Cruising's History

The whole idea of cruising actually started in 1835 when an advertisement in the Shetland Journal proposed an imaginary cruise from Scotland to Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and Spain. Arthur Anderson, the founder of the paper, just two short years later founded (with Brodie Wilcox) what would later be called P&O Cruise Lines. Later, in 1840, Samuel Cunard started his sailings from Liverpool to Halifax.

In the 1930's, Prohibition actually helped American cruise lines because only a few miles out to sea you could drink as much alcohol as you pleased. Of course, shortly after the only "booze cruises" came along were the addition of ports of call. Throughout the 1930's many countries started their own cruise lines and quite the battle ensued.

As the 1960's wore on more people opted to fly instead of cruise, and passenger lists shrank dramatically causing a great number of cruise companies to go out of business, or nearly. However, cruising itself never did die.

Transatlantic cruises might have become less frequent, but the Caribbean and Bahamas, on the other hand, became quite the rage. When smaller cruise ships were added, they could go on to smaller ports in the Caribbean, since airports were much harder to find in the much smaller Caribbean nations.

Today cruising hasn't changed much. It's still big on hospitality (when most of it before used to be primarily shipping). Modern ships are larger, air-conditioned, and include stabilizers, a high level of safety and hygiene, and emphasize their fitness facilities.

Future cruising can go one of two ways: Either large resort ships, or smaller and more personalized ships. Some ships have even been stretched, by actually cutting it in half and installing more accommodation and public rooms.

If you want to become part of the history of cruising, why not start everything by booking at www.kingarthur.myttn.com first?

What Cruise Brochures Don’t Tell You, Part 2

If you are interested in personal hygiene onboard more than the average person, you can rest assured that many ships have removable shower heads, but many do not. Ask first if this is of particular importance to you.

You can take your own bicycles and golf clubs, but remember there is very limited room in your cabin for them.

Expedition cruises are often offered on smaller vessels which are specially designed with ice-breaking hulls. They're created and ideal for small groups.

What is called "Alternative Dining" is a dining option(s) in another area of the ship, apart from the main dining room. The paid locations are quieter, more intimate, and have higher quality food, presentation, and service.

The dreaded Norwalk virus. Young children only rarely get it. Adults and older children get it somewhat more commonly. In fact, it's next to the common cold as the most common illness. Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly and sanitize them before you eat, and take special care when you are considering ordering salad, shellfish, or fruit. Even the water can be a potential source.

As far as security is concerned, cruise ships are safer and more secure than most land-based vacations.

You don't have to leave the ship during any port of call. If you do stay onboard, you will have a great deal of room and quiet all over the place. Even spa treatments on port days are less expensive on some ships.

Now that you know more about cruises than the brochures let on, why not book it at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today?

What Cruise Brochures Don't Tell You, Part 1

Cruises are a very good deal when compared to most land-based vacations because they include so much: food, entertainment, accommodations, lectures, lessons, fitness center, movies, and unpacking only once!

Cruises usually last a week, but some are as short as two days while others can last a couple of weeks, or a month, or even an around the world cruise totaling over 100 days! Some people even stay onboard certain ships (with the occasional shore venture) the entire year!

Although the NYC attack of September 11, 2001, caused some disruptions in travel, forcing even some cruise ships or cruise lines to go out of commission, most of the cruises are back in full swing, perhaps with adjusted itineraries or other ports or departure. As a result, most freebies on cruise lines are either non-existent or are now payment-required. Drinks and spa treatments have increased in prices as well. Still, though, the vacation is truly worth it.

Most cruises, especially the large ships, are just not relaxing, despite the brochures claims. Which isn't to say that it's a madhouse everywhere aboard. However, even on the largest 5,000+ passenger ships, you can almost always find a little niche where you can sit down and rest, and often it would even be reasonably quiet. On the lido deck late at night, for example. Or at breakfast in the main dining room (not the buffet).

Cruises and cruise ships are so vastly different, from the sheer quantity of passengers, to the size, to the qualities of food, entertainment, service, and facilities.

Even if your cruise price is advertised as a respectable $499 per person, keep in mind: tips not included; shore excursions can be expensive; drinks aren't always included; taxes and fees are extra; transportation to and from the ship are rarely included; and the least expensive rooms are usually in the worst locations of the ship, such as near the night club or laundry room.

European cruises are more money than Caribbean ones because: fuel, food, transportation, shore excursions, and port charges are all higher.

Despite anything that may have been upsetting in this article, and the next, cruises are still wonderful values and very exciting vacations! Make sure to take the first step, though, and book it at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!

Learning Vacations at National Parks

There are 391 places in America's National Park System where you can visit. And your next trip to one of them can also be quite educational. The Parks offer natural beauty as well as history and numerous outdoor activities.

Park activities, mostly outdoor, include such excitements as kayaking, camping, horseback riding, hiking, cycling, and viewing wildlife.

There are also Park ranger-led programs available. Most parks offer narrated hikes, wildlife tours, and campfire talks, all of which are interesting and educational. The Junior Ranger Program, offered at most of the parks, gives children an opportunity to learn Park history via games, puzzles, and activities.

Our national parks are treasures that should be explored by everyone-so get out there and experience your parks!

And don't forget to book that vacation to stay in the area at www.kingarthur.myttn.com before you leave!

Turn Your Family Vacation into Real Education

Whether you're going skiing in Wyoming, museum hunting in Paris, sailing to Tahiti, or camping in South Carolina, when you take your kids on vacation with you, make sure to include opportunities for educational and teachable moments as part of your family vacation.

Learning can be found anywhere and everywhere, and can be quite a bit of fun, especially when it's not in a scholastic setting. Just don't try to structure the learning much. Just let things progress naturally.

Children often enjoy helping others in official capacities, and love having titled positions, such as a "Junior Travel Agent." Include your child while you are planning the trip. He can help compare hotels, flights, auto rentals. He can help research places online and at the library. He can even help you read the map, which is invaluable when you're on a driving vacation! Also, why not have your child write to the state tourism bureau for information?

Reading is not good during only the transportation sections of your vacation, but it's a great resource for learning about the place you're going via tour books, a story that took place there, or common phrases in the local language.

Follow what your child learned the previous year in school, as well as inquire what he will learn next year. Perhaps a location on your vacation might have some special significance to what he learned or will learn.

Other ideas for excursions include going on a factory tour to see how things are made, visiting a museum's gift shop first for postcards of things that are in the museum then finding them in the museum itself (you can even teach your children about art that way, too!), or tracing your family history using local records.

Vacation scrapbooking is becoming a common hobby for many people, and why not include your children in it. They can learn not only scrapbooking and organization, but also photography, collecting (postcards, menus, and brochures), and writing (stories about what the family did and the places that they went.

Finally, talk about what you see with your children. Counting lambs in passing fields, observing the foreign dress styles, and otherwise building your child's natural curiosities are great ways to make your family vacation an educational one.

Of course, before you have that educational experience, you have to first book your travel at www.kingarthur.myttn.com !

Bus and Train Travel with Kids

Buses and trains are great for babies and older children and teenagers, but they are not exactly the best for those younger children who are no longer babies. If you can't break up the long train ride into more manageable sections, treat it instead like a plane ride. Just have available drinks, snacks, and something to entertain themselves, perhaps even books.

Although more roomy than airplanes, buses are usually the most crowded and least comfortable means of transportation. In fact, you might even have to hold your child in your lap the entire journey! Even if your 2+ year old can travel for free in your lap, it's MUCH more worthwhile to pay for an additional seat for himself. Take a small blanket or throw if you will be traveling overnight, just in case.

If you have the choice between a bus and a train, seriously consider opting for the train, which even has sleepers for overnight travelers. Children, in fact, greatly enjoy sleeping on trains.

When the journey itself is over, make sure to spend time resting and relaxing, or running around somewhere to expel all their pent up energy. Unpack, go for lunch, and just give yourselves a little time to get that extensive trip out of your systems.

Older children may bore more easily on extended transports, but they will usually manage better for longer. Have a treat for the younger kids after every hour or hour and a half, even if it's only a piece of fruit or a handful of nuts. Certainly take the opportunity to get off the bus for fresh air and stretch and move around during some of the longer stops.

When you're ready to start planning your next vacation, which may include a long bus or train transport, make sure to book that vacation at www.kingarthur.myttn.com first!

Flying With Kids

It can be rather difficult flying with kids, but if you prepare yourself and your child(ren) for the event, it will likely go much more smoothly. Older kids can amuse themselves with drawing, games, and toys. And for the child to be personally offered a drink is always something special to them. Teenagers prefer the in-flight entertainment and music options, plus their own music and book selections.

At the Airport

Arrive and check in as early as possible. Parents with small children will get the opportunity to board first, so don't worry. If your child has a toy they can't be without, put an elastic around its neck and put your child's wrist through the loop so you won't have to carry it around everywhere. You can also attach a whistle to your child's jacket which they will use ONLY if they get separated from you, or at least that's the idea.

What to Wear Onboard

Layering your clothes is usually the best option. Sometimes those air vents in the plane are quite chilly. Take a change of clothes in your carry on in case you need to change on the plane, or when you arrive complete with soup stains and pudding drips. It's also good in case your luggage gets delayed or lost.

Where Should You Sit?

Bulkhead seats, with the more legroom and room to play, often include other parents with children. However, the armrests don't move, so you or your child cannot lie across the seats like he could in other rows.

On long flights, look for seats in the middle section of seats, because there you would be more likely to have room to stretch out. You can even go scouting with your kids to look for other seats with more room for stretching out.

Getting Comfortable

Lip balm, moisturizer, and even a small spray container of water will take away that awful dry and tight feeling on the very dry-aired plane's atmosphere. Put a light materialed item over your child's nose and mouth, like a bandit, in the dry air makes their throat sore or irritates his sinuses.

Eating and Drinking

Snacks, sandwiches, fruit, and yogurt are all great options to hold them over until it's time to eat. Avoid things that tend to crumble or get smashed up.

Time Zones

Plane trips can often be tiring and disorienting, especially for kids. Try to adjust yourself to the new time zone as quickly as possible, and if the kids need a nap, it's fine, but don't let them sleep until a normal bedtime either, otherwise you will have a wonderful wake up call at 2:30am! If you arrive in the early morning, have the kids sleep an hour or two around noon before waking them up and keeping them up until a more appropriate hour later on.

It's amazing what a little planning can do to help improve your flight! And the best planning you can do for any vacation is too book it at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!

Top 5 Family Travel Tips

One-Don't think everything will be absolutely perfect. That is only a very rare occurrence. Don't expect everything to be horrible either, though. For example, if you have trouble finding your hotel, don't stress out, but instead call it "neighborhood exploration."

Two-Bring your medications and your everyday medicines such as cough syrup, aspirin, and allergy medicine. Baby wipes are great for toilet seats, hands, and hot faces. Don't forget a nightlight and a small box of detergent.

Three-Time your departure. Flying at night when you have young children might be best to get them, and you, to sleep most of the flight.

Four-Plan your flight by booking seats in the best configuration for your family, either rows in front of each other, across the aisle from each other, or on opposite ends of the plane from each other! If you have a child who is a bit too upset or loud or rambunctious before boarding, have one parent stay behind until the child cools down, then board with the rest of the family.

Five-Toys with too many small or loose parts is not the best options. Art supplies and paper, however, are great options!

Of course, the best travel trip I can think of is to book your vacation at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!

Needed Documents for International Travel

If you are planning on traveling internationally, even to Mexico, Canada, or the Caribbean, there are some documents you absolutely must have with you. Passports are required for cruising and flying.

It takes upwards of eight weeks, usually closer to six, to get your passport your first time. For speedier services, or an emergency, you can get it in three weeks or less if it's an emergency and you pay a fee. TO apply, you much go in person to a place that handles passports, most often the post office. Bring two identical photographs of yourself of the specified size, proof of American citizenship and a photo ID. If a child is under fourteen, he must appear in person with both parents or guardians and his appropriate documents. Both adults must show a current, valid ID and sign a consent form. If the child is too young to sign, of course a parent is allowed to sign for him. If a parents is unable to go with the child, he may fill out a special form and have it notarized. Passports are valid for ten years for adults and children 16 or 17, and for five years for those fifteen and under.

You need a Visa to enter specific countries. Check ahead of time to see if your intended country is on the list. Some countries demand a visa if you are just visiting, others if you are staying for a while. Australia, for example, insists on visas for travel, but if you are staying less than three months, you can apply for it and receive it online. Some countries require your passport to have as many as four blank pages in it.

Once you at least apply for your travel documents, you can book your travel at www.kingarthur.myttn.com for some of the best travel deals imaginable!

What to Pack for Family Travel

The rule that you're really supposed to follow when packing for any vacation is the less you take, the better off you are. Of course, traveling with children, especially babies, means you have to take considerably more than normal. Try to rent out a crib or something if the hotel you stay at doesn't have one included.

Although a fanny pack is often a sign of a tourist, it does keep your hands free to carry the baby or hold the toddler's hand. In fact, when the kids are old enough, they can even carry their own backpacks and suitcases. They seem to like their own special one.

Money, passports, and jewelry are a little too valuable, so please carry them in a very safe and secure place on your person, or in a safety deposit box at the hotel or in your room, if necessary.

Also, don't be afraid to use the local laundromat when you need to. That's an experience in local culture if there ever was one.

Take at least three full outfits per person, preferably things that can be layered and mix-and-matched and are also washable. Of course, if you drop anything, a stain-remover stick will be very beneficial to you.

Snack foods are always a good idea to take for when the need arises. Just make sure it is either non-perishable, or something that will last long enough after your vacation is over.

Wet wipes is also something not often considered, but they're great for hands, mouths, pen marks, and toilet seat cleaners. While you're at it, a roll of toilet paper might also be an intelligent choice, just in case.

When you're ready to finally make your vacation ideas into real plans, make sure to book them at www.kingarthur.myttn.com first!