Cruise Travel Close To Home From The West Coast

Cruise travel from ports close to home is what passengers want now. In almost all of the cruise reviews, cruise travelers have expressed concern with long airline trips to distant lands.
Now they want to cruise from ports that are close to home to enjoy a less stressful cruise vacation. The cruise lines have caught on to this trend and are now positioning their ships up and down the United States East and West Coasts and along the Gulf of Mexico. Let's explore the ports of embarkation on the West Coast starting in Southern California at the port of San Diego and go northward.

If you can take the time before or after your cruise travel, spend some extra time in San Diego.

The city of San Diego is blessed with year round warm weather and seventy miles of Pacific Coastline.
There are many activities to enjoy while in the city.
They have a first class, world famous zoo in Balboa Park.
At Old Town State Historic Park learn about the History of California.
Near the downtown area there are 15 excellent museums and gorgeous gardens.



A little further up north is Long Beach just 20 miles south of Los Angeles.
Here is where the Queen Mary retired to in 1967 and is permanently docked serving as a Hotel.
With more 12,000 sea creatures the aquarium is a delightful spot to spend a couple of hours.


If you plan to take your cruise vacation out of Los Angeles there are plenty of sights to see.
A pre or post cruise package from the cruise lines will allow you to see the many cultural centers or drive by the star studded neighborhoods of Malibu, Bel Air and Hollywood.

Be sure to see Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Chinatown and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Visit funky Venice Beach and dine in the many excellent restaurants.
And don't forget to at least window shop on Rodeo Drive.

The dazzling Golden Gate Bridge will be what you sail under on you cruise vacation from San Francisco. Many cruise reviews have mentioned this city as one of the favorites from which to start a cruise.

You may opt to take a side trip to the vineyards of Napa and Sonoma Valleys for a day.
While in San Francisco check out Fisherman's Wharf, or take a cable car ride through the city.
In this city there are numerous excellent restaurants.
There is a ferry that will take you over to Alcatraz Island for a glimpse into the life of the prisoners.

Perhaps you have chosen Seattle, Washington as your embarkation port. The lovely Puget Sound area is rich with history of the maritime industries.

The Olympic Mountains will leave you feeling awed when viewed from the Space Needle that is 607 feet high.
For fun don't miss the Pike Street Market for fresh seafood and produce.
There are many fleets of sport fishing boats for fishing or for whale watching.

Even further up the coast you are now in Alaskan territory. Fairbanks, which was once a booming mining town, is the entrance to Alaska's interior. If you stay here for a day or two try a really Alaskan adventure and go dog sledding.

Maybe you would like to pan for gold, another part of Alaska's history. If you want to see the Northern Lights plan your cruise vacation for late August or early September.

Choosing a cruise vacation out of Whitter, Alaska will allow you to go whale watching, and look for sea lions and bald eagles.
This is a small quaint town that really lets you feel what Alaska is all about.

You will fly into Anchorage for departure from Seward, Alaska.
Try to stay a few days to explore the riches Anchorage has to offer. There is the beautiful Denali National Park, where Mt.

McKinney offers spectacular scenery.
In Seward you can take a cruise to the Kenai Fjords as a day trip.

Any of these cruise ports will make a great start for your cruise vacation.
So when planning any cruise travel pick a port that's close to home and leave some time for exploring the town of embarkation.

Happy Cruising

Copyright ? Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.

This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.

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Mary Hanna has traveled the world by Air and Ship while writing eBooks, Software Reviews and Practical Articles on Internet Marketing, Cruising, Gardening and Cooking. Visit her websites at: http://www.CruiseGold.com
http://www.CruiseTravelDirectory.com and http://www.CruisingTips.com

HSMAI to Produce Online Advertising and Distribution Tracks at Online Revealed Canada Conference

Ottawa, Canada (ContentDesk) April 24, 2006 -- Influential travel industry leaders will come together for the first annual Canadian online travel conference event, Online Revealed Canada, in association with the Canadian Tourism Commission this May 16-17th. As the travel industrys foremost resource for identifying and communicating trends in the hospitality, travel and hospitality, and sales and marketing management disciplines, HSMAI will produce two of the six educational online travel tracks taking place on day two of the conference."HSMAI has special interest groups who focus on revenue management and internet marketing, and we are proud to be a part of the first online travel conference in Canada...

HSMAI to Produce Online Advertising and Distribution Tracks at Online Revealed Canada Conference
Cruise > HSMAI to Produce Online Advertising and Distribution Tracks at Online Revealed Canada Conference

HSMAI to Produce Online Advertising and Distribution Tracks at Online Revealed Canada Conference

Ottawa, Canada (ContentDesk) April 24, 2006 -- Influential travel industry leaders will come together for the first annual Canadian online travel conference event, Online Revealed Canada, in association with the Canadian Tourism Commission this May 16-17th. As the travel industrys foremost resource for identifying and communicating trends in the hospitality, travel and hospitality, and sales and marketing management disciplines, HSMAI will produce two of the six educational online travel tracks taking place on day two of the conference."HSMAI has special interest groups who focus on revenue management and internet marketing, and we are proud to be a part of the first online travel conference in Canada...

HSMAI to Produce Online Advertising and Distribution Tracks at Online Revealed Canada Conference
Cruise > HSMAI to Produce Online Advertising and Distribution Tracks at Online Revealed Canada Conference

Sweep Her Off Her Feet with a Last Minute Cruise!

Finding the perfect gift for the woman you love can be difficult, especially when the occasion warrants something really special.
May we suggest surprising her with something that's sure to delight her, something that she'll never guess?
Book a last minute cruise and whisk her away for a weekend or a week of romance on the high seas! It's the ultimate vacation for two, and one she'll remember for a lifetime.In fact, a last minute cruise is the height of romance ? a grand gesture that has everything that a great romance needs ? sunshine filled days, moonlit nights, fine dining, dancing, pampering, glamour and exotic locales.
Doesn't it sound like the perfect gift for her?There's nothing as romantic as a cruise for those special momentsA cruise vacation is a great way to tell her you'd marry her all over again with three or more days of luxury, relaxation and pampering.
And with last minute deals, you'll have plenty left over to buy her something special...

Sweep Her Off Her Feet with a Last Minute Cruise!
Cruise > Sweep Her Off Her Feet with a Last Minute Cruise!

Sweep Her Off Her Feet with a Last Minute Cruise!

Finding the perfect gift for the woman you love can be difficult, especially when the occasion warrants something really special.
May we suggest surprising her with something that's sure to delight her, something that she'll never guess?
Book a last minute cruise and whisk her away for a weekend or a week of romance on the high seas! It's the ultimate vacation for two, and one she'll remember for a lifetime.In fact, a last minute cruise is the height of romance ? a grand gesture that has everything that a great romance needs ? sunshine filled days, moonlit nights, fine dining, dancing, pampering, glamour and exotic locales.
Doesn't it sound like the perfect gift for her?There's nothing as romantic as a cruise for those special momentsA cruise vacation is a great way to tell her you'd marry her all over again with three or more days of luxury, relaxation and pampering.
And with last minute deals, you'll have plenty left over to buy her something special...

Sweep Her Off Her Feet with a Last Minute Cruise!
Cruise > Sweep Her Off Her Feet with a Last Minute Cruise!