There are few vacations that offer all of the cultural wealth and historical beauty of Mediterranean cruises. Only on a cruise around the Mediterranean Sea can a traveler sample so many things, including rich Italian cuisine, ancient Turkish ruins and sunbathing on a sparkling Greek beach, all in the space of a week.
Cruise ships of the Mediterranean are also available year-round, although the more popular departures are generally offered between the months of April and October. Many vacations range anywhere from 7 to 14 nights, but some trips can be longer. Ports of call will vary depending upon your specific itinerary, but your cruise can include stops in many picturesque ports in countries such as Croatia, Turkey, Spain, Portugal, France or Italy. Some of the cruise lines also offer specialized cruise tours, which are combinations of a Mediterranean cruise and a land based tour of Greece, Italy, Turkey, Spain, London or Paris.
Everything you have heard about dining on a cruise ship is also true. You will discover a varied selection of entrees (appetizers, soups, salads, sides and desserts as well) every single time you sit down to eat. And there is virtually no limit on how much or what you order.
But just because your ship offers everyone plenty of delicious food does not have to mean that you will come home looking and feeling out of shape. You can select a low-calorie menu selection that is just as tasty as those on the regular menu. Burning a lot of calories has never been so much fun! And best of all, the one thing you will never see on a cruise menu is the price!
To learn everything you need to know about a western Mediterranean cruise visit http://WesternMediterraneanCruises.net to find out more about Mediterranean cruises of all kinds, including many European destinations.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lindsay_Sullins
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
How to Travel by Cargo Ship and Boat
Exploring the Pacific Islands leisurely, romantically, and cheaply, via ship has always been a dream of mine. Hoping to make the dream a reality, I looked into various shipping companies before I started traveling in South East Asia and discovered that passage on cargo ships is quite expensive. Many ships carry about a dozen passengers and have comfortable cabins complete with air-conditioning for their customers. Prices range from $80-$150 per day and include three meals. You provide your own entertainment and socialize with the crew and your fellow passengers. You can book passage on a ship via a travel company, or you can contact the shipping companies themselves. I loved the idea, just not the price.
Still hoping to sail cheaply, I decided to try working in exchange for passage. I found the idea of a position on a small boat infinitely appealing as there would be more freedom than on a large one. In Hong Kong I hung around the yacht club hoping to befriend appropriate people, but the only sailors I met were yachters exercising their boats for the day. I scoured the notice boards hoping to find a 'help-wanted' ad, but found only objects for sale. Finally, I asked the lady at reception if there were any positions available on a ship; she handed me a job application and told me to return in a few days and talk to a manager, saying I might be able to find something on a cruise ship. I decided to focus on my land explorations and try my luck later on in Singapore.
At my hostel in Singapore I met a ship engineer, an Englishman. When I asked him about working or hitching a ride on a cargo ship, he laughed. He said he had hitched rides on ships all around the Pacific and that the best place to hunt for passage was on the west coast of the US because of the traffic. Then he said that no captain in his right mind would allow a female on board and that he as captain would definitely never take one on as the crew is usually all male and they don't see others, women, for weeks. He went on to say that I could probably try working as a cook on a ship but that the conditions were arduous. The kitchen can get very hot and the sea very rough. He'd seen cooks throw up into the evening's stew and had sometimes even found alien chunks in his food. After that I decided that I if I ever did sail, it would be with people I knew well or on a cargo ship when I was in the mood to splurge.
Since then I've met men who had worked as deckhands and sailed around the world, and one woman, a chef by profession, who cooked on tourist boats that plied the water between Ushuaia, Argentina, and Antarctica. The men found their positions by hanging around marinas and the woman via the Internet. Although I have never met a female deckhand, I've certainly heard of women who have worked on boats as such. If you have cooking skills or don't mind taking orders, this might be a way for you. Before committing yourself though, get to know your fellow sailors, employers, and make sure they're trustworthy. If you have any doubts, don't sail. It's better to be free on land than stuck with sharks on a boat in the middle of an ocean.
Umber Qureshi has traveled to 30 countries in 5 continents and Oceania so far. She is a traveler and writer; visit her at http://www.umbertravels.com/.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Umber_Qureshi
Still hoping to sail cheaply, I decided to try working in exchange for passage. I found the idea of a position on a small boat infinitely appealing as there would be more freedom than on a large one. In Hong Kong I hung around the yacht club hoping to befriend appropriate people, but the only sailors I met were yachters exercising their boats for the day. I scoured the notice boards hoping to find a 'help-wanted' ad, but found only objects for sale. Finally, I asked the lady at reception if there were any positions available on a ship; she handed me a job application and told me to return in a few days and talk to a manager, saying I might be able to find something on a cruise ship. I decided to focus on my land explorations and try my luck later on in Singapore.
At my hostel in Singapore I met a ship engineer, an Englishman. When I asked him about working or hitching a ride on a cargo ship, he laughed. He said he had hitched rides on ships all around the Pacific and that the best place to hunt for passage was on the west coast of the US because of the traffic. Then he said that no captain in his right mind would allow a female on board and that he as captain would definitely never take one on as the crew is usually all male and they don't see others, women, for weeks. He went on to say that I could probably try working as a cook on a ship but that the conditions were arduous. The kitchen can get very hot and the sea very rough. He'd seen cooks throw up into the evening's stew and had sometimes even found alien chunks in his food. After that I decided that I if I ever did sail, it would be with people I knew well or on a cargo ship when I was in the mood to splurge.
Since then I've met men who had worked as deckhands and sailed around the world, and one woman, a chef by profession, who cooked on tourist boats that plied the water between Ushuaia, Argentina, and Antarctica. The men found their positions by hanging around marinas and the woman via the Internet. Although I have never met a female deckhand, I've certainly heard of women who have worked on boats as such. If you have cooking skills or don't mind taking orders, this might be a way for you. Before committing yourself though, get to know your fellow sailors, employers, and make sure they're trustworthy. If you have any doubts, don't sail. It's better to be free on land than stuck with sharks on a boat in the middle of an ocean.
Umber Qureshi has traveled to 30 countries in 5 continents and Oceania so far. She is a traveler and writer; visit her at http://www.umbertravels.com/.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Umber_Qureshi
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Money-Saving Tips For Shipping Your LTL Load
If you regularly send LTL (Less Than Truckload) shipments either cross country or across town, no doubt you are always looking for the best deals. In today's tough economic times, every business needs to cut expenses whenever possible, and if shipping costs can be part of a reduction plan, so much the better. Here are some money-saving tips for shipping your LTL loads.
--Go with a broker
Generally speaking, freight brokers who work with a variety of different trucking companies will be able to arrange for the lowest prices and the best service. Use a broker that is willing to offer tailor-made customized quotes for each specific job. After all, why pay full load prices when you are shipping LTL?
--Go with quality
Although a ridiculously low quote may seem tempting, you will not save money in the long run if your load is derailed en route or if it does not make it to its destination within an appropriate time frame. A quality shipping broker will always offer the lowest possible price while never sacrificing the excellent service you expect.
--Be detailed
Your quote will be more accurate (and perhaps lower) if you are able to supply the broker with exact details and descriptions of your particular load. Make sure you can give the broker specifics about pallet number, weight, dimensions, and description of merchandise.
--Look for free LTL shipping quotes
The best online brokers will be willing to give free LTL shipping quotes to anyone who is willing to fill out information online or contact a representative of the brokerage by phone. You should never have to pay for a quote: this will translate into significant money savings.
Choosing the right way to ship your LTL merchandise makes good fiscal sense: it is worth the effort of doing a little research.
Load Em Up Freight Brokers LLC ( http://www.loademup.net/ ) shipping industry leader for handling LTL and full-size loads also freight shipping quote. Ryan Coisson is a freelance writer.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ryan_Coisson
--Go with a broker
Generally speaking, freight brokers who work with a variety of different trucking companies will be able to arrange for the lowest prices and the best service. Use a broker that is willing to offer tailor-made customized quotes for each specific job. After all, why pay full load prices when you are shipping LTL?
--Go with quality
Although a ridiculously low quote may seem tempting, you will not save money in the long run if your load is derailed en route or if it does not make it to its destination within an appropriate time frame. A quality shipping broker will always offer the lowest possible price while never sacrificing the excellent service you expect.
--Be detailed
Your quote will be more accurate (and perhaps lower) if you are able to supply the broker with exact details and descriptions of your particular load. Make sure you can give the broker specifics about pallet number, weight, dimensions, and description of merchandise.
--Look for free LTL shipping quotes
The best online brokers will be willing to give free LTL shipping quotes to anyone who is willing to fill out information online or contact a representative of the brokerage by phone. You should never have to pay for a quote: this will translate into significant money savings.
Choosing the right way to ship your LTL merchandise makes good fiscal sense: it is worth the effort of doing a little research.
Load Em Up Freight Brokers LLC ( http://www.loademup.net/ ) shipping industry leader for handling LTL and full-size loads also freight shipping quote. Ryan Coisson is a freelance writer.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ryan_Coisson
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
How to Choose an Auto Shipping Quote
Benjamin Disraeli once said that, I'm paraphrasing, the wisdom of the wise and the experience of the ages are perpetuated by good quotes. You can look up companies on the net, contact them, hire a broker to sift through them and select the most competent ones with the best records, make every preparation and take every precaution, but in the end it all comes down to asking companies for a quote and making the final decision according to the quote which best suits you.
Companies realize this and many offer GREAT QUOTES already on the home page of their sites. This is something to keep an eye out for: good companies want you to ask for a quote so that they can impress you and win you over.
As a quick aside, if a company requires an advance, make absolutely sure that you are issued a contract which covers a complete refund in case the service is not carried out. A favorite fraudulent technique by not so successful companies is to receive an advance, buy some time, fail to ship the car, and refuse to refund: an easy way to make at least some money with a minimum of expenditure.
Yes, it is better not to lie in your Resume, but in many cases you can use rhetoric to formulate your experience so that you sound as an ideal presidency candidate even if you are just a parking lot attendant. But when requesting a quote it is better to submit accurate, detailed, and even the most intimate technical information about your one and only.
An accurate description of your car's weight and shape is crucial, since carrier trucks do not accommodate all cars. Heavy SUVs, minivans, station wagons, pick-up trucks, and of-road vehicles must be considered for special carrier trucks. Any exotic features and customized changes (such as lowering the car or otherwise making driving up a truck ramp difficult) will require special service. For a small supplement to the general fee, most carriers are able to ship non-operable vehicles, but it is bets to inform them before hand, because it may take a truck with a specialized ramp to lift a car which cannot be driven.
Besides the actual content of the quoted, consider the way in which the quote is presented to you: try to see how professional, courteous, and willing they are. Compare this insight with the actual service they offer: is too good to be true? Compare their quotes with those of other companies for similar services. Even if you do not choose any of the most prominent companies in the field, it is still better to begin estimating prices and quality with the best, most well known companies.
Once you have conducted this field research, you will be able to tell whether the company that you seem to prefer - perhaps not the biggest name - is sincere about their price and service. And even with a sensible, sincere carrier you can haggle for a better deal. A standard trick is to convincingly suggest that may get a better deal for the same service elsewhere. For the most part, good companies do not offer the minimal price out right, which means that with good companies there is always a chance they might lower their price just enough for you to prefer them over a similar company.
Please visit http://www.jmnhaul.com for all of your nationwide auto transport needs or follow JMN Logistics on their blog.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=T_Kearns
Companies realize this and many offer GREAT QUOTES already on the home page of their sites. This is something to keep an eye out for: good companies want you to ask for a quote so that they can impress you and win you over.
As a quick aside, if a company requires an advance, make absolutely sure that you are issued a contract which covers a complete refund in case the service is not carried out. A favorite fraudulent technique by not so successful companies is to receive an advance, buy some time, fail to ship the car, and refuse to refund: an easy way to make at least some money with a minimum of expenditure.
Yes, it is better not to lie in your Resume, but in many cases you can use rhetoric to formulate your experience so that you sound as an ideal presidency candidate even if you are just a parking lot attendant. But when requesting a quote it is better to submit accurate, detailed, and even the most intimate technical information about your one and only.
An accurate description of your car's weight and shape is crucial, since carrier trucks do not accommodate all cars. Heavy SUVs, minivans, station wagons, pick-up trucks, and of-road vehicles must be considered for special carrier trucks. Any exotic features and customized changes (such as lowering the car or otherwise making driving up a truck ramp difficult) will require special service. For a small supplement to the general fee, most carriers are able to ship non-operable vehicles, but it is bets to inform them before hand, because it may take a truck with a specialized ramp to lift a car which cannot be driven.
Besides the actual content of the quoted, consider the way in which the quote is presented to you: try to see how professional, courteous, and willing they are. Compare this insight with the actual service they offer: is too good to be true? Compare their quotes with those of other companies for similar services. Even if you do not choose any of the most prominent companies in the field, it is still better to begin estimating prices and quality with the best, most well known companies.
Once you have conducted this field research, you will be able to tell whether the company that you seem to prefer - perhaps not the biggest name - is sincere about their price and service. And even with a sensible, sincere carrier you can haggle for a better deal. A standard trick is to convincingly suggest that may get a better deal for the same service elsewhere. For the most part, good companies do not offer the minimal price out right, which means that with good companies there is always a chance they might lower their price just enough for you to prefer them over a similar company.
Please visit http://www.jmnhaul.com for all of your nationwide auto transport needs or follow JMN Logistics on their blog.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=T_Kearns
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