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Land Trips

2014 Volunteer Trips to India and Thailand

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This has been a fantastic year! We want to thank everyone for supporting our cruise  websites.  This year, Patricia had the opportunity to go on a volunteer trip to India and Thailand.

Patrica with Children in LadakhHer journey began in India, where she traveled with Dental Global Relief to a remote  village called Ladakh.  There, a team of dental and non-dental volunteers reunited to provide oral health care to hundreds of impoverished kids.

Patricia with Elephant at Elephant Nature ParkAfter volunteering  in India, Patricia was able to fly to Chiang Mai in Thailand, where she visited and had the opportunity to volunteer at Elephant Nature Park.  The park provides a home for orphaned elephants that have  been abused as working animals and also is a home for rescued  buffalos, dogs, cats, birds and many other rescued animals. While there, she was able to support and provide love and care to the  elephants.

Being able to bring a smile to underserved people in other countries and to bring love and care to rescued elephants is the most gratifying experience.

Thank you again. We wish you all a Blessed and Happy New Year!

Here are some photos of Patricia’s trip to India and a short video of volunteering with the elephants.

Ladakh, India
Ladakh, India

Patricia Providing Oral Healthcare to Child in India  Indian Children Waiting to be Seen for Dental Care

Bahamas Cruises, Caribbean Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines, Mexico Cruises, Shore Excursions

Carnival Ecstasy Cruise – 4 Day Western Caribbean – My cousins’ and uncle’s experience

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Carnival Ecstasy is a small cruise ship with a capacity for 2,052 passengers. This ship was built in 1991 and is the second-oldest ship in Carnival Cruise Lines’ fleet.

This cruise ship usually departs from Miami and it has short, fun itineraries to Bahamas and the Western Caribbean – ideally for a family who wants to have a blast.

My cousins and uncle definitely had a wonderful experience going on this 4-Day Western Caribbean Cruise. They departed from Miami and visited Key West and Cozumel. The ship, even though it is older, is well-maintained and was packed with so much fun. They were able to enjoy amazing food, clubs, the casino, different activities, and the comedy shows.

The dining experience was quite fantastic and the desserts were phenomenal; the warm melting chocolate cake was their favorite. The activities were fun. They included: basketball, a nine-hole mini-golf course, a state of the art fitness center, and the Carnival Water Works-Aqua Park. The shows and the singers were excellent, and the comedians were hilarious as well.

Overall, the experience and the service were beyond what they expected. The staff were incredible and they made them feel  very special. The waiters and waitresses remembered their names and meal preferences from the first day. It definitely was well worth it, and they had unbeatable fun for the price.

Once at Key West port and Cozumel, there are beautiful beaches, many shopping centers, restaurants, museums, and many other activities you can enjoy. Don’t forget to make your experience even more amazing by booking your shore excursions, such as: Watch Dolphins in their Natural Habitat, Sail and Snorkel Tour, Jet Ski Tour, Key West train tour, Sunset and Champagne Sail, Beach Day at Playa Mia with Transfers, Minisub Dive Tour, Introduction to Scuba, and much more. Check for all the  shore excursions and book them before your departure. We offer great deals on these shore excursions!

Check their 4-Day Western Caribbean Cruise experience video – a wonderful and fun experience!

Cruising Tips

Top Ten Reasons for Taking a Cruise

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Taking a cruise is one of the best and most exciting ways to have the vacation you deserve. Cruise vacations have the highest percentage of satisfied customers compared to any other vacation experience. Here are the top 10 reasons why you should choose to cruise:

  1. Value
    Cruises are more affordable than many land-based vacations; they offer you a great value for your money. You will have cabin accommodations, dinning, endless activities and entertainment. You can visit many places for just one price, in a safe environment, and with great quality service.
  2. Variety
    Cruises offer you great variety – with more than 150 distinctive ships, and thousands of destinations. You can visit so many different places in such a short period of time, it is like being in a floating city. One day you wake up in a new place, and the next day you wake up in some other part of the world.
  3. Fun and romantic
    Cruising is a fun way to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, family reunions, honeymoons, or any other special or romantic occasion. Couples can enjoy going to secluded islands, having a romantic dinner on their own balcony looking over the ocean, spa services, and much more.
  4. Family friendly and fun for all ages
    Cruises are suitable for anyone and everyone. For families, this is one of the most convenient and enjoyable ways to go on a vacation. Many ships offer babysitting service and excellent child care programs to keep children entertained and happy. There are so many activities and cultural experiences for you and your children – all in a safe and secure environment. Children of all ages, parents and grandparents alike, will love it!
  5. Great way to socialize
    Cruising offers unique opportunities to meet a lot of people all over the world. You’ll share new experiences and make friendships that last a lifetime.
  6. Group experience is fun and easy to plan
    Going on a cruise in a group is easy and convenient, and it’s often less costly than the traditional cruise booking route. You can pick your staterooms all on the same deck, dine at the same restaurants onboard, enjoy a Broadway-style show together, and so much more. With plenty of fun group activities, get ready to create unforgettable memories.
  7. Exquisite unlimited food
    The cruise experience has a variety of unlimited dining options. You will find elegant dining restaurants, specialty restaurants, casual poolside grills, buffets, and snack bars. There are many choices to please every taste.
  8. Activity and adventure
    Cruising can offer you so many activities and give you memorable and adventurous experiences. Many ships now contain rock-climbing walls, wave machines, putting greens, basketball courts, dance classes, casinos, fitness classes, ice-skating rinks, water slides, surfing activities on the ship, and much more. Once you arrive at your destination, you can go to an exciting shore excursion and go zip-lining through a rain forest, hiking through ruins, take jungle safaris, historic city tours, go dog sledding in Alaska, surfing in Hawaii, explore unique wildlife in the Galapagos, and swim at the very best Caribbean beaches. Cruising is a great way to fill your life with adventure!
  9. You will feel pampered
    You will receive attentive and personalized service, and you are always going to feel like a welcome first class guest. In a cruise you will find ocean views and balcony staterooms, luxurious bedding, beautiful spas, a large assortment of dining options, and different sporting facilities. You will not receive this type of pampering at any hotel.
  10. Cruise vacations are easy and simple to plan
    Planning a cruise is simple; we can handle all of the details or you can book your cruise online at www.TopCruiseFinder.com.

What are you waiting for? Whether you choose to go by yourself, with your partner, or in a group, you will have the vacation of your dreams. Cruising allows you to explore the world, relax, have fun, dance the night away, feast on fabulous cuisines, learn something new, make friends, bond with your family, and have romantic moments with your partner. Choose to cruise and have the most memorable experience of your lifetime!

Caribbean Cruises, Costa Cruises, Europe Cruises, Mediterranean Cruises, World Cruises

Costa Cruises: Amazing Experience

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Travel with pleasure, elegance, and Italian style in any of the many ships that Costa Cruises has to offer. This cruise line offers you a wide variety of itineraries.

My human Patricia and her cousin Maylen where able to embark into a 3-night adventure cruise in Costa Mediterranea.

Let me tell you a little about this specific ship. Costa Mediterranea was built in 2003 and was inspired by Italian buildings of the 17th and 18th centuries.  This is a very elegant and beautiful ship.  This ship has a capacity for 2,114 guests, with 1057 cabins, 4 restaurants,  4 pools, 12 bars, casino, spa, gym,  library, shopping center, outdoor jogging tracks, volleyball, tennis and basketball courts, and a theater that offers a Broadway-style shows every night.

This cruise that they took departed from Barcelona and went to Savona, Italy and Marseille, France. They told me that they made a lot of friends, the staff was extremely attentive, the food was delicious and there were many activities during the cruise to keep them busy and happy.

The food was delicious “yummy”.  This ship has a wide variety of dining options, from buffets to restaurants with real authentic gourmet Italian food. Patricia and Maylen enjoyed the Argentieri Restaurant which is a two level, reminiscent of an 18th century palazzo .  After dinner, there is always an amazing celebration where the wonderful staffs make you sing and dance.

Ah, I forgot to mention that adding the unlimited drink packages was a terrific value for them. They were able to try many delicious exotic drinks at the bars and disco.

After a day and night full of activities, these girls also knew how to relax and take advantage of the incredible amenities that this ship has to offer. They enjoyed the two level Isha Spa, which features a wide array of body treatments, steam rooms, saunas, and a state-of-the-art gym. The Olympia Gym is pretty big, and it has an amazing ocean view and a large Jacuzzi in the center.

I have to tell you that, despite my ears hurting a little from hearing the story over and over, I really enjoyed hearing and watching their video on YouTube.  See for yourself:

Do you want to have the same experience? Find cruise deals and book your next Costa Cruise.

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean’s Newest Ship: Quantum of the Seas

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I have something very interesting for you, my friends.

Royal Caribbean will launch in November one of the most revolutionary ships of the year – Quantum of the Seas, with  2,090 cabins, including 373 virtual balconies.

This ship has revolutionary spaces that transform from day to night. You can play basketball, go roller skating, and ride bumper cars.  Quantum of the Seas has the first skydiving simulator, and a glass capsule on a mechanical arm that will take you 300 feet above sea level.  Wowwwww – amazing!

Do you want to be the first one to experience this new ship? Take a look at the sailing dates and book a cruise on Quantum of the Seas.

This ship sails to:  Bahamas, Caribbean, and Transatlantic.