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The Ups and Downs of Super Yachting

28
Mar 2012

When it comes to people carriers, Roman Abramovich could teach us all a thing or two. To be fair to the Russian tycoon, he has got quite a large family. Anybody who has attempted to regularly ferry six kids up and down the Med will have sympathy with the man. Given the size of his family, it could be fair to argue that he needs those yachts. We’d all like to be able to answer the cry of “are we there yet” with “no, go play in one of the pools, or the cinema or nip ashore in the helicopter”. Besides everybody has to have a hobby and if I had the odd £300 million to spare I think I’d follow Abramovich’s lead and collect luxury yachts. He’s pretty dammed good at it.

Parking permits

Abramovich’s collection is certainly to be envied yet despite his wealth even the man who is well on the way to having everything can still find life is full of petty inconveniences – and that’s not including excessive yacht insurance premiums! Last summer, for example, the family encountered parking issues when they attempted to moor at Antibes. ‘Eclipse’, Abramovich’s 557ft luxury yacht, was itself sadly eclipsed by the rather poky vessel of Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal Alsaud. The Saudi Prince had beaten the family to the sought after “Millionaires Quay” with his relatively small ‘Kingdom KR5’. At a measly 265ft the ‘Kingdom’ may have seemed little more than a tender to the Abramovich clan, but sadly even Antibes spaces are limited for multi-million pound yachts. It seems even the French can be short sighted when it comes to planning. Ultimately the Abramovich clan chose to moor offshore and use one of their motorboats to land. It was probably no big deal as they had several choices for landing. These included a helicopter or two, a mini-submarine, or they could have simply used the onboard missile defence system to free up some parking space.

Arabian Waters

Prince Al-Waleed is not the only Arab royal to have a passion for messing about in boats. In fact the race to own the biggest and the best yachts known to man appears to be mainly an Arab/Russian sport. The King of Dubai is the proud owner of the none-too-originally named “Mega Yacht Dubai”, which appears to be more of a description than a name. This high performance, latter day royal yacht can compete with the ‘Eclipse’ measuring 531ft. The ship boasts also its own submarine (where did Abramovich get the idea?) and the interior has a range of pools and sports facilities. Three elevators help to avoid rope burn when trying to navigate between decks and access the numerous palatial suites. The yacht is, like Abramovich’s, rumoured to be worth something in the region of £300 million pounds.

The Sports of Kings

Horse Racing may be the sport of Kings, but yachting has never been far behind. The obsession with rather extravagant yachting is nothing new when it comes to the super rich and the super powerful. Royal and Imperial families have long lead the way in luxury people carriers. The current British Queen was notoriously fond of ‘Britannia’, the former Royal yacht. This yacht had similar defensive capabilities to the ‘Eclipse’ – if you count a couple Royal Navy destroyers discreetly travelling close by. However, compared with the ‘Eclipse’, at only 412ft ‘Britannia may have felt a little pokey. As with the Abramovich yachts British Royal Yachts were often used as people carriers for the rich and powerful of their day. Handy when you’ve several kids and an empire on which the sun never sets.

Each year seems to bring another record breaking super yacht. Usually in Arab or Russian hands, but one theme seems to persist, super yachts are certainly one of the most ostentatious displays of wealth and luxury in the history of conspicuous consumption; even if they are troublesome to park.

Neil blogs about lifestyle and luxury, covering everything from Super Yachting and high net worth insurance to the most expensive luxury apartments and home insurance brokerage. When he’s not online he enjoys cycling, swimming and has a particular fascination with foreign cinema.

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Category: Boating, Cruises Tags: al waleed bin talal, luxury yacht, luxury yachts, millionaires, mini submarine, roman abramovich, waleed bin talal, yacht insurance 4 Comments

Discover Japan Aboard a Cruise Ship

26
Mar 2012

By guest_author

Ancient temples decorated with gold, sanctuaries where you can breathe in unearthly peace, refined gardens, and megacities where modernity has made its home: these are some of the most well-known facets of Japan. What few know is that there are cruises heading for this country, allowing you to discover the most attractive aspects of its cities. Almost all ships leave from China and trace the Japanese coasts on voyages that usually last seven days.

The Modernity of Fukuoka

Most cruises setting a course for Japan make a stop in Fukuoka, considered the cradle of Japanese civilization. The location of its port, very close to the mainland, made it the entry point not only for new products, but also the most ground-breaking ideas and influential personalities of the era. Now you can experience all its charm for yourself.

As you make your way towards the city, do not forget to visit the district of Tenjin, where you will find numerous shopping centres, restaurants where you can taste Japanese flavours, and fashion and artesian stores in which you can buy goods ranging from a silk dress to one of the famous Japanese clay dolls.

Another obligatory stop is the ACROS Fukuoka building, a venue of offices and stores. When you pause before the facade full of glass and steel, it will seem to be a very normal building. But as you walk around it, you will find a miracle: hanging gardens composed of more than 35,000 plants softly descending floor-by-floor.

Kobe: Encountering Traditions

Most cruise ships also dock in the port of Kobe, which will welcome you with its famous hyperboloid tower. After you disembark, you can ascend its more than 300 ft (100 m) to appreciate magnificent panoramic views of the city.

In Kobe you can walk over the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in the world, or enjoy some Kobe beef, which is considered one of the most exquisite gourmet tastes on the planet. You will also have the opportunity to visit one of the oldest temples in the country, the Ikuta, or relax in the waters of the oldest hot spring resort in Japan, in the foothills of Mount Rokko.

Best of all, you do not need to spend too much to discover Japan. In the low season, you can find cruise deals for which the average price is around just 600 Euros.

In this article, we tempt you with an unforgettable experience for your next vacation: a cruise in Japan

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Category: Cruises, Vacations Tags: acros fukuoka, akashi kaikyo bridge, ancient temples, japanese civilization, kobe beef, longest suspension bridge in the world, magnificent panoramic views, tenjin 2 Comments

A Cruise Review To Envision The Cruise Ship Experience

18
Sep 2010

By Kal

: Image via Wikipedia

If you want to go on a vacation with great options, you might consider taking a cruise. If you have never been a cruise ship before and you are not sure whether it would be perfect for you, read on. The cruise ship experience will be much clearer after you read this cruise review.

This article will not be endorsing or promoting a particular cruise line, but will just give you some glimpses of what cruise lines are offering to cruise passengers. This includes cruise destinations, various ranges of prices and amenities available.

In some cases cruise lines will proved an option of a pre or post-cruise stay at a hotel in the town where you embark or disembark. This is especially beneficial when you travel great distances to board your cruise ship. By using this option it actually affords you the ability to add on an extra port to explore before your cruise ship experience is over.

For instance, if your departure point is at Los Angeles, and you choose this option you will have time to visit famous places there such as Hollywood (the famous walk of stars) or Venice Beach (a funky hip beach town).

On the day of the cruise departure, you will be brought to the pier where your cruise ship is waiting for you. It will take about 45 minutes to an hour to check in your luggage, get your boarding pass and board the ship. Your room steward will meet you and this is when you should tell the steward if you have any special needs or requests. For instance, I like two bath towels and a bucket of ice each afternoon. They want to make you happy so don’t be shy.

It may take a couple of hours for your luggage to arrive so grab some lunch and then tour your cruise ship. Make any beauty and spa appointments now, on some days, like formal nights appointments sell out. Consider making these appointments on port days, especially if you have been to that port before. The salon/spa offer discounts if you book on those days. Roam around the first afternoon to see what delights are in store for you during your cruise ship experience.

You can enjoy several relaxing moments in the spa. Celebrity has what they call a Thalassotherapy pool, Princess has a swim against the current pool and Carnival has the giant slide into the outside pool. If you feel that you want to burn up some calories after all the wonderful meals, go to the fitness center which is equipped with modern state of the art equipment. Or you may feel like strolling around the promenade in that fresh salt air.

There are swimming pools aboard, both for adults and kids. Deck chairs and benches are also provided if you just want to watch your children enjoying the water in the pool.

Entertainment is also present in your cruising vacation. A state-of-the-art theater is provided for on-board entertainment. There will be Broadway like productions and children-oriented programs that are new and different everyday..

In case you are looking for a different entertainment, you can go to several theme bars or disco with live music open until the wee hours of the morning.

If you want to try your luck during your cruise travel, then there is an on-board casino where it features different games similar to what you see in Las Vegas.

There is a shopping center where you can find personal items and other things that you need while you are on-board. Here’s one cruise tip, try to pack things like Rolaids, bandages and toothpaste from home; they are expensive on the cruise ship

Library and recreation centers are also found on the cruise ship. Almost all cruise ships have a lending library and most have a room for playing bridge.

Food is one of the vital services offered by cruise lines. The best chefs from around the world are hired to prepare and cook excellent meals to ensure that your on-board dining experience will be truly memorable.

There are formal dining areas, which have a formal dress code on certain nights.
If you are looking for more informal style of dining, there are snack bars, cafeteria, and a pizza parlor on-board, which generally are opened for meals on extended hours. Many times the cruise lines close down one half of their Lido café (this is where they have the buffet lunch and dinner) to offer a casual place to dine but they still use a menu and servers. All of the food, no matter which style you choose are covered in the cruise prices.

Cruise itineraries generally include stops at different ports each or every other day, depending on the schedule of the cruise ship you chose. You have the option of either staying aboard the ship or you may disembark to join other passengers on a guided tour. You are also free to explore on your own at each stop, but make sure you know the departure time of the ship.

Booking a cruise is simple. To get the best advice on cruise ships use the services of a travel agency. Read cruise reviews that you can find online to familiarize yourself on what each cruise line offers. Or, if you are already savvy to cruising, log on to the official site of a particular cruise line to check on itineraries and prices.

You will be provided information about destinations and cruise packages that are affordable. Discounts and special offers are also available for passengers.

Hopefully, this cruise review will give you some insight into what delights you will find during your cruise ship experience.

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Category: Cruises Tags: cruise departure, cruise destinations, cruise line, cruise lines, cruise passengers, cruise ship 5 Comments

Cruise Lines Depart From New Orleans

09
Sep 2010

By Kal

: Image via Wikipedia

The two major cruise lines that depart from New Orleans are Carnival Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Lines: ships Triumph and Spirit respectively.

Carnival Cruise line, Triumph out of New Orleans can either be a 5 day trip or a 4 day trip. After celebrating with Drew Brees and the Saints you are now ready to go see the world. Your ship will make stops at Progreso, Yucatan, Mexico, and Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico, before heading back to the Big Easy. You will know you have arrived in Progresso when you see the famous Lighthouse and extended pier combination, jutting out of the water as if an extended bridge into paradise. The port of Progreso is host to beautiful beaches, a large shopping mall, hotels, restaurants, hospitals, bus transportation (you are only 30 minutes north of the capital – Merida), mail services, taxis, real estate businesses, and handy stores. With the pristine view of the water in sight tourists will want to indulge in snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing, and lounging around the ocean.

Next stop is Cozumel, which is the largest inhabited island in Mexico, surrounded by reefs making an ideal spot for snorkeling and scuba diving. The western side of the island enjoys peaceful, calm surf / waves, while the eastern side is more rugged and violent. Since there are a myriad of underwater caverns, only the more experienced, registered divers are allowed in. In fact in 1990 the world’s fifth largest underwater cavern was found in Cozumel.

The Carnival Triumph will make your journey to New Orleans that much more enjoyable with four swimming pools, several whirlpools, and many nightclubs for the adult entertainment. There is plenty to do for the children as well with recreational areas, and exercise rooms.

Norwegian Cruise line, Spirit out of New Orleans is a 7 day trip making stops at Costa Maya, Belize City, Roatan, and Cozumel before heading back to the home of the Super Bowl Champs. Costa Maya, home to the great Mayan reef, white sand beaches, and undeveloped, as the new pier built has brought visitors (soon to be you). In port, there is much activity with other passenger ships enjoying the restaurant and bar scene, as well as the ability to snorkel / scuba dive at the coral reef. Belize City is home to the famous Swing Bridge, which is the only working manual bridge in commission. Belize is reminiscent of Italy with its many rivers and canals throughout towns, with a quant atmosphere. Hurricane Hattie almost destroyed the city in 1961, but thankfully for cruise goers, the port is proving to give life back to this area. Roatan is a very long island of Honduras completely surrounded by coral reefs, and excellent fishing. This is ideal for tourists to go snorkeling, and underwater exploring.

The Norwegian Spirit is a beautiful German engineered ship that spent the first five years of its life in Hong Kong. It still holds its Asian influences (for whom it was built for), with a Samurai theme, wood case stairs with iron railings and glass elevators. With over eleven restaurants and eight bars, you can be hopping from one place to the next all week long. The refurbished boat also includes eight new decks with balconies (which is a growing must have amongst cruise goers).

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Category: Cruises Tags: carnival cruise line, carnival triumph, costa maya, cozumel quintana roo, norwegian cruise line, norwegian cruise lines, progreso yucatan mexico, quintana roo mexico, underwater caverns, white sand beach 4 Comments

6 Reasons why a cruise is such a fine budget vacation

23
Aug 2010

By Kal

: Image via Wikipedia

A cruise ship provides a great, one price, vacation, and one of the main attractions to booking a cruise ship is that just about everything is included in the price.

When many people think about a budget vacation, they picture an intrepid traveler in a roach infested hotel room eating stale sandwiches and riding around on the city bus. However, one of the best ways to save money on a vacation is also one of the most luxurious and most thrilling – the cruise vacation.

Cheap Accommodation
In addition to a cheap place to stay, a cruise also offers unlimited food, including many amazing buffets that are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In addition, the food on cruise vacation ships are often better-quality to those in all but the best land locked restaurants, and once again, the food is included in the price.

Traveling Off-season
Of course, it is possible to save money by traveling in the off-season, and this can often be a great plan. For instance, even though it is the middle of the winter and most people are not thinking about vacations where you are, it may be warm and tempting in many tropical cruise ship destinations.

It is important, however to check out the local weather, and to avoid the rainy season in the destinations you are considering. Steering clear of hurricanes, tropical downpours and other weather problems can help you get the most out of your cruise ship.

Cabins
If you have never taken a cruise ship before, it is a good idea to get advice from those who have experienced cruising. These people can give valuable insight on the best balance of cost and comfort for your first cruise ship experience.

The location of the cabin is another important consideration when booking a cruise ship. The interior cabins on the lower parts of the ship are generally the least costly, while the higher, larger cabins with ocean views are the most expensive.

Discounts and Cheap Cruise ship Deals
It is not always necessary to shop early, of course. Cruise ship lines have been known to offer some fantastic discounts at the last minute in order to move unsold cabins or avoid leaving with a less than full passenger load.

There are many last minute travel newsletters that provide details on these types of cruise ship deals, and these last minute travel deals are a big hit with retirees and others with the time to see the world.

Food and Gym
After eating all that food, you will probably feel the need to work out, and the cost of the cruise vacation also typically includes unlimited use of the gym, the weight room and the sports locations. While many hotels tack on a surcharge for the use of the hotel gym, with a cruise vacation it is generally included.

Shipboard Entertainment
The cost of a cruise vacation also includes all shipboard entertainment and classes. The entertainment options of a cruise vacation are often one of the best parts of the experience, and many cruises offer such things as movie nights, theatres, spas, nightclubs, discos, and even casinos.

There are also some great classes offered by cruise lines, in everything from origami to bridge to ballroom dancing. And again, these classes and entertainment options are included in the price you pay for the cruise.

Among the only things that are not included in the typical cruise vacation are alcoholic beverages and shore excursions. Many of the higher priced cruises even include these extras. If the shore excursions and drinks are not included, be sure to get a price list for shore excursions and drinks.

It is often possible to save money on shore excursions while on a cruise vacation by booking the tours locally at portside instead of going with the cruise line. Just be sure, however that the book it yourself excursion will get you back to the ship on time.

For all these reasons, cruise vacation can be among the best, and most economical, of all vacation opportunities. The ability to enjoy a week or two week cruise vacation at one low price is one more reason to love cruising.