Setting sail on one of the world’s most lavish cruise ships presents travellers quite literally with a whole world of opportunity. The most popular routes traverse the seas serenely and land their passengers in some of the most exotic and interesting locations in the world. It gives people of all ages and all dispositions the chance to take a look around places they might never have dreamed about visiting otherwise.

For many people cruises are a once in a lifetime experience while others are lucky enough to set sail each year with a new set of destinations in mind. Of course, it would be understandable if you found yourself distracted by the various on-board entertainments and forgot where you were entirely. Cruise ships after all are designed essentially as floating holiday resorts in their own right, often complete with the kind of dramatic stage shows and casinos that would hardly be out of place in Las Vegas itself.

For day time pleasures there are poolsides and mini-golfing areas to hang around and look cool by as you soak up the sunshine, or you could always just learn over and take a look out at the ocean or the spectacular scenes around you. Everywhere looks a little more dramatic and enticing when you’re floating by on a cruise ship.
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If you’re new to skiing, or are thinking about taking up a winter sport, you have to consider booking a ski chalet in Austria. Nestled neatly in the central strip of the Alps – Europe’s largest mountainous region – skiing is to Austria what Wimbledon is to tennis. Austria is the mother of the most adrenaline-fuelled Alpine discipline, the Downhill.

Innsbruck is the most famous resort in Austria. Twice host to the Winter Olympics, it is a city with Alpine slopes on all sides. Nowhere else in the world is so dedicated to skiing. A free ski bus connects 25 village resorts and over 500 km of thrilling runs. The terrain has been divided into eight areas, each with a different level of difficulty.

If you prefer snowboarding, you’ll find dedicated parks across Austria providing half-pipes, natural and artificial jumps. For cross-country skiers there are hundreds of kilometres of tracks across the country, all offering beautiful scenery.

If you’re not a member of the Faint-Hearted Club and really want to get your adrenaline pumping, book a Heli-Ski. A helicopter will take groups of up to six experienced skiers, plus a guide to a remote mountain top. Getting to the bottom is up to you. Be warned, you will face some seriously tough turns, some heart-stopping vertical drops and you will have the time of your life. For the experienced only.
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