So you are considering taking an Island Cruise for your holiday next year. Could it be the smell of the ocean or the chance of seeing the sun rise and set over city after city that you visit.

You want a holiday where you can relax and not worry about your kids or your job. All you want to do is sit back and relax and just let life pass you by for a couple of weeks.

Well by going on an Island Cruise this is what you will get. But where do you want to go and what do you want to see, or are you really bothered, may be just the thought of leaving all your troubles behind is enough. Below we will hopefully provide you with some ideas of where you can go and what you can see by taking an Island Cruise.

May be Alaska is your choice for a cruise. Just think of all those beautiful snowy mountains you will see as you sail by. The sights you will see on one of these cruises is something you will never forget. Not only the scenery is beautiful but you will see things that nature has to offer and which we unfortunately take for granted.

However, if you want to feel the warmth of the sun on your face, you may be better of opting for a cruise around the Hawaiian Islands. Not only will you see the warm beaches around the many bays of the Hawaiian Islands but the sight of the sun rising and setting is a view that you will hold dear to your heart for ever more.

There are so many different Island Cruises available not just Hawaiian or Alaska, but there are the ones that take place around the Mediterranean Islands also. You may opt to prepare a list of the Island cruises available and then take one each year. Remember each one of these cruises will bring something new and exciting into your life and now is as good a time as any to contact your travel agent to help find the right Island Cruise for you.

Allison Thompson webmaster of several sites a work at home mum now living in Spain. For further information on this product please go to [http://www.cruisingtheislands.info]

Author: Allison Thompson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Smiling shark

To some it may seem kind of silly, but to many boaters, sailors and residents in Hammond and Whiting, Indiana, The Big Orange Pier serves as some sort of a landmark.

The Big Orange Pier, as it was referred to, is located in Whiting Park off the southern shores of Lake Michigan. The Pier is used for fishing and is also a local attraction for people that like to gaze into the beauty that is Lake Michigan.

Straight ahead you see the lake meet the sky, look towards your right on a clear day and you can view Chicago’s magnificent skyline, however looking to the left you see industrial landscape like the BP Amoco Refinery. This panoramic vision combines an interesting mix of splendour and industry.

As far as the history of the pier goes, all we can say is that it has always been orange. According to some residents, “It has been that way as long as I can recall.” That was until April 2006.

The once easily recognizable Orange Pier has received a recent facelift that has seen its hunter-friendly façade replaced with a controversial green hue. A popular rumour is that it was painted green because their high school colours are Green and White.

One local citizen approached city officials with the simple question of, “Why?”

Mayor Joseph M. Stahura insists, “Believe it or not,” he received many complaints about the pier’s LOUD ORANGE colour and that is why it has been painted green.

The new green paint job seems dangerous as it appears to blend in too much with Lake Michigan, which itself is also a blue-ish green. It would seem that while on the water, the orange colour allowed boaters to detect the landmark much more clearly.

Mayor Stahura also addressed any safety concerns by assuring that the paint is reflective.

Lake Michigan water is also reflective when the sun hits on the proper angle. So what was the correct decision here? Should waterway safety have played a bigger role in the decision-making or were community beautification and high school spirit more relevant factors?

Groups of supporters are set to take on city hall and get the pier repainted. Could this mean the return of the Big Orange Pier? They are hoping to accomplish this, at least when it comes time for a new paint job, if not sooner.

GreatLakesDestinations.com will continue to track the colour status of the pier.

Author: Darren Hore
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Panasonic Lumix G2

For those that are boating hobbyists you know that OMC is one of the big dogs in the boating world. For many years they have been making only the best in the industry for boats and have continued that fine tradition over the years to the present day. The proof positive of this is the ever popular Cobra series of stern drives. More people are switching to this unit to power their water craft every day and that means that more and more people are also looking to have a little fun and recreation in the water as well. This is all coupled with the fact that you find the cobra series of stern drive and many of the professional boats that grace the water ways all over the world.

The Right Tool for the Job

Few people realize that stern drives offer some of the best in power and handling of all the ways to power a watercraft. This is true with most things because of the fact that you get only the best in handling and not such jerky movements as you do with the outboards that were so popular for so many years. There is also the matter of being quiet which is something that most of the standard motors can not do. The cobra stern drive is a positive influence on the whole industry because it is perfect for so many different types of boats and such.

The possibilities are limitless when you go with the cobra stern drive system. They are perfect for the novice and great for the old pro as well. The steering ability that comes along with this type of power offers some of the best in the business. The tight spots that a good many people will get into when boating are a breeze to move out of when it comes to the stern drive and there is a lot less worry about hitting something when you are not powered by an outboard.

Know the Boat

Most people will tell you that the outboard is the way to go for fishing because there is less water disturbance but anything could be further from the truth. With the cobra stern drive you leave very little wake in the process of the movements and that means that the fishing will be a lot better because you are not moving the water when you are trolling around. There is even the better when you consider that most of the people that use the stern drive for fishing no longer need the small battery powered trolling motors. With the stern drive you have a lot more accuracy when it comes to making the turns and that means that you will spend a lot less time trying to get out of the corner.

The more you use the cobra stern drive system the more you will love it. There is little that people have to say that is anything but positive about this system. The only real complaint is the fact that it tends to be a bit more expensive than the standard outboard motor but as the old saying goes, you get what you pay for.

The issue of the cost does not deter a lot of the more serious boaters. This is due to the fact that they love the overall performance that the cobra stern drive offers and there is little that anyone can say about that. Moving through the water at speeds that exceed that of most of the outboards on the market today make for some great times on the water.

Trish is the author for http://www.sterndrive.info – Get more information on Cobra Stern Drive.

Author: Trish Dougherty
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Import duty tariff

Alaskan cruise ships sail Alaska in all its splendor and glory, cruising along glaciers soaking in the wonder of magnificent sea and diverse wildlife, waterfalls, towering mountains and other glorious sights.

Alaska is a vast state that experiences heavy snowfall most of the year. Cruising through Alaska’s stark beauty gives one the sense of interacting with nature at its best. Such beauty tends to take your breath away and you will never tire of the spectacular panoramic views and natural wildlife. Alaskan cruises are a unique experience that brings tourists back time and again.

Alaskan cruises have well trained crews who can navigate through mountains, forests and glaciers with care. These crews on Alaskan cruises, if you talk to them, will tell you all about the various journeys they’ve had, if you’re looking for a good story. And you make some stories of your own on your cruise too. Different liners take different routes along the Alaskan seacoast, based on the packages they offer, but all of are equally scenic and intoxicating in their stark natural beauty.

Alaskan cruises are famous for their buffets and dinners, which feature local dishes prepared with fresh seafood, and other foods from the area. Excursions in the intermediary ports also include interaction with the natives and meals in local restaurants. Cruise guides are available to show guests around the towns while the ship is docked in the port.

The Alaskan cruise is one of the most popular among tourists and needs to be booked well in advance.

Cruise Ships provides detailed information on cruise ships, alaska cruise ships, cruise ship jobs, cruise ship reviews and more. Cruise Ships is affiliated with Cruise Line Ratings.

Author: Max Bellamy
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Digital Camera News

There are several methods for measuring a boat’s size.

The L.O.A. (Length Over All) which measures yachts from the very front of the pull-pit to the edge of the transom. The Hull Length (H.L.), which measures only the hull and the L.W.L. (Length of the Water Line), which measures only the water line of a vessel, are the most commonly used. Out of those, the most accurate -indicating the real size of a boat- is the L.W.L, not only because the water-line dictates the maximum speed a vessel can reach, but also because it realistically represents the “displacement” (in cubic metres) of the boat.

The other two measurements – L.O.A and H.L.- can easily mislead as to a vessel’s size. The H.L. because a higher “inclination” in the bow and the transom of a boat can “add” several feet (when no real change has been added in the vessels “volume”). The LOA is even worse, as it includes in the calculation everything sticking out of the bow or the transom.

Some twenty years ago, the boat building companies named the new models with a number that was close to the real size of their vessels. In later years, when they are designing a new yacht they tend to name it after the LOA, in order to make us believe that their vessels are larger than their actual size. As an example, the Jeanneau model of 1983 “Trinidad 47″ had an L.W.L of 41,34 ft, when the 2002 model of the same company, Sun Odyssey 52,2 has a L.W.L 41,8 feet. Obviously, both yachts are of the same size.

But my dear Jeanneau marketeers, the beautiful 53 footer you recently sold me is only 47 feet, according YOUR estimations of just a few years ago. What happened and who took off 2 whole meters from my boat?

Please notice that I mention Jeanneau as an example, but actually ALL the companies are doing the same (when I say all, I mean Jeanneau, Beneteau and Bavaria, which represent the 95% of the yacht charter market). They are all misleading us and falsely try to make us believe that their boats are larger than what they actually are.

I hear some of you saying “ok Alex, this is a marketing trick, but it is not so important, as we always know the real size of the boats”.. Do we??

Recently, I’ve decided to re-arrange the price lists of all the boats on @lmiyachts.com and sort the yachts according their L.W.L. Here are the results: http://www.almiyachts.com/Bareboat/rental_boats.html

Don’t be surprised if you see the Super Dooper 47 model of company A listed below the Awesome 42 model of company B, as this only means that the second boat is in reality larger than the other and company B is more honest when it comes to naming the model.

I thought that this job would take me only a couple of days but this estimation was far from the truth, as I discovered…

the 3rd best well kept secret of the decade (after the DaVinci Code and Google’s page ranks algorithm)

Jeanneau and Beneteau NO LONGER provide us the only accurate information indicating their vessels’ real size i.e. the L.W.L. If you don’t believe me, here are the addresses for their official sites: Jeanneau , Beneteau. Beautiful photos and virtual videos, but not a single word for the L.W.L.

Unfortunately, I’m afraid that all the companies will follow the same methods or collapse. Because in marketing it is the “first impression” that counts. If in your mind the first impression is that the 38 footer of company A is 15% cheaper (in buying or chartering) than company’s B, then company A won the game (the fact that company’s B boat is larger and it should had been compared with the 41 footer of company A, is a “minor” detail and will not affect people’s decisions). Company B can only adopt the same methods or extinct. If you like, take a look at Moody’s site to verify that. Total absence of the L.W.L and yacht models measured from the pull-pit to the end of the flag pole.

I believe that, since we are called to pay a small fortune in order to buy -or a great amount of money when we charter- a yacht, we are entitled to know exactly what we will get for our hard earned money. Cheap marketing methods -targeting to mislead us in our choice- are not complimentary for any company.

Alexander Vournas is the owner and SEO of almiyachts.com, an informative intermediary in the yacht chartering field

Author: Alexander Vournas
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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