Around the World Every Day

Royal Caribbean Voyage Of The Seas Review

2012-01-16T22:50:00.001-07:00

Voyager of the Seas Review

Voyager Of The Seas - Grand Cayman

First Impression. WOW! When this ship launched in 2006, it was the largest cruise ship in the world. At 1081 feet long and 138 feet wide, she is impressive to behold. And for me, this ship would continue to impress me all week long on our Western Caribbean itinerary departing out of New Orleans, LA.

We arrived in the “Big Easy” the day before departure to experience some of what the Crescent City has to offer. Lucky for us, the BCS championship game between LSU and Alabama was scheduled for the following Monday, so we were not alone in wanting to party. Because of all the college students, we got a glimpse of what Mardi Gras would be like on Bourbon Street. WILD!

And I even scored some beads to take home. Visiting New Orleans would not be complete without shopping and eating in the French Quarter and visiting one of the famous cemeteries. I have always been partial to St Louis Cemetery #1, where the tomb of Marie Laveau is situated. A celebrated voodoo queen, many visit her grave with gifts to bring them good luck. To the lady who left the almost empty packet of Birth Control Pills, I hope your luck was incredible! Along those same lines, I made sure to pick up some voodoo dolls to bring home to my friends. Just in case they need them in the future.

We stayed in the Drury Inn and Suites and were surprised at how nice these accommodations were. Convenient to walking to Bourbon St and the down town area, it was very well appointed. What I did not like was the constant sound of the trolley passing by on train tracks all night long. I am a light sleeper and the noise kept me up. If you stay there, get a room on the opposite side of the hotel from the trolley. Don’t miss 5:30 kickback in the evenings. It is a light dinner. Breakfast is perfect to get you going.

Arriving at the Port of New Orleans is a little odd if you are arriving by car. You have to drive almost 2 miles out of the way to drop off baggage, which is what we did so we would be able to enjoy the morning without having to drag around our bags. We drove to the port at 10:30 and easily dropped off our bags…twice. After dropping off our car at Avis on Canal Street, and after winding our way through the French Quarter,

we picked up the trolley car at Canal Street, which dropped us off at the cruise terminal. Nice!

We have never arrived at the cruise port at a time when everyone else in the world is arriving! The line was incredibly long. But we proceeded steadily and at a decent pace through the first security check point. Have your boarding pass and passport/birth certificate handy. From there we went through the carry-on bag screening. Don’t try to carry onboard any irons, pocket knives, or alcohol. It’ll be confiscated! Then, we finally got to check-in, which really only took about 10 minutes. Have your boarding pass and passport/birth certificate in hand. BY now, we had been in the process about 45 minutes. Not bad. After receiving our Sea Pass cards, we headed up the escalator to board the ship, being stopped 3 times along the way to show our Sea Pass cards (Like anyone could smuggle their way through to this point!!), we arrived at the first ship photo opportunity. After so many cruises, we now just pass by and say no thanks.

Entering the Voyager of the Seas on Deck 4 forward, near the La Scala Theater. Due to a small outbreak of the Noro Virus on the previous sailing, The crew was spending a little extra time deep cleaning, so boarding time was delayed about an hour, which was another reason why we were boarding at the time as everyone else. Cruise ship companies always say the health and safety of the passengers and crew are their first priority. I really appreciate that! Here are 2 banks of 3 elevators, port and starboard side. Incredibly, we were immediately able to get aboard one elevator to take us to deck 9, where we stayed in an inside, wheel chair accessible stateroom (9557). My mother joined us on this cruise. As she uses a walker and a wheel chair, the accessible room was a necessity. We were really happy with the oversized inside stateroom. There is room enough to move around, and to store the wheel chair and walker. OH! The Walker! We checked it with Royal Caribbean, who must have put it on the bottom of one of those large bins and threw 1,000 pounds of luggage on top of it. When it was delivered to the stateroom, it was bent and Broken. Note to anyone travelling with both modes of transportation. Keep them with you. Lucky, the broken support bar was not completely broken through, and the walker remained usable throughout the cruise. The person at the Guest Services desk reimbursed my mother to get a new one.

The Voyager of the Seas is a remarkable ship, even after 6 years since it emerged. It has so many venues to keep you busy and entertained. The La Scala Theater was the place we found ourselves almost every evening. We saw the Royal Caribbean Singers and Dancers perform 4 different times. Glenn Smith, Las Vegas Dynamic Entertainer http://glennsmithmusic.com/ was amazing. Dan Grueter’s comedy had us rolling in the aisles, even though he picked on us Utah people, and Michigan, and Ohio, and Match.com newlywed’s. What fun. And what a beautiful theater it is. Honestly, the most beautiful I have ever seen. This ship sports a regulation size ice skating rink in Studio B on deck 3. We watched an awesome production Ice Skating show that was right out of the Olympics or Disney On Ice. In Cleopatra’s needle, we watched a Jazz Cabaret Show performed by the Royal Caribbean Singers. And the dance floor was there to be used by everyone. A note here. The Connoisseur Club is next door and Cigar smoke is very strong at the entrance and the back part of the theater. Take seats up front to avoid the smoke if you don’t like it.

The most fabulous, and innovative at the time, is the Royal Promenade.

Located on deck 5 down the middle of the ship from forward to aft elevators, this area is full of life at almost all times of the day and night. Enjoy some Ben and Jerry’s Ice cream. Take in a slice of Pizza, a cookie, or a sandwich at Café Promenade. Shop til you drop at all the shops the ship has to offer. Enjoy a live football game at the sports bar. If you need any assistance, Guest Services and the Shore Excursion desk are here too. This area is wide open and airy, being 5 stories tall and also sports windows from inside cabins that have windows overlooking the promenade. I often wondered just how quiet those rooms are with an entertainer playing a loud guitar in the Pig and Whistle Pub right below. I would love to hear from anyone on this. There are a lot of other places to visit, so check out the inside of the ship. Don’t miss out on staring at the $8.5M worth of art that is on permanent display onboard the Voyager of the Seas. Most of it Roman and Greek in origin.

Outside, you can enjoy so many things, you will never be board. When I visited the rear of deck 13 and 14, I was amazed to find the basketball court in full swing. Not a full court game of hoops, but half court game, with the other half being used as a soccer game. I have never seen this on any ship I have ever been on.

And the other times I went back there, it was still being used. It’s not just the basketball court, but also the table tennis tables, the 9 hole miniature golf course, the inline skate track, and OH, the Rock Climbing wall. I climbed that wall twice. Cool! Back here is also a children’s play pool area. Deck 11 sports 2 salt pools and 6 hot tubs, which are often the center of all the outside activities. On day 6, ribs were barbequed and served pool side with lots of music and deck chairs for sun worshipping. As is typical, there is an adults only area that also has a salt pool and 2 large hot tubs, in a quiet area with 6 famous Greek gods and generals watching over the area.

If you want to stay fit while cruising, the Ship Shape fitness center on deck 11 forward is very large, with lots and lots of treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bicycles, and free weights. Use of a sauna and steam room are available here. Or simply plop into a hot tub here too. This is the best fitness center ever! Up on deck 12, there is a running track that you can run a mile after 5 laps. Barbi and I mostly prefer to take the stairs whenever we move from deck to deck to get our exercise.

Food is an important part of cruising. There are 3 main dining rooms on decks 3, 4, and 5 aft.

The Garden Café on Deck 11 is the ever popular buffet. Café Promenade as I mentioned earlier, or room service. For specialty dining, try Johnny Rockets on deck 12 for a old fashioned burger and fries. Eat all you want for $4.95 each. Their famous malt shakes are extra, but for returning Crown and Anchor members, your coupon book will have a 2 for 1 in it. Use it. Portofino next to the Garden Café on Deck 11, is the specialty Italian restaurant for $20 per person. My biggest complaint here is that the Garden Café closes at 9pm. If you want a real meal after 9 pm, it’ll either be Johnny Rockets (Open to midnight) or room service (A $3.95 fee applies between midnight and 5am). Café Promenade is open 24 hours, but it is light snacks…unless you want to eat your fill of Pizza.

Overall, I really enjoyed my time on the Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas. Our stateroom was excellent. Our cabin steward (Pedro) was effective and took care of our room when we were not there. Our waiters, Made and Artem, in the Carmen Room, were awesome and attentive. The Roast Lamb was the best I ever had. My very favorite spot on the ship?

High Notes Lounge, Deck 14 in the Viking Crown. OMH! The best view of any ship I have ever been on, that is inside. Another favorite…access to the very front of the ship at all times for that “King of the World” moment.

Wishes for improvement.

· WiFi available in all staterooms (This should happen in dry dock next year).

· The Garden Café open 24 hours

· There is supposed to be 1 heated pool. I could not find it. Make that happen with fresh water instead of salt.

· Passenger use laundramat, for the self serving passenger.

We Are Here For You

Cruising the Norwegian Epic

2011-12-24T17:36:00.000-07:00

The Norwegian Epic, as briefly mentioned in my previous blog, is an amazing ship in many ways. We did make the 1.8 Mile hike from the Freedom Tower MetroMover stop, thinking we would need the excercise to ward off the evil spirits of eating too much on a cruise ship. We only regretted that move because the sidewalk ended just after crossing the bridge on NE 6th Street. This forced us to cross a couple roads, which were busy, and ended up walking along 2 different and equally busy cruise ship terminals, Celebrity, Carnival, a non-used one, then finally the Norwegian terminal. We were excited to arrive at the vary same time as a friend and his wife (Paul and Krista), who had arrived late the night before and who stayed in Ft. Lauderdale.

Garden Cafe Forward overlooking Italian Restaurant

Since we were on opposite ends of the ship, for check-in, we had to split up; Barbi and I heading toward the bow, Paul and Krista staying there at the aft. This was about 11:30am. Check-in was rather flawless and quick, which makes me glad we arrived a little early. A little different than Princess, we were checked in, then sent to a waiting area for when they would allow us to board. It wasn't bad and there was juice that was available. We were in the 4th group boarding, when they called us at about 12:30, and we boarded on deck 6 forward, but we were told that our staterooms would not be available until approx 2pm, so we headed up to deck 15 and the Garden Cafe for lunch. The buffet takes up the whole forward part of the ship on Deck 15. The design made it really easy to get food without standing in a line for too long. The same items are served in different locations. I went for a really cheesy mac-n-cheese, a roasted chicken breast, and some steamed broccoli. My only disappointment here, and throughout the cruise was that no one came and asked if we needed anything. They would clear used plates, but that was about it. OH! Except to ask if we needed anything from the bar (Extra $$). I did like that there were always utensils wrapped in cloth napkins stacked in a holder on the table. That is unique. The menu in the Garden Cafe never varied from day to day, which I found to be a disappointment. But, the usual good things were ALWAYS available. Burgers, Hotdogs, Pizza, salad, coldcuts, and really good selection of Ice cream flavors (Not just soft serve vanilla and chocolate). How 'bout butter pecan? Surprise, we were allowed to go to our staterooms at 1:30. Early!

Epic theater

During this cruise, we really took advantage of the available entertainment on-board. Of critical importance, everyone should know that if you intend on seeing the world famous Blue Man Group, I strongly urge you book your seats well in advance of sailing. We booked 45 days before, as these shows are always sold out. And WOW! Was it an awesome show. And it is COMPLIMENTARY! Consider this. If you go to Vegas, tickets will cost you more than $100 to see them in decent seats. Your cruise fare includes admission. I would say that what you pay for this cruise is WELL worth it. Also available for your entertainment, and again complimentary; The Second City comedy troup from New York in Headliners Comedy Club. Alumni from this group includes John Belushi, Martin Short, John Candy, and Gilda Radner. The comedy and improvisation was amazing. For a show in Chicago, you would pay $30 pp. Your cruise fare is getting cheaper by the day! Finally, there was Legends in Concert. Performing on stage for us was Steven Tyler (OMH, was he good)., Lady Gaga, and Elvis Presley. I sang at the top of my lungs to Aerosmith favorites, while the Tyler imitator strutted around the stage and put on a really good show. I am not much of a Gaga fan, and Elvis is always a favorite, but I would go back to this show. If you were to attend one of these concerts at Bally's in Atlantic City, you would pay $37.50 per person. Though we did not go, Nickelodian's Slime Time Live was also there for you and the kids to enjoy. There was other entertainment that was available for purchase, such as Cirque Dreams and The Second City's murder mystery theater lunch. We did go to the murder mystery and really enjoyed it, at the price of $20 per person. As I said earlier, it is easier to book before the cruise. But if you wait, there is a ticket counter on deck 5 or your stateroom interactive TV, which is convenient. One other complementary place you should NOT miss. If you like blues music, then do not pass by Fat Cats. The band that played in here each night was incredible. I took 10 seconds of video for an overall video production, and was immediately told to turn off the camera.

Balcony Stateroom 9060

OK, I am going to insert my biggest disappointment with the Epic. The Stateroom. We had a balcony stateroom, and I guess I have always come to expect a little bit more for the price. But this ship was built in France and has a very distinctive European design. The first thing I had to overcome was the 12" - 18" of space at the foot of the bed. Our luggage was placed outside the stateroom for us to retrieve, but I could not roll it past the foot of the bed. Had to heave the luggage onto the mat placed on the bed. I noticed throughout embarkation day that no cabin steward ever took luggage into the stateroom. No special treatment here. Also notice the curtain on the far side of the bed? This is the divider between the toilet, behind frosted glass on the left, and the shower on the right. One positive note, the curved design of the glass for the toilet and shower provided extra shower space. For a change, I did not have to worry when dropping the soap on the floor. See the towel hanging on the glass of the shower enclosure? Right below and slightly right...there's the sink. It is on the bedroom side of the curtain...right at the foot of the bed. You could sit on the foot of the bed and wash your hands. The bed was rounded at the foot and a little short for even me, and I am 5'9. A couple days into the cruise, we discovered that the mattress and frame could be pushed back to give you a little more passing room, but then the bed sleeping was messed up. Our cabin steward, Marlin, would always pull it back out to remake it. Since this was the second voyage of the Epic since it's return from Europe, I think Marlin was still on European time. The room was never made up before noon and never turned down before 8pm. I guess she always expected we would be eating breakfast at 10am and eating dinner at 9pm, and always taking 2 hours or more to do so. But you know what? We always say..."You never spend that much time in the stateroom anyway."

Group dinner in The Manhattan

Dining aboard the Epic can be varied, depending on your tastes and budget. The first night, we ate in the Manhattan Room, Deck 6 aft. We arrived at 5pm for the opening of the restaurant, along with 50 or so others in the line. This dining room has a dress code, despite Norwegian being a "Freestyle" cruise line. No shorts allowed. There were several who were angry about this policy, as they were past passengers and were under the impression this policy did not apply on the day of embarkation, due to luggage still being delivered to staterooms. A couple were able to argue their way past it by using this excuse, or pointing at the man in the wheel chair and saying..."he's wearing shorts!" I believe a few of the passengers in following days would be disappointed about NOT knowing that this first night, LOBSTER was served. I was not disappointed. The Lobster was served as a cut in half tail, grilled, with the typical appetizers, salads, and dessert. We were also instructed we could have multiple servings of the Lobster without having to order a whole additional plate of food. NICE! Considering the smallness of the tail, I think I had 3 half tails. All in all, probably 6 oz in weight. Not bad for the diet, ya know. The Manhattan room sports a jazz ensemble that plays music, along with some occasional singing, and a floor that is big enough for dancing. We ate with Paul and Krista, and they got up and danced. The only problem was where we sat, which was up close to the band, it was a little loud for conversation. On another night when we ate here, with the group pictured above, we were farther back and it was perfect level for conversation and enjoying the music too. We discovered a couple days later, that the line to get into Tastes Restaurant is not as long. This restaurant is on Deck 5 mid-ship and requiring you to take the elevators/stairs in the forward section or the Escalators midship from Deck 7 in the Casino. This restaurant is quite nice, but, we were told, does not have the dress code of shorts. I never wore shorts to dinner, so I guess I never really got stopped. It has the same menu as the Manhattan Room, and a part of it has an open area of dining looking up to the Casino on Deck 7. We ate here more than the Manhattan Room and really liked it. The wait staff were awesome, the atmosphere serene and quiet.

Tastes Restaurant From Above

O'Sheehans Bar and Grill is another you can choose from. Eat a British style lunch of fish and chips, or any of the other menu items, then play some billiards. Or take in a round of bowling. Yes! Really, there are three lanes of bowling here. (More on that later). If you are willing to spend a little extra, there are a whole host of specialty restaurants available to you. I had Sushi at Wasabi. Not badly priced depending on what you order. Barbi and I also visited Moderno Churrascaria, a Brazilian Steak House. If you have never visited this type of restaurant and you love meat, this is heaven for you. The cover charge is $25 pp, which is very competetive with Rodizio Grill or Tucano's here in Utah. There is an all you can eat salad bar and then the waiters come by every minute or so delivering different flavored meats to you, such as (My favorite) Garlic Sirloin, Bacon Wrapped Chicken, Lamb, and Tenderloin. They keep delivering until you turn over the little wooden thingy to display the red end, which signals Surrender! Another favorite specialty restaurant is Teppanyaki, which is a Japanese steak house. If you Like Benihana or the shore side Teppanyaki restaurants, you will feel right at home here. Same cover charge, $25 pp. With 21 places to eat (Including Room Service), which are either complimentary or have a cover charge, you will never want for a bite to eat. NEVER!

Now for fun! The Epic is loaded with fun things to do, both for kids and adults. Now some may think I am a child at heart (Barbi would whole heartedly agree), but I believe the Epic Plunge slide video above shows how fun this can be for everyone! There are 3 slides in total. The purple is longer than the green, but the plunge was definitely the most fun. I went twice! Just behind the stairs to the plunge is a large children's water area, which is more shaded to protect those sensitive little skins from sunburn. Lots of Hot tubs all over the ship, including Spice H2O, which is an adults only area most of the time. There is a pool here too, which doubles as a stage for other performances, along with a large screen TV. We watched a video of Plácido Domingo one night. There is also an inside big screen at the Atrium, Deck 5 mid-ship, where I found Barbi one day watching Soul Surfer. The Epic Casino takes up half of Deck 6, and WOW! Was it packed every night. Some say that Carnival is the "Booze Cruise" (Which I don't agree with), but I will say this appeared to be the "Gambler's Cruise". During our NCL briefings, we found out that when the Epic is in Europe, the Casino is rarely used. But when it comes back to the Caribbean, it is most definitely used. I tried my hand at the "extreme" climbing wall, but could not get this slightly overweight body over the 2 foot ledge above me. I worshipped the sun from my balcony and from the pool deck. For those of you who "Truely" worship, there is a "Freestyle Sundeck" on Deck 19, which is adults only, and cannot be viewed from above or below. Sun however you like here!!!! I was wowed by the amount of machines and free weights at the fitness center. Honestly, I have never seen that many free weights on any ship. For those who love to play some hoops, there is a full size basketball court on the back of the ship above Spice H2O. Never seen that on any ship either! And one other First! Bowling! There are three lanes at O'Sheehans and 2 Lanes at Bliss Deck 7 Forward. We bowled and had a blast doing it.

For the Solo Traveler, the Epic is the first in the industry to offer solo staterooms, and priced as such.

Studio Stateroom

The whole length and inside Deck 12, you will find the Studio's, which are accessible only by those who reside there, and not the general passengers. They have a gathering area and a snack bar just for these stateroom, along with planned activities just for the solo travelers. At 100 Sq Ft, these cabins are small, but fully functional with the needs of solo travelers in mind. With an Amsterdam flair, there are round windows in each stateroom which one can view the passersby in the hallway outside. Each stateroom has a queen size bed (Though designated a double) and with all of the activities and attractions on this ship, I for one believe it is a singles dream. No more begging or bribing a friend to go along to share the cost of a double occupancy stateroom. Go on your own and make new friends. Barbi and I met one such traveler by the pool one day. She loved being on the ship and having the privacy of her solo stateroom. For those who want more exclusivity. May I introduce The Haven Suites. These luxurious accommodations at the front and top of the ship range in size from 322 to 5,722 square feet (Sleeps 8). This area has it's own private entrance, pool, restaurant, concierge, and fitness center. We were able to tour this area and it is amazing. If you think it is out of your price range, think again.

The Haven Pool

Three couples could share the cost of the 5,722 Sq Ft, 3 bedroom Garden Villa comfortably. And since it is a 3 bedroom villa, each bedroom has it's own private bath, and a hall bath. Similar to a 3 bedroom condo. Really! Check it out and live the life of luxury without having to hock your BMW! Norwegian does really well with these type of accommodations and the benefits you get by reserving one of these suites. The next closest to it is Cunard's Queen's Grill Suites, though their largest suite is not THIS big.

Overall, I really enjoyed this cruise. I look forward to Norwegian Breakaway (2013) and Getaway (2014) to see if Norwegian improves the stateroom layout. Breakaway is on sale now and will be sailing from New York city to Bermuda for 7 day itineraries. I would love to be on one of those new voyages. Perhaps with 2 couple friends sharing the Garden Villa!

We Are Here For You

Miami FL...What to do for a day

2011-12-04T08:59:00.001-07:00

As I mentioned in my last post, Barbi and I needed a vacation from our family vacation. This being interpreted means, sailing together on a ship for 7 days. Not just any ship, but on a ship we have never been on before. And to equal the importance, on a cruise line it has been 10 years since we have experienced. The Norwegian Epic was our next adventure. This is the largest ship we have ever been on, which debuted just last year. This ship is longer than Cowboy Stadium (Yes, the whole stadium..end to end), though it does not hold 80,000 people. The Epic is 1,081 feet and holds 4,100 passengers. To some extent, I would agree with John Heald that the exterior of the ship is not the most beautiful of designs, but it is very unique. That is to say, fits well within Norwegian Cruise Lines mantra..."Freestyle Cruising". This ship has 19 decks, and it is an engineering marvel that she does not tip over. Anyone who chooses to experience her will find a boat load (pun intended) of fun, excitement, and yes..even relaxation.

This was a "working" vacation for us, as we were here for seminars provided by Norwegian while aboard the Epic, to bring us (Other Travel Agents) up to speed on all things Norwegian. But before we boarded the Epic, Barbi and I arrived a couple days early and camped out in the DoubleTree At Biscayne Bay Hotel. A couple days before arrival, the DoubleTree alerted us that they would upgrade us to a balcony suite for just another $20. We agreed! Gee, who wouldn't? Getting there from the airport was a quick and easy taxi ride of $27.00, though we thought it was a flat fee of $24.00. We gave him $30, said thank you, and headed in. The DoubleTree must really love us, since they upgraded us to a Jr. Suite, not just a balcony. And what a room it was, there on the 8th floor, eating warm fresh baked chocolate chip cookies, the size of the palm of your hand! We were facing north with a side view of Biscayne Bay. There was a 50" LCD TV, Fully stocked Mini Bar and Snacks (You pay extra for those), sitting area, and a large bathroom with a 10' double sink area. The Balcony was about 15' in length with windows from the room the entire length.

The DoubleTree was not in the middle of downtown Miami, but was convenient enough by hopping aboard the FREE MetroMover just a block walk from the hotel. The MetroMover would take you to many stops in the downtown area. It is best described as an elevated electric bus. Each car on a rail would hold 30 people or so, and is a favorite ride of all kinds of people, homeless or not. We hopped off at the Freedom Tower stop, which is 1/3 mile from the well known Bayside Market Place.

Walking to the place where all want to shop was leisurely, and only took about 10 minutes, since we had to stop and cross at the busy intersection of Biscayne Blvd and 5th and 6th Streets, which also is the intersection of the Port of Miami. Ooh! Crazy idea. Let's walk to the cruise ship! There is a sidewalk that runs along the whole north side of NE 6th Street, leading beside the American Airlines Arena, over the bridge, and right into the port. EASY!

Bayside Market Place really has a little of everything. the picture above was taken beside a really large Hooka Bar. There area all kinds of food outlets, mostly on the second level. If you want to have a little Cuban food, here is a convenient place. Barbi found a Starbucks, which she insisted we have breakfast the next morning. She loves their muffins. I really enjoyed wondering around Art By God, a unique art gallery, where you can find trophy animals on the walls, full size fossil specimens hanging from the ceiling, jewelry, animals skulls, and lots of other things. Honestly, I thought it was really a cool shop and I would go again and just stare. Don't take your kids in here. Touching and breaking would be a bad thing. I got the impression I was constantly being watched, as if I was going to grab and run. There are all the other favorites here, like Bath and Body works, Footlocker, Victoria's Secret, Hooters. If you forget something important, you can find it here, then have lunch at Bubba Gumps. You can relax at the Bayfront Park right next door. While we were there, a concert was going on at the amphitheater there at the park.

The Doubletree has lots of shopping opportunities as well. Eateries galore. Walk out the back doors, you will find yourself at a marina where you can hire a boat to take you fishing or a tour of the waterways that are so prevalent around Miami.

Miami is a vibrant city with lots of culture and history. We really only spend 1 day there, but I would love to go back and explore some more. If you go there, or have been, feel free to share your favorite spots and places that should not be missed.

We Are Here For You

It's the getting there!

2011-12-03T13:55:00.002-07:00

We decided to leave for southern California late in the evening to allow the little grandkids to sleep most of the way there. Everytime we have done this, we tell ourselves we will never do it again. Going without sleep for 30 plus hours is truely a pain! But between 4 drivers, we made it safely and in time to our destination in Oceanside. Seeing the ocean again was a dream come true. It has been 5 months.

Too early to check in, we decided to have breakfast at Denny's, just outside the gates of Camp Pendleton, the Marine Corps historic training base. After choosing the most inexpensive menu items, we enjoyed a nice, though noisy meal. It was quite busy on a Saturday morning. But everyone was happy in the sunny, warm, Late October Southern California weather.

Honestly, I feel like I was the only one who wanted to go to the beach as soon as we could. I sometimes think I am an outsider with my wishes. But, due to arriving early and having no where else to go, the beach it was. And what an awesome location. A 15 minute walk from the Worldmark by Wyndham condos, under the railroad tracks, past the marina and shops with all kinds of really cool clothes and trinkets. Getting there was as simple as I have ever experienced it. And I was not disappointed. Here, about a mile north of the Oceanside pier, people were enjoying the cold Pacific water, either by wading, or mainly surfing. The waves were perfect for it too. My single son walked around in his bare feet talking to his girlfriend on his cell phone. My pregnant daughter and her husband watched and played with their little girls, running from each wave as it washed up on the beach. My oldest daughter still at home had my Nikon D40 DSLR camera and was snapping away at all the photo opportunities everywhere. Barbi and I enjoyed watching it all and savoring every minute. No stress. No worries!

In the week we spent, we visited Seaworld twice, getting soaked to the bone by Shamu and his friends and enjoying all the park has to offer. Went Trick-o-Treating in one of the neighborhoods Halloween night after Seaworld. Attended a local church and were humbled and thankful for the kindness of the members, who, after finding out we were in need of a portacrib and high chair for our littlest grand baby, found a willing lady who let us borrow hers for the week. Miracles and kindness are still found where ever you are in the world. I Believe! We also went snorkeling in La Jolla cove, which though the water was frigid, I think was a highlight. It was amazing to swim out in the cove and near the sea lions which are so numerous there. They were not afraid of us, but watched with curiosity as we hovered in the water with our black wetsuits, mask, and snorkel. They made lots of noise, swam under and around us. I took my waterproof camera, but the water was still a little too murkey to get a really good shot. You will just have to take my word for it. If you are planning a trip to the San Diego area, I highly recommend some time in La Jolla Cove. The week after Halloween, it was not too busy at all. If you have money burning a hole in your pocket, La Jolla is a great place to shop at high end stores. It is really a fun little city.

Thursday and Thursday night, it was exploring the Farmers market and Night market in old downtown Oceanside. How fun was this! Especially the night market, where Krista and I took lots of pictures and enjoyed the multicultural festivities. When I say multicultural, I mean a whole lot more than just Hispanic. There was African, European, Asian...I think I counted at least a dozen different nationalities represented in booths (Especially food) here. Awesome!

Alas, we planned on leaving Saturday morning, but when Friday turned rainy...and I mean not stopping soaking rain, we packed up and left early. Good thing too. Getting out of the LA Basin took an extra 2 hours. We had planned on staying overnight in Saint George, but upon arriving at 11pm, we pushed on instead of keeping Grandma awake. Rain and Snow in the overpasses. A little trecherous, but again, getting there (Back) without incident.

It was a fun vacation with the family, cooking turkey for an early Thanksgiving for the family we would not see at the real Thanksgiving time. But as is sometimes the case, Barbi and I needed a vacation from this vacation. And thank goodness, we only had to wait 5 days til just the 2 of us headed off to the Caribbean on the Norwegian Epic for 7 days. HOT DANG!

We Are Here For You

You can't cruise everyday...Dang IT!

2011-10-27T15:57:00.000-06:00

     Our family is taking a land (Sort of) vacation next week. We are driving to San Diego for a week on the beach, water, and, of course, Seaworld. We have not visited Seaworld since our 24 yr old daughter was 6 months old. She and her family are also going with us, which we are excited for. Unfortunately, our 17 yr old can't come because of school grades. School!

     That's a long time to be away from the area south of Los Angeles, where we have been several times visiting Disneyland or cruising out of or arriving by cruise ship. The west coast is convenient, relatively speaking, since we live in the mountains of Utah. 12 hours or so either directly west or southwest will land us in either San Francisco or Los Angeles. But there is something special about the coast south of Laguna Beach.

     I remember a summer vacation one year when my mother took me and a cousin to California, and we stayed in Oceanside and visited a fair in Laguna Beach. I remember it being a really awesome place. uncrowded beaches, the ocean air, the mountains rising up so dramatically from the coastal areas. My mother bought a picture that was made out of rosewood. To this day, that picture still brings back memories.

     So we have our snorkel gear and wetsuits packed. We have decided on a schedule for Seaworld and, lest we forget, trick-or-treating in the neighborhoods around the Wyndham Condos in Oceanside we will be staying in. Ahhh! Halloween in SoCal! Cool! We will go to La Jolla cove and beach. Visit the LDS temple near there. And, since I don't want to offend, visiting a cousin who lives in Dana Point, whom I have not seen in, I don't know, 20 years???

     This will be a fun trip, and my Nikon Digital SLR is bound to be full by the time we get back. But I'll share with you all what you definitely want to see in that area.

We Are Here For You

Hurricane Rina News

2011-10-25T13:43:00.000-06:00

NEWS ALERT - Hurricane Rina is churning through the Western Caribbean, headed straight for Cancun and Cozumel. Currently a Category 2 storm, it is expected to strengthen before making landfall tomorrow night at Cozumel.
from http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

     Start making alternate plans if you are headed to the region. This is where travel insurance really comes in handy. When shopping for travel insurance, understand all your options and what coverages are available. Your travel agent can be a very valuable resource here. Let them teach you.

     Some may think travel insurance to be expensive, but when it comes to the loss of your travel investment dollars, it is really cheap. Just the cost of making airline changes could pay for the coverage all by itself. Here at Focus On Fun Travel, we want you to have a memorable vacation in a good way. Not one that you look back and say...What a nightmare!

     To stay informed, take a look at all the usual weather sources, including http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/.

We Are Here For You

Norwegian Epic...Where are the real reviews?

2011-10-20T13:47:00.000-06:00

     I have many times found myself googling the web to find out information about a certain feature at a resort or a cruise ship, only to be inundated with superfluous information, varied slightly, from an original press release from the company who is offering such a place. Today, it is Norwegian Cruise Lines, Norwegian Epic, and the Posh Beach Club. The Epic has now been sailing for over a year, with a passenger capacity of 4,100 each cruise, out of Miami, and I cannot find any real life blogging about the Posh Beach Club. No. Not even any really good comments from Cruise Critic. Only regurgitated statements about what it is when it was announced from NCL more than a year ago. "Adults Only", "Front of the Ship", "Hot Night Life", "Sizzle of South Beach", "Riviera." Heavens sakes alive, people. Hasn't anyone visited the Posh Beach Club? Rumor has it it is $15 a day or $58 for a week (Starting the second day of the cruise). With terms like "Hot", "Sizzle", "South Beach", "Adults", it sounds like a clothing optional place. But with today's cruise ships and family atmosphere expanding, that is mostly taboo. At least in the U.S..

     Barbi and I will be sailing on the Epic, Nov 12, for a 7 day Eastern Caribbean itinerary, out of Miami. This will be the first time, since 2000, that we will sail on Norwegian, and we are really hoping for a better experience than the first time. That particular cruise was our very first, and it was only 3 days to the Bahamas. We stopped in Nassau, and spent the next day at sea because the Atlantic was too rough for us to tender off to the private island, Great Stirrup Cay. We did not cruise again for 7 years. But the Epic is so packed full of many exciting things, I really have high hopes that this will be a positive experience. We are travelling with a couple of friends new to the Norwegian experience.

     So when we return before Thanksgiving, I promise to have a full review of everything I can see. If I can swing it, I'll even explore the Posh Beach Club on Deck 19, and let you know if everyone has their clothes on. We already have our tickets reserved for Blue Man Group, which will be awesome. We also want to attend the Cirque Dreams Dinner Show. Because of the spelling and "Vegas" atmosphere, I am assuming this is a Cirque du Soleil show, but there again, no bloggers telling me about it. So I'll have to check it out and report for myself.

Dreams of Paradise

2011-08-17T22:07:00.000-06:00

I found myself in a boat with some other fun life loving people, as we headed away from the dock at a high rate of speed. As we headed out to sea, we encountered our first wave to pass over. Because of the speed we were traveling at, we soon found ourselves airborne, soaring high in the air, traveling what felt like a mile. With a loud splash and quite a thud, we landed in the water. We started cheering and woot wooting, when the boat came to the next wave...a larger one. This one propelled us even higher. But unlike the other flight, the front of the boat started to shift and point downward at a sharp angle. Similar to the experience of one of my youth scout leaders, John, who was sitting on the back of a large river raft that went over a huge wake of some class 5 rapids on the Snake river in Wyoming; which when the front went down, John and all of his large framed body was shot upward and over the bow of the raft; I also was thrown higher up in the air as the boat plummeted down, nose first into the water. My friends were scattered over a small area, as I spread my arms out and started soaring over the area of the accident. I saw others who were sitting at tables close by enjoying a lunch, so I called down to them: "Hey! Help! Right there! Can you help..." Marty! Don't you have an early morning meeting this morning? Huh? Wha... Oh! Can't I get that dream back?

I love the sensation of flying in my dreams. It is one of my goals (Bucket List ya know), to don a wing suit, jump out of a plane, and soar for miles and miles, before being forced to pull my parachute cord and land safely. Thankfully we have near supersonic aircraft that can take us anywhere in the world in no time at all. This means we can visit paradise anytime finances allows us to. The other day, I received a promotional flyer from Princess Cruises detailing a 28 Day cruise itinerary that is round trip from Los Angeles, and visits Hawaii, Samoa, Tahiti, and Bora Bora. Talk about Paradise! Tahiti has been on Barbi's bucket list for years, and has been a 30th anniversary wish of ours as well. Well, Number 30 is 2014..3 years away. We got time to plan and save money. When the adventure is $75 per day, the saving is even easier. We can do this one!

Some people think paradise is a hot beach. Some feel it is exotic adventure in the orient. Others, it would be climbing a tall mountain. Where is your paradise? What is on your bucket list? Do you like to fly in your dreams too?

Passion in the Water

2011-08-09T21:44:00.000-06:00

As I traveled back home tonight after completing my FIRST open water dive, at the fabulous Homestead Crater, in Midway, UT, I passed many places were people were busy doing things. A miniature golf course, where people were having fun. A regular golf course, with carts busying around like ants, a Karate dojo, where adults and kids alike were learning self defense and self control, Boaters skiing, people fishing from a bridge. Joggers. Cyclists. Throughout my life, I have tried many things to see what I might be good at and really like. I tried baseball. Did not make the first cut. Guitar playing. I never learned more than strumming chords. Bicycling. At times, the physical stress has been too much. I admit I have never liked to run. When I was young, I accomplished a 5:58 mile, which is outstanding. But I really pushed myself in order to make the marching band. Yep, an 8 min mile was all that was required to make it...well, and to be able to play an instrument.

I have been going through PADI open water certification, and I realize I missed my boat 30 years ago. I really love being in the water. And I mean IN it. This intrigues me so much that I find myself wanting more and more every day. I really love this. Last night I blogged about Submarine cruising, and what an amazing vacation that would be. Well, for me it would be. I realize there are those of you out there who may feel a little claustrophobic. But I also know that we all have the ability to overcome our fears to experience new heights in our well being.

     Barbi is really afraid of heights (Speaking of heights). She won't let anyone in the family be within 20 feet of the edge of the Grand Canyon. Those of you who have been there know how challenging it would be not be closer than that anywhere. Yet, in 2007, on a Western Caribbean cruise on the Grand Princess, we stopped in Belize, where we tubed on a river through tunnels in the mountains, then went Zip Lining through the jungle canopy. We were 25 - 50 feet in the air moving from one tree to another through 8 stations. At first Barbi didn't think she was going to be able to do it. Once the first zip was through, and she felt safe, it was onward and downward! She has even said she would do it again. See! It can be done, with a little will power, and someone you love there to support you.

     My high school is planning their 30 year class reunion. Holy cow! 30 Years! I have suggested to the committee that we take a cruise as a class, instead of getting together in our home town of Mesa, AZ for a Friday evening, then a partial Saturday during a weekend. I expressed how much of a better deal everyone would get if we cruised. Such as, for the price, everything is included...food, entertainment, lodging, fun activities, and even getting together in a meeting room. There are pools, dancing, karaoke, games...you get the picture. For a little more than an evening and a morning, this is a much better deal. For me, it means getting back to the ocean. You know...the Water. And wherever we go, I know I can get in the water and explore this part of the world. Fish, creatures, whales, plants. Scuba or snorkel, it does not matter to me. I just want to be in the water.

     My point in all this is, if your vacations have become Blah. Go get scuba certified. It cheap. It is easy. It is safe. And when you go to Cancun for a week, go out to Isla Mujeras and swim with Whale Sharks, the largest fish in the ocean. They have no teeth and have never eaten a human. If you take a western Caribbean cruise and you stop in Grand Cayman, the birth place of scuba; go out and swim with the stingrays, instead of just standing there. Belize has the 2nd largest coral reef system in the world. Stuart Cove's in Nassau Bahamas will take you scuba diving with Caribbean Reef Sharks. Heaven only knows what can be explored in the Mediterranean. Ship wrecks?!

If you are in Utah County, I highly recommend Scuba Teds Dive Center, 50 N Main St, Springville, UT. Mike Brothersen is my instructor.

We Are Here For You

There's a vacation just around every corner

2011-08-08T21:48:00.000-06:00

     I find myself daydreaming each day about what my next vacation will be. Cruise, Disneyland, Seaworld, San Francisco, Yellowstone. Interesting how these are all on the western side of the U.S.. I guess I always think close to where I live....cruising being the exception...sometimes. I have lamented before about hating to fly. The airlines know that people will still fly to get across the country, so their attitude is, they'll pay to get there. They'll deal with it and we'll get more money. Well, this is America, so I know that the American dream is all about being successful. I also know that competition spurs reform and innovation, which benefits the consumer more than the company vieing (Did I spell that right?) for market share. I have not said it in a while, so I'll restate my challenge to those looking to have the American dream. Come up with a new way to get people from one side of the country to the other, either in a timely fashion, or in a slower way, providing comfort and value for their money.

     Cruising is an awesome way to travel across oceans, if you have the time. Other than Amtrak, which has limited routes, there really is not another viable alternative to traveling comfortably on land. The long haul bus system is too cramped.  I have often found myself wondering if it would be possible to have a cruise ship size vehicle, traveling down I10 from Long Beach to Jacksonville, Fl, at 25 miles per hour, Non-stop, it would only take a little more than 4 days. With Port stops in Phoenix, El Paso, Houston, New Orleans, Pensacola, you could stretch it into 8 days. All along the way, enjoying comfortable sleeping cabins, all you can eat meals, room service, and entertainment. How would it be powered you ask? Wind power...sails you know. If there is no wind..how 'bout solar? Combination of both? Dream it and it'll happen.

     We really need a high speed rail system in this country. Unfortunately, our American government has spent the cost of building it on other frivolous things, so I guess we'll just have to wait until someone comes along to finance it privately. Then those who need to get from here to yonder there can do it in 10 hours non-stop from San Francisco to New York City. 10 hours...hmm, that's at least how long it takes me to get from Salt Lake City to Miami Fl, with 2 or 3 plane changes. What a lavatory full of waste! I used to be able to fly from Phoenix to Atlanta in 4 hours. That's darn near impossible these days. So I say, if it takes me 10 hours, I would rather do it in style for a few days, with lots of leg room, WiFi, Walking around communicating with people, playing blackjack, having a drink by the pool, soaking up the sun!

     That was some serious digression! Sorry! Vacations are so vitally important to health these days, it is right there with the full nutrition of the Moringa Oliefera tree in Zija. Healthy body, Healthy mind. These things come with relaxation, good food, good sleep, and socialization with our fellow human beings. Some sun doesn't hurt, though my eyes are sensitive. So literally, there are vacation opportunities everywhere you look. I am finishing scuba certification this week. Now I cannot stop thinking about exploring the underwater world with Scuba. How about a submarine cruise? How cool would that be?   Cruise to 6,000 feet down to see the daytime activities of the six gill shark off the coast of Seattle. Do a transpolar cruise under the north pole, under the ice, and come up to see polar bears hunting for seals.  Cruise by and see the remains of the Titanic! I am raising my hand with developing this!!! ohh, ohh, pick me! Pick Me! Let's explore more of our world before heading off to the moon again..or Mars.

We Are Here For You.

Are We Cruising Again....YET?

2011-07-14T19:58:00.000-06:00

May seems like such a lifetime ago, and we, here at Focus On Fun Travel, have been busy exploring new places and new cruise ships. I never thought a few years ago, that in one year, we would experience 3 new cruise lines. But you get the benefit of our experiences, and we pay the cost! Sweet!

February was our first time on Carnival Cruise lines, on board the Carnival Splendor, visiting the Mexican Riviera. Carnival, I believe, is well known as the "Fun Ship." Some would interpret that as a "party ship" or "Booze Cruise." Where the majority of cruisers are 20 something college students looking for an alcoholic binge.

While there appeared to be plenty of adult drinks being consumed and served, I never ran into anyone who was slobbering drunk. I never heard anyone shouting at anyone with a slur. There were lots of fun poolside games being led by the entertainment staff. One included alcohol.

What I did find was lots of families with lots of kids. More than 650 under the age of 14 on board. Because of that, the kids programs we bustling with activity and the kids were really having a great time. My 9 year old never wanted to do anything but Camp Carnival. My 13 and 17 year old daughters wanted to hang out at their clubs all the time. I was very impressed.

I would cruise Carnival again, knowing a few warnings. The shows with the dancers and singers was Las Vegas style. Meaning adult men will enjoy seeing scantily clad women dancing and bouncing around. Those that don't want to subject their kids to this will want to avoid it, or insure they are at their activities while you enjoy it. If you lose one of your children, go hang out at the ice cream machines. They'll show up within the hour, no matter the time. Don't book a balcony underneath the buffet. You will never sleep. Don't bother showing up at check in early. The lines to get in, led to another line, which ended at another line. Patience Brother! It'll all be good...eventually.

In mid May, We boarded Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Checking in was what I expected. A short wait in a line, go to a desk with a friendly person who checks my passport and gives me a room key, then up a couple escalators, on the ship, and WOW! Royal Caribbean's ships are really beautiful. When we got to our Jr. Suite...Oh My Heck! This is huge. All things are relative, but the extra 3x10 feet made a huge difference in the size of the suite.

On this cruise, we were with 150 people who earned this as a reward for a company sales challenge. What we did not anticipate was that before we disembarked, we would have 150 new friends. The Serenade of the Seas made it very easy to be together when we wanted and privacy when we didn't. The group and wait staff were excellent, just like we wanted. I climbed the rock climbing wall, ate a sandwich at the Sea Side Cafe, REALLY loved the food in the dining room, and never missed a show in the theater. These shows were what I wanted. Broadway shows that were not too loud and were perfect. I will really look forward to sailing on Royal Caribbean again. Here is what I learned to avoid, though.

Like Carnival, our Jr. Suite was right underneath the Windjammer Cafe (Buffet). Really hard sleeping at 1am. I am used to ships having elevators and stairs forward and aft. On this ship, almost always, you have to go to the middle of the ship to go up or down. It made for easy navigating and I never had an issue knowing what side of the ship I was on, but sometimes it was out of the way to go through the Centrum to go anywhere. Many of RCCL's ships have limited Internet access, meaning not available in your stateroom, but if you are willing to drag your laptop to almost any level in the Centrum, the wireless works nicely. The library is one of those places, but it is not quiet, as there is always music playing on the bottom floor.

November will bring our 3rd new ship. The Norwegian Epic is NCL's newest ship. Our first cruise was on NCL, but that was 11 years ago, so the memories have faded significantly. But we are really stoked about being on this very innovative ship. Why? How 'bout an 85 Min performance by the Blue Man Group? Their typical show as seen in Las Vegas, which you will pay more than $100 each for. It's free! Go Bowling! Maybe a Cirque Dreams and Dinner Show. The only funnel slide at sea. So much that 7 days may not be enough time to experience just the ship.

If you are going on a cruise soon, let us know where you are going and share your excitement and experiences. We would love to compare notes.

We are here for you.

Time Flys and so are we

2011-05-13T15:11:00.001-06:00

Royal Caribbean - San Juan, Puerto Rico

     Time to pack the bags and fly/sail into the sunset. Tomorrow we join 150 new friends travelling to San Juan, Puerto Rico for a new journey for us, so to speak. Though we have cruised many times, we have never cruised on Royal Caribbean. Sunday we board the Serenade of the Seas for an adventure to the southern Caribbean, visiting 2 ports we have not been to before, St. Kitts and Curacao. We have never been in a Jr. Suite. We also have never flown on Jet Blue, which will be the carrier taking us to San Juan, so we will have lots to report on when we get back.

     It is amazing to me that I have left some out in this blog for almost a month and a half. Life has a way of distracting us or making us think that other things are more important..Family...Church...Family. You know? Little things (hmmmph)  I have, though, found a way to reinforce a strong belief of mine in the last 6 weeks; Travelling as a family is one way to insure the kids always remember the fun you had as a family, in spite of the spats in the kitchen. So we are in the planning stages to take the family on a week getaway to San Diego, have fun at the beach, snorkel, and visit the sites we have not been to since our second child was only 6 months old (That's more than 20 years). If you were to go (or have gone recently) to San Diego, what were your favorite memories? What do you wish you had seen or done but missed out?

     Now, back to the cruise. We set sail in the sunset Sunday evening at 8:30. Monday morning we find ourselves in St. Thomas. Last time we were here, we snorkeled at Coki Beach and explored Coral World. This time, I want to explore and photo shoot Charlotte Amalie and take the tram to the top of the mountain overlooking the bay. I am going to takes lots and lots of pictures. Hope the computer can handle it.

     Tuesday, St. Kitts. Here we have talked about taking a tour of an old fort and the city with some of our new friends. But on this island, if you have the time and physical stamina, climbing the volcano through the rain forest is popular. Of course, in every location, there are beaches.

     Thursday is Aruba, which will be our 3rd time here. The snorkeling and scuba diving in the formerly known "ABC Islands" is amazing. Clear and incredibly blue waters, reefs, drop offs, sunken ships. Makes you quiver with excitement. Dry desert climate with cacti like you find in Phoenix.

     Last stop is Curacao. The former dutch colony, now independent, is alive with colors and the only place in the world with a pontoon bridge that swings open to let ships like ours pass by. Here again, we plan to explore Willemstad, though I would not mind hitting one the the awesome beaches. Here, it is all about the water, what ever you like to do.

     When you want to get away from everything, join us on a cruise some time. We would love to share this amazing experience with you.

Desert and Beach - Aruba

We Are Here For You

Smart Phone Cruising

2011-03-31T19:00:00.001-06:00

     I have been a Smart Phone user with Verizon now for about 2 years. Last year I held in my hand a Blackberry Storm when we set sail for Europe on a transatlantic cruise on the Crown Princess. Before leaving, I called Verizon to explore my options. What was offered was an unlimited data plan that would cover me while on the ship and in Italy, Spain, France, and Great Britain (Gibraltar). For $25 for the month, I thought that was an awesome addition. And it was! Other than some initial problems after setting sail, I was able to stay connected. This was for internet and email only, not voice calls. Voice calls reverted to $2.50 per minute while on the ship. Texts were $.05 to receive and $.50 to send.

     Now, a year later and now holding an Android, I find that Verizon has thrown out that unlimited plan, and replaced it with a plan that has limited possibilities while in port, and NO options while on the ship. NONE! Nada! ZIPPO!

     So, If you are considering a cruise and want to stay connected, plan and budget accordingly. Here are Verizon's rates for while you are in port in Mexico and most places in the Caribbean:

$30/mo for 25MB of data transmitted/received
$100/mo for 75MB of data transmitted/received
While you are on the ship, be prepared for $20.48/MB of data transmitted/received. This also applies if you do not sign up for a plan.

     I know what you are thinking, what constitutes a "MB" (Megabyte). That is tricky and virtually impossible to predict (Remember...anything that follows "Virtual" is a Lie). Emails with text only would be measured in KB (Kilobyte), and you can go a long way with 25MB. If they have an attachment or pictures, those will quicky take up your allotted MB amounts. If you use your web browser, you will again start eating it up. Youtube? Forget about it!

     You can turn off the data portion, and keep your phone for emergency phone calls, which can be very reasonable compared to some cruise ships. At $2.49/min, that is a bargain compared to as much as $6/min for using the ship board phones. Watch out for those text messages though. Remember that you will be charged international roaming rates of $.05 to receive and $.50 to send. Cheap way to quickly communicate, but can quickly add up if you have automatic text alerts from facebook, twitter, or the Amber Alert system.

     Important!!! Before you leave, make sure you contact your cellular provider to alert them you are traveling out of the country. Most of the time, you will need to update your device. Talk to them about global plans available to you. Remember to make sure they include the cruise ship if possible in what ever plan you can choose from, along with the countries you are visiting. Don't forget to remove the plan when it is appropriate.

We Are Here For You

XM3 Challenge - San Juan, Puerto Rico

2011-03-30T21:51:00.000-06:00

RCCL Grandeur of the Seas - San Juan

     May 15 is fast approaching, and Zija distributors will be gathering to board the Serenade of the Seas in San Juan, Puerto Rico. When we were last in San Juan, Nov 2009, we were surprised at the heat and humidity, but found many wonders in this beautiful Territory of the United States. From a world renouned Bioluminescent Bay to Rain forests at El Yunque, Cock fights to shopping. There is definitely something for everyone here in the north east end of the Caribbean Sea.

     When you arrive at the airport, getting to old San Juan is easy as getting a cab. For $19 (Plus Tip), you can fill up the taxi and have them take you to the Pan American Pier, where you can drop off your luggage to be loaded on the ship. The ship won't start boarding until 2pm. If you arrive well before that, either take a long stroll (About 1 1/2 miles) around the bay to Old San Juan, or take a taxi over to that side. Near old pier 4, you can pick up one of the free trolley's that will take you on a certain route around Old San Juan.

     Here are some other things you can do and see around Old San Juan:

Citadel on the Fort Wall

El Morro (Castillo San Felipe del Morro) is a U.S. National Historic Site, managed by the US Park Service, and easily accessible from the port area in Old San Juan. Open everyday from 9am to 6pm, you will have time to see this historic site, but you may wish you had more time.

I love to try the local cuisine. Puerto Rico has hosted a few of the favorite Travel Channel types, like Andrew Zimmern (Bizarre Foods) and Adam Richman (Man vs. Food). But I am not a 5 star restaurant guy. I like the smaller less well known places. I recently found out about a place located on Calle Sol, from a blogger who always goes there when he is in San Juan. So for lunch on Sunday, you'll find me at El Jibarito, 280 Calle Sol.

Raices Fountain

For me, I had to take a stroll along Paseo de la Princesa. Here you will find a piece of art work that celebrates the diversity of Puerto Rico, The Raíces Fountain of Old San Juan. The fountain was not on when we were there, but I look forward to seeing and feeling the cool water spray. Nearby, you can walk to the Gate of Old San Juan or visit the outdoor shopping area. If you are feeling energetic or have lots of time, you can follow the Paseo all the way to El Morro.

The architecture here is historical, just like many of the statues and monuments. You will enjoy the beauty of it all. The ship leaves at 8:30. Make sure you are on board no later than 7pm. There will be plenty of fun before and during the sail away party.

We Are Here For You

Into The Wild Blue Yonder - Air Travel

2011-03-24T22:20:00.000-06:00

     I have to admit that I am very disgruntled in air travel these days. No longer is flying an exciting event. My mother still will dress up to fly by air, even though security now requires you to remove almost everything. Gone are the meals, replaced by at best, peanuts, or; present your credit card and you can get a TV dinner warmed up. Now, there is so much talk about paying to use the lavatory or even to sit down...seriously!

     What really discourages me, and everyone else who now finds air travel almost as necessary as breathing air, is the volitility of airfare. Fares really make no sense to me. I understand that oil prices have a great deal to do with the cost of flying people here and there. But why does it cost me more money to fly from Salt Lake City to Ft. Lauderdale, than it does from San Francisco to Paris? Thousands fly to both locations every week, from all over the U.S., so popularity cannot have everything to do with it. Supply and Demand?

     So now, we are relegated to checking every search engine available on the net, along with subscribing to each airlines daily and weekly travels ads, just to hopefully save $100 on a fare that will cost me $1,400. But if that is what we have to do, then we do it. If we don't, then we fall victim to the whims of the airlines raising and lowering their fare, when just one of them makes a move.

     So, I rant about the airlines. But I will admit an appreciation for one carrier that, for many years, and it continues today, to break the rules and buck the trends. They buy their fuel by strategically using the futures market, thus stabilizing their cost of Jet A. Many think they are an airline to be avoided, so people don't feel like cattle going to market. I for one think they are genious! No baggage fees. Fares that are more consistant. A fun experience when flying with them. I speak of Southwest Airlines. And with their merger with AirTran in the second quarter expected, they will no longer be fenced in to the U.S. border. Those who want to enjoy the warm sunny beaches of the Caribbean and Mexico, they will go there. Woo Hoo!

     But until they go worldwide, here are a couple tricks I learned a couple years ago. This info has recently been published in the USAToday, so the airlines will probably find a way to squash it.

Begin your searches on a Monday. Make note of the fares you find. Then, start watching the fares on Tuesday. Usually, at 3pm eastern on Tuesday, any great deals will show up on the booking engines available to you on the internet.
If you can, start pricing at least 30 days in advance and try to travel in the middle of the week to get the lowest fare. If you buy within 2 weeks of the travel, expect to pay a much higher price.
I like to get airfares from 3 different sites to insure I am not being taken advantage of by one site.
Make sure to add in (Manually...I know...what a pain) baggage fees, so that you get an apples to apples comparison on what it'll cost you. Be aware that some airlines are even talking about starting to charge you to carry on baggage. OH BROTHER!!!
If you have a lot of airline miles with Delta, but United is $20 cheaper, I would still take Delta, because the addional miles to my account are worth something too.

     You might ask, what options do we have to air travel? Do you say, "We have no choice!"? If you need to get there (1,000 miles) by tomorrow, then you really have no choice. Star Trek transporters are not here yet. If you have extra time, consider Rail travel. Or drive a car. Considering that I used to be able to get from Phoenix to Atlanta in 4 hours on Eastern Airlines, today, it will take me 9 hours, because I have to change planes in Minneapolis. How Lame!!!

     If you are traveling overseas. Here is what I suggest. Give youselves 3 weeks. Take a cruise ship to get there and back. It is relaxing getting there. You change time zones once a day, instead of 7 of them in one day (No jet lag). You are not cramped in an 18" seat for 10 hours, where you will need copious amounts of petrolium jelly to get yourself out. Instead, you sleep in a comfortable bed and eat daily meals made for the next King of England.

     I encourage all to start coming up with alternative modes of transportation domestically, other than train, plane, and automobile. I have seen amazing plans to bring back balloon travel. Luxury travel. I would be happy to travel from Denver to Atlanta, at 90 miles per hour, where I could enjoy the same luxuries as cruise ship travel. A meal, A bed, An incredible view, and be able to walk around and enjoy myself all the way there.

     What are your ideas?

The Dining room at the back of the Holland America Amsterdam - Glacier Bay Alaska

We Are Here For You

Excitement for Cruising comes in Waves

2011-03-15T20:47:00.000-06:00

     Anyone who knows me, know that I am passionate about cruising. But nothing flames my passion more, for this excellent way to travel, than announcements of new ships. Today, Princess Cruises announced the beginning of construction for their "Next Generation" ship, which will be appropriately named Royal Princess.

     Many got very excited anticipating the first sailing of Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas, which, because of its size, has had many nicknames applied to it. It is a beautiful ship, but moving from a 3,600 passenger vessel to over 5,000 can create some logistical challenges. RCCL continues to improve and make this and Allure of the Seas destinations unto themselves. But this new Royal Princess, with it's beautiful sleek lines and amazing innovations will improve upon what the Love Boat has always succeeded in delivering, an incredible and romantic escape.

     Take a look at the information on the Royal Princess link above and see pictures on Flikr. Also see the sneek peak video on http://www.princess.com/. One of the innovations that excites me more than a zipline is the Sky Walk. A glass floored walkway suspended over the ocean from the top deck. Movies under the Stars will have an even bigger screen. In fact, a lot of things will be bigger...The Sanctuary, The Piazza, The fresh water pools. Excited yet?

     I have always wanted to be part of a maiden voyage. I believe this one will be it! May 2013. Since construction is in Italy, I would guess we will see a maiden voyage in Europe. Who wants to go? Let us know. Follow us on Facebook and we'll include you in the invite.

We Are Here For You

Cruising and the Motion of the Ship

2011-03-09T21:06:00.000-07:00

     A good friend this week has asked me to help her plan a vacation to Italy for her 50th birthday. I think that is an awesome place to go for a milestone celebration. I know she does not like to fly, so I asked her if she would be interested in cruising there instead of flying there. She told me she gets extreme motion sickness, so getting it overwith in 8 hours would be preferential.

     I had never considered this aspect that keeps people from cruising. The perception that cruise ships constantly sway back and forth and side to side would keep even one who does fine in the air and in a car from boarding, especially if they were going to be on board for 8 days straight.

     When Barbi and I boarded our very first cruise, Norwegian Cruise Lines, in Miami 2000, we truely did not know what to expect. We were attending a meeting in a room at the very front of the ship, that had windows looking forward. When we left the shelter of the harbor and entered the Atlantic, the front of the ship almost immediately started to rise and lower. It wasn't that we felt it, as much as we saw it. But because of being fascinated by the sight, we soon found ourselves feeling queezie!

     There is an aspect of being on a ship that all sailors and seasoned cruisers will tell you about. It is "Getting your sea legs." On that first cruise, we were able to tough it out knowing we would be in Nassau the next morning. Interestingly, as I now look back on that trip, the day after Nassau, we were not able to get off the ship at NCL's private Island because the seas were too rough, so we circled out in the Atlantic for the day. I remember not feeling sick at all. Ahh. Sea Legs.

     Our 2nd cruise, on the Grand Princess in 2007, we came prepared with motion sickness medicine. This would be a 7 day cruise, with the whole first day at sea, crossing the Gulf of Mexico. As we left Galveston, we were out on deck watching the scenery pass by, knowing there would be no troubles since we took our little pills. Two hours later, we were falling asleep. The next day, again after taking the pills, we could hardly concentrate on what was at the buffet, we were so drowsy. We at length determined this really sucked, and gave up on the pills to give it a go. What motion? This is awesome.

     There are 2 things at play here that I want to share.

The first is the Sea Legs I mentioned before. In all the cruises we have taken since, the first day has always been the only time motion has bothered us. On subsequent days, we continue to notice it, but our bodies quickly adapt to the movement, and we move with the ship. We are the ship. The ship and us are one! When we get off the ship, we continue to sway, even though the land under us does not. This can be freaky and interesting at the same time.
Ship Design. I have never been able to confirm this, but I strongly believe it had a lot to do with the differences between Norwegian 2000 and Princess 2007. The Grand Princess has Wings! Really! They are really called stabilizers. When the ship encounters swells that the captain determines is causing too much movement in the ship, he deploys the stabilizers. These wings extend from the ship, giving the appearance of wings under the water, greatly reducing the movement of the ship side to side and up and down.

Should you give cruising a try, but are worried about motion sickness, come prepared. Whether you take an over the counter pill, have your Dr. prescribe a patch, or you use pressure wrist bands, you always want to insure your vacation will be an enjoyable one. I would also say, once you feel comfortable, try it without any of these items. I believe you will find your sea legs quickly and you will begin to laugh as you try to walk down the hallway, but you cannot do it walking a straight line. There is a cruise ship joke about that. The drunk man can walk straighter than one who is not drunk.

Carnival Splendor Heading for Mexico

We Are Here For You

Buzzing About Family Vacations

2011-03-08T19:25:00.001-07:00

I was reminded today from a friend that time together as a family is what everyone remembers throughout their lives. Think about the gifts you have received for your birthday, Christmas, Bar Mitzvah, Kwaanza. Now, compare that with the family vacations that stick out in your mind. What makes you smile the most? What is your favorite memory?

Pier 39 San Francisco

At dinner tonight, I quizzed 2 of my kids about Christmas, then asked about our trip to Northern California last year. Though amazing to me that they remembered Christmas, they had more enthusiasm and more to say about the trip..Alcatraz, The Giant Redwoods, The Condo, the Pool. I know you are having your own mental pictures right now.

Every year, we attend a festival in a small town in Utah, and the kids always look forward to going as a family. Even though thee is not a whole host of things to do, I believe it is simply going and being together. My 9 year old told me tonight that our cruise to Mexico was the funnest trip so far.

Washington Coast

Great Wolf Lodge Grand Mound Wa

Fish Lake Utah

Bryce Canyon Utah

Puerto Vallarta Mexico

So here is a challenge. Start making memories with your loved ones. Small overnighters to longer vacations. In the region around you to overseas. Challenge everyone involved, to be involved and contribute. You'll teach your kids many things and share the wonders of the world.

Carnival Splendor (Not Spelled Correctly)

2011-02-26T19:07:00.003-07:00

Carnival Splendor

Carnival Splendor - Cabo San Lucas Feb 24, 2011

Mexican Riviera Feb 20 – Feb 27, 2011

Ports of Call: Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas (2 Calls)(Mazatlan was cancelled after an “Incident”.)

The Carnival Splendor is a beautiful ship. Very vibrant and colorful, which adds to the overall “Fun Ship” atmosphere. When we arrived early at check in, we found we were already half way back in line. Normal scheduled entrance to the ship is 12 noon, but we, along with everyone else, figured we could get on board early since no one was leaving. Well, we understood that about 1,000 people, Including John Heald and Gerry Cahill, needed to depart and rooms to be cleaned, from the party the night before. Thus getting on at a time closer to normal was what we experienced. But it was odd to stand in line to check in, then be pointed to another line to wait for entrance to the ship. Embarkation here seems quite unorganized, at the port of Long Beach.

Carnival Splendor Balcony Statroom

When we were finally boarding, we entered on Deck 3 forward, in the Atrium, with the bank of glass elevators. From here, we boarded an elevator to Deck 9, Promenade, for lunch in the Splendido Lido restaurant (Buffet). Or at the hamburger grill or Pizzaria by the Lido Pool. I chose a Calzone, freshly made, at the Pizzaria. It was yummy. My son in law says he had at least one a day, they were so good. For me, there was much more to experience, and not limit myself.

When we arrived at our Balcony Stateroom, 8358, Here were my first impressions:

· Bright room with a large window and a swinging door that goes out to the balcony.

· Colorful Piccaso-esque artwork on the walls.

· Nice sofa to view the, be it small screen, flat panel TV mounted on the wall, also facing the bed.

· 3 large closets providing hanging and shelf space for clothing.

· My wife and I disagree on this, but I felt the layout of the bathroom was very nice and roomier than others we have experienced with other cruise lines. His and hers glass shelves on either side of the large bowled sink. And a shower that felt bigger to me as well. No more shampoo bottles, but a convenient shampoo and shower gel dispenser mounted on the wall in the shower. (NOTE: No Hair Conditioner provided, which was a surprise. Buying a bottle in the shop on board was 4 times more expensive than Walmart. Bring your own.)

· The Safe is located in the cabinet below the desk area. This is not easy to access, as it is positioned low. You have to be on your knees to read the instructions on how to use the safe. Other cruise lines position this in the closet up higher, so you are standing when you use it.

· The desk area is wide and has a mirror that covers the wall for most of its length, making the room feel more open. (Note: As has been mentioned before on John Heald’s Blog, there is only one power outlet at the desk and one very high in the bathroom. That’s it! No more! If you have a computer, cell phone, curling iron, camera chargers, or any other electrical needs, you will find it difficult to take care of them all.)

· The lighting in the room is brighter than any room I have encountered in the Princess, Holland America, or Norwegian fleet. At night, you can see very well, with the florescent lighting around the edge of the ceiling from the doorway to the Balcony door. VERY NICE! There are also bedside lamps, a wall lamp beside the couch, and additional lighting at the desk area.

· The biggest downer of the cruise was the location of our Balcony Stateroom, which of course costs more. Our room was right under the Splendido Lido Restaurant. Walking on tile and rolling carts were bad enough. But when the crew decides to clean the carpet at 3:30am, I was up for the day!

AS I sit here in the Atrium with friends, playing cards, listening to Cartoon Trivia, drinking a Pepsi from Walmart in Puerto Vallarta, I still believe there is no place better on earth than on a cruise ship!!!!

Attending the shows has always been our favorite activity while on-board a cruise ship. The Spectacular Spectacular is a fabulous show lounge. Three comfortable levels put you close to the stage. I honestly have not seen a more beautiful theater. There were 2 major shows put on by the singers and dancers, Vroom and Musica Latina. The costumes were excellent and the band was awesome. The music was very loud, compared to shows on other ships, which those who are hard of hearing may appreciate. I for one had ringing ears for quite a while afterwords. The stage is smaller than other ships, but that makes for a very large seating area. When sitting in the balcony areas (Level 4 and 5), the railing in front of you can tend to block your view of the stage. While watching the comedy/magic show last night, I had to slump in my seat to see the entire stage. If you are taller, it would be even worse. NOTE: This is a Vegas style show and the female dancers were always wearing thongs. This show may not be for all family members.

We were originally scheduled Jan 30, 2011, and we requested “Your Time Dining”. But because that sailing was cancelled due to dry dock and repairs after the fire, we rescheduled for Feb 20, which is the first sailing after coming out of dry dock. Because we rescheduled, “Your Time Dining” was full, and only “Late Seating” was available. This was our first experience with traditional dining, and more especially, dining at a late time. We found this was too difficult, for our bodies, especially on “Elegant Night”, when Lobster and Prime Rib were served on the same menu. I had to have both. I have never eaten that much in my life, and resorted to Yogurt the next morning for breakfast. Also, this time interfered with earlier show times, which we have always preferred. Our waiters, Jose and Vlatko had a challenge with our table for 10. This table was situated at the very back of the ship, on the upper level of the Gold Pearl Restaurant. Three of our seats were between window partitions, making serving us difficult. The first night at sea, we encountered rough seas, and 2 of our party could not handle the motion very well and had to leave. The Maitre d’ was really fun in the dining room. Here, nightly entertainment was provided by the dining room staff, either by singing or dancing. Last night, my 17 year old daughter was up and singing and dancing with our waiters and having a great time. I would have to say that the food itself was average, except for the Prime Rib, which was absolutely intoxicating. It could have been our wait staff or maybe generally speaking, but the transition from one course to another was not as elegant as I have experienced on all other ships. Such as, cleaning the crumbs from the table and cleaning off all dishes before serving dessert.

As for the Buffet area, knows as the Splendido Lido, which included areas:

· Splendido Pool and Bar

· Pizzeria and Grill

· Mongolian BBQ

· The Rotisserie

· The Deli and Tandoor

I have to say I was most unimpressed with the service in these areas. The most noticeable difference is the lack of food, except at lunch time. Everything closes at 4pm, except for the Deli, Grille, and Pizzeria. The only food served in the Splendido starts at 6pm, which is late for many people who want to have dinner at 5pm. The most popular of venues, the Mongolian BBQ, only serves at Lunch. The daily variety of food is almost non existant. With the exception of the main course, everything else is pretty much the same. Especially the daily breakfast menu here, the only thing I noticed, that varied from day to day, was the type of sausage served, which was mainly a couple varieties of Italian sausage. Yesterday morning, my impression was “Left Overs”. Some American sausage, Italian sausage, mixed in with some hamburger and chili sauce. The other thing I noticed was the lines at lunch time. The way this is laid out, causes lines that stretch down hallways. Other ships break up the items to be served into station areas, making lines almost non-existant. The only other service I really missed at breakfast in the Lido, was having wait staff come by and offer a drink. This happened only once, and only after I had sat in my seat for an hour talking with friends. On other ships, this is a constant and consistent service.

Children’s programs, especially Camp Carnival for my 9 year old are worth their weight in gold. My boy could not wait to get there each day, and we had to drag him from the ship on port days. Activities galore. Even eating dinner together. He loved every minute and made lots of new friends, which, as I always say, makes cruising even funner. My teens also enjoys time at Circle C and Club O2. At 13 and 17, they both made new friends who will, I am sure, be facebook friended as soon as we get home. There were approx 700 children under 18 on this ship. The counselor’s for the 9-11 yr old group were very enthusiastic and wished for even more than 23 who stayed out til 3am this morning. When those activities were done, they made sure each child made it to their cabin, with a parent present, safely. Thank You, Camp Carnival!

Carnival Splendor Aft Lido Pool Adults Only

My 22 yr old son and his girl friend had the time of their lives on this cruise. The night life for the younger crowd is perfect on these fun ships. They spent a lot of time hanging out in the hot tub, with, what seemed, 20 other people (Way over crowded, but what the heck). This, I believe, is where Carnival excels. Alcohol and parties for the 21-30 crowd. Gambling for them, but more especially, the older crowd.

From floor to floor, the Carnival Splendor and her Crew does a fairly good job of making a cruise vacation one to remember, and also one that is a great value. We figured this trip cost as much, or less, than a week at Disneyland, when considering hotel, food, and 5 days at the park. But on the Splendor, we got to see Mexico (Less Mazatlan). We got to enjoy warm sunny weather. We had a wide variety of entertainment to keep us busy. We could eat Prime Rib and Lobster like they were our last meals on earth. Felipe, the Cruise Director, did an excellent job keeping us informed and laughing (Thanks Mel and Herman and Alice). When Mazatlan was cancelled, Felipe was on the speaker early to let us know and make us feel safe. I honestly felt a sigh of relief that we were not going, only because of past incidents. Seeing the whales, jumping Manta Rays, and the beauty of Cabo made up for missing Mazatlan. One note: The people of Puerto Vallarta are stating there is more to see and do there than Cabo.

So overall rating, including the feedback of previous Carnival Passengers (This was our First Carnival Sailing), a 7! The Splendor apparently is doing things differently than the rest of the fleet, and I hope it is not a plan of migration for all the rest. Concerns for everyone to consider:

· Family Friendly is not altogether true. Though the children’s programs are excellent, the shows are not for younger kids, when considering the costume apparel which is way too revealing. Leave it in Vegas.

· The Captains reception was extremely lacking on this sailing. Past passengers felt that they were not appreciated, because of the down scaling of this event. Their perception is that Carnival is cutting back.

· Unless you are a Platinum Member, don’t arrive too early, or you’ll be sitting around.

So there you have it. As I now sit in my balcony stateroom, watching the sunset off the coast of Ensenada Mexico, I feel that I must try Carnival again, as past passengers have told us that other vessels have been better. I have to say my kids really enjoyed themselves, all 4 of them. My wife and I, for the most part, have been able to relax and enjoy ourselves as well. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, there is no better way to vacation. I wil recommend this cruise to the following:

· Newlyweds

· Singles

I will be cautious to recommend to certain families, depending on ages of children, and affiliations. Carnival’s Mantra, All For Fun, Fun For all lives up to its hype.

A World In Flux

2011-02-10T13:34:00.000-07:00

So many things in the headlines today. Egypt's protests may have given the people what they have been demanding. As I write this, Pres. Hosni Mubarak is expected to speak to the people of Egypt. They are expecting that he will board a jet for some part of the world unknown for exile. The military appears to be behind the people. As I have said before, the rest of the world hopes that this ancient country will settle down so that the rest of the world can come visit and feel safe.

Caribbean Princess - Bonaire

I have been so disgruntled with airlines lately, with adding fees, cutting back on services, making seats smaller...HECK...even charging you to call them to ask for help. I am waiting with great anticipation on the finalization of the merger between Southwest Airlines and AirTran, which should be before June. The Southwest family will roll out their great way of doing service to all the locations that AirTran currently serves, including Atlanta, JFK, and San Juan! YES! Southwest will begin flying to San Juan Puerto Rico, which is great news for those of you who have a bucket list item of cruising the Southern Caribbean, and visiting islands such as Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao (ABC Islands). I say great, because airfare is better than competitive compared to other major carriers there. No baggage fees. (WOOHOO!). Really fun flight crews who make your flight much more bareable. I am a huge Southwest Airlines fan and will fly them as much as possible. I even own a Southwest Visa Card, which gives me even more rewards, FASTER, than the other carriers. When flying other carriers, I feel punished and being sent to the corner by mommy, wearing a dunce cap. I can't wait for more transportation options that will get us from here to there without feeling like a second class citizen who is forced to use what is available. We need:

Bullet Trains
Bring back the Zeppelin
Jettson type cars

For you basketball fans, those who have hated Jerry Sloan because of the excellent record of the Utah Jazz, will cheer today. Jerry will no longer be coaching. This is breaking news. Sad end of an era.

We Are Here For You.

You Were Always On My Mind

2011-02-07T21:19:00.001-07:00

Only 12 days til we cruise to the Mexican Riviera on the Carnival Splendor. We have family staying at our house. We have bank cards available to use out of the country. We have arranged for our wireless carrier to provide us both voice and data services without having to mortgage our youngest child. We have found our shore excursions and booked them. We have made sure we have all homeland security documentation to re-enter the U.S. when we come back. We have reserved a hotel for Saturday night in Ontario, Ca. All we need to do is pack! Have I said before...5 speedo's and a jacket for formal night?
But I Digress.

     Egypt has been much in the news lately, and I sincerely hope that the good people there find a quick peace resolution, as Egypt is on my bucket list! I want to ride a camel. I want to stand next to the Pyramids and Great Sphinx. I want to wander the streets of Cairo and Alexandria. I want to explore their unique cuisine.

     So much of the middle east is steeped in history that you cannot find anywhere else in the world, and experiencing the grandeur of Egypt from a cruise ship would be everything I could hope for. A floating Hotel, where you only have to unpack once. Many itineraries have overnight stops in Alexandria, giving a full 48 hours to see, smell, and feel everything. Yes, I hope to get there in the very near future. That would be awesome.

     In the mean time, our focus is on the Mexican Pacific Coast, specifically, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabo San Lucas. Good news from the Mazatlan area. The cruise ships have returned after security personnel from each of the concerned cruise lines met with local authorities, and mapped out a security plan that ensures the safety of passengers, and also ensures the continued success of local entrepeneurs, whos whole life depends on cruise ships docking in the harbor. (Wow, that sentence was a run-on. Sorry to all the english teachers). We plan on shopping there with some good friends. In Puerto Vallarta, we will spend the morning on a horseback ride. In Cabo, we will secure transportation to Santa Maria Beach for some excellent snorkeling. We purchased all our gear at Costco 2 weeks ago and are excited. The rest of the time, I am sure we will come up with some additional plans as we are on the ship. It is cool to be flexible and talk to new friends on the ship about what they are doing and considering new options.

Until then, we are busy coordinating a group of over 300 going to the Southern Caribbean in May and another group to Alaska at the same time. It's a good thing the cruise ships have wireless internet access, as we will need ot have access to email to still conduct business where needed. So don't worry, all you vacation workers. You can still have a relaxing time, while taking 10 minutes out a day to take care of business. Then relax by the pool and sip a nice cold drink. ahhh!

We Are Here For You.

Mexico or Bust

2011-01-31T20:01:00.001-07:00

I think it important to share with you all an official statement by Carnival Cruise Lines regarding Ports of Call in Mexico. I shall copy and paste from John Healds Blog:
"Carnival Cruise Lines currently has three ships operating voyages to Mexico from the West Coast. We have two based year-round in Long Beach. A third ship is sailing seasonally from San Diego through April 2012.
Mexico continues to be a popular destination for our guests. Carnival is the largest year-round cruise operator from California to Mexico and the company is committed to its West Coast cruise programs.
In addition to three ships visiting Mexico’s Pacific Coast, 13 Carnival ships call at popular Mexican ports of call along the country’s Gulf Coast, including Cozumel, Progreso and Calica.
Mexico remains an important part of our itinerary plans."

     There you have it. 19 days til we all meet aboard the Carnival Splendor in Long Beach. With our weather turning extremely cold tomorrow and snow on the horizon, and with much of the U.S. experiencing severe winter weather, Mexico sure sounds nice, now dudnit?

     Shore excursions or things to do while in port should be on everyone's mind. If you have not reserved something yet, now would be an excellent time. We suggest you check out shoretrips.com and see all the possibilities for heaving fun in one of our three ports (Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas). Our family is looking forward to Horseback riding. Some friends of ours are going 4-Wheeling. Fishing to sightseeing, you have lots of opportunity to explore.

     If you need help, let us know.

We Are Here For You.

20 Days and Counting

2011-01-30T18:52:00.002-07:00

Carnival Splendor Dry Dock San Francisco - Photo By Alan Grinberg http://www.flickr.com/photos/agrinberg/5386098767/

     Since I have seen very little news on the current status of the Carnival Splendor, which we sail on with 30 of our favorite friends, Feb 20, I thought I would do some digging tonight. With the help of my trusty and very beautiful companion, Barbi, we found some video from one of the news stations in San Francisco giving a quick update. there are some really great pictures out there of the ship in Dry Dock at Pier 70. Carnival Support on Twitter @CCLSupport also confirms that repairs are on schedule. This is all very good news. You will all know from my previous BLOG that I am in deperate need of R&R, and this is the place to do it.

     For those of you who are sailing with us, call us if you need any assistance in printing boarding passes and luggage tags. We were recently asked what to bring. Well, I expect 75 degrees and lots of sun. So, to quote my good friend Steve G. 7 Speedos and a pair of flip flops sounds perfect and takes no space at all. For formal night, I'll put on a tie and jacket over the speedo. To be serious, dress lightly, but have something warm for the evening when you are outside on deck or in port. For a formal night in the dining room, bring along a tie and dress pants. You don't have to wear a jacket, but it is recommended. Women, you always look amazing in a dress, but a nice pant suit will be just fine.

     We will have a great time, so come prepared to have loads of fun!

We Are Here For You.

Life and it's Challenges ... BUT

2011-01-28T15:04:00.000-07:00

     I have a good friend who is religious on her blog updates, and I am daily reminded how challenged my life can be to dedicate the time needed to keep up this project. Between Facebook, 2 twitter accounts, a full time job that needs constant attention, 4 children and a loving companion to give my time to, another blog, friends, and puppies, I find myself everyday saying.."I Need A Vacation!" It is a good thing I have a smart phone (ANDROID) to help me keep on top of things as best as I can.

     Secrecy can be an obnoxious thing too, as you try to keep ahead of the game, like....texting and driving! Well, what about emailing and driving, or youtubing and driving, then there's blogging and driving. Oh crap! screeech! I know it is a matter of time before my eclesiastical leader will be bringing me into his office and talking hell fire and damnation for commenting on John Healds Blog during church. Or talking about travel opportunities in Sunday School. What is a man supposed to do? I am not superman who can fly around the world fast to slow down time.

     We all have options, right? Lorazapam! Prozac! The state mental hospital and a straight jacket! I personally am anxiously waiting a cruise with the whole family Feb 20, even though some cruise lines have stopped (temporarily) calling on Mazatlan. I don't care if I spend the whole time on the ship and say that I saw and smelled Mexico air. All I need is to get away and not think of anything except...What's at the buffet, who's entertaining us tonight, why is Curt fishing off of deck 7 when we are crusing at 20 knots...Nathan! Get off the railing! Yep, it's much more relaxing to me than other things in life right now.

     So if you come to my house and find me in the fetal position with puppies licking my ears, don't worry. The Lorazapam has not yet kicked in!

Guard Towers El Morro - San Juan, P.R.

We Are Here For You.

What an Awesome Ride

2011-01-24T22:04:00.000-07:00

Crown Princess Livorno Italy

Arriving in Ft. Lauderdale in May of last year for what would be the first of many trips of a lifetime, we were excited about our first transatlantic cruise aboard the Crown Princess, of Princess Cruises. Because of the amount of time at sea, we found it extraordinarily perfect to "Escape Completely" in a balcony stateroom, and for those of you who might consider doing this, I stronly suggest doing the same.

We have sailed on Princess 3 other times, aboard the Grand, Coral, and Caribbean Princesses. Also on Holland America's Amsterdam and the Norwegian Jewel. I suppose, because we spent so much time on this one, this has to be our favorite cruise ship to date. The Stateroom, as I have already mentioned, was spacious and comfortable.

The incredible Glass of the Atlantic 400 Miles out

We were located near the bow of the ship, but we rarely ever felt any movement of this 3,080 passenger, 116,000 ton beauty. Our captain was fully engaged in all the goings on on the ship, our cabin steward was attentive, but un-obtrusive, and the wait staff were impeccable in their service and attention.

The Piazza

One of our favorite places to hang out was the International Cafe, located at the lower level of the Piazza. This location is abuzz with activity from passengers mingling, having snacks, and enjoying fresh Sushi, to live entertainment which included highlights of the Singers and Dancer's performances, string ensembles, and jazz quartets. We also saw dancing and juggling. From here, it is easy to navigate around to find the shops, casino, Internet Cafe, Library, Piano Bar, Etc.

Movies Under The Stars

One cannot take a cruise and rave about the multimillion dollar productions presented, and here on Crown Princess, the performances were amazing. We never miss a show. The other entertainment is exciting as well. For the ultimate in relaxation, go up on deck and watch a movie by the Calypso pool with Movies Under The Stars, or for quiet seclution, retire to the Sanctuary for shade, a cool drink, and Evian Atomizer.

The Sanctuary

The other incredible feature is the cuisine. Steak, Lobster, Rack of Lamb, Creme Brulee, and my personal favorite, Sorbet. You will never be hungry leaving the Michaelangelo Dining Room. Our servers were the best. So much so, that every night, we would ask to be seated in that section. Eventually, the Matre' De saved us a table, since we chose to come at the same time each night. Wonderful service.

So there you have it. Our favorite ship. The future may change that, but we are ever so satisfied with our 2 weeks aboard this magnificent vessel, that should the opportunity arise, we'll be back on her. If you would also like to experience this remarkable trip, let us know how we can help.

We Are Here For You.

What's new on the water?

2011-01-19T23:04:00.001-07:00

     This year will usher in many exciting enhancements in the cruise industry, which will also bring with it, movement in technology, luxury, and grand achievements. 15 new cruise ships are scheduled for delivery this year.

     Today we saw the christening of the Disney Dream, which is the first new Disney cruise ship in more than a decade. But as with all things Disney, prepare to be amazed and entertained. One of the best inclusions of technology is the virtual port holes on inside cabins. HD cameras mounted on the outside of the ship, show a real time view of ocean. Now your inside cabin has become an outside cabin. Cool, huh? Add to this the AquaDuck, a water coaster, and fun has just taken a new level. She will call home port in Port Canaveral Florida. Check it out...and don't forget to include some time at the Magic Kingdon since you'll be there.

     May 1 will debut the Carnival Magic. With innovations never seen before, like a suspended ropes course, outdoor weight lifting area, dual water slides, and a 500 gallon dumping bucket, Carnival's mantra of "All for Fun, Fun for All" will deliver on that promise. She will debut in Europe, but will call home Galveston Texas.

   In July, we all celebrate a new Solstice Class ship, the Celebrity Silhouette, with its home port in Bayonne, N.J. It will be different from its sister ships with the Lawn Club Grill, Private alcoves, and an art studio. The Caribbean will be even more exciting with this new ship.

     If you have ever considered a river cruise through some of Europe's most storied and romantic water ways, 7 of the new ships this year are made for traversing in elegant style. Be on the look out for new ships through AMAWaterways, Viking, Avalon, and Uniworld.

     For small luxury cruising, Oceania, Ponant Cruises, and Seabourn will be adding new ships to spoil you rotten and take you places that the large vessels cannot go. Here you will be treated like a king and not be part of a vessel that hosts thousands, but hundreds instead. There is something valuable about that kind of intimacy, that everyone should experience.

     This is why cruising is so much fun, and always getting better. Besides new ships coming out yearly, existing ships are in a standard rotation of being refurbished and improved. As an example, Princess Cruises, in the last few years, has been revamping and improving their fleet of ships by adding Movies under the Stars, The Sanctuary (An adults only area) and updating interior areas, in addition to launching new ships in 2013 and 2014.

     In our experience, you can almost never go wrong by crusing as a vacation. check it out!

01-20-2011 - UPDATE
Oceania Cruises took delivery of the new 66,000 Ton, 1,250 passenger Marina yesterday. 1 Day til the maiden voyage. Oceania Blog

We Are Here For You.

Lifes a Beach - Where's the sun screen?

2011-01-18T22:08:00.001-07:00

Aruba

It has warmed up here and finally made it back in to the 30's and 40's, after almost 30 days of never reaching 30. The ice sculptures here can be amazing with those cold temperatures. But I find myself more and more thinking of a Kenny Chesney song...Some Beach...

Alicante Spain

We have seen a few beaches out there, from the cold waters of the Pacific Northwest to San Diego, Texas, Florida, Mexico, Aruba, Hawaii, Spain. Except for the first one above, all have one common theme. Sun and Sand! It can warm you to the core to walk barefoot on a sandy beach, feeling the different variations of the sand. Taking a moment to walk in the waves as they wash ashore. Listening and being hypnotized by the sound of the surf. Just don't allow yourself to fall asleep on the beach, unless you put on your sunscreen. Else, you will find yourself transformed into a lobster.

I just linked up with an "old" friend who has found a way to settle down on the west coast of the big island of Hawaii. With 6 acres of nuts, mangos, avacados, and free range chickens, I told him I was jealous and wanted to come work for him. He said, Take the next cruise ship out, and I'll put you to work. I don't know about you, but I find the offer extremely tempting.

We Are Here For You.

XM Challenge - St. Thomas, USVI

2011-01-17T19:54:00.001-07:00

     A Southern Caribbean cruise itinerary is an excellent way to see parts of the Caribbean that are not visited as frequently as Eastern and Western. But one common port of call for both Eastern and Western is St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. An unincorporated territory of the United States, the capital and main port is Charlotte Amalie, which is a little more than 50 miles from the port of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

     Known for the excellent duty free shopping here, you can find all you want if you are a shop-a-holic. What I really like about St. Thomas, though, is the beauty of this little island. The last time we were here was November 2009. We chose to visit Coki Beach on the north side of the island, and also its neighboring attraction, Coral World. We easily caught a taxi van at the port, which took the 8 of us up and over the mountain to our destination. Along the way, we were impressed with the navigation skills of our driver on these narrow winding roads, that seem to go straight up to the sky.

     Coral world is a fun little "Sea World" attraction, with sting rays, large aquariums, even an under the bay viewing location for you to see what is not "caged." What is most sought after though, is an opportunity to swim with sea turtles. For those who who wish to experience the unique attraction, you will find yourself in the pool, touching and being very close to these beautiful creatures. Barbi and I have always been bird people, so we really liked going into a large aviary that houses many beautiful and colorful lorikeets. Here, you can feed these highly intelligent and playful birds.

     For me, the highlight of this excursion was snorkeling at Coki Beach. My son and his friend and I actually snorkeled all the way back to the Coral World underwater observation building and back again. Diving down 10 feet or so to look at all kinds of anemones, star fish, and just watching the fish was exilerating.

Driving back to Charlotte Amalie, we stopped for a photo shoot overlooking the port and the city. What an awesome sight. Once back in the city center, we did a little shopping before heading back to the ship. For a first visit, I felt like we got a good initial glimps into the culture of St. Thomas. The people are friendly and inviting. The island clean and beautiful. I can't wait to get back there on May 16, aboard the beautiful Royal Caribbean, Serenade of the Seas.

We Are Here For You.

Is Down Under...Better?

2011-01-13T19:49:00.001-07:00

     Yesterday, Carnival Cruise Line announced they are moving the Carnival Spirit from San Diego to its new permanent home port of Sydney Australia. To those who are always watching, this is another signal of the slow demise of cruising from the west coast, specifically, south of San Francisco.

     Those of us who live out west, really appreciate the convenience of driving or flying to a gateway city, like L.A. It takes less than 2 hours, if you fly, or a day to drive, if you choose to take the whole family and save some money (But not neccesarily sanity). To fly to the east coast not only takes all day to fly, which is extremely exhausting, but is at least $100 more per person than flying to the Los Angeles basin or San Diego. I for one am dreaming daily and trying to come up with a novel new idea to take the place of flying. It is no longer the fun event it used to be.

     But for those who love to cruise, and go often, the west coast has limited opportunities to get away without experiencing it all over again. Ensenada, Cabo San Luca, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, I suppose, can only be visited so often, before they become old hat.

BUT WOULD THEY?

     What about people who have never cruised? There are estimates that 70% of americans have never experienced this awesome way to vacation. Let's see...300,000,000 people in the U.S. (times....carry the 1, subtract 26,000, divide by pie), that is 225,000,000 (Million) people. WOW! How many of those live out west?

     Having more than one cruise line also gives great variety to cruising to destinations you have already been to. We have been to Alaska on Holland America. I would love to experience those ports, and some others that we did not get to, on another line. There is always so much more to see than the city right off the pier, or the same old shore excursions. Some people just want to hang out at the beach.
hmmm!

     But never fear! Carnival still has the marvelous Splendor porting out of Long Beach. Princess is continuing to visit the Riviera. There are also West coast sailings between Los Angeles and Seattle. Reaching Hawaii from Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco are expanding (I'll keep saying it...never fear being in the open ocean for 4 days! It's truely an awesome experience.) And for those who have a little extra time (about 14 days), there will always be an opportunity to travel from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale or the other way, through the Panama Canal. There is another once in a lifetime experience.

     Let us know your feelings. Comment here. Or comment on our facebook page..Focus On Fun Travel. If you have the desire to sail from the west coast, we can help. Just let us know what your desire is.

We are here for you.

Warm is Good

2011-01-12T18:09:00.000-07:00

     Looking out the window right now, when it is in the mid 20's (Degrees Fahrenheit), I am dreaming of warmer and sunnier places in the world. I am remembering one of my favorite places in the Western Caribbean, Roatan, Honduras. We visited Roatan the first week of Feb 2007, with a bunch of like minded people, aboard the Grand Princess on a Western Caribbean, 7 day cruise, out of Galveston, Tx. This was our first cruise in several years, and WOW! Was it awesome. This cruise is what caught us hook, line, and sinker...as far as knowing that cruising was the best way to go for us.

     We were the only ship in port that day, Which, compared to other Caribbean stops, made for a very relaxing day on a really beautiful island. With a group of other people we met, we went to Capt'n Vans motorcycle shop, on the west end, and rented a scooter for the day. This mode of transportation to explore a foreign destination is really fabulous. Easy to move from place to place, and no problem parking. Barbi and I shared one scooter, which worked out well. This little machine had no problem taking us up hills at a quick clip. We stopped at an iguana farm, explored deserted beaches, we were inspired overlooking the ocean from the top of a mountain, and thoroghly enjoyed the wind in our faces.

     One of our last stops, was a very popular beach close to the motorcycle shop, where we met a man from Idaho. He had visited during a cruise a few years before, and loved it so much, he packed up is family and moved here, bought a hamburger stand; and never looked back. Along the way, we bought more souvenirs to remember our stay here.

     If you are wanting a warm place to visit, where the people are friendly, and the sites are amazing, check out Roatan, Honduras. You can get there on any number of cruise lines, on a Western Caribbean itinerary. Let us know when you would like to go, and we might have to find a reason to join you.

We are here for you.

Talk about Native

2011-01-11T21:41:00.000-07:00

Last year, Barbi and I, on our date night, went to see the movie The Proposal. We have been Sandra Bullock fans for a long time, so we really felt we would not be disappointed. When Ryan Reynolds' character, Andrew, announces that they would be going to see his family in Sitka Alaska, Barbi and I knew we had struck gold with this movie. We absolutely LOVE Sitka, Alaska!

When you choose to take a cruise to one of the many regional areas around the globe, you will often ask yourself, "what am I going to see?" Or "Will I be able to visit...?" Alaska's inside passage is no different. Yet, not all cruise companies stop in Sitka. Our first cruise to this region may be unsurpassed because of a call to this quaint town, originally settled by Russian explorers in 1799. Well, other than the Tlingit tribe that inhabited "Shee At'ika" for the previous 11,000 years

Our only visit (So Far) to Sitka was in May 2008, when the Holland America Amsterdam dropped anchor in the harbor, a quarter mile from the dock. We were on day 3 of a 7 day cruise, round trip from Seattle. As we tendered over to the docks, we were immediately impressed with the beauty of this place. Situated in South East Alaska, on the west side of Baranof Island, with mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean on the west, the sound leading into Sitka is a wonderfully calm entrance. There are little islands dotting the harbor, that, like the rest of the area, are thick with Sitka Spruce and other evergreen trees. During the summer, it is not uncommon to find pods of humpback whales feeding in Sitka sound. The Russians were originally searching for sea otter hunting grounds. When that died out and they moved on to Northern California, and the Russian River Valley, Sitka started relying on gold and fish.

Our first journey into this world was a quick exploration of Sitka National Historic Park, or simply "Totem Park", very near the harbor. This park was created in 1910 to preserve the fort and the collection of totems contained in it. The 2 mile pathway hosts this amazing array of totems. I took many pictures, but they could never come close to doing them justice. You just have to experience them for yourselves. They tell stories or give family histories. There are many that are simply artistic renditions of the culture of the native tribes. Though they are not recognized as religiously symbolic, they have always played an important part of the heritage of the peoples. Seeing the figure of Raven, Bear, and Orca are amazing in these small to massive logs, and I found myself wondering at the original meaning. Here in the park, there is also a museum and a nice view of the harbor. It is easy walking distance from the docks.

After the park, we ventured to the Alaska Raptor Center, which is a non-profit center, dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of Bald Eagles and other birds. As we walked along the path here, we saw many eagles that were being cared for and who, because of various injuries, may be permanent residents here. The center is also within walking distance of downtown, and is very popular to visit. There are demonstrations and educational presentations offered daily. We opted to just wander. I thought it very "Alaska" when we saw a sign warning us of bears in the area. Where in the heck was my .44 Mag? Too funny.

We then just hung out downtown and went through the many types of shops. Some were dedicated to tourists, others were not. We found a great bargain on coats that had Alaska printed on them, which we still wear in the cold winter of Northern Utah. because of the Russian heritage here, it is one of the few places in the United States where you can purchase Russian trinkets, such as Nesting dolls. Visiting the Russian Othodox St. Michael's Cathedral. As we were not here on a Sunday, we did not have the opportunity to attend church, which I think would have been awesome. But the Russian influences here are really fantastic. (Next Stop...St Petersburg..eh?)

Holland America MS Amsterdam

Leaving Sitka was definitely bitter sweet. As we sailed back through the sound, watching the little islets pass by, we told ourselves, "We are coming back and spend more time." The fantasies about moving to Sitka will remain for some time.

So when you visit South East Alaska, I definitely recommend choosing a cruise itinerary that will stop here. More things you can do here are:

Salmon or Halibut Fishing
Whale Watching
Sea Kayaking
Hiking

When you are ready to explore and experience the wonders of Alaska, let us know.

We Are Here For You.

Why Cruising?

2011-01-10T21:53:00.000-07:00

Since Barbi and I started our travel business, we have been immersed in understanding the many different travel options that are available. We felt it important to specialize, like a neurosurgeon would do, to make ourselves valuable to everyone in general, and specifically, those who would benefit from our specialty. Since we have dabbled in Photography, we could venture into photo safari's around the world. How cool would that be? African Lions, Polar Bears, Galapagos Iguanas, Puffins, Anacondas!!! Barbi has also been involved in weddings, so we could have thrown ourselves into destination weddings. Imagine a beach wedding, taking wedding pictures in front of the Roman Collesium, or a honeymoon night in an Ice Hotel in Sweden. Ultimately, since Barbi and I have lived a life of looking for the best deal and bargain hunting, we found our true love in Cruising.

Cruise ships offer the best value for your travel dollar. And with the many cruise ship companies available to choose from, you the traveller has many options to choose from. Here are some of the best reasons to take a cruise from Barbi's and my experience.

Unpack Once - When you board a cruise ship, you have reached your vacation resort. You are going to spend 3 days to 120 days here. Your home away from home. You will be transported to many exotic destinations, yet you won't have to change hotels. You won't have to go through airport security 6 times. No daily full body scans. Go ahead and hang up your clothes, fill up the drawers, stock the bathroom with whatever you want. It's all yours.
All Inclusive Vacation Resort - You will find it hard to want for anything here.

As soon as you find your stateroom and freshen up, head up to the Lido deck for a lunch buffet. You will find food available 24 hours a day. Room Service, Formal Dining Rooms, Grills by the pool, Buffet. There is food a\around almost every turn. There are also specialty restaraunts, which for nominal fees, you can have an intimate, exquisite meal.
Then there is the entertainment. We never miss a show when we are on a ship. The multi-million dollar productions are amazing. Dancing and singing on stage with fabulous costumes and sets. Other types of entertainment are brought in by these companies, such as comedians, artists, musicians, and the like.
Some companies also bring in well known world leaders, actors, and scientists to lead mentally stimulating conversations.
Movies by the pool
Casino's to try your hand at lady luck
Libraries sporting more than 8,000 books on 2 levels
Pools, Hot tubs, climbing walls, and water slides.
Dedicated areas for the kids and supervised activites for them daily.
Golf Simulator, miniature golf

Relaxing time - You choose what you want to do! Last year we spent 8 days crossing the Atlantic on the Crown Princess. At first, we were a little apprehensive about what it would be like. How quickly we found the most amazing seas days, reading a book on our private balcony. Sitting in the sun by the pool. Watching Mama Mia by the pool, then being interrupted by the crew alerting us to a mother and baby whale passing us on the port side (Left). Getting a massage in the most relaxing place on the ship, the Spa. Here you can have a hair cut, facial, spend time in a sauna or steam room...just about anything you want...Acupuncture!! Though many of these services are extra, the onboard fitness center is complementary. Sometimes at the bow of the ship, or at the aft, the views are amazing while you work out on a treadmill, eliptical, stationary bicycle, or free weights. How about a morning start of Yoga?

     I could go on forever about the crusing and how much I love it. I will acknowledge that cruising is not for everyone. I have spoken with those who have experienced a sea day or two, and have heard them speak about getting cabin fever. When it comes to being "Stuck" on a ship for more than a day, you have to make that kind of decision on whether cruising is for you. But there are itineraries that limit the number of days at sea, like the 7 day Southern Caribbean we went on a year ago. Only one sea day, and it was the last day. The rest of the days, we were parked in port before we awoke or before noon. So even here, there are excellent options.

     There are those who want to spend more time in a particular place. Here is where crusing excels. You can take a cruise to scope out a particular destination to see which one you would want to spend more time in. would you rather spend a week in Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, or Cabo San Lucas? Well, take a mexican Riviera cruise, spend a day in each port. Then the decision will be much easier. Of all the ports we visited on the mediterranean last summer, I could spend a couple weeks...or a life time in Florence. Barbi loved Rome.

     There is a snipit of why we believe cruising is the best. We have compared 2 weeks in Italy and Greece, with crusing to those destinations, and found that we could save approx 50% by cruising. Less stress, excellent food, staff that knows the area and helps choose places to see (Shore Excursions), and an inviting hotel room to return to each night. World Class entertainment. No worries about food costs...it's all included.

     If you want to explore cruising for the first time, or plan another trip, let us know how we can help. We are here for you.

Alicante Spain - Castille de Santa Barbara

Happy New Year Everyone - Fishlake UT

2011-01-01T12:40:00.000-07:00

2011 is here, whether we are ready or not. But I would like to recommend that everyone maintain HOPE for a fantastic and rewarding year. There are so many thing I look forward to, and I hope they all bring a smile to my face and to those I love.

In the last few years, our family has made 2 trips to Fishlake, located in Southeastern Utah, high up in the Fishlake National Forest. Both times, we have taken our 30' travel trailer, as there are many wonderful places to park with full or partial hookups. If you don't have an RV, there are cabin rentals available there. If you like to rough it, there are plenty of camping spots for tents as well. All are very close and convenient to the lake.

This area is really beautiful, but you have to be ready for all kinds of weather, as you are at nearly 9,000 ft in elevation. We ventured here on memorial weekend in May, and we got snowed on and nearly froze. The picture above is when we visited for the first time in July 2007. Our plans also included a half day pontoon boat rental to go fishing. And I'll say this, this 6 mile long resevoir, with a depth of 160 feet, did not disappoint us. All of us enjoyed the heart throbbing excitement of landing one of three different trout species known well for this lake. Alas, no one landed a 20 lb Mackinaw (Don't keep the ones under 10 lbs. They are just "pups".)

We took the time, in 2008, to also attend a local church service being held at the lodge on a Sunday morning. I have said that these kinds of experiences are almost a necessity, to learn the local culture, but this experience will never be forgotten. The reason, you ask? During the services, a bat came out and flew above the heads of everyone in this old lodge, circling around for several minutes, before disappearing again.

There is a stream that flows into the lake, which is protected during certain times of the year because of spawning fish. You might picture it like a mini salmon run, but with their cousin, the trout.

Because of the heavily forested area, it is fun to just go hiking amid the pine and aspen trees. Wandering around the shore of the lake is also fun. You can see Nathan below, laughing and jumping while shrowing a handful of rocks into the water.

Visting Fishlake has become a family favorite, which I think we should do again this year. We have gone there with friends and enjoyed a weekend. Members of Utahdiving.com have voted this the best place to dive in Utah. Ted? You ought to check that out, eh?

As I said above to be prepared, it is also important to know that this area is open year round. So if you have never experienced Ice Fishing, this is a premier destination in Utah to do it. If you like to cross country ski, there are miles of excellent trails here. Snowmobilers? Bring your machines!

For more information, see http://www.fishlake.com/ http://www.utahdiving.com/fishlake.htm

Mesa, Az - The Beginning

2010-12-30T18:21:00.000-07:00

Eureka!

     It is 1am on Dec 30 (Happy Birthday, Mom!). I was awakened by the clicking nails of our dog, Tallie, trotting through the hallway a couple times, when I should have heard the sound of THUNDER! . Oh, how I hate being a light sleeper! Thunder does not happen very often in Winter, in Northern Utah, but it is snowing outside. My now awake mind made me realize that I had started this blog in a rather dull way, but the "thunder" brought an idea that I think most of you will appreciate. Let's take a look at places that I have visited, with a little more depth and purpose. So I have abandoned the name One Beautiful World, and replaced it with a more exciting Around the World Every Day. And with the name change, I will explore a different place with all y'all (that's Plural) each and every day.

    It is very appropriate that I start at the beginning. The place of my birth..and my mother's birth...and her mother's birth. Mesa, Arizona. With a history of over 2000 years through the Hohokam indians, this city has found a way to thrive, inspite of being in the middle of an unforgiving desert. It was the Hohokam's that created a canal system network of over 125 miles, that gave early settlers the ability to sink roots, so to speak. That canal network is still used today.

     Founded by Mormon Pioneer's in 1878 (No, my Grandmother was not one of those pioneer's! How old do you think I am?), with the original settlement named after a Book of Mormon prophet, Lehi (pronounced Lee High). The names of the early settlers are ones that I and my mother grew up with, Crismon, Sirrine, Pomeroy, and Robson. So even though the city is officially 133 years old in January 2011, those names have remained. Amazing, since they had to compete for space against Scorpions, Diamondback Rattle Snakes, Gila Monsters, Choilla (a.k.a. Jumping Cactus), Desert Rats, like my friend Kellie, and nearby lawman/outlaw, James D. Houck.

   I came to be... in 1963 (I feel a rap coming on) in Mesa Southside Hospital, near the corner of Main St and Mesa Dr, which is now a city government building. My family lived in a few places throughout the city during my growing up years, but it was the house at 1755 N Forest, that I remember the most. My parents built this house in 1969, in spite of my father having an accident on Mormon Flat Dam, on Apache Lake, which left him permanently disabled. This house has special memories, like playing football with my brother and his friends in the "pasture" (our large back yard). Flood irrigation and catching frogs by night. Jumping the irrigation ditches on my bicycle. Lighting on fire the wheat field behind our house and pretending it was caused by "I Don't Know"! Dove hunting in the nearby orange groves. Walking the dirt streets bare footed. School grades 2-8. My brother sneaking up on me in a dark bedroom and scaring me half to death. Yep, this house is still awesome in my mind, and I have had dreams of buying it back. After growing up (Many dispute that this has occured) and getting married, Barbi and I lived here for 14 years before relocating to Northern Utah. Because I still have family here, we visit sometimes.

     Mesa has many wonderful places to see which are of interest. Because of its Mormon Pioneer heritage, the Mesa Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is one of those building completed at a time, in a desert, that amazes even me. Located at the corner of Main St and LeSueur, this building was completed in 1927. Though not the oldest building still standing, it is certainly the grandest. There is a visitor's center and the manicured grounds are incredible for a desert community. There is an annual Easter Pagent perfomed here. The Christmas lights are also a must see. http://lds.org/

     Falcon Field Airport has an impressive collection of war birds (Not Romulon or Klingon), maintained by the Commemorative Airforce http://www.azcaf.org/. I have always had an interest in military aircraft. This is a must see. The airport also has an interesting history, as it was used to train British Royal Airforce personnel after its construction in 1941. The Apache helicopter, used by the U.S. Army, is still manufatured at a plant near the airport.

     Dowtown Mesa still has that throwback feel to it. Not much has changed since the buildings were constructed. It is fun to walk and visit the shops there. Near the downtown area and across the street from the Mesa Temple, is Pioneer Park. A great place to have a picnic lunch and let the kids play.

     For food, there is no more special place to me than Matta's. The first restaurant opened in 1953 on Main St, West of Stapley. The kids knew it was a special treat when our parents would take us to Matta's. I learned that my dad's favorite meal would become mine...3 soft taco's, covered in Chili Con Carne. mmmmmmm. Now they can be found in 2 different locations. See them at http://mattas.com/. The hispanic community here is well established, making authentic mexican food easy to find.

     If you love to golf in the winter, there is no better place than Mesa and the surrounding Phoenix Metro area. I will say that the desert is most beautiful in the winter time. No Snow. Rarely gets below freezing. This is why the "snowbirds" love this area. Retirees migrate to Mesa and the surrounding areas from colder regions northward each winter. You can easily find all 50 states and all canadian provincial license plates here between October and March. Because of its proximity, you'll also see mexico license plates.

My Family and Olga

Post Christmas Dreams

2010-12-29T22:45:00.000-07:00

Christmas 2010 has come and gone! I continue to be amazed at how quickly this year has passed, and 2011 is almost upon us. Barbi and I, here at Focus On Fun Travel, have been hard at work for everyone who has discovered us. Our desire to help everyone discover this One Beautiful World, is what drives us. We too want to share in what is out there see, smell, and revel in. When we watched, The Bucket List, we started to keep lists ourselves.

This year, we also have experienced some awesome wonders, such as:

A Transatlantic Cruise on the Crown Princess from Ft. Lauderdale to Rome. We were a little apprehensive in not knowing what to expect crossing the Atlantic ocean for 8 days, but since, there are no regrets. What glorious, restful days these were, on such a beautiful ship. Reading a book on our balcony stateroom. Enjoying Sushi in the Piazza, while listening to some entertainment. Naps with the gentle rolling of the sea, sometimes with the balcony door open. Meeting new friends, sharing first class cuisine for dinner, and watching world class nightly entertainment. By the time we had stopped in our 3rd port (Barcelona), we were ready for more relaxing sea time.

Entering the Sistine Chapel after standing in a hard rain. Once we arrived in Rome, after enjoying some of the most beautiful sites in the world (Gibraltar, Alicante Spain, Barcelona Spain, Marceille France, Livorno (Pisa and Florence) Italy), we were only anticipating all that we would get to see while we were here. It was a very rainy day, May 15, but we were excited for all that awaited us. The walk through the Vatican Museum, shown at left, was just the beginning. Even though the crowds were huge, the amazing artwork displayed here was almost overwhelming. Hardly any space was not taken up with some type of painting. If you wanted to, you could stop and just stare at what was in front of you. From here were eventually ended up in the Sistine Chapel, which is a place that you cannot take pictures or video. It was dark here, so pictures would have been difficult, but still the wonder of Michaelangelo's masterpiece can only be experienced. From here, we entered St Peters Basilica, with its enormous roof, and again, more artwork to excite the senses. Statues, Paintings, tile work...WOW! It was almost a relief when we left to go outisde to St Peters Square. Now we find that all of Rome..almost, is one big museum of art. Buildings are not immune from the master's hands.

Meeting a dear friend outside the Collesium. Saturday was Rainy all day, but we managed just fine with umbrellas, shops, and the metro. Our hotel was about 3/4 mile from the entrance to the Roman Forum, where the Collesium is. Sunday was sunny and absolutely beautiful. After attending a local church, which I highly recommend, as it is all part of the experience, we had previously arranged to meet a former exchange student of ours, who lives in Germany. She decided to meet us in Rome! How cool is that? And what better place to meet, than at the Collesium.

Meeting Olga was truely the highlight of our trip. It was a tearful reunion that will always be remembered and cherished, as we had not seen each other for 9 years. Facebook can only do so much. There is nothing better than a hug and rubbing shoulders with a loved one. To the right is the 3 of us in the metro station. Our time together was much too short. Notice my hat? It was better than an umbrella and easy to pack. Just roll it up!

But this trip wasn't the only bucket list item we fulfilled this year. There are grand and glorious things to see right here in the United States, and we took the time as a family to enjoy some time with friends, who were our guides, in Northern California. I honestly don't believe there is a single person out there who would not enjoy seeing the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

Taking a ferry ride to explore Alcatraz Island for the day.

Sampling some world renouned cheese in Sonoma. Tasting perfectly aged wine in this cousin of Italy, which is the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. Seeing for your own eyes, a movie icon and most dangerous beach, Goat Rock State Park.

Wondering up to the Harbor seals that are lounging nearby. Gazing up in Awe at one of the many Redwood Forests in Northern California, such as the Armstrong Grove shown here.

Our personal bucket list, I believe, is very dynamic, as we find that we can add things to it when we discover places we did not know were there, just by driving down the road. And though I, like Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson, wanted to have lunch at the Great Pyramids, or unlike them, want to climb to the top of Mont St. Michal, dive in the crystal waters of greece, walk the streets of Jerusalem, spend an evening in an Irish Pub, Stare in the face of a Beef Eater, float down the Danube River, dive for pearls in Bora Bora, Barbi and I will continue to take it one year at a time. Looking back at 2010, even though it flew by, we had a great year for family memories. And it is the Family memories that you can take with you when you go, not the souvenirs.

So, What is your bucket list of dreams and why?

The Most Wonderful Time ... At Least It Should be

2010-12-20T22:43:00.000-07:00

Christmas is fast approaching, and I am drawn ponder and be thankful for the things in life that are most important.

Family - Those closest around you that love you unconditionally. Who care deeply enough to let you make the hard decisions. Who stick with you through the hard times and try to help you through the the tears and pain. Who are first in line to laugh and cheer you on in your triumphs. Those who you can receive the most hugs from because they are so near.
Friends - The ones, though you may not see them or talk every day, will drop everything to come to your rescue. Who are just a call or text away, and will listen with an objective ear and give sound advise. Those that are willing to serve and be served. Who will let you return the shoulder to cry on, or the arm to lift and strengthen. Who say "Thank You", OR, "Because I love you."
Faith - Believing in that, which cannot be seen, yet you feel it is true. Seeking for a higher power to draw strength from. Receiving a calm assurance and warm feeling that what you believe is real and that you are never truly alone, no matter what your circumstances are.

This is the time of the year, which often we wish would last all year, that we can forget ourselves, and lift another. And if you think about it, and it really doesn't take much brain power, you can think of many who you can serve. Service doesn't take any money. It only takes a willing heart. What could you do for those around you that you see each day? I'll share my thoughts on what I believe to be the most important, for those of you who have this opportunity.

Your Spouse - This Should really be easy.

Turn off the T.V., the Video Game, your iPhone, Android, or favorite book.... and listen. Really do it. Give your full attention! Have a 2-way conversation. I have to remind myself on this very often. I am no marriage counselor, as Barbi would attest to, and I never claim to be perfect, but in my heart, I know what I should do. I guess I should listen most often to my heart. My friend Laura, who I met on a couple's cruise in 2007, who is a Relationship Consultant, would be pleased to see me say this. There is no better reward in life than serving your spouse.
Have a date night...Regularly. Your best friend should share your best times. Date nights don't have to cost a lot of money. But you should devote your whole attention to that person while you are on your date...every time. I need to learn from this statement more as well. Too often, my smart phone will alert and I'll pull it out and read a work email, or a Twitter feed, or John Heald's Latest Blog. Though I enjoy reading John's blogs, I can certainly wait until I am alone, in the bathroom, or sliding down the water slides on the Carnival Magic.
Take a trip together. Now this one I believe I have accomplished well since meeting Laura on that Valentine's cruise 2007, aboard the Grand Princess to the Western Caribbean. Barbi and I have discovered a whole new meaning of reconnecting and enjoying the beauty of the world, TOGETHER. It has now become at least an annual event. It has not always been aboard The Love Boat, but it has always been together.

We have even incorporated family, friends, and faith in these events, due the multiple days that cruising gives us. On each cruise, we make new friends, some who we stay in contact with on Facebook or by having dinner with. These contacts expand our world and give us opportunity to explore other places we have never seen. Australia, Mexico.....Kentucky! How awesome is that? When we sailed through the Panama Canal last year, we took the time to participate in Jewish Sabbath Services. We are not Jewish, but we really enjoyed sharing in the faith of these individuals and experiencing something new and uplifting. We shared a cruise with our son to the Southern Caribbean, which was a wonderful experience. Though we did not hang out with our 21 year old, the times together were experiences we will never forget. Our next cruise, on the Carnival Splendor, we will be taking more of our family with us. Our younger children who have never had a cruise vacation. They are so excited and I look forward to seeing their eyes light up when we get on board.

So this most "Wonderful time of the year" really should last all year long. Laugh each day, like you are Karaoke singing. Laughter makes all the troubles of the world disappear. Search Endorphins on the internet! Love more deeply! Picture yourself dancing under the stars on a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean. Where no one else is around. Take lots of pictures. I don't know about you, but my memory doesn't remember everything, but pictures help me to remember.

Travel Well,
Marty

Another Fun and Exciting Day in the Trenches

2010-12-18T13:46:00.002-07:00

We have re-booked most of our group on the Carnival Splendor for Feb 20. It has taken us several hours of phone calls to Carnival, and several heart pounding moments, wondering if we were going to be able to help everyone stay on board. Some have decided to take a later cruise in March and others are going in May, but with our help, we have been able to get them scheduled and taken care of...except for one family and extended members.

The challenge that comes with having to change travel plans are the psychological disappointments that come with.."I gotta wait how long to go on vacation?" I have been feeling the same way, since Barbi's and my last vacation in May (a transatlantic cruise aboard the beautiful Crown Princess for 2 weeks, visiting Gibraltar, Spain, France, and Italy). That seems like a lifetime ago. I have been working myself up for this Mexican Riviera cruise with the whole family (A first for us), and counting down the days. I was about to send out a facebook update, this past Wednesday, to tell everyone "HEY..Only 45 days to go", when the trouble began.

The family I mention are associates in another industry, and they enthusiastically encouraged some other friends to come along. Now, all of a sudden, calendars are not working for Feb 20th for everyone. They are torn between coming with us, their friends, and taking the vacation sooner -- OR -- Waiting til later and going with the other friends. "I want to go now" or I want to be with you guys". They have looked at all kinds of options, but it really comes down to now or later.. AND .. which friends do we choose to be with. I don't envy their decision, and I hope they choose to go, rather than NOT go AT ALL. After all, Friends are Friends. We'd love to be with them, but it is ok if they go with the other friends.

Carnival has certainly been in a tough situation with the Splendor. The equipment needed from the Ship builder has to be manufactured from scratch, thus the longer delay. Though the agents we have talked to have not been consistent in their answers, they have been excellent to work with and have done much to accommodate all passengers affected by this delay. Carnival has a long and excellent reputation. I know many who will sail with no other cruise line. The safety record of the cruise industry as a whole is remarkable, which is one reason I am such a huge fan. If I had more time off available, I would take the lead of my Australian Friends, the Stewart's, and cruise to every destination I could...Rather than Fly. It is so much more comfortable and relaxing getting there. When heading westbound, you even get to enjoy 25 hour days (One Time Zone per day). No jet lag there.

Your Friend, Marty

Carnival Splendor Cruise

2010-12-15T18:34:00.000-07:00

I was glad I awoke early this morning to watch the MS Statendam (Holland America) begin its transit of the Panama Canal. We have good friends who departed Ft. Lauderdale last Friday for the 14 day voyage to San Diego, and I wanted to save some pictures from the live webcams that can be viewed at the Gatun and Miraflores locks.

Upon discovering that I was late waking up and missed the entering, I started to send out a facebook update to our friends going with us on Barbi's birthday cruise on the Carnival Splendor on Jan 30. I had a question on how many days til the cruise and pulled up Carnival's website and saw "Carnival Splendor Update". I clicked on it and to my horror, saw that this morning they cancelled 5 more sailings due to needing parts from the ship manufacturer in Italy and also correcting some problems that surfaced during testing. This means sailing from Jan 16 - Feb 13 we canceled! OH MY GOSH!

I ran upstairs and rallied the troops (Barbi) and immediately started alternate planning. We found ourselves ahead of the game, as we had not yet received official notice from Carnival, so rebooking should be a breeze. Well, looking at options, we quickly discovered that it would be in everyone's best interest to wait until Feb 20 to sail on the Splendor. There were no other 7 day west coast sailings to take advantage of the price guarantee before then. And moving to a longer or shorter cruise on the Carnival Spirit would mean using the 25% discount, instead of the price match, which really did not help in keeping rates in line with what we negotiated for our group. The 9 day spirit sailing would have cost $200-$400 more depending on the category of the reservation.

Armed with lots of information, we quickly sent out an email to alert everyone, followed up with phone calls, where needed. At this point, only one couple in our group decided not to re-book, the rest are pretty set on Feb 20, though we all agree that 3 weeks farther in waiting is a heart break. We all can use the break NOW!

Here is a quick synopsis of the details:

Next sailing available to book on the Carnival Splendor is Feb 20, 2010
All passenger affected by the cancellation of sailings between Jan 16 and Feb 13 can reschedule between Feb 20 and May 22 to take advantage of the Price Guarantee on the 7 day voyages on Carnival Splendor.
A 25% future cruise credit is being given to all passengers on cancelled voyage to use within 2 years.
Passenegers not re-booking will receive a full refund within 10 days.
Airfare change fees will be reimbursed through a refundable on-board ship credit.

This is the real benefit of using a travel agent, like us, who do not charge any fees to you for our services.