Caribbean cruises: Caribbean still number one, Mediterranean hot spot
Caribbean cruises get's the competition in the Mediterranean
These days, more than 50% of cruise passengers book their voyages more than six months ahead, according to a study from Cruise Lines International Association. And you won't guess where they're going to? The Mediterranean, Asia and South America are the hottest spots. The Caribbean is still by far number one, but the Mediterranean is the fastest-growing destination, according to the Cruise lines associations.
Bol na Bracu, Croatia, EuropeSo far, the Mediterranean is the 4th most-booked route for the year 2008. The podium is still shared by Caribbean taking spot number one, second is Alaska and 3rd place goes to the Mexican riviera. Overall, the study shows, that the web's agents last year took 41% more bookings for Europe than in year 2006. "People are looking for strategies to maximize the value of the dollar against a strong euro," said Steve Loucks, spokesman for Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associates. Caribbean cruises are still bargains, but then again the fall in fares is definitely over.
Caribbean cruises will be back soon
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Enter Wave Entertainment, a subsidiary of SeaMobile, which has developed a new satellite television service that can be beamed to ships around the globe. Boasting at least 25 channels, plus dozens of movies-on-demand, it'll debut in April on Oceania's Insignia."We're not the first to bring CNN or Fox News to a (cruise ship) stateroom, but we're the first to present television in the stateroom like you would expect to see at home," says Dennis Flaharty, the executive vice president for technology at Wave.In addition to far more channels and on-demand choices than anything currently available at sea, Wave's system also is the first all-digital system for a cruise ship, which will mean better clarity for the shows you watch. No more fuzziness when the lady in the cabin next door turns on her hair dryer, says Flaharty. In addition to launching on Oceania's Insignia, which will get the new system during a dry dock in late March, the new Wave TV platform also will be installed later this year on Oceania's Nautica and Regatta, and Wave already is talking to other lines about bringing it to more ships.Flaharty says the on-demand feature of the new system will allow passengers to choose from not just dozens of movies but their favorite TV shows. "We have a very deep movie library for on-demand, and we've added something we're really proud of, which we're calling 'catch-up TV.' It could be the Desperate Housewives that was on six hours ago that you missed." Flaharty says improvements in technology are making the system possible. "Up until a couple years ago this couldn't have been done," he notes. "Compression technologies have advanced."
Cruising the Caribbean aboard the biggest ship in the world, Liberty of the Seas, your first impression is that this ship is really huge I mean, really, really huge. This ship is almost four football fields long, more than half a football field wide and nearly 20 stores high. Liberty of the Seas has one sister ship, Freedom of the Seas, and will soon be joined by another floating city named Independence of the Seas. Food and vitality go together on this ship. Eat a lot and do a lot to take it off. The main dining room seats 2,000 at two sittings, but the 3 levels create a more intimate atmosphere.
The vitality part comes from the largest and best equipped fitness center you've ever seen at sea. Amazing number of modern equipment for every single muscle, plus yoga, plus Pilates and a boxing and skating ring. Outside you'll find the biggest rock climbing wall at sea, a simulated surf wave, a basketball and soccer area, miniature golf, golf simulator, ping pong and shuffleboard. The heart of the ship is so called Royal Promenade. It stretches from the dining room to the theatre and is loaded with ten's of stores of every description, along with restaurants and bars. Kids and teens win with the largest arcade at sea and entertainment zones for every age and teens even have their own night club. Liberty of the Seas is simply amazing! 
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While cruising is still a small portion of the travel industry, analysts say it's poised to burgeon as legions of baby boomers retire in coming years. But capturing that new wave of cruisers means tuning into their lifestyle, which is increasingly focused on staying fit.
With 4 swimming pools, 7 whirlpools, many bars, a giant casino and a daily schedule of activities that will make your head spin, the Triumph lives up to Carnival's "Fun Ships" motto with gusto. A passenger looking for a little peace and quiet could easily find themselves locked in their cabin ordering room service for the duration of the trip, but if you can (or care to) look past the crowded bars, loud music and long buffet lines, you can definitely relax on the Carnival Triumph.
You should stay on the Ship's Radar
6 Night Trans-Atlantic Cruise from New York or London
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Paul Gauguin 7 Night Tahiti and Bora Bora from Papeete, Tahiti