Now that we are both retired, done some traveling and visiting our children it is time to get back to cruising. We are booked on a Christmas Cruise out of Tampa. This will be the first time we have cruised during Christmas, with Christmas Day as a fun day at sea.
This cruise is an 8 day cruise and instead of the normal 7 day Western Caribbean out of Tampa it will include a couple of Eastern Caribbean Ports. It includes Key West, Florida; Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos; Ocho Rios, Jamaica and Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.
We are both looking forward to getting back on a ship, especially going to new ports and one more day of cruising.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Retired as of September 1, 2010
As of September 1st I am now retired. No more tied to a computer or phone. Time to start traveling without having to worry about anything. Time for more cruises, trips to see our children and grandchildren and to see more of our great country.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
New June 1, 2009 Passport Requirements.
June 1st has come and passed. The new passport requirements are now in effect. There is one exception for a "closed-loop" cruise, which is one that departs and returns to the same US Port.
From what I read on the government web page, even after June 1, cruise passengers can travel "closed-loop" cruises from US ports to the Caribbean, Mexico and Canada without need of a passport. In these cases, the old requirements still hold, ie, a certified birth certificate and photo ID.
I still recomment the Passport, not the Passport Card. You cannot return home from one of the islands if something should happen as cannot fly home without a Passport. If you are injured, sick or someone at home is injured or sick the only way back on a plane is with at Passport. The Passport Card will not allow air flights, nor will a cerified birth certificate and photo ID.
From what I read on the government web page, even after June 1, cruise passengers can travel "closed-loop" cruises from US ports to the Caribbean, Mexico and Canada without need of a passport. In these cases, the old requirements still hold, ie, a certified birth certificate and photo ID.
I still recomment the Passport, not the Passport Card. You cannot return home from one of the islands if something should happen as cannot fly home without a Passport. If you are injured, sick or someone at home is injured or sick the only way back on a plane is with at Passport. The Passport Card will not allow air flights, nor will a cerified birth certificate and photo ID.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Disney Online Cruise Night
Come Join us for a special online Disney Cruise Night Webinar.
February 3, 2009 at 7:00 PM EST.
February 3, 2009 at 7:00 PM EST.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
High School Reunion Cruise
I just came back from our 45th High School Reunion. This time the class wanted a cruise. Last Saturday we had a get together at a hotel in Orlando for those that could not make the cruise. Then Sunday morning we headed to Port Caaveral to board the Carnival Sensation for our 4-Night Bahamas Cruise and Reunion.
This was one of the best reunions we have had. Instead of a Friday and or Saturday night get together and dinner we had 4 nights to visit our old classmates in a relaxed environment. At dinner we had tables close to each other, and some even switched tables each night to visit with others at dinner. Some went to the shows together, went on shore excursions together or whatever they wanted as we all knew we would see each other usually at breakfast, lunch and of course dinner or make arrangements to spend more time with each other as we wished.
A group cruise sure is the way to go today. Once the cruise is paid for the only out of pocket expenses are for gifts, drinks on board, sightseeing, etc. No meals to pay for, no shows to pay for, just a relaxed reunion. Already some have said they want the next one, our big '50th', to be on a cruise, and maybe even a longer cruise. We had some first time cruisers in the group and they are now sold on cruising. They just needed a push to get them on their first cruise and were very glad they did.
This was one of the best reunions we have had. Instead of a Friday and or Saturday night get together and dinner we had 4 nights to visit our old classmates in a relaxed environment. At dinner we had tables close to each other, and some even switched tables each night to visit with others at dinner. Some went to the shows together, went on shore excursions together or whatever they wanted as we all knew we would see each other usually at breakfast, lunch and of course dinner or make arrangements to spend more time with each other as we wished.
A group cruise sure is the way to go today. Once the cruise is paid for the only out of pocket expenses are for gifts, drinks on board, sightseeing, etc. No meals to pay for, no shows to pay for, just a relaxed reunion. Already some have said they want the next one, our big '50th', to be on a cruise, and maybe even a longer cruise. We had some first time cruisers in the group and they are now sold on cruising. They just needed a push to get them on their first cruise and were very glad they did.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Carnival to Remove Fuel Surcharges (Maybe)
Effective October 31, 2008, the multi-brand Carnival Corp. will be eliminating fuel surcharges on all new bookings for 2010 departures -- but only for the following lines: Carnival Cruise Lines, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America, Seabourn and Princess Cruises. Surcharges for AIDA, P&O Cruises, P&O Cruises Australia, Ocean Village and Ibero Cruceros remain unchanged.
Additionally, the company has established specific guidelines under which the current fuel supplement could be reimbursed -- in the form of onboard credit -- to passengers sailing on 2008 and 2009 voyages.
This could mean savings for at least those looking to book a cruise in 2010 on or after October 31 -- but "price increase on all 2010 sailings" will go into place on October 31, 2008 ... the same day that surcharges are lifted on new bookings for those 2010 sailings.
Carnival cautioned that surcharges could be reinstated at any time, depending of course on the price of oil. Carnival's official statement reads: "For 2008 and 2009 departures, if the price of light sweet crude oil according to the New York Mercantile Exchange Index (NYMEX) is $70 per barrel or less at the 2:30 p.m. close of business as reported by Reuters on each of the 25
consecutive trading days ending five trading days prior to the guest's cruise departure date, the fuel supplement will be refunded in the form of a shipboard credit."
To clarify, this means that oil must trade below $70 per barrel for 25 straight trading days (every business day is not a trading day) until five trading days before your cruise.: "The process will be automatic and guests do not need to apply [for the credit] or track the price per barrel. The five days is to allow us the necessary time to get the refunds processed and communicate with the relevant vessels.
Still, with oil prices so volatile right now, it's almost impossible to predict whether anyone will actually receive a refund under these guidelines.
Additionally, the company has established specific guidelines under which the current fuel supplement could be reimbursed -- in the form of onboard credit -- to passengers sailing on 2008 and 2009 voyages.
This could mean savings for at least those looking to book a cruise in 2010 on or after October 31 -- but "price increase on all 2010 sailings" will go into place on October 31, 2008 ... the same day that surcharges are lifted on new bookings for those 2010 sailings.
Carnival cautioned that surcharges could be reinstated at any time, depending of course on the price of oil. Carnival's official statement reads: "For 2008 and 2009 departures, if the price of light sweet crude oil according to the New York Mercantile Exchange Index (NYMEX) is $70 per barrel or less at the 2:30 p.m. close of business as reported by Reuters on each of the 25
consecutive trading days ending five trading days prior to the guest's cruise departure date, the fuel supplement will be refunded in the form of a shipboard credit."
To clarify, this means that oil must trade below $70 per barrel for 25 straight trading days (every business day is not a trading day) until five trading days before your cruise.: "The process will be automatic and guests do not need to apply [for the credit] or track the price per barrel. The five days is to allow us the necessary time to get the refunds processed and communicate with the relevant vessels.
Still, with oil prices so volatile right now, it's almost impossible to predict whether anyone will actually receive a refund under these guidelines.
Friday, October 10, 2008
World's Largest Cruise Night
October is National Cruise Vacation Month and there are many specials and promotions coming up shortly in conjunction with CLIA's World's Largest Cruise Night on October 16th. I am featuring 5 different short cruise line video previews at
http://wlcn.cruising.org/mshepp.
A total of 21 cruise lines are taking part of this special. The promotions involve discounts, upgrades, reduced deposit amounts and/or on board credit. The "booking windows" vary but you will get to take advantage of these promotions between Oct 15th and 17th for sure and many will run through October and some even into November. Some of these promos are for select sailings or destinations, but many are simply for any ship in a specified date range well into 2009.
A total of 21 cruise lines are taking part of this special. The promotions involve discounts, upgrades, reduced deposit amounts and/or on board credit. The "booking windows" vary but you will get to take advantage of these promotions between Oct 15th and 17th for sure and many will run through October and some even into November. Some of these promos are for select sailings or destinations, but many are simply for any ship in a specified date range well into 2009.
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