In This Issue:
European Cruising

European cruising - Champagne taste on a beer budget

While there are countless ways of touring in Europe, the choices can be limited if on a tighter budget and roughing it is not an option!

The solution? An ocean cruise! That's right, a cruise can actually be one of the most affordable ways to explore some of the most popular regions in Europe, not to mention one of the most relaxing and pleasurable ways to travel!

How is this possible? The biggest misconception people have is that cruising is more expensive than most other forms of travel. Cruising is actually one of the most economical ways to travel in Europe, where prices for Accommodation, transportation and dining is amongst the highest in the world.

A 7-night Mediterranean cruise departing October 3 on the Norwegian Jade from Barcelona to the French Riviera (Monte Carlo), Italy (Florence, Rome and Naples) and the beautiful Balearic island of Majorca costs only $122 per day!

A 12-night Mediterranean cruise departing July 21 on the Celebrity Century from Barcelona to the French Riviera (Nice), Italy (Florence, Rome, Naples and Sicily), Greece (Athens and the island of Mykonos) and Turkey (Kusadasi - gateway to historical Ephesus) costs only $160 per day!

A 12-night cruise to Scandinavia and Russia departing June 12 on Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas from London to Denmark (Copenhagen), Sweden (Stockholm and Gothenburg), Finland (Helsinki), Russia (St Petersburg) and Estonia (Tallinn) costs only $178 per day!

A 12-night cruise to the British Isles departing August 22 on the Crown Princess from London to Scotland (Glasgow, Edinburgh and Inverness), Ireland (Cork, Dublin and Belfast), England (Guernsey - Channel Islands and Liverpool) and France (Le Havre - gateway to Normandie) costs only $180 per day

The price of a cruise includes Accommodation, transportation between ports and all meals, not to mention a host of fun activities and entertainment to deliver a vacation of a lifetime. In fact, a cruise is the most inclusive type of vacation in Europe, enabling one to plan and control most unforeseen expenses, which in Europe can add up quickly.

This leaves very little else to budget for other than sightseeing and souvenirs. While many cruisers enjoy the convenience of booking organized shore excursions, budget minded travellers can easily save by exploring independently. In most destinations, the cost of local transportation and entrance fees would be the same whether arriving by cruise or staying at a hotel, since ships usually dock at the heart of town. The few ports which are situated further from town are still usually accessible fairly inexpensively via public transportation.

Still not convinced? Consider the cost of a budget oriented, 12-night/8 city European vacation. Add up the cost of 12 nights' Accommodation at several no frills city centre hotels, 12 basic dinners consisting of pizza or pasta and salad, and several long distance bus or train tickets to get from one city to the next. The cost can range anywhere from about $110 to $180 per person per day, depending on the itinerary.

Compare that to the prices of the cruises listed above, and it's clear how cruises can cost the same as these budget oriented vacations, yet include so much more, while offering significantly higher quality.

Let's take a closer look at the two biggest advantages of cruising in Europe compared with other forms of touring.

First and foremost, cruise ships are like floating resorts. The convenience of having the same room and unpacking only once makes cruising one of the most hassle free vacations. Not only that, most travel between ports takes place comfortably overnight, allowing more quality time at each destination. Plus, cruise ships feature all the amenities of a deluxe resort, providing greater opportunity for rest and relaxation amidst an otherwise active sightseeing vacation.

Second, and equally important, cruises include unlimited, 24-hour dining, which is a major cost saver since dining out in Europe is considerably more expensive than in Canada, whether at a fast food, take-out, or casual sit-down restaurant. In addition, the quality and variety of food is world class, featuring lavish buffets, elegant high teas, fancy 5-course a la carte dinners, round the clock snacks, and even room service! While soft drinks and alcoholic beverages are not included, they are available for purchase, and are priced more reasonably than most places on land (except house wine, which in Europe is often cheaper than soft drinks - for avid wine drinkers, most cruise lines do offer specially priced wine packages.)

European cruising is a lot more affordable than many people think, and is one of the only forms of touring where budget minded travellers on a tighter 'beer budget' can get pampered with world class cuisine and service, rest in comfortable and consistent quality Accommodations, and enjoy deluxe resort facilities, all while exploring some of the most sought after destinations in the world!

Let one of our specialized travel consultants help you plan your next cruise adventure and experience for yourself the incomparable value cruising offers.

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