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Life On A Cruise: A Possibility In Nigeria

Published

5 years ago

May 11, 2019

Eric

Do you ever wonder why people were so in love with the ship, Titanic, before she sank? Someone said you haven’t truly lived until you go on a cruise trip. We are not talking about a boat cruise or a boat ride. We mean going on a cruise liner; the type that takes you to multiple cities over time. ‘Life at sea’ as some people would call it albeit for a specific duration.

If you are wondering if this is possible from Nigeria, the answer is a resounding yes. People have been booking for international cruises from Nigeria, way back as 2015. Thanks to Royal Caribbean Nigeria (the representative of the Royal Caribbean International) and a few other tour agencies like Tour Brokers International, arrangements for a cruise can be made from right here. This doesn’t mean they board the cruise liners here in Nigeria though. Passengers still have to go to the countries that operate such like Dubai to start the journey till they get to their destination.

The reason it isn’t a popular means of travel in Nigeria is that you may need a lot of visas and appropriate documentation before you can book for a pleasure cruise experience.

If it already sounds expensive and stressful why should it be on your bucket list as a tourist? Here are 9 perks of signing up for a Cruise:

It’s An All-Inclusive Vacation On The Sea.

A cruise ship has it all, swimming pools, library, cinema, theatre, dance halls, fine dining, bars, kiddies play area, game centres, spa, fitness centres, etc. You can never get bored on a cruise ship because there is something for everyone.

You Can Kill Many Birds With One Stone!

The cruise doesn’t just take you from one country to the next (unless that’s what you signed up for). You get to stop at numerous ports in different countries and go on excursions in certain cities before boarding the cruise ship again. So rather than visiting one city at a time, you get to visit multiple cities in one trip.

It’s Cost Effective

If you visit 5 countries individually, you would have to pay for return tickets with different airlines, worry about accommodation cost per city, and have access to limited attractions because of budget constraints. With a cruise, accommodation and transportation are sorted out and you can choose tour packages off-board (which are an out-of-pocket expense) and have the ship’s English-speaking tour guide and intra-city transportation covered.

You Also Get Free Entertainment

Entertainment like Movies, Karaoke, Pool/Hot tub, Performance shows, Piano bars, a live band, basketball, rock climbing and golf are free on a cruise. Depending on the package you pay for when booking the cruise, you could have access to certain freebies throughout the trip like a front-row seat at the theatre, dance lessons, dinner in a speciality restaurant, etc.

You Get To Try New Foods

You have 24 hours access to food and beverages like tea, fruits, salad bars, etc. You have all you can eat buffets if you want an informal dining experience and full course meals servings at the Diner. They include the cost of feeding in the base price (except you opt for a speciality restaurant on board). They vary the food choices on a cruise and you get to try options you may never come across here in Nigeria.

It’s Family Friendly

There are different parts of the ship with onboard entertainment geared towards different age groups. So it makes for an ideal family vacation. As long as you and your family members have a means for communicating and not wandering off from agreed locations, couples can sneak off and enjoy alone time. It is a carefree way to travel so you should be just fine on a cruise ship.

It’s a Great Way To Meet New People

People from all over the world sign up for cruises. So you get to socialise and network with people from different cultures which always keeps the conversations on board lively whether you are going solo or with a group. You get to bond with strangers over common activities like the off-board excursions or around the sports/fitness facilities. Some people even find love and romance on a cruise.

Your Security Is Guaranteed

With security personnel and doctors on deck, room safes, CCTV Cameras and unique passenger ID, your property won’t get stolen. The ship’s crew are very organised so no tales of missing pieces of luggage. Also, you get to go on tours outside the cruise with people just like you wanting to get back safely. So you are in good company during the tours.

It’s Ideal For Celebrating Memorable Moments

With all the perks of being on a cruise, it makes it the best choice for going on a honeymoon or celebrating special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries. You get to watch the sun rise and the moon shine over the ocean and see the skyline of cities before you approach them. You have time to engage in activities that will go down in memory lane as simply remarkable.

Now you know how wonderful a cruise is, isn’t it worth putting on your bucket list?

Headline

Breaking: Wike Plans to Attend Thursday’s PDP NEC Meeting

Published

22 hours ago

April 17, 2024

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

The immediate past Governor of Rivers State, and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, may have concluded plans to attend the much advertised National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), billed to hold on Thursday, in Abuja.

Impeccable source, who is in the know, told The Boss that the minister, whose membership of the PDP is yet to be revoked even as he frolicks with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and serving in the President Bola Tinubu government as a minister.

The Source told The Boss that Wike’s impending presence at the NECeeting on Thursday is not unconnected with plans, already hatched with some governors, to weaken the opposition PDP.

“Yes, we have on good authority that FCT minister, Wike is planning to attend the NEC meeting tomorrow all in a bid to weaken the fabrics of the PDP, and pave the way for the continuation of the Tinubu administration come 2027, and by extension, relapse Nigeria to a full blown one party state.

“From every indication, Wike and his co-travellers, are bent on unleashing the same crisis ravaging the third force, Labour Party, and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso’s Nigerian National People’s Party (NNPP) on the PDP for the APC to remain the only political party in the country, and ensure that Tinubu has no challenger, come 2027,” the Source said.

It would be recalled that Wike has boasted over and again that there’s no opposition against Tinubu’s re-emergence in 2027, and that they have made sure of that. He has been compensated with the Ministerial job after he withdrew support for his party, and supported the APC and Tinubu to emerge as national government.

The Source further revealed that in the attempt to actualize the intended one party state, a lot of funding is ongoing to ensure that concerned stakeholders are ‘settled’ handsomely.

Wike, prior, during and after the 2023 general elections, has been floating in between the two major political parties; the APC and the PDP. While he claim to still be a member of the PDP, he is functioning as a minister in an APC government, mocking the inability of his party to discipline him.

Political stakeholders have concluded that the outcome of Thursday’s PDP NEC meeting will determine the path Nigeria’s political trajectory will take, and that it may portend the end of multi-party system and political democracy if Wike succeeds in his plan.

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Bribery, Corruption: APC Suspends National Chairman, Ganduje

Published

3 days ago

April 15, 2024

Eric

The All Progressives Congress ward in Ganduje, Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area, has suspended the party’s National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje.

The party ward legal adviser, Halliru Gwanzo, announced the suspension while addressing newsmen in Kano State on Monday.

Gwanzo cited allegations of bribery against Ganduje levelled by the Kano State Government as the reason for the suspension.

“We decided to suspend Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje from the party due to the seriousness of the allegations against him,” Gwanzo said.

Meanwhile, efforts to contact the Chief Press Secretary to the APC National Chairman, Mr Edwin Olufo, failed as his mobile phone was unreachable.

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Akpabio Commits to Collaboration with Tinubu, Governor Umo Eno

Published

7 days ago

April 12, 2024

Admin

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has stated his commitment to working closely with Nigeria’s President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Governor Umo Eno to ensure the delivery of democratic benefits to the people of Akwa Ibom State.

Akpabio stated this in his country home, Ukana, Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, while briefing his constituents on the journey so far as their representative in the red chamber.

He assured the people of Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District of his commitment to their welfare in appreciation of their total support for him, President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in last year’s election.

The Highpoint of the constituency briefing was the distribution of over 10,000 bags of rice and other essentials for his constituents from the wards, to the local governments.

A statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, quoted Akpabio as saying, “I am here once again, to thank you for standing by me, our President and the party, before, during and even after last year’s elections. I have come to say thank you and also bring Renewed Hope to you all.

“As the President is doing his own, the Senate President is also doing his bit and being complemented by the state governor, Akwa Ibom would be the better for it. We have finished elections and politics, we are now into governance. The governor of the state must touch you, because he is the governor of all the people in the state irrespective of political affiliation.

” As I am touching you now from the political angle, I will also touch the state without any political party affiliation. Most of the projects we are putting in place would be used by people resident in the state. Relax, things are getting better.”

The former Governor of the state, assured his constituents that his current position as the Senate President would be used for the development of the state in collaboration with the President and the Akwa Ibom State Governor.

Hear him: This Senate President is not the one that would be fighting the state government. I will collaborate with , I will collaborate with , to make the state better for us all. We cannot be out of government for a long time. You have to go to a government that carries you along”

Akpabio promised to work for his constituents and Nigeria with all his strength, noting that, “as the President of the Senate, I am for the Southern region and the entire country. I may not come here regularly to tell you what I have been doing for you, but you will be feeling the impact on way or the other. Our unemployed youths would be gainfully employed. I will construct a mini stadium in all the local governments in the district, for our youths to develop their sporting potentials. ”