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Cruises for retirees

Published

11 years ago

June 9, 2014

As baby boomers reach retirement age, they find their disposable income and spare time is the highest it’s been since before children and mortgages. The beauty of this is that it opens up opportunities to seek out new experiences and places to explore. And with all the cruise options available, there’s never been a better time to get out on the open ocean.

This article details some of the different options and operators available to help you plan your next cruise.

Most romantic places in the world

World Cruises

Cruising the world for three months or more has been a tradition for seniors since the first world cruise sailed on Cunard’s RMS Laconia in 1922[1]. Since then however, more money, creativity and energy has been injected into this form of cruising making it more appealing and available than ever.

World cruises don’t in fact sail exactly around the world. What they do offer is an opportunity to view a layered assortment of diverse cultures and countries. And even if you cannot commit to the full length of the trip, a popular option is to buy segments which range from a week to over a month.

For example, Cunard offer world cruises with their Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria liners. And in 2015, Cunard is celebrating its 175^th anniversary, which involves celebrations in Sydney harbour and sailing past Gallipoli on the 100^th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings.

Expedition Cruises

As the name suggests, expedition cruising offers those with a penchant for exploration the opportunity to visit obscure and often inaccessible places. The ships are small, with shallow hulls allowing them to visit and dock in the less visited places. This also means that a lot of time is spent onshore and therefore the use of Zodiac inflatable crafts is commonplace and the destination is often a beach or rocky shoreline, requiring people to wade to shore from the shallows.

Obviously this isn’t a style of cruising for everybody however with the opportunity to see places such as Alaska, The Arctic, The Amazon or The Galapagos Islands, getting a bit wet and missing out on bingo and karaoke can be worth it.

Lindblad-National Geographic is arguably the most experienced and esteemed operators of expedition cruising. They pride themselves in their extensive knowledge and experience with world-renowned scientists, naturalists and researches accompanying passengers on board.

Food and Wine Cruises

If you’re the type of traveller whose destinations are often chosen based on the variety, abundance and distinctiveness of food then you should consider a food and wine themed cruise.

There is growing demand for cruises offering foodie experiences such as cooking classes, wine tastings, celebrity chef dinners and onshore food or wine excursions and this has resulted in an increase in the variety of operators.

Celebrity Cruises offer Savor your Destination culinary cruises that include competition cook-offs, cooking classes and food and wine pairing dinners. And if Paella, Jamon Imberico and Gazpacho sends your tastebuds wild then have a look into Windstar Cruises’ Wind Surf: an eight-night Spain cruise stopping off at ports such as Seville, Malaga and Granada.

Luxury Cruises

Sometimes all we want to do on a cruise is enjoy the quieter pleasures of life. And as seniors enter their ‘golden years’ where time and money is no longer the issue it once was, luxury cruise lines offer the opportunity to entertain these pleasures in an environment that’s both personalised and exclusive. You can expect the stewards to know your name and remember your favourite drink and for the chef to personally recommend menu items based on your previous likes and dislikes.

Obviously these services, and the overall holiday style, are determined by the cruise ship you choose and its size. For example, the luxury cruise operator SeaDream differentiates itself from the larger ships stating: “It’s yachting, not cruising.” They limit the guest number to 112, with 95 staff (that’s almost a 1:1 ratio) to boast a 5-Star service. However, even the larger ships do luxury well. For example, Crystal Cruises offer the standard luxury cruise pampering like personalised service and speciality dining but on some cruises passengers can also partake in enrichment programs such as speaker sessions or photography.

River Cruises

If you’ve seen enough of Europe’s coastal cities including Barcelona, Stockholm or Athens why not explore the rest of Europe via its extensive river ways. Inland cities such as Paris, Vienna or Bratislava have waterways that aren’t large enough to accommodate big cruise ships, so river cruising is as much about the places you will see as it is about the experiencing of smaller, niche ships. Of course, river cruising isn’t limited to Europe with operations in Asia, Africa and South and North America leaving much to be explored.

One well known player in Europe is Viking River Cruises, whose ships accommodate between 120 and 260 guests for a more intimate experience. This operator also offers guided walks at destinations, including food shopping trips to local markets with the ship’s chef.

Just remember that when you book your cruise, unexpected situations can arise such as personal illness, cancellation of plans by a travel companion, airline delays, lost baggage or even a cruise line going out of business. For ease of mind, protect yourself and purchase a travel insurance policy that best covers you.

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Top 5 Historical Landmarks of Portugal

Published

3 years ago

April 17, 2022

Guest Author

Portugal is a hive of culture, history, and architecture and is home to fifteen UNESCO World Heritage Sites. If you plan a holiday to Portugal to discover some of its glorious histories, look through our top five Portuguese historical landmarks.

Alcobaça Monastery

This beautiful monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Monastery of Santa Maria de Alcobaça is a prime example of early Gothic architecture. The sanctuary is home to the ornate tombs of Ines de Castro and King Pedro I. There is a tragic love story associated with the burials. Ines de Castro was assassinated in 1355, and the king ordered his tomb to be placed next to hers so that he could face the woman he loved on the day of resurrection. They are considered to be the most beautiful medieval tombs in Portugal. There are also living quarters, including a refectory, dormitory, kitchen, and cloisters that have been inhabited by monks for 800 years.

Convent of Christ

The Convent of Christ is a beautiful roman catholic building located in Tomar. It was initially a stronghold for the Order of the Knights Templar. The building houses impressive art and examples of Romanesque, Gothic, Manueline, and Renaissance architecture. The walls inside are exquisitely decorated with paintings, carved stone sculptures, and a window depicting symbols and motifs. This site has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1983.

Évora

Évora is a Portuguese city home to several historical sights, some over two thousand years old. The Cathedral of Évora is considered one of Portugal’s most important gothic monuments. Moorish palaces and courtyards, a renaissance fountain built-in 1559, and a one-of-a-kind Roman temple have become the city’s most famous landmarks. It is not surprising that Évorahas is classified as a World Heritage site by UNESCO.

Belém Tower

Belém Tower was built to be a fortress in 1515 to guard the entrance to Lisbon’s harbor. The tower is constructed from lioz limestone that is local to Lisbon. It is considered one of the prominent examples of the late gothic Manueline style. There is a drawbridge, spaces for cannons, turrets, and arches that have been decorated with images of animals, plants, and royal coats of arms. Inside there are statues, pillars, and gargoyle facets. UNESCO has listed the tower as a World Heritage monument.   

Jerónimos Monastery

Jerónimos Monastery is considered one of the most beautiful monasteries in Portugal and Europe. Located in Lisbon, the monastery has various entrances that have been decorated with carved figures, gables, and pinnacles. There is a 16th Century Portuguese sculpture of Our Lady of Belém in the central doorway, a figure of Prince Henry the Navigator in the center of the monastery, and a statue of King Manuel I. The monastery has been classified as a World Heritage site by UNESCO.

We hope this has inspired you to start planning your trip to Portugal today.

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Top 5 Outdoor Adventure Activities in Qatar

Find out why Sand boarding, Diving and Safaris through the desert are included in the Top 5 Outdoor Adventure Activities in Qatar.

Published

3 years ago

April 8, 2022

Guest Author

Top 5 Outdoor Adventure Activities in Qatar

Qatar is a country of reinvention. Shimmering towerblocks rise against a desert horizon, and maze-like souks thrive next to 21st-century shopping palaces. It’s also one of the more accessible countries of the Arab Gulf, with a welcoming reputation towards visitors and plenty of attractions to keep them coming. Some of the best holiday activities you’ll find in Qatar are the adventurous kind. And these are the top 5 outdoor adventure activities in Qatar.

Sunset in Qatar – Photo by wj2012

Top 5 Outdoor Adventure Activities in Qatar

Diving expeditions

The Gulf Sea is famed for its crystal waters and the exuberant marine life which lurks just beneath the surface. Messaid is a good jumping-off point where you’ll find angelfish and barracuda, while those intrigued by underwater wrecks will love the Hall Island dive site at Al-Sharqi, where bright clownfish circle the abandoned boat.

Sand Adventures

Many of the sports here have been adapted from colder climates, so instead of skiing down a mountain piste, try Khor Al Adaid beach to glide down the impressive dunes on a sand-board. Alternatively, race your blo-kart along the sands of Al Wakrah, south of capital Doha, to experience the thrill of wind-sailing on dry land.

Sand Boarding – Top 5 Outdoor Adventure Activities in Qatar – Photo by ground zero

Al Jassasiya

The ancient carvings of Al Jassasiya lie to the north near Al Shamal, amid a truly remote landscape of village ruins and limestone. Hire a 4×4 of your own and make the journey to see the 900 petroglyphs which riddle the rocks here. The carvings denote flowers, animals, fleets of shows, or traditional Arab boats, and to this day, their origins remain a mystery.

Sunset Cruise

When the time comes for a more relaxed excursion, you can do no better than a sunset cruise onboard a wooden dhow as you drift past the super-modern Doha seafront of Al-Corniche and the old harbor at Al Khor. If you’re still hankering after some adventure, rent a smaller vessel and go for a fishing trip the following day.

Desert Safaris

Much of the inland desert in Qatar remains inaccessible on foot, but fortunately, that’s where a 4×4 comes in very handy for a safari trip you won’t easily forget. There are numerous options available from Doha, including day-long excursions, bumping, and rolling to the inland sea at Khor Al Adaid. Or make the trip at dusk for a spot of star-gazing before you settle in Bedouin-style tents for the night.

Desert Safari – Top 5 Outdoor Adventure Activities in Qatar – Photo by robertpaulyoung

Most activities can be arranged via a tour company. Although cash has been the predominant payment method in Qatar, this is beginning to change, which is good news for tourists since HSBC offers protection against loss or theft. If you’re planning on taking part in several activities, it can be handy to have some plastic on you to avoid expensive traveler’s cheques, plus credit cards from HSBC and other familiar providers also enable easy access to money at the ATMs. However, it’s wise to exercise caution, using only official bank machines here and sticking with local currency at the market and in smaller shops.

There’s no doubt that Qatar offers some world-class cultural attractions beyond the more energetic highlights, and while you’re in the country, set aside some time for the historic Al Zubarah fort or browse the recreated 19th-century Souk-Waqif, in Doha.

This country has been undervalued in the past but is now coming to the world’s attention. With its desert adventures, ancient sites, and thriving culture, this attention is thoroughly deserved.

This is a travel feature by world traveler, Jose Capelo. He loves exploring the top 5 outdoor adventure activities in Qatar and has spent many trips exploring the wild deserts of Qatar.

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Boys will be Boys – Essential Stag Guide to Barcelona

Essential Stag Guide to Barcelona

Published

3 years ago

April 1, 2022

Guest Author

Barcelona has a lot to offer to the quintessential all-boys travel group for a stag weekend in Barcelona. This sunny Spanish city is known for its gorgeous Mediterranean beaches complemented by turquoise waters. In addition to this, this city offers the ideal environment for an all-male party hotspot, considering its vibrant nightlife, football culture, flamenco dance clubs, tattoo parlors, and its delicious sangrias and tapas.

Paella cooking class Barcelona

Barcelona is a widespread consideration for a quick all-boys getaway during the summer. With a variety of heart-thumping activities that can make your trip a memorable one, make sure you take out time to pursue the following –

LTW Tattoo:

If you are looking for a real adventure that will stick with you all your life, there is no better way to commemorate this epic trip than heading to Barcelona’s best tattoo parlor.
Barna Paintball:

Take on your best buddies in a battle of agility by visiting the Barna Paintball. With four thematic areas to choose from, your experience here can be genuinely adventurous.
Bar Crawl Barcelona:

Considered one of the most famous pub crawls globally and the biggest in Europe, the original Bar Crawl Barcelona is a great way to explore the city in its nocturnal state. You and your buddies can visit four bars and then finish at one of the best clubs in Barcelona. Complete with some of the craziest drinking games, this memorable experience costs all but 15 Euros.
FC’s Camp Nou:

If you are a group of football fans visiting the city, you cannot leave without making a trip to Camp Nou, the city’s football ground. With a ticket for the stadium tour, you will have access to the changing rooms, benches, press rooms, and stands. If you are fortunate enough to have a match coinciding with your travel dates, make sure you book your tickets for the game well in advance.
Circuit de Catalunya Racing Track:
If you and your crew are into racing, consider heading to the Circuit de Catalunya, host to various Formula 1 and Moto GP races. Here, you can get a detailed tour of the briefing room, pits, and podium.
Comedy Nights:

Comedy nights are often an option that everybody loves. Especially as a group of single boys, you may love to attend an event organized by the Giggling Guiri program that consists of English-speaking shows.
Al Fresco Drinking on Las Ramblas:

The heart of tourist activity in Barcelona, Las Ramblas, offers unique casual outdoor ambiances for groups of boys to spend hours finishing pitchers of sangria or chugging down buckets of beer bottles. Vibrant as ever, this street located off the Gothic Quarters is a great place to unwind after a long day of sightseeing.

Essential Stag Guide to Barcelona

As a group of boys, you can also research options for day trips to beaches outside of Barcelona that offers relaxing and laid-back environments for your holiday. Many options are available in Barcelona for hiring a car to explore this scenic and exciting city with your friends, such as Thrifty Car Rentals. So when you are in Barcelona with your amigos, nothing stops you from having a great time!