The largest NCL cruise ship ever, the “Norwegian Breakaway” will be making New York City her home port.

The spaciousness, the convenience of no waiting on lines and not having to save lounge chairs or theatre seats is a relaxing luxury. The theatre has a very intimate atmosphere, unlike the larger ships. And how often are you able to disembark a cruise ship, go through customs, pick up your luggage from the baggage area and depart the terminal in 10-15 minutes?! 

Beaches, Negril located on the breathtaking stretch of the world famous 7-Mile Beach in Jamaica; this wonderful luxury all-inclusive resort for families. The fun & laughter never stop with supervised camps for kids of all ages.   There are 5 specialty restaurants & a beach bistro; 3 pools (2 have swim-up bars); scuba diving programs; spa & fitness; Sesame Street themed activities; Kid Kamp & Nursery; Pirates Island Waterpark with its gushing lazy river; state-of-the-art XBOX 360® Game Garage; teen-only nightspot called Liquid, DJ Academy classes and so much more. ...

Just spent 4 days in Sandals, Whitehouse, Jamaica.  It’s a luxury all-inclusive couples resort with three European-inspired villages – Italian, French and Dutch.  Each room & suite are oceanviews offering magnificent views overlooking the two-mile long beach, some with Butler Service.  We had the butler service.   At first, we couldn’t think of what to do with a butler…???  One night, a small, frog (Whistling Frog) got into our suite.  I wanted to call the butler to help us get rid of it, but I felt a bit embarrassed asking, so we...

Just returned from seeing Sandals, Negril which is a luxury all-inclusive couples resort. They offer suites called Beachfront Crystal Lagoon Suite which are set upon a relaxing pool where you can dip your toes right outside of your patio.  That's where I'd like to stay next time I return!! The resort has seven miles of unbelievable silky white sand beach.  Spectacular sunsets can be seen sinking into the sea from this westernmost tip of Jamaica.  Great watersports & scuba diving.  Unlimited gourmet dining at their restaurants with unlimited brand drinks and Ber...

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.

Delta Air Lines has launched direct flights from Detroit Airport hub to Seoul, Hong Kong and expanded service to Shanghai. This is Delta’s development of Detroit as a major gateway to Asia This new service from Detroit is part of Delta’s summer 2010 schedule - the first fully consolidated schedule published following the airline’s merger with Northwest.  

The 2010 World Expo in Shanghai has brought in more than 8 million visitors in the first month since it opened on May 31, 2010. The largest daily total was 503,600 visitors. More than 190 countries and more than 50 international organizations have registered to participate in the Shanghai World Expo, the largest ever.   China expects to receive almost 100 foreign leaders and millions of people from across the world to come and visit the World Expo. More than 70–100 million visitors are expected to visit the expo, which would make it the most visited in history.

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.

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...

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 ...

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...

Crystal Cruises has added a “first time ever” overnight visit to Ashdod, Israel. This is in addition to an overnight stay in Egypt.  This 12 night “Ruins & Relics” Mediterranean cruise on Crystal Serenity departs Athens for Rome Oct. 19, also visiting Naples and Sicily, Italy, and Valetta, Malta.                      Western Wall, Israel               Caesarea, Israel This itinerary allows visits ...

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 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...

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, 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.  ...

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. ...

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.  

Crystal Cruises reported record bookings for its week ending Jan. 11, 2010, primarily due to Baltic, Mediterranean and World Cruise segment bookings. For same year bookings, this has been the highest January sales in more than five years.

Celebrity Cruises plans to upgrade its four Millennium class ships. With the new “Designed for You” program, it is expected that they will be investing $200 million.

Cougar Cruise – what’s that? 

The “International Cougar Cruise” were older women (cougars) in seek of younger men (cubs).  

The time was 5:30 pm, the shops were opened; festive holiday lights illuminated the streets; trees decorated with lights; kiosks selling their crafts; building facades ornamented with colorful snowflakes, stars and ribbons; vendors  playing Christmas songs, selling fresh-cut Christmas trees; crowds of people milling around the streets and stores.  What an amazing sight!! 

Cunard’s three Queens (Queen Victoria, Queen Mary2 and Queen Elizabeth) are the most famous cruise ships for making the transatlantic crossing.

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

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

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 (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.

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. 

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. 

We were in Washington DC this weekend and on this beautiful sunny Sunday, Oct 25, 2009, we started our drive home at 10 am.  The temperature was low 60’s, it was a very clear day and the fall foliage was stunning, particularly driving along side the Potamac River.   Not only that, but it was the 34th Annual Marine Corps Marathon, which started at 8 am on the National Mall.  There were about 22,000 runners for this year’s 26.2 mile race.  What a lovely scene.                  

Dear Sir:   I'm in the process of renewing my passport, and still cannot believe this.  How is it that Radio Shack has my address and telephone number and knows that I bought a cable TV from them back in 1987, and yet, the Federal Government is still asking me where I was born and on what date.For Christ sakes, do you guys do this by hand?  My birth date you have on my social security card, and it is on all the income tax forms I've filed for the past 30 years. It is on my health insurance card, my driver's license, on the last eight damn passports I've had, on all th...