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(Click to enlarge)

First and foremost, because U.S. based cruise lines use dollars, not euros.  At current exchange rates, this amounts to a 40% saving over the cost of a land based tour.  Hotels, restaurants, transportation--all cost Americans more in euro countries, not to mention the UK, where it takes two dollars to buy one pound.  Second, touring by ship is pleasant.  Once aboard, there's no hauling out  your wallet at the end of every meal.  Yes, you do pay your bar charges, but as in any fine hotel, they are billed to your room.  Third, during a walk around the promenade deck, you can see some of the ship's machinery:  Lifeboat lifts, canisters of compressed air for inflating liferafts, the tiny rescue boat, and, if the right doors are open, the anchors. When lifeboats are lowered for "tendering" to shore, you can watch how it's done, and also see the pilot dropping into the pilot boat after the ship leaves port.

   
An experienced travel agent can be very helpful in planning your cruise.  Check your phone book, or search online for one near you.

       

 

After spending the last ten years on what seemed like the brink of extinction, the travel service industry is making a rousing comeback. As travel becomes more and more difficult, unpredictable, and arduous, travelers who moved away from travel agents in favor of self-service internet booking are rediscovering the true value of a good travel agent, and returning in droves.

Benefits of using a travel agent
  • Help when things go wrong. Many internet customers complain that when problems arise - even common situations like missed flights or lost hotel reservations - there is no one to help. A good travel agent is available 24/7, and has the expertise (and often the connections) to quickly take care of problems as they arise, removing the burden from the traveler.
  • Time savings. The sheer number of on-line booking companies means that it may take hours to find the best deals on your own. One quick call... (Read more!)

Finding a good travel service professional

  • Ask your traveling friends for recommendations, and ask agencies for a list of current clients that you can contact.
  • Check their credentials. Look for the CTC (Certified Travel Counselor) professional certification, typically displayed on business cards and in the storefront window. The CTC certification is awarded to those who have at least... (Read more!)

Click to read the full "How (and why) to Choose a Travel Agent" article!

(This article from the Magellan Travel website, www.magellans.com)

 

    

Interested in languages or international news? Listen any time at one of these links:

                      

www.deutschewelle.de Broadcasts in German, English, and 30 other languages.

www.rfi.fr Broadcasts in French, English and 23 other languages

                 

www.rai.it             News in Italian and 26 other languages.

 

                 

          Links to Some Cruise Line Websites     

        

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                    

                                                       

 (At right are photos from the interior of the Westerdam. Click to enlarge.)


The Holland America MS Westerdam in port at Monte Carlo                    

 

 

            

Caryatids  in the stairwell
Fish-shaped barstools on the Lido Deck
Scene in a hallway