What's so great about
being a Cruise Diva?
Okay, it's
corny, but humor me for a
minute. Close your eyes. You're gliding across an expanse of
polished teak deck in the arms of your beloved. Soft music plays in the
background and the moon above is full. Stars twinkle overhead just for you. Your silky gown
rustles in the balmy Caribbean breeze. He's never looked more
handsome in his tuxedo...
Welcome to cruising! Escape the realities of laundry,
cooking, and cleaning. Go ahead and open your eyes. There's no
soft music and--probably--no deserted deck in the moonlight,
unless you stay up late. Very, very late. What there IS...
is steel drum music, the latest dances, and one of the most
enjoyable vacations you'll ever take.
There's no boredom allowed on most
mainstream cruise ships. What's available for you is every
activity you can imagine. Or none at all, depending on your
personal taste in leisure time pursuits. Lounging in the sun? Got
it. Learning a new dance step? Got that, too. And my personal
favorites... massages and facials, followed by a quiet corner to
savor a new book. There's good food and lots of it. No washing
dishes afterward and plenty of shopping!
The world's best islands are those that float and
move. They're called cruise ships. Doesn't it sound appealing? Find
out more. Come along with me and prepare to be a Cruise
Diva... learn what to expect and how to prepare and pack for a
stress-free cruise holiday. Each of us is a Cruise
Diva once we board!
Embark
here...
Nice
to meet you! I'm the originator of Cruise Diva. In real life, I'm Linda Coffman, a cruise travel writer and formerly the Internet
guide to Cruises at About.com. My columns and articles have appeared in Cruise
Travel and Porthole
magazines and are featured in JET TALK at the Internet's most
popular travel portal, JohnnyJet.com.
Watch for my special ports of call pieces in upcoming issues of
Renaissance Cruises' Preferred
Guest Journal.
I'm a
"cruise-aholic"... enjoying many cruise lines,
destinations, and ships in the mainstream and premium fleets.
How'd this all come about? Being of Norwegian descent, it's in my blood, but it started in
earnest over a decade ago. Then along came the Internet and the fun of
meeting fellow passengers online. What a great time I've had swapping
information and advice! Husband Mel is my partner and cruise companion. He endures
"formal night," dances a mean SHAG,
and takes the photos. The picture at the top of this page is one of Mel's and
illustrated a feature article in the Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel in
January 2000. He also adds that he totes the luggage and
major credit cards!
Mel and I have
enjoyed sailing on some ships so much that we've
returned for more when they changed itineraries. Mel is the
explorer of our duo, savoring new and interesting ports. Me? Yes,
I love new and intriguing places, but the ship's the THING! Our personal
"Ship's Log" includes dozens of cruises on the vessels of Norwegian
Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Renaissance Cruises, Princess Cruises,
Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. You'll find links to
these cruise lines on the Cruise
Links page, plus lots, lots more.
New
destinations are important to us and we've sailed to a variety of
ports in the eastern, western, and southern Caribbean, Mexico and the Mexican
Riviera, Central America, the Panama Canal, Bahamas, Bermuda, Alaska, New England, Canada, the
Mediterranean, the Greek Isles from Athens to Istanbul, and Tahiti. Visit
our favorite Ports of Call with us.
Join us in Paradise...
Warning! This
is not your mother's hula! A four-part series of our adventures in
the South Pacific.
Cruising
soon?
To become a Cruise
Diva, you'll need
my original Cruise Packing List.
This is the
list requested by thousands of online cruisers since 1995! Even experienced cruisers
forget things. The last thing you want mid-cruise is untweezed
brows or pantyhose in the wrong shade or size. Plus, I have some secret little tips to organize
your packing and your cabin. You will thank me. Your shipmates
will envy you. What more could a woman want? How about Packing for
Men? Just WHY does he need duct tape?
You'll find out.
And... you might
want some really useful Secret Tips. Some packing and
organization ideas that allow you to pack like a pro, unpack
in a flash, and earn The Perfect Passenger seal of approval
from your steward. You're on your way to becoming a Cruise
Diva already.
Cruise Diva ~ In the News ~ Press Reports &
Awards
My
two favorite words -- Bon Voyage!!!
~ Cruise
Diva Home~
~ Articles
& Advice ~ Cruise
News ~ Planning
Tips ~ Packing
& Lists ~
~ Ports
of Call ~ Reviews ~ Cruise
Links ~ About
Cruise Diva ~
~ Privacy
Policy & Terms of Service ~
