Country Traveling

If you have ever enjoyed a fantastic cruise holiday then you have probably been left with a lot of great memories, but have you ever stopped to think about the fact that your trip boosted the local economy too?

It is clear that going on a cruise is one way of spreading money around the globe and helping out foreign economies. For example, some tourists buy trinkets from a beach seller in the Caribbean while others might purchase postcards from a shop in the Mediterranean. This on its own might not sounds like much but with the number of people now taking this form of holiday it all adds up in the long run.

However, we also need to remember that the port where your vessel leaves from and returns to also gets a big economic boost from this kind of tourism too. Southampton is the UK’s cruise capital and as such receives a massive number of visitors from passengers of cruise liners.

Some of these visitors stay a night in a Southampton hotel, eat in a local restaurant, take a taxi or otherwise spend some money in the local economy. Some of the people passing through like the Hampshire city so much that they plan to come back and spend more time there.

This knock on effect is also why so many other UK cities are also keen to get more cruise vessels to stop there. The economic benefits to it make a lot of sense for any city. If you are going to be sailing from Southampton in the near future then you can make your trip even better while also playing your part in helping the local economy. Here is how.

Stay the Night

One of the great things about a cruise trip is that the relaxation starts right away.  You can go one better by getting there ahead of time and making your holiday start a day early. A relaxing day in Southampton will let you hop on board in the right frame of mind. While you are there you can explore the historic city walls, attend a music or theatre performance and enjoy the city centre shopping. Instead of rushing off to start your holiday straight from a plane or a train this will let you savour the build up and then get going in style.

Come Back Again

If you like the cruise experience then why not do it again as soon as you can? Cruises from Southampton are a lot more convenient and relaxing for a lot of British tourists than heading off from an airport to join the ship at a foreign port. There is a wide variety of sailings from the south coast and you should be able to find something to suit you wherever you want to go to. Even if you only have the time or the budget for a short trip you can still try and fit in some time there before or after it. It is one of the easiest ways to boost a local economy while having a great time.

Tags: City Walls, Cruise Capital, Cruise Holiday, Cruise Liners, Cruise Trip, Cruise Vessels, Economic Benefits, Frame Of Mind, Great Memories, Holi, Local Restaurant, Massive Number, Postcards, Relaxation, Sailing, Southampton Hotel, Southampton Uk, Theatre Performance, Trinkets, Uk Cities

Setting off on luxury cruises from the UK is a fantastic idea no matter where you set sail from. As far as I am concerned the ship could set sail from wherever it wants to as long as I am settled down in my cabin looking forward to some sightseeing and a lot of great food.

However, most of us probably think of Southampton as being the top cruise port in the UK, with the country’s various other ports not receiving quite as much attention it seems. This might all change though, now that an industry awards ceremony has seen Newcastle named as the number one place to set sail from or arrive to.

All about Newcastle?

So what does the port of Newcastle have which makes it worthy of my attention and which might persuade me to join a cruise from there? Obviously the first point which springs to mind is the geographical location. If you live in the North of England or Scotland then making the trip to Southampton for your cruise holiday can be an expensive and time consuming business. Far better is the idea of getting along to Newcastle and starting from there.

Another thing to bear in mind is that it offers a lot of activities which you might be interested in carrying out before you head off. Getting there a day or two before you are due to set sail means that you do some shopping, see a game of football, see some historic sights or just soak up the atmosphere in the vibrant city centre. Foreign visitors who arrive here part of the way through their luxury cruises will find it a fascinating place to spend some time, while anyone from elsewhere in the UK is likely to be equally interested in it. I  certainly fancy popping along for a football game, although my wife seems keener on doing some shopping.

The popularity of Newcastle as a stopping point on a cruise holiday is seen in the fact that 2012 is going to see its biggest number of cruise ships ever, with over 40 planning to lower their anchor there. This has the added benefit of bringing a lot of cash into the city, with some figures suggesting that the cruise business brings in over £40 million to the area and does a lot to keep the city’s tourism industry flying high. If you have never been to this fine city it is certainly a good idea to pop along at some point, whether you are planning on heading off on a high quality cruise or not.

None of this means that Southampton is an option to be neglected though, as the variety of cruises leaving from there means that it is a fine place to start looking for the right one.  In fact, the best idea for finding the ideal holiday is to just spend time looking for the type of cruise you want and then working out how best to join it. Even if you don’t join from the UK’s number one port you will still have a lot of fun once you get on board.

Tags: Added Benefit, Anchor, Atmosphere, Cruise Holiday, Cruise Port, Cruise Ships, Cruise Uk, Cruises Uk, Football Game, Game Of Football, Geographical Location, Industry Awards Ceremony, Luxury Cruises, Popularity, Port Of Newcastle, Ports, Sightseeing, Southampton, Top Cruise, Vibrant City Centre

If you are always seeing advertising campaigns for the latest movies but never get a chance to see them until they are released on DVD or Blu-Ray, it is time for you to rediscover the joys of cinema. Across the UK we have so many wonderful establishments from small local picture houses to large technologically advanced multiplexes.  While the quality of home entertainment systems has increased dramatically over recent years, any true film buff will tell you there is nothing compared to a trip to see the latest movies on the big screen. Let’s look at some of the advantages that the cinema has to home viewing, that will convince you to get in line to the box office at your local cinema.

Premium Comfort

Today’s modern cinemas are designed to make your film viewing experience the best it can possibly be, which means that your comfort is a priority.  Uncomfortable seating arrangements which crush you up against your aisle buddies? Forget about it – modern cinema seating is spacious and feels as good, if not better, than sitting in an armchair at home. Improved arrangements also mean that other peoples movements in the seat to the front of you are less likely to distract you from your viewing pleasure. Long waits at the box office are a thing of the past too, as you can now check out the cinema listings online and find out which films are on at what time. Online booking systems mean that in just a few clicks, you can reserve your tickets efficiently and quickly – with no queueing!

Technologically Advanced

The latest movies are created with the expanse of the cinema screen in mind, and to see them as the director intended can completely change your perspective of a film. The breathtaking 3-D special effects of Avatar are a perfect example – awe inspiring and powerful when seen on a cinema screen, but sadly mediocre when viewed through a standard television. The soundtrack of a film is also experienced in  higher quality when heard through a cinema surround sound system, taking you deeper into the world of the film protagonists.

Fun with Friends & Family

Going to the cinema doesn’t just have to be buying a ticket, seeing the latest movies and going home. Arranging to meet for drinks or a meal after seeing a film is a great way to make your trip to the cinema into a sociable evening out, and everyone enjoys sharing their opinion of what they’ve just watched.

Special Offers

Many cinemas offer promotions and special offers to tie in with the latest movies that they are showing. This might be a discounted entry ticket, reduced price snacks or even free collectible gifts, all of which are worth getting hold of.

Great Popcorn

Making popcorn at home in your microwave is easy enough, but the flavour is never quite the same as that perfect popcorn you can buy at the cinema. A big tub of sweet popcorn and your favourite soft drink is the ideal accompaniment to the latest movie on the big screen and turns your cinema visit into a special occasion.

Tags: Advertising Campaigns, Aisle, Armchair, Awe, Blu Ray, Booking Systems, Cinema Listings, Cinema Screen, Cinema Seating, Establishments, Expanse, Home Entertainment Systems, Local Cinema, Modern Cinema, Multiplexes, Picture Houses, Queueing, Special Effects, True Film Buff, Uncomfortable Seating