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By Roy Witman

Volcano eruptions are becoming increasingly rare. That’s because very few active volcanoes still exist. In fact, according to the Global Volcanism Program, only 50 to 70 volcanoes erupt worldwide every year. That means being able to witness an active volcano – especially one that frequently erupts – can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. For those lucky enough to visit the Big Island of Hawaii, you may become one of the privileged few who get to view this amazing site.

On the Big Island, inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, you’ll find Kilauea, proclaimed to be the most active volcano in the world. Although documented through chants and songs in ancient Hawaiian history, the first record of Kilauea is that of missionary Rev. William Ellis who saw the summit in 1823. At almost 4,200 feet above sea level, Kilauea has erupted over 60 times in its recorded history with its most recent eruption to date on July 21, 2007.

While most people are conditioned to think of volcanic eruptions as a violent, erratic explosion that projects gallons of liquid lava wildly into the air, this is rarely the case. While nonetheless intriguing, eruptions at Kilauea are more of a slow spewing of thick, red-hot lava that mixes and melds with dried, black lava rock as it persistently carves out a new path.

According to the National Park Service, “Activity on Kilauea continues as magma vigorously pushes to the surface, forming a river of lava.” This sight can be seen firsthand during numerous tours available each day at the park.

The Crater Rim Drive is a one- to three-hour tour taken by car with intermittent short walks throughout. Stretching 11 miles, you’ll travel a well-marked route with scenic stops along the way. If you have more time, you may want to take the four- to five-hour tour and explore the coastal areas. This 20-mile route descends 3,700 feet. For those who prefer to walk, an abundance of trails lend themselves to day hikes and wilderness hikes where visitors can often view active lava flows.

Cruise ships sailing between the Hawaiian Islands, including those from Norwegian Cruise Lines, make a point to conduct night tours, so passengers can get front-row seats for the spectacular show. The brilliant colors of orange, red and yellow churn as billowing smoke rises each time lava pours into the ocean below. Much more visible at night, Kilauea is quite a spectacle and always a highlight of any cruise.

Whether you choose to tour Hawaii’s most active volcano by land, sea or both, you’re sure to find it a thrilling experience you won’t soon forget. Considering most people won’t have the opportunity to visit a live volcano, you can consider yourself an honored guest of the Islands who has witnessed a positively astonishing act of nature.

www.CleanCruising.com.au – Thisvirtual cruise video provides an aerial “birds-eye” view of the ship visiting each port along the way – a world first and a must for anyone planning a cruise! Follow the cruise route in Google Earth and discover a rich 3D scale model of the Freedom of the Seas cruise ship. Get inspired about your next cruise holiday and be sure to share it with friends. Clean Cruising provides fast and dynamic search tools with the best daily cruise fares and cabin availability for cruises worldwide. Plus get great advice from one of Australia’s largest teams of accredited cruise specialists waiting to help you 7 days a week.

Most of us think that cruise lines are way out of our price range. We envision formal dining and entertainment, rich couples drinking expensive champagne and handsomely appointed staterooms that cost thousands of dollars a night. And while there are expensive luxuries offered on cruise voyages, finding a cheap cruise adventure is well within reach of most people. To find a cheap cruise adventure, the first thing that you need to do is shop around. Important considerations such as departure and destination points need to be considered as well.

The best places to start gathering research for a cheap cruise adventure are on the Internet. Check out traveling websites such as Travelocity and Orbitz and the like and start printing out information. Where do you want to go? Alaska or Hawaii? Somewhere more exotic, like South America, or Australia or the Far East? First decide where you want to go and then start pricing different cruise lines. Cruise lines are in the business of taking passengers to wonderful locations, and if they weren’t affordable, they’d soon go out of business. Passengers can find luxurious shipboard appointments if they have a bottomless wallet, but so can the average tourist on a budget.

Take, for example a cruise line in the United States. Carnival and Pacific cruise lines offer passenger accommodations at around $200 a night for three to four day journeys to the Bahamas, Baja California and the Caribbean. This ‘cheap cruise’ fare is not cheap in the sense that you won’t be able to access the perks that other passengers are receiving. Far from it. This price includes just as many amenities and perks as any other passenger enjoys. Of course, the longer the journey, the more expensive it can get, but also keep in mind that most passenger voyage tickets include everything from room and board, dining, onboard entertainment, use of fitness rooms, swimming pools and any other activities provided while on board, and even may include tickets to any sightseeing venues off the ship while in certain ports of call. When looking for a cheap cruise ticket, make sure that you know what is included and what isn’t in the price of a per person ticket.

No matter which kind of a cheap cruise line ticket you’re looking for, remember to read the fine print. Many cruise lines require double occupancy for the prices quoted. Some also require that anyone under the age of 21 must share a room with someone who is at least 21 years of age. Comparison shopping for a cheap cruise line ticket won’t take very long, and you’ll more than likely be surprised at the number of good deals you can find. Just remember that a cheap cruise doesn’t mean that you’ll be bunking down in the boiler room. Do be advised however, that the cheaper your ticket, the lower in the ship your room will be located, so keep that in mind when booking rooms. A cheap cruise find is a rewarding payoff to a little homework.

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