By Bruce A. Tucker
There is no mistaking a great ship like Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas with just any other cruise ship. Spend just a couple of hours on her and you will find out why.
"To the lover of wilderness, Alaska is one of the most wonderful countries in the world," John Muir. I mention Alaska because that is the trip I took with my wife and in-laws when I sailed on Royal Caribbean's cruise ship, the Serenade of the Seas.
For me it was the perfect cruise ship to set sail on for this type of 7 day fun and adventure. With it's floor to ceiling windows from the Champagne Bar to it's great construction of how the balconies off of the rooms were laid out so that you can speak to your neighbors without a huge wall interfering with you, made it that much better.
It had many ammenities such as a complete workout facility, an auditorium for events and shows, many gift shops and of course the spa and salon, a service which my wife and I took advantage of. We each signed up for the half hour massage, which was well worth its price tag. The masseuse was very professional and thorough and after talking to my wife hers was also just as good. Just keep in mind the price you pay does not include your tip and that really should be based on the level of service that you received.
Another great feature of the Serendae of the Seas are the separated pool areas. One is set up so that both the kids and adults can enjoy it and the other pool area is for adults only. I found it hard to believe that families would bring kids on an Alaskan cruise, but they did and there were a lot of them.
At the time my wife and I did not have any children so I did not partake in learning of any of the kids activities, but on the top deck there were basketball courts, volleyball courts, miniature golf and a slew of other activities to keep kids of all ages busy and it looked like they were having loads of fun.
For adults there were ample amounts of "watering holes" to choose from to wet you whistle at anytime during the day. If for some reason you just did not want to get out of your seat to belly up to the bar for a drink there were plenty of courteous waiters and waitresses ready to meet your every need.
The trip through the inner passage and seeing the Hubbard glacier, Skagway, Ketchikan and Juneau was a great trip and I would highly recommend it. Seeing these sites from the beauty and comfort of Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas made it that much more enjoyable.
About the Author:
Mr. Tucker is the senior editor for Vacation Nation, an online vacation resource where you can learn about various destinations and travel tips.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bruce_A._Tucker
http://EzineArticles.com/?Cruise-on-Royal-Caribbeans-Serenade-of-the-Seas&id=1318305
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Scuba Diving in the Caribbean
By Alice Lane
Many people dream of scuba diving but really don't have any idea of what that means other than they get to swim under water with gear that allows them to breath. For those who don't know, SCUBA is an acronym for Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. Even though it may seem easy and it certainly looks easy, there are many very dangerous aspects to scuba diving that you must know before you go for a dive. That is why it is imperative that you get certified by a qualified instructor before going for your first dive. Some all inclusive beach resorts in the Caribbean offer scuba diving lessons as part of their package. This instruction includes all of the basics on equipment use and safety including what is explained below.
There are a number of ways to use a scuba apparatus but the most common is having a cylinder of compressed air or a combination of gases that you breathe into your lungs through a mouthpiece called a regulator. Your nose is covered with your mask so you don't try to breathe through your nose. Some fancier masks that you can get are actually full face and you are not limited to having a mouthpiece. With these full face masks you can breathe normally whether through your mouth or your nose. One thing you must be confident before diving anywhere in the world is that the air or gases in your tank are clean and will not make you sick. This is normally not an issue in popular diving sites such as the Caribbean.
Some of the other equipment you will learn about when taking dive lessons either before you leave for vacation or during your all inclusive Caribbean vacation includes your buoyancy devices. You may be thinking why do I need a buoyancy device if I'm going to be underwater? Buoyancy devices help you maintain floating at a certain level without having to fight either dropping down or floating up. The combination of using weights and air in your buoyancy device will allow you to float effortlessly.
If you are thinking about scuba diving during family vacations you may want to include your children. Your children can start as early as eight years old under shallow water conditions. At ten years old they can be certified as Junior Open Water Divers and at fifteen they can be certified as Open Water Divers. Other family members such as grandparents can also be included because there is no upper age limit. No matter what your reason for diving it is an experience that is unexplainable. You may want to see the beauty of the reefs and other magnificent areas in the oceans or you may want to have the excitement of exploring caves and shipwrecks.
Whether you do it with strangers or with your loved ones at all inclusive beach resorts, it is a wonderful experience when you have been trained to be safe. You can get your training before you embark on your journey to the ocean or you can get it at an all inclusive Caribbean vacation resort while you are there. If you browse SuperClubs.com, you will find you can enjoy scuba diving during family vacations or if you prefer, an adult only vacation.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alice_Lane
http://EzineArticles.com/?Scuba-Diving-in-the-Caribbean&id=1274340
Many people dream of scuba diving but really don't have any idea of what that means other than they get to swim under water with gear that allows them to breath. For those who don't know, SCUBA is an acronym for Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. Even though it may seem easy and it certainly looks easy, there are many very dangerous aspects to scuba diving that you must know before you go for a dive. That is why it is imperative that you get certified by a qualified instructor before going for your first dive. Some all inclusive beach resorts in the Caribbean offer scuba diving lessons as part of their package. This instruction includes all of the basics on equipment use and safety including what is explained below.
There are a number of ways to use a scuba apparatus but the most common is having a cylinder of compressed air or a combination of gases that you breathe into your lungs through a mouthpiece called a regulator. Your nose is covered with your mask so you don't try to breathe through your nose. Some fancier masks that you can get are actually full face and you are not limited to having a mouthpiece. With these full face masks you can breathe normally whether through your mouth or your nose. One thing you must be confident before diving anywhere in the world is that the air or gases in your tank are clean and will not make you sick. This is normally not an issue in popular diving sites such as the Caribbean.
Some of the other equipment you will learn about when taking dive lessons either before you leave for vacation or during your all inclusive Caribbean vacation includes your buoyancy devices. You may be thinking why do I need a buoyancy device if I'm going to be underwater? Buoyancy devices help you maintain floating at a certain level without having to fight either dropping down or floating up. The combination of using weights and air in your buoyancy device will allow you to float effortlessly.
If you are thinking about scuba diving during family vacations you may want to include your children. Your children can start as early as eight years old under shallow water conditions. At ten years old they can be certified as Junior Open Water Divers and at fifteen they can be certified as Open Water Divers. Other family members such as grandparents can also be included because there is no upper age limit. No matter what your reason for diving it is an experience that is unexplainable. You may want to see the beauty of the reefs and other magnificent areas in the oceans or you may want to have the excitement of exploring caves and shipwrecks.
Whether you do it with strangers or with your loved ones at all inclusive beach resorts, it is a wonderful experience when you have been trained to be safe. You can get your training before you embark on your journey to the ocean or you can get it at an all inclusive Caribbean vacation resort while you are there. If you browse SuperClubs.com, you will find you can enjoy scuba diving during family vacations or if you prefer, an adult only vacation.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alice_Lane
http://EzineArticles.com/?Scuba-Diving-in-the-Caribbean&id=1274340
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