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Benefits of Boat Trips and Cruises

Posted on by sofia in Famous Boat Trips

Vacations are one everyone’s fantasy, especially with the ups and downs of modern society and life expectations. If planning on your next vacation, boat trips can be one of the best options based on the numerous benefits associated with boat trips and cruises. Whether looking for excellent food, a tour of the world, and ways to increase your health, these are some of the benefits associated with boat trips.

Relaxation

Boat trips offer a chance to reflect on their personal lives. When manoeuvring through the waters, one has time to exercise their body and test their endurance. If you feel pain on the joints, you can also look up at what is osteoarthritis and find some signs, symptoms, and possible cure.

Family Bonding

Family bonding is one of the ingredients for a happy and healthy life. Holidays are right for every family member, which is a reason why you should consider spending some time with your family members on a boat trip. Bonding with your family does not only count on the time spend together watching TV or being close to each other while everyone is on their smartphones. Boat trips can be one of the best ways to ease family tension and improve interactions.

Connect With More People

Boat trips offer an opportunity for travellers to interact with people from other localities and regions. If going on a cruise vacation, you are sure of meeting people from different backgrounds and get a chance to network and get a better understanding of the outside world.

Easy to Plan and a Variety of Activities

Because most boat trips include transport and accommodation, its easy to plan for the trip, there is also a wide range of activities that can be included on the trip package which may include fishing, swimming, and snorkelling. Some cruise ships are even floating cities that offer a perfect destination for lovers.

Factors to Consider When Buying a Boat

Posted on by sofia in Famous Boat Trips

Many people, especially those who love water trips and sports, would like to one day own a boat. Whether buying new or used, there are some things that one should consider when looking for a boat that will serve your purpose. The following are some of the tips to contemplate before buying a boat.

Purpose

Before buying a boat, its important to consider what purpose you intend to use the boat for. Boats are classified according to their use such as fishing boats, houseboats, deck boats, and cruise boats, among others. Having a specific idea on how you intend to use your boat will help you choose the right one, depending on your preferences, as well as meeting its intended purpose.

Time

Many buyers fail to take into consideration the time they intend to use the boat. If you will only be out on the water once in a while throughout several months, it’s necessary to consider the cost of renting rather than buying. If you intend to move the boat occasionally you can consider fitting your van with a rack from worksystem.co.uk which will help make moving the boat easier. Boat owners also incur costs associated with maintenance, and cleaning as well as insurance.

Maintainance

When buying a boat one should not only look at the initial cost of buying it, but also at other expenses which will be incurred while using the boat. Such costs include maintenance, gasoline, cleaning, and insurance, among others.

Finances

This comes down to if one intends to pay for the boat in cash or consider financing options. Many marine lenders offer different financing options depending on the type of boat one intends to buy. Before approaching the lender, consider if you can maintain the boat in the long term.

How to Prepare for Boat Trips

Posted on by sofia in Famous Boat Trips

Boat trips are among the recreational activities that most people like indulging in. Among other activities, people love boat riding, and it is one of the best undertakings that your family can share. However, not every occasion is suitable for boat trips. The best time to enjoy your weekends on boat trips is towards the end of summer when the weather condition is favourable. Below are ways you can prepare for boat trips.

Safety

Safety is a key factor to consider before heading for a boat trip. Regardless of the distance of your voyage, you should ensure to carry items such as life jackets, first aid kits and a fire extinguisher. Plus, the boat seats should be in good condition and well-covered with Ikea company sofa covers to enhance their durability and your comfort.

Food and Water

Food and water are what most people forget to carry during boat trips. Taking a bottle of clean water cannot cost you much compared to suffering from a whole day of thirst and dehydration. Moreover, in case you have diet-related problems, you should carry packed food.

Outfits

Selecting the best clothing and boat gear is crucial and must be done before the day of the trip. Observe the weather conditions. It will guide you on the ideal gear and outfits to carry on the trip. Additionally, confirm if they are in good condition; if not, find other alternatives as early as possible.

Hurtigruten

Posted on by sofia in Famous Boat Trips

The Hurtigruten, which translates from Norwegian to ‘Express Route’, is sometimes known in English as the Norwegian Coastal Express, is a Norwegian cruise, ferry, and cargo operting company. The company was founded in 1893 to operate voyages along the west coast of Norway from Bergen up to Norway’s northern coast, stopping at Kirkenes. The Hurtigruten ships sail almost the entire length of the country, apart from the south coast, crossing into the artic circle approximately half-way through the cruise. The entire journey time for a return cruise is 11 days, although sometimes extended stops are made at certain places.

The trip is regularly touted as one of the most senic sea voyages in the world, as the cruise passes many fjords and during winter months it is common for passengers to be able to see the northern lights during the more northern parts of the cruise.

Despite being a relatively small cruise operator compared to a number of its competitors, the company alone makes up for approximately 2% of the worldwide cruise market, this had led to long waiting times for tickets to be available during some of the busier holidays seasons, particularly during winter with passengers are hoping to be able to see the northern lights.

Due to the ongoing sucess of the company, they have expanded into waters other than Norway and have begun to operate cruises in Greenland, Canada, Smouth America, Iceland, Svalbard, and Antartica, although it is not believed that these trips are as successful as the cruise along the Nowegian coast.

The company was established by the government in order to improve communications along Norway’s coast, with one of the more notable improvement being that mail from central Norway to Hammerfest which previously used to take five months in winter, could be delivered in just seven days.

Cruise

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The history of cruise ships is varied as it is difficult to pinpoint an exact time in history that saw ships become exclusively used for cruises, given that many ships served multiple purposes throughout history. Throughout maritime history, any ship that had allowed passengers could have been classified as a cruise ship, provided that the passenger’s aim was not to travel to a specific destination but rather simply to be onboard the ship as it travelled.

The first company that was incorporated with the specific goal of creating cruise voyages was the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company, which was founded in 1822. The company first began as a shipping line that serviced routes between England and the Iberian Peninsula, eventually winning contracts for expanding their business, including winning a contact to deliver mail in 1837. The company introduced their first passenger cruising services in 1844 and advertised sea tours to customers that included destinations around Europe, such as Gibraltar, Malta, and Athens, with all cruises departing from Southampton. Although they did not operate under the same specifications as modern cruises, the voyages were unique at that time and it was not until many years later that the company found themselves with any real competition. The company have continued to expand their list of destinations through to today and have been highly successful at expanding the maritime industry as a whole, contributing to the development of shipyards and ensuring long-lasting careers in the maritime industry.

The development of commercial airlines changed the fate of cruises as it was far more efficient, and in many cases cheaper, to travel by air than over the sea. This caused the cruise industry to have to change their tactics and offer cruises for the sake of cruises, with the goal of a holiday to spend time on a ship, rather than simply travel to a specific destination. This also changed the design of ships used for cruises as they suddenly found they had to incorporate large entertainment spaces, as well as kitchens that were able to offer higher quality meals. Today it is not uncommon for large cruise ships to have multiple swimming pools, with some of the larger ships even having their own waterparks on board the ship, alongside numerous other facilities.

USS Constitution

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The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a wooden ship that has three masts and is a heavy frigate of the United States Navy, originally named by President George Washington after the Constitution of the United States. The Constitution is the oldest commissioned naval vessel in world that is still afloat.

The ship was one of sex frigates that were ordered for construction by the Naval Act of 1794, and the third to be constructed. The ships were designed by Joshua Humphreys to be the young Navy’s capital ships, so the ships were designed to be both larger and more heavily armed than the standard frigates of that period. The ship was built at the Edmund Hartt shipyard, which was situated in the North End of Boston, Massachusetts. The first offical duty of the ship was to provide protection to American ships during the war with France, with the second duty being to defeat the Barbary pirates in the First Barbary War. Both of which were considered by naval historians to demonstrate the effectiveness of the ship and the viability of building larger ships in order to secure better naval prowess.

Princess Cruises

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US company Princess Cruises was established in 1965 and is headquartered in Santa Clarita, California. The company currently operates 17 ships which cruise across the world and targets both American and international passengers.

The company is typically best known for its role in The Love Boat TV series, in which one of the company’s ships, the Pacific Princess, was featured.

The company was founded when Stanley McDonald decided to charter the Canadian Pacific Limited’s Alaska cruise ship, the Princess Patricia, for use in cruises along the Mexican Riviera, departing from Los Angeles, at a time when the ship would usually not have been in use during the winter months. The first cruise was not necessarily a success, as the ship had not been designed for use in tropical climates and had no air-conditioning on board, which was not a problem when the ship was being used in colder northern climates. The ship was replaced by a purpose-built ship that was called Italia. The second cruise line the company operated was ultimately unsuccessful and led to the ship being return to Europe under charter to the Costa Cruise Line, although the company now outright own their own ships.

Planning for Several Days Boat Trip

Posted on by sofia in Famous Boat Trips

Taking a few days off your regular duties is worthwhile. It becomes more exciting if you have something fun planned. Most people go for holidays in their favourite destinations, while others choose to stay indoors with their loved ones. Assuming you decide to enjoy your vacation on the water by taking a few days’ boat trip, you need to plan accordingly. This is regardless of whether you are making the trip alone or as a team. The following are some of the things you should consider before starting your journey to make it enjoyable.

Plan for the Your Trip

It is essential to plan for the trip before you set off. For instance, you should know your route, your destination, your activities, and where you will be sleeping, as well as where you will be eating. Also, make sure there is enough room to anchor in the places you will stop on the way and even at your destination. If you need to stop for refueling, plan accordingly to make sure the stations are within the range of your fuel tank mileage. It is always important to make reservations in the places you will spend your nights. This will avoid frustration at the last minute if the hotels are fully booked.

Stock Up on Essentials

It is important to make sure you have all the essentials before leaving for a boat trip. Although some of them might be available at your destination and along the way, it is always good to have them in your boat. The best way of ensuring you packed all essentials is by preparing a checklist and ticking items off as you pack. Some of the essentials you need are life jackets (enough for everybody onboard), safety kits with restocked items, a torch, and enough food and water. Also, carry enough warm clothes, Tamaris Shoes and raincoats, because weather changes are not very predictable.

Make Sure Your Boat is in Good Condition

Make sure your boat is in good condition for the trip. Start with a full fuel tank and carry extra fluid because they can help you on the way. It is also essential to bring a spare anchor just in case you lose one on the trip. Again, even if you have electronic gadgets to help you with directions, always carry a paper chart. Still, do not ignore anything strange in your boat. It could be an indication of a bigger problem. Lastly, make sure you double-check everything before you start your trip. Ensure the fluids and batteries are at the right level.

Have Fun

If you are done with your checklist and ready to leave, remember why you are going. Go out there and have fun.

Poseidon Expeditions

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The Poseidon Expeditions company was founded in 1999 as a tour operator that specialised in expedition crurises to the Russian High Arctic and the North Pole. Although not intended as a passenger ships, due to the harsh climates that passengers would have to pass through, it is still technically counted as a cruise line. The company uses icebreakers and ice-strengthened ships to be able to break through the thick ice that surrounds the northern arctic circle. In order for a ship to be able to break through such thick ice it must be able to produce a substantial amount of power. It is for this reason that the ships are typically powered by nuclear engines, with the company specifically using the Russian icebreaker called 50 Years of Victory. The ship is equipped with helicopters and inflatable boats, allowing travelers to explore some of the wilder Arctic areas that would normally only be accessible via land expeditions. The ship also holds the record for being the largest ship in the world, in part because of the necessity of being large enough to hold a nuclear engine, as well as the specialist crew required ot maintain such an engine.

War

Posted on by sofia in Common Boat Uses

Naval technology and warships have been a part of warfare for centuries, with some of the first instances of ships used for combat starting in ancient Mesopotamia. Although the early warships would not be recognisable as such when compared to modern ships, there were highly effective at the time and gave any empire an advantage over their enemy if they could not defend their territorial waters.

During the Ancient Greek and Roman empires, all warships were galleys, which were long, narrow vessels powered by rows of oarsmen. The ships were typically designed to ram into other vessels in order to attempt to sink them, although bow technology was deployed on a number of them. When catapult technology was developed during the 4th century B.C., it was soon adapted for use on boats, allowing for the targetting of both other vessels as well as land-based targets. This had the knock-on effect of reducing the viability of ramming, as any vessel coming in close would make for a far easier target for enemy catapult fire.

Naval warfare began to change again in Europe during the 14th century with cannons first being added to ship’s arsenals, although due to their difficult to reload, aim, and fire, they were not as popular on ships until later centuries. The addition of cannons on a ship greatly increased the weight of the ship, although this was not a problem in terms of the ships ability to stay afloat, it did make propulsion using oarsmen impossible, leading to warships making exclusing use of sails for propulsion.

The middle of the 17th century saw the design for warships begin to stabalise across Europe, with certain standard features being expected during construction. Warships began to store increasing numbers of cannons across a ship’s broadsides, necessitating the invention of different tactics that could accommodate the limitations of a ship’s cannons.

The 19th century again saw a revolution in the design of ships as steam power began to be implemented as a method of propulsion for vessels. At first, due to the cost and difficult in constructing steam ships, they were generally only used as reserve ships that were designed to give support to a main fleet, rather than lead the fleet. As production methods advanced this soon changed, and steam-powered ships were the most common warships for decades until the invention and implementation of the internal combustion engine on boats.