Ocean Quest Online

Victoria Cruises To View Orca Whales

admin — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Taking a trip to view whales is a trip that will never be forgotten. The Orca whale, also known as the Killer Whale, really is no whale at all but rather a cetacean. The Killer Whale is the most popular whale that whale shows use for a performance. The Killer Whale is known for its speed that it uses to hunt its prey in the ocean. Killer Whales usually can be found swimming together in groups called pods, which makes them the perfect object for viewing on a whale watching trip.

Upon leaving to view the whales on a whale watching trip it is important to remember a few things. First of all dress for the weather. Being on the water usually means cooler temperatures and more wind. Second never stare at the water, but try and keep your eyes on the horizon. By doing this you will not get sea sick from the constant movement of the waves. Third, just have as much fun as possible. On some trips the Orca’s have been known to swim up the side of the boats to see who it is. The Killer Whale has a large fin on its back which makes it easy to identify. If you are lucky the Orca will breach out of the water and get you all wet.

Special Dolphin Cruises In And Around Maui

admin — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

You will find two species of dolphins around Maui. There is the bottle nosed and the spinner dolphin. Maui offers several tours to bring you close to bothe species.

During the day take a cruise around the coast of Maui. Dolphins love to hang out and play in the day near the shore. In the evening you may want to take a cruise up one of the big channels seperating the islands. Dolphins come to these channels at night to feed.

There are cruises that offer snorkeling. This will get you closer to the dolphins. Chances are on a cruise like this you may get a dolphin to come close enough to touch.

While out cruising Maui you may see dophins showing off so to speak. They have been known to jump high and do flips to show off to tourist. They seem to love the attention.

Maui offers several types of cruises. Any of the cruises you may take are sure to bring you a once in a life time experience. You may want to book your cruise early. Certian times of the year are busier than others. You want to make sure you can get on the cruise and it is not full.

Dolphin and Whale Watching Cruises In Hawaii

admin — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000

If you want to make a memory alone or as a family in the great state of Hawaii you won’t want to miss this amazing experience. Taking a a Dolphin and Whale watching Cruise is an incredible memory for the young and old alike. There is a feeling you get as you venture out safely onto the ocean in search of viewing that wile dolphin or beautiful whale. It is an experience that is worth every penny.You will take a safe vessel with an experienced crew and captain as you embark on a short journey to watch the worlds most beautiful whales and dolphins. And once you spot them, with the help of your cruise guides or all alone you will have a memory stamped upon your heart and mind forever. The breeze flowing, the natural beauty of the ocean, watching and waiting for the perfect moment for a whale or dolphin to appear before your very eyes is awesome. Watching these amazing creatures in their natural homes is priceless. The dolphins jumping into the air is a moment you can’t forget. Bring your binoculars, a hat, and get ready to relax for a cruise of a lifetime. It just may be the highlight of your trip to Hawaii.

Indie rock theme cruise premieres in 2011

www.oceanquestonline.org — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

If you have internet access, you know there are plenty of online sites to find new, independent music (and if you don’t have internet access, vist www.satellitestarinternet.com). But up until now, how many cruises do you know that can say the same thing? Most musicians that have appeared on cruises have been big-name stars, whether it was Kid Rock collaborating with Carnival Cruises, VH1′s “Best Cruise Ever” with Three Doors Down, or Vince Neil’s Motley Cruise. The Bruise Cruise Festival aims to change all that.Taking place from February 25-28, 2011, the cruise will take its lucky passengers from Miami to Nassau, Bahamas, along with a cavalcade of indie music stars, including Southern psych-punk group The Black Lips, the beautiful but deadly Vivian Girls, the dangerously poppy Surfer Blood, garage rockers The Strange Boys, and the lo-fi, reverb-drenched The Oh-Sees. New bands are still being announced. Aside from music, the cruise is set to feature an open cocktail bar during certain hours, a competitive miniature golf course, and a “soul party dance-off.” Most exciting and unique, however, might be puppeteer Panacea Theriac, who goes by the name Miss Pussycat and also performs with her husband Robert Rolston, who goes by Quintron and will also be on the ship. Miss Pussycat’s puppeteering will be accompanied by pancakes, waffles, and story hour.The cruise, which takes place on the Carnival Imagination, will also provide a resort-style pool, a thrilling water park, and even a few fast-paced laser tag games for those off-hours in between shows. There are only 400 tickets available, but an additional 2,000 passengers will be on board. Only those with Bruise Cruise tickets will be able to attend the festival’s special events. As a unique cruise that is likely to go down in hipster history as one of the greatest three days ever, this is one cruise that hardcore music fans definitely won’t be able to miss.

OceanQuest hands-on cruises

www.oceanquestonline.org — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:34:32 +0000

If you want your cruise to have a little more thought behind it, consider taking an OceanQuest cruise. While you won’t be traveling through exotic island locales (it’s in Woods Hole, MA), and you won’t need to pack for a week’s worth of time (it’s a one-day trip), you will get one experience lacking anywhere else. On the OceanQuest Discovery cruise, you get to actually use the vessel’s research equipment to learn about the body of water that covers 70 of our planet.The boat is divided into three different stations. In the back (or sternprospective passengers have to start learning the lingo), travellers focus on the life of the ocean, pulling up lobster traps and plankton nets and examining microorganisms under a Discovery Scope. In the bow of the ship, passengers have the opportunity to operate the equipment that teaches scientists about the physical and meteorological makeup of the ocean. Finally, when guests head in to the cabin, they are treated to exploring the chemistry of seawater.OceanQuest’s summer schedule started on June 28, and goes through September 4. Monday through Friday, cruises run starting at 10 a.m. and every 2 hours after that. On Saturday, cruises run at noon and 2 p.m. Saturday is the only day that requires advance reservations, but they’re recommended for all dates due to the demand. As far as costs go, tickets for adults and teens will only cost 22.00, with children between 4 and 12 going for 17.00. Tickets for children under 4 cost only 5.00, and infants are free. Tickets can be bought at the dock. However, if you simply want to donate to the organization, that can be accomplished online at OceanQuest’s website. This helps to make cruises affordable for school groups, who are of course our–and the ocean’s–future.

Ocean cruise packing list

admin — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:32:37 +0000

There’s only one thing worse than the stress of packing for a cruise, and that’s realizing you’ve forgotten something once you’re out on the water. While most ships will have shops to replace any essentials you may forget or run out of, there are many auxiliary items that you’ve got to be absolutely sure to pack. Luckily, we’ve compiled this handy guide of what’s most neededand most often forgotten.One tip before starting: when packing with a group, divide clothes between suitcases, so if one is lost, everybody still has something to wear.There are many security items you’ll need, assuming you’re flying to the cruise. Make sure you have all of the following: airline tickets or confirmations, passport, driver’s license and auto insurance, medical insurance. It’s also important to have easy access to anything you’ll need in an emergency: pre-paid phone card, contact numbers for stolen credit cards or traveler’s checks, prescription drugs. These items will make your life much easier while on the ship: reading material, currency conversion chart, cell phone charger, plug adaptor, laptop computer, camera and extra film (not stored in checked luggage), Swiss Army knife (in checked luggage), collapsible pillow. This is just an overview; bring any other chargers, devices, and tools that will make your stay more comfortable while on the ship.When packing clothes, remember not to bring any flashy jewelry or apparel that could stand out to criminals on board. Evening wear for men can include tuxedo, “docksider” shoes, and sport jacket. For women: formal and casual dresses, a variety of tops, sarongs or pareo to cover up in bathing suit, capri pants. Obviously everyone will also want a wide variety of casual clothes for those days lounging on deck. You can find more extensive lists across the internet, but with this in mind, you’ve got all the essentials for a perfect cruise vacation.

Oasis class cruise ships cut a large shadow

www.oceanquestonline.org — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:30:58 +0000

If you’re planning to save up for the ultimate luxury cruise, why not go all the way and set your sights on the Oasis of the Seas? Of course, you’ll want to know the numbers. At over 225,000 tons, 1,181 feet long, and 198 feet wide, the Oasis is the largest cruise ship in the world. It rises 236 feet high with a total of 16 decks and a total capacity of over 6,000 guests. Just for comparison, the Statue of Liberty is 151 feet. Currently, the Oasis is the only one of its size in operation, but that’ll change at the end of the year when the Allure of the Seas is completed.Royal Caribbean International is the proud owner of these ocean-going behemoths. Before 2009, the Freedom of the Seas was the largest ship in existence, and if you’re all right with going second-best, it’s still in operation, with a signature H₂O Zone featuring water cannons, sculptures, a waterfall, and a “lazy river” water attraction for whiling away the days.However, Royal Caribbean has recently been upping the temptation factor by adding attractions to their Oasis ships as well. The culinary star of both ships is the restaurant 150 Central Park. Up-and-coming chefs can submit their original recipe for a shot at a one-year paid contract of the new ship’s Chef de Cuisine. The new Allure ship will also feature an onboard musical, Chicago, along with a 3-D movie screen and Rita’s Cantina, a blend of Mexican and Southern California flavors.When you travel on one of these ships, you’re practically travelling with your own hoteland surrounding area. The Allure features seven themed “neighborhoods” like Central Park, the Pool and Sports Zone, and Entertainment Place. If you have the ambition (and the dough), then set your sights on this majestic trip and prepare for the cruise of a lifetime.

New Kilroy devices assist ocean researchers

www.oceanquestonline.org — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:25:38 +0000

The nonprofit Ocean Research & Conservation Association was founded by Dr. Edith Widder in 2005. Dr. Widder has a long history of exploring the deep oceans, starting as a Scientific Research Pilot at Atmospheric Diving Systems and later gaining experience with the diving suit WASP and the submersibles DEEP ROVER and DEEP WORKER. Learning more about the ocean floor helps us learn more about the effect humans are having on the environment and, more importantly, what we can change to keep the oceans a place of relaxation and refuge for people and animals alike.To that end, the ORCA Kilroy was developed, beginning in 2006 and completed in 2008, as another way to monitor the life signs of the ocean. The football-sized monitors record ocean speeds, direction, salinity, temperature, and levels of key microorganisms, 24/7. The device also has a bathyphotometer for monitoring biological elements like dinoflagellates and comb jellies.The developer of the Kilroy, Dr. Eric Thosteson, hopes that this data will help us turn around the menacing direction in which our oceans are headed. Toxic algae, paralytic shellfish poisonings, and fungal infections on seals are just a few of the more obvious signs. If we don’t end up taking a closer look at how our actions are affecting the sea, we could soon be facing a future where cruises are a thing of the past. Who wants to spend a week floating through sewage?The vast amount of Kilroy devices being deployed will serve as a sort of alarm system for dealing with the most pressing problems, and help aid researchers in coming up with solutions. The name comes from the WWII legend in which a cartoon character appeared scrawled on walls with the words, “Kilroy was here.” ORCA hopes that their own devices will soon be as recognizable as this classic icon.

How to book your ocean cruise

www.oceanquestonline.org — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:19:09 +0000

There are a wide variety of cruises available for a wide variety of passengers. Everything depends on whether you’re looking for toga parties or fine dining, a quaint holiday trip or an ultramodern fantasy vacation.When starting to look into which cruise will fit you and your personality best, remember that shorter cruises (usually between three to five days) tend to be on older ships. That doesn’t necessarily mean run-downjust that they will be less glamorous and probably more low-key than a week-or-longer cruise. That may be exactly what you’re looking for, however.Length can also depend on the destination. Paul Motter, president of CruiseMates.com, says that most Caribbean cruises are a week long, but a quality trip through Europe should last about 10 to 14 days. CruiseMates is an online community where cruisers share their experiences and tips for first-time users. It also has a “Best of the Web: Cruise Bargains” section with deals starting below 500 a person. As the section hasn’t been updated since last year, though, some of the deals may have expired.Choosing the right cruise line depends on more than just the price, though. You’ll want to research the company and see what features their ships offer, and whether they focus more on the ship or the destination. Generally, Celebrity and Cunard are lines which focus on the experience of actually being on the ship. You’ll feel the water beneath your feet and the salt in your hair. If that doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, then consider Oceania Cruises or Carnival, which are more interested in where you’re going, and include many port stops.Travel agents also are a good investment. Not only can they find deals not available online, they’ll be able to tell if a certain cruise line is right for you. Don’t end up stuck on a party barge for your family vacationunless Grandma likes to cut loose.