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History

Key West is the southernmost point in the continental United States, and it is as well know for Ernest Hemingway as sunset celebrations. It was originally settled by the Spanish, who calle the island ‘Cayo Hueso’, which means Island of the Bones, as the treacherous reefs nearby sank many ships before the lighthouse was erected. When the English came in, ‘Cayo Hueso’ evolved into Key West. Many famous artists and writers have called Key West home, including Ernest Hemingway, Thornton Wilder, Robert Frost, Tennessee Williams and James Audubon. The island declared its independence as the “Conch Republic” in 1982 to protest a federal roadblock which blocked the one access road – US 1 – to Key West. That certainly raised media attention enough to stop the government, but to this day, many islanders still fly the ‘Conch Republic’ flag.

Things to Do

There are no real beaches to speak of in Key West – the shoreline is quite rocky – but if your are interested in enjoying the water, there is still plenty to do. Adventure-lovers can book shore excursions (or independent trips) which include sailing, kayaking, fishing or snorkeling, or book a ride on a catamaran, schooner or glass-bottomed boat. There is plenty to see for the landlubbers, including beautiful architecture, plenty of museums, shops and famous saloons, such as the original hangouts of Ernest Hemingway and Jimmy Buffet. Of course, don’t miss the sumset celebration at Mallory Square!

Getting Around

Key West is walking town, and just about everything you would want to see is just a short walk from the dock. There are also tram tours (like the non-stop Conch Tour Train), the Old Town Trolley, which makes 9 stops, the bus system (two buses continually run around the island – one clockwise and the other counter-clockwise) and taxis if you would prefer not to walk. You can also rent a scooter if you are feeling a bit more adventurous.

Weather

Key West’s laid-back lifestyle matches its subtropical weather. Temperatures here range from about 70-85 degrees Fahrenheit. Enjoy your day ashore at Key West!

While the Disney cruise ships themselves are a fabulous vacation destination, they are also a floating ‘Fantasyland’, traveling to beautiful and exotic ports of call. If you can manage to tear yourself away from the activities and amenities of the Disney cruise ships for a few hours, many wonderful adventures await you when the ship docks.

The Disney Wonder departs each Sunday from Port Canaveral for a 4 night cruise, and again each Thursday for a 3 night cruise. Both itineraries include stops at Nassau, Bahamas and Castaway Cay, Disney’s own private island paradise. The 4 night cruise also includes either one day at sea, or an additional stop at Freeport, Bahamas.

The Disney Magic departs from Port Canaveral each Saturday for a 7 night cruise, and it alternates between cruising the eastern Caribbean and the western Caribbean. The Eastern Caribbean cruise includes stops at St. Thomas/St. John, St. Maarten and Castaway Cay, while the Western Caribbean itinerary includes stops at Key West. Cozumel, Grand Caymen and Castaway Cay.

This summer of 2007. The Disney Magic has departed from its usual journey around the Caribbean, and instead has traveled across the Atlantic to cruise the Mediterranean for the summer months. It is departing from Barcelona, Spain for 10 and 11 night cruises to beautiful cities on the Mediterranean, with stops in Italy, France, Spain and Sicily. Next summer, the Disney Magic will travel through the Panama Canal to spend the summer on the Mexican Riviera, with stops at Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallerta and Mazatlan.

Beware that the passport rules for American travelers have changed, and may or may not affect your travel plans. As of today, passports are required for all travel across borders by air – including Mexico, the Bahamas and the Caribbean, but not for travelers who arrive by cruise ship. They are planning to make passports required for cruise ship travelers soon – perhaps as early as January, so be sure to keep posted as to the rules. Even when passports are not required, having one certainly makes disembarking much quicker, and the wait for passports is extremely long due to the changing rules, so if you need a passport, be sure to apply sooner rather than later.

When you think of taking a trip to another country, there is no doubt you immediately consider airline ticket prices. But, that was not always the most popular mode of travel. Before there were 747 jetliners to ferry people across oceans, the way to travel was by cruise ship. But when it came to the masses, they were not necessarily the luxury vessels we are used to seeing today.

Everyone has seen the blockbuster movie, Titanic. It tells a story about a couple that fell in love on the fateful ship before her sinking. While it may just be a story of fiction, it also gave you a little glimpse into what it was really like to be aboard this method of transportation years ago. As you saw in the movie, not everyone was treated equally aboard the cruise ship. There were the very elite customers who were served everything on a silver platter, but on the lower decks were those who were just hoping to get from one place to another and were forced to scrape by in an area where they were packed as tightly as a can of sardines. If you wanted to enjoy your trip, you had to be filthy rich.

Back in those days, there were not quite as many cruise liners as there are today. Those that were in existence were names that everyone knew. Some of the names you may recognize are the Lusitania and the Queen Mary.

For a while, the popularity of luxury cruise travel waned, but it had resurgence in the 1970’s. It was all thanks to a television show, The Love Boat. The staff on the television sitcom showed how great of a time passengers were having. They showed passengers relaxing, playing a number of fun games, meeting new friends over great meals, and getting to see new places. People started booking holiday cruises again hoping to cash in on some of the excitement. And for the most part the cruise lines delivered. They offered people a chance to stand on the deck and watch as they headed to new worlds, unexplored to them. In one trip they would allow those on board to see a lot of places they had never been before, and give them a great setting to talk about it at the end of the day. Some cruises didn’t even have an end destination, they merely were ‘cruises to nowhere’, a chance to experience cruise ship life for a few days. The trend never really died and has been popular ever since.

What is involved in a cruise has changed from the early years. While you can still take a transatlantic cruise, that is not the most popular choice. There are now a number of 3, 4, 7, and 10 days cruises to a variety of destinations. The accommodations are no longer just lush or poor, but instead a number of different cabin choices at a wide array of prices. Because of the variety, anyone today can enjoy a cruise, no matter what his or her budget.

One of the main things which people look at when booking a cruise is just how big their accommodation will be. Many think that economy accommodation is the only option available to them but that is not always the case.

There are generally a lot of options open to you on a cruise ship and often people book their accommodation and find out that they would have preferred a different one when they actually arrive. This means that it is vital that you research the options open to you before you actually book. Be sure that you have looked at every possibility and then decide which type of accommodation would be better for you. That way you will have the best vacation possible.

Finding the Perfect Accommodation on Ships

One of the best ways to find the most ideal accommodation for you is to look through the cruise liner brochure. Obviously you will be looking at the cost of the accommodation and that will play a big part in the one that you choose. However even if you have a small budget it would be worth noting that by choosing the cheapest room, you are likely to get a very small amount of space in your cabin and that can lead to a miserable trip. You also will not have any windows as the cheaper rooms tend to be below the water level. So consider this when you think about the experience you want to have on the ship.

The options that you can usually choose from on a cruise ship include what size bed you want, what size room you would prefer and basically the quality. Some rooms will be decorated to a high standard and some will have an enormous amount of space. So think about what would make your holiday special. Having a room which allows you to move around without any hassle and where you can look out at the view can make all of the difference on your vacation so do consider spending a little more on your accommodation. Some rooms will also have a veranda or balcony leading out from their rooms and that really does add to the atmosphere of the cruise!

If you find that the brochure is not overly helpful then why not try the cruise liners web site? They will more than likely have a list of their sleeping accommodation and there may even be photographs hat you can look at to have a rough idea of what to expect. Standard cabins are efficient enough but they do not provide that much space and they are certainly not designed for any visitors you may have! So if you have the chance to take part in luxury travel on a cruise ship it would certainly be recommended.

Overall if you do have quite a limited budget then the economy suite is likely to be the best option for you. However if you can afford it then it would be a good idea to find something a little more spacious and luxurious.

Within the next few moments you will be out on a cruise, thus sailing away from your daily monotonous routine at long last! Are you alone really? You may find it difficult to believe that no definite answer will come from anyone. True, your family or friends are not accompanying you in that cruise ship but you become one of a temporary community there. You get many companions there who are also to board to relax in a holiday mood. Are we sure we have included everyone we need in that cruising community? No, since you cannot spare time for cooking or washing dishes during the cruise you must include the ship staff in that. Surely, during your interactions on the ship you cannot ignore the common rules of decency.

Cruises smile if travelers smile

It is quite normal for you to tip the restaurant waiters or hotel maids. It is not absurd if you meet them on the cruise and you need not change habits only because you are in the midst of a sea or ocean. No doubt, you are on the cruise after making full payment, still think that if you were in the position of the staff, would you not have welcome the tip as goodwill token? No denying the truth that they do more than just serve food or clean your rooms since smiles and warm behavior adds value to your cruise and some appreciation from you they may expect.

Ships are machines but not those on board

Fortunately enough, the fellow passengers are not to be tipped! But every cruiser can play a role to make the general atmosphere on the cruise pleasant enough. Cutting in line or gossiping during a theatrical performance is examples of nagging behavior while there may be other forms of less glaring defiant attitude that you should not resort to. For example, why not stick to dining dress code that does not offend you? If for any reason you have to choose casual dress you can go to the ship’s informal restaurant or room service help you can take. Remember, some co-passengers may feel hurt at your dress outside the code and none but you can relieve them somehow or other.

Vacation is long awaited: make it golden

Although it is important to follow guideline, the importance of relaxation should not be lost sight of. Even if you do not suffer from agoraphobia you may find it difficult to adjust yourself on a boat with hundreds others. You can gauge the uneasiness of the other cruisers to whom you are one of the other people as they are to you. Friendly words and polite smiles to each other can help all enjoy the holidays in a relaxed mood.