Ahhh…. There is nothing like being treated as if you are a king or queen whilst sailing the beautiful turquoise seas of Hawaii. The gentle sway of the sea and the smell of the warm ocean breezes will put a person in total relaxation mode. Can you feel it? Do you want it? Crewed charter yachts and Hawaii charter yachts may be affordable than you think and not require the whole kingdom\’s treasure.

• Experience the feeling of owning your own yacht without the maintenance and upkeep costs of ownership.
• Be treated like a yacht owner by the professionally trained crew. They will be at your beck and call with just a snap of a finger.
• Avoid crowded hotels and large luxury liners.
• Customize your trip whatever way you like on crewed charter yachts. On large, luxury cruise liners with hundreds of other guests to serve and cater to, that is not possible, there is a pre-planned itinerary.
• Cordon Bleu trained chefs will prepare world class gourmet meals at your request.
• Abundant recreational water activities on Hawaii Yacht Charters; snorkeling, water skiing, scuba diving, deep sea fishing, etc.

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Before booking with one of the many crewed charter yachts available with Hawaii yacht charters compare prices, check the captain\’s resume as well as the crew\’s online. Even the yacht\’s specs will be there for you to look over. The floor plans will be available to see where you will be sleeping, where the crew is quartered, etc.

It is recommended that you check with a friend or colleague who may have recently sailed on one of the Hawaii yacht charters listed online. Personal testimonies are always the best recommendations.

After booking the yacht\’s captain will usually call ahead for special requests. At that time you can make known any particular meals that you would like prepared or places you may want to visit. He will often times meet you at the airport and personally transport you to the yacht\’s location.

The professionally trained crew and captain again treat you like royalty in they way that they are so discreet that you hardly notice them while they are sailing your vessel, preparing your meals, and cleaning your cabin.

So, all you kings and queens out there, relax and enjoy your massages on the lido deck while sipping cocktails (shaking, not stirred) aboard privately crewed charter yachts.

Find the latest information on Crewed CharterYachts as well as Hawaii Yacht Charters

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Posted: August 27th, 2008 under Cruising.
Comments: none

All U.S. air and sea passengers traveling to destinations such as the British Virgin Islands will soon require a passport. Various agencies will allocate the proper resources to prevent U.S. travelers from being stranded. They will spread this information nationwide, and educated U.S. citizens on convenient ways to apply for a U.S. passport.

Due to the upcoming U.S. passport policy change the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has taken action to help U.S. citizens acquire U.S. passports. The new policy will take effect on January 2007.

The CTO will be working together with the United States Postal Service (USPS). Both parties agreed that a joint effort would make the process efficient and beneficial to those American Citizens that need require a passport.

The USPS will be offering online forms on their site (http://usps.com/passport) or applicants can call 1-800-ASK-USPS. You can also call the USPS Marketing Department at 212-330-3070 for any questions about applying for a U.S. passport.

The CTO will organize events in conjunction with USPS such as the Caribbean Fair in New York. These events will allow participants to apply for a passport without any headaches. The USPS will set-up a one stop shop at these events. They will have application forms and cameras to facilitate the application process. These services will be offered to those who have never obtained a passport, and those who need to renew their passport.

Applying for a passport has never been difficult, but it can take up to six weeks or more to finally receive a valid U.S. Passport. Since the average person tends to wait to the last minute the closer we get to the deadline the longer it will probably take to acquire one. If you plan to travel outside the U.S. by air or sea after the deadline, the best time to apply for a U.S. passport is now.

For additional information, please visit http://www.catamarans.com

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Posted: August 26th, 2008 under Cruising.
Comments: none

This year more than 10.5 million people will go on a cruise. Almost all of them will have a fabulous time but when they step on the scales after they get home, they will let out a shriek at how much weight they have put on.

However, going on a cruise can be both fun and healthy. You can eat, drink and be merry without packing on the pounds by following our ten simple steps for fun and fat free cruising.

Now before you all roll about laughing, let me explain that I have just come back from my first ever cruise. I ate three meals and some a day, drank more than my doctor would have liked me to yet I didnt put a single pound on for the seven days we were at sea. I appreciate that most of us go cruising to get away from it all and have a good time.

Many of us even go on a diet before sailing so that we look our best as we lounge by the pools but there really is no need to put on a lot of weight while we are at sea only having to shed it all once we get back home.

Follow our ten easy steps and you will have a great time on your cruise and look fabulous when you arrive home.

1. Eating

Enjoy the fabulous food - that is one of the main reasons we all go on cruises. The cruise lines go to great lengths nowadays to make sure that there are plenty of healthy options and portions sizes are large enough to fill you up without adding unnecessary calories. My wife and I cruised on the Carnival Glory and the food and service - was fantastic. However, if like us, you do overindulge every now and then go to step 2.

2. Exercise

Get into the gym and get on a treadmill even if its only for 15 minutes (although 30 minutes is better!). It will speed up your metabolism and help burn off unwanted calories. The first full day at sea the gym is normally packed with people with good intentions. You may even have to wait to get on an exercise machine. The second day the lines are not so long and after a couple of days you can usually take your pick of machines. Exercising after breakfast is a great idea as it allows you to burn off those eggs, bacon and pancakes with the bonus that your elevated metabolic rate will continue to burn off additional calories for another two or thee hours as you bask in the sun.

3. Spa

Pamper yourself. Enjoy a relaxing massage and then dive into the steam room or sauna. Youll feel great and youll lose a few more unwanted pounds.

4. Walking

Going for a walk may seem a strange idea on a cruise ship but you have miles of decks to saunter along. Wear a hat and sunscreen and carry a bottle of water and after a couple of circuits youll know the layout of the ship, have checked out the best places to sunbathe and burned off enough calories in time for your next meal.

5. Swimming

Swimming is great exercise and even if you cant actually do laps because of all the other people in the pool, you can tread water for a few minutes each day which is great exercise both for burning off calories and strengthening and toning muscles.

6. Stairs

You can often wait several minutes waiting for elevators on a crowded cruise ship. Take the stairs instead it is often quicker and it will do you more good. If you are on a large cruise ship with 12 or more decks, take the elevator up three or four decks and then walk up the rest. Dont overdo it, but if you use the stairs regularly you will get great aerobic exercise and by the end of the cruise you will notice the difference in your leg muscles.

7. Shore Excursions

Take advantage of shore excursions because youll get to see some really interesting places and youll probably get the opportunity to do some more walking around shops, around ancient monuments, or go snorkeling, swimming and so on.

8. Drinking\r Enjoy your tipples but drink a lot of water as well. It will help keep you hydrated and that is good for your metabolism and general wellbeing especially in hot weather. If you do have a few drinks too many, drink lots of water the next day and think about step 2!

9. Dancing

It doesnt matter how old you are, find a bar or nightclub aboard that is playing your kind of music and get up and dance. It doesnt matter if no one else is dancing or how well you can dance the chances are you will never see any of your fellow cruisers ever again!

10. Romancing

Youve dined, wined and danced now it is time to take a moonlight stroll along the deck with your partner. While burning off calories may be the last thing on your mind that is what youll be doing and what better way to end the day!

Don Philpott spent 20 years as a senior correspondent with Reuters/Press Association wire service traveling the world on assignments. He has had more than 5,000 articles and 56 books published on travel, security, wine, food, and diet and health.

He recently completed a five year project writing a series of 22 travel guidebooks on Florida and the Caribbean. His latest book The Trailside Cookbook, was co-authoried with his wife Pam and was published by Firefly in March 05. He is host of http://www.wineinfo101.com, a wine and food appreciation website and senior editor of Florida Features which specializes in articles on Florida and the Caribbean. He is a member of the International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Association and the North American Travel Journalists Association.

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Posted: August 26th, 2008 under Cruising.
Comments: none

Imagine spending a portion of your summer on a yacht sailing the crystalline waters of the British Virgin Islands - learning tropical sailing, scuba diving, and marine biology - from some very experienced, knowledgeable and friendly folks.

This is a different kind of summer camp - a moving, \”live-aboard\” camp called SeaTrek. Here, high school and college aged students live and play onboard one of several 45-foot catamaran sailing yachts equipped with the latest safety equipment and onboard technology for 21 days.

Under the watchful eyes of a professional staff, SeaTrekers take full control of their live-aboard yachts while learning seamanship, sailing, scuba diving and marine science. This hands-on instructional approach continues throughout the voyage ensuring a thorough understanding of safe yacht operation, proper scuba diving procedures, and basic marine science.

Captains Monk and Kat, owners of SeaTrek Adventures, bring a wealth of knowledge of the sea, scuba diving and youth education to the students they work with each summer.

Captain Monk has 10 years experience on live-aboard dive vessels, having worked in the Bahamas, the US and British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Honduras, Mexico, Florida, Australia, Costa Rica and Hawaii. He has developed and directed several school age diving programs in conjunction with Texas A&M University and San Jacinto College. Monk worked extensively with Texas A&M\’s Biology Department and The Flower Gardens National Marine Sanctuary as a research diver and dive supervisor.

Captain Kat currently teaches Environmental Science at the University of Michigan. She is an expert on island formation and geology, a photographer and a bit of a historian. She is an avid sailor, having led three previous adventure voyages, as well as having three years experience with world class live-aboard dive vessels. Kat has ten years experience diving the Great Lakes, Mexico, the British Virgin Islands and Hawaii.

Monk and Kat Both hold United States Coast Guard 100ton Masters Licenses and are both Instructor Trainers for the National Association of Underwater Instructors, CPR/1st Aid Instructors, and Divers Alert Network (DAN) Oxygen First Aid Instructors.

\”Our biggest thing is safety - making sure that the kids come home safe. We travel all across the US to meet parents in person prior to each trip. We hire the best sailing, diving, and biology instructors available. Every student receives personal instruction through every aspect of the voyage from raising the sails to tying up your hammock at night, said Monk.

No experience is necessary, in fact, most Trekers have never sailed or scuba dived before. To be eligible, students must be at least 13 years of age and want to learn. We offer programs for those who have never set foot in the ocean all they way up to programs for those who have logged hundreds of dives or days under sail. Programs range from introductory scuba, sailing and marine biology for those with no prior experience, to highly advanced training for the most experienced Trekers.

Alex Cohen, age 18, has been sailing with Monk going on four years. Ive learned more in those summers than Ive learned anywhere. I cannot think of a better way to spend my summers its a great life experience. Now an employee of SeaTrek, Alex says the leadership skills he has developed through his experience sailing with Monk have prepared him well for his professional goals, which include a career in medicine.

While learning to scuba dive, students are also led by the onboard naturalist and marine biologist on a variety of learning experiences. We have a full time biologist that works to introduce kids to biology. We offer a unique program where students can obtain school credit for completing a project while on the expedition, said Monk, of the program that offers an impressive 2:1 student teacher ratio.

The culmination of the journey is when all students actively participate in operating the yacht themselves. One of the biggest goals of each journey is that the students will be able to operate the 45-foot catamaran for 6 hours by themselves this is the ultimate level of excitement and learning.

To add to this exciting adventure, each SeaTrek vessel comes fully equipped with a kayak, windsurfer, kneeboard, wakeboard, water skis, and speedboat in tow. Although their programs are centered on water-based activities, each Trek also includes ample adventures ashore. SeaTrekers hike through old-growth rainforests, explore rocky inter-tidal areas, learn island culture from the locals, play beach volleyball, and even dance into the night.

Monk and Kat cordially invite students to participate in this amazing adventure. Open yourself to a new experience…join us as we trace the voyages of early day \r adventurers and discover a new you!

For more information about Seatrek programs call 1-877-GO SAILING (1-877-467-2454) or visit their web site at: http://www.seatrekbvi.com

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Posted: August 25th, 2008 under Cruising.
Comments: none

Several new and old ships ply the Alaskan waters taking cruisers along. There are ships are of all possible classes. There are big and small ships, luxury ships and ships with balconies in their cabins and more deck space. People who wish to go on a cruise must ascertain, in advance, what kind of a ship they would be on.

One of the ships currently offering Alaskan cruises is the Radiance of the Seas, belonging to Royal Caribbean International. It is a huge ship, with the space to accommodate 2,100 people. Its glass elevators look out into the sea and provide a breathtaking view. Onboard entertainment facilities include the Jakarta Lounge and the Singapore Sling. Besides these it has the Aurora Theater and the Art Nouveau Casino Royale. It has two sister ships, Serenade of the Seas and Vision of the Seas, which ply exclusively in Alaska.

Another famous Alaskan cruise ship is the Celebrity Infinity. It can accommodate 1,950 people. Its features include an aromatherapy session named AquaSpa, a musical library called Enjoy Notes, and the Trellis Restaurant. Its sister ships, Summit and Millennium, also sail on Alaskan cruises.

Other big ships that offer Alaskan cruises are Radisson Seven Seas Mariner, Carnival Spirit and seven ships from the cruise company Princess. The Norwegian Cruise Lines also sends its ships for Alaskan cruises. Some of them are Norwegian Dream, Norwegian Spirit, Norwegian Star, and Norwegian Sun.

Apart from the mainstream big ships, there are several small ships offering Alaskan cruises for those on tighter budgets. Small ships provide more adventure and offshore activities than bigger ships. They may carry less than 100 passengers. Some companies providing small ships for Alaskan cruises are Lindblad Expeditions, the Clipper Cruise Lines, and Cruise West.

The experiences of cruising in Alaska on mainstream ships and small ships are totally different. Big ships are designed for people who are looking for more luxury and comfort, while small ships are designed for adventure seekers. Big ships have better facilities to keep everyone amused all the time, while small ships give opportunities to build more friends and camaraderie.

Alaska Cruises provides detailed information on Alaska Cruise Lines, Alaska Cruise Reviews, Alaska Cruise Ships, Alaska Cruise Specials and more. Alaska Cruises is affiliated with Alaska Vacation Packages.

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Posted: August 25th, 2008 under Cruising.
Comments: none

What kinds of groups charter ships?

Companies and associations of all sizes. Companies charter ships for meetings at sea, while clubs and associations usually charter for locations. Birders might charter to go up the Amazon, a wine club might charter a river boat for a week to visit vineyards in France. Many families are booking charters for wedding, birthday or anniversary celebrations. Non-profit organizations are booking charters for fund-raising.

Whatever the purpose, you can tailor programs for any interest, combining retreats and meetings with wine seminars, golf excursions, scuba diving, or other special interests.

In the U.S. most popular charters are to see wildlife in Alaska, to meander on the Mississippi on a paddlewheeler, do wine cruises along the California coast, cruise the Great Lakes, or cruise along the East Coast between Maine and Florida. The Caribbean, Greek Islands and barges in Europe are the other top charter destinations.

Is chartering a boat right for you?

Advantages:
\rWhen you charter the ship, you have complete control over activities, and usually can choose port stops. The boat is yours, without any other passengers. You have no distractions, just bonding with group companions, being inspired by the sea, and being able to think with a clear head. You get out of a sterile hotel atmosphere onto the deck of a ship.

Disadvantages:
\rEven though you may not fill the ship to its full capacity, the price will be based on the entire capacity of the vessel.

Tips: Try to charter a ship that already will be in the area that you want and has an itinerary that you like. Otherwise there may be additional delivery or port charges.\rCharters require a substantial deposit up front so be certain of your intent before you sign a contract. Make arrangements as early as possible, preferably a year or more ahead.

Shirley Linde is editor of SmallShipCruises.com the popular website on small ships, and writes Shirley Linde\’s Cruise Letter. She is author of three cruise guides and 25 medical books. She also has a Medical Information Center at ShirleyLinde.com with links to information on various medical conditions. Linde lives in St Petersburg, Florida.

SmallShipCruises.com is also getting requests to charter ships for housing at special events such as the Cannes Film Festival, Monaco Grand Prix, or Mardi Gras.

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Posted: August 24th, 2008 under Cruising.
Comments: none

Life is often considered to be an accumulation of memories by many people. However, whether this concept is true or not is beyond the scope of this article. But, we know that if you were going on a cruise then you would definitely want to have a copy of your vacation memories not just in your mind but also on film or holiday video. Later on when you look at the pictures that you have taken, not only do they bring back pleasant feeling but also helps you to remember details that you would have forgotten. It doesn\’t matter of you are an amateur photographer or a professional photographer with sophisticated equipments and perfect knowledge of lights and angles, this article will give you some tips that you may find useful.

Remember, these tips do not aim to improve your photographic techniques but will help you to understand the \”soft\” side of taking photos.

Before you start taking pictures of your cruise, you should remember that your cruise is meant to be a holiday and not an extended posing session in front of the camera. Photographs should be taken not to prove your presence on the ship, but to remember the atmosphere and the environment of your cruise trip. Hence, it is better if you take pictures of things that will help you remember the trip than of your family displacing a theatrical sign or all gathered around the railing.

Another best way to take pictures is by not warning the person that you are about to click his photograph. By clicking pictures in this method you will be able to have loads of fun. You may end up with a few blurred pictures, but you will be able to capture the true spirit of the trip. These pictures will also tell a much nicer story than any boring group photo.

You should not forget to take pictures of the surroundings of the ship. Traveling by boat or taking a cruise on a ship is not an everyday experience, so it is always better to take a few photos of the surrounding of the ship for photographic remembrance. You should also not forget to take pictures of the oceanic panorama, the porthole of your cabin and the ship crew in their uniform. However, you should remember to be a little bit creative and not to take just random pictures of the cruise.

If you decide to take pictures of the ocean and the ship then it is better to use the optimal settings of your camera and to take your time to find a better angle for the picture. For instance, a picture of the ocean that has the edge of the ship of your trip or the frame of your porthole, will look much better and will also be a better trigger for your memory than a mere snapshot of the ocean.

Finally, you should remember not to overdo the taking pictures experience. Unless you want to enter your pictures in a photography contest, it is advisable to leave all the sophisticated cameras and equipment like the tripod stands and several sets of lens at home. It is best to a use a regular camera or a disposable one for family vacations or cruise trips. At home when you open your album, you will do it not to see if the color balance is correct, but to remember the fun times that you had enjoyed on your cruise trip.

In the end, just relax, enjoy your trip and say cruise!

The magazine writer Greg Hansward is mainly writing about the Alicante to Denia area in Spain. Working on his detailed travel tips, he wrote on areas such as nightlife in Benidorm and how to enjoy your Costa Blanca visit.

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Posted: August 24th, 2008 under Cruising.
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As a boat owner you know that washing the boat can be time consuming. You also know that the longer you put it off the harder it is to clean. The ideal time to wash a boat is after it has been used. In an ideal world we would have someone waiting for us after each use who would spend an hour cleaning it up and putting another coat of wax on it. If you have a pressure washer on the dock it behooves you to spray off the waterline before and after each use. It would also make sense to put a quick coat of wax on the hull. There are many products, which can quicken the boat cleaning process if you choose to do it yourself. There are many tools you can also use to assist you. One excellent tool is a roto-scrubber, which provides agitation and saves your muscles and back. Lets face it even a relaxing day on the water can make one fatigued. Under ideal conditions you would use a pressure washer with warm De-ionized or reverse osmosis water and a roto-scrubber and spend a ten minutes to fifteen minutes per side. This should be enough to get you through 40 to sixty feet.

There are many quick waxes on the market, which are relatively easy to use. There are several locations on the Internet to order such waxes if you search under; Marine Detailing Waxes. Meguiars makes one and another popular brand is Starbrite. Wal-Mart sells both brands on their shelves in the Super Wal-Marts.

Meguiars also has a really great self-help system so you do not use the wrong product on the wrong type of surface:

http://www.meguiars.com/rx_marine/marinerx.cfm

When using your soft bristle or roto-brush it is helpful to put your special boat washing soap in a bucket of warm water to help you remove any algae or moss on the boat hull. Warm water will work twice as good as cold water. You should wash the hull on the side of the boat away from the dockside first, then the bow and then pressure wash the top and then stand on the dock to clean the hull against the dock. As you pressure wash work from the top down. If you are not using de-ionized or reverse osmosis water then work in sections and shammy dry as you go to prevent water spots.

While you have the pressure washer out you may as well go hog wild and clean the dock too so you do not track anything on to your clean boat. Hope this helps. Think on it.

\”Lance Winslow\” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

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Posted: August 23rd, 2008 under Cruising.
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Two 107 meter or 351 foot catamaran ferries will be built for passenger and vehicle transportation between the Hawaiian Islands. One of the ferries is well into its construction; it will be ready for delivery in the first half of 2007. The second ferry is in the early stages of its build and should be set for delivery in the beginning of 2009.

These gargantuan catamarans will be for Hawaii Superferry (HSF). They will shuttle passengers from Honolulu to Maui and Kauai in three hours and from Honolulu to the Big Island in four hours.

The mammoth catamarans will be able to sustain 866 passengers and 282 vehicles. In order to move such an enormous load the catamarans will be fitted with 20 cylinder MTU 8000 Series engines. Each power plant will produce 8,200 Kilowatts or 10,995 horsepower and weigh 99,208 pounds.

Each one of the catamarans will have 4 of these monster sized engines which will be a total of 43,993 horsepower and 396,832 pounds just in engine weight alone. The catamaran ferries will be the largest aluminum vessels ever built on U.S. soil.

The first ship which will be completed in 2007 its four engines were installed three weeks ahead of schedule which was a tremendous feat, given the grandeur of this build. This will be Hawaiis first high speed vehicle passenger transport service.

For additional information, please visit www.catamarans.com.

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Posted: August 23rd, 2008 under Cruising.
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Disney Cruises lines are something you\’ll never forget, read on to see some difference between the Disney Wonder and the Disney magic!

Disney currently operates two ships: the Disney Magic, which was launched in 1998 and mainly used for 7-night cruises and special itineraries; and the Disney Wonder, which was launched in 1999 and is primarily used for 3- and 4-night cruises. The only difference between the two ships is primarily the itinerary that you choose.

Each ship has a grand dining room as well as others offering different cuisines, along with snack bars that are open from morning to night. The ships are spotless and the delightful staff meet the high standards set by Disney cast members in the theme parks.

Both Disney ships have nightclubs, shops, spas, fitness centers, and kids programs…but no casinos. They have 11 decks and all you\’d expect for a \”floating resort\”. Each ship, the Disney Magic cruise ship and the Disney Wonder have 875 rooms and 945 crew on board.

When you get on each ship you get the Disney Mug for 35 bucks then you can drink all the soft drinks for free. Disney\’s Oceaneer Club for ages 3 to 7 features fun and fantasy in a play area designed like Captain Hook\’s ship. For teens 13 to 17, both ships feature teen-only spaces for the teens to gather, have privacy, listen to music, watch movies, connect to the internet, or just hang out.

Adults can also enjoy the various nightclubs and lounges that are on both ships and their own private beach at Serenity Bay on Disney\’s private island, a secluded beach for adults where the only sound is of the waves lapping the shore.

Disney Cruises have the best kids activity area at sea, filling nearly an entire deck of the ship with supervised programs for age-specific groups of children and teens. Don\’t worry, even while on board both Disney ships have planned activities for kids of all ages, plus there are huge pools and other amenities.

Many individuals, including parents, believe that cruise ships are not designed for children, but that is simply not true. A big plus for families on cruise ships is that youth and teen programs are free from 9 am all day and night.

Disney issues every passenger a \”Key to the World\” card that allows you unlimited entry and exit from the ship as well as the ability to charge for everything onboard, from merchandise, food, and specialty drinks. Pagers are obtainable to parents with children in the programming areas so that they\’re never out of reach while enjoying the ship\’s adults-only areas. The ships have 3 pool areas; kids only pool (NO parents allowed), family pool, and adults only pool with jacuzzi\’s.

The Disney Wonder and Disney Magic cruise ships are like floating fantasy resorts, specially designed with clever programming, original dining, outstanding entertainment, one-of-a-kind activities that appeal to kids and adults, spacious staterooms, and impeccable Disney-style service!

Mike Dejona and his family can\’t wait to go again on a 7 day Disney Cruise! They found a great package deal that was affordable and very easy to book at http://www.LowFareTravel.org/DisneyCruises.html

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Posted: August 23rd, 2008 under Cruising.
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