Large Ship Line #: P& o Cruises
The United Kingdoms premier cruise lineand the worlds oldest, having commenced passenger operations in 1837P& O sails Europe, North America, and the Caribbean with a crowd made up primarily of British nationals. As such, prepare for the ships amenities to have a British bent . Three of the fleets five current ships fall into the large category, while its two upcoming ships, MS Iona and her as-of-yet unnamed sister, will be mega-ships.
Finger Lakes Region New York
A short drive from major east coast cities and an easy flight into Rochester and Syracuse, the Finger Lakes region of central New York is an ideal destination in June with a wide range of socially-distant outdoor experiences. After taking a refreshing dip in one of the 11 crystal blue lakes, visitors can sample their way through the region’s cideries and distilleries, breweries, or the 130 wineries while tasting local cheeses and homemade ice cream. Summer travelers can explore the new National Women’s Hall of Fame Museum in the birthplace of Women’s Rights, and end the day by renting a houseboat along the Erie Canal for a one-of-a-kind stay. With a variety of hiking trails leading to stunning waterfalls and family-friendly attractions, the Finger Lakes is the place to be this summer.
Medium Ship Line #: Seabourn Cruise Lines
Dont think of Seabourn as a typical cruiseit ships are much more akin to mega-yachts, with ultra-luxurious decor, service, and dining. The fleet currently has five vessels, the largest of which carry 600 passengers. Their small size allows the vessels to dock in small ports all around the world . Many of the cruise lines guests are lifelong learners, and they flock to the nightly Seabourn Conversation program, which brings all sorts of intriguing figures, from Steve Wozniak to Elaine Paige, on board for lectures and casual chats. In 2015, Seabourn announced a partnership with celebrity chef Thomas Keller, who crafted new menus for the three existing ships and spearheaded new restaurants on the two newest ships, Seabourn Encore and Seabourn Ovation.
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Do I Need To Get Any Vaccines Before My Trip
Regardless of your destinations, you should be up-to-date on routine vaccines like measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, and seasonal flu. Crew members on the ship and fellow travelers often come from countries where these diseases are more common than in the United States, so get your shots just in case! Dont forget to ask your healthcare provider whether any additional vaccines are required for your particular destination as well.
Spring March April May:
Spring is one of the best times to take a Mediterranean cruise. The weather will be pleasantly warm but not hot with plenty of bright, sunny days. If you visit during the spring, you will just miss the crowds of tourists swarming to the region, which is always a plus. Be prepared with plenty of lightweight clothing for layering so you can easily adapt to changing temperatures.
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What Are The Best Cruise Lines To Take With Kids
Royal Caribbean International, Costa Cruises, and MSC Cruises are well known cruise lines, and have excellent reviews from families traveling with kids. Do some research ahead of time if you have a particular cruise line in mind and read reviews from other cruisers regarding kid-friendliness. Be sure to check that your cruise isnt adults only before you book!
Small Ship Line #1: Star Clippers
Star Clippers has a fleet of three ships, with its flagship Royal Clipper holding the record as the worlds largest full-rigged sailing ship. All three are sailing yachts, unfurling their sails for itineraries across the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Southeast Asia, with classic exteriors and interiors featuring several bars, a swimming pool, library, and formal dining room.
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Experience The Caribbeans Quieter Side
Some of the busiest ports in the Caribbean see millions of visitors each year. If that sounds a little busy for you, consider a cruise to the Southern Caribbean, which tends to be less visited than the busier Eastern and Western regions. Princess offers a variety of Southern Caribbean itineraries, ranging from seven nights to nearly three weeks. Ports to look out for include Dominica, with its lush waterfall hikes Antigua, which has a beach for every day of the year and stylish Martinique, known for cultural history and a touch of French flair. Cruises depart on select winter, spring, and fall dates.
Taking An Alaska Cruise In August
Youre still in peak season here, but at the back end, so you might see some deals emerge toward the end of the month. However, you should likely expect to pay full price for an August Alaska cruise.
Your chance of rain for the month is at more than 50 percent, so you should surely expect to see some rain during your cruise.
Waterproof shoes and wool socks are your best friend during July, as well as any other breathable rain gear you own. Count on getting wet, so its best to be prepared.
The famous Alaska blueberries will be in season in August so snatch up your favorite berries. You know the bears sure will be, as July still offers great chances to view them feeding on branches or salmon. Youll even have a solid chance of spotting bald eagles near salmon-spawning streams.
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What Not To Bring On A Mediterranean Cruise:
2) DONT PACK homemade, pre-cooked or other perishable food items: Cruise companies want you to spend your money on the cruise ship. You can bring packaged snack food, but no homemade meals. You can usually make special requests ahead of time if you have dietary restrictions.
3)
4) DONT BRING alcohol or hard liquor: Depending on the cruise line, you may be able to bring sealed beer and wine, but oftentimes bringing any of your own alcohol on board is prohibited. That said, you will be able to buy alcohol on the ship.
Small Ship Line #: Metropolitan Touring
Operating three expedition vessels in the Galápagos, Metropolitan Touring is the ideal cruise line for those seeking a casual experience in the wildlife hotspot. The tiny ships, which only accommodate between 40 and 78 passengers, have a laid-back atmosphere where the focus is very much on wildlife spotting. The company also offers land-based tours in mainland Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia that can be combined with a Galápagos expedition.
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Copenhagen Denmark To Stockholm Sweden
This 10-night luxury cruise, Baltic Treasures, aboard Crystal Serenity begins in Copenhagen before sailing to Berlin, Germany Helsinki, Finland St. Petersburg, Russia Tallinn, Estonia and Stockholm, Sweden, with a variety of tours to choose from in each port. Three days in St. Petersburg with 40 optional excursions provide opportunities to visit the opulent Winter Palace, the Hermitage Museum, Saint Isaacs Cathedral with its gold-plated dome, the Faberge Museum, and more.
Onboard entertainment includes musicians, dancers, magicians, lounge pianists, and traditional Broadway revues. Also offered are wellness programs, educational opportunities, art classes, and lectures by experts on current topics. Fares for the Crystal Cruises July 7 sailing start at $6,250.
Unless There Is Somewhere You Particularly Wish To Visit Look At At The Weather Forecast Before Booking Excursions
It is rather a waste of money to book an expensive trip up a mountain or to see the Troll Wall when everything is shrouded in fog, and you cant see anything anyway! When we got to the top of the funicular railway in Bergen this is the view that we were greeted with
This is what it was meant to look like!
In the next section of this post, we talk about the ports of Bergen, Olden, Stavanger and Andalsnes.
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What Color Is Your Ship
A color-coded system developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can provide helpful information about the COVID-19 status of cruise ships operating or planning to operate in U.S. waters.
A table on the CDC website, which promises to be updated several times a week, assigns each ship a color statusgreen, orange, yellow, red or gray.
The color-coding is based on both surveillance data collected over the previous 7-day period as well as the findings of any CDC investigations.
These are the CDC definitions of each of the color codes:
Green: No COVID-19 cases or COVID-19-like illnesses are reported onboard
Orange: Reported cases are below the CDC threshold for investigation, which varies for
restricted voyages, simulated voyages and ships with crew-only
Yellow: The ship meets the threshold for investigation , or a state or local health department has notified the CDC of passenger cases occurring within five days of disembarkation
Red: The ship is at or above the threshold for passenger and crew COVID-19 cases. Based on CDC investigation, the ship is subject to additional public health precautions. such as immediate return to port or delay of the next voyage
Gray: The ship operators health and safety protocol hasnt been reviewed or confirmed by the CDC this only applies to ships arriving in, located within, or departing from a port in Florida that chose not to follow the CDC Conditional Sail Order voluntarily.
Medium Ship Line #: Cunard
While Cunards Queen Mary 2 fits more than 2,600 passengersand a number of cats and dogson board, her sister ships, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria only have a capacity of about 2,000 passengers. Though theyre quite similar in layout, the QE and the QV differ in design. Both nod to the historic ocean liners of the early 20th century, but the QE takes on a bolder Art Deco vibe, while the QV features more subdued yet equally elegant decor. Guests on board both ships are likely to partake in afternoon tea before donning a glamorous gown for dinner.
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Taking An Alaska Cruise In May
With 17 hours of daylight, youll have plenty of time to work with on deck or shore. But you can leave the t-shirts and shorts at home, as the beginning of the Alaska cruise season, temperatures here are just starting to warm with an average high in the mid-50s.
Youll still need to pack layers, as the nights will be quite chilly, but you might luck out and not need your rain gear, as May is historically Alaskas driest month.
Cruise prices and excursions will also be lower in May, especially during the first week of the season. You can even find cruises for as low as $100 per day.
This early season is also a great time to view wildlife as the vegetation has not completely grown in yet, meaning it will be easier to spot animals between the trees.
Migratory birds should also have begun to arrive, and the fishing season will be just kicking off .
For those looking to hop on shore and take a hike, you still may encounter some snow on the ground, depending on where you are and at what elevation.
There are also numerous opportunities to walk on a glacier should you so choose. Just check to see what excursions are available in each port.
If youre pulling into port in Seward, keep an eye out for Alaskas resident orca whale pods, as May is the best time to spot these locals of Resurrection Bay. Its also your best chance to spot the elusive gray whale before they migrate north to colder waters.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Best for: Luxury seekers
Why: Regent Seven Seas is arguably the most inclusive of the biggest luxury brands. Its fares include all-suite accommodations , meals in main and specialty dining venues, pre- and post-cruise tours and hotel stays, gratuities, shore excursions and beverages from liquor to sodas . The ships are on the larger size for luxury, carrying 490 to 750 passengers each — small enough to create a social onboard atmosphere without the crowds of a big ship, but large enough to offer spacious cabins and enough dining and entertainment venues to prevent boredom. Luxury touches abound, whether it be a butler in your penthouse suite or exclusive premium bath amenities designed by the L’Occitane line. The 750-passenger Seven Seas Explorer has over-the-top suites and the highest staff-to-passenger ratios in the industry. Wherever in the world you choose to sail, you will be truly pampered.
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On A Cruise Theres Adventure Around Every Corner And A New City To Explore In Every Port Book Your Cruise With Costco Travel
Were proud to offer our members added values like a Costco Shop Card or shipboard credit with every sailing. Plus, look for Kirkland Signature and Buyer’s Choice sailings for exclusive events and amenities. Whether you are looking to island hop through the Caribbean, marvel at natures beauty in Alaska, or experience a culture-enriching tour of Europe, a cruise vacation has you covered!
Small Ship Line #: Seabourn Cruise Line
Seabourns five ships feature fewer than 300 suites eachbut they leverage that small size into access at some of the worlds most beloved yacht ports: St. Tropez in the south of France the Greek island of Kos and popular large ports like Dubrovnik and Monte Carlo. Michelin-starred chef Thomas Keller designs specialty menus on the ships, and a partnership with UNESCO ensures shore excursions and sustainable tourism practices at some of the wildest and most wonderful destinations around the world. In 2021, the line will debut its first expedition ship, Seabourn Venture.
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Winter December January February Part Of March:
Luckily, winters on the Mediterranean remain generally mild and never get too cold. You will likely experience a bit of rain, so be prepared with a windproof umbrella and warm raincoat. Winter could be a nice time for a Mediterranean cruise as you wont encounter as many tourists and you may even have the chance to visit some festive European Christmas markets!
Mega Ship Line #: Norwegian Cruise Line
Known for its colorful ships, Norwegian Cruise Line first broke into the mega-ship category in 2010 with the launch of Norwegian Epic, which can carry just over 5,000 passengers at full occupancy, and have since introduced five others in the Breakaway and Breakaway-Plus classes. The crowd aboard these vessels, which primarily sail in North America, the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean, often consists of families who take advantage of amenities like waterparks, virtual-reality gaming, and go-kart racing, though the cruise lines newest ship, Norwegian Bliss, has a decidedly more mature atmosphere. In November 2019, Norwegian launched the newest member of its fleet, Norwegian Encore, which is the most luxurious of its mega-ships.
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Large Ship Line #: Royal Caribbean International
Though Royal Caribbean is perhaps best known for its mega-ships, it has quite a number of large ships, toothe 3,100-passenger Voyager-class ships, for instance, were once the worlds largest, until Royal Caribbean debuted the larger Freedom class and subsequently the Oasis class. Each class had its own series of firstsVoyager of the Seas was the first ship to have an ice rink and a rock-climbing wall, while Freedom of the Seas introduced the first FlowRider surf simulator at sea.
Go Island Hopping In Indonesia
Pink sand beaches, Komodo dragons, and hidden waterfalls you can swim in are just a few of the unforgettable sights youll see on an eight-night Indonesian island cruise with Intrepid Travel. Youll board a 48-passenger motor-yacht in Bali, then set off for some of the archipelagos less-traveled gemsincluding Satonda Island, where youll swim in a volcanic crater lake and Banta Island, where deserted beaches are the norm. Youll also learn about traditional weaving techniques and have lunch in local villages. This trip departs on select dates between May and September.
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Booking Your June Cruise
Browse through our selection of June 2021 & June 2022 cruises below, offering a wide range of itineraries and destinations to suit everyone. For further details, please feel free to call our team who’ll be happy to help and find your dream cruise holiday today.
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The Foreign & Commonwealth Office have up-to-date advice on staying safe and healthy abroad.Visit theforeign travel advicesite for the latest travel updates.