By Anita Dunham-Potter

Most cruise travelers start traveling the day their cruise starts, which often entails waking up at the crack of dawn in order to catch flights to their ship’s port. Upon embarkation many cruisers find themselves exhausted and the first day of the cruise is often overshadowed with trying to catch up on rest. Conversely upon disembarkation the whole process starts over again with an early morning wake-up call along with the subsequent rush to the airport and flights home.

Regrettably, many cruise travelers are so focused on booking their cruise they often don’t give thought to adding a few days to enjoy the city of embarkation and/or disembarkation. For those sailing on an Alaskan cruise vacation, or starting off on a European cruise, it’s a shame to fly all that way and not savor some of the world’s most exciting places. Thankfully there is a better way to enjoy your cruise vacation and its called pre-and post-cruise stays.

Pre and post cruise vacation stays

Most cruise lines offer one, two or three-night pre- or post-cruise hotel packages that are convenient, given the hotel, roundtrip airport and pier transfers are included. You can also consider alternative packages at other hotels than those offered by the cruise lines.

A day in port, and often a different port each day, defines the majority of cruise itineraries. But many of the world’s most amazing places are a bit too far from port to explore in a matter of hours. In these destinations, extended port stays and multi-day shore adventures, even the option of leaving the cruise ship in one port and re-embarking in another, add an unforgettable new dimension to many cruises.

Extended port stays – sometimes 18 hours, more often two full days – showcase some of most exciting, culture rich and unique cities on earth. The extraordinary history and culture of Istanbul in Turkey, the unique glamour and style of Rome, the fun and beauty of Sydney, the pomp and charm of London: these are among the many world capitals and great cities where cruise passengers can spend time in before or after their cruise. Other examples include striking Asian cruise destinations, including Hong Kong and Singapore. A number of itineraries feature cities with exceptional nightlife, from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Buenos Aires, Argentina or Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Cruises exotic destinations offer three-night adventures to the wilds of Patagonia, extended trips to legendary Machu Picchu, and African safaris to private game reserves.

Extended stays are a particularly popular feature on Alaska cruise sailings. Most cruise lines offer a variety of extended cruise-tour package options which take passengers deeper into Alaska via train and include land stays at lodges. Highlights range from hiking and sightseeing in Denali National Park to “flightseeing” across the massive Yanert Glacier via helicopter.

Just think of the true value of being able to decompress before or after your cruise. Doing pre- and post-cruise stays allow the stress to melt away and that only can enhance the overall cruise vacation experience.

Source:

http://www.princess.com/news/cruisingarticlesdetails.jsp?cruisingArticleId=20101025

About the Author: Anita Dunham-Potter is a Pittsburgh-based travel journalist specializing in cruise travel. Anita is a weekly travel columnist for MSNBC.com, Consumer Traveler, and her blog at ExpertCruiser.com, which is now part of the USA TODAY travel network. Cruise Info

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By D Ruplinger

If you have been arrested or accused of a crime that has the potential of jail or prison time, you may want to seriously consider hiring an attorney to represent you. Unless you don’t mind the possibility of spending time in jail, you’ll probably want the services of an attorney.

Almost any expert will strongly advise a person against representing him or herself in court unless they are very knowledgeable about the field of law; and even then he or she will still be discouraged from representing him or herself for a criminal case. Less than one percent of people represent themselves in a criminal case. The vast majority of people engage the services of an attorney. That is because it is very difficult for someone to represent him or herself in court.

You wouldn’t want someone without any knowledge of how to do heart surgery doing a heart transplant on you would you? Likewise, would you want to represent yourself in court and face possible prison time without having the best possible legal advice available to you?

If a person cannot afford to hire an attorney the court will appoint an attorney, typically called a public defender. The constitution of the United States requires a person be provided with legal representation if they cannot afford it. But it is only required if a person is facing possible jail or prison time. If a person is only facing the possibility of a fine, the court is not required to provide the defendant with an attorney.

A court appointed attorney may not cost the defendant any money or the defendant may receive the court appointed attorney at reduced fees. It depends on the income of the defendant. If a person wants a public defender they will be required to fill out financial documents for the court to determine whether or not they qualify for a public defender and also whether or not that they receive the services of the public defender for free or at a reduced cost.

If a person qualifies for a reduced cost court appointed attorney, it is generally called a partial indigency. At the conclusion of their case, the judge will require the defendant to reimburse the county or state for a specific portion of their legal fees. The rates are usually much lower than those charged by private defense attorneys.

If you do not qualify for a court appointed attorney and are hiring one on your own, how do you find one? Personal recommendations from people you know are almost always the best way to find an attorney. Other sources of information to help find a criminal attorney are: Internet, Yellow Pages, your civil practice attorney, your local bar association lawyer referral panel (if they have one) and the Martindale-Hubbell publications.

The Martindale-Hubbell publications are available at most libraries and on the Internet. The publications do their best to list every attorney in the US by geographical area and lists the area or areas of law that attorney specializes in.

When hiring a criminal attorney on your own, try to interview several attorneys before hiring one or ask your family and friends help you. It is important to find an attorney you feel comfortable discussing all aspects of your case with. Some defense attorneys offer a no cost personal interview consultation. One thing to remember when hiring an attorney: make sure you hire an attorney who specializes in your area of criminal law.

Most attorneys will require an up-front retainer fee which can be a significant amount depending on the type of criminal case you have.

Some attorneys charge a set fee for handling a specific type of case. But it is more common for an attorney to charge by the hour. Some attorneys who charge by the hour will set a cap fee for the case. That means a sum will be agreed on that is the highest amount the defendant has to pay. If the hourly costs reach this set amount, the lawyer will finish representing the defendant through to the completion of the case without charging any more money.

Although contingency fees, which are where an attorney only gets paid if he or she wins the case, are common with certain types of civil cases, they are not used with criminal cases. Contingency fees are considered unethical and are not permitted in criminal cases.

In addition to knowing what fees an attorney will be charging, a defendant also needs to know what services those fees cover and do not cover. Fees such as the cost of expert witnesses are normally not included in the normal fees of an attorney.

About the Author: D Ruplinger is a featured writer for defenseattorneyspro.com. Visit the site for information about defense attorneys and defense attorney referral services

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Getting Personal Financial Advice

by

With so many web based companies offering various financial services, it’s really hard to distinguish run of the mill institutions from reputable ones. Some online companies will charge by the hour for you to talk to a professional” financial adviser. You just can’t be sure if these people actually know what they’re talking about or are just reading off some script. It is always best to ask others about their experiences dealing with the company you have chosen to help with your finances. Always check to see if the contact information is valid; if they have a physical address, you might want to check out if it’s a business or home address. Call the telephone number listed, check if it is indeed a business; or better yet call directory assistance to find out to whom the phone number is listed under. Once you find a decent and trust worthy online financial institution, you can choose from their wide range of services to suit your needs. From personal finance to investments, professional advisors can help set up a practical and personal financial plan. They will give you advice on how to quickly pay off and lessen credit card debts; how to invest your money, whether through Bonds, Stocks or Mutual Funds; how to save your money for retirement and even how best to deal with insurance and taxes among other things. Again, the abilities of these online financial planners will vary; so always ask for a second opinion. When it comes to money, trial and error isn’t really an option. There is also an unlimited supply of free information over the web, that you will not have time to read all of them. However, these resources could have been written by a college student and not by a financial genius. Some articles might also have been rewritten ten times from the original work, and would have lost most of the significant information. Financial calculators, such as mortgage calculators, insurance calculators, retirement planning calculators, are available at most financial websites you come across. However helpful these tools are, most are hard to use as some of the terms are quite difficult to understand. Further research will often lead to more confusion, thus making you more likely to commit financial blunders.

FiLife.com provides personal

financial advice

on credit cards, bank accounts, loans, mortgages, student loans, and much more.

Article Source:

eArticlesOnline.com}

By Nichole Clark

When it comes to 3d4d ultrasound, there are a lot of things that should be taken into consideration. There are several different advantages of this type of ultrasound. While there are a few of these advantages that can be beneficial from a medical standpoint, the majority of the benefits that come from this type of ultrasound are not medically related. Many women desire to have this type of procedure done during their pregnancy because they are able to have a better bond with their unborn baby. Taking the time to look at the different advantages and disadvantages of a three or four dimensional ultrasound can help you to determine if it is right for you.

One of the most common advantages to having this procedure done is the fact that it helps to increase the bond that the mother and father build with their unborn baby. You can actually see the features that your baby will have before he or she is born. When you have this ultrasound done, you are able to see movements of the baby just as you would in real life. You can see things such as thumb sucking, blinking of the eyes, waving arms, kicking and other movements as well. This can really make the feeling of carrying a child more real. Just like feeling the first kick can help to make a pregnancy seem more real, as does a three or four dimensional ultrasound.

Another great advantage to this procedure has to do with the fact that you can actually get photos of your child in the womb. These are actually pretty clear photos that allow you to see facial features and other expressions. This can help fathers bond with their unborn child as well. A lot of times fathers may feel out of the loop when it comes to pregnancy. Taking the time to have this procedure will help fathers to be able to feel like they are more in on the whole experience, which can be a great feeling for expectant fathers. These great photos that you will get from the ultrasound will make an excellent addition to your baby album. Capturing the moments before your baby is born is a great way to remember the moments that you were pregnant and be able to cherish them forever.

Not only will you be able to capture these three or four dimensional photos of your baby, but you can even sometimes get them on video. This will give you something that you can share with your child when they are older. They are sure to find it fascinating.

While you can see that there are many advantages to having a 3d4d ultrasound, you should also know that there is one downfall. Most insurance companies do not cover this procedure; therefore it is usually an out of pocket expense for most people. Take the time to look into this option if you are pregnant, it is sure to be well worth the money that you spend.

About the Author: At Adorable Baby 3D/4D Ultrasound, you are able to “meet” your unborn baby! We use brand new 3D and 4D ultrasound technology so that you can actually see your baby in live 4D motion while in your womb.To book an appointment call 925-522-5700 adorablebaby3d.com

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By Penny Lane

Moving into your own place is exciting and it is a great excuse to throw a party and share it with friends and family. Whether you have chosen one of the great Pleasant Ridge OH apartment rentals or you have moved into one of the Hyde Park OH apartment rentals, you will want to share your space with others. In order to throw a great party, there are a few things you should know. First, get yourself settled. Make sure all of your boxes are unpacked and all of the necessities have been purchased. Typically, the first night in your new place you have to run out to the store to buy a shower curtain, toilet paper and maybe a few cleaning supplies. After a couple of weeks, you are stocked up on all you need and your place is beginning to feel like home. This is the perfect time to warm it up with a party.

A housewarming is a great way to show off your new digs. It is also a great way to invite new friends and neighbors over. If you are planning a party and there is enough space, let your neighbors know about the shindig and invite them to stop in. It is a friendly gesture, plus it alerts them to the fact that there is a special event going on. That way if things get a little loud with laughter or music, they will know it is not going to be a usual occurrence. Letting them join in the fun makes it even better.

Once your guest list is set, decide what to serve. Like any good party, a housewarming needs a variety of delicious food and drinks. If your place does not already have a bar, set up a counter area with supplies for do-it-yourself cocktails. To save money and time, you might want to choose a signature drink that involves only a few ingredients. For instance, you can build a martini bar or a daquiri bar, so you can limit your selection to just a few items.

Plan a menu that is easy to eat and relatively inexpensive. For a casual get-together, you could pick up a few pizzas or have them delivered and let everyone share. If you want something a little more formal, consider an appetizer or dessert only menu. Let people know in advance that there will not be enough served to fill them up, but that they can stop by after dinner and enjoy cake and coffee. Another great option is a brunch housewarming. You can offer a variety of breakfast foods which are often less expensive and easier to prepare than regular party foods.

Finally, plan a few activities. Though people are there to see your new place, it might get boring after awhile. Plan a few games that are housing oriented. Maybe you can create a trivia game where the questions focus on moving or household items. You could also have everyone bring a picture of their first place and hold a contest to see who can match the home with the owner.

About the Author: Penny Lane recently contacted a real estate agent who specializes in finding

Pleasant Ridge OH apartment rentals

. She searched the term

Hyde Park OH apartment rentals

to see what was available in her price range.

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isnare.com

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By John Peter

The popularity of hip hop clothing has been spreading like forest fire with the advent of the hip hop genre of music. The teen followers nowadays want to follow the footsteps of their rap idols that they see and worship on screen. The first step to emulating your rap idol would be to start dressing like him/her. Once you’re equipped with the proper attire you could carry off the hip hop attitude without looking like a clown and be taken seriously. These tips are to be kept in mind when shopping for hip hop clothing.

1. Current trends: Keep abreast with the current trends. What was hot product in the seventies may be an object of ridicule now. For those who believe there is no school like the old school, they should do some ground work on it to make it not look that old before you start wearing that look. What was fashionable yesterday may go out of fashion today. It’s all about the intuition when it comes to hip hop dressing.

2. Improvise: Accessorizing goes hand in hand with hip hop dressing. No rapper will be taken seriously in the streets even if he has totally sick outfit but no accessories to go with it. When it comes to accessorizing, feel free to experiment. But keep in mind not to go overboard with it. After all accessories are meant to highlight what you’re actually wearing and not distract attention from it.

3. Caps: Caps form an integral part of any hustler’s attire. If ain’t got no caps, then you ain’t got no game homie. You can experiment extensively with caps. You can wear a cap backwards. You can wear it sideways. You can wear it low. And if you’re feeling prim and proper, you can even wear it normally. Get yourself a cap to go with every outfit. You can even get caps with the logo of your hood printed on it. REPRESENT HOMIE!

4. Shades: No hustler is complete without his ever trusty shades. Be sure to get a cooler that goes with your personality and your dressing sense. You can either look like stud wearing the right pair of shades or end up looking like a wannabe with a truly horrendous pair. So before you get yourself an expensive pair of ray bans, just think for a while whether you can carry it off. As they say, shades make or break a hustler.

5. Loose fit: Remember to get tees that are two sizes more than your actual size. The origin of the loose clothing can be traced to the times when the native Africans wore loose clothes that allow ventilation to save themselves from the harsh sun of Africa while performing. Also, wearing loose close makes you look bigger. Loose fit makes a thin person look bigger and a fat person look not so fat. Wanna look Phat? Wear it loose!

Wholesale clothing for men and women at very low prices are all over but the ultimate search for the best clothing only ends where there is quilty as well as the quantity is given us in good price. ofcource the discount stores are also good to have a watch.

About the Author: Quick Recap: 5 Tips to find cheap

Wholesale Hip Hop Clothing

are: — Current trends should be updated and make sure you know what is old and new trends. — Improvise with what you wear, accessories goes hand in hand when you go for

Urban Clothes Wear

. — Cool caps, shades which suits your color and style, loose fits when you are little over weight are definitely goo

Source:

isnare.com

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