Help the environment and then go on a cruise to see what is being preserved
Although most people nowadays are aware of the problems that mankind is causing with respect to global warming and the destruction of the natural habitats of many species of animal, we are often at something of a loss as to what we can do to help improve the situation. There are of course various recycling projects organised by local authorities around the world and simple things that you can do such as sharing a car to work or perhaps walking to the local shops instead of driving there, but are these enough? Cruises from Southampton are one way to visit areas around the globe and actually see what it is you are trying to preserve, which can help motivate people to make more effort on their return home. If you do not have time to take a ship all the way from the United Kingdom to the more remote areas of the world then you can of course always fly to a distant port and join up with a boat there. The majority of such holidays offer great flexibility, with P&O cruises and other major operators allowing you to embark and disembark at pretty much any destinations that are along the route of a particular vessel. There are still areas where people live simple lives, reusing the resources they have to make them go further. You can find a line of cookware from Japan that draws on similar principles, using recycled iron and a traditional, non-chemical process to prevent rust.
"Entertainment was provided by the Royal Cunard singers and dancers and accompanied by the various musicians on board each giving full enthusiasm each show performed. The shows we attended were thoroughly enjoyed along with the various other entertainers like Irish comedian Adrian Walsh and violinist Chris Watkins." - Parsons, Coalville on 29th Sep 2009 (Cunard Cruises)
Places to see and things to do
One of the more obvious yet undeniably beautiful destinations that you could visit is the Amazon in South America. If this area interests you then Princess cruises are one of the options that you could look into. Whichever company you choose to go with you should get the opportunity to trek through the jungle and canoe up parts of the Amazon on some of the shore excursions that are offered. When you are there, hopefully the beauty all around may inspire you to make a renewed effort to be more environmentally aware when you are back home. If you have a look on the internet there are various sites where you can order more ecologically sound products for your house. Royal Caribbean cruises have trips to Hawaii, another location where you can experience the wonders of the natural world, such as live volcanoes and beautiful waterfalls, to name just a couple. Although ships use a fair amount of fuel when they are journeying around the world, many companies are doing what they can to minimise their carbon footprint. Practices such as plugging into onshore power supplies when in port, instead of keeping the engines running to provide electricity, are becoming increasingly common. If you do not mind the cold weather then Alaska makes for a fascinating destination. Among the companies travelling there are Celebrity cruises and whilst on your voyage you will get the chance to see humpback whales in the sea as well as bears, moose and wolves onshore.
"Azamara Quest was absolutley fabulous. The atmosphere on board was far better than we expected. We had travelled before on Galaxy but this little but mighty ship Quest out shone her. Staff always greeted you with a genuine smile no matter where they worked. We arrived on Wednesday 16th Sept to a very wet Venice. Greeted by champers and smiles." - Bunk, Bath on 28th Sep 2009 (Azamara Cruises)
Life onboard ship
If you have never been on a sea-based holiday before then you may be wondering what it is like to stay on a ship on a day to day basis. There are of course many different sizes of vessel so you will find the atmosphere will differ from boat to boat. Obviously the larger the ship, the more facilities there normally are and if you live by the motto big is better then crossing the Atlantic with Cunard cruises on the Queen Mary II may be the thing for you. It is not the biggest vessel on the seas but is large and very well equipped. Although you may be able to find some places selling items that are kinder to nature on your travels, it is sometimes easier to hunt them down on the internet, as mentioned earlier. As more people take an interest, so the range of products available is growing. There are novelty solar powered toys that act as a reminder to conserve energy and many items that are made from raw materials that are taken from a sustainable source. Caribbean cruises are great for when you just want to get away from it all and the area has an ideal climate for harvesting the power of the sun. Typical vessels sailing these waters will have a wide variety of onboard eateries, ranging from fine dining restaurants to more down to earth cafes and pubs. Gyms and health spas are also common on many of the liners.
"We have just had our first cruise and it was on board RCI's Voyager of the Seas from Barcelona to Naples, Civitavecchia, Livrono, Villefranche & Marseilles. What an experience. Having nothing to compare it with I can only say that it was fantastic." - Jones, Wistaston, Crewe on 28th Sep 2009 (Royal Caribbean Cruises)
Short or long?
Exactly how much you can see and the excursions you can go on will depend to a certain extent on how much time you can afford to spare for your holiday. Fred Olsen cruises are one of the choices if you fancy a round the world trip and they also do many shorter voyages, from a few days to basically as long as you want. In addition, they offer tours where the trips onshore consist of walking tours, which makes them more environmentally sound than some other types of excursions. It is surprising how much fuel could be saved if people walked more often. It is not necessary to go mad of course and walk dozens of miles instead of driving, but there are many occasions when we could leave the car at home for once. MSC cruises have some great excursions aboard a schooner that visit unspoilt lagoons off the South American coast. Apart from the corals and tropical fish there are picturesque churches and lovely beaches to take in as well. You can pack all your swimwear in one of the eco-friendly bags available online that are made from recycled Japanese advertisement banners, if you want to do your bit while away. A special towel that wipes away excess oil from your face, without the need to use soap is also another item you can buy to take with you. For a nice nine night trip, you could discover the rainforests in the Mexican Riviera with NCL cruises.
"It was our first ever cruise and it was absolutely amazing. From the moment we arrived at the dock and our car was taken and parked for us the holiday was out of this world and I did in fact text all of my friends with the same text. My God this is unbelievable. The cabin was really spacious - we had a balcony, a separate wardrobe and dressing area t.v. fridge easy chairs and a dressing table. Absolutely everything was there that we needed." - Ely, Newcastle upon Tyne on 28th sep 2009 (P&O Cruises)