How To Book A Halong Bay Cruise

By mongolana 

Halong bay is the top destination in vietnam and Halong bay cruises is a must for all visitors. In this article I would like to share some experience to arrange a trip to Halong bay by yourself.

As there are a lot of cruises in Halong bay serving all types of tourists, each cruiser has it's good points and depending on your budget travelers can choose the most suitable for your trip.

Most cruises in Halong bay have their own website and you can make a booking online through the web. There are some things you need to be aware:

Online booking - Booking the trip directly with the cruiser via official website is more expensive than you book through an online travel agent, this is a normal practice in Vietnam tourism industry as the cruise companies usually offer a better price for travel agents. However not all travel agents are reliable and passengers may find themselves end up on another cruiser and not the one they have been confirmed. My advise is book directly with the cruiser, price is higher however your trip is secured and you will get what you paid for.

Transport to and from Halong bay: Most cruises offer bus service roundtrip as part of the package, passengers will be picked up from different hotels in Hanoi centre, some high class cruises charge an additional cost for the transfers, travelers can also arrange their transport by themselves, it takes about 4 hours drive each way with 30 minutes stop at a shopping centre, if you are on a family trip with children we recommend that you rent a private car, about 150 usd for a 2 day trip and thus you can start at your convenience.

Cruising itinerary: Each cruise company built their own itinerary however the programs are pretty similar, the cruise will cover the best part of Halong bay cruises such as Fighting cock islet, Heavenly cave or Amazing cave, a short visit to a fishing village and then to Titop island beach for swimming. If you take a 3 day tour the whole second day will be kayaking or other activities, travelers will be sent to a smaller boat going further out to different part of Halong bay kayaking tours, swimming or relax at an isolated island beach and return to mother cruiser at the end of the day. Some companies extend the itinerary to Lan Ha bay or Cat Ba island, staying overnight at hotel in Cat Ba island and go trekking the next day in Cat Ba national park. Visitors can also choose to stay at a beach resort bungalow such as Monkey island resort, Cat Ong resort or Suoi Goi eco lodge resort. As Halong bay has become touristy in recent years more cruisers have change their itinerary to Bai Tu Long bay which is more natural and still unspoilt by tourism.

Food and drinks: Halong is a sea bay and no wonder food served on cruise ship is mostly seafood with fish, crabs or sentinel, prawn, squid...The food on board is cooked in Vietnamese style, you can also request other things like beef, chicken or pork when you make a booking, vegetarian food is also available. For cheap and midrange cruises, food is served for the whole group on a big table, food is nice but maybe not enough for all. Some cruisers like Indochina arrange dinners in the cave with candle light that is a very nice experience, other boats organize BBQ lunch at a beach. Drinks on board are not included and it is pretty expensive compared to average price on shore. Wines and fizzy drinks are available at bar on the cruiser and travelers are recommended to check price before you order.

Article Source: http://www.streetarticles.com/cruising/how-to-book-a-halong-bay-cruise

Should I Take A Galapagos Cruise?

By John Adam1 

Many people wonder whether or not they should take a cruise to the Galapagos Islands. It really depends on what your specific interest in the area is. If you are going to the area looking for a fun night life then you have chosen the wrong place. If you are going because you are somewhat interested in the biological diversity of the area then you have found the right place. The area is simply rich with wildlife and the diverse landscape can offer a little bit of something for everyone.

Most people have heard of this island chain because they have heard of Darwin, the scientist who was primarily responsible for the creation of the theory of evolution. This theory was formulated by Darwin on a boat trip that he took to the islands to study along with some other scientists. This means that if you take a trip through these islands and you happen to be looking at the wildlife, you are literally following in the footsteps that Darwin took before you. This can be particularly interesting for any budding amateur biologists who are taking one of these tours.

The islands have many things to offer visitors. The wildlife is one of them. The finches that Darwin described are merely one facet of this. Given the varying landscapes and the different vegetation that can be found in this area, the finches have developed new and differing traits that differentiate them from each other. This is so that they will be better adapted to the areas that they have had to move to and survive in on their time during the island.

There are numerous cruises which can be taken and they are offered by a lot of qualified companies. For instance, National Geographic offers a ten day tour in which you will be touring and guided on your cruise by the experts from the company. This is one of the best ways to take a tour because they will be able to provide in depth information about all of the things that you are seeing. Other Galapagos cruise companies have mileage that tends to vary depending on exactly what you are expecting to get out of your cruise. It is recommended that you check online for details regarding specific cruises.

Yes, if you are able to you should go on a cruise in this area. There are no downsides, except for the fact that it may cost a bit of money to get onto the cruise and go. Other than that there is really no reason to avoid this. The rich history and culture of the area will provide plenty of opportunity for everyone to learn something who takes a cruise. Another added bonus are all of the things that may be provided by the cruise line that you take. Typical amenities will include all of the things that you would find on other cruise lines with a bonus because they are taking place in the backdrop of a beautiful biological landscape.

Article Source: http://www.streetarticles.com/cruise-ship-reviews/should-i-take-a-galapagos-cruise

Should I Take A Galapagos Cruise?

By John Adam1 

Many people wonder whether or not they should take a cruise to the Galapagos Islands. It really depends on what your specific interest in the area is. If you are going to the area looking for a fun night life then you have chosen the wrong place. If you are going because you are somewhat interested in the biological diversity of the area then you have found the right place. The area is simply rich with wildlife and the diverse landscape can offer a little bit of something for everyone.

Most people have heard of this island chain because they have heard of Darwin, the scientist who was primarily responsible for the creation of the theory of evolution. This theory was formulated by Darwin on a boat trip that he took to the islands to study along with some other scientists. This means that if you take a trip through these islands and you happen to be looking at the wildlife, you are literally following in the footsteps that Darwin took before you. This can be particularly interesting for any budding amateur biologists who are taking one of these tours.

The islands have many things to offer visitors. The wildlife is one of them. The finches that Darwin described are merely one facet of this. Given the varying landscapes and the different vegetation that can be found in this area, the finches have developed new and differing traits that differentiate them from each other. This is so that they will be better adapted to the areas that they have had to move to and survive in on their time during the island.

There are numerous cruises which can be taken and they are offered by a lot of qualified companies. For instance, National Geographic offers a ten day tour in which you will be touring and guided on your cruise by the experts from the company. This is one of the best ways to take a tour because they will be able to provide in depth information about all of the things that you are seeing. Other Galapagos cruise companies have mileage that tends to vary depending on exactly what you are expecting to get out of your cruise. It is recommended that you check online for details regarding specific cruises.

Yes, if you are able to you should go on a cruise in this area. There are no downsides, except for the fact that it may cost a bit of money to get onto the cruise and go. Other than that there is really no reason to avoid this. The rich history and culture of the area will provide plenty of opportunity for everyone to learn something who takes a cruise. Another added bonus are all of the things that may be provided by the cruise line that you take. Typical amenities will include all of the things that you would find on other cruise lines with a bonus because they are taking place in the backdrop of a beautiful biological landscape.

Article Source: http://www.streetarticles.com/cruise-ship-reviews/should-i-take-a-galapagos-cruise