heads hung low in the realization that their more luxurious counterparts have been in their seats relaxing, playing on their phones and reading magazines for the past few minutes, while coach passengers have been warming up for the mad scramble that would soon begin to be the first to cram their luggage in the overhead bins in the back.

Conclusion

So, yes, first class travel is indeed everything you hoped it would be, and I hope a little more. I’ve come to accept my lowly position in the back of the airplane. Some may say I even deserve it and that it’s time I serve my sentence in coach. After all, most people spend the first half of their lives trying to earn that coveted first class spot. So, since I’ve already made it to the promised land and back, I’ll toast to you that you make it to the front real soon. Good luck!

San Francisco & Sonoma

One of the most iconic cities in the U.S. is also within a day’s drive of some of the most beautiful countryside the world has to offer. San Francisco is a great place to get away and just wander around. Bring your walking shoes and explore places like the Golden Gate Bridge, Pier 39, Fisherman’s Wharf, Ghirardelli Square, Chinatown and Alcatraz. My wife and I especially loved walking up the crookedest street in the world, Lombard Street. The view from the top is well worth the effort!

One of the most magical places I visited with my wife on our way out of San Francisco is Muir Woods. Named for the one of our country’s most beloved naturalists, John Muir, this park will leave you in absolute awe of Nature’s beauty with it’s grove of lofty redwoods.

Finally, once your feet are exhausted, take a day or two and drive through the picturesque landscape of Sonoma Valley. Stop at some of the vineyards for a wine tasting, visit the quaint town of Sonoma, and most of all just relax. My personal favorite winery is an especially fun Rabbit Ridge in the Russian River Valley. The people who run the place were so welcoming, and their wine is second to none!

Fripp Island, SC

The last stop on one of South Carolina’s long and winding Low Country roads, Fripp Island is a beautiful private island with majestic scenery unmatched anywhere. You’ll find 100-year-old live oak trees lining the Island’s one main road, marsh land that seems to go on forever, and some of the best shrimp you’ve ever tasted. Fripp Island’s beaches are as expansive and quiet as you’ll find anywhere. Contrast that with nearby Hilton Head Island’s busy, crowded beaches. On Fripp Island, you may have a couple of hundred yards between you and the next beach towel. But when you do run into someone, they’re sure to be the friendliest person you’ve met in a while.

Jamestown, RI

Jamestown is nestled between Rhode Island’s mainland and the island of Newport. Once a predominately agricultural island, Jamestown’s unique beauty is found in its rolling hills that slope right down to the ocean on both sides of this long, thin island. If you have children, take them to Sweet Berry Farms to pick strawberries, blueberries, corn, pumpkins or whatever is in season. The owners are friendly and the food from their little store is the freshest you’ve ever eaten. While you’re on Jamestown, make sure you visit Beavertail Lighthouse that overlooks the crashing waves of Narragansett Bay. Located at the southernmost tip of Jamestown, Beavertail Lighthouse stands on the site of America’s third oldest lighthouse. When I need a break from writing my insurance blog, this is where I love to vacation.

Conclusion

The next time you need to get away, choose from three of the best vacation spots in the U.S., San Francisco, Fripp Island and Jamestown. You’re sure to find a bit of culture, beauty, serenity and history. What more could you want on a vacation?

Alaska & The Inside Passage

Taking in the incredible natural beauty of Alaska and the route of the Inside Passage are experiences that cruise goers never forget. Passengers can depart from San Francisco on either Princess Cruise Lines or Crystal Cruises for a 10 or 12 night cruise to Alaska. Along the way, visit ports of call such as Victoria, Vancouver, Cruising the Inside Passage, Sitka, Juneau, Skagway, Cruising Glacier Bay and Ketchikan. Nothing quite compares to the natural wonder that awaits you in these spots.

Extended One-Way Voyages

For those who are lucky enough to book a cabin, Princess Cruise Lines also offers one-way voyages that end in Florida and Australia. These cruises only leave a couple of times a year and are intended to “reposition” ships to begin departing from different cities during San Francisco’s cruising “off season”. Typically leaving in September, these cruises end up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Sydney, Australia. The Fort Lauderdale cruise is a 15-day journey through the Panama Canal that makes stops in Cabo San Lucas, Puntarenas, Fuerte Amador, Panama Canal, Cartagena, and Aruba. The cruise to Sydney is a much longer voyage lasting 29 days with stops in Honolulu, Lahaina, Moorea, Papeete/Polynesia, Bora Bora, Pago Pago Harbor, Suva/Fiji, Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Fjordland National Park.

San Francisco

Of course, anyone visiting San Francisco to embark on a cruise should also spend at least a couple of days exploring this beautiful city. Popular attractions include the Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown, Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, Ghirardelli Square and Alcatraz.

Conclusion

Boarding cruises from San Francisco offers passengers a large variety of ports of call. Whether taking a jaunt up the West Coast all the way to Alaska or leaving it all behind for an extended journey to Florida or Australia, there are so many wonderful places to see. And the best part about cruising from San Francisco is the opportunity to enjoy all the city has to offer while you’re there.

Cruise Lines

There’s a ship to suite every person’s style leaving from Tampa. If you’re looking for a fun filled adventure that caters to young couples and families, there’s Carnival Cruises and Royal Caribbean Cruises. Carnival Cruises offers a large number of rooms with balconies and boasts some of the most exciting dance clubs and night life on the open seas. Royal Caribbean has its famous rock climbing wall, a casino, and plenty of youth oriented activities. Norwegian Cruise Lines and Holland America Cruise Line offer a bit more refined and luxurious sailing experience. While Norwegian Cruise Lines is known for their “freestyle cruising” experience with no set dining times and no assigned tables, Holland America Cruise Line offers five-star dining and excellent attention to detail from ship staff who are trained to meet your every need.

Ports of Call

With four cruise lines departing from Tampa, you can be sure there are plenty of destinations to visit. Some of them include Mahogany Bay, Belize City, Costa Maya, Roatan, Cozumel and the Cayman Islands. A few times of year, these ships also take a one-way “repositioning” voyage to begin departing from other cities in the U.S. If you’re lucky enough to reserve a spot for one of these special trips, you could visit places like Cartegena, Costa Rica, Acapulco, Cabo San Lucas, Jamaica, Curacao, Aruba and St. Maarten, just to name a few.

Exploring Tampa

Not to be forgotten is your very own city of departure, Tampa. Extending your vacation either before or after your cruise will allow you to enjoy things like Sea Wold, Cuban influenced Ybor City and shopping on ChannelSide.

Conclusion

Now you have a better idea about cruises from Tampa, including the variety of cruise lines available, their ports of call and a little bit about Tampa itself. So what are you waiting for? Go book your cruise today!

Eastern Caribbean

Want to be pampered on your way to paradise? Then jumping aboard a 7 day cruise to the Eastern Caribbean islands is what you need. Carnival Cruises leaves from New Orleans to explore Key West and the Bahamas throughout the year. With a host of things to do on board a Carnival Cruise ship, time will go by so quickly on your days at sea that you’ll probably wish you could stay even longer. Plus, leaving from New Orleans isn’t half bad. So make sure you build some time into your plans to see all the Crescent City has to offer either before you leave or after you return.

Western Caribbean

If you’d rather head west, both Carnival Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line depart for 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 day cruises to the Western Caribbean all year long. You’ll find yourself whisked away to ports of call like Belize, Cozumel, the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Isla Roatan, Costa Maya and Progreso. You’ll have fun no matter where you choose to sail as you’re waited on hand and foot by the staff of these two top notch cruise lines.

Mississippi River

Beginning in 2012, overnight riverboat cruises return to the Mississippi River. American Cruise Lines will take you aboard the Queen of the Mississippi for an unforgettable 7 night tour of the river towns and cities of the Old South. Cruises are offered as one-way trips or round-trips. You’ll have a chance to explore Civil War battlefields, antebellum mansions and a bevy of museums as you immerse yourself in the heritage of the Mighty Mississippi’s most important ports. Enjoy sailing to historic places like Baton Rouge, Natchez, Vicksburg, St. Francisville, Oak Alley, Helena and Memphis.

Conclusion

Embarking on cruises from New Orleans offers you the chance to see a variety of destinations. From the Eastern Caribbean to the Western Caribbean and up the Mississippi River, cruise ships leave year round. And, since New Orleans is its own playground of culture, there’s no better place to come back to when your cruise finished.

Sandals Resorts

Sandals has practically cornered the market on all inclusive resorts. The biggest benefit of booking a Sandals honeymoon is that you really don’t have to worry about how much things cost once you arrive. All room accommodations, dining, drinks (including alcohol), non motorized water sports, and even gratuity are included in the price you pay for your honeymoon. For newlyweds, this is perfect, because after the stress of planning and attending your own wedding, you need to be in a place where you don’t have to think about anything.

Riviera Maya

If you’re looking to head South of the border for your honeymoon, the Riviera Maya region of Mexico is the place for you. Located on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, Riviera Maya includes the popular destinations of Cancun and Playa Del Carmen. Cancun is famous for its Spring Break activity, but of course, you can find a little peace on your honeymoon if you book any other time of year. Playa Del Carmen offers the beauty of Cancun, but with a little more of a luxurious small town feel. Both locations offer all inclusive resorts that will leave you deciding only which bathing suit to wear or what drink to order.

Aruba

If you really want to get away from it all for your honeymoon, there’s no place on this side of the globe like Aruba. Situated just off the coast of Venezuela, Aruba offers subtropical beauty like no other island in the Caribbean. A popular resort for honeymooners is the Radisson Resort Aruba. It’s situated on the white sands of Palm Beach and boasts four top notch restaurants, two gorgeous swimming pools and accommodations that include authentic West Indian furniture that will have you living in the lap of luxury. Plus, the Radisson has its own 16,000 square foot casino for extra entertainment.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for cheap honeymoon packages, Sandals Resorts, the Riviera Maya and Aruba offer plenty of wonderful options. Now that you know where to go, get out there and book your dream honeymoon vacation!

Cruises From Baltimore 2011 – 2012

The following are cruises leaving from Baltimore throughout the 2011 – 2012 cruising season. These combinations of cruise lengths and destinations are typical of past cruising seasons. And with some of the top cruise lines leaving from this port, you can bet these will remain constant for several years to come.

Bermuda

Always a favorite, Bermuda is only a short distance from Baltimore by cruise ship. Royal Caribbean offers 5 night cruises to Bermuda from Baltimore typically from April through November. Ships sail from Baltimore and arrive at Kings Wharf in Bermuda and usually include 2 days sailing and 2 days in port to explore. Bermuda cruises from Baltimore are always a favorite among travelers because of the short amount of time it takes to arrive in port.

Caribbean

The tropical waters of the Caribbean Ocean are irresistible to many travelers. Fortunately, those with easy access to Baltimore have ample opportunity to cruise there. Both Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruises from Baltimore sail to the Caribbean virtually every week during the year. Travelers have their choice of 5, 7, 9 and 12 night cruises that include ports of call such as:

• Puerto Rico
• St. Thomas
• British Virgin Islands
• St. Maarten
• Antigua
• Tortola

Chesapeake Bay

While tropical destinations attract the masses, many travelers opt to enjoy immersing themselves in locales closer to home. American Cruise Lines offers passengers the opportunity to explore the quintessential small coastal towns of the Chesapeake Bay. A cruising favorite are the 7 night cruises departing from Baltimore with stops in:

• Annapolis
• Oxford
• St. Michaels
• Cambridge
• Solomons Island
• Tangier Island
• Yorktown

If you live near Baltimore or can get there within a few hours drive, you have access to a large variety of cruises at your fingertips. Whether you’re wanting to escape the long Mid Atlantic winters or just want a change of scenery any other time of year, consider taking one of these cruises leaving from Baltimore. Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruises are known for being some of the big boys in the industry, and that certainly has its advantages for those wanting to get away to places like Bermuda or the Caribbean islands. And, don’t forget to explore your hometown by embarking on a Chesapeake Bay journey aboard an American Cruise Lines ship. Wherever you’d like to sail, cruises from Baltimore, Maryland are leaving for your favorite spot any time of year.

Bermuda

Looking to head east to the friendly laid back island of Bermuda for a few days? You’ve got some options if you’re sailing from Bayonne NJ. The most popular schedules for Bermuda are a five or seven night cruise that leaves from Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne and arrives at Kings Wharf in Bermuda. Both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises depart for Bermuda from Bayonne, typically from April through October (baseball season!). The five night cruise consists of 2 days at sea and 2 days in port, whereas the seven night cruise is 3 days at sea and 3 days in port.

Caribbean

Heading to the tropical waters of the Caribbean Ocean is another great option for cruise goers. You can usually find Eastern Caribbean and Southern Caribbean packages departing from Bayonne on both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises from Spring to Fall each year. Some of the more popular ports of call include San Juan, Basseterre, St. John’s, Philipsburg, Labadee, Cruising and Charlotte Amalie. Cruise packages range from 9, 11, and 12 nights.

Canada & New England

Of course, there is no more beautiful sight to behold than Autumn in Canada and New England. You can have the best of both worlds by cruising the crisp waters of the Atlantic and taking in quaint towns and nature walks blanketed in bright colored foliage while in port. Again, you’ll be able to travel on Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises for the more popular 9 or 14 night excursions. You’ll enjoy such ports of call as Boston, Newport, Portland, Bar Harbor, Halifax, Sydney, Charlottetown, Quebec City and Gaspe.

If you’re looking for a variety of cruise destinations, departing from Bayonne NJ is a great option. Not only can you visit some of the more tropical hot spots like Bermuda and the Caribbean islands, you can also soak in the beauty of Autumn with destinations in Canada and New England. Whatever your cruising pleasure, you’ll be sure to find it departing from Bayonne NJ.