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A few years ago, in 2006, the Nevada legislature imposed a public smoking ban.

The new rule doesn’t apply - as yet - to the storied casinos of Las Vegas, where smoking is still allowed on gaming floors. And of course Nevada is hardly the only recent state to impose restrictions on public smoking. Indeed, it joins over thirty states (at this writing) with such laws on the books. If you are reading this from the United States, it is likely that a similar law applies to your area: half the country’s population is currently under the jurisdiction of a public-smoking regulation of some kind.

But the idea of a smoking ban passing the Nevada legislature seems almost like a kind of spiritual defeat for cigar smokers: after all, what could more epitomize “cigar cool” than the mental image of Frank Sinatra’s Rat Pack, cigars and drinks in hand, finger-popping their ways through the floor of a Vegas casino?

It just symbolizes a fact that’s made passionate smokers’ lives a little more difficult over the past decade: in the interest of public health (and out of consideration for asthmatics and others), more and more city councils and state legislatures are choosing to ban public smoking outright, or are limiting it to certain licensed facilities.

Arguments about the effectiveness or appropriateness of these bans to one side, we can all agree that they mean that smokers have to put a little more energy into planning vacations. For a person who loves the taste of a good cigar, for whom relaxation doesn’t become meaningful until there’s a stogie involved, there’s no point in a vacation where you can’t even smoke in your hotel room. With smoking bans underway in Atlantic City (and this ban extends to casinos) and similar one-time bastions of cigar culture, frustrated cigar smokers are turning to a new option: the cruise ship.

And why not? Cruise ship vacations offer the ultimate chance to “get away from it all,” a continuous expanse of blue water, and the opportunity to meet interesting people from all over the country (and world). Few cruises are completely smoke-free, with most offering, at the very least, designated smoking areas that might include cigar bars or lounges. So it’s hard to go completely wrong - wherever you book your passage, you’ll almost always have at least some chance to smoke.

More and more luxury cruise lines don’t allow smoking in living quarters - that’s one downfall. After all, the next person using your room might be a nonsmoker, and it doesn’t make economic sense for cruise ship directors to designate permanent “smoking” and “nonsmoking” rooms; such a move would involve logistical nightmares during booking. But luxury quarters often include balconies, where smoking is sometimes still allowed.

The recent case of a cruise line headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida gives smokers an indication of what they can expect. The cruise line, according to some reports, lost millions in bookings after instituting a partial smoking ban in 2007. But compared to those bans that have caused smokers such dismay in Atlantic City and Ottawa, the Florida-based cruise line’s smoking ban doesn’t even apply to the on-ship bars and casinos.

Indeed, the cruise ship industry seems to be following the opposite track of most US states and municipalities - as they grow more restrictive toward smoking, cruise lines are growing more permissive. One completely smoke-free cruise ship line went out of business awhile ago; another once-smokeless line changed its policies to allow some smoking on the boat.

Smokers will likely want to evaluate cruise line policies prior to booking as there are has examples of ships with almost smoke-free policies. Smoking on such lines may only be permitted in two designated areas - and if you light up anywhere else, you could be kicked off the boat! (That presumably doesn’t mean you’ll be forced to walk the plank, but it’s probably not worth finding out.)

Another rule of thumb mentioned by several travel writers: if you’re looking for company as you smoke, go for a cruise line with a high number of European and Asian clientele. Citizens of many of these countries often still smoke in higher numbers than do contemporary Americans, and there is a Spain-based cruise line that currently sports the least restrictive smoking policy out there.

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What type of cruise are you taking? Are you planning a week long voyage on the open seas upon one of the major cruise lines?

Who wouldn’t want to be sailing on a pleasure boat enjoying many of your favorite items all in one spot?

There is shopping, gambling, relaxing, sports and activities, great food, and different ports to venture off on. However, did you know there are other types of cruises you can enjoy on any vacation?

We are here to open your eyes to the various pleasure cruises you and your loved ones can sail off on. Are you curious? Well pack your bags, untie the ropes, and let’s venture off on the open water to see what fun we can have!!
Our favorite vacation cruises:

1. Luxury/Pleasure Cruise. A week or more on a giant cruise ship, enjoying luxury at its best. Caribbean, European, Hawaiian, Alaskan, or whichever cruise you take, you will embark on a journey that will take you places you’ve never been before.

Visit different ports of call, take in the sightseeing, shopping, food and more at any of the islands, relax or participate in as many activities as you can, or drink/eat your vacation away. It is all there and more when you splurge on a major cruise line and really treat yourselves to a life of luxury.

2. Theme Cruise. What about a Disney Cruise or company cruise? Your itinerary may be a bit different on a theme-type cruise. Great for family vacations, romantic vacations, honeymoons, or celebrations, a theme cruise can provide that little extra you may not find on a traditional cruise.

3. Gambling or Riverboat Cruises. If you are an avid gambler or love to take a weekend and hit up Vegas or any casino area, then a gambling cruise will whisk you away to do exactly what you love- play cards, take in entertainment, and enjoy great food on the open ocean. Why not add that extra enjoyment of a cruise?

4. Day Cruises. No matter what vacation destination you venture to, most tourist towns offer exciting day/night cruises. Fun for everyone to enjoy take your pick from dinner cruises usually with live entertainment, sightseeing tours, singles cruises, family cruises, and overall fun. You will see the sights, enjoy an array of activities, mouthwatering food, entertainment, and most importantly good company and miraculous views.

5. Barefoot Cruises. Instead of sailing off a huge liner, why not do a barefoot cruise on a sailboat. This type of cruise will offer an experience you’ll never forget. Gather with other sea lovers to lounge, sunbathe, read, socialize, dance and party from sun-up to sundown.

This is just the tip of the iceberg to give you an idea of how much fun you can have and what types of cruises you can enjoy. Whether you want to live in the life of luxury for a few days, hit the casinos to gamble, or spend a few days on land and a few days on the sea there is a cruise for singles to families alike.

Our Florida Travel Site is a fun vacation guide offering a ton of information, fun, and experiences to Florida, Florida beaches, and more from two Florida beach lovers!! Visit our Discount Cruise Area to see if cruising is right for your trip.

If you feel the need for a break from the cold and snow, then a Christmas cruise may be exactly what the doctor ordered. Because these cruises are in the winter, some of the best deals can be found for you and your family. With such deals, you can plan the perfect cruise in order to escape the depressing cold weather.

Affordable winter cruises are made possible because the major cruise lines frequently offer winter cruises for ridiculously low rates. You can travel to places such as the Caribbean and South America for lower rates than in the summer. You can also take cruises to such locations as Australia and Asia. Perhaps you might want to see the Northern Lights. They are only visible between the months of November and March, so there are some great winter cruises that make seeing them quite possible. It is true that it is a bit cold when you move to the north, but getting there consists of warm climates and beautiful sights.

Saving More Money

There are also deals that include roundtrip airfare, so look for these bundled deals to see how much money you can save on getting to your launch location. This is a lot better than having to buy all of your plane tickets separately from your cruise tickets. The airlines and the cruise lines work out deals together to give you the best rates possible. By giving you the best rates possible, it makes it more likely that you’re going to take your family on a Christmas cruise.

Another way to get the best deal on your Christmas cruise is to look for certain dates that offer 2-for-1 cruise fares. These dates are frequently found between November and the second week of December. It is true that two weeks before Christmas hardly qualifies as Christmas, but you can find some of the best deals during this period since Christmas cruises are becoming more and more popular. Consider it an early Christmas present to your family. You can also think of the fact that you will be home in time for everyone to have family time and for the kids to be home to open their gifts from Santa on Christmas morning.

Then again, you can take your family on a cruise after Christmas because the rates tend to drop right after the holiday is over. You can take that Christmas money that was given to you by relatives and invest in cruise tickets for the family. This also means that a winter cruise may make a great gift for that special couple in your family. The possibilities are literally endless. And if you want to celebrate the Christmas holiday on a cruise ship, you can do that as well. By taking advantage of bundled deals and discount coupons that can be found on the internet and various travel sites, you can still take a Christmas cruise on a budget.

A Great Idea

So if you’re looking for that perfect winter vacation and you want to do something different and really special for you and your family, this is a great way to go. It has only been in recent times that individuals have realized the uniqueness and the fun that is associated with a winter cruise. It helps get rid of those winter blues in ways you could not imagine. What’s even better is that you’ll come home renewed and refreshed from fun in the sun and beautiful sites. That may cause your friends and family to start gathering up Christmas cruise tickets of their own for the next year.

A chartered yacht makes an excellent venue for any special occassion or event, including Christmas Cruises. When looking for Toronto harbour cruises, consider Klancy’s Charters.

Millions of people every year enjoy cruise vacations. They visit destinations such as the Caribbean, Alaska, the Far East and the Orient even Antarctica and Africa.

Cruising has become an incredibly popular way to travel, with an increasing number of people opting to use this method of travel over any other each year.
There are several reasons why cruise traveling has become so popular. It has many benefits over other travel methods. Here are the top three reasons why choosing to cruise gives a person the best travel value.

The all inclusive price of a cruise covers nearly all costs.With most other forms of travel, everything is separate. A person must pay for airfare, accommodations, entertainment, taxes, and meals.
With a cruise, all of those items are included in the price of the vacation. Land-based all-inclusive resorts may include all of those items as well; however, cruise trips also include travel between various ports of call.
Add up the costs of other forms of travel and compare them to the price of a cruise ticket, and it will become obvious that a cruise is the better value.
Cruises include onboard entertainment, as well as opportunities for shore excursions.
A person who chooses cruise traveling will not have to worry about planning entertainment. Between shipboard activities and entertainment and the activities available at the ports of call, a person will have plenty to do on a daily basis.

In contrast, planning a traditional vacation is much different. A person must make many decisions about entertainment and activities, both before and during the trip.

This hampers a person ability to relax on vacation because he must continually think about what he will do next for entertainment. Land-based resorts are somewhat better, as there are typically plenty of activities and entertainment available, but since the entertainment does not vary much throughout the vacation, it is not as good of a value as a cruise.
Cruising allows a person to visit many ports of call in a short period of time.

Choosing to cruise lets a person explore many different cities or areas within his vacation time, all without having to worry about the travel. The person simply retires for the night and then wakes up in the morning in a new location, with the ship having traveled during the night. Best of all, the person does not have to unpack a thing.

With traditional forms of travel and for people who are traveling to a land-based resort, visiting more than one city or area requires much planning and coordination.

A person must take care to book accommodations for each city and, of course, he must pack and unpack his belongings each time he travels to a new locale. A plane ticket or rental car must also be arranged for any travel to another location.

There are so many different types of cruise vacations available; therefore, nearly anyone can find a cruise of his liking. The many benefits of cruising really do give a person the best travel value this is why so many more people are enjoying cruising these days.

Thomas DeSimone is an cruise consultant for CruiseDealership which can help you Save on ALL Cruises - ALL ships, ALL cruise lines, ALL destinations!
Find out how bookingLast Minute Cruises with us is as easy as 1-2-3. Log on at CruiseDealership.com.

Going on a cruise was once an easy thing to arrange. All you had to do was go to your travel agent and look at a few brochures. But as the industry has grown it has become an overwhelming mix of itineraries, cruise packages, choices add-ons and prices. So how do you look through and search for all the available information to find the best cruise deal? The following tips will help you find the best cruise and save you money.

1. The busiest season has always been January through March. This is when the cruise industry books the most cruises. Cruise lines usually make about 38 percent of their yearly sales at this time. This is the best time to find many hot or last minute deals because they offer a lot of incentives.

2. Make sure to start well ahead of your vacation or holiday time if you can unless you want a last minute cruise deal. First of all you should call the cruise line you are most interested in and ask for the cruise line rep about any of their cruises and the staterooms. You can ask about handicapped-equipped staterooms then if this is a special need. You can always do this later after you do some research too.

Find out what specials they have running and make sure to tell them how old you are and what state you live in or if you’re traveling with a group of people or another couple or have cruised with their cruise line in the past. Does it include your airfare? Do you need a family deal? This is because your specific situation may entitle you for big discounts. Take whatever the quote given to you by the cruise line rep as your starting price point.

3. Next check out the Sunday newspaper ads in the travel section and look for cruise bargains. The bigger city newspapers and the newspapers located in or near cruise embarkation cities are great for finding good or cheap cruise deals. You can go to your local library to view the ads if they carry those news papers. Some daily newspapers even have there travel ads online.

4. Take a look at the cruise booking Web sites. There are cruise discount agencies that may have the cheapest cruise rates to be found anywhere, whether you want a luxury cruise or budget cruise. Huge travel Web sites such as Orbitz, Expedia and Travelocity usually have great deals too. You can also find last-minute cruise deals too. The cruise Web sites’ prices are usually fairly similar. And the travel sites are usually similar but somewhat higher. Make sure to ask about any additional, secret or hidden fees, such as cancellation penalties. These can cost between $40 and $85.

5. Make sure to check with your cruise travel agent. Some people prefer to work with a travel agent or are not savvy about researching online. Find out if they charge a consulting fee before you meet. Some fees are usually refundable if they book your cruise. When you get together with the travel agent, say exactly what you want and that you’re comparing prices. Your local travel agent can be very helpful if you have disabilities, health problems, special needs or need visas or other documents.

6. Think about placing a “cruise wanted” ad on Craigslist online. Be specific and detailed about what you want. Then sit back and wait for replies.

7. Once you have a number of cruise line or cruise package quotes compare them and try to negotiate a lower price, extra discounts or some onboard extras.

Note that if you’re getting the same quote from your travel agent that you’re getting from the cruise line then you need to continue shopping for the best quote - your travel agent isn’t saving you any money. The best cruise deal is out there that is just right for you and will save you money on your vacation too regardless if you’re going to Alaska, Mexico, the Caribbean, Hawaii, the Bahamas, or Bermuda. You just need to do a little research and don’t take the first deal you see.

For more tips on getting the best cruise deals go to http://www.GetTheBestDealOnline.com for all types of deals - electronics, laptops, credit, HDTV, airfare, etc. and for tips on the best discounts, hot deals, low cost, wholesale deals and best deals online or offline. Online shopping tips, fraud and security tips.

The wedding day is definitely one of the most memorable days of our lives in this earth and it is not surprising that we all look for ways to make this day as unique and romantic as possible. This is also reason why a Caribbean cruise wedding will cover all your expectations and provide you and those that attend this wedding with the most wonderful memories to cherish for a lifetime.

What can be more romantic on earth then getting married on a cruise ship while at sea or even in a port? More often than not most couples choose to marry on the first day on the cruise even prior to the ship leaves the port so that they can have the family members attend and then, leave on the cruise for their honeymoon. The captain of the ship has the authority to marry if you want him to officiate your wedding, if not you can bring along your own minister on your wedding day.

It is indispensable you plan the Caribbean cruise wedding especially if you want to hold it before the cruise starts, because you cannot bring on board anyone without prior permission from the captain and that cannot be obtained on the same day in order to ensure the safety of all those onboard and be in concordance with the rules and regulations enforced by the US coast guard.

Everything be able to and will be catered for by the ship staff if they are advised in time for example, your wedding reception, the drinks, food and even the wedding cake. You will need to let them know the day you want your Caribbean cruise wedding to take place, the number of people will attend and when you want to it take place. You are also allow to bring your own drinks and food provided you obtain the approval of the cruise line first.

Have the wedding of your dreams in such an unique surroundings of the most romantic settings in the world and follow it by a similarly romantic honeymoon to the beautiful beaches and ports of the Caribbean.

One of the most thrilling and romantic ways to spend your honeymoon is to go on a cruise with the Royal Caribbean cruise liner. Not only that you will be able to have real good times on board the Royal Caribbean cruise liner, you will also have the chance to travel around the islands when you make your stopover. What on earth could be more romantic than exploring the Caribbean on your honeymoon on board the Royal Caribbean cruise liner? There are many destinations for you to choose from when you want to go on a cruise on board the Royal Caribbean cruise liner. And one of the most favorite routes that people on their honeymoon often take is the route which could bring you to such port stops as Conzumel, Mexico: George Town, Grand Cayman, Montego Bay, Jamaica and ends at the Royal Caribbean cruise lines private destination at Labade, Hispaniola.

Without trying to state the understandable, one can safely say that the Caribbean honeymoon cruise is one of the most romantic experience that allows couples to savor elegant sands, dip into warm waters as well as just having gentle winds scream out inviting one to take a moonlight stroll as well as enjoy fun filled picnics. One can find the most ideal romantic getaways in the seclusion of stylish resorts that will satisfy every newly- wed couple. People normally flock to the Caribbean in search of exotic as well as breathtaking islands that can provide every amenity, and also to provide that unforgettable experience that one has always hoped for, where honeymoon couples are especially pampered and feasted.

With the warm settings, secluded spots as well as beautiful beaches and clubs to provide all the necessary ingredients to grow the romance, one can see in your mind’s eye how much lovers would appreciate a week or two together in these idyllic locations. Most honeymooners gravitate towards Jamaica and the Dominican Republic for the reason that costs are lower and there is plenty on which they can splurge on. Getting married is a once in a lifetime event and the Caribbean provides some of the best honeymoon resorts that are even better to those found on some of the smaller European islands.

Caribbean honeymoon cruises specials are available almost everywhere and one can just click on a travel website and see the whole range of options that are available, and there are also certain to be some bargain basement prices as well. One can easily find resorts that are surrounded by the nature in all of its splendor and places such as the Paradise Bay Resort offer clear blue water and are hidden amid thousands of acres of beautiful nature, which also explains how it got its name are certainly visiting on a honeymoon. It is places such as these that put together the Caribbean honeymoon cruise worthwhile.

Cindy Heller is a professional writer. Visit caribbean cruise specials to learn more about caribbean cruise wedding and carnival caribbean cruise.