by wildcherry on Sunday, March 7th, 2010 | Cruises, Travel | No Comments

The Oasis of the Seas — the world’s largest cruise ship — is a floating city by design. The ship is almost five times as large as the Titanic, it has a population during its seven-day Caribbean sailings that is larger than many American small towns — more than 8,600 when it is fully booked and including staff.

The Oasis of the Seas ship, which first set sail last December, is almost as long as five Airbus A380 airplanes, or about four football fields. It has 24 restaurants and its own leafy “Central Park.” During the weeklong sailings, about 700 tons of new supplies are needed, all loaded aboard each Saturday. Guests consume about 20 gallons of maraschino cherries and 80,000 bottles of beer.

Here are some pictures of oasis of the seas cruise ship:

Here’s a video clip of the oasis of the seas arriving in Florind from its first Transatlantic Crossing:

Here’s a video of the oasis of the seas passing under the Storebaelt Bridge,Denmark:

Tags: oasis of the seas, oasis of the seas cruise ship, oasis of the seas pictures, the oasis, the oasis of the seas pictures, titanic

by nate on Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 | Attraction, Cruises, Travel | 1 Comment

To my left, a carousel swings slowly into motion. To my right, a high diver leaps off an 18-meter platform and into a kidney-shaped pool. And 75 feet overhead, a guy on a zip line announces his passing with an ear-splitting “Wha-a-a-hoooooo!”

This is a cruise ship?

Yes, actually, it is. It’s Royal Caribbean’s new Oasis of the Seas, the largest passenger ship ever built and, ton for ton, the biggest thing to hit the cruise industry since the Love Boat.

Based in Fort Lauderdale, Oasis will make her official maiden voyage on Dec. 5, sailing to St. Thomas, St. Maarten and Nassau. However, she’s already generating plenty of buzz courtesy of several two-day preview cruises for travel agents and the media.

The ship is truly a leviathan: 225,000 tons, 16 passenger decks and beds for 6,296 guests and 2,165 crewmembers. That means she’s more than 40 percent larger than the world’s next largest cruise ship, almost 100 feet longer than a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier and about as tall as a 20-story building.

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by nate on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 | Attraction, Cruises, Places to Visit, Tips, Travel | No Comments

What if someone were to pay you to travel? That may sound like a fantasy, but it doesn’t have to be. Tour leaders, deckhands and travel writers are among those people who make money cruising the globe.

Below are 11 ways to get paid to travel:

Tour Leader

Beware, you’ll need patience and lots of it. Greener travellers will tug on your sleeve constantly. Personal privacy will soon become a distant memory. The job is best suited to people who are young, free, single and looking for new adventures. Although the pay is often lousy (starting salaries are as low as £30 a day) and the hours brutal, it sure beats the hell out of the office 9-5.

Ski Instructor

Working as a ski or snowboard instructor has many rewards. You’ll get fit, spend most of the day outside working on your tan and you’ll meet plenty of new people. You may even win gasps of admiration from the opposite sex as you pop 360 nose-grabs off a kicker.

There are other options. Ski companies are always looking for reps, chalet staff (so-called chalet bunnies), caterers, receptionists, tradespeople and even pool cleaners to work in resorts.

The Cruise Ship Worker

The job is tough and you’ll get the worst of the onboard duties to begin with. A cruise ship worker employed in the kitchen, for instance, could easily work 60 hours a week. But when you’re bobbing around on Caribbean waters with your shirt off, and getting paid to do it, it’ll all seem worth it. If you climb up the ranks to become skipper, you’ll be living the good life. You could be sailing rich people’s boats between Monaco and the Maldives.

The Deckhand

The hours are often punishing but, when the boat docks, you can explore foreign lands in your downtime. You’ll need your sea legs, though: even giant ocean liners hit stomach churning swells at times.

The Scuba Instructor

The Travel Writer

For many people, it’s the ultimate dream job: getting paid to travel the world and write about it. Dine at the finest restaurants, check in at the ritziest hotels – and bill it to your editor.

Sadly such scenarios are often a myth. Travel writing is financially unstable and ferociously competitive. Travel editors are swamped with copy; supply hugely exceeds demand. But if you do manage to glue an editor’s eyes to your pearly prose, travel writing can sure beat working for a living.

Tefl teacher

As a Tefl teacher, you usually don’t need to speak the language of the country you’re teaching in. Whether you end up in Tokyo or Taiwan, it’s likely to be an experience you won’t forget.

The Sport Coach

You might not dominate the tennis court like Rafael Nadal or swing a nine iron as lethally as Tiger Woods but with a merely human endowment of sporting prowess you could still work as a sports instructor overseas. Holiday companies such as Club Med need seasonal sports coaches all over the world.

The Chef

The hours are frequently unsociable but that might even work in your favour overseas. You could be whipping up culinary masterpieces by night at a ski resort and then going snowboarding before bed.

Tags: Cruise, English Teacher, Free Travel, Great Destination, Ship, Tips to Travel, Tour Guide, Tour leader, Travel for Free

by wildcherry on Thursday, October 15th, 2009 | Cruises, Travel | No Comments

Each of these lines has a fleet of seaworthy ships, experienced captains, diligent crew, and luxurious onboard accommodations. Yet each of them offers a unique type of cruising experience. After you are done don’t forget to check last minute cruise deals at Expedia.com!

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises Around the World has nine 5-star luxury hotels that are disguised as 5-star world cruises ships. All of their ships offer star power - meaning that if you are not a Hollywood celebrity, you will still be treated like one onboard the ship.

In fact, many celebrities are known to embark upon Celebrity Cruises to enjoy several days of pure relaxation. Some celebrities provide entertainment onboard, while others will indulge guests on behind-the-scene secrets on how movies are made.

In addition, Celebrity Cruises maintains ships that offer unique features. For example, Constellation has a thalassotherapy pool within a huge AquaSpa. Using seawater for healing, their pool and AquaSpa help all guests indulgently unwind.

Holland America Line

The Holland America Line is ideal for people who wanted to see the world in style. With over 130 years of experience under its belt, Holland America Line’s fleet of 5-star world cruises ships assures a comfortable, enjoyable, and unforgettable cruise. In fact, the cabins are among the most spacious in the cruising industry, and no passenger will feel cramped or claustrophobic.

All of Holland America’s 5-star world cruises ships are designed to provide luxurious dining options. If you want to meet new friends, consider dining at the indulgent main restaurant. Or if you want privacy with your loved one, take your meals inside the intimate gourmet grill.

One of the best features of Holland America is that its cruises can take passengers to several private islands in the Caribbean - ensuring that your experience is exclusive and indulgent.

Norwegian Cruise Line

The Norwegian Cruise Line invented the concept of “freestyle cruising.” This cruising philosophy forgoes any type of predetermined schedule or seating arrangements for the passengers - which ensures that the cruise vacation will be extremely relaxing and pleasurable.


The Norwegian Cruise Line has 12 5-star world cruises ships that sail to more than a hundred ports all over the world. These 5-star world cruises ships usually have ten gourmet restaurants on board, satisfying even the most discriminating palate. Their ships also feature casinos, spas, fantastic production shows, and much more.

Oceania Cruises

The ships of Oceana Cruises take luxury to a higher level. These 5-star world cruises ships offer cabins with 5-star hotel room amenities, including a tranquility bed.

This feature is excellent for romantic cruises. And if the couple managed to win against the intimate temptation of the cabin, they can also enjoy other facilities, such as the spa, the fitness center, and the casino.

In addition, the 5-star world cruises ships of Oceania Cruises make it a point to stay overnight in ports to give the passengers more time to explore the locality.

Princess Cruises

The 14 5-star world cruises ships of the Princess Cruises Around the World belong to the original fleet of love boats. In fact, for love birds, the ships’ captain officiates delightful wedding ceremonies.

Afterwards, the newlyweds will be delighted by the spectacular sceneries that the ship will find for them, including whales and glaciers. Or, for the more adventurous couple, you can embark upon helicopter rides and other exciting activities.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Hailed as one of the best cruise lines in the world, the 5-star world cruises ships of the Regent Cruise Lines Around the World offer a chance to visit exotic destinations. The ships will even sail to Antarctica, making this cruise line perfect for the adventure-seeker who still enjoys luxury.

Tags: 5-star-luxury, a-unique-type, and-luxurious, around-the-world, Celebrity Cruises Around The World, Cruise, Cruise Information, Cruise Ships, Cruise Vacations, Cruises, deals-at-expedia, expedia-com, has-nine, minute-cruise, onboard-accommodations-, Princess Cruises, Regent Cruise Lines Around The World, top 5 cruises lines, World