http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/pets/puppy-nutrition-why-mothers-milk-is-crucial-for-the-survival-of-newborn-puppies.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/pets/puppy-nutrition-why-mothers-milk-is-crucial-for-the-survival-of-newborn-puppies.html Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0600
A puppy's first stage of eating takes place in their mother's womb. This food comes in a form of nutrients that are found through the mother's blood and are carried over to the puppy's blood without him having to do anything. After their birth, a puppy's fragile digestive tract are only able to absorb nutrients that are easily digested. These well absorbed nutrients are provided by their mother in the form of milk.

During the following weeks of nursing the puppies, ingredients found in the mother's milk is also changing. During the first 24 hours after the birth of the puppies (whelping), the mother's milk is largely made of a substance called colostrum. This substance is very high in proteins, vitamins, and calories, and provide the puppies with protective anti-bodies that help to build up their immune system. A healthy immune system protects their delicate and susceptible bodies from a number of infections and illnesses. This type of milk also provides them with the energy that they need for the first 24 hours of their lives.

After the initial burst of nutrients from the colostrum is transferred to the puppies, the mother then stops producing the substance from her milk. During the following days, the mother's milk changes in concentration. It becomes more mature, more concentrated, and has more nutrients to accommodate the puppies' changing bodies. As they approach the weaning stage, the milk changes again and becomes more diluted as the puppies diet changes and eats more solid foods.

The first two to five days after birth is considered to be the most crucial period that occurs in a dog's life. The other critical period happens at weaning and two to three weeks following that. This is the time when the puppy's digestive tract changes in order to adapt from their mother's milk to their new diet of solid foods.

The transition from mother's milk to solid food should take place gradually, and automatically. Forcing this process to happen in a shorter amount of time causes more stress and more difficulty for the puppies. Puppies' sensitive digestive tract should be trained to handle different types of food by slowly decreasing the amount of milk and at the same time increasing the amount of solid food.

--
May Meggan loves dogs and loves to write. A combination made for the internet. Her most recent project is www.dogtrainingideas.net where she helps dog-owners to find smart ways to learn to train their dog and have great fun doing so. Most of the ideas found on Dog Training Ideas come from her own 22 years of experience.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/gardening/choosing-the-right-mulch-for-your-garden-3-factors-to-consider.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/gardening/choosing-the-right-mulch-for-your-garden-3-factors-to-consider.html Sun, 22 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0500
1. Choose a mulch that does not promote the depletion of nitrogen. Nitrogen is a very important (and essential) nutrient that needs to be in your soil. However, this nutrient can be scarce depending on the type of mulch used.

A good example would be using finely chopped mulch, like sawdust. There are microorganisms that are responsible for decomposing this sawdust while at the same time they seriously deplete it of nitrogen that is needed for your plants. In time, if your perennials and other flowers are living in this type of mulch, the lack of nitrogen will cause them to become "chlorotic", or yellow in color, which is the result of a nutrition deficiency.

Should the rest of your garden start the same chlorotic signs then it is time to consider that you have a nitrogen depletion problem. A good way to fix this is to add approximately 2 pounds of complete fertilizer spread out for every 100 ft. Spread the fertilizer all around your soil and then lay down your mulch. If you are not facing a nutritional deficiency in your garden then you can also use this technique as a preventative measure against nitrogen depletion.

2. Another factor to consider when buying mulch is its flammability. This is one of those situations that most gardeners rarely consider. However, many fires are started in garden areas due to smokers flicking their cigarettes when they are done. This is especially true if you have created a garden area around an office building or some other public area.

Dropped cigarettes and lit matches can easily set off mulches that are organic. Even if your garden is created in your backyard and is totally personal, you still may want to consider flammability as a possible hazard in case anybody does come over and has a cigarette or two. Fire dangers include hay, pine needles, recycled mulches, and straw.

3. Last but not least, be careful when using organic mulches in areas that are poorly drained and gather up moisture easily. These low-lying wet areas may collect gallons of water which can produce toxic chemicals due to the decomposition that is occurring. These chemicals are a danger to your perennials and other flowers because of its toxicity. If the garden area you are considering is already prone to this type of water build up, then adding mulch is not a good idea and will only slow down the soil's process of drying out.

--
Esmee McCornall is a 'Gardoholic' publisher and writer. She recently published a guide called "Tips and Tricks to Create the Garden You Always Wanted". You can download a FREE copy at http://www.gardensandflowers.net

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/gardening/garden-decor-great-ideas-to-add-charm-and-character-to-your-garden.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/gardening/garden-decor-great-ideas-to-add-charm-and-character-to-your-garden.html Fri, 20 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0500
You want an example? Well, strategically based garden lighting for example can bring your landscaping to life and make your evenings last longer. Consider applying tiny, bright chains of lights woven through the branches of trees to create a phantasy world feel or pathway solar lights shaped like lanterns to lend an Asian affect.

Garden furniture can be an immense component in garden decor design. Consider the different directions in which the silverish, raw tones of weather-beaten teakwood benches or the crimson of a span of Adirondack chairs would affect your garden composition. Accessories are crucial, too: integrating stone or alloy statuary, wind bells, birdbaths and bird feeders into your garden design will give it a extremely personalized spirit.

Although terraces and other seating areas support congregating and socializing, support structures such as trellises and lattices, gates, benches and stone walls provide definition for your garden. And although there are no strict rules for selecting and employing the components of your garden�s decor, these are a few hints for trying out different scenarios:

A place for everything and everything in its best place: When ranging your beds of flowers and borders, keep garden supplements in mind. Will your stone bench work better in the middle of your beds of roses or under a aging tree? Will your bronze armillary overwhelm the plants next to it? Should you buy an antique watering can to accent your wildflower garden? By decently placing an object, you can avoid having it look as it if was placed randomly in the garden.

Create focal points by placing decorative elements or functional pieces where garden paths naturally conjoin or in areas where they are a good fit: A frog statue looks great by a pond. Not on the edge of a patio. Birdbaths can fit into several different arenas, but benches and other garden seating work best when placed in a comfortable, shady area with a wonderful view.

Avoid making your garden appear 'junky' and rather 'cheap'. Remember that it's probably a better idea to use just a couple of large and themed decor objects (such as a statue, fountain, sundial, armillary, stone benches) rather than a large number of smaller garden objects spread all over the place. And one more hint: keep both the size of your garden and plants in proportion with the chosen objects.

Upgrading your garden from average to breathtaking is a matter of trying and (probably) re-trying. It's probably fair to say some re-arranging will be involved. Think and plan, but don't waste too many hours on it. There comes a point when you just have to get out there and get your hands dirty.

--
Esmee McCornall is a 'Gardoholic' publisher and writer. She recently published a guide called "Tips and Tricks to Create the Garden You Always Wanted". You can download a FREE copy at http://www.gardensandflowers.net

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/legal/family-law/get-creative-with-your-home-security-system.html http://www.articletrader.com/legal/family-law/get-creative-with-your-home-security-system.html Tue, 10 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0500

The purpose of a home security system used to be pretty straightforward: keep the bad guys out. That hasn’t changed. A home security system that is connected to this day and age still protects your family and your property. But it is much more sophisticated than that. It even allows you to get creative. Probably beyond your imagination.

Say you add an additional sensor to your liquor cabinet. A 21st century home security system can be configured to send out an e-mail or SMS message when the cabinet is opened. Not addressed to your monitoring service of course, but straight to you. How would that make you feel when your teenage kids are home alone?

Custom Notification Rules
It’s just one example. It isn’t hard to think of more. The medicine cabinet for example. Or the closet or cabinet where you keep fire arms. All items you would like to keep a close watch on can be protected with a simple ten dollar sensor that is connected to a 2007 alarm system. When those cabinets are opened, you probably don’t want the police to be alerted. However, you might want to receive an e-mail or SMS message.

To most people with an ordinary home security system, these features may same extraordinary. The truth however is they are not. All it takes is a simple to install add-on device. It upgrades your existing home security system straight into the 21st century.

The ‘big secret’ behind this all is the fact that these add-ons communicate over three redundant connections - broadband, cellular and phone line, whatever is available in case of an emergency or whatever is needed to perform a configured action – like sending a SMS message.

Did Your Daughter Arrive Home Safe?
Want another example for every day use? What about getting an e-mail or a SMS message when your daughter has arrived home safely from school? Or a message that your neighbor has just fed your cat or walked your dog while you're on vacation? It’s all just a matter of creating personal (dis)arm codes and custom notification rules for everyday events that suit you and your lifestyle. Sounds complicated? It isn’t. All it takes is a few clicks of a mouse.

Make Things Easier
Even if you don’t have children, pets, liquor or guns – upgrading your existing home security system into the 21st century is something to consider. The ‘bad guys’ you are trying to keep out, are aware that your security system depends on a thin copper wire. All they have to do is find it, cut it and your property is theirs. Unless of course, your home security system switches to a broadband or cell phone connection the moment your landline gets cut.

Upgrade Your Alarm System
The Good News is that these new types of configurable systems are now available. The even better news: a company called uControl introduced an add-on ‘link’ that makes your existing home security system communicate over broadband, cellular or phone line – whatever is available. It is compatible with 95 percent of all alarm systems already installed in U.S. homes today. Therefore there is no need to throw away your existing system. Just upgrade it and your house and family are protected better then ever.

Installing the uControl link is easy. And it’s even easier to configure the uControl link to fit into your lifestyle. All it takes is few clicks of a mouse and you are ready to receive an e-mail or SMS message when your daughter arrives home from school.

Peace of Mind
Unlike the traditional companies like ADT or Brinks, uControl does not charge you an extra fee for communicating over broadband, cellular and phone line. In fact, they provide more security and more peace of mind for the same dollar.

--
Jason Dutch writes about Home Security. If you are considering to upgrade your home security system (and you should for obvious reasons) you are invited to read a review at www.ucontrolreview.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/legal/family-law/ucontrol-upgrades-your-%91window-sticker-and-yard-sign-home-security-system-into-the-21st-century.html http://www.articletrader.com/legal/family-law/ucontrol-upgrades-your-%91window-sticker-and-yard-sign-home-security-system-into-the-21st-century.html Sun, 11 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0600

It's probably not what you want to hear, but all it takes for a burglar to disarm your security system is to find your telephone line and cut it. From that moment on your belongings are his. It’s amazingly and scaringly easy. And it happens all the time. All over the U.S.. You can abnegate your home and families safety is at risk, or you can you do something about it. I’d suggest you do something about it…

Actually the answer to your problem is simple. Just make sure your home security doesn't rely on a single land line. And that’s precisely what uControl does. The second your land line gets cut or disabled uControl switches to a broadband or cell phone connection. Your property will still be monitored and your family is safe.

Is that all new? Yes and no. No, as other parties offer wideband or cellular connections too. Yes, as uControl is the 1st to offer a home security service that communicates over three redundant connections - wideband/wideband, cellular and phone line. Whatever is available and without charging an additional fee.

The uControl Link connects to the system you already have. Therefore you do not have to boot out your existing alarm system. The uControl system is compatible with 95 percent of installed alarm systems allowing you to keep the existing keypads, control boards, smoke detectors, motion detectors, and sensors already installed in your house. That way updating your home security into the 21ste century isn't going to cost you an arm and a leg.

More Then Just Connectivity
uControl isn't all but connectivity and improved safety. It’s also about control. uControl enables you to control, configure and monitor your alarm system any given time of the day, wherever you are, by the Web, your PDA or even your cellphone.

When installed (witch is astonishingly easy and takes about twenty munites!) the system makes it possible to arm and disarm the system from work or receive alerts by e-mail or SMS message once your kids get home from school. The system even allows you to get creative. Why not add extra detectors to items you'd like to keep a close watch on such as gun, liquor, or medicine cabinets. If the liquor cabinet opens at 3:30 in the afternoon while you are at work, you in all probability do not need to alarm the police. But you might want to get an email or SMS message.

No Additional Fees
uControl was developed with tomorrow's homeowners in mind. There's a growing trend of homeowners moving to VoIP or canceling their home phone all together and relying on their mobile phone only. Sounds like a great deal (lets face it: you save up to $40 a month) until the alarm monitoring company asks an extra fee because there's no longer a traditional telephone line. uControl however, being compatible with wideband, VoIP and cellular phone, solves that problem at no additional cost.

Different Monitoring Plans
uControl offers two monitoring plans: the Dual Connect Plan (utilizes wideband/broadband and phone connectivity) and the Triple Connect Plan (applies cellular, broadband and phone connectivity).

Both plans offer:
-Uninterrupted, real-time monitoring
-remote access and control
-notification with customized alarm alerts via phone, email or SMS messaging
-VoIP and digital phone compatibility
-compatibility with existing alarm systems
-dispatch capabilities for police and fire emergency personnel from UL-licensed monitoring centers

Industry experts say uControl is “delivering the most secure and flexible solutions that alarm monitoring consumers have ever seen”. For around the same monthly fee you pay for a traditional monitoring company, uControl beefs up the system you already have plus deliver additional features giving you more value for your home security dollar.

--
Jason Dutch writes about Home Security. You can read his review on uControl at uControl Review.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/travel/cruise-ship-jobs-do-you-have-what-it-takes.html http://www.articletrader.com/travel/cruise-ship-jobs-do-you-have-what-it-takes.html Sat, 03 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0600
A job on a cruise ship is a job with greater impact then most people think. Not just because of the long hours and hard work. It's a job that is hard to get away from. How many people sleep in the office or the factory after a hard days work? That's exactly what cruise ship employees do. Home is work, work is home. There is no 9 to 5. There even aren't any weekends. But there are always passengers. It takes a special kind of people who are able to cope with that.

Don't get me wrong: for those special people who can deal with the fact that their office is home and their home is the office, working on a cruise ship may be a perfect career choice. Let's face it. How many people wake up in a different country every morning? How many people can tell the difference between a sunset in Aruba and and a sunset in Antigua by personal experience? When you are up to the challenges, a career on a cruise ship is a dream come true.

Let's put your dreams into perspective and find out whether you are ready for life and career on board. This is what it takes.

EXPERIENCE
A modern cruise ship is a small town on its own. There are carpenters, hair dressers, mechanics, nurses, managers and... well, you name it. But remember this: you will never ever be a nurse (or what ever) on a cruise ship without experience back on land. It's that simple. Well, actually, it's even worse. Most cruise liners hire only the best nurses, the best carpenters, the best... well, I guess you get the picture. There is a very good reason their policy on hiring people is as strict as it is. Once at sea you are on your own. Both co-workers and passengers rely on your know-how and experience.

FIVE, no, make that SIX STAR SERVICE
Working on a cruise ship, makes you part of a team that has just one goal: five star service to the passengers. Six stars were ever possible. If your attitude is different, you'd better take an anonymous on shore job, where you can hide from the customer.

PROFESSIONALISM
While it's not always easy to maintain it through long hours of work, the management will expect you not only to take pride in your work but also to excel in your service every day.

RELIABILITY
Reliability is of the greatest concern to cruise owners who have to usually deal with dozens of employees who get attracted to cruise based jobs mostly as a fad quotient. Your credibility needs to convince them that you will not desert the ship in some exotic locale once the initial novelty is lost, and will last at least the tenure of your contract (usually six months) with them. Most cruise owners get cold feet at the thought of replacing staff at some unknown port and hence are cynical about recruiting individuals who give the impression of giving the job at a cruise ship a go just for the heck of it.

PRESENTATION
You don't mind a loose button? You like to shave once every three days? Get a job somewhere else. Like the rest of the hospitality industry, presentation is of utmost significance to your employers. You will be expected as an employee of the ship to be well turned out every single day of the tenure of your contract. Especiall if you are to be in contact with the passengers.

HARD WORK and ENTHUSIASM
Maybe you don't wane hear this, but old school qualities like hard work and enthusiasm fetches you points everywhere but especially on a cruise ship. Working on a cruise ship is NOT a 9 to 5 sort of job.

SMILE (and keep smiling)
Long hours and back breaking jobs not withstanding, you will be required to provide service with a smile. A BIG smile. Your duty as a staff member on board includes making the passengers feel welcome and a cheerful face and pleasant attitude are its basic ingredients.

DEVELOP A THICK SKIN
Believe me: not every passenger seems to enjoy its cruise. Don't ask why - accept it. And keep smiling.

HOMELESS
I always felt living on a cruise ship is quit adventurous. But be prepared for feeling lost every once and a while. You can't be there when a relative celebrates a birthday. You won't be at your sisters graduation. You might even be thousands miles away when your firstborn makes its first steps. The cruise ship is your home and the crew is your family as long as the voyage lasts. For some people that's not enough.

GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER
The biggest mistake you can make, is to get a job on a cruise ship trying to escape on shore problems. You will get away the moment the ship sets sail, but the problems wont. They will haunt you. All the way to the Caribbean or where ever the ship takes you - making it almost impossible to live up to your on board duties. Even on the biggest of all cruise ships, on shore
problems will make you feel trapped. So get your act together before you apply for a job on a cruise ship.

If I didn't scare you enough, you probably have what it takes to work on a cruise ship. That's cool! Go for it. Call every cruise company you can think of and see what openings they have. Proof them you are the kind of employee they are looking for and get ready for the time of your life.

--
Captain Jack Storms is a retired cruise ship captain. He runs a website called CaptainJacksCruise.info and a href="http://www.blog.captainjackscruise.info">blog where he provides information on cruises, cruise destinations and how to prepare for a memorable cruise.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/travel/how-to-prepare-for-your-cruise.html http://www.articletrader.com/travel/how-to-prepare-for-your-cruise.html Thu, 08 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0600
Most cruise ships travel on international waters and dock at international ports. Before being able to even board your ship, you'll have to show proper identification. With international cruises, this identification often includes a drivers licenses and most certainly a passport. You already knew that right? Well, you'll be 'flabbergasted' with the number of people that show up without a passport. Believe it or not, but a cruise ship hardly ever departs without leaving behind at least one not so happy camper. Often familys. Kids included. And take it from the captain: when you show up without a passport, there is absolutely nothing we can do to help you.

Medical care
Regrettably, as it comes to getting a passport, there are allot of individuals who wait until the very last minute. Here is your wake up call. Getting yourself a passport, will take at least a couple of days, maybe even a week or more to process.

You won't be automatically given a passport; instead you're required to apply for one. About anyone is granted one, but planning ahead is the better choice. Sure, last minute passports can be obtained. But only in the case of an emergency. And whether you like it or not, the authorities hardly ever consider your cruise to be an emergency.

It doesn't stop with your passport and driver’s license. If you're covered under a health insurance plan, bring your health insurance card. In the event you fall ill somewhere along the cruise, your insurance cards will get you the needed medical

care.

If you are on medication, bring those too. Don't be cheap. Bring some extra. Your doctor will write extra prescriptions if you tell him or her that you'll be traveling on a cruise ship. If your medication gets lost, the additional prescriptions may be a life saver.

Contact Information
To pay for onboard and port activities, you'll need to bring along some extra money. But please, don't bring large amounts of cash with you. If you must bring cash along, be smart and divide your money up and place it in secure locations. Ask the crew if there is a safe aboard. But even better: just bring credit cards, cashiers checks, money orders, or traveler’s checks. Great alternatives to carrying hard currency.

By the way, did I mention to bring your passport?

Before you leave home to start your adventure aboard, give a copy of the cruise ship’s travel plan to some friends, family members or the neighbors. This will make it easy for you to be contacted in case of an emergency. Not all cruise companies do this, but you may be asked to provide the contact information of somebody that should be contacted when something happens to you or your family. It can be anyone. Your next door neighbor, your boss, a close friend or a family member. Just make sure he or she is around and approachable while you are on the cruise ship.

"Ok Captain, you made your point. Can I pack my bags now?"

Sure. If you want to. But what do you know about the cruise destinations? About the people that live there? The places you have to visit? And if this is your first cruise ever, do you know what to expect on your first day at sea? Sure, you can pack your bags now. But if you want to enjoy your cruise to the fullest. you'd better do some additional homework. Oh, and by the way, while packing your bags, please do me a favor and keep in mind that even in the Caribbean the climate can be surprisingly different then you would think. Bring an extra sweater. And your passport of course.

--
Captain Jack Storms is a retired cruise ship captain. He runs a website called CaptainJacksCruise.info and a href="http://www.blog.captainjackscruise.info/">blog where he provides information on cruises, href="http://www.captainjackscruise.info/articles/Don%27t-go-the-Caribbean">cruise destinations and how to prepare for a memorable cruise.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/travel/if-i-say-cruise-you-say.html http://www.articletrader.com/travel/if-i-say-cruise-you-say.html Mon, 05 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0600

Let’s do a Mickey Mouse experiment. In a couple of seconds I’m going to ask you to close your eyes. Now, play along and don’t cheat (I’m keeping an eye on you!). When you’ve closed your eyes, I wish you relax and think of a cruise. Ready? Do it now. Close your eyes and think ‘cruise’. I’ll wait…

Welcome back.

My hypothesis is you had a vision that had at least some (if not all) of the followings:
* palm trees
* white sandy beaches
* the sun
* girls doing the hula
* cocktails
* islands

Am I right? Of course I’m right. I’m the Captain, remember.

It’s simple. If we think of a cruise, we think of the Caribbean, Hawaii or any other exotic island. There's a very good reason for that. These islands were created for one reason and one reason only: to give a luxurious cruise liner a destination.

Let’s do another experiment. A little harder this time. Pretend – for arguments sake – that the Caribbean is closed for a couple of months and Hawaii is closed for uh, let’s say uh, maintenance. Hard to believe, I know. But who cares. We are creative people. You can do it! Still with me? Cool. Let’s go on.

Remember: both Hawaii and the Caribbean are gone. No more white sandy beaches, no more girls doing the hula, no more steel drums. Now close your eyes and think ‘cruise’. What comes to mind?

………?

My guess is you were totally blank. Nothing came up. Right? That’s because our brains haven’t got a glue what a cruise would look like if there where no cocktails or palm trees. Well, let’s educate your brain a little. Any place that enthralls your eye and excites your spirits can be a target destination for a cruise.

Let's take a closer look at Greece and Turkey. The ocean east of Greece and west of Turkey is a textbook cruise destination. There are a zillion islands to visit, the weather is tropical and very dependable. It’s an eye-opener that will feed your brain with colorful pictures and memories for a lifetime.

Another ideal spot for a cruise is the coast of North Africa. From the pyramids of Egypt in the east to the dessert and beach resorts of Morocco in the west. Another great and upcoming destination is Central America. Did you know Costa Rica is a great ‘green’ cruise destination? The thick, lush rainforests attract the nature lover more than any other spot for cruises. And there are many more alternative destinations, but we will close with the most different off them all: Antarctica. Yes, Antarctica!

Antarctica has its own unique aura of enjoyment. Breathtaking is the only word that comes to mind. Given its climate, you need to prepare a bit differently for this cruise. Mentally, that is. But if you have the flexibility of mind to do so and are open for a completely different experience, Antarctica is definitely a destination to consider. Your first cruise may take you to the Caribbean. Your second to Hawaii. Make tour third something special!

--
Captain Jack Storms is a retired cruise ship captain. He runs a website called CaptainJacksCruise.info where he provides information on cruise destinations, preparations for a perfect cruise and much more.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/travel/honeymooning-on-a-cruise-ship.html http://www.articletrader.com/travel/honeymooning-on-a-cruise-ship.html Tue, 30 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0600
Every year, thousands of couples get married. If you're planning your wedding, it is likely that you'll plan a honeymoon as well. Honeymoons are often looked upon as vacations. In a sense, they are. But there are two major differences. Number one: romance is in the air. Number two: no kids. The bride, the groom and plenty of time. That makes honeymoons fun, exciting and memorable.

As previously mentioned, you have a number of different options when it comes to planning your honeymoon. Many newlyweds schedule their honeymoons at popular beaches, ski resorts, or other secluded areas. Did you know that you can also have a honeymoon aboard a cruise ship? Cruise ships are increasing in popularity, but still many individuals do not consider them as a vacation option. And that’s a shame.

You’ll be amazed!
One of the reasons why cruise ships are rarely thought about when selecting a vacation destination, let alone a honeymoon, is because of their cost. A cruise is considered to be expensive. Well, I´ll let you in on a little secret. They don´t have to be. The competition in the cruise line industry is killing. If you play your card smart, you can be the one that benefits. Do a Google search on discount cruise ship tickets and you´ll be amazed!

Those discount tickets are usually sold fast. So here is the rule. First of all decide where you wane go and set your budget. Then sit down and do your homework on the computer (or with the help of a travel agent). Once you see an offer that fits your needs, do not hesitate. Jump on it and celebrate. You just made a dream reality!

Take it from a pro
Let me raise another question. Are cruises actually pricy? It is important to examine the activities available onboard and the length of the cruise. The longer the cruise and the more services available, the more expensive tickets are likely to be. If you take the time to figure out all the services that are included and the cost of overnight accommodations, you may see that cruises aren’t all that expensive after all. Do the math and - again - you'll be surprised.

Once you've made the decision to spend your honeymoon onboard a cruise liner, you'll have to book reservations. When examining cruise ship destinations, look for the possibility for romance. As your honeymoon is supposed to be a romantic and relaxing time, you'll want to select destinations that will keep that spirit alive. Those destinations are all over the world. But take it from a pro: for newlyweds the Caribbean is the place to go. There are over 7.000 islands. Pick a couple. No matter what islands you’ll be sailing for, there will be sandy white beaches, the friendliest people you can think of and lots of rum. You can’t go wrong here.

Amorous and intimate
Before I forget: take a close look at the type of cruise you select. Most cruise lines have ships that are targeted to seniors, risk seekers or families. Stay away from the last two mentioned. Remember: you are searching a private, amorous and intimate setting. Hard to find whit kids all over the swimming pool or adventure junkies bungee jumping from the upper decks...

--
Captain Jack Storms is a retired cruise ship captain. He runs a website called www.CaptainJacksCruise.info where he provides information on cruise destinations, preparations for a perfect cruise and much more.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>