Best holiday gifts for cruisers 2005

The Queen Mary 2 is one of the most impressive and luxurious cruise ships in history, and with the special DVD Come Aboard the Queen Mary 2 to Rio ($19.99), cruisers can relive the maiden voyage of this special vessel from London to Rio. Cruise authority Doug Jones directs and narrated the eighty-five minutes of footage that highlights the unforgettable voyage.

Sure-to-Please Presents
Perfect for the cruiser who loves some fun in the sun, the Panama Jack Cabin Cruise Collection($35) says you care. A bamboo gift basket is stuffed with premium First Cabin Suncare products, such as exotic tanning oils and waterproof sunblock, and the free Panama Jack canvas tote makes a great beach bag.

Make your Christmas gift truly one to remember with a personalized illustration from Whimsies Personalized Cartoons ($8.95). The design features a personalized cruise ship imprinted with their name and any other expressions you would like to add. Whimsies can change hair color, length and style, as well as skin tone.

On active adventures in exotic ports of call, cruisers can be left dehydrated with no safe water sources in sight. The Katadyn Water Bottle ($44.85) enables you to drink from any fresh water source in the world you choose without the worry of getting sick. It purifies as you go, eliminating protozoa, bacteria, viruses and bad-tasting chemicals.

Every experienced cruiser knows there's nothing harder to find on a ship than a good cup of joe. The Unbreakable French Press Carafe ($14.85) lets you brew a delicious cup of coffee anywhere you go in just five minutes. Made of unbreakable polycarbonate with a stainless steel rod and screen, the carafe will withstand any travel pressure you can muster.

A picture is worth a thousand words, so it should have the perfect frame. Photoboats ($29.95) displays your cruise-worthy photograph on its main sail and your message or name on the jib sail. Silk sails are set in position and the base is at an angle to give the boat a more windblown appearance.

Reports that toothbrushes carry more bacteria than your kitchen sink (perhaps we exaggerate a tad, but still) -- and the fact that cabin bathrooms are awfully compact, with the toilet right up against the sink -- encouraged us to pack the Vio Light Travel Deluxe Ultraviolet Toothbrush Sanitizer. Selling for $29.95, it's sleek and compact and operates on AA batteries.

The South Pacific has become the hottest up-and-coming cruising region, with sailings selling out so fast it'll leave your head spinning. Landfalls of Paradise: Cruising Guide to the Pacific Islands is the best book for any cruiser who wants to be in the know about the latest trends in the industry.

Get your cruise-lover a beautiful keepsake to treasure. Monarchs of the Sea: The Great Ocean Liners ($47.25) is a must-have coffee table book for ship enthusiast. Monarchs of the Sea chronicles great vessels such as the Mayflower, Imperator, Ile de France, Normandie, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth, providing interesting facts, figures, personal accounts, photographs, plans and cutaways.

Whether it's a cruiser who has yet to embark on their latest voyage or one that wants to relive past adventures, the Ultimate Cruise Collection ($29.99) six-disk DVD set has over eight hours of cruising footage. The collection whisks you away to exotic ports in Alaska, Hawaii, Tahiti, Mexico, the Caribbean and Northern Europe, highlighting the top attractions in each destination.

The Ultimate Wish List
Do as the locals do -- or in this case, talk like they do. The Ten-Language Talking Translator contains 200,000 words and 23,000 phrases per language, both orally and in writing in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, Japanese and Korean. It also includes a currency and metric converter, calculator and databank, and gives the time in 200 cities.

Nothing says "I love you" like jewelry. Seawear Boat Yacht Jewelry's 14k-gold cruise ship pieces are sure to make any cruiser smile. Sleek ocean liner pendants, nautical cuff links and ocean-wave wedding bands are great options for splurging on that special someone this season.

It's all about strategy, and the Captain's Cottage nautical chess sets ($260 - 500) are an elegant and classy twist on an old favorite. Pieces are sculpted into unique seafaring characters such as mermaids, seahorses and lighthouses, and if ordered before December 15, 2005, you'll receive free shipping on your order.

Cruise Critic, which launched in 1995, is a comprehensive cruise vacation planning guide providing objective cruise ship reviews, cruise line profiles, destination content on 125+ worldwide ports, cruise bargains, tips, industry news, and cruise message boards.

Cruise Critic has been honored by the Society of American Travel Writers with its Lowell Thomas Award and has been named named in Travel + Leisure's "Best 35 Travel Sites" list.

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