Cruises are one of the most pleasurable and preferred means of travel to exciting ports with your special loved ones or loved one.

Sometimes it is a family reunion or just mom and dad with their children; and other times it is a romantic rendezvous.

It may surprise you that Kim Winter Bean of Meyer Travel says that cruises are more popular than ever with families, especially when school children are on holiday.

Travel is an educational experience and it is a wonderful way to relax and discover distant places together without hidden costs.

"Anytime children are out of school the cruise ships fill up with family vacations. This is particularly true in December through early January.

"During this time of the year most every cruise line has a ship in the Caribbean. Our residents fly from Bermuda to Miami, and Fort Lauderdale to cruise to places like San Juan, St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and Antigua.'' She also says that many clients are enjoying Meyer's "repositioning cruises'' where locals start their vacation immediately when they board on several ships such as Celebrity Cruise, the MV Zenith , from Hamilton for the sum of $1,650.00 per person based on double occupancy. The return airfare is not included in that price.

The MV Zenith leaves Bermuda Monday, October 29 and the first port of call is Philipsberg, St. Maartan on Thursday, November 1.

The next four days are stops in Castries, St. Lucia, Bridgetown, Barbados followed by St. John's Antigua, Tortola, St. Thomas, Key West and finally Tampa Florida on November 11.

If Mexico is in your dreams there is no better way to immerse yourself in the rich heritage and culture of Mexico than on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Fiesta, siesta, ole! Experience the wildly festive Mexican spirit when the mariachi music begins or just take a relaxing stroll on one of many white sand beaches.

Vision of the Seas departs from San Diego and offers a seven night Mexican Riviera cruise to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico where you may troll for marlin, sailfish, mahi mahi and tune on an exciting sport fishing adventure.

Then on to Mazatlan, Mexico to explore long, white sand beaches, lined with open-air bistros and bars.

A day in Mazatlan is chock full of adventure and you may enjoy your day shopping, visiting the local art galleries or sightseeing among the colonial building.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico is where water activities abound with snorkelling or scuba diving in a spectacular underwater nation park.

You can rent a mountain bike and take a ride into the foothills of the Sierra Madres along the Cuale River.

Learn how old adobe bricks were made by hand as you experience a rarely seen side of this beautiful town.

You spend a couple of days at sea and then you return to San Diego, California.

Europe can be discovered on Celebrity's Millennium Ship and departs Bermuda August 10 and returns August 25.

It is a fantastic European tour which leaves Istanbul, Turkey August 11 and discovers Limasson, Cyprus, Alexandria, Egypt, Athens, Greece, Naples, Italy, Rome, Nice, France and Barcelona, Spain.

The cost of this fabulous tour is about $5,150 per person to $3,870 per person but includes: Round trip ticket from Bermuda 12 Night Cruise on Celebrity's Milleniuim All meals on ship and entertainment Full day tour of London 2 Nights deluxe hotel in Spain Transfers between hotel and piers VIP Party on board ship Rates are based on double occupancy.

The bonus for this trip is a chance to win a trip for two to Boston or New York. On August 14, on ship, the draw will take place.

The Millennium Europe trip is handled by Italian Sousa of Meyer Group and Tours office or italians ymeyer.bm For all of your cruise dreams contact Kim Winter Bean who has 15 years of experience in the travel business at Meyer Travel. You may phone her at 295-4176, fax is 295-2345 and email is kimw y meyer.bm Meyer's Kim Winterbean Create a memory for a lifetime by cruising to Italy. Imagine siting at this street cafe, Florence.

Popular St. Mark's Square, Venice, Italy. Venice is more like a marvellous film set than a real live city with cris-crossing canals, gondolas and water buses, arched bridges, palaces and little quite piazzas.

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