Is New York City The Ultimate World Cruise Destination?

How to get around New York: Subway Metro

Yellow Cab New YorkWhile we’re all very familiar with the iconic yellow cabs of New York, hailing one down is not as easy as it looks. In a city of almost 20 million dwellers, it takes skill, experience and courage to be able to actually stop one. Try as you may, we dare say the best way to get around town for the day is by using the popular and convenient Subway Metro instead. Stops are frequent (as are the trains) and we believe this is your best option for getting around town.

One-way fares cost $2.50 but there are options available which will save you a bit of money, even if just riding on the Metro for one day. We recommend you download and print out a Subway map and plan your itinerary in due time; knowing how many rides you’ll be likely to take in your day out will help you decide which Metro ticket to purchase.

The Pay-Per-Ride Metro Card is very popular for World Cruise visitors and can be purchased for varying amounts, saving you a little cash on each ride. Note that these cards can be re-loaded easily at any station, so we suggest you start with a $10 deposit and take it from there.

The Subway operates 24hrs a day and has, in recent years, lost its ‘dangerous’ tag, making it in fact quite a safe travel option in a city like New York. As long as you take the normal precautions which you’d normally adopt at home (no flashy jewels etc), and you should have a hassle free time. Better still, leave your most precious belongings aboard your World Cruise liner and you’ll never need to worry!

Much like the Paris Metro, your ticket is validated upon entry to a station, not upon boarding of each individual train.

How to get entry to the attractions: New York City Pass

To get the most out of your visit, we highly recommend you pre-purchase a New York City Pass for just under $70. This golden card grants you access to the main tourist attractions saving you loads of cash; and allows you to skip the long queues so very popular in New York, thus saving you hours of idle waiting. Considering that when travelling on a round the world cruise time is of the essence, this is really the way to go. Moreover, the amount of passengers arriving here on cruises is just phenomenal, meaning you’ll have some stiff competition getting into the most popular attractions.

The crucial inclusions with the City Pass are entry tickets to the Empire State Building (complete with a one-hour audio guide), as well as to the Metropolitan Art and Natural History Museums, by far the two best galleries in town. After that, you have the choice of one of three possible add-ons: either entry to the Guggenheim Museum, a visit to the Statue of Liberty (which obviously includes a ticket and entry to Ellis Island), or one of several short harbour cruises. The choice is yours!

Considering there is only so much you can do in one day in New York, we think this deal is quite priceless. Should you be in need of further convincing, let it be known that the ticket includes a 15% discount for all purchases at Bloomingdale’s for the validity of your pass. No arguments there!

We advise you to search the web for the cheapest current deals on the Explore Pass, or ask your world cruise activity coordinator for assistance, they’ll be more than happy to help plan your day out in New York.

What to eat: everything!

New York would have to be one of the few major cities in the world, where you never need enter an actual restaurant to feast like a king (or queen). Street vendors abound and getting your belly full (and your money’s worth) could not be simpler here. Think famous New York hot dogs, bagels, and cheesecake! So ditch that low-carb diet and enjoy a culinary experience like no other.

The most iconic of all snacks would have to be the New York bagel! Locals boast that New York Bagels are the best in the world, and we certainly agree that these little bundles of ‘yumminess’ are worthy of a praise or two. ‘Absolute Bagels’, on 107th Street, are reputed to be the best in town, and the line of salivating visitors out front is certainly a good indication of that. Starting your day with a smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel may seem strange to you now….but trust us on this, you won’t regret it!

Another nibble not to be missed is the infamous New York hot dog, often referred to as a ‘dirty water dog’ by locals. Refrain from looking into the boiling water pots of the many street vendors, and bag yourself a dog-with-the-lot. Trying to get your mouth around that one may be yet the biggest challenge of your day! The most famous of all hot-dog stands is Nathan’s which is found on Cony Island; this joint has been running continuously for almost a century and is as iconic in New York as the Empire State Building. The exceptional food you’ll enjoy aboard your world cruise liner will surely be something special; but something should be said for experiencing a true New York delicacy.

For the ultimate sweet treat, we highly recommend sinking your teeth into a piece of extraordinarily delicious New York cheesecake. This most famous cake hails originally from Lindy & Junior’s Deli in Brooklyn, but the flavorsome treat can now be enjoyed in cafes all over town. The creamy delicacy may not do wonders for your waistline but your taste buds will very much appreciate the treat.

Cruises have long been renowned for being the most indulgent way to see the world, and taking a World Cruise is but a dream for most. Should you be lucky enough to see the world aboard a cruise liner, take full advantage of your trip and plan a brilliant day out in New York City. You may have many ports of call ahead of you, but we guarantee this will be one of the most memorable.

A World Cruise is the ultimate in travel experience. You can create your own unforgettable story, visiting some of the most iconic travel destinations on the planet. This global circumnavigation will leave you astonished at the sights you see and satisfied in your status as a global traveller.

Click to find the best Worldwide cruise deals and offers that have been exclusively selected to ensure you receive the best value for money and exclusive benefits.

Original Article by Andy Cockayne – Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andy_Cockayne

 

Mangalore to Marseille

Call me a trains guide, and blow a whistle when I walk past, but I love the magic associated with train travel. From the grandeur of the stations themselves to the routes the tracks follow – what other mode of transport winds down precipitous mountain slopes, courses along windswept coastlines, and speeds through tunnels under the sea – rail journeys are an experience, rather than just a way of getting from A to B.

So this week, in homage to the locomotive, we’ve picked out a few rail journeys that inspired us.

They may not have the elegance of South Africa’s Blue Train or the history of the Venice-Simplon Orient Express, but they certainly got us scribbling in our notebooks.

The Malabar Express.

Mailbar ExpressThe journey through the old Raj, the jewel in the crown of India, begins in Mangalore, Karnataka and follows the coastline of the Arabian sea till its final destination in Ernakulam, Kerala.

It’s a new line connecting Goa and the south, so hasn’t yet made it into the guidebooks, or onto the circuit of the Ashram-seeking backpackers.

With the call of the chia-coffe-chia Wallah, the conversation in countless different dialects, and the breathtaking scenery outside the glassless window frames competing with the breath-holding stench on the inside, you can’t mistake being anywhere other than in an Indian train.

The vistas can be absorbed at will as Indian trains take on no speed on their travels, express or no express.

The left-hand side of the train is the best place to sit, as the Malabar uplands strike up from the flat of the coast, and jungle-covered hills appear in the background.

In early August, once the monsoons have moved on, everything is a deep lush green. The train buzzes along, past huts, coconut groves and palm trees, and occasionally, people break into song – the latest Bollywood smash single or a song for the gods.

The ride is a long one – nearly 12 hours – but the memory stays with you for the rest of your life. Getting on board: Train tickets can be brought from government run ticket offices at any train station in India.

A 2nd class sleeper costs the equivalent of €1.40 per person.

The Flam Railway, Norway

Whether you’re fascinated by dramatic scenery, Nordic legends or feats in engineering, a trip on Norway’s Flam Railway is certain to get a mention in your memoirs.Flam Railway

The journey kicks off at Myrdal, a snowy mountain station 866 meters above sea level. In fifty minutes the train winds beneath white-tipped mountains, past thundering waterfalls, through 20 tunnels, and down into Sound Of Music-esque valleys dotted with colourful wooden cottages.

The train finally comes to a stop in the tourist town of Flam, just 2 meters above sea level at the edge of the breathtaking Sognefjord.

The Flam Railway is considered one of Norway’s leading innovations (after the invention of velcro of course), and engineering junkies will be fascinated to know that during construction, one of the biggest challenges (next to dodging avalanches) was figuring out how to get the train to stay on the steep mountain sides.

Their solution was to carve hairpin tunnels into the mountain – 18 of the tunnels you pass through were excavated by hand. Those clever Scans.

Finally, if you’re a mythology buff, you can get your fix en route at the Kjosfossen waterfall. According to an old Nordic legend, an enchantress of men would appear to travellers, using her wily ways to woo them into the mountains for a bit of slap ‘n’ tickle, never to return again.

In true tacky tourist style, when the train stops for a spot of sightseeing, a dark haired Norwegian beauty appears beneath the cascades, enticing Japanese tourists ao toss down their Nikons and run away with her forever.

Getting on board: A single ticket on Flam Railway costs 195. However, most tourists end up on the train as part of the Norway In A Nutshell day trip (540). Tickets can be purchased at all manned railway stations and at most travel agents in Norway.

Avignon to Marseille, France

Don’t say you heard it here, but most short trips through the South of France (under an hour) can be taken free of charge – no one checks fares.

Naturally, it will be on that one daring occasion you brave the trains sans ticket that you get stopped by the French rail authorities. So as I said, you didn’t hear it here. Beginning in the verdant, wine-growing Cote du Rhone delta and ending in the blinding white deserts of the Ð toile Chain – part of the Hills of Provence at the tail end of the Alps – it’s difficult to drift to sleep on this trip.

Leaving Avignon means waving goodbye the crisp, dark blue waters of the Rhone.

The first half hour of the ride is a peaceful roll through pastures spotted with cows and horses, and vast, endless rows of vineyards. Soon, the greenery is replaced by powder sands, covered with sporadic sprouts of sparse, dry grass. Jagged, rocky peaks stand out in the distance throughout the journey.

MarseilleBefore you know it, houses start to appear, jutting out from cliff tops next to the giant aloe-shaped cacti. The ocean comes into view. You find yourself in an urban centre.

The architecture is your standard Mediterranean fare of whitewash, pastel-painted stucco and terracotta roofs, with clothes and linen hanging out the windows to dry.

You’ve arrived, cherie. Getting on board: Tickets cost 112 per person and can be purchased from the local ticket office.

 

 

 

Original article by Roman Russall - Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roman_Russall_Michailovich

{ 0 comments }