Frequently featured in off-the-radar travel shows, Sardinia’s popularity in world tourism has never quite gone off. This is due to the competition provided by other Italian tourist destinations like Rome, Florence, Milan and Venice.

However, those who would like to experience what real Mediterranean culture is all about should skip the gelato and pasta as well as the traditional Italian tours – and head over to the most distinct nautical regions in Italy. This includes Tuscany, the Amalfi Coast, Sardinia and Sicily.

Each of these regions have a unique flavour to offer for tourists – especially Sardinia which is what we will explore more of here.

Sardinia’s Food, People & Culture

Located smack in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, Sardinia is a truly unique Italian destination because not even all the locals speak Italian! Although there are those who are fluent with the language, the locals actually speak Sardo and Catalan.

Instead of pasta and gelato, the local cuisine is dominated by not just Italian but also French, African and Spanish influences. Where else in the world can you find a supposedly Italian town serve suckling pig for big dinners? There’s also fresh seafood that Sardinia is well-known for, and pasta is served not with the usual tomato sauce but ragu or saffron with bottarga.

Those who have an adventurous palate can try raw urchin eggs or the uova di muggine which is the eggs of a Mediterranean fish served over pasta.  For desert, don’t expect to have melt-in-your-mouth gelato but try the rich sevada – a type of fried pastry which is filled with cheese and topped with corbezzollo honey which is sourced locally.

If you’re lucky enough to get invited to dinner with a local family, expect to have a great time because Sardinian people are known for their spontaneous hospitality. When you’re arriving to Sardinia by boat, the first thing that will grab your attention is the red, silver and black rocks formed from its centuries-old history.

What Else does Sardinia have to Offer?

There are plenty of activities that you can indulge in and sites to visit when you’re travelling to Sardinia. There’s the exquisite turquoise coves off the Gulf of Orosei; the remote but beautiful Costa Verde; the bustling beach resorts at La Pelosa; or the more deserted waters of Scivu.

The island itself offers a multitude of attractions with a landscape dotted with wild horses, seals and flamingos. You can also go fishing; hiking; indulge in water sports activities; or shop for intricately-woven lace products, wood carvings, carpets and bitter honey.

Perhaps the only thing that’s a con when it comes to travelling to Sardinia is the high prices – because it’s a favorite holiday spot for the world’s extremely wealthy people. However, those who have the extra funds to spare should definitely think about heading out to Sardinia instead of the traditional Italian haunts. This is if you would like to experience true-blue Mediterranean culture, an exquisitely fresh local cuisine, friendly locals and a place that is chockfull of history – Sardinia.

Travel Topics: Mediterranean tour, Sardinia, travel Mediterranean

A much anticipated and particularly enormous cruise ship, the Allure of the Seas is set to be the Royal Caribbean’s next ship. Accommodating up to 5,400 passengers, it is expected to be the largest cruise ship ever built. Still under construction, the ship is being built in the STX Europe Shipyard in the Finnish city of Turku. The new ship is the sister ship of the famous Oasis of the Seas, though it is not significantly larger than its predecessor. By volume, however, the ship is almost fifty percent larger than any other cruise ship currently in service weighing in at a colossal 225,282 tons.

The Allure of the Seas is so large that it will have actual designated neighborhoods on board including a boardwalk and a central park with an extensive collection of plants. There will also be the Royal Promenade area which is no less wide than a highway. This area will be flanked by many different shops and a bar. There will also be an Entertainment Zone complete with an ice skating rink and much more. A floating town in its own right, the ship will make for some of the most luxury cruises available anywhere.

A city at sea, the Allure of the Seas has sixteen decks and up to 8,500 people on board including the crew.  The ship is currently under the finishing phases of its construction, with the interior being fitted and furnishings taken on board as well as flooring and carpets. Though from the pictures, the ship does not look very near completion, the builders are confident in saying that it will have no problems reaching its deadlines which include pre-inaugural celebrations in November and an official opening to the public on the first of December.

In addition to its many facilities, the Allure of the Seas will also have a 3D movie cinema which will be allowed to display DreamWorks movies when they are released in the theatres, though passengers will not be required to pay for them. The new ship has no shortage of culinary delights either, complete with a new Brazilian steakhouse and a Mexican cantina. There are many new shopping venues as well. There are new features being frequently announced, but there will also be almost everything that passengers enjoyed on the Oasis of the Seas as well, due to their high popularity.

The new ship is set to base itself in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where it will go for weeklong cruises around the east and west Caribbean. Featuring 2700 staterooms, the Allure of the Seas will no doubt entice well-to-do vacationers from all over the world for its seven day cruises.

The company behind the new ship, the Royal Caribbean, currently operates twenty-one cruise ships around the world, offering unique cruises to many exotic destinations ranging from Dubai to Alaska, Europe to Australia and South America.

Travel Topics: Allure of the Seas, cruise, cruise ship, Finland, Royal Caribbean, Turku

Since water is a source of life, it is no wonder why civilisations are often founded by some of the world’s greatest rivers. When you explore the longest, widest and deepest rivers in Asia, Europe, Africa and South America, you’ll have a deeper understanding of what makes up the people of a certain nation.

This is precisely the reason why one of the best ways to travel is via river cruises – whether it’s on board a huge luxury cruise ship or a wild river rafting ride.

Counting Down Some of the Greatest Rivers in the World

No matter where your travel interests lie, there is a certain sense of adventure that you will feel once you have the opportunity to explore a city or town, or an entire continent through one of the most prominent rivers in the area.

To give you an idea about the bounty of pleasures that await you, here are some of the greatest rivers in the world that you shouldn’t pass up on the opportunity of exploring:

1. Congo

If you haven’t had that big African adventure yet, you can get a head start by venturing out to the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa. This is definitely not a river trip that should be taken by the faint of heart.

The Congo River serves as a drainage channel for the rainforests of the Congo Basin. It passes through the Yangambi Biosphere Reserve where you will find more than 32,000 species of trees. Keep in mind, however, that Congo is not that stable politically – although the river itself is virtually untouched by civilization. When exploring the Congo River, make sure to choose your guide sensibly and brace yourself for an extraordinary African river adventure.

1. River Danube

Perhaps one of the most romantic rivers in the world, the Danube passes through Germany, Austria and Hungary. The beauty of the river has inspired poets and artists from different generations, which is why it is dubbed as the Classical River within the region.

So what are you supposed to expect when you go on a river cruise by the Danube? Prep yourself up to see fairy-tale castles, Roman ruins, ancient monasteries, fortresses, vineyards and a breathtaking natural scenery.

1. The Amazon River

No list of the world’s greatest rivers will ever be complete without including the Amazon River. Flowing through Peru and Brazil, the Amazon River is the largest in the world. It is also home of some of the most ecologically diverse rainforests where you are bound to see endangered wildlife and seemingly out-of-this-world species.

Geographically, a cruise down the Amazon River is probably one of the most diverse that you can take because you can choose to go on a trip downstream where you will stop by a lovely Brazilian port town. Or, you can marvel at the beauty of nature as you explore the black Rio Negro River which is still part of the region.

1. The Ganges River

Those who wish to explore an entirely different world should definitely head out to India and take a cruise down the Ganges River. The Ganges is the largest and holiest river in the Indian subcontinent. On a yearly basis, people flock to these rivers to bathe in the holy waters and cleanse their souls of sin.

1. The Nile River

A cruise through the Nile River means trekking through Egypt and Africa.  This legendary river is the longest in the world and has become a virtual lifeblood for all of Egypt. One of the most popular cruises that you can take via the Nile River is downstream to Luxor, the city of palaces.

1. The Yangtze River

Another great river in Asia is China‘s Yangtze River, which is a major hub in the local transportation scene in this huge country. Some of the most breathtaking sceneries that you might stumble upon as you cruise the Yangtze River are the Three Gorges, the ghost town of Fengdu with its terra-cotta armies, and many other natural wonders.

Travel Topics: Africa, Amazon River, asia, Congo River, India, Nile, River cruise, Three Gorges, Yangtze River

What’s more romantic than boarding a luxury ship for a week-long cruise to exotic, faraway destinations? If you’ve always wanted to get away from it all, if you’re looking for a unique way to spend a vacation, or if you simply want to spend some quality time with a loved one or even have some ‘me time’ – booking for a luxury cruise is the answer.

The Princess Cruises Difference

One of the most popular cruise lines offering trips to all parts of the world is Princess Cruises. The television series “The Love Boat” has made the popularity of the cruise line soar – and they are now owned by a British-American company based in Santa Clarita, California.

Princess Cruises’ current fleet is divided into Grand, Sun and Explorer classes.  Some of the most popular ships included in the grand class are Grand Princess, Golden Princess and Diamond Princess.  These cruise ships can carry thousands of passengers who wish to travel to Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, New England, the Caribbean, Europe, the Mexican Riviera, Panama Canal and South America.  If you wish to lose yourself in the crowd, you can opt to board one of their large vessels – but if you want something a bit more intimate, the deluxe small ships that they have can host about 680 guests.

Helping you “escape completely” is the promise that Princess Cruises has – but can they deliver? Definitely, because Princess Cruises is synonymous with world-class service. They offer more than 115 unique cruise itineraries and they have more than 350 ports of call. The onboard amenities, activities, dining options and accommodations like balcony staterooms are all meant to allow guests to really have an escape from the daily grind of their lives.

Book for a 7-Night Cruise to the Southern Caribbean from Florida!

Now, one of the newest offerings that Princess Cruises have is a 7-night cruise to the Southern Caribbean Islands from Florida. If you wish to book for this cruise, you will be boarding the 3,080-passenger Crown Princess – which will begin offering weekly 7-night cruises to this part of the lush Caribbean Islands from Ft. Lauderdale.

Prior to this, the luxury cruise ship company only offered nine or ten-night voyages to the Southern Caribbean. The modified itinerary will give a wider array of choices for cruisers who wish to travel from Florida to San Juan, Puerto Rico – or those who would like to explore Aruba and Curacao.

Not only will you have the opportunity to spend a week-long cruise from Florida to the Caribbean, but the new 7-night cruise will also give you a chance to visit Princess Cays, the Princess’ private island in the Bahamas.

So what are you waiting for? If you would like to get on board the Crown Princess from Florida and venture on to explore Southern Caribbean at a leisurely pace, aboard a luxury cruise ship, book for the 7-day cruise offered by Princess Cruises when they start offering such trips starting November 2011.

Travel Topics: Caribbean, Caribbean Islands, Cruise line, cruise travel, Florida, Love Boat, luxury cruise, Mexican Riviera, New England, Panama Canal, Princess Cruises, Southern Caribbean, travel