There are ships designed to carry a small number of passengers, offering a taste of the jet-set life, while others cater for over 1,000.  However, for many, the definition of luxury cruising conjures up visions of acres of deck space, fantastic destinations, beautiful decor and romantic holidays.

Arguably, the tradition of the luxury liner was started by White Star Line when it built the ‘Olympic’.  With a swimming pool and tennis court, the ship was a revelation for its time.  Today, luxury vessels follow its example by offering the very best in comfort, style and entertainment.

Princess Cruises are one of the leaders in luxury cruising.  With 14 vessels, each capable of taking over 1,000 passengers in both a grand and intimate environment, Princess Cruises offer many activities to make your voyage both exciting and comfortable.

Typically, your cruise ship will feature several themed bars and dining rooms, nightclub, theatre and casino, so your evenings aboard will be a pleasure.  During the day, state of the art fitness centres are available for you to workout in, while the many pools and hot tubs will keep you relaxed.  For younger passengers, there are likely to be play zones with structured activities and reef pools.  Most vessels also have a library and writing room for passengers seeking solitary moments.

Princess Cruises also offer a fleet of smaller ships, which are targeted at adult passengers and offer more leisurely cruises.  With all the usual facilities, these ships cruise the continents of the world, offering a varied portfolio of holidays for you to choose from.

Once in a while we all crave a little pampering.  A cruise can be one of the best ways of celebrating a special event; an anniversary, retirement, or the ultimate experience, a wedding at sea.

There are plenty of opportunities for indulgence once on board such as spa and beauty treatments and fine dining experiences, but as well as these, how about some five star accommodation to set the tone?

On-board suites are the ultimate in elegance, but standards can vary so if you want the very best check out the accommodation on those cruise deals very thoroughly.

Even before embarkation on your cruise holiday you will notice the difference that booking a suite brings.  You should get priority for boarding and once aboard the same should apply to restaurant and spa reservations.

The top grade suites have butler service; your own personal Jeeves will look after all your daily needs from taking your clothes to be dry-cleaned to pre-dinner drinks and canapés in your room. You are too tired to change for dinner?  Your evening meal can come to you, courtesy of your butler.

Many cruise lines now supply high tech facilities such as the internet, fax machines, plasma TV and DVD players, as well as Jacuzzis, outside dining tables and, of course, sumptuous furnishings. 

This type of luxury doesn’t come cheaply, but it is not impossible to find a good deal on last minute cruises, so it is always worth checking online cruise deals and if you can be flexible you can bag yourself a deluxe bargain.

Royal Caribbean cruises take you around some of the most beautiful island scenery in the world. Sandy beaches with swaying palm trees, surrounded by clear, emerald waters await you on a Caribbean cruise, and it’s an experience you’ll never forget.

Caribbean cruises take in the southern, western and eastern parts of the region, each with their own distinctive attractions. From Antigua and Martinique in the south to Belize in the west and Puerto Rico in the east you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to Caribbean tropical island paradise destinations.

As well as lots of exotic towns to explore in this laid-back, sunny part of the world there will also be plenty of activities to indulge in, not the least of which will be diving and swimming. Experience the thrills of diving amongst the sting rays and rainbow fish, drifting amongst the spectacular coral, before hopping back on board for a delicious lunch of seafood and cold drinks.

As well as the onshore activities to be experienced on the islands, Royal Caribbean cruise ships themselves are completely self contained and floating paradises in their own right. The kids are fully catered for, leaving you free to enjoy yourself without having to worry about them.

The restaurants serve up delicious cuisine that is tailored to reflect local tastes and includes a special set of menus for children.

Entertainment includes live shows, and there are cinemas, bowling alleys and numerous other activities to keep you happily occupied.

Try taking a Royal Caribbean cruise and you’ll find it to be the experience of a lifetime.

If you are thinking about opting for Thomson Cruises on your next holiday, you will probably be wondering which destinations are available for you to visit.  Since a cruise, by its very nature, normally visits more than one port of call for the duration of the time it is away, you will see that the cruises focus on several distinct parts of the world.

For example, Thomson Cruises are available in areas such as the Western Mediterranean and the Canary Islands.  Just imagine soaking up the sun on deck as you sail towards the Canary Islands, all the while looking forward to exploring one or more of them when you finally get ashore.

The Red Sea is another promising area where Thomson Cruises offer some superb holidays.  You can see the best of Egypt and Jordan while you enjoy all the facilities offered by your cruise ship en route and in the various ports as well.

As you can see you are really spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing a particular destination and part of the world to head to.  A good first move is to figure out which countries or regions you would most like to visit, and then find a cruise that will fit your needs.  Thomson Cruises offer a huge array of different cruise ships and cruises to choose from, so you will never come up empty handed in your search.  In fact you might find it tricky picking the best option from a range of seriously tempting offers.

Cruise holidays can be the perfect way to get away from it all and relax for a week or more.  But a standard cruise holiday means you will be on the ship visiting various ports for the duration of your holiday.  What do you do if you also want to enjoy staying on land for a few days or more?

The answer lies in cruise and stay holidays.  These are ideal if you want to experience both types of holidays, because you can have one week on a cruise ship (or longer if you wish) and a week or more on land as well. 

If you like the sound of this you should think about where you would like to go in the world.  Picking the region of the world you want to visit is the best way to start because you will be able to consider different countries you might like to stay in for the land based part of your holiday. 

This should make it easier to find the right cruise and stay holiday for your needs.  You can select a cruise and stay holiday that will end up exactly where you want to be.  Many cruise lines give you a great choice of holidays in this respect, so it might be easier to book your holiday than you think.  If you cannot find the exact cruise and stay holiday you want, most operators will assist in creating just the right holiday to suit your needs.

If you have never been on a cruise holiday, then there are probably many questions that you will have.

In the past cruise holidays have been associated with older travellers, but today there are cruises to suit everyone, whether you are young and single, a family, or an older person. It is important to choose the type of cruise that suits your interests. Most of the major cruise lines, such as Costa Cruises, Carnival Cruises and Thomson Cruises have cruises that are particularly geared towards families, providing children’s clubs and a host of family-oriented activities. Other cruises are geared more towards adults, with cultural tours and activities. They will often have guest speakers who give lectures on a variety of topics, from local history, to wine, to archaeology.

Sea-sickness could ruin a cruise holiday. However, this is rarely a problem with cruise liners, as they have modern stabiliser systems, and they generally cruise in calm waters.

Another common concern is feeling trapped on a ship, which could become boring. Modern cruise liners come equipped with many facilities, including shops, casinos, libraries, cinemas, sports facilities and games equipment. Cruise lines also frequently run activities for children on board, including quizzes and competitions, so it is unlikely that you would ever be bored on a cruise. There are also frequent opportunities to get off the ship and explore on land. Pre-booked excursions are available, or you can choose to explore on your own.

Accommodation is an important part of a holiday, so a common question is what will the cabin be like? Cabins on cruise ships fall into various categories. All of them will have an en-suite bathroom, TV, telephone and hair dryer. Some will have a sea view and others have balconies. Higher grade cabins will be more spacious and often they have lounge areas where you can relax.

If you’ve never considered taking cruise holidays because you think they’re boring (who wants to be stuck on a ship for days?), or because you believe they’re only for the wealthy, it’s time to shed some illusions. The image of aging millionaires sipping whiskies and sitting on deck playing bridge day after day was always a caricature, and it certainly doesn’t apply today. Big operators like Costa Cruises, Thomson Cruises, Princess Cruises and Carnival Cruises have been working successfully to attract younger travellers and families with children.

Forget deckchairs and genteel card games. Today, depending on which company you cruise with, you can scale a rock-climbing wall or try some onboard water skiing; plunge down swooping tunnel slides in a water park or play a round of golf; take to the ice rink or visit the gym. You’ll have an en suite cabin with a telephone, television and hairdryer (and even sea views and balconies if you want to pay a little extra), as well as gourmet restaurants and plenty of evening entertainment included in the price.

Fleets owned by the big companies also include small, more modestly priced vessels; the service is more personal on these but there are fewer added attractions. Whether you want Far East cruises or Caribbean cruises, Mediterranean cruises or Baltic cruises, there are plenty of choices available and oodles of great cruise deals constantly available, even on last minute cruises. Cruise and stay holidays allow you to mix a week on the beach with a week of cruising. Once you’ve had the cruise experience, you’ll be planning your next one as soon as you arrive home.

Royal Caribbean is a name that is synonymous with cruises of all kinds. They don’t just call into the Caribbean though – instead they can be found arriving in more than one hundred destinations all around the globe. This opens up plenty of opportunities for you to book a cruise, choosing somewhere you have always wanted to visit.

If you decide to visit the other side of the world, you can enjoy sailing to Sydney in Australia and Christchurch in New Zealand among others.  Alternatively you can enjoy more daylight by visiting Alaska and leaving your cruise ship to hop on board the Yukon, a world famous railway.

Royal Caribbean Cruises are also well known for offering what is called Cruisetours.  These are a special kind of cruise which is combined with a land trip as well. This enables you to see the best of various locations such as Dubai, Europe, Alaska and Australia among others.  If you want to sample life on board a cruise ship but you still want to get onto dry land to explore too, this could be the answer, thanks to Royal Caribbean Cruises.

There are six types of ship available when taking Royal Caribbean Cruises. Some offer facilities that are more suited to families, while others are better if you like to keep active while you are on board.  Radiance Class ships offer you a better view of your surroundings since they have a lot more glass built into the design.  As you can see, Royal Caribbean Cruises are a sheer delight.

Carnival Cruise ‘fun ships’ are a great way to spend a holiday. With a vast choice of cruises to destinations such as Alaska, Europe and the Caribbean, Carnival Cruises have something for everyone. Those looking for a very short break with no destination in mind can even book a ‘Cruise to Nowhere’ holiday allowing them to enjoy all the entertainment the ship has to offer while sailing two nights out to sea and back.

With many optional shore excursions such as shopping in Waikiki or visiting Pearl Harbour in Hawaii, taking a gondola ride in Venice or even glass blowing in Monaco and tours of Monte Carlo, there is entertainment to suit every taste.

On board entertainment includes cafes and bistros where you can while away some time watching people go by on their way to the spa or even to the onboard art gallery. Evening entertainment includes many fun shows, cabarets and comedians and you can even try your luck at one of the on board casinos.

A choice of staterooms means there is something to suit all budgets, from an interior room with luxury soft furnishings, to an ocean view room that boasts large windows to help you enjoy your breath taking surroundings, to a balcony suite with its separate indoor sitting area and balcony where you can sit outside and enjoy fresh air. Carnival Cruises also have Penthouse suites, with all the luxury of the balcony suite with added walk-in closet space and whirlpool baths.

Some are not aware that people confined to wheelchairs, unable to get around as easily as others and those with certain sensory impairments are just as welcome on the cruise ship as any other passenger.

Even though they are welcome, they must be aware that the general structure of cruise liners means that getting to and from shore can be difficult. Most cruise ships do not have facilities for the blind or hard of hearing, so they must be accompanied by an able carer that can assist them and guide them on their cruise holiday.

IF you have trouble with mobility, the best thing to do is book a cabin early, which will probably also result in you getting a bargain rate. That way, you can select a cabin that is located in a more accessible position on the cruise ship, making getting around easier and more comfortable.

If you were hoping for a last minute cruise, you may have difficulty finding a cabin that is placed to make it easier for you to get around. It is always best to book as early as you can if you have a specific disability, which will go a long way to making your cruise holiday more socially enjoyable and memorable.

At Thomson cruises, you have to let the company know if you are planning on using a wheelchair aboard the ship. This is due to the fact that only a certain number of wheelchairs are allowed at the same time. Be sure to contact Thomson Cruises Special Assistance Team for more detailed information.