Entries Tagged 'Student Travel' ↓

Spring break is the one time when many hard working college students can unwind for a short amount of time before heading back to the long hours of studying and prepping for classes. Many college students are now choosing to spend their spring breaks aboard cruise ships.

Many college students simply choose to spend their time aboard a cruise ship at some of the most popular places where college students flock to when there is a break. The destinations are usually just the hot spots where most college students go to have fun. However some break free from this mold and choose to go their own route and not follow the crowd. This simply makes sense as sometimes you just want to unwind in a different manner then some of your other classmates.

Many cruise ships are geared towards the ideal spring break vacation and many of them are already ready for many spring break vacationers to come aboard and have fun. The major cruise lines such as Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Costa Cruises are geared towards the constant partying and dancing the night away. As a recommendation I would definitely stay away from the family oriented cruise lines and those that are geared towards couples. There is just too much possibility for confrontation and you could end up really regretting the choice you made because you will not only harm your own vacation but that of many other families and small children. Not a good way to spend a spring break.

I would seek out cruise lines that are geared towards the adventure traveler. These are more geared towards the college age set and you will run into far fewer problems and there will be far many more activities that you may enjoy. As always be careful on your cruise and try to avoid fights or confrontations with other guests aboard the ship. You are there to have a good time and not for it to be ruined by some lack of judgment by yourself or some other careless cruiser.

Every single year millions take a cruise. For the majority of them this a time for having fun, getting away from it all and seeing some place new and exciting. However recently the news has reported some of the darker side of the cruise ship industry. Sometimes you see reports of people missing or assaults and deaths aboard s a cruise ship. The reality of this is that this is rare among the cruise ship lines. You can stay safe aboard a cruise ship if just follow a few simple precautions.

The first thing you should do is make sure you have all of your documents in order and ready for any major event. Truly being safe begins before you even board the cruise ship. Plan ahead and make sure you have enough medicine or anything you may need if you were stuck for an extended period of time away from home. You should have your passport, drivers license, and any other visas and extra cash.

Once onboard the cruise ship make sure that you familiarize yourself with its layout. If there are maps available then grab one and keep it handy in case you get lost. Some of the larger cruise ships have decks that all look alike so it is important that you remember your room number in case you should need to go back to it in a hurry.

When you are traveling inside the cruise ship try not to do this alone as you may become a victim of a crime. When you travel in pairs or in a group you are less likely to be run into trouble. Treat being on a cruise ship as you would any unknown place.

When it comes to theft in any place cash and credit cards are the most likely sought after items and you should always use the provided safe as that is one of the most secure places to keep your belongings while you enjoy your stay aboard the cruise ship. If you have a money pouch or some other way of keeping money on you that is not the most obvious then you are encouraged to use it. If you can divide your money and keep small stashes of money on you in different places then this is one of the best ways to getting completely cleaned out.

Always use common sense when you are aboard the cruise ship. Do not do anything aboard the cruise ship that you would not do on land. Do not flash lots of money or jewelry to other passengers as this will simply display how much money you have available to steal later on. If something does not feel right then walk away and go towards where there is a crowd of people such as a bar or nightclub. Look for others to walk you back to your cabin if you do not feel safe being alone.

You can be safe on your next cruise as long as you keep your wits about you and you do not fall into any common traps that many thieves employ. Just because you are staying on a cruise ship does not mean you should not take care of yourself as if you were any other place.

Dubrovnik is an ancient city located on the Adriatic sea. Now part of modern day Croatia this town has seen its turmoil’s. This town certainly is one of the most predominant tourist attractions on the Adriatic. Since ancient times the wealth of the city has been dependent on its maritime activities.

The name of the city has varied over the years. However the modern name of the city was given it by the Austro Hungarian empire that adopted the name in 1909. Before then this city was known in Italy and other western nations as Ragusa.

In 1991 the republics of Croatia and Slovenia broke away from what was then Yugoslavia. This led to the conflict that was named as the siege of Dubrovnik which lasted 7 months. Many parts of the old town suffered from shelling during time period but much of the town has been restored according to guidelines outlined by UNESCO.

When you visit this city it is best to come when they are holding the Dubrovnik Summer Festival. At that time all of the artists who come to the city are given keys to the city and the town just breaks from its usual routine and becomes something more then it was intended. If y ou cannot make it during this time period the city also celebrates the Sveti Vlaho (Saint Blaise) on February 3^rd. This celebration is marked by parades and other outdoor festivities.

While the conflict and tension may still exist Dubrovnik is still worth getting off the ship to visit. It is like stepping back into a time machine in many respects as much of the town is still standing from the old days.

Genoa is the city of ancient Ligurians and is probably named after their word for knee. Of all the cities in Italy Genoa is perhaps one of the most predominantly Italian. Much of the population perhaps close to 95% is Italian. This gives the city a unique feel that makes the city worth visiting.

The history of Genoa goes back to the Ligures which was an ancient Italian tribe. What is known is that a ancient cemetery occupied by the Greeks that date back to the 5^th and 6^th centuries prove that this city has been around for quite a while. Much of the ancient times for the city saw the city ransacked and later rebuilt time and again. The war with the Carthaginians in 209 B.C. was one of the more famous wars when the city was destroyed.

Later on the city of Genoa became a lesser known fishing port which seemed to have spared it further conflict with other nations. Also this city is notable in that this is one of the first places where the Italian citizens received rights under feudal law.

Modern times have seen the slow and steady decline of the city however as its importance as a trade and economic power diminish over the years. This does not mean the city has not been crucial in some of the world’s history. Now rather it is just that as more cities have gained prominence Genoa has seen a steady decline in influence.

The main attractions of the city are centered around Piazza de Ferrari which contain the Opera house and the Palaces of the Doges. Another interesting sight to see is St. Lawrence Cathedral which was founded in the 5^th or 6^th centuries A.D. and is devoted to St. Sirus bishop of Genoa. For those that like aquariums this city has you covered with the Aquarium of Genoa which is one of the largest in the whole of Europe. Like something out of the port town of Alexandria this town has an ancient lighthouse called Torre della Lanterna or the tower of the latern.

Either way you cut it the city of Genoa is definitely worth visiting on your cruise around the Mediterranean as it seems to have something for everyone.

The city of Alexandria is a very well known port in the Mediterranean sea and is the second largest city in Egypt. Historically this town is known to contain two of the seven wonders of the world and those are the lighthouse of the Alexandria and the library of Alexandria.

As you might imagine the city was actually founded by Alexander the Great in 332 B.C. however the cities expansion can be accounted to Cleomenes who was left behind to take care of the city as Alexander moved east ward to conquer more of the world. What is really interesting of the history of this city is that this was once home to one of the largest Jewish communities in the world. Not only that the Greek Septuagint, was produced here.

If you plan on visiting ancient Alexandria you may be disappointed as much of the city sank into the city due to earthquake subsidence and then the more modern city was rebuilt on top of the ruins. So from an archeological perspective much of the city is buried under what you see in modern times. However that is not to say that there are not remants of the ancient city existing today. Pompey’s Pillar is one of the best known examples of the architecture that existed during the rule of Alexander the Great.

Many tourists however do not come to the city of Alexandria to see ancient ruins. Rather there are some really great beaches in this town and the most famous one is Maamoura Beach. This beach is well known for its clear waters and well kept beach which attracts many tourists from Egypt and the surrounding countries. This is perhaps one of the most frequented tourist areas in the Middle East.

The town of Bari is the second largest economic center in southern Italy as is one of Italy’s better known ports and university towns. However the economic importance of Bari seems to be a more modern occurrence as in ancient Roman times this was a town of lesser importance.

Today the city of Bari is a modern industrial port town with a proud people. The dialect is a bit rough when compared to other regions in Italy. Many of the towns traditions are centered around Saint Nicolas which is the town saint. When you travel around the Mediterrian many ports have some sort of statue erected to honor Saint Nicolas which is the saint of sailors and fishermen.

One of the sights of Bari is called Barivecchia which is the old part of Bari and is comprised of a sprawl of streets. Until recently this area was considered off limits to many of the local residents however with a new resurgence of new pubs and bars into the area this part of town is becoming a better place to visit and can be frequented by tourists as well.

If you are more into seeing churches and the like then you will not be disappointed as with all of Italy the town of Bari has their fair share. The most notable places to see in this town is the Basilica di San Nicola which is the church of Saint Nicolas. This church was founded all the way back in 1087 to receive the remains of the saint. The next most frequented church is the church of St. Sabinus which is the towns Cathedral. This Cathedral was started in 1034 then later destroyed in 1156. The building we see today was built between 1170 and 1178 and was inspired by the church of Saint Nicolas.

One of the best times to visit this city is when the Fiera del Levante takes place. This is one of the largest trade fairs in the Adriatic sea and is held in the month of September. It is more like a mini world’s fair that takes place in this part of the world. Certainly that should be of interest to just about everyone.

Alanya is a sea side resort town located on Mediterranean side of the country of Turkey. However since this is a strategically located town this whole area has been under rule of many governments over the years. The Roman, Byzantine an d Ottoman empires have all at one time or another claimed this area as part of their own. This makes for a very interesting and diverse area to visit when on vacation. With all the cruise ships offering various shore excursions tourism has become the predominant industry for this town.

Sine this town has changed hands many times over the years the name of the city has changed with each passing empire. During the Roman times this place was called Coracesium and during the Byzantine Empire it was known as Kalon Oros.

Alanya is part of the Turkish Riviera and is situated between the Taurus Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea which makes for great weather and beautiful scenery. One of the more striking features of the city is the rocky peninsula that separates the city into two.

There are many cultural events in this area due to the high amount ot tourism which attracts a wealthy population. Notably is the Jazz festival that occurs here each year. When I think of Turkey I never think of Jazz so this kind of caught me by surprise.

Many tourists frequently visit this area from areas like Scandinavia, Germany, Russia and Norway. The main attraction for these tourists is the relatively cheap housing and warm climate which makes this area idea for the budget conscious tourist. However recently this area has suffered from a economic downturn since some outbreaks of the bird flu virus as well as some violent outbreaks due to the Mohammad cartoon published in the western world.