Royal Caribbean's Tracking System for Children

Keep track of your children on the Oasis of the Seas!  No, not by following them around. The muster station wristbands that all young children on cruise ships must wear will be enhanced with an electronic device that will allow their parents to track them in real time as they wander the ship; an industry first. Guests can also rent Royal Connect phones for $17.50 which can be used to track their children, call and text other passengers who have Royal Connect phones and call cabins.

‘World Yacht’ Cruise around Manhattan, New York

We sailed from W 41 St down the Hudson River toward Battery Park, Staten Island Ferries around South Street Seaport, made a turn going up the East River passing the Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge & Williamsburg Bridge, headed to the Statue of Liberty (up close) and back to W 41 St. on the West Side.  The New York skyscraper was breathtaking.  As the sun set and the sky became dark with buildings lighting up, the view was magnificent!  

Alaska Cruise Ship Tax has been Lowered

Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell signed legislation Thursday that will sharply lower the state's tax to $34.5, with additional savings of up to $15 for ships that stop in Juneau and Ketchikan.  Most cruises to Alaska include a stop in Juneau and Ketchikan.

Celebrity's Solstice-Class is coming to Europe in Summer 2011

All four of Celebrity's Solstice-class ships will be in Europe 2011 – the ships are Solstice, Equinox, Eclipse & Silhouette. Celebrity Silhouette sets sail for the first time in July 2011.  It will offer a maiden voyage from Hamburg to Rome and a nine-night Mediterranean voyage. Then, it will operate 12- and 13-night Holy Land sailings roundtrip from Rome. After Celebrity Silhouette makes its debut in Europe, it will homeport in Bayonne during winter 2011-12 with a series of 12-night Caribbean voyages. Celebrity Equinox also will sail from Rome, offering 10- and 11-nig...

Well-Being Program on Holland America

How does this sound on a cruise ship?  Morning Tai Chi, Sudoku, afternoon Pilates, Wii bowling, yoga, step classes, spinning, Golf Challenge, ballroom dance classes, team trivia, and more……ready to sign up?!  Explore Wellbeing has extended the offerings of the Greenhouse Spa to incorporate new entertainment.  Other interesting activities include the Party Planner hosting Explore Food & Entertaining events in the Culinary Arts Center.  More than 70 culinary experts come onboard each year, in addition to classes and demonstrations on every sailing. The ...

Perfect 100 on Carnival Dream’s Health Inspection

Carnival Dream, the newest and largest ship of the Carnival fleet earned a perfect 100 score on its first full U.S. Public Health inspection conducted in Port Canaveral, Fla.  The Carnival Splendor also earned a 100 score on its USPH inspection two weeks earlier. In order to earn a 100, cruise ships must receive perfect marks on all 42 items that comprise the USPH’s Vessel Sanitation Program checklist. These inspections are unannounced and are conducted twice a year.  The checklist includes proper food handling, preparation and storage procedures, proper filtration of water...

Norwegian Cruise Line to sail year-round out of New Orleans

Norwegian Cruise Line announced that the Norwegian Spirit would begin sailing year-round out of New Orleans.  Norwegian Spirit will operate weekly seven-day Western Caribbean voyages every Sunday from April 2011 through April 2012. The itinerary will take the ship to Costa Maya and Cozumel (Mexico); Roatán, Bay Islands (Honduras); and Belize City (Belize). Three months earlier, it was announced that Carnival Triumph was coming to New Orleans.  This is the first time since Hurricane Katrina in 2005 that a vessel of its size has sailed out of the city.

Princess Cruises to allow non-cruisers aboard ships on departure day

                      Princess Cruises will be starting a new program in March which will allow non-cruisers to board ships on departure day.  This gives them the opportunity of coming onboard to wish their friends and family a "bon voyage."  This was a common practice which stopped more than twenty years ago as security procedures tightened. Princess says visitors who sign up for the new program will get a four-course dining room lunch with wine on the ship, a tour of the ve...

Good things to know about the Oasis of the Seas……

Besides all the exciting & adventurous activities offered on the Oasis of the Seas, here are some special points of interest to know: WOW phones can be rented onboard and..        -  Used to call other WOW phones, or guest rooms        -  Used to text message between devices        -  Retrieve onboard real-time & can locate another member within the traveling party        - Track your children onboard     &nbs...

Norwegian Epic Solo Traveler

                      Norwegian Epic, launching this July, 2010 introduces “Studios” which are staterooms designed and priced for single occupancy, starting from $799 on the ship’s seven-day alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean. The Studios are a private key-card access complex on two decks consisting of 128 staterooms and the Studio Lounge.  Each Studio is approximately 100 sq ft with a full-size bed and separate areas for the bathroom, sink and shower.  ...

More about Disney Dream….

Disney Dream, the 3rd ship to join the fleet is due to come out in 2011. In addition to the water coaster called AquaDuck, which was announced back in Nov 2009, Goofy’s Sports Deck will feature Goofy and his son, Max. The sports deck leads guests through nine themed holes of wacky fun. Each hole offers special golf instructions with a goofy twist. To make it even more challenging and fun, some of the golf clubs are crooked and bent. There are also two digital sports simulators which will provide a variety of virtual game experiences such as soccer, tennis, basketball, golf and more. ...

Nickelodeon at Sea

Norwegian Cruise Line has teamed up with Nickelodeon at Sea.  SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer and other characters will be sailing on the Norwegian Epic & Norwegian Jewel.  

Vacationing with the Teens

A family vacation with teens doesn’t have to be a trying experience......

Pina Colada Recipe

1 1/2 oz light rum
2 oz Coco Lopez® cream of coconut
2 oz pineapple juice
1 cup crushed ice

Carnival Dream

I just got off the Carnival Dream, which is Carnival’s newest ship in their fleet.  She’s 130,000 tons and accommodates 3,652 passengers (based on double occupancy).  She is the biggest the line has ever built; her sister ship, the Carnival Magic is expected to enter service in June 2011. For a Carnival ship, this was quite upscale and tastefully designed.

Crystal Cruises

Crystal Cruises (luxury ship) - Sail on your birthday in 2010 and receive a gift of 50% savings on a future cruise before your next birthday! Birthday cruise must be booked by December 31, 2009.

Oasis of the Seas

The Oasis of the Seas is quite an amazing ship.  This will be the biggest cruise ship ever, at 220,000 tons, accommodating 5400 guests.

There are 7 “neighborhoods” on the ship. 

New Disney Water Coaster

It is a water coaster which boasts a thrilling 4-deck drop, and because of the clear acrylic tube, it offers breathtaking views of the ocean and ship below. 

Visiting Bermuda

After the Explorer of the Seas left Bayonne, NJ, we spent a full day at sea and docked at King’s Wharf, Bermuda.  King’s Wharf is also called Royal Naval Dockyard, which is on the western section of Bermuda.  The Royal Naval Dockyard was an active navy base during the War of 1812, and is now a center for tourism. Bermuda is approx 21 miles of land area.  Visitors are not allowed to rent automobiles or operate any other kind of four or more wheeled vehicle on Bermuda's roads.  The reason is the unfamiliar, often narrow, winding, sharply twisting roads.  ...

Explorer of the Seas Family & Friends Cruise

I just returned from a 9 night Royal Caribbean, Explorer of the Seas cruise leaving from Bayonne, NJ.  We were a group of 38 people.  Our trip started off with a chartered party bus which shuttled us from Queens, NY to Bayonne, NJ.  What a sight that was to see this HUGE white bus come rolling down the street.  That alone set everyone into a CRUISITUDE party mode!!!! Our group consisted of 13 kids ranging in age from 12-15; 5 kids between 17-20 and 20 adults.  We had 4 large tables for early dining; kids sat together & adults sat together.  Every night was...

Norwegian Epic

Have you heard about the Norwegian Epic yet?  It’s NCL’s newest ship that will debut in May 2010.            It is 150,000-ton, 4,200-passenger, the largest and most innovative ship ever built by Norwegian Cruise Line.   Get ready to be soaked….. Included are some fabulous activities for the kids and the “kids young at heart”. There will be a sprawling Aqua Park consisting of three waterslides, including one that utilizes an inner tube; a twisty slide, and one just for kids that actually goe...

Tall Ships in Bermuda

From June 11 - 15, 2009, the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge 2009 will be in Hamilton, the capital of Bermuda to help celebrate Bermuda's 400 years of permanent settlement. The Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge, otherwise known as TSAC, is a major tall ships race involving seven ports on both sides of the Atlantic.  It is organized by Sail Training International and the American Sail Training Association. The fleet will cross the Atlantic twice and at least half of the crew on board the ships will be trainees between the ages of 15 and 30.  The TSAC starts in Vigo, Spai...

Bermuda

Yes…..the sand is really pink!    Summer is prime time for Bermuda cruises. There are ships that depart for Bermuda from a number of East Coast ports. They include Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Norfolk, as well as from Florida. For such a small island, Bermuda has two cruise ship ports - one at Hamilton, the island's capital, and the other at Kings Wharf. Motor scooters and bicycles are available for rental to the visitors. Tourists are not allowed to drive cars in Bermuda. Upscale shops with fine products from around the world and e...

James Taylor on Queen Mary 2

  For those James Taylor fans, listen up…..the Grammy® Award-winning singer-songwriter James Taylor and his band will perform during Queen Mary 2's June 19 eastbound Transatlantic Crossing.  Sailing from New York to Southampton, England, Taylor will headline two Cunard Command Performances in the ship's RoyalCourtTheatre during the six-day journey. (Space is still available to book this very special voyage!)Cunard is honoured to welcome James Taylor aboard their flagship Queen Mary 2 and into a lineage of luminaries who have sailed with Cunard during their 170-year h...

Cunard Ocean Liner Queen Mary 2

  Queen Mary 2 is definitely a “huge” ship of 150,000 tons with passenger capacity of 2,620. There are over 200 activities available onboard. There are many enrichment programs onboard: Book Club, Academy at Sea conducted by leading professors in topics from opera to oceanography. There are numerous workshops which include literature, food, wine, interior design. There are art & dance workshops, discussion groups and computer center. There are master classes by performers and directors from the renowned Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in Lon...

Wedding Cruises…….Marriage Renewals……

                                      A cruise ship is a fun and exciting location for your memorable  wedding ceremony & marriage renewals.   Five years ago, there were practically no weddings performed on cruise ships; now there are thousands.   According to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), cruise weddings have grown at a phenomenal rate the last few ye...

Repositioning Cruises:

Good deals can be found with repositioning cruises. Although some ships spend 365 days a year sailing the same itinerary, or in the same region, many relocate a few times a year. For example, depending on the season, they may move from Canada/New England to the Caribbean, or Alaska to Hawaii.  Instead of sailing the ships empty, the cruise lines will usually sell these one-way routes at a discount. These voyages, known as repositioning cruises will often feature themes on subjects ranging from theater to wine, or are enhanced with enrichment options such as guest lect...

New Disney Ships: Disney Dream & Disney Fantasy

Walt Disney Imagineers and the shipbuilders have been working full steam ahead since the fleet expansion was first announced in 2007.  The new ships will more than double the passenger capacity for Disney Cruise Line and create even more family cruise options. The Disney Dream is scheduled to launch in 2011, with the Disney Fantasy following soon after in 2012. They are 122,000-ton ships, each with room for 4,000 guests (Disney's current ships are each 83,000-ton/2,400 guests). The ships will each have 1,250 staterooms, an increase of 40% from 877.  They will be two decks t...

Cruisin' with the Kidz

  Cruisin' with the Kidz Royal Caribbean has announced Nickelodeon-themed cruises starting “summer 2008” on Freedom of the Seas. In addition to the Nickelodeon, kids will enjoy the FlowRider surf simulator and H20 Zone water playground. Carnival is working on a $250 million "Evolution of Fun." They are adding WaterWorks aqua parks, complete with 300-foot-long corkscrew waterslides, water spray park, and double-lane racing slides. This will be introduced first on the Carnival Inspiration and Imagination "fun ships," while a new &...

Kids Sail Free Summer Vacation 2008

"Kids Sail Free Summer Vacation" This promo is selling quickly – CALL NOW     NCL announced that it will reflag and rename Pride of Aloha and launch the ship as Norwegian Sky, offering three and four-day Bahamas cruises from Miami commencing this summer.   To welcome the ship to Miami, NCL is offering a  "Kids Sail Free Summer Vacation" promotion for reservations on Norwegian Sky made from May 6, 2008 to May 31, 2008 for sailings taking place July 14, 2008 to September 26, 2008. Children ages six months to 17 are eligible to sail...

Galapagos Island Birthing Calendar

To determine which month to make this trip, here’s a “nesting calendar. Their rainy season consists of “perhaps” an hour of rain a day; otherwise it’s a dry, arid region where cacti can grow.          January Beginning of the rainy season.  Land birds start nesting, generally after the first rain. On Española the adult male marine iguanas become brightly colored. The green sea turtle arrives to the beaches of Galapagos to lay their eggs. Land iguanas begin reproductive cycles on Isabela. Both, wat...