Birthday celebration

My favorite port of call was Amsterdam.  I wouldn’t mind going back there one day.  We took a canal cruise excursion and it was mesmerizing.  Houseboats of all sizes and shapes moored on either side; colorful, narrow, 3 to 6 story homes built side by side; some leaning dangerously as they are all built on pilings.  The canals are narrow and intertwining.  The locks bring in fresh sea water, so although the water is murky, it is not smelly and has no algae growth.  It’s amazing how the long tour boats navigate through the sharp turns.  We sailed past Anne Frank’s home.

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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?! 

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How would you like to stay at a “LUXURY” all-inclusive resort?!  Boy, do I have the place for you!  If you want adults only, no children, then it’s ‘Sandals Luxury Included Vacations’.  If you have children and you want adult and children’s activities, then it’s ‘Beaches by Sandals’.

I just returned from Beaches in Turks & Caicos and it was beautiful and relaxing, yet, filled with exciting activities with 16 restaurants to choose from.

For the adults, they have:  Red Lane Spa, unlimited premium brand drinks & wines, karaoke, nightly entertainment, nightclubs, golf.

For the children:  Xbox 360, certified nannies, Kids Camp, Camp Sesame, tween & teen programs, game rooms, movies, dance/nightclubs, night parades, campfires on the beach, talent shows, DJ classes.

Watersports include:  scuba diving, waterskiing, ocean trampolines, snorkeling, windsurfing, kayaking, paddle boats, swim-up bars (swim-up sodas for the kids).  The land sports include:  tennis, volleyball, basketball, table tennis, shuffleboard, horseshoes, croquet, board games.

As far as all-inclusive resorts, Beaches have probably gone the furthest in creating a specialized program to include the teenagers.

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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.

I took pictures with the Sesame Street Characters Elmo, Ernie, Cookie Monster, Count Dracula & Zoe.  What Fun!!!!

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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!  

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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

       -  View ship activities & events

• Guests can pre-book online Flowrider lessons for up to 8 people in a group
  
  
• Guests can pre-reserve tickets online for Ice Show, Opal Theatre, AquaTheatre & Comedy Show
  
  
• Adventure Ocean Theatre is the first ever children’s theatre at sea. Children can learn about theatrical productions, take art in talent shows or sign up for hip hop dance classes.
  
  
• Guests will not have to bring life jackets from their cabins before reporting for muster drills.  There will be life jackets there.
  
  
• Digital signage with real-time updates will be communicated easily & clearly for:

       -  Muster drills

       -  Entertainment schedule

       -  Departure information

• The pier at Ft Lauderdale, built to accommodate this large ship, has 4,000 sq ft of skylight

      -  TVs with security & check-in info are provided

      -  Monitors provide, 15 min easy-in

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Disney Dream, the 3^rd 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. With the simulators, guests can kick, swing and throw, in some high-action sports without the hassle of chasing the ball. The sports deck will also have table tennis and foosball tables, surrounded by a walking track.

Nemo’s Reef is water-play area featuring water jets, a small water slide filled with Disney friends like Nemo, Dory & Marlin within a glass enclosure.  There will be a Mickey Mouse shaped pool for small children and a family pool called the Donald Pool.

The ship will have an adults-only decktop pool area with a swim-up bar. The pool will be fresh water, as all pools on the Dream will be.  The adult only area is called Quiet Cove.

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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.  

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

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

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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.

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